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| Saturday, December 23, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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India clear one more
hurdle IHF for Indo-Pak series in
UAE Aussie itinerary to be finalised today |
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Punjab Police, PSB in last 4 Best Christmas gift, says coach D’Souza China cagers retain
Asian junior title Ineligible lifters in PU meet? Venus ends year with $ 40 million deal Arun Singh, Robin enter
semifinals
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India clear one more
hurdle NEW DELHI, Dec 22 — India edged out China 2-1 to come closer to a berth in the final, but their fate will be decided only after the last league match between South Korea and Thailand in the men’s section of the Asia Cup Tennis Tournament. At the R K Khanna Stadium here today. Mahesh Bhupathi and Syed Fazaluddin once again played stellar roles to help India record their second victory, after their succeess against Thailand yesterday. But there is still some way to go for India to clear their path to the challenge round, which will be clear after the Korea-Thailand tie tomorrow. If Korea win, India are through, but if Thailand win, then games won and lost would come into play as Thailand had taken a match off India, and beaten China by 3-0 while India could score both their victorie only by 2-1 margins. India once again reposed their faith in Bhupathi and Fazaluddin, and the duo delivered the goods, while Harsh Mankad fumbled and faltered to lose out. Bhupathi beat China’s third seed Yu Wang 6-3, 6-4 in the first singles while Harsh Mankad crashed to No. 2 Yu Zhang 3-6, 2-6. But Bhupathi and Fazaluddin played no-frills tennis in the doubles to post a quick 6-3, 6-3 victory in 53 minutes against Yu Wang ansd Yu Zhang. India were lucky that China No 1 Ben-Qiang Zhu was not fit, after fracturing his hand following a fall on the court, in the match against Thailand on the opening day. In the women’s section, China blanked Thailand 3-0 in the redundant last league tie, which was a sort of curtain-raiser for the title clash, as the same teams will be clashing in the final of the inaugural Asia Cup for the eves. Hosts India had bowed out, after losing both their league matches. India were expecting a clean sweep against China, but Harsh Mankad yet again found the going tough, which was due to his own making, and surrendered rather tamely. A lackadaisical serve, and error-prone returns were his undoings, as he squandered a golden opportunity to consolidate the hosts’ position after Bhupathi had put the country 1-0 ahead. For Bhupathi, breaks in the third and ninth games of the first set, and sixth and tenth games of the second set, were enough to sew up the match, though he himself was broken in the first game of the second set, and escaped being broken in the fifth game. Bhupathi had to battle with his erratic serves, but he came out unscathed, even after committing five double faults. Yu Wang, though no great singles player either, hung out there to cause problems, but Bhupathi’s placements were immaculate, as the Chinese left-hander groped to find a way. Harsh Mankad was directionless, and his return of serve let a lot to be desired. He could not get his act together in any way, and once Zhang got a breakthrough, Harsh just could not get back his rhythm. He dropped serve in the fifth game of the first set, when he committed three double faults, and a volleying error. He could have broken back in the eighth game, but squandered away three break points to let the Chinese off the hook. And for Zhang, there was no looking back, as Harsh was broken again, in the ninth game, to annex the set. In the second set, Harsh was broken in the second, fourth and eighth games, and though the Zhang dropped his own serve in the fifth game, it made no impact in the final verdict. In the doubles, Bhupathi and Fazaluddin were too good for Wang and Zhang. The Indian pair broke Wang in the first and ninth games of the first set, and in the second set too, Wang proved the easy fodder for the Indian duo, as he was broken in the very second game. His weak serve and return was made full use of by the Indians to race to a quick, and comfortable victory. Fazaluddin once againt exhibited his flair for chip and charge, and he signed off the match, with a searing ace. Indian non-playing captain Ramesh Krishnan said: "We were hoping for a 3-0 victory, but Harsh again got into a rut". Bhupathi said "Wang started off well, but I kept putting pressure on him". Result: China beat Thailand (women): Li Ting b Napaporn Tongsalee 7-6 (7-5), 6-3; Na Li b Suchanan Viratprasert 3-6,6-2,6-2; Nai Li and Tian-Tian Sun b Orawan Lamangthong and Napaporn Tongsaslee 6-1, 6-1.
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IHF for Indo-Pak series in UAE NEW DELHI, Dec 22 (PTI) — The Indian Hockey Federation is awaiting a concrete proposal regarding a series with Pakistan in the UAE according to the IHF President, Mr K.P.S. Gill. “We are waiting for a concrete proposal regarding the series and sponsorship from the Pakistan Hockey Federation. Only after getting it can we approach our government for necessary permission,” Mr Gill said today. After the Kargil war last year followed by the large-scale killings of innocent civilians in Kashmir by Pak-supported militants, all bilateral sporting contacts between the two countries came to a halt. The major casualities were cricket and hockey. India pulled out of the Sahara Cup series in Toronto the last two years and government refused permission for an Indian cricket team to go on a tour across the border early next year for a Test and one-day series. With no improvement yet in the political relations between the two countries, the same fate appeared likely for a tour of Pakistan by an Indian hockey team a few months later. To circumvent the problem, the concerned parties have come up with a proposal for a three-nation series in a neutral venue, the UAE, bringing in minnows Bangladesh. “Even if everything else works out, we still need government’s permission to go out there and play,” Mr Gill said. Meanwhile, the Cricketers Benefit Fund Series (CBFS), the movers behind the Sharjah Cricket Tournament have said they will back the proposed India-Pakistan hockey series in the UAE with the same zeal shown for promoting cricket in the gulf. Abdul Rehman Bukhatir, Vice-Chairman of the CBFS said efforts were on now to identify a suitable location to hold a tri-nation series including Bangladesh in association with the UAE Hockey Association. “We are trying to support a game which is the second most popular sport in the subcontinent. Right now we are in search of a location to stage the event. We hope to have a clear picture in the next four to six weeks”, Mr Bukhatir was quoted as saying by the media in Dubai. CBFS Chief Executive Zahid Noorani also confirmed that pakistan hockey officials had got in touch with their counterparts in India . |
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Aussie itinerary to be finalised today MUMBAI, Dec 22 (PTI) — The itinerary of Australia’s tour of India would be finalised tomorrow at a meeting of the cricket Board’s core group which its former president Rai Singh Dungarpur described as that between ‘reformists’ and road-blockers.
The BCCI secretary, Mr Jaywant Lele, told PTI here today the programme and fixture committee under Kamal Morarka’s chairmanship would finalise the itinerary and table it at the board’s core group meeting. Meanwhile, former BCCI President Rai Singh Dungarpur has described tomorrow’s meeting as ‘reformists vs road-blockers’. “The reformists must have their say and if someone blocks progress, he is an enemy of Indian cricket. But I am positive about the outcome of the meeting. The board is a mature body and they will take the right decision,” he said. He also had a dig at the board for its ‘follies and foibles’ and said “If we do some introspection we will realise what grave mistakes we continue to make”. Mr Dungarpur said his presidentship of BCCI was a total failure. “Somewhere down the line, you have to be honest and it does not matter if you are 65 years of age,” he said. |
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Anand stuns Shirov, inches closer to world crown TEHRAN, Dec 22 (UNI) — The time to coronate India’s first world chess champion is close at hand. Viswanathan Anand is on the verge of bringing home the world title in a sport that India gave to the world. In yet another brilliant display, this time with black pieces, the Indian champion outplayed a tired and error-prone Alexei Shirov in the third game of the six-game FIDE World Chess Championships final. The win which came in 41 moves put Anand 2.5-0.5 up at the midway stage of the championships. With three more games to go, in which he will have white pieces in two, Anand needs only two draws to become the 15th FIDE world champion. “I have prepared hard for these championships,” Anand has asserted time and again and it showed today. The first game of the six-game final had ended in a draw and then Anand had scored a brilliant win in the second game. For sometime now, the feeling has been that Anand has been playing to a pattern. Solid draws with black and all out attacks for a win with white. However, Anand has brought in some element of surprise in almost every game at these championships. The surprise has been in openings, in middle game manoeuvres and solid endgame plans. He has varied his openings very well and his tactics have been to keep the opposition guessing. In all his matches so far in these championships, Anand has played solid with black and preferred to go in for draws. And that’s what Shirov may have expected today, especially after the win the Indian scored last night. But Anand must have realised that Shirov was tired and vulnerable. So he went in for a sharp defence with the Sicilian and went into the Paulsen variation. For a good part of the early stage, Anand was equal, but white (Shirov) had his chances to create initiatives and space. Once again for the second day running, Shirov landed in time problems. After 22 moves Anand still had an hour and a half on the clock, while Shirov had just 20 minutes. Anand’s choice of the Sicilian may also have been because he did not want to repeat any opening played so far. In a short match like this it helps to keep the rival guessing. That would also not give Shirov any chance of playing any home preparations. While Anand has prepared well, Shirov has been playing for long stretches. He came into the world championships after the Olympiad in Istanbul and then played 16 days of non-stop chess from the second round to the day he qualified for the finals. The game for the first 10 odd moves followed some lines which have been played frequently. But then Anand’s 11 Nb6 had Shriov thinking for 45 minutes and that was the beginning of his time problems. On the 16th, Shirov introduced a novelty and departed from a game played before by Sergei Dolmatov and Sergei Beshukov earlier this year. In the middle game, Shriov sacrificed an exchange for two pawns and got a king side attack that looked dangerous. But he had not prepared for a counter punch from Anand which came on the 20th move. Anand’s 20th move ra8 was a strong one and took Shirov by surprise. Then Anand followed it up with a series of strong moves that had the Latvia-born Spaniard in a tizzy. Now Shirov could only play for a draw. With time pressume piling on, Shirov was unable to handle, Anand’s 23rd and 27th moves, which were again strong. He went in to try and exchange the queens for his rooks were very active and gearing to attack the white pawns on c2 and d2. Once queens went off the board on the 33rd move, Anand was headed for a win. But he had to complete it with some technique. However Anand has shown that he is now into a mode where he does not miss a win once gets into a position of that kind. |
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Punjab Police, PSB in last 4 LUDHIANA, Dec 22 — Punjab Police, Punjab and Sind Bank, Bharat Petroleum and Army XI sailed into the semifinals of the fourth All-India Ramesh Chander Memorial Farmtrac Hockey Cup here today. In the semifinals Punjab Police will take on Punjab and Sind Bank and Bharat Petroleum will meet Army XI. Both the matches will be played tommorow begining at 12 noon at the PAU hockey ground. Today, Punjab Police eased out Indian Railways in a rather one-sided match 6-3 after leading 3-1 at the breather. Jaskaran Singh of Punjab Police converted a penality corner in the 13th minute. Right half L. Balra of Railways restored parity scoring a fine field goal on a long pass from Jagmohan in the 19th minute. The cops shot into the lead when centre forward Baljit Singh Bhullar pushed the ball genlty in the net on the pass of right in Baljit Singh Dhillon. Just before the interval in the 34th minute left out Sarabjit Singh gave a parallel pass to left in Daljit Singh who found the target to make it 3-1. Full back V.P.Singh capitalised on a penality corner rebound taken by Baljit Singh Dhillon in the 40th minute to consolidate the lead to 4-1. Daljit Singh and Sarabjit Singh pumped two more goals in the 48th and 53rd minutes. Railways reduced the margin in the 58th and 67th minutes to make it 6-3. Army XI thrashed Steel Authority of India (SAIL) 4-1 in a lack lustre game. Army XI went into an early lead (4th minute) through a penality corner by Cyprin Aind. C.S Xalxo increased the lead in the 11th minute. Kamal Horo scored a field goal in 19th minute. The solitary goal for SAIL came off Harmanpreet's stick in the 48th minute. Six minutes later E. Lakra of Army added one more goal to make the tally 4-1. Last year’s runners-up Bharat Petroleum drubbed Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) 3-0. After the first barren half, the oil men opened their account in the 45th minute through center forward Gagan Ajit Singh. He again struck in the 56th minute (2-0). In the 59th minute left out Amar Aimma scored a superb field goal to clinch the issue 3-0. In the under-15 boys section Namdhari XI defeated Amritsar XI 3-1. For Namdhari XI, Harshpreet and Ajmer converted two penality corners in the 30th and 40th minutes, respectively. In the 51st minute Charanpreet Singh of Amritsar reduced the lead to 2-1. Gurwinder Singh of Namdhari XI sounded the board in the 57th minute to make it 3-1. |
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Best Christmas gift, says coach D’Souza LUDHIANA, Dec 22 — Cedric D’ Souza, newly appointed coach of Indian hockey team, is in a upbeat mood. There is a reason for it. “ It is perhaps the best gift I have got when Christmas celebrations are just around”, said D’ Souza while interacting, in context with his appointment as coach, with The Tribune here this afternoon. He had left for Delhi following the announcement of his name as coach and returned here this morning. One can make out from his body language that he has lapped this gift with full gusto. He, like a seasoned diplomat, refused to comment on several controversial issues surrounding the Indian Hockey Federation, including the unceremonious sacking of Indian captain Ramandeep. “ Let us forget about yesterday and talk about tomorrow to make a fresh beginning”, D’ Souza said when asked to comment about the Ramandeep episode. He has a lot of ideas in his mind to improve the lot of Indian hockey at national and international level. “ I am prepared to share some of these with you but I will not reveal what new tactics and strategy will introduced to ensure respectable place for the Indian hockey team at the international level”, he said. D’ Souza was also coach of Indian hockey team which was fielded in Atlanta Olympics. He had resigned after that and was appointed by the IHF as Director, Training. Before his appointment as the national coach, he was concentrating on youngsters and training them to prepare them as a next crop of players. When asked what would be his thrust areas as the coach, he replied: "Main stress would on mental and physical fitness of players. Nutiritional aspect would also be given full importance. As far as adoption of tactics are concerned, it would be a blend of the tactics of various games. For instance, in basketball, the first principle of the game is for the ball to the rotated from one player to other before the winking of eye. Same principle could be introduced. Over indulgence with the ball is a big weakness of Indian players and that required to be taken care of. I would tell the players to distribute the ball at the first available opportunity”, he said. “More sting would be added to the attack by the forward line and defence would be further compacted. I would try to induct every traditional Indian and western tactics which I think can improve Indian hockey at the International level”. “I will sit with players selected for the camp, show them video clippings of the Sydney hockey matches played by the Indian team and asked them to identify the mistakes committed during the course of matches”, he said. “Collectively we would try hard to avoid such mistakes in future hockey encounters.” A proposal would also be submitted to associate some coaches at the Patiala camp starting on January 5. Such coaches could jot the training method followed at the camp and introduce the same while training junior players in various parts of the country. “I would like that at least 10 coaches should be picked up for this purpose and they should attend the camp. A new feeder route of coaches and players could be created by doing so. Whenever I go to meet the IHF, I would put this proposal there,” he asserted. |
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China cagers retain
Asian junior title NEW DELHI, Dec 22 (UNI) — Displaying awesome firepower, defending champion China overpowered spirited Japan 78-59 to win the 15th Asian championship for ‘junior’ women at the Talkatora Stadium here today. China, who lifted the championship for the eighth time and fourth time in a row, overwhelmed Japan from the beginning by taking a convincing lead from the 10th minute. At the breather the score was 44-35 in favour of China. Chinese players, taking advantage of their height and speed, outclassed their opponents. Their defence was so strong that most of the time the Japanese players could not even reach the circle. Most of the time the Japanese players failed to penetrate the citadel and their throws went haywire. Best player of the tournament, Japanese captain Oga Yuko, with 26 points tried her level best to snatch a victory, but all her efforts went waste due to China’s strong defence. In the second half, Japan pulled up their socks and scored 24 points against 23 of China. But they could not overcome the deficit of the first half. For China, Chen Nan (29) and Zhang Fan (20) were the top scorers whereas Oga Yuko (29) and Tanaka Rika (15) were for Japan. A delighted coach of the Chinese team Liu Qing, who won the “Valuable Coach of the Tournament Award’’ said, “Our girls played well and they deserved the win. We chalked out our plan after watching the semifinal between Japan and Korea, which Japan won due to their swiftness.’’ “We tried to maintain a very strong defence today. The height of our players is an advantage. But we played consistently to maintain a lead of at least five points from the beginning,’’ she said. She praised Chen Lisha, who was voted the “valuable player of the tournament’’, Chen Nan, Zhang Fan for their overall performance in the tournament. Talking about the future, she said they would be eyeing to win the world championship to be held in July in Czech Republic. But a dejected Japanese captain Yuko, who scored the highest number of points said: “There is no respite. We will have to improve our game to participate in the world championship.’’ Top two teams of the tournament automatically qualify for the world championship held every two years. Talking about her aim, diminutive Yuko said, “I want to win the Olympics gold.’’ Asked whether her height is a disadvantage, she said, “I try to match the height of opponents with my speed.’’ The coach of the Japanese team, Inoue Shinichi said despite performing well they lost to China. “We tried to counter the height advantage of the opponents with speed, penetration and conversion.” He praised his players, particularly Yuko and Tanaka, for their overall performance in the court. |
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Ineligible lifters in PU meet? LUDHIANA, Dec 2 — The Panjab University Inter-college Weightlifting Championship held on December 16 has come under cloud amidst allegations that some of the participating colleges had fielded ineligible candidates for the competition, some of whom have even been selected for the inter-university championship. The members of the weightlifting team of the local S.D.Government College have alleged mass irregularities committed by another local college during the championship. In a written complaint lodged with the Director, Sports, Panjab University, the D.P.E. of the Government College, Ludhiana, Mr Balbir Singh, has alleged that the weightlifting team of Arya College, Ludhiana, comprised of certain ineligible players, who although registered as students in the said college, were reportedly serving in Uttar Pradesh Police. The complaint further alleged that another member of this team Mandeep Singh was not even the student of the college. Mandeep who participatead in the meet as B.A. part II student, is said to be a middle fail. All the players have also been issued identity cards by the college management. The complaint also alleged that Pardeep Sharma and Kuldeep Singh who represented the college in the 69 kg and 94 kg categories, respectively, were serving as police personnel in Uttar Pradesh. Although both of them are reportedly enrolled as students, they are not eligible to participate in the inter-college sports meets as they are already serving in the police. On the basis of their performance in this inter-college meet these three lifters have been selected for the All-India Inter-university championship to be held next week in Mumbai. One of the aggrieved players Kawaldeep Singh, while talking to The Tribune said when they objected regarding the participation of ineligible players, inlcuding non-students in the championship, they were threatened. Kawaldeep Singh said their complaint was not even considered and no enquiry was ordered. He pointed out, in the face of such irregularities, genuine players were denied a chance to get due results and rewards for their performance. |
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Venus ends year with $ 40 million deal NEW YORK, Dec 22 (AFP) — Venus Williams capped the most successful year of her young tennis career by signing a five-year contract extension with Reebok worth a reported $ 40 million. The 20-year-old American, who has been affiliated with Reebok since she was 11 years old, will launch the sports apparel company’s “Defy Convention” campaign on Super Bowl Sunday in January. “This is a big moment in my life. My whole life has been a dream come true after another,” she said. “I’m overwhelmed with the confidence they’ve put in me. But I deserved it.” Williams started the year battling tendinitis in both wrists, but finished it with the Wimbledon and US Open titles. She went on to gild her season with Olympic gold in Sydney. “There’s no better athlete, no better individual in the world who is better suited to represent our brand,” Reebok Chief Marketing Officer, Angel Martinez said. “Our goal is not to show Venus as a tennis player but Venus as a lifestyle icon, someone inspiring with the power of her presence.” Williams said she expects her tennis priorities to remain unchanged, and brushed off speculation that she might cut her career short. “I like tennis. That’s my top priority. As long as I’m happy and healthy on the court, I’ll be in the tennis world,” she said. “This is what I want to do. All my other interests will have to wait. I’ll be able to concentrate on them once I retire.” “It’s an unbelievable uplifting milestone in women’s sports,” Federation Cup captain and us tennis legend Billie Jean King said via phone from her home in Arizona. “It’s fantastic that she’s recognised. I want to congratulate her on her commitment and on crossing all the boundaries.” In 2000, Williams became the first African-American to capture the Wimbledon crown since Althea Gibson in 1958 and added a second Grand Slam title to her resume, two months later, by claiming the US Open. “Winning Wimbledon changed my career. It just added to my highlights. It opened the door for me to do more,” said Williams, who posted a 41-4 record on the wta Tour, winning a total of six titles along the way. Her match victories included an impressive 35-match winning streak, which started in May and ended in October when she fell to fellow American Lindsay Davenport in the final of the wta Tour event in Linz, Austria. Williams said she has no plans to shift her focus next season to the pursuit of the world No 1 ranking. Instead, she said, her top priority will be winning the French Open. “I’m not focusing on the numbers. If it happens, it happens,” she said of the No 1 ranking. “What I really want to win is the French. I have two titles on red clay. The surface is not a problem. Naturally on clay, I’ll have to hit a few more balls back. “I can stay out there for six hours,” she joked of the potentially arduous claycourt battles in front of her. “After that, I’ll have to go.” |
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Arun Singh, Robin enter semifinals GURGAON, Dec 22 (UNI) — Andhra Pradesh’s V.Durga Rao outclassed K.Kujor (SPSB) to storm into the semifinals of the light fly weight category in the 33rd Junior National Boxing Championship here today. Attacking from the word go, Durga Rao unleashed flurry of blows on his rival who ran all over for cover. Kujor was saved from further beating by the referee who stopped the contest in the third round. Completing the semifinal line up in this category were Arun Singh (Punjab), A.Magesh (TN) and Robin Dev (Har). Arun Singh was far superior to his rival Deepak Bahuguna (UP) whom he outpointed 13-6. In a one-sided bout, Magesh scored an easy 14-7 point win over Mahati Vgra Sand (Bihar). In a keenly-contested bout, Robin Dev managed to pip Aswani Sharma (Chd) by a solitary point. Dev won 7-6. In the fly weight category, Andhra Pradesh’s Suwdi Raju bludgeoned Subod Dhyani (UP) to move into the semifinals. Like his state-mate Durga Rao in light fly weight category, Suwdi Raju also thrashed his rival and the refree had to intervene to save Subod Dhyani from further punishment. The contest was stopped in the third round as Dhyani was hopelessly outclassed. Rakesh Poorti made the last four grade without any fight as he got the walkover. Steel Plant Sports Board’s (SPSB) Divakar overwhelmed Ravi Kumar (Haryana) 18-10, while Bengal’s Rajesh Kumar managed to outpoint Keddy Zosing Zula (Mizoram) to complete the last four line up. In bantamweight, Madhya Pradesh’s G.Satyaraju overwhelmed Delhi’s Pallav Roy 23-8 on his way to semifinals. Mujtaba Kamal (Bengal) was far superior to his opponent Atul Sidharth (UP) and emerged an easy winner. Kamal won 21-13. Punjab’s Kamal Dutt also had an easy entry into the last four as he made light of Karnataka’s Dhanesh Dutt’s challenge. The Punjab boxer won 10-4. However, Dharam Singh (Chd) had to wage a grim battle to oust Bijender Singh of Haryana 13-12 to book his place for the last four berth. In featherweight, barring for one bout between Rohit Thapa (Ser) and Dalolal Zuilana (Manipur) which turned out to be one-sided,the three other quarterfinal bouts were firecely contested. Rohit Thapa had no difficulty in putting it across his Manipur rival 10-2. But Andhra’s M. Athteshmudin had to wage a grim battle before outboxing Haryana’s Ashok Kumar 13-11. Delhi’s Dharmender was taken to full length by Uttar Pradesh’s Kulwant Singh. Dharmender emerged winner by a solitary point, 15-14. Gopal Singh (Pb) managed to outpoint Vijender Singh (SPSB) 17-12 to make it to the semifinals. In late last night bouts host Haryana’s hope of a medal in middle weight suffered a major setback when international boxer Suresh Singh was disqualified for hitting Punjab’s Yadvinder Singh below the belt. |
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NEW DELHI, Dec 22 — India edged out China 2-1 to come closer to a berth in the final, but their fate will be decided only after the last league match between South Korea and Thailand in the men’s section of the Asia Cup Tennis Tournament.
