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| Friday, August 11, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Lanka, SA settle for draw Govt’s no to Sahara Cup Suspended life bans for Gibbs, Williams? |
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Lanka, SA settle for draw COLOMBO, Aug 10 (AFP, Reuters) — Sri Lanka survived the fall of three quick wickets before tea and drew the third and final cricket Test against South Africa on the fifth and final day here today. Sri Lanka were 195 for four after the visitors declared their second innings at 241 for nine. The three-match series ended 1-1. Sri Lanka lost three early wickets in their pursuit of a victory target of 263 set by South Africa. Sri Lanka were 51 for three at tea. They first lost Marvan Atapattu for nought, caught by Gary Kirsten off Shaun Pollock. Kumar Sangakkara, promoted up the order, made only six before he square cut Mornantau Hayward uppishly to Jonty Rhodes. Left-arm wrist spinner Paul Adams bowled Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya for 17 to make the home side 37 for three. Mahela Jayawardene (19 not out) and Aravinda de Silva (8 not out), batting with a runner because of a leg injury, took Sri Lanka through to tea. Pollock had declared South Africa’s second innings on 241 for nine at lunch. Resuming at the overnight 157 for five, South Africa lost wickets at regular intervals but kept the runs coming to extend their overall lead to 262. Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan finished with five for 68 off 45.5 overs, his 22nd five-wicket haul in a Test innings. Lance Klusener, who resumed on 27, was caught behind by Kumar Sangakkara off Muttiah Muralitharan for 35. His overnight partner Mark Boucher made 25 before he also fell to off-spinner Muralitharan. Nicky Boje was unbeaten on 29 when Pollock declared.
SCOREBOARD South Africa (1st innings): 279 Sri Lanka (1st innings): 258 South Africa (2nd innings): Kirsten lbw b Muralitharan 40 McKenzie run out 17 Kallis b De Silva 0 Cullinan c Arnold b Muralitharan 3 Rhodes c Jayewardene b Klusener c Sangakkara b Boucher b Muralitharan 25 Pollock c Sangakkara Boje not out 29 Adams c and b Jayasuriya 3 Hayward not out 3 Extras: (lb-4, nb-15) 19 Total: (for 9 wkts decl) 241 Fall of wickets: 1-50, 2-50, 3-59, 4-107, 5-152, 6-169, 7-197, 8-220, 9-236. Bowling: Vaas 10-2-22-0, Perera 2-0-13-0, Arnold 2.1-0-6-0, De Silva 24.5-7-49-1, Muralitharan 45.5-14-68-5, Jayasuriya 24-4-56-2, Chandana 5-0-23-0. Sri Lanka (2nd innings): Atapattu c Kirsten b Pollock 0 Jayasuriya b Adams 17 Sangakkara c Rhodes b Hayward 6 Jayawardene not out 101 De Silva lbw b Klusener 41 Ranatunga not out 28 Extras: (nb - 2) 2 Total: (for 4 wkts, 67.1 overs) 195 Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-20, 3-37, 4-119. Bowling: Pollock 6-3-13-1, Hayward 9-1-21-1, Kallis 4-2-4-0, Klusener 12.1-4-20-0, Adams 16-3-72-1, Boje 20-4-65-0. |
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Govt’s no to Sahara Cup NEW DELHI, Aug 10 (UNI) — For the second year in a row, India’s strained relations with Pakistan have forced it to withdraw from the Sahara Cup cricket friendship series in Toronto, Canada. Early this month’s massacre in Jammu and Kashmir, including the killing of a number of Amarnath pilgrims prompted the Union Government today to refuse permission to the BCCI to fly the team to Toronto for the five-match series against Pakistan. “How can we play a friendship series against Pakistan, when that country is indulging in mayhem in Kashmir,” Union Sports Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa said while announcing the decision. In the aftermath of the Kargil war last year, sponsors of the series, Sahara group, had withdrawn their support and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) against sending the team. This is the first time that the Union Government has refused permission to the cricket team to participate in an overseas tournament. Interestingly, the BCCI selection committee which had earlier deferred its meeting indefinitely, had been scheduled to meet on August 16 to pick up the side for the tournament. Last year Kapil Dev, Ajay Jadeja and Kirti Azad were among the cricketers who led the campaign against participating in the Sahara Cup in view of the Kargil conflict. This time Kirti Azad and Manoj Prabhakar had strongly come out against India playing Pakistan after the August 1-2 massacre in Kashmir by the Pakistani agents. Kirti Azad had written a letter to Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa strongly advocating against the friendship series while people were being killed by Pakistan trained militants. Mr Dhindsa told UNI that the government took the decision keeping in view the sentiments and emotions of the people of the country. “The whole nation is upset about the killing of the innocent people by Pakistani agents and under these circumstances the government was left with no alternative but not to clear the proposal sent by the BCCI for the series”, the minister said. MUMBAI (PTI): Cricket board secretary Jaywant Lele refused to comment on the government decision cancelling India’s participation in the Sahara Cup cricket tournament against Pakistan in Toronto citing Pakistan’s support to cross-border terrorism as the reason. “I don’t have any comments to offer,” Baroda-based Lele told PTI when contacted on telephone about the latest development on the jinxed series which has been cancelled for the second year running because of the trouble fomented by Pakistan in Kashmir. Earlier, Sports Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa told PTI in Delhi that the Indian team would not take part in the series against Pakistan until that country stopped encouraging killings of innocent people in Kashmir and elsewhere. |
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Suspended life bans for Gibbs, Williams? JOHANNESBURG Aug 10 (AFP) — Judge Edwin King, head of a commission of inquiry into the Hansie Cronje match-fixing scandal, is expected to recommend suspended life bans for two players who admitted agreeing to help throw matches, according to a report today. King is due to deliver an interim report on his findings so far to President Thabo Mbeki tomorrow. Opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs and bowler Henry Williams have told the commission that Cronje had offered them money to underperform in matches against India this year. The Johannesburg Star newspaper said today it was anticipated in cricketing circles that Judge King would recommend a life ban for Gibbs and Williams, but would suggest that this be suspended for the rest of their cricketing careers. If Gibbs is cleared to play again, he could be back in the South African team as early as next week, when the Proteas are due to play Australia in a one-day series. The United Cricket Board of South Africa have said they would convene a disciplinary hearing soon after the interim report is released. The UCB are expected to take their cue from Judge King’s recommendations when deciding what action to take against Gibbs and Williams, the report said. The commission in June conducted 10 days of hearings, spread over more than three weeks, before Judge King retired to compile his interim report. It is due to resume its sittings in October. Cronje has admitted to the commission that he received thousands of dollars from gamblers and bookmakers on five separate occasions between 1996 and 2000. He has already resigned himself to a life-long ban from first class cricket and instead is busy negotiating television and book deals, amid reports of a pending movie deal. The initial shock by the South African public at Cronje’s confessions to dealing with bookmakers, which led to him being sacked as South African skipper in April, has given way to anger as the one-time cricketing idol has revealed himself to be manipulating and deceitful, motivated by greed and a love of money. Durban
(PTI): Suspended South African opening batsman, Herschelle Hibbs has lost 700,000 rand (approx Rs 45 lakh) in sponsorships and other fees since his withdrawal from the national team over the match-fixing scandal, his father Hermann disclosed this in an interview to a newspaper here. Mr Gibbs (Sr) said two companies had cancelled a lucrative 12-month sponsorship that would have netted the 26-year-old cricketer 400,000 rand (approx Rs 27 lakh). Another 300,000 rand (Rs 21 lakh) was to be given as bonuses and fees for public engagements. He said his son was “completely remorseful” and was anxiously awaiting the King Commission of Inquiry interim report which is due to be handed to the government tomorrow. He said he was hoping that his son would be pardoned and allowed to continue his cricketing career once again. In the event of his son getting a pardon, he said, Herscelle would join the South African team either in Australia or Singapore where the Proteans are scheduled to play a triangular tournament. “Herschelle has been so agonised that he has been unable to watch the Proteas play in Sri Lanka,” he said. During his testimony to the King Commission, Herschelle had admitted entering into an agreement to score less than 25 runs in a one-dayer against India early this year. He was offered $15,000 by the then skipper Hansie Cronje for this arrangement. But during the match, Herschelle said, he forgot about the agreement and went on to score 70 runs. |
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Aching Agassi quits; Sampras survives CINCINNATI, Aug 10 (AFP) — Andre Agassi limped out of the
ATP Masters Series yesterday, handing Spain’s Fernando Vicente a 3-6 6-3 1-0 victory and casting doubts about his own chances at the us open. Agassi left the court after calling for a trainer after first game of the third set against a 23-year-old who snuck into a French Open locker room five years ago as a junior and stole a T-shirt from the American star’s kit. Two-time Cincinnati champion Agassi, who played Tuesday night, said he began to feel back fatigue early in the second set, a sure warning sign of trouble. “I felt myself compensating in my shots, pulling back on my serve,” he said. “I knew it would only get worse. They say the only thing for it is rest. “I’ve had tests, injections, sound therapy, electro-stimulation, icing and massages. It felt weaker today than yesterday. It’s affecting my movement and my concentration.” The blow to Agassi’s Grand Slam hopes stems from a minor car crash he suffered upon his return to Las Vegas from Wimbledon a month ago. Agassi’s car was rear-ended, straining back muscles and forcing the 30-year-old out of the ill-starred American Davis Cup effort against Spain. In his first match back, he lost in the first round last week at Toronto. “The entire season is tough,” Agassi said. “It’s a long year and you’ve got to play well at the right time and stay healthy.” He pulled out of an
ATP event in Los Angeles last month and is scheduled to defend his title next week in Washington in his final tuneup for the year’s last Grand Slam event, which begins August 28 in New York. Vicente got the unexpected second-round win shortly before a rainshower with thunder sent players off the court. Fourth seed Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil was among those forced to wait at the $ 2.95-million hard court event. While Agassi was feeling physical pain, it was all psychological for third seed Magnus Norman, mired in a slump on hard-courts since arriving in North America and crashing out in the Toronto first round. Sweden’s Norman was ousted in his second round match by Czech Slava Dosedel 6-7 (4/7) 6-3 6-3. The disillusioned Norman (24) said he may ring up former great Bjorn Borg for advice. “I have more contact with him than any of the others. Maybe he can tell me something. I have to get back to level one in my tennis. Second seed Pete Sampras survived a violent pre-match thunderstorm and a one-hour lightning danger interruption before overcoming American teenager Taylor Dent 7-6 (7/3) 7-6 (7/3) and reach the third round. Franco Squillari of Argentina beat Czech Jiri Novak 6-3 6-4, while Britain’s Tim Henman put in a near-perfect performance over Argentine clay-courter Mariano Puerta 6-1 6-2. Australian Mark Philippoussis ousted unseeded former world number one Marcelo Rios 6-7 (3/7) 6-4 7-6 (7/4). |
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Opening ceremony secrets straight from THE pristine turf of Sydney’s Olympic Stadium may never be the same. Although the preparations are being kept top-secret, The Australian newspaper has learned, that up to 140 stockhorses and quarterhorses will be cantering around the stadium in the historic opening ceremony of the Games. Horsemen and women from Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales are paying the costs of bringing their horses to Sydney — estimated by one rider to be in the “thousands of dollars”. “Most of it’s off our own bat, I can tell you — but that’s the sacrifice we have to make,” he said. The riders have signed confidentiality agreements about their involvement in the ceremony. They have attended training camps supervised by opening ceremony supremo Ric Birch, which were also attended by officers of the NSW Mounted Police. One rider said the horses would parade around the stadium in formation, in time to music. Stockhorses will also be putting on displays during breaks between the equestrian events at the Olympic equestrian venue. Polocrosse matches will be staged, along with mock musters. A total of 34 stockhorses, worth up to $1 million each, are involved in the event, and owners are paying up to $6000 to bring each horse to Sydney. The display horses must spend two weeks in quarantine to prevent them infecting any of the elite competition horse. Let the games begin! First gold medal up for grabs This is how it begins. It is the morning after the opening ceremony of Sydney’s Olympics, the first Games of the new millennium. Now the first gold medal is up for grabs. After all the years of preparation and planning, all the controversies about bands and tickets and swimsuits and torches, the athletes have the stage at last. And on this first day of competition in a new era for the Olympics it is fitting that the athletes are all women and their event has never before been contested at the Games. It is the triathlon — a 1.5 kilometre swim, followed immediately by a 40km bicycle ride and 10km run. The course is on Sydney Harbour, winding around landmarks like the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Opera House. Along most of the route, spectators will be able to watch the athletes for free. And they will be there in their thousands. Why? Because the race signifies that, after all the years of build-up, the real thing has arrived; because the event combines three sports in which Australians have traditionally excelled: swimming, riding and running. And because Australia expects to begin the Games among the medals. Six of the world’s top 10 women triathletes are Australians. They also dominate rankings in the men’s event, which will be held on the second day of the Games. In a nation with a history much briefer than any other host country, an event that has been contested for only 27 years (compared to thousands of years for the other debutante Olympic event, taekwando) will provide the first medals. For Australia, it could well be a golden beginning to the Games it has been awaiting for over three decades. Fears for Olympic tourists The Sydney road toll, and in particular the number of pedestrian deaths, has soared in the first six months of the year, raising fears of a wave of accidents during the Olympics. Figures show that 80 pedestrians have been killed this year — a 15 per cent jump on last year and 13 per cent up on the three-year average. The road toll for the year ending August 6 has leapt to 605 — 40 more than the corresponding period last year and almost 6 per cent up on the three-year average. The Federal Office of Road Safety has said it expects Olympic tourists to be killed, many because they may not be wearing seatbelts, while others will be looking the wrong way when they cross a road. The office predicts that about 70 international tourists would die on Australian roads this year and another 1,000 would be seriously injured. In just over a month, Sydney will have the largest influx of tourists known to this nation. Many will be used to crossing the road, conditioned to looking the wrong way. Many will be driving rent-a-cars on the left-hand side of the road for the first time. Many will not even be able to speak English. Another suggestion is that there should also be a 40 km/h speed limit in the city centre. Plum seats for Chelsea, Bill Gates Move aside, Mr Megabucks. The Taylors are coming to town and, by order of the Premier of New South Wales, they’re lined up for plum seats at the Olympics opening ceremony. The Premier Bob Carr’s invitation to the Taylors had its origin in his recent visit to their flood-bound home in the outback. The family had been flooded in for about two months but Timothy Taylor, 9, was keeping up with education via wireless and telephone. Timothy had told Mr Carr that, if he really was the Premier, he should be able to help him get a ticket to the Games. There was that sort of embarrassed laugh from parents, Tammi and Alan Taylor, and no further thought about it until the invitation to the corporate box came from the Carr office a couple of months later. “Tough times and remote location meant the Olympics was not something we ever thought we’d get to,” she said. Timothy and his brother Andrew, 13, will make the 1,000-kilometre road journey to Sydney to accompany their parents to the Games. That’s left the state government’s hospitality crew shuffling the deck to see which VIPs from global business and overseas politics get the flick from its 40-seat corporate box at the Homebush Bay stadium to make way for the outback battlers. When it comes to Olympic seating first off the rank, the government insists, will be representatives of companies most likely to make big investments in NSW. It is unclear, for instance, whether Bill Gates will be getting an invitation in the mail, although this seems very likely. There is pressure, too, to find seats for the United States Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, and Chelsea Clinton, who will be representing the US President’s family. The stadium box and one Superdome suite were included as part of the state government’s Games contribution and come at no extra charge. The Federal Government is spending $360,000 on a 20-seat stadium box and an 18-seat suite at the Superdome.
— PMG |
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Opposition to new IBF rules BANGALORE, Aug 10 (PTI) — Prominent badminton players and officials today voiced reservations against the International Badminton Federation (IBF) moves to introduce flashing of yellow or red cards by umpires as part of its new set of rules to punish players for misconduct. Players and officials whom PTI contacted to elicit their opinion on the proposed rules, which will come up for discussions at the IBF meeting at Lausanne in November, opposed bringing in “card display” system as was vogue in football, rugoy and hockey. Ace shuttler, Vimal Kumar, the winner of many a crown and who represented the country in several international championships, said there were no instances of the IBF slapping suspension on any player for misconduct, noting that the players were “sober” in nature. Kumar said the game was dominated by China, Korea, Malaysia among others and in most of these countries players are “subdued” in nature, and at one point, the IBF wanted the players to be more expressive. According to international umpire G.S. Sethi, the proposal has been pending with the IBF for a long time. Reigning national champion Aparna Popat, who has qualified for the forthcoming Sydney Olympics, said “There is no need for cards business. There are line umpires and umpires to take care of the proceedings, there is no contact with the player. The question of argument is very rare in badminton”. In the extreme case, Popal said: “I have seen a player kicking the shuttle or hitting the racket out of frustration. In that case, the umpire will award a point in the opponent and the player will lose his serve”. Siddharth Jain, winner of the French Open at Paris, laughed heartily when asked to react to the new rule and said: “Badminton does not deserve this kind of rules. I feel the players are well behaved and I am sure umpires will never get a situation to flash cards even if it is introduced”. |
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Thailand aims for boxing gold BANGKOK, Aug 10 (AFP) — Thailand, which is fielding 50 athletes in 12 sports at next month’s Sydney Olympic Games, has high hopes of garnering up to two medals in the boxing events. At Atlanta in 1996 featherweight boxer Somluck Khamsing won the country’s first Olympic gold medal, and his Cuban coach Juan Fontanian says he has a good chance of pulling off the feat for a second time. He said Somluck, currently serving in the Royal Thai Navy, has kept himself in excellent shape over the last four years and has gained a good deal of experience. His technique has been tuned up and that should stand him in good stead in Sydney, he said, adding that he will again compete in the featherweight division. “I have great confidence in winning another gold for the country,” Somluck said. Fontanian said light flyweight Suban Pannon has made impressive progress in training sessions over the past six months and is another major medal prospect. “Flyweight Wichan Polrit and welterweight Parkpoom Jaengponak should also produce some big surprises,” he said. Thailand has won one gold, one silver and four bronze Olympic medals since 1976 — all in boxing. In Sydney, nine Thai boxers will compete in nine divisions, including bantamweight Chotipat (Sontaya) Wongprates, lightweight Pongsit Wiangwiset, light welterweight Pongsak Riantuanthong, light middleweight Pornchai Thongburan and middleweight Somchai Chimram. In the Giraldo Cordova Cardin Cup boxing tournament held in July in Cuba, Somluck, Pongsit and Chotipat all lost to Cuban boxers in the semi-finals. |
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Hingis, Serena book q-final berths MANHATTAN BEACH, California, Aug 10 (Reuters) — Despite off days, top seed Martina Hingis overcame upset-minded Chanda Rubin 5-7 7-5 6-1 and defending champion Serena Williams ran past Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand 6-2 6-2 to book quarter-final berths at the $ 535,000 Los Angeles Open. “It was close but I kind of came out of it,” said world number one Hingis yesterday, who despite four titles and three runner-up finishes this year was in danger of making her earliest exit of the campaign. “Sometimes you need to win matches like this.” Williams, meanwhile, powered to another straight-sets win. However, the reigning U.S. Open champion was not entirely pleased with her play. “Out of 10, I was a three,” said Williams, who had seven aces and five double faults in the 63-minute win. “I was really disappointed with the way I played. I just didn’t have a good day out there at all today. I just wasn’t playing my game at all.” The fifth-seeded, seventh-ranked Williams added: “I’m trying to play my best game against the low-ranked players. That’s when you know you’re a real champion, when you can bring your best game at any day at any time.” Williams set up a quarter-final matchup with crafty fourth-seeded Conchita Martinez of Spain, who rallied past American teenager Alexandra Stevenson 6-4 7-6 (7-2). “I don’t think I played a very good game today,” said Martinez, the 1995 titleholder here. Martinez overcame 3-1 and 5-2 deficits in sets one and two. “I got down because I wasn’t aggressive and I wasn’t passing well. I tried to be more consistent and then everything started to work.” Earlier, eighth-seeded Sandrine Testud of France benefitted from a pair of overruled calls on the final two points to slip past Dominique Van Roost of Belgium 6-2 3-6 7-5. Rubin, a hard-hitting baseliner, captured the first set against Hingis with a decisive service break in the 11th game. |
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Naresh Kumar strikes gold NEW DELHI, Aug 10 — Naresh Kumar, an 18-year-old BA Ist year student from Sports Hostel, Bhiwani (Haryana) bagged the first-ever gold medal in the Asian Junior Wrestling Championship when he outclassed Yarahmadi Mehd of Iran in the 50kg free style title clash at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium here today. On a day of achievements and setbacks, India also bagged one silver and two bronze medals. Virender bagged the silver in the 130kg category when he went down to Tayebi of Iran through a fall. Virender tried to make a fight of it in the initial stages when he fought back to make the score 2-6, but the stronger Iranian got a firm grip of him and then flung him on the mat to settle the gold claim. Ravinder Kumar claimed the bronze in the 58kg category beating Park Sang Man of Korea 3-2 on points in a close fight, while Naveen claimed the bronze in the 85kg category, beating Sumen Kev of Kazakhastan on points, albeit after a tough fight. But it was Naresh Kumar’s effortless victory that warmed the cockles of the Indian fans. He was aggression personified from the word go, and with a quick-silver act, he floored his opponent to notch up a 6-0 lead and then continued to maintain his aggression to win the gold on points, with a massive 9-0 lead. Naresh Kumar’s first medal in an international meet came in the World Cadet Wrestling Championship in Delhi in 1997 when he won a silver. But today’s win was the sweetest as for the first time, and Indian grappler had won a gold in the Asian Junior Wrestling Championship, the third edition of which is being held here. Earlier in the day, Naresh had beaten Tobe Mr Kozi of Japan 6-2 to storm into the final. |
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August 29 Sports
Day in Haryana CHANDIGARH, Aug 10 — The Haryana Olympic Association has decided to observe August 29, the birthday of hockey wizard, Major Dhyan Chand, as Sports Day. A state-level function to mark the occasion will be held at Karna Stadium, Karnal, on that day. Disclosing this here today, Mr M.S. Malik, Secretary-General, HOA, said that in addition to various sports activities in which school and college students will participate the HOA would organise three sports functions on the Sports Day to mark the celebrations. Ashwani Kumar, a member of International Olympic Committee who has always been championing the cause of hockey throughout his life, will be the chief guest on this occasion. He said to celebrate the birthday of Major Dhyan Chand, Haryana State Hockey Association would hold a Haryana junior hockey championship. Outstanding sports persons, including Olympians and Arjuna awardees who brought laurels to Haryana in different disciplines, would be honoured. Mr Malik said all office-bearers of HOA, sports loving citizens, presidents and secretaries of sports associations and district Olympic association and secretaries in boards, corporations and educational institutions in Haryana have been invited. Mr Abhey Singh Chautala had achieved remarkable success within a short span of less than one year as HOA President, by setting up sports nurseries, release of Rs 5 lakh to HOA, allotment of one-acre land, adoption of various games by boards and corporations, construction of Olympic bhawan in Panchkula, three per cent job reservation for sportspersons in boards, corporations and giving of grant-in-aid to sportspersons. Mr Malik said an honourable title or award would be conferred upon Mr Chautala for his contribution in the field of sports. |
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