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August 10, 2001, Chandigarh, India    |
Gebrselassie halted in tracks; gold for
Kosgei
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India to go all out against Korea Kuala Lumpur, August 9 Already out of contention for a final berth, India need a big win against South Korea tomorrow if they hope to make it to a 3-4 placing in the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament. Germany down
Pakistan Captain’s knock
by Ganguly Equipment for Games can be
borrowed |
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Jyoti, Arjun tied joint
third Hockey team for Poznan
meet Sports quota
recruitment
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Gebrselassie halted in tracks; gold for Kosgei Edmonton, August 9
Ethiopia’s Assefa Mezgebu outsprinted Gebrselassie to take silver in 27:53.97 with the twice Olympic champion and four times world champion winning the bronze in 27:54.41. Olympic champion Reuben Kosgei claimed the gold medal in the 3,000 metres steeplechase but hopes of another Kenyan podium sweep were sunk in the final water jump. Leading from the last hurdle Kosgei held off a late charge from Morocco’s Ali Ezzine to finish a wafer-thin 0.05 seconds ahead of the Sydney bronze medallist in 8 minutes 15.16 seconds to narrowly maintain Kenya’s domination of the event. Ezzine took the silver in 8:16.21, while world record holder Bernard Barmasai added a bronze to the Kenyan medal total with a clocking of 8:16.59. “I gave my Olympic gold medal to my parents but I will keep this one for myself,” said Kosgei yesterday. “It feels nice to be Olympic and world champion.” The victory marked Kenya’s sixth consecutive gold medal in the event but for the first time since 1991 in Tokyo the country failed to occupy the top two places on the podium. Entering the final 200 metres the Kenyans had appeared poised for a sweep ofthe medals, until world junior champion Raymond Yator stumbled in the water hazard opening the door for Ezzine. Germany’s Lars Riedel claimed his fifth discus world title becoming only the second man to win five gold medals in the same event. Riedel, who won four consecutive titles from 1991 in Tokyo to 1997 in Athens yesterday, returned to the top of the podium with a championship record throw of 69.72 metres in the fifth round relegating Lithuanian Olympic gold medallist Virgilijus Alekna to second on 69.40. Completing the podium was Germany’s Michael Mollenbeck taking the bronze with 67.61. Only Ukrainian Sergei Bubka with six world titles in the pole vault has won more gold medals in a single event. American sprinters Michael Johnson with nine and Carl Lewis with eight have claimed more titles but they have come in more than one event. Olympic bronze medallist Nezha Bidouane of Morocco ran the fastest time this year to claim the gold medal in the women’s 400 metres hurdles. Bidouane, who missed the title at the last World Championships by 0.01 seconds, clocked 53.34 seconds yesterday. Russian Yuliya Nosova, who had the fastest time this year ahead of the championships, won the silver medal in 54.27 seconds. Defending champion Daimi Pernia of Cuba tied up in the home straight after leading for 250 metres. She took bronze in 54.51 seconds. Olympic champion Irina Privalova was out with a knee injury. Olympic 200m champion Konstadinos Kederis ran the fastest time of the year here on a chilly evening to book his place in the final. It was a stunning performance by the 28-year-old Greek yesterday - he was trailing in fourth place as the runners hit the straight. But Kederis simply powered his way to the front and was even able to ease up as he hit the line in 20.03sec. “I will try to be better tomorrow,” he said. “But it will be much more difficult.” Kederis’ time beat his own national record which he set at the Sydney Olympics. In the first semi-final Britain’s Christian Malcolm, who has rapidly become a medal hope here, ran a personal best of 20.08secs to clinch his spot in today’s final. The 22-year-old won the opening semi-final with a personal best 20.08. American Kevin Little, the 1997 world indoor champion, eased into the final, coming second in the first semi-final.
Agencies  |
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Gopichand beats Olympic champ Bandar Seri Bagawan (Brunei), August 9 Playing in a group C encounter, the Indian ace came up with a 5-7 7-1 7-4 7-1 win to keep alive hopes of making it to the semifinals. It was Gopichand’s sixth successive victory over the Chinese which extended a winning streak stretching as far back as 1995. The Indian began well, keeping the shuttle low and mixing up his game from the very beginning as he stormed to a 5-1 lead in the opening game. Things looked extremely rosy as Ji seemed to have little idea about how to cope with the Indian’s guile. But then, the All-England champion lapsed in concentration. Following a fantastic leaping smash by the Chinese that narrowed the deficit to 2-5, the Indian misjudged the shuttle thrice as he allowed the world number 14 back into the match. Having come back to 5-5, Ji was pumped up and he played two fantastic points that left the fourth seed scrambling on the floor, even as the bird landed out of his reach. With the first game in his pocket, the Chinese appeared to be confident, especially since this was the first time he had even managed to take a game off Gopichand since the first time they met in November 1995. But the Indian, ranked seventh in the world, was in no mood to hand over the match on a platter. Keeping a good length on his tosses and showing great touch at the net as well as power from the backcourt, Gopi gave the Chinese no chance whatsoever in the second game. In fact, Ji seemed troubled by the breeze blowing across the arena that makes one side extremely difficult to play from, since the shuttle becomes almost impossible to control, and he capitulated tamely to a 1-7 defeat. The Chinese started out more aggressively in the third game as he pushed Gopichand into fast, parallel rallies. But then the Indian changed his tactics. Instead of trying to match Ji in speed, he began to slow down the tempo, playing a conventional drop and dribble game and then suddenly going on the offensive to throw the Chinese off-gear. With a powerful down the line smash wrapping up the third game, Gopichand seemed to play more freely as he toyed with the Chinese in the fourth game. In fact, Ji was never able to find his length from the far side and found his clears landing out more often than not. With the Indian dominant at the net, it was only fitting that the coup-de-grace was delivered with a delicate dribble to the net.
PTI |
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India to go all out against Korea Kuala Lumpur, August 9 India have four points from five matches and are placed fifth with tomorrow’s match against Korea in hand. Germany, with 12 points from four victorious outings, top the table followed by South Korea and Pakistan on 10 points each. The two top teams will qualify for the final on Sunday. Looking at the form of South Korea, the Sydney Olympics silver medallists, India would find the going extremely tough against their speedy rivals. The Koreans have left behind their 5-2 drubbing by Germany with a 3-0 win over Australia yesterday. A victory in tomorrow’s game is crucial for their chances to make it to the final. The last time India met Korea was in the Sydney Olympics where Korea beat India 2-0 in a pool match. The teams played a thriller in the 2000 edition of Azlan Shah tournament when India after being down 0-2, fought back to lead 4-3 and then threw the match away in the last few minutes to lose 5-4.
PTI |
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Germany down Pakistan Kuala Lumpur, August 9 The result knocked the Pakistanis out of contention for a place in Sunday’s final and all but ensured that South Korea would join the all-conquering Germans. Germany lead the group standings with a maximum 15 points from five victories while South Korea, with 10 points, can afford to lose by a six-goal margin to India tomorrow and still reach the decider. Australia, who have seven points, must score a huge victory over hosts Malaysia and hope the South Koreans are hammered by the Indians.
AFP |
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Captain’s knock by Ganguly Colombo, August 9 Ganguly made a fine unbeaten 74 with the help of eight fours and three sixes and added 78-runs for the unfinished sixth wicket with wicketkeeper Sameer Dighe after Indians looked to have squandered a fine start to be 203 for five. The middle-order collapsed in a heap after openers Shiv Sunder Das (72) and Sadgopan Ramesh (63) had put on 135 runs for the first wicket. The Indians, 99 without loss at lunch, lost three quick wickets in the second session with the addition of just 18 runs to lose the momentum. However, Ganguly enabled a fine recovery in the company of Dighe and the Indians came within 45 runs of the hosts’ first innings score of 326. SCOREBOARD Sri Lanka Board XI (first innings) 326 (M.Vandort 116) India (first innings) Das b Weerakoon 72, Ramesh c Silva b Fernando 63, Kaif c Sangakkara b Fernando 6, Mongia c Sangakkara b R.Perera 11, Ganguly not out 74, Badani c R. Perera b S. Perera 12, Dighe not out 25. Extras (b-6 lb-1 nb-11) 18, Total (for five wickets, 80 overs) 281. Fall of wickets: 1-135, 2-142, 3-153, 4-172, 5-203 Bowling: R.Perera 17-6-35-1, Fernando 16-2-68-2, S.Perera 12-2-42-1, Samaraweera 17-4-69-0, Weerakoon 18-3-60-1. Reuters |
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Equipment for Games can be
borrowed Chandigarh, August 9 These doubts arise as certain observers are of the view that the infrastructure being got ready for the Games might not be completed in time. For the Games, to be spread over six centres — Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala, Anandpur Sahib, SAS Nagar and Chandigarh — a number of news facilities are being constructed and in certain cases the infrastructure got ready for the aborted 1988-98 National Games is being upgraded. The only delay that can be foreseen is that of the shooting range, to be constructed at SAS Nagar. But even if the construction work of the new range is delayed alternate sites exist in the state where the competitions can be shifted. In any case work on the construction work, according to information available here, is going on a war footing and should be competed well in time. However, observers say that while the civic work will be completed in time the state might find it difficult to arrange for the equipment, a lot of which has to imported, in time for the National Games. But then there are various alternatives which the state government and particularly the National Games Organising Committee (NGOC) can examine in the matter of arranging the equipment. The Punjab Sports Department is the nodal agency in the matter of getting the equipment for the Games. The department, in turn, can ask the respective sports associations for their technical help to arrange the equipment. What was holding back the acquisition of the equipment needed for the National Games is the delay in the release of grant by the Centre. With so little time left for the games even very early release of the grant might not help the state to procure the equipment. Therefore arises the need for looking for other alternative source. While agreeing that getting equipment from abroad is a time consuming and tedious job what the NGOC can do is examine whether it can get the equipment as loan either from the Sports Authority of India (SAI), which has all types of equipment needed for the conduct of multi-disciplinary sports meets, or from previous organisers of National Games. In this context it must be mentioned that Manipur, which hosted the fifth edition of the Games in 1999, had imported all necessary equipment needed for the conduct of the Games. The Punjab NGOC can examine whether it is feasible to ‘‘borrow’’ the equipment from Manipur and return the same after the conduct of the games. Similarly, the NGOC can scout for equipment from states like Karnataka which has also hosted the National Games, or West Bengal or Tamil Nadu, which have played host to SAF Games. The issue of ‘‘borrowing’’ equipment should not pose a very big problem for the NGOC. Already, the boats needed for the rowing events of the National Games — to be conducted at the Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh — are to be borrowed from the SAI. So what is the harm if other equipment is borrowed from the authority? Even the organisers of the Afro-Asian Games are planning to ‘‘borrow’’ certain equipment from abroad. In case the National Games are not held in Punjab this time too it would do incalculable harm to the prestige of the state government. The National Games in Punjab in 1988-89 were cancelled owing to militancy in the state. That postponement was brought about by forces beyond the control of the state government. This time around the government must leave no stone unturned to see that the National Games are held in September. In any case the sixth edition of the National Games has been put off on a number of occasions for various reasons. The state government must ensure that no further delay is caused to the Games which has it origin in the state of Punjab itself. |
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Jyoti, Arjun tied joint third Kuala Lumpur, August 9 Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng set a new Asian PGA record of eight birdies in a row en route to a nine-under-par 63 to emerge leader in the field of 145 golfers. Arjun Singh, who missed the whole of last season due to a rib injury, nearly missed his 8.15am tee time when his alarm clock did not ring in the morning. Ten other Indians in the fray had uneven first round with four managing to card under par round. Chandigarh based Amandeep Johl and Harmeet Kahlon shot identical two under par 70 and were placed joint 28th along with ten others. Kolkata’s Arjun Atwal and Uttam Mundy also returned 71s and were at joint 40th slot. Delhi’s Vivek Bhandari, Amit Dube, Chandigarh’s Amritinder Singh and Kanwar Sekhon all carded one over par 73s and were clubbed at joint 74th place. Kolkata’s Indrajit Bhalotia had poor round of six over par 78 and was placed 132 while Delhi’s Digvijay Singh hit seven over par 79 for 140th place.
UNI |
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Hockey team for Poznan meet New Delhi, August 9 Besides India and hosts Poland, the other participating teams in the week-long tournament are Germany, Malaysia, England and Russia. The following is the team: S Kanta, S Sundram, K P Roy, Bikramjit Singh, Kanwalpreet Singh, V Pillay, V Rasquinha, S Kumar, M Singh, R Kant, Probodh Tirkey (captain), R Singh, Raju, T Khandekar, S Michael, Ajitpal Singh, I Singh and A Pratap. The team is being accompanied by coaches Rajinder Singh and N S Sodhi, besides umpire V B Singh and two other officials.
PTI |
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Sports quota
recruitment Chandigarh, August 9 Quoting DGP of Haryana, Mr M. S. Malik, the release said that 10 wrestlers, 13 kabaddi players, 14 volleyball players, 11 soccer players, 13 basketball players, 12 hockey players, 18 athletes, two swimmers, one gymnast, three cross country athletes, four cyclists, eight boxers, two judo players and three weight lifters have been selected under sports quota. |
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