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| Sunday,
November 5, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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West Indies
rule out investigation
Dhindsa
calls meeting of sports ministers South Africa
beat New Zealand We are here
to beat Aussies: Adams Mahindras
rout TFA |
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Duval moves
past struggling Els Punjab
trounce Haryana Abhinav’s
feet firmly on ground Sirsa dist
prove superiority Randhawa
rues missed chances Historic
Test sparks row in Bangladesh Kafelnikov
enters semis Aurobindo school wins declamation contest
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West Indies rule out investigation PERTH (Australia), Nov 4 (Reuters) — West Indies cricket officials have ruled out their own investigation into allegations that former captain Brian Lara took money from a bookmaker to play badly. West Indies coach Roger Harper said the West Indies Cricket Board would leave any investigations to the International Cricket Council even though several other countries, including Australia and New Zealand, have launched independent inquiries into claims against their players. “If Brian comes out and tells you he’s not involved, that’s good enough for me,” Harper said when the West Indian squad arrived today for a three-month tour of Australia. “He’s a member of this team and I have every reason to trust him...we’re there for him as a team and we support him all the way.” Lara, the world record holder for individual innings in Test and first-class cricket, has been accused by an Indian bookmaker of accepting $ 40,000 in return for under-performing in two one-day matches. Lara has denied the allegations, made in a report by India’s Central Bureau of Investigation, and refused to comment on the claims when he arrived in Perth. Coach Roger Harper said that during his time as a player there were stories going around about what might be happening in relation to money changing hands. “There were stories, but they were just rumours and stories. You heard things being said, but nothing to say that anything was really happening,” he said. “I had no reason to doubt or question any result or an performance on the field.” Harper said the team members would let Lara know they were behind him, because he had categorically denied all the allegations, and the players wanted him to know they would support him all the way. “If Brian tells me he is not involved, that is good enough for me,”
Harper said. “I have every reason to trust him and believe what he
says.” |
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Azhar’s
photo found in Memon’s house
MUMBAI, Nov 4 (PTI) — The CBI is yet to contact Mumbai police after
a photograph of former cricket captain Mohammed Azharuddin with Tiger
Memon, prime suspect in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blast case, was recovered
during a raid at Memon’s house, Police Commissioner M.N. Singh said
yesterday.
“We recovered a lot of photographs from Memon’s house during a
police raid following the blast. Several albums had photographs of
people from the film industry and important personalities,” Singh told
reporters here.
“However, Azharuddin was the only cricketer whose photograph was
recovered during the raid,” he said displaying an old photograph of a
relaxed Azhar chatting with Yakub and Tiger Memon at the latter’s
residence.
Azhar is among five Indian cricketers named by the CBI in its report
on betting and match-fixing.
Asked why the former captain was not questioned then, Singh said: “There
was no specific case against him. We cannot just infer anything from a
photograph. Lots of people shoot photographs. So many of them click
photographs with filmstars.” |
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CBI
refutes claim of Jadeja
NEW DELHI, Nov 4 (PTI) — The CBI today refuted the charges made by
cricketer Ajay Jadeja that its report on betting and match-fixing was
premised on "false and concocted" evidence and said the entire
report was based on proof gathered by the investigating agency.
A CBI spokesman said “whatever the CBI has stated in the report is
on the basis of evidence in possession of the agency.”
He said the agency had procured printouts of telephone calls made by
both Ajay Jadeja and bookie Uttam Chand, alias “Topi” from various
cellular phone companies.
“The calls were made only during matches and there were instances
of even late night telephonic conversation,” the spokesman said.
Besides, Jadeja has accepted during his questioning that he knew
Uttam Chand, the spokesman said. |
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Dhindsa
calls meeting of sports ministers CHANDIGARH, Nov 4 — The Union Sports Minister, Mr Sukhdev Singh
Dhindsa, who is busy in setting the sports administration in order in
the country, has called a meeting of sports ministers of all states in
Delhi on November 21 to discuss various issues pertaining to sports,
including the recent match-fixing controversy and the CBI report
pertaining to it.
Mr Dhindsa, who had come here to be present during the oath-taking
ceremony of the newly appointed Punjab Public Service Commission member,
Amarjit Singh Chawla, told TNS that he would urge the sports ministers
to come out with concrete proposals to raise the standard of sports in
the country and to avoid controversies like match fixing and betting.
He said as sports was a state subject, he would like states to play a
crucial role in improving up the standards.
When asked about the international dimensions of the match fixing
scandal, the Union Sports Minister said it was a welcome development and
all cricket-playing nations had appreciated the initiative taken by the
Indian Government in exposing the match fixing controversy. He said the
CBI report had been appreciated by all cricket playing nations and
important newspapers published from the UK, Australia, West Indies and
other countries. Mr Dhindsa said most of the players named by the CBI
had started admitting that they had met certain bookies. In due course,
more information may come out, he added.
He said he was determined to make the BCCI and other sports
organisations accountable and answerable to the countrymen.
Mr Dhindsa said the CBI report would start a debate in the country to
improve the sports administration. He said he had sought views of sports
experts, including mediapersons in this connection.
The BCCI president, Mr A.C. Muthiah has been told to reply within 15
days to all relevant points raised by the CBI in its report pertaining
to the functioning of the board. The CBI has castigated the board on
many counts in its report and has raised questions about the selection
policies, accountability and structure of the board in various states.
The CBI has urged for a total transparency in the functioning of the
board.
Mr Dhindsa said Mr Muthiah's approach at a special meeting held
yesterday was very positive and he was all for setting the board affairs
in order.
When asked about the accountability aspect, Mr Dhindsa said he would
take the issue to Parliament and if need be even legal measures would be
taken. What has been told to the board authorities, has also been
conveyed to the various sports organisations, whose representatives were
present in the election meeting of the Indian Olympic Association. |
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South Africa
beat New Zealand
CAPE TOWN, Nov 4 (Reuters) — South Africa beat New Zealand by three
wickets in the sixth and final one-day international today.New Zealand’s
Roger Twose made a maiden international century.Twose made 103 and Chris
Cairns 80 as they dominated the New Zealand innings which ended up 256
for nine after their 50 overs at Newlands. Both men, who shared a record
partnership, are returning home after the one-day games and will not be
playing in the three-match Test series which starts on November 17.Twose
is regarded as a one-day specialist while Cairns will be returning for
treatment on a knee injury.
SCOREBOARD
New Zealand:
C. Nevin c Abrahams b Telemachus 12
N. Astle c Boje b Pollock 8S.
Fleming c Rhodes b Donald 8
R. Twose c Kallis b Boje 103
C. Cairns c Pollock b Telemachus 84
C. McMillan lbw b Pollock 7
C. Harris c Pollock b Telemachus 6
A. Parore run out 1
S. Styris run out 8
B. Walker not out 2
S. O’Connor not out 1
Extras (lb-7, w-7, nb-2) 16
Total (for 9 wkts) 256
Fall of wickets: 1/23, 2/24, 3/39, 4/189, 5/218, 6/238, 7/239,
8/249, 9/253.
Bowling: Pollock 10-1-44-2, Telemachus 10-1-30-3, Donald
10-0-47-1, Kallis 5-0-52-0, Abrahams 10-0-40-0, Klusener 2-0-27-0, Boje
3-0-9-1.
South Africa:
D. Cullinan b O’Connor 10
G. Kirsten c & b Harris 25
J. Kallis lbw b O’Connor 0
N. Boje c Parore b O’Connor 8
J. Rhodes st Parore b Walker 69
M. Boucher b Harris 46
L. Klusener not out 59
S. Pollock c sub b Walker 8
S. Abrahams not out 16
Extras (lb-9, w-5, nb-3) 17
Total (for seven wickets,50 overs) 258
Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-16, 3-30, 4-65, 5-171, 6-173, 7-189.
Bowling: Cairns 10-0-45-0 (nb-1, w-2), O’Connor 9-1-55-3,
Styris 9-0-47-0 (w-2), Harris 10-0-45-2 (nb-2), Walker 9-1-43-2 (w-1),
Astle 3-0-14-0. |
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We are
here to beat Aussies: Adams
PERTH, Nov 4 (AFP) — West Indies cricket captain Jimmy Adams
declared here today his young side had come to Australia with a clear
focus — to beat Australia in the five-Test series starting later this
month.
“This is the bottom line — we have come here to win,” said
adams at his first media conference after the squad’s arrival.
“Anyone who travels for any competition, competes to win. We are no
different.
“With Australia’s reputation at the minute, for any touring team
to come here is the ultimate challenge. I believe all the lads look at
it that way.”
He said Brian Lara’s experience would be a stabilising influence in
the batting line-up, but he was looking to all specialist batsmen to
contribute.
“You are always looking for senior players to lead the way, but I
am quite confident with the ability we have.”
He expected his batsmen would have major tussles with Australian pace
pair Glenn McGrath and Brett lee.
Lee, one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket, made a spectacular
international debut last summer.
His future was under a cloud after his action had been questioned,
but he has now been cleared and looms as a big threat to the West
Indies.
“I am not an Australian selector, but I imagine we will be seeing
quite a bit of him this summer,” Adams said.
“I think it will be a big challenge, but I think we can handle it.
This is how you make a name in international cricket. All of them are
eager to come here and make a name.”
Veteran fast bowler Courtney Walsh, who will lead the West Indies
attack, was not with the team.
He remained in the West Indies to be presented with an award, but
will arrive here on Tuesday.
Walsh needs 17 more Test wickets to become the first player in the
game to complete 500 scalps at that level.
Meanwhile, Adams has questioned whether the corruption which had
blackened the game’s image, could ever completely be removed.
“Will the root problem ever be solved?” he asked as his side
arrived here at the start of their Australian tour.
“Will you ever get to a point where people (cricketers) will never
be aproached (by bookies)? How do you solve that? You will always have
gambling. And that is the root problem. How do you remove that?”
Adams was commenting on the explosive Indian report issued this week
claiming West Indies star batsman Brian Lara was among a group of
international stars to have been paid money by an Indian bookmaker to
fix matches or provide information.
Lara, who is alleged to have taken $ 40,000 to under-perform, refused
to talk to the media here after the side’s arrival.
Team manager Ricky Skerritt said Lara had placed the matter in the
hands of his lawyer in England who had told him not to add anything to
statement issued there categorically denying he had taken money to
under-perform in two games in 1994.
“Brian has been keeping his chin up in the circumstances,” Adams
said. “I don’t think anybody enjoys going through what he is going
through, but he is in a pretty pleasant mood.”
“We have a tightly knit unit, and Brian gets on well with the other
players.”
Skerritt said: “Brian is obviously very concerned about this,
because he is totally unaware of any of this activity, and has denied
having ever being involved in any such activity.
“So we are focusing on the cricket, trying to give Brian as much
support as we can, but we are going to try to do everything we can not
to distract us from why we are here.”
Skerritt said: “As the tour goes on — as Brian makes his hundreds
— you will have access to Brian the cricketer.
“If we feel it is necessary for Brian to speak to you (journalists)
at the right time — and if his lawyers want him to — then he will.
“But at this point, we in the Caribbean believe people are innocent
until proved guilty.
“This conference is not about Brian — it is about the Best Indies
tour of Australia.”
The Indian investigation report named Lara was one of nine players
offered or paid money by Indian bookmaker M.K. Gupta.
The report said Gupta told Indian Central Bureau of Investigation
officers he had paid Lara $ 40,000 to under-perform in two one-day
matches during the tour of India in 1995. |
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NEW DELHI, Nov 4 (UNI) — Defending champions Salgaocar Sports Club (Goa) drew with Calcutta giants Mohun Bagan while Mahindra United trounced Tata Football Academy (tfa) 5-0 in their respective quarterfinal matches of the Durand Cup at the Ambedkar Stadium here today. The match between Mohun Bagan and Salgaocar was exciting and nailbiting even though it ended in a draw. The match is a saga of abortive scoring attempts and mispasses by both the teams. Salgaocar lads played in a 4-4-3 combination and tried to mount attacks from both the flanks, and dominated for the first 20 minutes of the play. On the other hand Bagan players adopted a more or less defensive posture and indulged more on counter-attacks. However, of both the teams Bagan were the first to miss a scoring opportunity in the 18th minute when forward Joao Santos snatched the ball from a Salgaocar forward and passed it to fellow forward j barreto. Barreto gently lobbed the ball to medio rp singh inside the box, but Singh’s powerful grounder failed to hit the target. Again after the lemon-break right-half James Singh intercepted a Salgaocar pass and flicked it to Barreto, but Barreto’s powerful right-footer was fisted away by Salgaocar custodian Juje Siddi. Not only Bagan, but the Goans, too, missed several scoring opportunities of which the most astounding one was in the second half when Salgaocar forward Denis Cabral gave a long pass to fellow forward Bruno Coutinho. Coutinho’s powerful left-footer was fisted by Bagan custodian by diving to his left. Again a couple of minutes later substitute Alvito D’Cunha’s free kick hit the Mohun Bagan goalpost and went out of the touchline. Later speaking to newsmen Mohun Bagan coach Subroto Bhattacharjee conceded that his team missed several scoring opportunities. However, he said he had instructed his boys not to concede any goal to stay in the contention. Now Bagan are crucially placed in the quarterfinals. They have to beat tfa by a good margin to qualify for the semifinals failing which it would become dicey for them. Earlier in the day, the match between Mahindra United (Mumbai) and tfa turned out to be lop-sided one in which the former’s domination over the game was total throughout. Tfa lads appeared to be shaky from the very onset of the match and their lack of coordination became very apparent. On the contrary, Mahindra players dominated the proceedings right from the word go and their repeated forays left the tfa defence in total disarray. Mahindra fired the first salvo in the third minute of the match when stopper back Tapan Ghosh intercepted a wayward tfa pass and passed it to Anthony. Anthony, on seeing two tfa defenders rushing towards him, lobbed the ball to advancing mercurial forward Manjit Singh. Singh’s right-footer found the target to make it 1-0. The Mumbai lads clinched the lead in the 31st minute when left-winger
Abbas Rizvi snatched the ball from a tfa medio and passed it to outside
left Habib Adenkule. Habib’s powerful grounder from 10 yards outside
the rival penalty box rocketted into the tfa goal to make the score 2-0. |
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Duval moves past struggling Els ATLANTA (Georgia), Nov 4 (AFP) — Tiger Woods and David Duval started the day three shots apart at the Tour Championship. But the two best US golfers will be paired together after vaulting to the top of the leaderboard yesterday. Duval, a former star at nearby Georgia Tech, carded a two-under-par 68 to move past struggling first-round leader Ernie Els and grab a one-shot lead after 36 holes of the $ 5 million event. Seeking his second Tour championship in four years, Duval had a mixed day which featured five birdies and three bogeys and stood at seven-under 133 after two rounds. “I am in a great spot,” Duval said. “I would be very pleased to continue to play like I have the first two days this weekend. If I do, I think I will have a real nice chance of winning the golf tournament.” Woods, the defending champion, began the day four strokes off the lead and found himself in early trouble after bogeys on two of his first six holes. But the world number one recovered to record an eagle, five birdies and just one more bogey the rest of the way to finish with a 66 and move within a shot of Duval at six-under 134 as he vies for his 10th win of the year. “I didn’t get off to the most ideal start today,” Woods said. “But I hung in there and put myself in a position to make some putts and get myself right back in the tournament.” Chris Perry, the last player to qualify for the elite field was paired with Woods and matched the low round of the day with a 65. Masters champion Vijay Singh of Fiji and Paul Azinger each shot 66 to lie two adrift on 135. Els did not come close to duplicating his first-round 64 as the South African posted a 72 to fall into a tie for sixth with lefthander Phil Mickelson and David Toms at four-under 136. John Huston fired a 65 and was four back, along with Davis Love and Australia’s Robert Allenby. Duval alternated bogey-birdie on the par-three second and par-four third holes, but blasted out of the bunker on the 584-yard ninth to set up a tap-in for birdie. After taking his second bogey on the 192-yard 11th, Duval started a run of three straight birdies with a 12-foot putt on the 13th, followed by a four-footer on the 14th and a chip-in from 15 feet on the 15th. He took his third bogey on the 17th after hitting his tee shot into the bunker. Duval was sidelined for two months with a nagging back injury but returned to claim his first title of the year and 12th of his career at the Buick Challenge last month in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Despite the layoff, he recorded his third straight $ 2 million season to qualify for his sixth straight Tour Championship. Woods’ early struggles began on the first, where he missed a 10-foot par putt. He also bogeyed the sixth, but shook off the sluggish start by sinking a 15-foot birdie putt at the seventh and got back to even for the day with a six-foot birdie at the ninth. Woods did just that, adding birdies on Nos. 11 and 14 before hitting
a six-iron to 20 feet with his second shot on 15 and draining the eagle
putt. He bogeyed No. 16, but gained the stroke back with an eight-foot
birdie on 17. |
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Punjab
trounce Haryana ROHTAK, Nov 4 — Punjab defeated Haryana by 323 runs in the North
Zone BCCI under-14 cricket tie which concluded at Maharaja Aggarsain
Stadium here today.
Punjab, who were in commanding position at the close of play
yesterday, declared their second innings closed at 295 for eight giving
Haryana a target of 412 to win. Aashish (68), Munish Bhatia (82) and
Tavish Gupta (84) were the main contributors in Punjab’s second
innings.
Haryana innings once again crumbled probably under the psychological
pressure of huge lead. They were bundled out for 89. Punjab bowlers
required only 34.4 overs to dismiss all Haryana batsmen in the second
innings.
Four batsmen were out for duck whereas only two could reach double
figures. Punjab pacer Harvinder Singh took three wickets for 19 runs and
Tavish Gupta and Harmanjit Bajwa captured two wickets each.
Punjab got 8 points from the match whereas Haryana failed to garner
any point.
Scoreboard
Punjab (Ist innings): 198
Haryana (Ist innings): 81
Punjab (2nd innings) Ashish Vinayak lbw Nitin Mehtani 68, Karan Goel
b Sant Kumar 6, Manish Bhatia c prem Prateek b. Nitin Mehtani 82 Tavish
Gupta c & b Prem Prateek 84, Parabal Sharma b Manish Verma 28,
Harmanjit Bajwa c Sant Kumar b Manish Verma 2, Uday Kaul c Nitin b
Manish Verma 11, Ankur Jand b Prem Prateek 3, Harvinder Singh not out 1.
Extras: 10
Total (for 8 wickets declared): 295
Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-139, 3-183, 4-254, 5-256, 6-275,
7-284, 8-295.
Bowling: Sant Kumar 6-1-24-1, Gaurav Chopra 3-0-19-0, Manish
Verma 15-2-41-3, Prem Prateek 20. 1-1-73-2, Yuzvendra Singh 16-3-61-0,
Nitin Mehtani 20-3-62-2.
Haryana (2nd innings): 89. |
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Abhinav’s
feet firmly on ground CHANDIGARH, Nov 4 — Abhinav Bindra, the 18-year-old Olympian
shooter from Chandigarh has a single purpose — to win the elusive
Olympic gold. Taut with tension due to forthcoming events like the World
Cup in Munich for which he leaves tomorrow, Abhinav says he is just
warming up.
Born in Dehra Dun, Abhinav’s family shifted to Chandigarh and he
was put in St Stephen’s School. During childhood, his father’s
rifles, became an obsession with him. Abhinav found himself spending
more and more time with guns. But did he have a special knack of it? “I
really do not believe in this ‘born-with-a-talent’ thing. I feel
that one has to simply work hard and he can achieve what he wants. I
have been for the past three years training for almost six to eight
hours a day.” Regarding studies he says: “Right now I am admitted to
IILM, New Delhi. With studies being a part of my life, I have no choice
but to study. It is very difficult to cope with the two but it is not
all that tough. I managed to get 82 per cent marks in the class XII
exams.“
“By the end of the day, one is totally drained of mental and
physical energy. So, I do not have many hobbies too. I just watch a
little TV, read a lot of newspapers and am on the Internet a little.”
And girlfriends? “Oh no, no girlfriend.”
Is a special kind of mental makeup required to shoot? “Shooting
involves mental energy which is exciting. One is nervous and anxious
like in any other sport but there you can release this tension and
nervousness but here you have to keep it in control,” he says.
Speaking about his performance at the Olympics, he says:”I faced
some technical difficulties when I reached there and just before the
event the scene was looking disastrous but I was thrilled with the
competition. The Olympic gold is the aim now and I am working towards
it. Winning the medal there is no joke. It is the ultimate in sports.
Regarding the Indian sports scene, he said: “I think whatever the
Government and the Sports Authority of India are doing is satisfactory.
But of course things can be better. I have trained hard and I have
proved that on a given day I am as good as anyone else. It is easy to be
a winner once but to maintain the form is what matters and that too at
the time when it is required. I don’t think I can get carried away by
success. My feet are firmly on the ground. The name of the game is to
not to buckle under pressure.In fact pressure brings out the best in
you.” |
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Sirsa
dist prove superiority FARIDABAD, Nov 4 — In the 32nd Haryana State Table Tennis
Championship organised here, Sirsa district emerged winner in seven
teams events while Faridabad, Gurgaon and Bhiwani won one team event
each on the concluding day of the team championship.
Sirsa district made a clean sweep in women girls (u-17), boys (u-17),
cadet boys (u-12), cadet girls (u-12), Kid boys (u-10) and Kid girls
(u-10) team events. Faridabad won the men’s team championship
defeating Sirsa 3-2 in a closely contested match. Gurgaon won sub-junior
boys (u-14) team championship and Bhiwani won sub-junior girls (u-14)
team championship.
The results:
Men’s team: 1. Faridabad, 2. Sirsa, 3. Haryana Power Sports
Group.
Women team: 1. Sirsa, 2. Rewari, 3. Rohtak.
Boys (U-17) team: 1. Sirsa, 2. Karnal, 3 Gurgaon.
Girls (U-17) team: 1. Sirsa, 2. Rohtak, 3. Bhiwani.
Sub-Junior (Boys): 1. Gurgaon, 2. Sirsa, 3. Rohtak.
Sub Junior (Girls): 1. Bhiwani, 2. Rohtak, 3. Sirsa (A).
Cadet boys team: 1. Sirsa, 2. Karnal, 3 Rohtak.
Cadet girls team: 1. Sirsa (A), 2. Rohtak 3. Sirsa (B).
Kids boys team: 1. Sirsa, 2. Sonepat, 3. Karnal.
Kids Girls team: 1. Sirsa (A), 2. Sirsa (B), 3. Bhiwani.
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Randhawa
rues missed chances
GURGAON, Nov 4 (PTI) — Defending champion Jyoti Randhawa’s hopes
of a record hat-trick faded as he fell back to joint seventh with a
one-under 71 as Rodrigo Cuello of Phillippines strengthened his position
atop the leaderboard on the penultimate day of the Hero Honda Masters
Golf Tournament here today.
Arjun Atwal kept India’s hopes alive by carding a four-under 67 to
be placed joint second with Andrew Pitts of the USA, two-strokes behind
the total of 14-under 202 of Cuello who continued his dream run with a
five-under 67.
Mukesh Kumar, languishing at joint 18th when the cut was applied
yesterday, shot up to joint fifth today with a brilliant six-under 66 to
be back into contention as also Gaurav Ghei who carded three-under 69
for the joint seventh spot.
Randhawa missed several birdie opportunities as his putts came
agonisingly close to the hole but refused to drop in. His first birdie
of the day came on the fourth hole. On the par-5 sixth, his eagle putt
from 12 feet kissed the lip but stayed away.
He made the turn at three-under, but a three-putt bogey on the 14th
ruined his chances completely as he finished at a disappointing 71 to
aggregate nine-under 207. |
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Historic Test sparks row in Bangladesh DHAKA, Nov 4 (Reuters) — The first cricket Test between Bangladesh and India has triggered fresh political controversy in the country and may plunge it into another day of general strikes. Bangladesh’s debut in the Test against India from November 10 to 14 has created a lot of enthusiasm in a country that became the 10th Test playing nation this year. But the elation has been partly dampened by a political feud over a denial to allow the four-party opposition alliance to hold a “grand rally” at the Test venue, Dhaka’s Paltan Maidan (outer stadium) owned by the government-controlled Sports Control Board. Board officials said they want the ground “free from any disturbance or damage” before the historic Test is over but the opposition disagrees. “We are going to have a detailed discussion and take a decision
this evening. We are likely to call a countrywide hartal (strike) if we
are eventually denied the right to hold the rally on November 7.” |
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Kafelnikov
enters semis
STUTTGART (Germany), Nov 4 (AFP) — Eager olympic champion yevgeny
kafelnikov grabbed a place in the semi-finals of the $ 2.95 million
Stuttgart Masters Series yesterday as he staged an inspired comeback
against Dutchman Sjeng Schalken.
The Russian sixth seed, more keen than ever about his tennis after
earning the Sydney Games gold medal and a fourth consecutive title at
his home tournament in Moscow last month, scored a 4-6 6-1 6-4 victory
to eliminate October’s Japan Open champion.
According to ATP calculations, Kafelnikov is now one victory away
from claiming a spot in the eight-man field for the Masters final in
Lisbon starting on November 28.
He will face a stern test later today as he takes on eighth-seeded
Australian Lleyton Hewitt, a winner over big-hitting Briton Greg
Rusedski 6-4, 6-4.
Kafelnikov reached the penultimate round of an event missing all four
of it’s leading seeds after upsets.
Marat Safin, Gustavo Kuerten, Magnus Norman and Andre Agassi were all
put out in Thursday’s third round as the formbook flew out the window.
Kafelnikov stands a distant fifth in the season-long ATP Champions
points race on 523 — Kuerten leads on 664 — and is next in the queue
for possible qualification.
South African veteran Wayne Ferreira also moved into the last four at
the expense of Romanian Andre Pavel, winning 6-0 7-5 a day after the
European spoiler had knocked out crowd-pleaser and fourth seed Andre
Agassi.
Unseeded Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean beat Michael Chang of the USA
7-5, 1-6, 6-2 and will take on Ferreira in the other semi-final.
Kafelnikov seems to be peaking as the end of a long tennis season
nears. The 26-year-old is eager to play in Lisbon and makes no secret of
his desire to qualify.
“I still enjoy winning the matches, I still enjoy competing,” he
said. “I played my best match of the tournament today. “I was quite
focused and patient, i surprised myself. I kept my momentum going and
waited for the right moments to attack. I settled down after losing the
first set, from that point on, things got better and better for me.”
Kafelnikov is now aiming to join Kuerten, Russian compatriot Safin,
Pete Sampras, Norman and Agassi in the Lisbon field.
Kafelnikov will face a struggle against Hewitt, who tamed the big
serve of Rusedski, even out-aceing the Brit five to four.
Hewitt had won a quarter-final between the two last week in Basel and
says he employed the lessons he learned there to get on top early and
maintain the pressure.
“It’s tough to pay Greg, I learned a lot from Basel,” said
Hewitt.
“Today I had a good start. When we got into baseline rallies, I
think the advantage was on my side.”
Hewitt, still with a chance for Lisbon despite currently sitting 63
points behind Kafelnikov, added: “My goal this year was the top ten.
The top eight was always going to be a tough ask. |
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Aurobindo school wins declamation contest PATIALA, Nov 4 — Rishabh Singla of Sri Aurobindo International School stood first, while Gurpreet Singh of YPS and Sahil Singh of Budha Dal Public School stood second and third, respectively, in the sports declamation contest organised by Narain Public School here yesterday evening. Speakers, in the aftermath of the Sydney Olympics debacle, were asked to focus on subjects like, “How we lost and how to win an Olympic gold medal” and “Tough times never last, tough people do”. Some of the youngsters came up with brilliant ideas and suggestions on how to spread the culture of sports in the country. School children also aired their views on nepotism and red tapism which they said was the bane of Indian sport. In a lighter vein, some of them said that all other sports, including cricket, were dormant in the country and the only thing which was alive was match-fixing, which they said was the real sport being played by cricketers,bureaucrats and politicians alike. Some students came out strongly against politicians and bureaucrats ruling the roost in the field of sport and urged the need for greater transparency in the selection of Indian teams in various disciplines. In the inter- schools’ section, Sri Aurobindo International emerged winners and the second and third positions were bagged by YPS and Budha Dal Public School, respectively. A total of eight schools, including Our Lady of Fatima Convent School, Blossoms School, Children Memorial School, Guru Harkishen School and the host, Narian Public School, took part in the contest. The Managing
Director of Narain Public School, Mr Avtar Singh Arora, welcomed the chief
guest, Mr Harkesh Singh Sidhu, Joint Director, Administration, PWD
(B&R), who distributed prizes. The chief guest, after extolling the
virtues of sport, said more such contests should be organised so that
children could come out with concrete suggestions which were relevant to
the state of health of Indian sport.
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Roller
skating meet results PATIALA, Nov 4 — Sanya Dhaliwal of Ludhiana stole the show on day
one of the three-day Punjab Roller Skating Championships which commenced
at the local rink hall here today.
Sanya first won the title in the girls section (above-14) in the road
race and then stood second in the rink race-1 (300m). The rink race-1
was won by Amritsar girl Heena Sandhu.
The other results:
Road race: (under-6) Boys: 1 Sahej Bir Singh (Pta), 2 Ronak
Singh (Ldh), 3 Fatehdeep Singh (Pta). Girls: 1 Rippen Preet Kaur (Ldh),
2 Alisha Puri (Ldh), 3 Janki Bharny (Asr).
6-8 years: Boys: 1 Amarjot Ghai (Pta), 2 Tanvir (Asr), 3
Jasman Singh (Asr). Girls: 1 Keerti (Asr), 2 Abhra Arora (Asr), 3
Aishwarya (Ldh).
8-10 years: Boys: 1 Tajeshwar Mahal (Pta), 2 Jaap Karan (Asr),
3 Nirbhai Singh (Ldh). Girls: 1 Shipra Nayar (Asr), 2 Karamika (Asr), 3
Liza Malhotra (Pta).
10-12 years: Boys: 1 Sehaj Preet (Pta), 2 Kanwar Yuvraj (Asr),
3 Sushant Bansal (Asr). Girls 1 Gurpreet Kaur (Asr), 2 Pauvi Sharma
(Pta), 3 Sanya (Asr).
12-14 years: Boys: 1 Ankit Vij (Pta), 2 Simranjit Singh (Pta),
3 Amandeep Singh (Asr). Girls 1 Heena Bharti (Pta), 2 Gurshminder (Mkt),
3 Zra Dhawan (Asr).
Above 14 years: Boys: 1 Mandeep Singh (Pta), 2 Navdeep Singh
(Sng), 3 Gautam Kamboj (Pta). Girls: 1 Sanya Dhaliwal (Ldh), 2 Samriti
Bhushan (Asr), 3 Heena Sandhu (Asr).
Rink race-1 results:
Under-6 years: Boys: 1 Sahej Bir Singh (Pta), 2 Bhavneet
(Ldh), 3 Fatehdeep (Pta). Girls: Rippen Preet Kaur (Ldh), 2 Alisha Puri
(Ldh), 3 Janki Bharny (Asr).
6 to 8 years: Boys: 1 Amarjot Ghai (Pta), 2 Ujwal Mehra (Asr),
3 Charanpreet Singh (Pta). Girls: Suman (Asr), 2 Keerti (Asr), 3
Aishwarya (Ldh).
8 to 10 years: Boys: 1 Tajeshwar Mahal (Pta), 2 Divya Pal
Singh (Pta), 3 Govind Deep (Asr). Girls: 1 Karamika (Asr), 2 Sipra
Nayyar (Asr), 3 Liza Malhotra (Pta).
12 to 14 years: Boys: 1 Ankit Vij (Pta), 2 Manavpreet (Asr), 3
Ramenpreet (Pta). Girls: Heena Bharti (Pta), 2 Kangan Mahajan (Asr), 3
Gurshminder Kaur (Mkt).
Above 14 years: Boys: 1 Mandeep Singh (Pta), 2 Sarvinder Singh
(Pta), 3 Chanpreet (Asr). Girls: 1 Heena Sandhu (Asr), 2 Sanya Dhaliwal
(Ldh), 3 Divya (Ldh). |
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Volleyball,
kabaddi titles for Central Range MANDI, Nov 4 — Central Range won the volleyball and kabaddi titles
defeating Southern Range 25-22, 25-22,25-22 and Northern Range 38-29
respectively on the opening day of 40th HP Police Sports, Athletics and
Duty Meet in Paddal ground here today. Central Unit beat Northern Range
25-17, 25-18, 25-15, in volleyball and Southern Range beat Central Unit
52-33 points in kabbadi. In judo, Amarjeet, Ashwani and Shamsher Singh
all from Central Range defeated Ishwar Singh and Raj Kumar in the 56 kg
and 90 kg (open) category respectively. Central Unit dominated the 75 kg
and 81 kg categories as constables Kuldeep, Ravinder and Suresh Kumar
(Central Unit) defeated their rivals. Kuldeep Singh of Southern Range
defeated Yashwant Singh of Central Unit in the 75 kg weight category. |
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Badminton
squad announced JALANDHAR, Nov 4 — The selection committee of the Punjab Badminton
Association has selected players for the 25th Junior National Badminton
Championship being held at Chandigarh from November 15 to 23, according
to Mr Rajinder Singh Kalsi, General Secretary, Punjab Badminton
Association.
The selected teams are as follows: Junior boys (Under-19):
Iqbal Singh and Dilpreet Singh (both Ludhiana), Mayank Behel and Akshay
Bhanot (both Amritsar) and Rohit Kapoor (Jalandhar).
Junior girls (Under-19): Arti Verma (Ropar), Navneet Kaur and
Indermeet Kaur (both Jalandhar), Shehnaz (Sangrur) and Amrit Pal
(Patiala). TT squad AMRITSAR, Nov 4 — Subhash Batra, former Haryana state table tennis
champion and national player, who is presently working as
Superintendent, Central Excise, Amritsar, will lead the Punjab state
civil services table tennis team in the forthcoming All India Civil
Services Table Tennis Championships to be held at Shahji Raje Sports
Complex (Andheri Sports Complex) Andheri (West), Mumbai, from November 7
to 13, Mr Komal Jogpal, secretary, Regional Sports Board, informed here.
Other members of the team are: Ramakant and Ajay Thukral (both from
Central Excise, Jal) Rajni Gupta of Postal and Telegraph will be the
lone woman participant from the state.
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Titles for Central
Range MANDI, Nov 4 — Central Range won the volleyball and kabaddi titles
defeating Southern Range 25-22, 25-22,25-22 and Northern Range 38-29
respectively on the opening day of 40th HP Police Sports, Athletics and
Duty Meet in Paddal ground here today. Central Unit beat Northern Range
25-17, 25-18, 25-15, in volleyball and Southern Range beat Central Unit
52-33 points in kabbadi.
In judo, Amarjeet, Ashwani and Shamsher Singh all from Central Range
defeated Ishwar Singh and Raj Kumar in the 56 kg and 90 kg (open)
category respectively. Central Unit dominated the 75 kg and 81 kg
categories as constables Kuldeep, Ravinder and Suresh Kumar (Central
Unit) defeated their rivals. Kuldeep Singh of Southern Range defeated
Yashwant Singh of Central Unit in the 75 kg weight category. PU win kho-kho title CHANDIGARH, Nov 4 — Panjab University, Chandigarh won the title in
the North East Zone Inter Varsity Kho-Kho Tournament which concluded
here yesterday at Panjab University grounds. Punjabi University,
Patiala, got the second place while Calcutta University, finished third.
Delhi University were placed in the fourth position.
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