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| Wednesday,
May 16, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Dighe may be first choice in Zimbabwe:
Ganguly Pak confident on
eve of first Test Records to stay intact, says Wisden Don King seals deal with
Rahman Sluggish Sampras falls at first hurdle in Humburg |
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Jeev’s equipment
stolen Indian eves lose to
Netherlands Gian Moyon’s brace helps Punjab retain
title Doubts over 2002
nationals Tripura eves beat
Chandigarh Judokas not to train at Shilaru
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Dighe may be first choice in Zimbabwe: Ganguly Bangalore, May 15 “Samir Dighe has done well in the series against Australia. He has probably won the series for us. He has also scored important runs. He should be a handy prospect for Zimbabwe,” he told reporters here. Ganguly said the players in the preparatory camp were also practising yoga. “I think yoga is good for the body and the mind. You stretch a lot better.” On his own form, Ganguly said he had one failure against the Australians, but was confident of regaining form on the tour of Zimbabwe. Declining to compare India coach John Wright with any other coach, Ganguly said “He (Wright) is a good man. He is gelling well with the team. All the boys have good rapport with him”. He refused to discuss India’s prospects in the tri-series involving the West Indies, saying “it is too far (away).” He said he did not see any problem if the wicket favoured seamers in Zimbabwe. “That’s going to help us. We have some fast bowlers in the team. It is important to put enough runs on the board for seamers to take wickets.” On the Indian team’s hectic international schedule in the next few months, Ganguly said: “You got to accept it. You are playing professionally for India. Itinerary is fixed. You play 10 years of international cricket and should make the most out of it.” Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir left-arm medium pacer Surinder Singh Bagla today joined the Indian probables camp in place of injured Rakesh Patel of Baroda. Rakesh Patel, who is also in the National Cricket Academy in the second batch, is suffering from a knee-injury. The six-day camp for the Zimbabwe tour would conclude on May 18. Sourav Ganguly, who is passing through a lean phase, allayed doubts over his form and said he was looking ahead to the series against Zimbabwe beginning on May 29 with a ‘’pretty positive’’ mind. “I am working very hard on my cricket the same way as I used to do before and am pretty positive about the next series,’’ he told newspersons after a session at the ongoing camp for the 26 probables for the Zimbabwe tour. The “Bengal Tiger’’ said, “I have failed only in one series (against Australia). A lot of talk is going on about it. I have been around for five years. It is the first time I have struggled. This is bound to happen. It is in the past now.’’ The stylish left-hander has a superb batting average of 44.02 and 44.28 from 41 Tests and 163 one-day internationals, respectively. He has seven centuries in Tests and 16 tons in the one-dayers. But the Indian skipper struggled against the Australians at home and made just 106 in three Tests with his highest score being 48 in the second innings in Kolkata, where India levelled the series with a brilliant victory. His dismal run continued in the one-day series as he scored just 93 from five matches. His highest was 74 in the final match of the series, which the home team lost as also the series at 2-3. On the chances of winning abroad, Ganguly expressed confidence that the winning streak that started with a 2-1 Test series victory over Australia would continue in Zimbabwe. “If we play well, I don’t think there is any reason why we should not win”, he said and added that it was important to keep the tempo going. He cautioned against Zimbabwe being taken lightly as they were a much improved and a formidable side at home. Pointing out that every win gives more confidence, he said it was important to win abroad. Though he declined to comment on the team composition with the selection slated for May 17 here, the Indian skipper indicated that Mumbai stumper Samir Dighe was the first choice as he had done well against Australia. “He has probably won the series for us. He has also scored important runs. He should be a handy prospect in Zimbabwe”. On the camp, he said it was well organised and was going on very well. The players were working hard. The facilities were fantastic and the climate was superb. Players were also practising yoga in the camp. He said Indian coach John Wright was jelling well with the team and all the boys had a good rapport with him. He felt that India could have won the recent one-day series against Australia after breaking their winning streak in Tests. “If we had played better, we would have won the series. Positive aspects emerged more than the negative one”, he added. |
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Pak confident on eve of first Test London, May 15 Pybus, who is in his second spell in charge of Pakistan having guided them to the 1999 World Cup final defeat by Australia, even had encouraging words to say about paceman Shoaib Akhtar, who has been laid low by allegations over his bowling action and a bout of gastroenteritis which delayed his arrival till last week. The Rawalpindi Express also looked overweight for his tour debut against Derbyshire and faces a battle to win the nod ahead of the less experienced Mohammed Sami as Pakistan bid to avenge their series loss last winter. “It’s great just to see him (Shoaib) running in, the gastroenteritis he had took a hell of a lot out of him,” Pybus said. “It’s important for him that he’s working hard, he’s got a smile on his face again. He’s had a long time out of cricket,” he added. Pybus, who replaced former Pakistan batting legend Javed Minandad but whose contract is just for the tour, brushed aside suggestions that lack of batting practice could affect his key batsmen such as Inzamam ul-Haq, who was one of the few players to dominate the English bowlers in the winter. “We have got plenty of cricket in, but it’s a short timescale and we have not had a lot of time to get up to speed with English conditions,” he said. “But I think we are getting there. Inzamam is such a key figure in our batting and I think he’ll be fine. “These are experienced Test players and guys like ‘Inzi’ know when to turn it on. I don’t think he’s got any concerns himself so from the coaching side, if the player is confident, I am happy.” “Players of their quality are confident in themselves. I remember a situation a couple of years ago where Saeed Anwar hadn’t played any cricket at all for four months, got called to the Sahara Trophy and took his bat and went out and scored 80-odd against the West Indies. “If the guys are mentally tough enough they can adapt,” he added.
AFP |
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Records to stay intact, says Wisden London, May 15 A report in the Sunday Times suggested that Sir Paul Condon, head of the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption unit, was putting forward the expunging of records from the game’s supreme statistical authority as one of a number of recommendations in his first report into corruption into cricket, due to be made public on May 23. But Wisden Editor Graeme Wright told AFP here such a proposal was unworkable. “From a Wisden point of view we are utterly opposed to retrospectively altering records. “The more you go into it, the more absurd it becomes. For example, partnership records by definition involve more than one person, so what would you do then? “We are not going to be retrospective. About 10 years ago the ICC said that matches played on rebel tours in South Africa should no longer be regarded as first-class. But they were considered so at the time and we did not change our records. We did not alter our records for political reasons and we are not going to change them as some kind of punishment for match-fixers. “My one worry in all this is that while Sir Paul Condon is undoubtedly a competent investigator, I wonder quite how deep his knowledge of cricket is. “Cricket statistics are a minefield for those who are well-versed in the game never mind those on the fringe.” Wright was also concerned that this retrospective action would not help play a significant role in preventing match- fixing.
AFP |
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Don King seals deal with Rahman New York, May 15 The controversial 69-year-old hype-master and Rahman announced a title unification series here yesterday while legitimate contenders Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson can only watch and wait. Rahman, who knocked out Britain’s Lewis in South Africa on April 21, will make the first defence of his International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Council crowns on August 5 at Beijing, China, against Denmark’s little-fancied Brian Nielsen. “I know him. I know he was a former Olympic bronze medallist,” Rahman said. “He is a tough guy. I’m looking forward to the tough fights.” Also timed for telecast in US markets on the night of August 4 from Beijing will be World Boxing Association champion John Ruiz’s first title defence, a third consecutive fight against former champion Evander Holyfield. “I’m honoured for this opportunity to fight in China,” Holyfield said. “I will be the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world again. “ Should Rahman win, he will fight the Ruiz-Holyfield winner in a showdown tentatively set for Nigeria and likely in November. Mr King said Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo was interested in staging the fight. “He has shown interest in holding the fight.” King last staged a major boxing in Africa in 1974 when Muhammad Ali knocked out George Foreman in the eighth round to win the world heavyweight crown in Kinshasa, Zaire. All this was made possible because Mr King swayed Rahman with $ 500,000 in 100-dollar bills and a 4.5 $ million check as a signing bonus during a meeting early on Friday over the Carnegie Deli near Times Square. “Don King wasn’t even in the picture. But he obviously had the best deal for me,” said Rahman, who drove the money back to his Baltimore home and deposited it in a bank last Friday before returning to New York the same day. The move ended a multi-million-dollar bidding war between rival boxing telecasters Showtime, which has a contract with Tyson, and HBO, which has a deal with Lewis. “I wasn’t in the game. I wasn’t even pushing. But I guess the Lord struck me with the lightning bolt,” Mr King said in a typical rant. “I got a wake up call. David slew Goliath. The Lord brought him to me.” Lawsuits from Lewis, Tyson, rival contender David Tua and Rahman’s former promoter Cedric Kushner are pending. But Rahman declared himself a free agent because Kushner failed to make a $ 75,000 payment before the Lewis fight. “He was my promoter. He deserves a certain amount of credit. And I believe he got it,” Rahman said of Kushner. “But as far as putting my career into his hands, he didn’t do much. I felt I had to go elsewhere. I can’t see the other party being happy. But I don’t have any bad feelings.” Rahman, 28, said his not being signed with Kushner before the Lewis fight should get him out from under a rematch clause in the Lewis contract, a dubious contention at best.
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Sluggish Sampras falls at first hurdle in Humburg Hamburg, May 15 Sampras, winner of a record 13 Grand Slam singles but who is hoping to complete his collection with the French crown, looked sluggish throughout and although he raised his game briefly to take the opening set tiebreak with four points on a roll Calatrava roared back to take the second set. The Spaniard, who beat Andre Agassi in Rome last week, then had to steel himself for the kill as Sampras saved seven match points before succumbing 6-7 (3/7) 6-3 6-4. A rash of breaks had heralded the start of the decider before the spaniard held to move 3-1 clear as Sampras shook his head and resigned to his fate. Sampras, playing here for only the second time since 1995, saved five match points in the ninth game but Calatava would not let go and finally brought through his serve having first had triple break point against him, driving to the back court to end the contest. “It was a really tough match but I think the result shows I was better on the day and I’m delighted,” said Calatrava. Earlier, Chile’s Marcelo Rios put his troubles behind him to reach the second round of the 2.95 million-dollar event. Rios, who spent a night in a Roman jail last week after a fight with policemen on the sidelines of the Italian Masters Series event had little difficulty in disposing of Spain’s Carlos Moya 6-4 6-4. It was the best result for several months for the Chilean who got the year off to a great start by winning the Doha tournament, but who subsequently has gone off the boil. “You have got to look forward. It was a bad situation, things we could avoid,” said Rios of his Roman difficulties. “I’m just looking forward to try to play good tennis and try to forget what happened.” There was better luck for another Spaniard, Alberto Martin, who defeated Ukraine’s former French Open finalist Andrei Medvedev 6-3 6-0. Top seed and reigning champion Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil has his work cut out as he chases runaway Champions Race leader Agassi in this the final major tune-up for the French Open.
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Jeev’s equipment stolen New Delhi, May 15 In what is being considered as the first case of it’s kind, a mystery thief struck the players’ locker room sometime between Thursday evening and Friday morning during last week’s 1.6 million Euro-Benson and Hedges International Open, at the De Vere Belfry course in Warwickshire, England. The thief finally decamped with a handsome loot of several latest model of drivers and clubs, inflicting the maximum damage on the Indian ace. When the 29-year-old Chandigarh pro returned for his second round on Friday morning, he heard players talking about some drivers being stolen from the locker room. But imagine his shock when he found his own bag just contained his Mizuno driver and 3-wood, a Taylor made driver, a 2-iron, a 7-iron and his putter. Rest of his clubs (3-,4-,5-,6-,8-,9-irons, pitching wedge, sand wedge and lob wedge) were missing. At least five players lost their drivers, including England’s David Park and Darren Lee. “For a moment, I did not know what to do. Luckily, Mizuno, who are my equipment sponsors, have a mobile van during all European Tour events. They had prepared a set of clubs with my specifications on Thursday morning and I was supposed to try them out at the practice range later. I just grabbed them and went out for the round with an almost untried set of clubs,” said Jeev who finished tied 27th for the tournament. “I shot a three-under 69, but it was very distressing. You don’t expect something like this to happen in a locker room. Also, I was not very comfortable with the new clubs despite the score. It is like a journalist losing his laptop. You can get a new one but you can never trust it like the earlier one because of all the data you have stored in it and the familiarity factor. It takes a few days before you can adjust to the new one,” added Jeev who now plays the high-profile Deutsche Bank SAP Open in Germany this week alongside world No 1 Tiger Woods. “I think I can count myself lucky that the thief did not run away with my putter and the Taylor made driver, which is my favourite club and has been with me for almost four years now. Immediately after the incident, I have ordered two drivers of the same specifications to be doubly sure,” said Jeev. Jeev shot a three-over 75 on the final day to drop down from tied 11th place to 27th but refused to blame it on his new set of clubs. “I just had a bad start and then my putts did not drop in the back nine. I was a little depressed by the burglary and that’s all. But I am okay now and feeling much more comfortable with the new clubs,’’ he said.
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Indian eves lose to Netherlands Buenos Aires, May 15 In the first of two pool A matches, New Zealand dominated from the start, with Lizzy Igasan opening the scoring in the 10th minute. Jessica Coleman equalised in the 19th minute, just before Anit Wawatai put New Zealand up 2-1 at the end of the first half. The US squad was only dangerous on counter-attacks, but didn’t put up enough of a defence to stop Stacey Carr from sealing New Zealand’s victory with one more goal in the 50th minute. In the other match, the Netherlands, defending World Cup champions, looked sharp from the start but just squeaked past an energetic squad from India that lacked definition in the circle. The Dutch were well-served at midfield by Maartje Scheepstra, but found few scoring opportunities in the first half, then belatedly went on the attack in the second half when they gained their first penalty corner of the match.
AP |
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Gian Moyon’s brace helps Punjab retain
title Chandigarh, May 15 Lt-Gen JFR Jacob (retd), Governor Punjab, and a keen soccer lover, was the chief guest and gave away the trophies. Earlier an exhibition match was played between Chandigarh Football Academy, Sector 42 and Chandigarh Football Association coaching centre which ended in a goalless draw. From the beginning, Punjab boys played an offensive game and did not let Uttar Pradesh players to dominate. JCT Academy player Gian Moyon (14) struck in the 12th minute, after getting a pass from Karnail Singh (13). The buoyant Punjab players got another boost when Parveen Kumar (10) helped by Karnail Singh score field goal in the 29th minute for a vital 2-0 lead. It was maintained till the end of the first half. In the second half, both the teams showed sign of sluggishness and in the 60th minute, Gurpreet Singh of Punjab was shown the yellow card when he hit Salahuddin Khan. In the 72nd minute, Gian Moyon got a pass from Ramneek Sharma ( 9) and
successfully headed the ball into the goal to make it 3-0. In the dying minutes of the match, Karan Singh (9) of Uttar Pradesh dodged past Punjab defenders to open his team’s account as Punjab’s goalkeeper Navdeep Singh failed to stop the ball. Punjab team will play in the Inter-Zone National Football Championship where winning teams from all five zones will take part. |
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Doubts over 2002
nationals Patiala, May 15 It is impossible to hold two successive editions of the games within six months. The date for the Hyderabad games were decided well in advance and the present situation has arisen only because of the repeated postponment of the Punjab games. When the dates of the
Hyderabad games were decided, there was a gap of nearly 16 months between the two editions, but since the Punjab games have been postponed twice, the time period has been reduced considerably. The Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh
(SAAP), has taken a loan of Rs 150 crore from Hudco to complete the infrastructure. However, if the games are not held as per schedule, the organisers may find themselves in a financial trap due to the huge amount of interest that will be accruing on the loan
advanced by
Hudco. The Pusan Asian Games are also scheduled to be held in September next year. Therefore organisers will have to seek fresh dates from the IOA to hold the games after the Pusan games. The organisers of the Hyderabad games have to fulfil a contractual obligation with a construction company looking after
development of the games village, under which they are to hand back possession of the accommodation once the games are over. However, if there is any
postponment, the organisers may have to face a piquant situation as they may have to forego their right to occupy the premises whenever the games will be held in the future since the builders may not be ready to let the accommodation remain vacant till the time a fresh date for the games is announced. |
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Tripura eves beat
Chandigarh Ludhiana, May 15 After the breather, Punjab scored two more goals. Manjit Kaur scored the seventh goal in the 45th minute in the 53rd minute, Aarti scored the last goal. In another match Madhya Pradesh trounced Andhra Pradesh by 5-0. Both the teams struggled hard in the first half but in the second half Madhya Pardesh dominated the game. Before the interval, Durga Chander scored the first goal for the team in the eighth minute. After the interval, Sudha Kumari scored two goals in the 48th and 71st minutes to make it 3-0. In the 73rd minute, Anadta Dass increased the lead to 4-0. Five minutes before the end MP scored the last goal through Sudha. Today, Tripura beat Chandigarh by one goal to nil. Both the teams tried hard to open the account in the first 25 minutes. After that forward Gultee Chowdhary took the ball from the left side and scored the decisive goal. |
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Judokas not to train at Shilaru Patiala, May 15 The judokas are attending the senior national judo camp at the NIS in preparation for the Senior World Judo Championships scheduled to be held at Munich from July 25. The Judo Federation of India had requested the Executive Director (teams wing) of SAI, Maj O.P. Bhatia, to clear a high altitude camp for the judokas keeping in view the fact that Munich was situated at a high altitude. Although Major Bhatia gave his consent, Ms Kamaljit Konner, Director of National Camps held by SAI, declined to give permission as there is acute shortage of hostel accommodation at Shilaru. |
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Protestors picket IOC headquarters Lausanne (Switzerland), May 15 The demonstrators held up sheets with slogans such as “No Olympics in China before freedom for Tibet’’ and “In Beijing the Olympic Flame? Man, what a shame!’’. Beijing is one of five cities bidding to win July’s vote on where the 2008 Summer Games should be staged. The 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre helped scupper Beijing’s bid for the 2000 games when they lost out to Sydney. This time Beijing is regarded as the favourite in front of Paris, Toronto, Osaka (Japan) and Istanbul ahead of today’s evaluation report on the technical aspects of the bids.
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