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| Tuesday, January 16, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Millennium Cup Chile get past
Bahrain 2-0
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National
Games postponed Hong Kong meet
Jordan today Probe
Ahmedabad Test: Azhar Chanda holds Sargissian CR down SRC in
hockey Public sector golf
from Jan 18 Tendulkar pulls
out Hockey
Test Becker does not
rule out remarriage
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Millennium Cup KOCHI, Jan 15 (PTI) — Uruguay gave a delightful display of attacking soccer, making mincemeat of hosts India, and showed the doors to them with a 3-0 win in their last group-2 match in the Sahara Millennium Soccer Cup here tonight. At half-time the winners led 1-0. Uruguay forged ahead through a header in the 39th minute and Varela Ricardo fired in the second goal in the 56th minute. Substitute Martirena Wilson pumped in the third goal in the 71st minute. Uruguay with a maximum six points in the three-team league topped the group. Iceland, who had also moved into the quarter-final, had collected three points (1 win, 1 loss) while India bowed out without having won any match. Though India lost, they put up a good show in the first session and in early part of the second session but could not keep up the tempo. At the other end, Uruguay played at a fast pace and delighted the crowd. They looked as if they might score in the first 15 minutes, but despite playing their passes in the midfield accurately and keeping possession for long spells, they really could not make an impression at the penalty area. Uruguay slowly took control and gave some anxious moments to the rival defence which gave an improved performance today. Speedy Segales Juan caused flutters in the Indian defence twice midway through the session. On one occasion, his fierce grounder was gathered by custodian Virender Singh and on another Virender fisted out an Alexanda Victor free kick over the bar for an abortive flag kick. The visitors then stepped up the momentum and caught their rivals off guard. Uruguay got their reward when hard working Segales Juan headed home a deflection by Alexanda Victor from a Mansilla Marcelo high floater on the right flank. Uruguay kept up the pressure and the Indian defence caved in. India did get a chance to equalise, but Vijayan’s powerful shot from the left went straight to custodian Monserrat Diego and a minute later Basudeb Mondal drove wide. After changing ends, India attacked vigorously but Diego thwarted every move. Uruguay consolidated their position capitalising on a defensive lapse in the 56th minute through Varela Ricardo. |
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KOLKATA, Jan 15 (UNI) — Latin American soccer giants Chile moved closer to a quarterfinal berth as they defeated a fighting Bahrain 2-0 in their group four second league match of the Sahara Millennium Cup at the Salt Lake Stadium here today. After leading 1-0 at half time through star striker Hector Tapia’s 28th minute goal, the Latin Americans struck again in the second half with an 80th minute goal by striker Martel Fernando who found the target off a header from Rodrigo Nunez. Bahrain are now out of contention in the
tournament as they lost two successive matches to be at the bottom of the group ladder while Chile now lead the league table with six points from two outings, followed by Japan and Uzbekistan, both of whom have collected three points from equal number of matches. Chile in their last group league match will meet Uzbekistan while Bahrain will take on Japan to complete their league encounter. With a couple of world cuppers and six Olympians in their fold, there was no question of Chile’s supremacy in the game. But Bahrain unlike their last match against Uzbekistan, when they were drubbed 0-5, put up a vastly improved performance today playing against the
tournament favourite. The Latin Americans played according to their plans though they could not show their usual skill. However, they maintained their edge all through and struck when the chances came. Bahrain on the other hand looked more composed with their stopper Abdullah Rahman proving to be a tower of strength in the defence and on two occasions at least saving beautifully. They also forced a couple of good raids but their forwards muffed away the chances. The match began on a comparatively slow note with Chile sharing larger number of attacks. Though the Chileans made several raids on Bahrain citadel all of it came to a naught as their defenders thwarted the forays. Chile first came near scoring in the 25th minute when striker Fernando Martel took a shot from a goalmouth scramble. When the ball was entering the goal, Bahrain Defender Abdullah A. Rahman appeared from nowhere and halted its progress. The South Americans finally took the lead three minutes later when from a combined move Fernando released a measured centre towards Bahrain box and opportunistic Chilean striker Tapia showed why he is a cut above the rest. He headed home beating Bahrain custodisan Karim hands down (1-0). Stung by the reverse, Bahrain tried to consolidate their move with quick passes. They also came near equalising from the resultant kick off after conceding the first goal. |
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National Games postponed Chandigarh, Jan 15 — The 31st National Games, scheduled to be held over five venues in Punjab —Ludhiana, Patiala, Jalandhar, Anandpur Sahib and Chandigarh — have been postponed for the fourth time and will now be held in September this year. The 31st National Games were first postponed from November 5, 2000, to November 18, 2000, and later to March 18, 2001. The National Games were allotted to Punjab to coincide with the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa. The tercentenary celebrations conclude in April, 2001. The decision to postpone the games was taken after a meeting of the organising committee of the National Games which was chaired by the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal. Among others who took part in the deliberations were Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, President of the Punjab Olympic Association, and Mr Arvind Khanna, secretary-general of the Punjab Olympic Association. Mr R.L. Anand and Air Vice-Marshal S.M.Mayor (retd) took part in the deliberations on behalf of the Indian Olympic Association. The president of the Indian Olympic Association, Mr Suresh Kalmadi, speaking to reporters said the National Games had been postponed to enable the Indian athletes to compete for a berth in the national squad for the Afro-Asian Games, scheduled to be held in New Delhi later in November. About 90 countries are expected to take part in the first-ever Afro-Asian Games. Mr Kalmadi also said that the final dates of the National Games would be finalised once the exact dates of the SAF Games, scheduled to hosted by Pakistan at Islamabad this time, were finalised. It is a different matter whether India will get permission to field a squad at the SAF Games in Pakistan given the state of relations between the two neighbours. Another reason why the National games have been put off is the fact that the organising committee would have found it very difficult to house the over 10,000 participants in March as schools and colleges will be holding their annual examinations. Mr Kalmadi said that the secretary-general of the National Games organising committee, Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra, was of the view that postponing the games till September would provide ample time to put in place proper infrastructure, construct accommodation for sportspersons, wherever needed, and make available all the equipment to the sportsmen and women. While all infrastructure needed for the National Games will be ready for use much before March, the extension will give time to the organising committee to build and develop a new shooting range at SAS Nagar. Originally scheduled to be held at the Patiali Rao shooting ranges in Chandigarh, differences arose between the Chandigarh Administration and the organising committee on the renovation of the ranges for the shooting events. Finally unable to find an amenable solution, the organising committee decided to build a new range at SAS Nagar . Now the extension will come in handy to the organising committee to build the new shooting range. When asked why the games were originally proposed to be held in March when examinations in schools and colleges were scheduled, Mr Kalmadi did not give any concrete reply. Regarding the permanent sponsorship for the National Games involving a huge budget, Mr Kalmadi told that now since 100 per cent income tax exemption was allowed, it would help the corporate sector to come forward to sponsor the National Games. Meanwhile, the Punjab Government has decided to honour the medal winners of the previous National Games held at Manipur at a state-level function on February 12. This assurance came following Mr Khanna’s request to Mr Badal to speed up the awards ceremony. It may be recalled that the Punjab Government had promised to honour all medal winners of the last National Games but for some reason or the other the function was being put off. |
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Australian Open: Safin, Agassi, Kournikova triumph MELBOURNE, Jan 15 ( Reuters) — Marat Safin provided the power and purpose and Anna Kournikova the fizz and colour as the two Russians grabbed centre stage on the first day of the Australian Open today. Defending champion Andre Agassi, Australian crowd favourite Pat Rafter and Tim Henman, Britain’s only real hope in the season-opening grand slam event, were all in good form as the trio eased past outclassed opponents into the second round. The towering Safin at least temporarily allayed fears that the recurrence of an elbow injury might cut short his campaign in Melbourne, the second seed serving himself out of trouble to beat Spaniard Galo Blanco 6-4 1-6 6-4 7-6. Safin, the U.S. Open champion, has had little to celebrate in Melbourne lately. He was fined for not trying in a first-round loss at the Open last year and pulled out of a warm-up tournament last week with an elbow injury. The 1.93 m (6ft 4in) Moscovite said he was happy with his progress, and that he had been able to play well at important times against Blanco on centre court at Melbourne Park. “For the moment it’s okay, and I can serve,” Safin said. “I hope I will serve like this for the next week... two weeks,” he told reporters. Safin showed flashes of his notorious temper during the match but said he was unable to moderate the passion which resulted in him smashing no fewer than 48 rackets during matches last year. “It’s my character. How can I change my character? It’s impossible,” said Safin, who came within a whisker of finishing 2000 as the number one player in the world. The stylish Kournikova broke new fashion ground when she paraded a distinctive black and yellow outfit against the unproven Daniela Hantuchova on court one. Still without a professional singles title, eighth seed Kournikova was a cut above the 17-year-old Slovakian and won 6-2 7-5 in 77 minutes. She was down 0-3 in the second set but quickly regained control against Hantuchova, who was playing in her first Grand Slam tournament. “In the second set I think that I relaxed a little bit and started to make mistakes. I was too defensive but then I found my rhythm again,” Kournikova said afterwards. Four-time winner Monica Seles was on court for the blink of an eye before her opponent Brie Rippner retired hurt. Former world number one Seles had hardly broken a sweat before her match against fellow American Rippner was over, Rippner retiring hurt at 1-0 in the first set after falling and twisting her ankle. The 20-year-old Rippner was treated on court, her left ankle visible swollen and bruised, before she quit. Fourth seed Seles — four times a winner in Melbourne —suffered some discomfort of her own. She complained after the match that she was suffering from a minor virus and welcomed the chance for a couple of days’ rest. Eighth seed Henman beat Morocco’s Hicham Arazi —a quarter-finalist in Melbourne last year — 7-6 6-4 6-4. Agassi followed Henman onto court and was in a confident mood after his relatively uneventful 6-0 7-5 6-3 win over Jiri Vanek of the Czech Republic. “For the first match I couldn’t have really done it better today,” Agassi told reporters. “If that continues, I have a good feeling for how quickly I’ll get into my best form.” Rafter, who could be playing his last grand slam in front of his home crowd after hinting at retirement, beat his friend and compatriot Scott Draper 6-3 6-2 7-5. Henman and Rafter are in a talent-packed half of the draw which also includes Safin as well as former champions Agassi and Pete Sampras. Chanda Rubin of the USA won the dubious honour of becoming the first seeded casualty of the tournament, the 11th seed beaten 6-3 6-0 by Slovakian qualifier Janette Husarova. Defending women’s champion Lindsay Davenport is to kick off the evening session against troubled teenager Jelena Dokic. Dokic has said she will play under a Yugoslav flag instead of for her adopted home of Australia after her family raised concerns over the tournament draw and over her treatment by the Australian media. Third-seeded Sampras will then play Karol Kucera of Slovakia. Lindsay Davenport came through the first hurdle in the defence of Australian Open title. Davenport had to come from a set down to survive an emotionally-charged encounter with Jelena Dokic, a day after the 17-year-old had announced she was quitting Australia, where she has lived since she was 11, to play for her native Yugoslavia. The decision followed allegations by Dokic’s father Damir, who is currently banned from watching his daughter because of his disruptive behaviour at previous tournaments, of hostility from the Australian media and tennis hierarchy. A feared backlash from the crowd failed to materialise and Dokic coped impressively well with all the pressure on court, forcing Davenport to produce some of her best serving to clinch the crucial third set for a 4-6 6-4 6-3 victory. But afterwards the strain was apparent as the tear-stained teenager defended what was apparently her father’s decision. “It’s a decision we made and I’m standing by it right now,” she said tellingly. Spanish fifth seed Conchita Martinez won her first-round match beating Australia’s Christina Wheeler 6-1, 6-1. |
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MARGAO, Jan 15 (UNI) — A buoyant Jordan will be looking for full points against Hong Kong in their group III last league match of the Sahara Millennium Cup Football Tournament to be played at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda here tomorrow. Jordan, inspired by 1-0 win over Romania in the opening match would certainly be going all out to maintain
their unbeaten record as full points will keep them in the hunt for top placing in their group. Romania and Jordan are tied with three points each. Romania have completed their league engagements yesterday with a win and a defeat. As the mood in the Jordan was quite upbeat having won the first match it would definitely give them a psychological advantage tomorrow. While Hong Kong would have to tone up their game after having surrendered 2-4 to Romania yesterday and they will have to win the match by at least a margin of two goals to enter the last eight stage as only two teams will qualify for the quarterfinals in the three team group III. Jordan appears to be a well-balanced team but can hardly afford to be complacent as Hong Kong are equally strong as seen in their performance in the last match against Romania yesterday. Hong Kong will be heavily dependent on their quick footed forward Kwok Yue Hung and all eyes will be on Hung who scored a fine brace yesterday. Helping him will be Chan Ho Zman and Chan Wai Ho who can split the rival defence. |
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NEW DELHI, Jan 15 (PTI) — Saying that “something smells fishy”, former captain Mohammed Azharuddin, banned for life from playing cricket, has demanded a thorough probe into the 1999 Ahmedabad Test between India and New Zealand, where the hosts did not enforce the follow-on and the match meandered into a draw. “Yes, it is very important that it (Ahmedabad Test) be probed. It is a different matter that I did not play there, but something smells fishy,” Azharuddin said in an interview to Outlook magazine that hit the stands today. India had taken more than 200-run lead in the first innings, but surprisingly did not enforce follow-on and instead decided to start their second innings. The then captain Sachin Tendulkar, in a meeting with CBI officials after the match-fixing scandal was exposed, had expressed his suspicion about the decision saying he always thought Kiwis would be asked to follow on. In excerpts of the same interview published in the media last week, Azharuddin had hit out against some Mumbai players saying they were not “investigated properly” by agencies probing match-fixing in India. Saying that he was being singled out in the match-fixing controversy, Azharuddin said “match-fixing simply cannot be a one-man show. The wristy batsman, who was among four cricketers banned by the cricket board, said: “Unless the entire team is part of the conspiracy, match-fixing cannot take place.” “This is a game which involves 11 players. If a team fails, it is spectacularly unfair to single out just one person,” he said. “There cannot be any foul play on the part of a single person. In fact, even five players cannot work to fix a match, it won’t work... entire team has to be in the know.” While Azharuddin and Ajay Sharma were handed a life ban, Ajay Jadeja and Manoj Prabhakar were suspended for five years prompting the former captain to call it discriminatory. Asked whether there was a conspiracy in this entire match-fixing probe to lay all the blame on him, Azharuddin said: “I have been discriminated against. Others have been let off lightly.” A veteran of 413 one-day international matches, Azharuddin said he was disappointed that his colleagues did not stand by him during his hour of crisis. He said people were jealous of him that was why he was targeted. “I think people are jealous of me. I have always been fit and Inshallah..am even fit today. I have had a successful career and have played for long. Maybe people wanted me out,” he added. On reports that he had vast properties and unaccounted money, Azhar said: “My taxes are clear.” “I have been playing cricket for 17 years. Why don’t people understand that I would have earned some money through match fees and endorsements.” Azharuddin said he gave the best years of his life to cricket but cricket administrators had let him down. “I’ll fight it out,” Azharuddin said of the ban. “I still remain positive. There is always tomorrow.” |
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Charges baseless: CBI NEW DELHI, Jan 15 (PTI) — The CBI today termed as “factually
incorrect” allegations levelled by former cricket captain Mohammed Azharuddin that certain Mumbai players were not “investigated properly” by agencies probing match-fixing. “It is all wrong. It is not something new,” CBI Director R.K. Raghavan told reporters when asked to comment on the charges levelled by the banned cricketer. He said all these allegations had surfaced during the six-month investigations but “we have come to a conclusion and on that basis, we have submitted our report to the government.” Azharuddin had recently said in an interview to a magazine that “nobody talks of the Rs 70 lakh cash found in Sunil Gavaskar’s Gymkhana locker. What about Ravi Shastri’s Ali Bagh farm house and other costly properties? How did Vinod Kambli lose his money from a locker?” Asked about the investigations into the “unholy” nexus between cricketers, administrators and the underworld, the CBI Director said “the probe has begun and we have collected some material and we are in the
process of getting more. It will take some time.” Mr Raghavan said the CBI was also working in tandem with income tax authorities to unravel this nexus. |
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LINARES (Spain), Jan 15 (UNI) — Indian International Master Sandipan Chanda held Master Sargissian from the black side of the semi-slav defence at the end of the 7th round of the Linares International Chess Tournament today. Sandipan (2431) who acquired a slightly difficult position from the opening, patiently swapped pieces at regular intervals to equalise the game in a bishop ending. However, he erred here to give some winning chance to his opponent. But playing under time pressure, the Armenian allowed Sandipan to escape with a draw and to climb to 4 points. Rahul Shetty (2331) moved to 3.5 points with a fine win over IM Kharatorosian of Armenia from the white side of the rarely played nimzowitch defence. His opponent fell into a well known opening trap and allowed a temporary queen sacrifice. Shetty emerged with the dual advantages of queen side pawn majority and a bad pawn structure for his opponent which he exploited very well in a king and pawn endgame to score his victory in 54 moves. IM
R. B. Ramesh (2467) who opted for the dangerous keres attack against GM Golod’s sicilian defence, committed crucial errors in the opening stage itself to allow the Grandmaster to launch a terrific attack on his king which he had castled on the queen side. Ramesh was forced to surrender a pawn initially and then had to give up a piece later when faced with checkmate. He lost the game in 19 moves. |
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MUMBAI, Jan 15 (UNI) — Central Railway (CR) today dribbled to a fine 2-1 win over once formidable Sikh Regimental Centre (SRC) while an unimpressive Indian Air Force (IAF) of Delhi pushed out Western Railway 5-4 via tie-breakers in the second round of the Gold Cup Hockey Tournament here at the Mahindra Stadium. CR now meet Steel Authority of India and IAF take on Army eleven. The Central Railway forward line of Shamim Baig, Arif Baig and Jansher Khan consistently posed danger for SRC. However, the first goal came the SRC way in the seventh minute. M. Tirkey provided a perfect square to Rajpal Singh whose first timer gave Arun Gurung no chance to block it. CR regardlessly pressed on and should have been on level but Jansher’s strike hit the post. But luck could not deprive them a goal which came in the 20th minute through the joint efforts of both Baigs and Jansher. The move started from the centre and finally Arif got a clear view of the goal with goalie Gurnam Singh unable to fathom from which angle the shot would come. After the break immediately Arif failed to capitalise on a chance. The winning goal which came in the 50th minute was again executed in style. Amit Sain gave a long diagonal pass from 30 yards and Shamim who had been waiting behind the rival lines for such opportunity trapped the shot and in a flash sent the ball in with a reverse hit. SRC did manage to break in much later but Sukumar Minz’s edged push was saved by Haseebuddin near the vacant goal. IAF and Western Railway were locked at one goal each after full time. IAF got their first goal thanks to a powerfully-hit shot of captain Satvir Singh in the 12th minute which went for goal off a defender’s stick. The scorer then spoilt it by arguing with the umpire and shoving him after Western Railway had equalised in the 20th minute of the second half. He was sent out. It was IAF goalie Ajith Gopal’s mistake that cost his side a goal. Deepak Gupta had slammed a shot at Ajith and the latter’s kick only went over the ball. Shanta at once jumped into the fray to score. In the tie-breaker Baldev, Balbir, Kujur and Satbir scored, while Pradeep missed for IAF. For the losers Gursevak, Anand Sonkar and Inder Negi converted while Allan Barla and Shanta Kumar failed. |
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Public sector golf
from Jan 18 NEW DELHI, Jan 15 — India’s No 1 amateur and Kolkata’s blue-eyed boy Rahil Gangjee leads five other Indian Golf Union-ranked men’s amateurs into the GAIL-hosted 21st Public Sector Control Board Inter-Unit Golf Tournament to be held at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club from January 18. The tournament will also feature top three amateur lady golfers in the country. Hosts Gas Authority of India Ltd. (GAIL) seem to have the most formidable combination on paper, with the top three men’s players, Rahil
Gangjee, the Delhi-based duo of Ashok Kumar and Anitya Chand, sixth-ranked Jaideep Patwardhan of Pune and second-ranked Chandigarh-based lady amateur, Parnita Grewal forming, their team. But Oil India Ltd (OIL), who have won the title four times in a row, will certainly be gunning for their fifth crown. |
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Tendulkar pulls out MUMBAI, Jan 15 (PTI) — Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar has pulled out of the West Zone squad for the four-day Duleep Trophy cricket league match between South Zone and West Zone to be held at Surat from January 18 to 21. Tendulkar, who has pulled out of the side due to ‘personal reasons’ and did not play in the first two Duleep ties, is likely to figure the last match against East Zone at Raikot from February 1 to 4. |
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Hockey Test MUMBAI, Jan 15 (PTI) — The Bombay Hockey Association (BHA) will host the first hockey Test match at the Mahindra Stadium here on February 26. The other two Test matches in the three-Test series would be played in Chennai on March 1 and Bangalore or March 4. |
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Becker does not rule
out remarriage BERLIN, Jan 15 (Reuters) — Boris Becker says he does not rule out the prospect of marrying again after he struck an out-of-court settlement with his estranged wife covering alimony payments and custody of their two young sons. “I assume that I will remarry when the right one comes along — naturally not today or tomorrow,” Becker was quoted as saying in the mass circulation Bild newspaper on Monday. Becker’s lawyer confirmed on Sunday the ex-Wimbledon champion had reached a deal with his wife Barbara. |
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