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Monday,
August 13, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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Yegorova
takes gold; Devers beaten
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Depleted
India face difficult task Kumble writes Warne
says he is not to blame Mullally
recalled; White axed Seles powers past Hingis, enters final
Venu,
Rashu emerge TT champions Football
feista on ESPN Indian
wrestlers excel
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Yegorova takes gold; Devers beaten
Edmonton, August 12 The world indoor 3,000 metres champion was heckled by sections of the crowd and did not run the customary victory lap after powering to victory in 15 minutes 3.39 seconds after a devastating kick in the last lap. Yegorova tested positive for the blood-boosting drug EPO (erythropoietin) after the Paris Golden League meeting last month, but was cleared to compete because the test did not conform to International Olympic Committee (IOC) standards.
She will receive her gold medal at a ceremony during Sunday’s last day of action at the championships. Asked how it felt to win the gold, Yegorova said through an interpreter: “Not really that special.” “Asked about the booing, she added: “Maybe it is their personal business but I do not consider myself guilty. You cannot accuse someone of what they have not committed.” Asked at a news conference why she did not run the victory lap, she added: “I’m sorry but I forgot.” Olympic champion Gabriela Szabo had threatened to boycott the 5,000 if Yegorova ran but decided this week to take part. After finishing eighth, the Romanian said: “For me, she is not the world champion.” Olympic champion Ivan Pedroso of Cuba won a fourth-straight world championship long-jump gold medal while Gail Devers’ bid to achieve the same in the 100-metre hurdles was denied by fellow American Anjanette Kirkland.
Pedroso took the lead in the second round yesterday with an 8.23-metre jump and improved the mark via 8.35 to a winning leap of 8.4m. The Cuban left the silver for Savante Stringfellow of the USA, who had 8.24m after fouling his first two attempts. Carlos Calado of Portugal took bronze with 8.21m on countback over USA Jumper Miguel Pete as Calado’s next best jump was 8.18m to Pete’s 8.09. Pedroso, who also has a silver from 1993, joins pole vaulter Sergei Bubka (six wins), discus thrower Lars Riedel (five), 400m runner Michael Johnson and 10,000m runner Haile Gebrselassie as a four-time world champion in succession in an event. Devers had also come to Edmonton with a silver from 1993 followed by three titles in 1995, 1997 and 1999 but failed in her bid to become the first woman with four straight golds in a discipline. Devers led early on but had to settle for silver with 12.54 seconds. Olympic champion Olga Shishigina of Kazakhstan had to wait an agonizing half-hour before being named bronze medallist in a photo-finish with Bulgarian Svetla Dimitrova after both clocked 12.58 seconds. Robert Korzeniowski of Poland cemented his status as the greatest road walker in history when he became the first athlete to win the 50km event a second time in 3:42:08 hours. The 1993 winner, Jesus Garcia of Spain, had to settle for silver behind Korzeniowski like four years ago, with 3:43:07. Edgar Hernandez of Mexico stole the bronze in 3:46:12 from Olympic silver medallist Aigars Fadejevs of Latvia. Marion Jones anchored the USA to victory in the 4x100 metres relay raising her medal haul to two golds and a silver. Jones, taking the baton and a commanding lead from Inger Miller, blazed across the line in 41.71 seconds. Germany finished a distant second taking the silver in 42.32, while France claimed bronze in 42.39. Bahamas, who defeated Jamaica and a Jones-anchored relay team at the Olympics, were unable to defending their 1999 world title because of too few athletes, according to sprinter Chandra Sturrup. The USA, the defending champion in the men’s 4x100 metre relay, were reinstated after protesting its disqualification. The US team was tossed from competition after they had won their heat but their first runner, Jon Drummond, was ruled to have stepped outside his lane. A protest, however, was successful. The reinstatement yesterday gave the USA a chance to redeem themselves in today’s final after their relay team dropped the baton in the 1995 and 1997 world championships. That fate fell to the fancied Britons, who dropped the baton on their final exchange yesterday.
Reuters, DPA  |
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Germany
pip Korea, win trophy Kuala lumpur, August 12 With less than a minute to go, Germany earned their sixth penalty corner and instead of going for a direct flick sent the ball to the right corner where Eimer deflected it into the Korean goal. Korea took the attack to Germany to seize the initiative but it was German planning in the second half, combined with their tenacity, that gave them the title. Earlier in the day, India finished fifth when they defeated England 2-0 while Australia beat Pakistan 4-3 to take the bronze medal. South Korea began superbly, pushing the German defence back with some amazing runs down the middle. The breaks were so fast that the Germans did not have any option but to pull back four men into defence only to see Korea still tear through. The lead came in the 9th minute off a beautiful move when Seo Jong Ho ran through the circle and passed it to Seung Song Tae who flicked it as the goalkeeper looked helplessly. The midfield still pushed as the Germans tried their best to start sending the balls to the flanks but the Koreans stopped them outside the circle, flicking the ball to their own medios and launching counter-attacks. India, who had earlier finished their league phase with just four points, did well against their opponents England today, dominating the midfield all through except for a 15-minute period in the second half when the latter pushed hard to find the goals. This was India’s second win against England in the tournament. Earlier they beat England 2-1 to record their only win in the league stage. Dilip Tirkey and Sukhbir Singh Gill were the ones who had a good match for India while goalkeeper Devesh Chauhan also put up one of his best displays keeping out four penalty corners of a total seven that England had in the match. India could have won by a bigger margin had they utilised a couple of opportunities that came their way in the first 15 minutes of the match. However, in the 21st minute, Mukesh went in with Tejbir Singh and after a bout of passing in the circle, Tejbir shot from the right of the circle beating Simon Mason with an angled shot to give India the lead. With five minutes left in the first half, India earned their first penalty corner and Dilip Tirkey’s direct shot beat Mason in goal to make it 2-0. In contrast, England failed to come out with better plans in the second half. They were unable to beat a packed Indian midfield. It was only after 10 minutes in the second half that England had decided to use the flanks and there they stretched the Indian defence to earn five penalty corners. But Devesh Chauhan was in form as he time and again came out to deflect the flicks and direct shots off his pads. India came close to scoring in the 65th minute but Jugraj Singh’s penalty corner flick got deflected off Mason’s pads and just went over the upright.
PTI |
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Depleted India face difficult task Galle (Sri Lanka), August 12 It will be the first time in 12 years that India will play a Test without Tendulkar, but India will have to leave behind disappointment and prepare themselves mentally for a gruelling 15 days of cricket in 20 days. The Galle Test will be followed almost immediately by matches at Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy (Aug 22 to 26) and Sinhalese Sports Club Stadium, Colombo, (Aug 29 to Sept 2). This series is going to be a really tough one for all the players. Physically, its going to be a real challenge and fitness will be an important factor, Sri Lankan coach Dav Whatmore said. Whatmore does not underestimate India merely because they are plagued by injury problems to key players. “India are missing a few key players because of injury, and on paper their side contains young players still learning about the game. That doesn’t mean, we can take them lightly though,” he wrote in a cricket website today. “They have talent and when the game begins we can expect a tough fight,” he said. India’s immediate past in Tests is not uninspiring. Their 2-1 series victory over Australia at home not only broke the Aussie record of 16 consecutive wins, but also ended a victory drought for India. They had an opportunity to win an overseas Test series in Zimbabwe, but capitulated in final Test. But India do not have happy memories of this country, having last won a series here in 1993 and conceded a world record 952 for 6 the last time they played here in 1997. India’s fast bowlers and batsmen will have to deliver the goods this time around, if they fancy any chances of overcoming an upbeat Sri Lankan team. The ground staff at Galle say the wicket will be conducive to fast bowling, as it may have some extra bounce. The situation may be the same at Kandy and the SSC too, and the Sri Lankans are very well prepared, packing their 16-strong squad with five fast bowlers. Ganguly may not have reasons to be unhappy with fast-paced wickets, as Javagal Srinath is not only back, but has also demonstrated in India’s only pre-Test practice game that he could bowl with sting and nip. “We have got some good fast bowlers in Zaheer (Khan) and Srinath. I was delighted to see Srinath bowling fast in the practice game after a long time,” Ganguly said.
PTI |
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Kumble writes The first Test between India and Sri Lanka gets underway at the beautiful beach resort of Galle with a lot of hope and expectations. The first time I went to Galle along with the Indian team was during the tri-series in July 1998. Unfortunately, the weather was so bad that the five days we spent there, we never saw the ground due to the heavy downpour. The players were confined to their rooms watching the World Cup football which was on then, and playing different games like table tennis, water polo, beach volleyball etc. On a serious note, the Indians will be disappointed with their preparations leading up to the first Test. Their only one three-day match before the Test was abandoned on the final day due to dangerous pitch conditions and this wouldn’t have helped the Indians’ cause. Openers Das and Ramesh have straightway got into the groove with both scoring half centuries after being away from international scene for over a month and skipper Sourav also making his mark with an undefeated half century. The absence of Sachin Tendulkar and Laxman due to injuries is a huge blow and the former will be missing his first Test match since his debut in 1989. The batting will depend mainly on Sourav and Rahul Dravid along with the openers. The two slots created by Laxman and Sachin will be taken up either by Kaif, Badani, Mongia or Martin. Badani and Kaif, having played in a Test match before perhaps will get the ;nod. With the return of Prasad, the skipper will be looking up to the bowling partnership of Srinath and Prasad. Along with Zaheer and Harbhajan, the bowling looks formidable. The team management also has the option of playing either Sanghvi or Bahutule along with Harbhajan as a second spinner. And if the think tank decides to play with three seamers and one spinner, the skipper has the option of using Badani, Kaif and himself to do the supporting role. Sri Lanka will go into this series highly confident after winning the Coca-Cola Trophy, Jayasuriya and co. will be looking for their second Test victory against India in 16 years. The Sri Lankan batting looks solid with Jayasuriya, Attapattu, Jayawardane and Arnold. The other opening slot perhaps will go to the new comer Michel Vandort, who notched a fine century against the Indians in the three-day fixture. The return of Hashan Tilakaratne will provide solidity and experience in the middle order. With the keepers slot going to Kalu or Sangakkara, the Sri Lanka batting looks pretty impressive. The Sri Lankan bowling revolves around one man, Muttiah Muralitharan, who has been the architect of many a Sri Lankan victory. Chaminda Vaas will add experience while Fernando’s explosive burst and his raw pace will add a lot of fire to the Sri Lankan bowling. It remains to be seen as to what the Galle international stadium surface has to offer. It has always assisted spin in the recent past with Murali grabbing most of the wickets for Sri Lanka. One contest everyone would be eagerly waiting for is the one between two best off-spinners in world cricket today — Muralitharan and Harbhajan and I only hope that the latter comes a winner!
Gameplan |
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Warne says he is not to blame Sydney, August 12 The brash blond, undoubtedly the greatest legspinner in the history of Test cricket, attracts controversy like a moth to a flame. But in his autobiography to be published on Thursday, Warne, 32 in September, argues his innocence. In 1994, the Australian Cricket Board covered up payments of $ 4,000 made by an Indian bookmaker called “John” to both Warne and Mark Waugh for information about the weather, pitch and team selections. Both players were fined, although the disciplinary action taken by the board was kept secret until exposed by the press in 1998. Warne says in his book, extracts of which were published by the Sydney Morning Herald this weekend, that he never knowingly accepted money from a bookmaker. He says Mark Waugh introduced him to his friend “John” after he had lost $ 5,000 in a casino in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo. “Looking back now, with everything that has emerged during all the investigations in various parts of the world, people might wonder how I could think that a near-stranger was prepared to show such generosity without an ulterior motive,” he says. “At the time, as I’ve said, I took it at face value.” Warne says “John” rang him a couple of times. “They were the sort of conversations I might have had with my dad and brother,” he says. Warne later reported then Pakistan captain Salim Malik for offering him $ 100,000 to “underperform” in the first Test at Karachi in 1994. Last year, Warne was pilloried by the British press when it was revealed he had had “dirty” phone conversations with a nurse while playing county cricket for Hampshire. Warne says the woman approached him in a nightclub. After he refused her advances, she told him she was a very good talker on the phone. “It was over a week later when I phoned for the first time,” he says. “What developed next was
explicit talk between two consenting adults. She rang back a few days
later and the same thing happened. AFP |
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Mullally
recalled; White axed London, August 12 The selectors also axed batsman Ian Ward and allrounder Craig White for the first time in the five-match series. Nasser Hussain returned to captain the side after missing the Tests at Lord’s and Trent Bridge due to a broken finger he sustained in the series opener at Edgbaston. Swing bowler Richard Johnson, a late replacement for fast bowler Chris Silverwood in the Trent Bridge Test, also retained his place. Also keeping his place was batsman Usman Afzaal. The left-hander hasn’t played since making his debut against the tourists at Edgbaston. Mullally hasn’t played a Test since his appearance against South Africa’s in the ill-fated Test at Centurion Park. England won by two wickets when two innings were forfeited for the first time in Test cricket after rain shortened the final game of the series. Mullally (32) has played 18 Tests and taken 56 wickets at an average of 30.59. The Hampshire bowler won his recall after a series of match-winning bowling.
AP |
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Seles powers past Hingis, enters final Manhattan Beach, August 12 The sixth-seeded Seles will be attempting to win her fourth title here — and the $ 90,000 winner’s cheque — when she faces local favourite and second seed Lindsay Davenport in the final. Davenport was in imperious form in her semifinal, needing only 47 minutes to crush fifth seed Nathalie Tauziat of France 6-1, 6-2. “After coming off such a long layoff you’re not sure what’s going to happen,” said Seles, who had a five month layoff due to a stress reaction in her right foot. “The last time I came off a long layoff before the French Open I played poorly, but now I am playing and moving well and I am not feeling any of my old injuries.” Seles fought well to take the opening set, but Switzerland’s Hingis returned the favour in convincing fashion to set up a decider. In the third set, Seles broke serve in the opening game and held off three break points in the next game en route to a 3-1 lead. Hingis was unable to get another break point on Seles’ final three service games as the American wrapped up the victory on her first match point when Hingis smacked a backhand service return over the baseline. Although Davenport has reeled off eight straight wins against the former world No 1 to give her an 8-2 lead in their head-to-head count, Seles is eager to break through against the two-time champion here. “I have to play a great game and must return well,” Seles said. “Probably one of Lindsay’s best assets is her serve-and-return game, but she is an all-court player and likes the surface here.’’ Since returning, Seles has reached the semifinals of the Bank of the West Classic — where she was beaten by Davenport — and was blitzed by defending champion and Wimbledon title holder Venus Williams in last week’s Acura championship. “When you win matches like I’ve done last week and this week, it gives you confidence,’’ said Seles, who could move up three spots in the world rankings to No 7 if she wins. “It’s really great to overcome some of the players that have given me trouble in the past.’’ Though the victories are adding up, the nine-time Grand Slam champion is feeling the fatigue of the rigorous schedule. MASON: Patrick Rafter reached the final of the Tennis Masters Series-Cincinnati on Saturday, beating Lleyton Hewitt 6-4, 6-3 in an all-Australian semifinal. Rain started just as top-ranked Gustavo Kuerten and seventh-seeded Tim Henman were ready to begin the night semifinal. Following a 2-hour, 21-minute delay, Kuerten broke Henman’s serve and went on to win the first set 6-2. The match was suspended again with Henman leading 5-1 in the second set. Officials waited until shortly after midnight — five hours after the match started — to suspend play until this morning. Rafter and Hewitt had faced off only twice before, both in 1999, and Hewitt had won both matches. This time, Hewitt could not handle Rafter’s pressure tactics and superior shot placement. “He’s probably playing the best tennis he’s ever played,” Hewitt said. “He’s playing maybe as good as anyone in the world right now. “Once he’s got his serve going, he’s very tough to break out there. I regard my return of serve as one of the best in the world, and I couldn’t get that much on it today.”
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Paes-Bhupathi duo in final New Delhi, August 12 The sixth-seeded Indian duo defeated the Swedish-Australian pair 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-2) in an exciting two-hour battle, according to information received here today. Paes-Bhupathi, ranked seventh in the world, will take on the winner of the semifinal match between Martin Damm/David Prisnosil and Nicolas Lapentiti/Jeff Tarango in the final later tonight.
PTI |
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Venu, Rashu emerge
TT champions Karnal, August 12 Result Quarterfinals:
Navreet Singh (Bhiwani) b Neeraj (Sirsa) 12-10, 11-2, 11-6; Ramnesh (Yamunanagar) b Arun Singh (Sonepat) 12-10, 11-7, 11-4; Kush (Karnal) b Harpreet Singh (Panchkula) 8-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-8; Venu (Karnal) b Shubhanker (Panchkula) 11-8, 11-6, 11-5. Semifinals:
Navreet Singh (Bhiwani) b Ramnesh (Yamunanagar) 8-11, 12-10, 6-11, 11-4, 11-6; Venu (Karnal) b Kush (Karnal) 13-11, 11-9, 11-3. Final:
Venu (Karnal) b Navreet Singh (Bhiwani) 13-11, 11-7, 11-3. Quarterfinals (girls):
Neha (Sirsa) b Manisha (Rohtak) 11-8, 11-5, 11-8; Rashu (Sirsa) b Meenakshee (Bhiwani) 11-6, 7-11, 9-11, 16-14, 11-3; Kavita (Bhiwani) b Kavita Nagpal (Bhiwani) 11-9, 6-11, 13-11, 11-9; Surbhi (Sirsa) b Arti (Sirsa) 11-5, 11-9, 7-11, 11-9. Semifinals:
Surbhi (Sirsa) b Kavita (Bhiwani) 11-7, 11-4, 11-8; Rashu (Sirsa) b Neha (Sirsa) 7-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-6. Final:
Rashu (Sirsa) b Surbhi Sirsa 11-3, 11-7, 11-3. |
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Football feista on ESPN New Delhi, August 12 According to Manu Sahwany, managing director of ESPN Software India Ltd, ESPN Star Sports has acquired the pan-Asia telecast rights of the EPL, the most exciting and passion-filled football league in the world, for the next three years. With three live games a week at prime time every weekend, the Indian fans will enjoy the most comprehensive coverage of 2001 season of the EPL. |
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Indian
wrestlers excel Chandigarh, August 12 He said that as per the information available the Indian boys dominated the first round in free style form of wrestling. Ramesh (69 kg.) defeated grappler from Ukraine by 10 points, Krishan (54 kg.) defeated grappler from Russia and Parveen (97 kg.) defeated wrestler from Korea. Mr Malik complimented the Indian grapplers for their spectacular victory. He hopes that the Indian wrestlers would set the new records in the Asiad and Olympic. All the three boys, who dominated the first round hail from Haryana. The Indian wrestlers had secured overall third position in the Asian Wrestling Championship held at Ulanbattar (Mangolia) and improved their own performance by securing overall second position in the Cadet Wrestling Championship held at Tehran (Iran). |
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