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| Saturday, February
17, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Australians open campaign against India ‘A’ today
Pak raring to go
against New Zealand |
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Germany to play 3 hockey Tests Mohun Bagan, East Bengal in battle of attrition Salgaocar meet ITI Zee Churchill edge past Air-India Karnataka edge out PSB Punjab athletes rise in revolt Govt intervention sought Joyner-Kersee quits officially
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Australians open campaign against India ‘A’ today Nagpur, February 16 With the absence of Indian bowling spearhead Anil Kumble, who is recovering from a shoulder operation, the selectors would be watching Tamil Nadu leggie Balaji Rao, while Dinesh Mongia from Punjab has been scoring heavily in the domestic cricket and this game could be the turning point in his career. The Indian-A team led by V.V.S. Laxman, has Test openers Sadagopan Ramesh and Shiv Sunder Das with two other youngsters Mohammed Kaif and Hemang Badani to follow in the middle order. Former India stumper Nayan Mongia and in-form medium pacer Debasish Mohanty too get a chance to prove their mettle along with off spinner Harbhajan Singh and left arm spinner Rahul Sanghvi. Left-arm medium pacer from Delhi Ashish Nehra is almost certain to open the bowling with Mohanty while youngster Javid Zaman of Assam will have to sit on the sidelines as the selectors would be keen to watch the three spinners in action. Aussie skipper Steve Waugh told reporters after the net practice that their bowling spearheads- fast bowler Glenn McGrath and leg spinner Shane Warne — along with middle order batsman Mark Waugh would be rested for tomorrow’s match.
— PTI “We want to give every one a chance to get the feel of the wickets over here and that is why we have left out our three senior players,” Waugh said. Asked what he felt about the India-A squad, Waugh said: “It is a good side with a few Indian players and some talented youngsters in it and it should be a good tour opener for us as well”. Waugh will be looking for runs from the blades of his deputy Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting, Michael Slater, Damien Martyn, Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer. The new ball would be in the hands of Damien Fleming, Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz, a formidable combination by any means, while off spinner Colin Miller will have a vital role to play in tomorrow’s match. To a query why another leggie Stuart McGill was not considered for the tour of India despite doing well in Test matches against the West Indies, Waugh said: “We can select only 14 players for any tour”. “There is no doubt McGill is very good leg spinner but after Shane Warne recovered from his injury the selectors thought it right to give Warne a chance. “We have one more side game against the Ranji champions at Mumbai before the first Test and I want all the players to get a feel of the heat and the pitch,” he said. However, the response from the spectators is not very encouraging as only 50 per cent of the tickets have been sold so far, according to a VCA official here. Among the Australians, wicketkeeper-batsman Gilchrist has the best average of 54.38 in Test matches followed by Steve Waugh (51.01), Mark Waugh (42.01), M. spater (44.43), D. Martyn (42.53), R. Ponting (46.70) and J. Langer (39.61). The India-A playing XI would be picked half-an-hour before the commencement of the match tomorrow. The teams (from): Indian-A: V.V.S. Laxman (capt), S. Ramesh, S.S. Das, D. Mongia, H. Badani, M. Kaif, N. Mongia, D. Mohanty, A. Nehra, R. Sanghvi, Harbhajan Singh, W.D. Balaji Rao, Gagan Khoda and Javid Khan.
PTI |
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No pressure on us, says Steve Nagpur, February 16 Responding to a query about how much the win drought in India is playing on their minds, Steve, talking on the eve of the tour opener against India ‘A’, said they had come here to enjoy the series." We are not thinking about what has happened, we
are looking forward to the series", he said. He said: "We know we are up against a good batting side, but we have played good cricket in the past couple of seasons to adjust to Indian conditions better than the last tour here in 1998. "We are getting used to the conditions here having been here for two days now. Today morning also we had trying practice
session and the boys are all feeling good. All the players will be given a chance before the first Test", Steve Waugh added. The otherwise cool Aussie captain seemed a trifle ruffled to a question that the Australians practice sledging tactics in the middle. Steve said "we play aggressive cricket", but within the rules of the game. "We play our cricket fair and aggressive.’’ On the omission of Stuart Macgill and Darren Lehmann after such good performances back home, Steve said it was bad luck for the two. "Unlucky for Macgill, we have a magician in Shane Warne." Steve Waugh also praised his deputy Adam Gilchrist, saying in his eyes he was the best wicketkeeper in the world at the moment.
UNI |
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McGrath raring to go Nagpur, February 16 McGrath told PTI here today he had not targetted any single Indian batsman but would play very aggressively in the Test matches. “I don’t want them (Indians) to get on top of the bowling because if they do so then it will become difficult to dislodge them so I would like to have a go at them at the very first opportunity”, he added. Asked about West Indian batsman Brian Lara’s statement that he 9Lara) was the main target for sledging during the Windies-Australia Test series recently which the latter won handsomely, McGrath said, “I
don't think we indulged in that kind of tactics. “If he says we made him the target then it is not true. May be a couple of words were exchanged in good faith but we never tried to intimidate him,” he added. McGrath, along with batsman Mark Waugh and leg spinner Shane Warne, has been rested for tomorrow’s match and hopefully he might play in the second three-day game against Ranji champions Mumbai in Mumbai to renew his rivalry with Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar.
PTI |
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Pak raring to go against New Zealand Auckland, February 16 Pakistan, complete with fast and spin bowlers to burn, comes up against a frail New Zealand “Black Caps” side in the first of five one-day internationals. Sri Lanka have just handed out a 4-1 series thrashing here, just after Zimbabwe came and gave a 2-1 lesson to the home side which, despite obvious incompetence, remains remarkably arrogant. But the public, their patience tested too much, are staying away and New Zealand Cricket was today forced to slash ticket prices in the hope they might get an audience. The current worrying losing trend will be difficult to stop against a class Pakistan side raring to get on the field after two months break and having keenly observed the home side’s recent decline. New Zealand coach David Trist admits his side may have taken the Sri Lankans lightly. “Sri Lanka played better than they expected to, and we initially allowed that. They got away on us a bit... Like the Pakistanis, they can play exceptionally well when given licence. We are aware of that, and with the experience behind us everything will be a lot tighter,” Trist said. The 13-run win over Sri Lanka in Christchurch on Sunday put New Zealand’s season vaguely back on the map but it was still their second win from 13 matches. The performance of the younger brigade heartened Trist, with all-rounder Jacob Oram, batsman Lou Vincent and bowler James Franklin all looking encouraging prospects. “A lot of the younger players enhanced what the older players had done. For once we were competitive because everyone did their bit,” Trist said. “If they can do the same against the Pakistanis then we’ll be competitive throughout the series.” Despite New Zealand’s horror run of recent form, their most recent meeting with Pakistan ended in triumph just four months ago. Thanks to a 135-run stand between Nathan Astle and Roger Twose plus an unbeaten 51 from Craig McMillan, New Zealand won by four wickets in the ICC Knockout Trophy semifinal in Nairobi before beating India in the final. Pakistan captain Moin Khan agreed New Zealand’s current form was good news for his side but he still had the shock of Nairobi fresh in his mind. “They are going through a bad patch and I think it is the right time to play them,” Moin said. “But New Zealand is not an easy team, they beat us in the ICC tournament and they can come back any time.” New Zealand take in an unchanged 12 — barring the return of the ill Nathan Astle — from the win in Christchurch. Teams: Pakistan (from): Moin Khan (captain), Saeed Anwar, Imran Nazir, Yousuf Youhana, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Salim Elahi, Abdur Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Wasim Akram, Saqlain Mushtaq, Azhar Mahmood, Mushtaq Ahmed, Shoaib Akhtar, Waqar Younis, Imran Farhat, Mohammad Sami.
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Germany to play 3 hockey Tests New Delhi, February 16 The Sports Authority of India (SAI) Executive Director (team’s wing) Maj. O P Bhatia said here today first hockey ‘Test’ will be played in Mumbai on February 26, the second ‘Test’ in Hyderabad on March 1 and the third ‘Test’ in Chennai on March 4. Major Bhatia said a ‘Sports for All’ programme will be held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on February 18 in which 60 Indian and 20 German sports persons will compete in 28 different sports disciplines, including badminton, volleyball, football, yoga and grass skiing. Major Bhatia said both India and Germany would field their national teams for the hockey series. The German team would include some new faces who have been drafted into the national team in a bid to raise a new combination, while India would be fielding the national team, currently undergoing coaching in Ludhiana. The German festival is a reciprocal gesture by Germany as India had held a “Festival of India” in Germany in 1991-92. Major Bhatia said the ‘ Sports for All’ programme would be hosted by the SAI on behalf of the Department of Culture and Max Muller Bhawan, New Delhi. He said the aim of the programme was to “bring people together, enjoy physical exercise designed in a playful manner”. He said the development of ‘Sports for All’ in Germany and its structure within the German Sports Confederation have met with international recognition. Major Bhatia said one of the highlights of the ‘Sports for All’ programme would be that the general public would be allowed to compete in a majority of events, irrespective of age, in which rules and regulations will take a back seat. A two-day seminar was held here in which four German sports experts had taken part, as a prelude to the event in Delhi. |
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Mohun Bagan, East Bengal in battle of attrition Kolkata, February 16 Whoever wins tomorrow’s match at Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Salt Lake would go to the top of the current league table. And in case of a tie, the situation would go in favour of the current national league champion. Enough heat has already been generated among the rival fans following reports of the coaches published daily in the local newspapers for the derby match on Saturday. In the run-up to the race Mohun Bagan, however, are by one point from six matches so far. They have 14 points from six outings scoring eleven goals and conceding five, while East Bengal managed to earn 13 points in as many matches scoring nine and conceding three. The traditional rivals have so far met on three occasions in this soccer season. East Bengal won twice, while they drew in the Calcutta league championship. The red-yellow brigade defeated Bagan in the IFA Shield and season’s first encounter in the McDowell Cup, by one goal each. Bagan coach Subrata Bhattacharya was optimistic for an outright win to avenge the defeat in the IFA Shield and McDowell Cup. But the winners of Rovers, Durand and Airlines Trophy after a subdued start in the NFL with a 2-2 draw against JCT bounced back into the reckoning winning four games in a row before drawing 2-2 against FC Kochin in the away match on February 10. The team heavily depending on the
foreign-Indian duo of Jose Barreto and RC Prakash for scoring also has
consolidated defence line with new recruit Brazilian Amaduri. Former ITI striker Prakash has so far scored 27 goals in the season, including three in the NFL and in a good nick pose danger to any rival team in the country. On the other hand East Bengal perhaps have the golden chance for the first time to go up in the league table if they can chalk out victory tomorrow. The National Football League was the only trophy in the country that remains untouched by the glamorous outfit of yellow and red of Kolkata. But recent wins against Salgaokar and ITI gave East Bengal fresh energy to remain in the title race against odds. Omolaja Olalekan of Nigeria and Dipendu Biswas gave their coach Monoranjan Bhattacharjee an added punch to train his boys to run all out against Mohun Bagan. He has also powerful defenders in Jackson Agaypong, Nippy Dipak Mondol an Sur Kumar Singh and in-form Dipankar Roy. East Bengal now have good track record with four wins, a draw and a loss with a total of 13 points and will have to go all out for an outright win. Defensive game on their part will be a blunder. Salgaocar meet ITI Bangalore: Second placed Salgaocar Sports Club of Goa have an advantage over Indian Telephone Industries (ITI), struggling with their form, in their encounter in the seventh round of the National Football League here tomorrow. Salgaocar go into the match with a morale boosting win over Zee Churchill Brothers while ITI, squandering the home advantage, lost to Tollygunge Agragami of Kolkata in their previous match. ITI players have not been able to deliver the goods barring against East Bengal, whom they beat convincingly in the city. Otherwise, they have lost three encounters and drawn two matches. After resumption of the league, ITI had not played impressively. Even the foreign players have not risen to the occasion, complicating the problems for coach Habeeb. The loss against Tollygunge was a depressing one for the local outfit. Though they are keen on improving their image, ITI may find Salgaocar too difficult to handle. Return of captain K.V. Dhanesh after serving a onematch suspension should improve the attacks. The visitors have a strong line up in Bruno Coutinho and Alvito D’Cunha and third forward is Ghanian Ahamadi Tajani. Their half line also looks strong with Dharmajit Singh, Climax Lawrence, Somatai Shaiza and G. Benga Lawal. Besides them, the team has a solid defence manned by Robert Ferandes, Augustin Rodrques, Covan Lorence, Franky Barreto and Roque Pereira.
UNI |
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Zee Churchill edge past Air-India Mumbai, February 16 The goal came in the 75th minute of the play, when Brazilian Edson Castro’s high toss went over the rival defenders to Ukranian Igor Shkurim, who looked off side but the linesman failed to notice it. Shkurim pounced on it and after running a few yards gave a cross pass, which goalkeeper Ansari, despite a dive, failed to intercept. Kaustav Ghose had no
problem in tapping it in. Ghosh would have been villain if he had missed it as few minutes ago after substituting for Uday Konar he had sidekicked a ball over the bar with goal open. It was superb handiwork by Roque Barreto, which had split the defence and also beaten the goalkeeper. In the first half, churchill were saved thrice by their Nigerian goalkeeper Edward Ansah. In the 14th minute he dived twice in succession, when Henry Picardo took shots at him. Even Ansari saved his side from falling behind when he fisted a solid shot from Shkurim later. There was a terrible breach in the defence of Churchill in the 32nd minute,
when Ratan Singh and Herbert rushed in and gave Tomba space to kick but Ansah again effected a diving save. Five minutes later before Tomba could take aim at a defection at the open goal Jaspreet made timely intervention. This was Churchill’s second win in seven matches. Air-India lost its third match in seven. Ansah and Edson also received yellow cards.
UNI |
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Karnataka edge out PSB Chennai, February 16 Despite being at the receiving end, Karnataka got the all important goal, which eventually turned out to be the match-winner, in the 60th minute, thanks to the opportunism showed by Sandeep. Connecting a cross from the right, Sandeep moved in a few yards and banged home giving no chance for bank custodian Paramjit Singh to react as the rival defence lay shattered. Earlier, Chandigarh put paid to the hopes of defending champions Air-India defeating Bhopal 5-0 to enter the quarterfinals from group A, while Punjab made the last eight grade from the four-team pool E winning its last league match against SAIL 5-2 to maintain a clean slate. Uttar Pradesh completed the quarterfinal line-up after playing a goal-less draw with Orissa. Meanwhile, it was curtains for the Air-India team which had to take an early flight for home as they paid dearly for their goal-less draw in the league phase against Chandigarh, which needed to win by a three-goal margin against Bhopal today. And the spirited Chandigarh team achieved it in great style, winning by a 5-0 margin to edge out Air-India on goal difference. Chandigarh led 2-0 at half time through Cyril Ekka in the sixth minute and Mandeep Singh in the 14th minute. Realising the urgency, Chandigarh scored the third goal in the 48th minute through Inderjit Singh and pumped in two goals in a span of two minutes towards the close to cement their place in the quarterfinals. Inderjeet Singh scored his second goal in the 66th minute and Cyril Ekka added one more to his tally in the 68th minute to make it 5-0. Punjab, who required only a draw to make the grade, led 3-0 at half time and faced a stiff resistance from SAIL in the second half before winning 5-2. The goal scorers for Punjab were Jugraj Singh (three) and Gurjant Singh and Jagbir Singh (one each). For SAIL Gurinder Singh and Sunil Kiro reduced the margin.
UNI |
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Punjab athletes rise in revolt Ludhiana, February 16 Mr Sukhdev Singh, a member of the committee, said in press note issued here yesterday that the committee would raise its voice against alleged anomalies in the Punjab Amateur Athletic Association. The committee has also been empowered to take any decisions in the interest of the athletes. The members of the committee are Jaspal Singh, international shot put athlete (Amritsar), Sarjit Singh, international discus thrower (Jalandhar), Amandeep Kaur, international shot put player (Ludhiana), KPS Brar, international discus thrower (Patiala), Daljit Singh, international javelin thrower (Ropar), Sukhdev Singh (Fatehgarh Sahib) and Gurdev Singh (Sangrur). The selection of the above committee was made through raising of hands by the gathered athletes. A signed memorandum was also released in this connection containing signatures of 100 athletes supporting the committee. The committee appealed to all the state sports welfare associations, AAFI and the IOA that the alleged malfunctioning of PAAA should be checked so that the interest of athletes in the state can be safeguarded. The committee also demanded a high level enquiry into the fake certificates racket, wrong selection and visas to fictitious athletes. |
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Govt intervention sought Chandigarh, February 16 Mr Banga has pointed out that the state of Punjab has contributed a lot to the game of cricket in the country and besides the development of a world-class stadium at SAS Nagar, had also developed international cricket facility at Patiala, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Chandigarh. He is of the view that the ongoing tussle between the PCA and the BCCI should be settled as early as possible as it were the cricketers who would suffer . |
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Joyner-Kersee quits officially Indianapolis, February 16 USA Track & Field said yesterday it had received final paperwork from the 38-year-old Joyner-Kersee declaring her retirement. Joyner-Kersee, the heptathlon world record-holder and American record-holder in the long jump, had announced her retirement in 1998, but did not fill out any forms. She came back last year in an attempt to make her fifth Olympic team, but her effort fell short. She finished sixth in the long jump in the US Olympic trials at Sacramento, California. After missing the team, the rusty Joyner-Kersee was emphatic that she would not compete again even in seniors competitions. “No,” she said, “not even in the Masters.
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Chandigarh lose
to Punjab Chandigarh, February 16 Quarterfinals: Kerala b Haryana 27-10 (half time 15-7)winners- Sheeba 8, Usha 7, Shree Devi 3; losers-Neha and Mukesh 2 each. Manipur b Maharashtra 22-16 (half time 9-7) winners-A. Surbala 7, Sandhya Rani 6; losers-Seema 8, Kalyani 2; Punjab b Chandigarh 25-18 (half time 13-8) winners- Baljeet Kaur 8, Harvinder 6, Karamjit Kaur 5, losers-Reena, Asha, Gurpreet and Ritika 4 each. Madhya Pradesh b Delhi 22-13 (half time 13-8). |
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