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Wednesday,
August 29, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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Agassi, Rafter, Safin triumph in US Open |
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IOA gives
go-ahead for National Games Harikrishna is C’wealth chess champion Two rookies in England
team |
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Mark Richardson
slams century
Atherton to retire ‘Run with Sheroo’ PBA felicitates
b’ball stars Easy outings for Punjab teams
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Sri
Lanka make three changes
Colombo, August 28 While India named leg-spinner Sairaj Bahutule in their twelve, Sri Lanka opted for left-hand opening batsman Michael Vandort to strengthen their batting order. Indian captain Saurav Ganguly felt the pitch was a bit damp and said he would have preferred some grass to have been left on it. In his reckoning, the wicket was likely to offer some turn from the third day which gave scope for the inclusion of an additional spinner. “Bahutule is a leg-spinner and can also bat a bit,” Ganguly said, explaining his selection ahead left-arm spinner Rahul Sanghvi. Clearly rattled by the seven-wicket loss that saw their 1-0 lead being squandered in Kandy, Sri Lanka also included off-spinner Thilan Samaraweera and fast bowler Duleep Liyanage in their twelve while leaving out Ruchira and Suresh Perera. While Samaraweera’s chances of playing tomorrow depended on pitch conditions, Liyanage and Vandort were almost certain to play. Home captain Sanath Jayasuriya had blamed his batsmen for their failure to capitalise on the 42-run first innings lead after India had inflicted a comprehensive seven-wicket defeat at Kandy, and the inclusion of Vandort is being seen as a step towards strengthen the batting line-up. Vandort, who had scored a century in a 3-dayer against the Indians, is an opener and his inclusion will mean that either Marvan Atapattu or Kumar Sangakkara, both in fine form in this series, will bat at number six thus giving more solidity to the middle order. Samaraweera’s inclusion can come only at the expense of veteran left-hander Hashan Tillekaratne. Tillekaratne, recalled to the national side after a long time, failed to deliver the goods in the first two Tests and may find himself out if the services of an additional spinner become necessary. The Indian team had a practice session in the afternoon at the lush Sinhalese Sports Club that sports a wicket less grassy than the ones in the first two Tests at Galle and Kandy. Ganguly, who blasted his way back to form with an unbeaten 98 to lead his side to a seven-wicket triumph in the Kandy Test, said the team was in a very positive frame of mind and would go all out to claim a rare series win abroad. India’s last series win on foreign soil came against Sri Lanka in 1993 on this same ground and Ganguly said his team was keen to repeat that performance. The captain, however, warned his teammates against complacency. Ganguly admitted that some of the players in his team were not performing to the best of their capability but said they needed to be persisted with. “Shiv Sunder Das is not playing at his best. But he has a lot of ability,” he said of the opener who has impressed with his technique and temperament but failed to get a big score on this tour. The captain similarly defended Hemang Badani’s presence in the team despite his continued bad run with the bat. The best thing to happen to India in the Kandy Test, apart from the victory of course, was the return to form of Ganguly who played a convincing innings after a very long time. Ganguly and Rahul Dravid, who has been the most successful campaigner for India on this tour, will once again be the key to India’s batting. Ganguly had made a positive move by sending Dravid at number three and himself coming at number four at Kandy and many thought it was crucial to India’s chances. However, Ganguly today refused to read too much into the decision. Ganguly, however, said he was most likely to persist with the same batting order. He refused to comment on the rejection of team management’s request for Ajit Agarkar as a replacement for Javagal Srinath who had been flown back after sustaining a fracture in his left hand in the first Test. Teams (from): India: Saurav Ganguly (capt), Rahul Dravid, Shiv Sunder Das, Sadagopan Ramesh, Mohammad Kaif, Hemang Badani, Sameer Dighe, Venkatesh Prasad, Zaheer Khan, Harvinder Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Sairaj Bahutule. Sri Lanka:
Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), Marvan Atapattu, Michael Vandort, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Russel Arnold, Hashan Tillekaratne, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Duleep Liyanage, Muttiah Muralitharan, Thilan Samaraweera.
PTI |
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Agassi, Rafter, Safin triumph in US Open
New York, August 28 Second seed Agassi needed only 75 minutes to dispatch fellow American Mike Bryan 6-4 6-1 6-0. The qualifier’s brother Bob lost earlier in the day to sixth seed patrick Rafter in a particularly bad draw for the Bryans. Australian Open champion Agassi, who lost to Rafter in the Wimbledon semi-finals, won a US Open tuneup in Los Angeles but was a first-round loser in two others and upset in a Washington semi-final two weeks ago.
Rafter, who won here in 1997 and 1998 but lost his opener the past two years, beat wild card Bob Bryan 7-6 (7/3) 6-3 7-5. The Aussie won only 3-of-12 break points but hit 78 winners to end his opener angst. Two-time US Open winners Rafter and Agassi find themselves in a tough quarter of the draw that also includes four-time US Open champion Sampras and rising Swiss star Roger Federer. And that’s just to reach a semi-final. Serena Williams, the 10th seed and 1999 US Open champion, had the closest call among the favourites. But she fired 11 aces without a double fault to defeat Germany’s 95th-ranked Anca Barna 4-6 6-1 6-2. Her 42 unforced errors were twice Barna’s total in the 93-minute match. World No. 1 Martina Hingis needed only 46 minutes to oust American Laura Granville 6-2 6-0, taking the last nine games. Granville made 29 unforced errors and foot faulted on match point. Hingis, who hit four aces, won 12 of the first 13 points and, despite surrendering a break in the fifth game, took the opening set in 28 minutes. Defending men’s champion Marat Safin, who has struggled through four hardcourt tuneups events in the past month, ousted France’s Sebastien De Chaunac 6-4 6-2 6-2, but gave himself little hope of defending his crown. Ninth seed Tim Henman of Britain found the going difficult as well, squandering a two-set lead and waiting through a rain delay before bouncing Czech qualifier Jan Vacek 6-3 6-2 6-7 (5/7) 3-6 6-3. Henman trailed 2-3, 0-30 in the fifth set before recovering. Michael Chang continued his downward slide, suffering his first opening-round US Open loss in 15 appearances, but said retirement is not in his thoughts. “What word is that?” Chang said after Ecuador’s Nicolas Lapentii beat him 6-2 6-4 6-4, here yesterday at the Grand Slam hardcourt event. Wimbledon runner-up Justine Henin beat American Marissa Irvin 6-3 6-3. The Belgian sixth seed has played a limited schedule since her first Slam final. Davenport, showing no ill effects from a sprained wrist, ousted Germany’s Andrea Glass 6-2 6-3 in 44 minutes. “It was a little sore. I will take it easy and rest it,” Davenport said of her wrist. Seventh seed Monica Seles, who missed five months with an injured right foot, beat Australia’s Nicole Pratt 6-1 6-2, in her first Slam match since losing an Australian Open quarter-final to Jennifer Capriati in January.
Reuters |
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IOA gives go-ahead for National
Games New Delhi, August 28 The Punjab organising committee delegation, including the secretary, Mr I.J.S. Bindra, had here discussions with the IOA president, Mr Suresh Kalmadi, yesterday who consented to the Games being held on re-scheduled dates. The delegation impressed upon Mr Kalmadi that all was set for the Games to be staged. The delegation said that the required infrastructure, except the shooting range at Mohali, was ready. All other arrangements regarding the technical conduct of the Games had been finalised. “Regional and functional sub-committees have become operational”, the delegation added. The IOA
executive committee will be officially apprised of the revised dates on August 31 and a
notification will be issued subsequently, according to Dr R.L. Anand, who is the IOA nominee for the Punjab National Games. The stadia at Ludhiana, headquarters for the Games, are almost complete. Mr Bindra suggested four-laning of the road between Durge Mata Mandir and Fountain Chowk, by taking some land from Government College for women. He also desired that the traffic at the Fountain Chowk be regulated. All problems pertaining to staging the Games have been sorted out. The minutes of the organising committee meeting at Ludhiana on August 11 say: “....... The original demand for sports equipment as projected by the national federations was around Rs 6 crores. It was curtailed to Rs 3.29 crores by the government. The contribution of government was Rs 2.47 crores and Rs 82 crore was the Punjab Government’s share”. “The Sports Minister, Ms Uma Bharati, has already released Rs 1 crore and it is assumed that the remaining amount will be released very soon”. In view of the revised dates, state games will have to be completed before November 18. All eligible associations will be granted Rs 30,000 each, according to Mr Bindra. The National Games in Andhra Pradesh are now scheduled in 2003. The budget estimates for the Games are: aquatics (if held in Patiala with heating plant installed) Rs 25 lakh, archery Rs 15 lakhs; athletics Rs 30 lakhs; badminton Rs 20 lakhs, basketball Rs 10 lakhs; boxing Rs 15 lakhs; cycling Rs 30 lakhs; equestrian, Rs 15 lakhs; fencing Rs 15 lakhs; football Rs 2 lakhs; golf Rs 10 lakhs; gymnastics Rs 50 lakhs; handball Rs 2 lakhs; hockey (M and W) Rs 10 lakhs; judo Rs 20 lakhs; kabaddi Rs 1 lakh; kho-kho Rs 1 lakh; rowing Rs 40 lakhs; shooting Rs 50 lakhs; table tennis Rs 20 lakhs; tennis Rs 25 lakhs; volleyball Rs 25 lakhs; weightlifting Rs 25 lakhs; wrestling Rs 25 lakhs; electronic scoreboard for different games Rs 119 lakhs. Total Rs 6 crore. Estimated expenditure in organising the Games, including accreditation, administration, ceremonial, communication and computerisation, hospitality, media and publicity, reception and protocol, medical, security, souvenir, technical, transport, and contingencies Rs 16 crore. |
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POA official
bereaved Chandigarh, August 28 He was 75. He is survived by two daughters and a son. The funeral procession for the Sector 25 crematorium will leave tomorrow from house number 203, Sector 19-A, Chandigarh, at 12 noon. |
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Harikrishna is C’wealth chess champion London, August 28 Harikrishna ended the tournament on 7.5 points out of a possible 10 and was in a three-way tie along with International Masters Daniel Gormally and Graeme Buckley of England but his superior tiebreak score ensured him the Commonwealth gold. The tiebreak was resolved according to the progressive points system. For his efforts, the 15-year-old Harikrishna got 584 pounds (Rs 40,000 approx) after the prizes were shared equally between the three. Gormally got the Commonwealth silver while Buckley had to be content with the bronze. The final round loss to Buckley cost GM Abhijit Kunte the bronze. GM Dibyendu Barua and IM Lanka Ravi won their boards and finished on 7 points apiece to list among the prizewinners.
PTI |
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Two rookies in England team London, August 28 Nasser Hussain captains the Test team and the one-day squad to tour Zimbabwe next month, which was also named today. Wicketkeeper Alec Stewart and fast bowler Darren Gough were not included in any squad because of their unwillingness to tour India before Christmas. England Test squad: Nasser Hussain, captain (Essex), Marcus Trescothick (Somerset), Mark Butcher (Surrey), Graham Thorpe (Surrey), Mark Ramprakash (Surrey), Usman Afzaal (Nottinghamshire), Michael Vaughan (Yorkshire), Warren Hegg (Lancashire), James Foster (Essex), Craig White (Yorkshire), Ashley Giles (Warwickshire), Robert Croft (Glamorgan), Richard Dawson (Yorkshire), Andy Caddick (Somerset), Jimmy Ormond (Leicestershire), Matthew Hoggard (Yorkshire). England one-day squad: Nasser Hussain, captain (Essex), Paul Collingwood (Durham), Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire), James Foster (Essex), Adrian Grayson (Essex), Matthew Hoggard (Yorkshire), Ben Hollioake (Surrey), James Kirtley (Sussex), Nick Knight (Warwickshire), Jimmy Ormond (Leicestershire), Mark Ramprakash (Surrey), Owais Shah (Middlesex), Ryan Sidebottom (Yorkshire), Jeremy Snape (Gloucestershire), Marcus Trescothick (Somerset), Craig White (Yorkshire). Dawson, who helped Yorkshire secure its first county cricket championship in 33 years this season, is one of three spinners included, along with Robert Croft and Ashley Giles. With Stewart out, Foster, who plays for Essex, and Lancashire’s Warren Hegg were named as wicketkeepers. Hegg earned a recall after playing two Tests on the Ashes tour to Australia two years ago. “James Foster performed well on the A tour to the Caribbean last winter and is an outstanding prospect who is also being fast-tracked by Essex to be a viable wicketkeeper-batsman at the highest level,” chairman of selectors David Graveney said.
AP |
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Mark Richardson slams century Chennai, August 28 Cricket Association of Bengal decided to field after winning the toss. Kiwis left handed opener Mark Richardson struck form to hit 112 in 304 minutes and 254 balls with 17 fours. Richardson’s first 50 came off 52 balls. With the other opener Mathew Bell, Richardson put on 80 runs for the first wicket off 160 balls. Bell fell (22, 75 minutes, three fours) and then Mathew Horne but the Kiwis were down 118-2 but they continued to flourish with Loui. With Richardson, Vincent added 81 runs off 30 overs while steadying the innings as the Bengal bowlers continued to struggle in humid weather and a seemingly placid wicket. Marshal(11 off 32 balls) was at the wicket with Vincent. For Bengal, medium pacer Laxmi Ratan Shukla was the most successful bowler bagging two wickets for 50. Brief scores: New Zealand "A" 231-3 in 87 overs (Mark Richardson 111, Mathew Bell 22, Mathew Horne 15, Loui Vincent 54 batting, Marshal 11 batting; L. Shukla 2-50).
UNI |
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Atherton to retire London, August 28 The 33-year-old, who led his country a record 54 times and made 115 Test appearances since 1989, played his last Test innings on Sunday when he left The Oval to a standing ovation from the crowd, his team mates and the Australian players. “The Oval Test match was my last for England and I now intend to fulfil my commitments with Lancashire before retiring from cricket at the end of the current season,” Atherton said in a statement today. “I have enjoyed 15 wonderful years in cricket and would like to thank all the players and staff I have been involved with at Lancashire and England since I first came into the professional game.”
Reuters |
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‘Run with Sheroo’ New Delhi, August 28 Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Uma Bharati, Minister of State for Sports Pon Radhakrishnan, along with members of the Afro-Asian Games Organising Committee, will take part in the run. “Run with Sheroo” is being organised to commemorate the National Sports Day and to kick-start the publicity campaign for the Afro-Asian Games. Eminent sports personalities, ministers, MPs, ambassadors, high commissioners from Asian and African missions, and many other dignitaries, along with school children, will take part. |
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PBA felicitates
b’ball stars Ludhiana, August 28 The players were presented cash awards by the association. Mr R.S. Gill, IG Punjab Police and president of PBA, presided over the function. Coaches who worked hard and trained these spikers were also honoured by the association.Punjab Police player Parminder Singh (Sr), captain of the Indian team who was adjugded the best player of the year was also presented an air-conditioner. Sajjan Singh Cheema, international basketball player who was given an arjuna award for his life-time achievements was also presented the air-conditioner. Paramdeep Singh Teja and Ramesh Kaiely, coaches of men’s and junior boys teams, respectively, were given the ‘best coaches’ award. The awards for the’ best developer’ and the’ best organiser’ were given to Joginder Singh and Yashwinder Singh respectively. The services of retired coaches Joginder Singh Jogi, Gurdas Ram and Dr S. Subramaniam were also acknowledged by the association and they were given mementoes and shawls. Prominent sports personalities like Balwant Singh, medal winner in athletics in the Asian Games, Om Parkash, international basketball player, former hockey olympians Gurmail Singh, Hardeep Singh Grewal and Sukhbir Singh Grewal, Parvesh Sharma
weightlifter, winner of three gold medals in Commonwealth Games, Rajbir Kaur former captain of the Indian hockey team, Arjuna awardee Suman Sharma, veteran athlete Gurbachan Singh Randhawa, silver medallist in the 10,000 mt run in the 1956 Asian Games, along with sports promoter D.S. Bhogal and Mr Prabhjot Singh, Bureau Chief, The Tribune were also felicitated at this function. |
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Easy outings for Punjab teams Sangrur, August 28 In the sub junior girls section Punjab trounced A.P. 15-5 in a one-sided affair. Punjab girls dominated throughout and scored at will. Jatinder and Harsharanjit scored 7 and 5 goals respectively for Panjab. Punjab players again showed their supremacy in mini boys section when they thrashed Haryana 12-5. For Punjab Gurpreet Singh and Manjit Singh scored five and three goals respectively. In mini girls league matches Chattisgarh caused a big upset when they ousted holders Maharashtra 8-1 in a one-sided match, Results Mini Boys: J&K beat Delhi 11-7, Panjab beat Haryana 12-5, Kerala beat Nagaland 16-8, Chattisgarh beat M.P. 13-9. Mini girls — Jharkhand beat Maharashtra 8-1, Delhi beat Gujarat 11-3, U.P. beat Chattisgarh 16-5. Sub junior boys — Nagaland beat Delhi 17-10, Kerala beat Karnatka 16-12, Chandigarh draw Chattisgarh (17-17), M.P. beat H.P. 19-16. A.P. beat J&K 16-11. M.P. beat Gujarat 28-4. Jharkhand beat Chandigarh 22-16. Maharshtra beat Bihar 24-5. Haryana beat Delhi 14-7. Sub Junior girls — Kerala beat Chandigarh 18-6, Delhi beat Orissa 15-0, U.P. beat Gujarat 11-0, Punjab beat A.P. 15-5. Kerala beat Nagaland 11-3. |
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