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Saturday,
August 18, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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Indian captain Saurav Ganguly scratches his chin during the presentation of awards after losing the first cricket
Test to Sri Lanka by 10 wickets at Galle International Cricket ground in Galle, Sri Lanka, on
Friday. — AP/PTI photo Martyn slams
ton
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Winner
threatens to return medal Qatar miss
chances, draw with Oman Malaysia’s
concern |
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Games
preparations “on schedule” Restraint
on PAAA meeting Karandip wins first
position Vivek
triumphs; Isha ousted Asian Test meet
on schedule Cricket
trials
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India manage to avoid innings
defeat
Galle, August 17 A stubborn 60-run stand between Rahul Dravid and Venkatesh Prasad ensured that Sri Lanka came out to bat in their second innings, though only to complete a formality. Precariously placed at 130 for eight yesterday, it seemed highly improbable that India would be able to score the 45 more runs required to wipe out the 175-run deficit when they started today. With Javagal Srinath unable to bat due to an injury to his left hand, it was effectively the last pair. However, Prasad played an unusually composed innings and lent able support to Dravid who was as solid as ever. The vice-captain, overnight 37 not out, remained unbeaten on 61. The duo added 50 runs in 15 overs today to reach 180 in their second knock before Prasad, who battled for 70 minutes for his 20, was finally out leg before wicket to Muthiah Muralitharan who completed his 25th five-wicket haul in Test career. The six runs for victory were only a formality which the Sri Lankans duly completed in the second over but not before Srinath had sent down a maiden over and Zaheer Khan had troubled Sanath Jayasuriya with a few fine deliveries. But Jayasuriya had the last laugh when, after taking a couple, he square cut Zaheer for a four to take his team past the target. For a side on the brink of an ignominous defeat, India started the day on an uncharacteristically confident note. Dravid had been the only saving grace of the Indian second innings and his capability in handling the Sri Lankan attack was never in doubt. However, it was the manner in which Prasad batted that should have given some of the specialist batsmen in his team a lesson or two. Though he lived dangerously against the spinners, especially Muralitharan, Prasad negotiated the pace attack with ease. The first over from Dilhara Fernando yielded eight runs with seven, including a four off the last ball, being scored by Prasad. And in order that it not be dubbed as an exception, the Indians took another eight runs from the bowler’s next over. In between, Muralitharan, who was pressed into attack straightaway, conceded five runs from his first over, with Dravid playing an exquisite pull shot to despatch a shorter delivery to the ropes, and the Indians had already added 21 runs from the first three overs. It was then that the Indians realised that they could actually avert the innings defeat, that looked imminent before the start of play, and became more cautious. Dravid, who had left his partner to fend for himself against Fernando and Muralitharan, suddenly started shielding Prasad from the spinners. However, Prasad did get to play a few overs from Muralitharan and Jayasuriya, which gave quite a few anxious moments to India. In one particular over from Muralitharan, there were three confident appeals for leg before wicket decision and India were relieved to see umpire Asoka de Silva ignore them. Runs came slowly and India came tantalisingly close to the 175-run mark. At 169 for eight, Prasad took a quick single off Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara’s attempt to run out Dravid resulted in four overthrows. With just two runs required to make the hosts bat again, Dravid, who in the meanwhile had reached his 20th Test half-century, played a beautiful cover-drive off the next ball for another boundary. With the objective realised, Prasad was finally out in the next over of Muralitharan, adjudged leg before wicket. Srinath bowled a couple of widish deliveries to Marvan Atapattu in the first over of the Sri Lankan second innings and then beat the batsman with a sharply incoming ball that had the entire Indian team appealing for a caught behind. After the maiden first over, it was Zaheer’s turn to trouble Jayasuriya. He sent down two fiery deliveries that cut back sharply and hit the batsman on his gloves, the first falling just outside the reach of the fielder at forward shot leg and producing two runs. Jayasuriya failed to cut the next ball that was short and wide and cursed himself. The following ball, however, was similar and Jayasuriya promptly despatched it to the ropes to finish the affair. The second of the three-Test series begins in Kandy on August 22. SCOREBOARD India (1st innings): 187 Sri Lanka (1st innings): 362 India (2nd innings): Das c S. Perera b R. Perera 23 Ramesh b R. Perera 2 Kaif c Tillekaratne b Murali 14 Dravid not out 61 Ganguly b Fernando 4 Badani c Sangakkara
b Murali 5 Dighe c Arnold b Murali 3 H. Singh c and b Murali 12 Z. Khan c Arnold
b Jayasuriya 3 Prasad lbw b Murali 20 Srinath absent hurt Extras: (b-12, lb-8, nb-13) 33 Total: (all out, 74.4 overs) 180 FOW: 1-15, 2-37, 3-53, 4-64, 5-73, 6-81, 7-104, 8-120, 9-180. Bowling: Vaas 16-2-45-0, Fernando 17-4-35-1, R. Perera 8-1-21-2, Murali 26.4-10-49-5, Jayasuriya 7-3-10-1. Sri Lanka (2nd innings): Atapattu not out 0 Jayasuriya not out 6 Total: (for no wkt, 1.5 overs) 6 Bowling: Srinath 1-1-0-0, Z. Khan 0.5-0-6-0.
PTI |
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We will come back, says Ganguly Galle, August 17 “(Unfortunately) we have got injuries to a few key players,” he said referring to the absence of Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble and V.V.S. Laxman from the side. “They (Sri Lankans) batted better (than us) and bowled a decent line especially on the third day,” Ganguly said. Not ready to accept that India were a very different team outside their own soil, Ganguly reminded that his team had won a match abroad, against Zimbabwe, in recent months.
PTI |
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Martyn slams
ton
Leeds (England), August 17 The Australians, who have already secured the Ashes after winning the first three Tests of the five-match series, failed to part Michael Atherton and Marcus Trescothick as they put on 50 without loss before the break. But Atherton, fencing on the back foot, was then caught behind for 22 off the third ball after the restart and Trescothick, on 37, tried to pull a fullish delivery and also departed caught by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist. That brought captain Nasser Hussain to the wicket alongside Mark Butcher, the two mixing studious defence with the occasional boundary against the pinpoint pace attack of McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Brett lee. Butcher brought up the 100 with a clip off his toes off Gillespie through midwicket. England fans, however, were living on their nerves after seeing their batting line-up collapse in each of their previous innings during the series once the top three had been rooted out. The impressive Martyn, in contrast, had thrived on England’s wayward seam attack, scoring at almost a run a ball. Scoreboard Australia (Ist innings): (overnight 288-4) Slater lbw b Caddick 21 Hayden lbw b Caddick 15 Ponting c Stewart b Tudor 144 M.Waugh c Ramprakash
b Caddick 72 Martyn c Stewart b Gough 118 Katich b Gough 15 Gilchrist c Trescothick b Gough 19 Warne c Stewart b Gough 0 Lee c Ramprakash b Mullally 0 Gillespie c Atherton b Gough 5 McGrath not out 8 Extras (b-5 lb-15 w-1 nb-9) 30 Total (all out, 100.1 overs) 447 Fall of wickets: 1-39 2-42 3-263 4-288 5-355 6-396 7-412 8-422 9-438 Bowling: Gough 25.1-4-103-5, Caddick 29-4-143-3 (6nb), Mullally 23-8-65-1 (3nb), Tudor 18-1-97-1, Butcher 1-0-7-0 (1w), Ramprakash
4-0-12-0. Reuters (Scoreboard incomplete) |
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Ministry rejects Milkha’s charge
New Delhi, August 17 “The process of selection is transparent and it is no way affected by any extraneous considerations. Allegations levelled to the effect that the PMO in any way has interfered in the selection of Arjuna Awards are totally baseless, false and imaginary,” the Sports Ministry said in a statement here. All the awardees were chosen by the selection committee on the basis of their performance or their lifetime contribution to sports or sports promotion, it said. While rejecting the Arjuna Award for lifetime contribution yesterday — a fortnight after the prestigious awards were announced — Milkha Singh alleged interference by politicians and PMO in the selection of the awardees. The statement said the selection committee comprised Sports Minister as chairman, Minister of State for Sports as vice-chairman, officers of the Sports Ministry and Sports Authority of India, representatives of Indian Olympic Association and the Arjuna Awardees Association as members. The selection committee also calls upon special invitees to assist the committee in discharging its function.
PTI |
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Winner threatens to return
medal Patiala, August 17 Local athlete Ranjit Singh
Ghumman, who still walks tall at six feet one inch despite being 71 years old, is like
Milkha, perturbed that a SAI functionary and a national discuss throw athlete who is also spouse of the secretary, Amateur Athletic Federation of Indian
(AAFI) Lalit Bhanot, have been selected for the Arjuna Award this year while veteran athletes like him who have done the country proud in the international arena are lying forgotten. Showing the gold medal won by him in the inaugural Asian Games held at Delhi in 1951 which has the legend inaugural Asian Games inscribed on it, Ranjit Singh said it was his most prized possession till now but now he wanted to return it to express his anger at being ignored by the state government as well as the Centre for any award till now. Reminiscing about the 800 meters race of 1951 which landed him a gold medal, he said then “I was feted like a hero. He said Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru’s daughter Indira Gandhi had asked him whether he would win or not before the race. ‘’ I told her I will win and set a new standard for Indian athletics, both of which I did’’, he added. Speaking about his career, Ranjit said he started training in athletics after joining the Patiala armed forces under the rule of Maharaja Yadvindra Singh in 1945. He said he got exposure like Milkha Singh by participating in service meets and that he won gold medals in the 800 meters, 1500 meters and the 4x400 metres relay in the service meets of 1949 and 1950. He said earlier he created a record in the 800 metres in the national meet held at Lucknow in 1948. After independence, Ranjit joined the state police from which he retired as a selection grade Deputy Superintendent of Police. He said he was unlucky not to participate in any foreign meet during his hey day as an athlete due to domestic problems but still felt he had given his best for the country by winning laurels both in domestic meets and the Asian Games and should be accorded due recognition. The former athlete, who says he trained for various events by studying American books on training for middle distance running besides devising own ways to segregate the race in four quarters and record timings of each quarter separately, said no sports association had honoured him for his achievements made under trying times when the country had become newly independent and there were no modern training facilities available in the country. ‘’I only eat once a day in the morning having curd, milk and two chapattis, but the hunger for recognition exists and if I do not get it I will be constrained to return my medal,’’, he added. |
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Qatar miss chances, draw with Oman Doha, August 17 The hosts were dogged by a combination of bad luck and poor precision as they missed several chances in a match they dominated from the outset. “We missed several chances,” a disappointed Qatar coach Dzemal Hazdiabdic said after the match. “We should have won this match easily. The players seemed a bit too relaxed. However, a draw is better than nothing because during the qualifiers for the World Cup in France we paid dearly for losing a couple of home matches. “Had we drawn even one of them we would have made the World Cup.” Oman coach Bernd Stange was pleased with the result of a game which he had deliberately set out not to win. “People would think we played a boring game, but we played a very tactical game. We were hoping for a draw and we got it. “We deliberately played defensively. Had Qatar scored a goal we would have gone on the attack,” the former coach of the East German national team said. In fact, the Omanis were anything but enterprising as Qatar tore open their defence at will only to be thwarted by the crossbar or some shoddy goalmouth shooting. Qatar’s main striker Mohammed Salem al-Enazi was in the thick of the action several times, but in the end had to suffer the disappointment of not finishing with at least three goals against his name. In the seventh minute his shot from outside the Oman penalty area hit the post. Oman almost conceded a goal in the 12th minute when Yasser Nazmi al-Quisi saw his thundering 25-yard shot skim over the crosspiece. The visitors were fortunate once again in the first half when a 28th minute scorcher by Dahi Saad al-Naemi thudded against the bar. Qatar’s tale of missed chances continued in the second half too when Al-Enazi headed wide from less than five yards immediately after the interval. Three minutes later he again failed to find the net from close range after Al-Quisi floated the ball to him from the right. Qatar had their best chance when defender Saoud Fath al-Kathiri left his position in a daring run down the right and drilled the ball to Mubarak Mustafa Al-Fazli who shot straight to Oman goalkeeper Sulaiman Khamis Al-Mazroei from point blank range. The
Qatar defence survived a last-minute scare when Taki Mubarak Al-Siyabi’s weak header was collected easily by
Qatar keeper Hussain Ali Al-Rumaihi.
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Malaysia’s concern Bangkok, August 17 A senior immigration official told The Nation that Malaysia was afraid visitors to its capital Kuala Lumpur would get the wrong impression if the city was packed with sex workers during the September 8-17 Games. Police Colonel Surin Palare from the Sadao border checkpoint said Thailand had already blacklisted some 200 women who were deported from Malaysia on prostitution charges. Mr Surin said the crackdown for the Games would also help authorities dismantle multinational gangs which traffic women around the region.
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Games preparations “on schedule” New Delhi, August 17 The delegates visited the competition venues today and were impressed by what they saw, though some of them expressed doubts about the stadiums getting fully ready for the Games on time. But Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Uma Bharati assured the delegation, when they called on her, that all preparations for the games were progressing as per schedule, and would adhere to the September 30 deadline. Ms Bharati told the foreign delegates: “Government of India, along with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the Sports Authority of India (SAI), were working in harmony to make the first Afro-Asian Games a success.” Ms Bharati said the Games would be a “reflection of the solidarity and friendship between the two sporting continents of Asia and Africa”. The Afro-Asian Games delegation also assured the minister that they would do their best for the success of the games and the best teams will be sent”. IOA secretary-general Randhir Singh and SAI director-general Shekhar Dutt accompanied the delegation when they called on Uma Bharati. Those who are part of the delegation are: OCA Sports Committee chairman Wei Jizhong, secretary-general of Asian Hockey Federation Dato P Alagendra, Asian Football Confederation secretary-general Peter Vellapan, OCA treasurer Santiparb Tejavanija, secretary-general of the Asian Amateur Athletic Association (AAAA) Maurice R Nicholas, secretary-general of the Federation of Asian Amateur Boxing K Thiruganasothi, secretary-general of the Asian Shooting Confederation Fung Lok Nam, secretary general of the Asian Weightlifting Federation Michael Koay Say and secretary general of the Asian Amateur Tennis Federation Herman Hu, president of the African Hockey Federation Gavir Stephen Jaspan, secretary-general of the Confederation Arican de Football Mustapha Fahmy and Ms Halidou Garga Leila, the secretary-general of the Confederation of African Tennis Ayaboua Aduayom, technical director of the ANOCA Gustavo Diaz Vaz da Conceicao, marketing and competition manager of the African Amateur Athletic Confederation Alassane Thierno Diack, secretary-general of the African Swimming Confederation Sam Ramsamy, secretary-general of the African Weightlifting Federation Brig. Samir Hanna, chairman of the ASSF Rifle and Pistol Committee of the African Shooting Federation Eldin Amin, secretary-general of the African Amateur Boxing Federation Dr Abdellah Bessalem, president of the ANOCA Sem Alpha Ebrahim Diallo, secretary-general of the ANOCA T.A.G Sithole and chairman of the Games Commission, ANOCA, Cheikh Tall Bouya
Thiare. |
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Restraint on PAAA
meeting Chandigarh, August 17 These orders were handed down by the Civil Judge on a suit filed by Mr Baldev Singh, secretary of the District Amateur Athletic Association and Mr Jagmeet Singh Bawa, acting president of the District Amateur Association, Fatehgarh Sahib. According to the plaintiff, the judge observed, Mr Bir Devinder Singh, defendant, who had convened the meeting on August 18 “is incompetent to hold the same”. In support of his contention he had referred to Article 8 of the constitution of the Punjab Amateur Athletic Association by drawing the attention of the court to the provisions of the article, counsel for the plaintiff has submitted that the power to summon “special general meeting vest solely in the president of the Punjab Amateur Athletic Association which power can be exercised by the president either suo motu of on the written request of not less than 1/2 of the total number of affiliated district associations of such a request shall be made only by the president and the secretary of the respective district association whose fees etc for the year are paid.” The judge noted that Article 8 of the constitution of Punjab Amateur Athletic Association supports the contention of the counsel for the plaintiffs. The meeting convened by Mr Bir Devinder Singh is beyond his powers. Prima facie a case is thus made out in favour of the plaintiff, because the convenience lies in their favour. Any act which is illegal will be determental to the rights of the plaintiff. Any loss caused by illegal act will also be irreparable, the judge
observed. JALANDHAR (FOC): While criticising the political leaders and ministers belonging to ruling SAD-BJP combine for trying to set up a parallel athleties body, former Punjab minister and president of PAAA Mr Umrao Singh has suspended the vice-president of the association, Mr Birdevinder Singh for convening the general body meeting at Ropar tomorrow. Mr Birdevinder Singh had convened the meeting of the general body to conduct election of office bearers of the association besides taking stock of performance of Punjab athletes in the national and international competitions. |
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Karandip wins first
position Chandigarh, August 17 Karandip, the reigning national rally champion (group N), had a bad start to the season this year by failing to finish the first two rallies at Coimbatore and Nasik and then finishing sixth at Mumbai due to a series of technical problems with the car. But at Bangalore Karandip and Jaidas took good control of their Maruti Baleno in the treacherous terrain to win the top spot. Right from the start the duo led over fancied favourites Naren Kumar (current leader in the Asia Zone Rally Championship), Arjun Balu and N. Leelakrishnan of
Coimbatore. The Chandigarh driver was all praise for his navigator who was perfect in his guidance on the toughest rally conditions running into 600 km and is described as the toughest rally courses in the country. At the end of four events Karandip has 18 points and says he will try to catch up with the leader,
Leelakrishnan, who has 34 points, and second placed Vikram Mathais (27 points) in the remaining four events to be held at
Goa, Kochin, Mangalore and Coorg. |
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Vivek triumphs; Isha
ousted Chandigarh, August 17 Gaurav Sharma of Haryana had no problem with Vikas Kaul whom he outplayed in straight games. Mala Gaba, Chandigarh champion displayed her prowess when she outmanoeuvred Neha of Haryana in straight games. Samridhi Mahajan of Chandigarh (below 13) went down fighting in three games to Shruti Nair of Haryana Samridhi won the first game at 13-11, but lost the second game at 7-11. At this time, Samridhi decided to leave but her coach advised her to continue. She tried in every way and was able to stretch her rival to seven points
before giving up finally. Vipul Saini of Jammu and Kashmir played a neat game play against Ashish who lost tamely to thin Jammu boy in straight games. Sanya Sareen of Punjab who had yesterday overpowered Neha Sethi in three games, proved to be giant-killer when she got the better of Pallavi Aggarwal of Haryana in three games. The yesterday’s matches continued till late in the night due to the heavy rush of entries. The players who had come from as far as Rajasthan and Jammu felt happy at the food and stay arrangements made despite the delay in matches by the organisers, the
Chandigarh Players Welfare Association. The following are the results: Girls (under-19): Deepti Ranjan (Del) b Parul Rawal (Del) 11-4, 11-3; Aarti Verma (Pb) b Anita (Hry) 11-2, 11-0; Chitra Lekha (Del) b Isha (Chd) 11-5, 11-9, 13-10; Saumaya (Raj) b Amritpal (Pb) 11-1, 11-1; Smarika (J&K) b Navita (Pb) 8-11, 11-7, 12-11; Parnita (Chd) b Samritika (Hry) 13-11, 11-6; Jaspreet (Pb) b Deepa Mathur (Raj) 11-7, 11-8; Mala Gaba (Chd) b Neha (Hry) 11-0, 11-1. Girls (under-13): Anita (Hry) b Akansh Nehra (Del) 11-1, 11-0; Sehar Chadda (Pb) b Rume (Raj) 11-4, 0-11, 4-11; Neha (Hry) b Seema (Chd) 11-8, 11-0; Shruti Bansal (Pb) b Neeshu (J&K) 11-6, 4-11, 11-8; Kanupriya (Hry) b Meenu (Hry) 6-11, 11-4, 11-3; Shruti Nair (Hry) b Samridhi (Chd) 11-13, 11-7, 11-7; Sanya Sareen (Pb) b Pallavi (Hry) 13-11, 11-5, 11-5; Harleen (Chd) b Meenakshi (Del) 11-5, 13-12. Boys (under-13): Saurab Kapoor (Hry) b Divya (J&K) 15-3, 15-4; Anshul (Hry) b Bob Sharma (Pb) 15-4, 15-8; Gaurav Sharma b Vikas Kaur 15-2, 15-9; Adhiraj (Hry) b Abhimanu (Del) 15-11, 15-0; Vipul Saini (J&K) b Ashish (Hry) 15-5, 15-8; Parit (Del) b Prerak Sharma (Hry) 15-0, 15-7; Raj Kumar (Pb) b Kirdesh (Hry) 15-3, 15-10; Oscar (Chd) b Bhavesh (Hry) 15-17, 15-12, 15-3. |
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Asian Test meet on schedule
Kolkata, August 17 The cricket board (BCCI) has been given time till August 23 to confirm participation in the championship and the ACC is hopeful that the Indian government will allow its team to play in Pakistan. “The BCCI has been asked to confirm whether they will play in the championship by August 23. We are hopeful to get a favourable response from them,” Mr Jagmohan Dalmiya, chairman of the Asian Cricket Foundation (ACF) which implements the ACC programmes, told a press conference here yesterday.
PTI |
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Cricket
trials Fatehgarh Sahib, August 17 Fatehgarh Sahib would play their first match against Kapurthala at Kapurthala on August 26. Players should bring their certificates and proof of date of birth with them. |
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