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Wednesday,
September 5, 2001, Chandigarh, India   |
Sampras
downs Rafter, to meet Agassi next
Saurav Ganguly writes |
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Srinath
to play in one-dayers Tendulkar
fit for SA tour BCCI
following two sets of rules? Argentina out to
derail Brazil’s campaign |
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Honda-Siel
Golf an Asian PGA event Lifter
dropped from camp Surgeon’s
offer to Daljit Bathinda
crush Sangrur Haryana
swimming
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Sampras downs Rafter, to meet Agassi
next
New York, September 4 Without a title for 17 successive tournaments, four-time champion Sampras showed that reports of his demise may have been premature with his 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4 victory over twice champion Rafter yesterday, who had reached the final of his last four events, including Wimbledon. The 30-year-old Sampras moved extremely well all match, running down deep shots by the Australian even on the final point, two and a half hours into the contest. He belted 20 aces, amassed 60 winners against just 14 unforced errors and only gave Rafter a look at two break points, saving them both. When Sampras ended the thrilling final point with an emphatic overhead, he pumped his fists Jimmy Connors style and shouted as if he had just won the tournament. Sampras’s next match is also worthy of a final here as he faces second seed Agassi, another two-time champion, in a rematch of the 1990 and 1995 finals, both won by Sampras. Earlier yesterday, Agassi turned in a stunning performance as he crushed rising Swiss star Roger Federer, the 13th seed, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 in just 83 minutes. Agassi certainly played big on Monday, turning in by far his best performance of the tournament to leave the highly-regarded Federer shellshocked. “There wasn’t a part of my game that I wasn’t feeling great about. It was just one of those days.” Federer was two sets down before he knew what had hit him as Agassi came out firing on all cylinders. Argentina’s 103rd-ranked Mariano Zabaleta remained the Cinderella story of the tournament, ousting 43rd-ranked Xavier Malisse of Belgium 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 7-5. Zabaleta began a victory celebration only to have a line call overruled by the umpire, a Malisse forehand being called good. The next point was a near repeat, but this time Malisse was wide and the celebration began. Zabaleta tossed his racquet to the ground, threw his cap and extra balls into the crowd, ripped off his shirt and went to accept congratulatory hugs from his family. Ready to spoil his party is defending champion Marat Safin, the third seed from Russia, who ousted Sweden’s 14th-seeded Thomas Johansson 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3). Safin (21) won both prior matches with Zabaleta, last year in Barcelona on clay and in 1999 on carpet in Paris. Safin struggled with injuries most of the season but has made a solid run to retain his title here. Venus Williams and Jennifer Capriati, who between them own the past five women’s Grand Slam tennis titles, moved one step away from a US Open semifinal showdown. Reigning champion Williams won the final 10 games to rally past France’s Sandrine Testud 6-4, 6-0 while second seed Capriati beat Austria’s Barbara Schett 6-3, 6-3 for her first US Open quarterfinal trip in 10 years. Capriati won her Slam titles at the Australian and French Opens. Williams won her second Wimbledon crown in a row in July. Their only 2001 meeting came at Miami’s final, won by Williams in a third-set tie-breaker. Both have more work ahead before they meet. Williams will have her first match against Belgian Kim Clijsters, runner-up at the French Open. Capriati meets the women who beat her in the German Open final, Amelie Mauresmo. Capriati last advanced this far here in 1991 as a 15-year-old prodigy on a semifinal run. French eighth seed Amelie Mauresmo ousted ninth-seeded compatriot Nathalie Tauziat 6-0, 6-7 (1/7), 6-3. Her only better Slam showing was her trip to the 1999 Australian Open final. The quarterfinals start with 10th seed Serena Williams facing fellow American Lindsay Davenport, the third seed, and top seed Martina Hingis going against Czech Daja Bedanova, who knocked out Monica Seles. Clijsters ousted Russia’s Elena Dementieva 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 and showed no signs of the right leg injury that slowed her in the early rounds. Like Federer, Rafter struggled early and quickly found himself in a two-set hole. Unlike the 20-year-old Federer, Rafter, who beat Sampras in a 1998 semifinal on the way to his second title here, found it within himself to raise his game and put some fear into the four-times champion. With the vocal crowd urging him on, Rafter saved a break point in the first game of the third set and did not allow Sampras another chance as he carried the set to the tie-break. A perfectly executed forehand pass gave Rafter a mini-break and double set point at 6-4. Sampras pulled out one of his 20 aces to save the first set point, but Rafter came up with a second serve ace down the middle to push the match into a fourth set. The fourth set played like grasscourt tennis with both players holding serve easily until Rafter finally showed some chinks in his armour when serving to stay alive at 5-4. “He was definitely the better player today,” said Rafter.
Reuters, AFP |
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Paes-Raymond duo enters semifinals New York, September 4 The Indian/American pair dominated throughout the game, committing just five unforced errors and one double fault. Knowles, a doubles specialist from the Bahamas, and Tatarkova, from Ukraine, struggled on their serve and failed to take advantage of six breakpoints, converting just one. Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, one of the best pairs on the tour, crashed out in the first round of the men’s doubles, a disappointing result for the 1999 runner-ups. The winning pair in the mixed doubles competition splits $126,000.
AP |
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Saurav Ganguly
writes The series ended on a disappointing note at the SSC Ground, Colombo, on Sunday. We once again lost a crunch game as we did in the finals of the one-day series. The wicket provided at the SSC was a beauty and a great batting surface. I had no hesitation in batting first after winning the toss, but we could not capitalise on yet another great start provided by the openers. Both Ramesh and Das have batted well in the tour, but they might go back a bit disappointed because they could not convert good starts into centuries. They have to learn one thing in cricket: to make the most when one is in good touch, because this game can be funny sometimes, This was the main difference between the two teams, as the Sri Lankans finished the series with seven centuries while none of our batsmen could get to three figures. Our failure with the bat was a matter of concern right through the tour. In the absence of Laxman and Sachin, it was a good opportunity for the newcomers to establish themselves. However, they should not let their heads drop, and must take the tour as a good learning experience and come out as better players. After all, it is not going to be the end of opportunities for them. Muralitharan has turned out to be the best bowler of the series. He would be happy, as this is his first series-winning haul against India. He is a much-improved bowler since I first played him as he has developed an outgoing ball. I just felt that our batsmen did not back their defence against him. There was a lot of talk about Harbhajan not getting the same amount of wickets as Murali did. The difference was I think the fact that their batsmen played him better than we played Murali. I think Harbhajan just needs to be a little patient while bowling. Murali picking eight wickets, people talking about him - all this made him try too hard, and he became a bit impatient. In this game we all need to do our own jobs and stick to our own gameplan and the way we have been successful. He has become a world-class bowler in his short career with a technique that is different from Murali’s. Both are high-class bowlers in their own way. The only thing Harbhajan needs to do is practice regularly with a Kookaburra ball as it is slightly different from our own SG. A gain in this tour is the return of Venkatesh Prasad, who looked the best bowler on the flat SSC wicket. We were a bit handicapped with Zaheer’s injury on the morning of the second day, especially after he bowled superbly at Kandy. We looked an average bowling side in the last Test without him. He needs to get a bit fitter and stronger as fast bowling is a difficult art. Zaheer also has to start learning to lead the Indian attack now. Our next trip will be to South Africa, where I think we will be able to go with our full strength. It will be good to have Kumble and Sachin back from injuries. Watching cricket on television due to injury can be frustrating and I’m sure they’re raring to go. There was a lot to learn from this tour as we have played well in patches. Kandy was the highlight of our tour, as winning away gives more satisfaction always. I have heard a lot about injuries to key players during the tour, but this was in no way a reason to lose a series and it is the worst excuse ever. We have a welcome break of three weeks before we go to South Africa so this is a good time for us to recharge our batteries. I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate Sri Lanka for winning the series and coming good when it mattered most.
Gameplan |
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Srinath to play in one-dayers Bangalore, September 4 He replied in the affirmative when asked whether he would be playing in the one-day tournaments. Srinath had opted only for the Test series in Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. He has not played in an one-day international for more than a year. Srinath was talking to newspersons after the physical fitness test in the presence of Indian physio Andrew Leipus. He had earlier said he would concentrate only on Tests as he wanted to give opportunity to youngsters, who had entered the scene. Srinath, who had to return from Sri Lanka after the first Test following an injury, said he had
recovered. UNI |
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Tendulkar fit for SA tour Mumbai, September 4 Cricket board secretary Jaywant Lele told PTI over phone from Baroda that both Tendulkar and Kumble had informed him that they were fit and would send their fitness certificates soon. Lele said Tendulkar had spoken to him today and told him that he was feeling comfortable wearing the new inner soles in his boots to protect his injured right toe, and there was no pain whatsoever. Tendulkar, who sustained the toe injury on the Zimbabwe tour, acquired the inner soles from South Africa last week after consulting arthroscopic surgeon Dr Mark Fergusson. “Kumble too has disclosed that he is completely fit and has no problem with his shoulder which was operated upon in January. I am expecting their fitness certificates within a day or two,” Lele added. Lele said there was no intimation yet from the V.V.S. Laxman who had skipped the Test series in Sri Lanka due to a knee problem and had gone to Australia for an operation. Lele was also not aware of medium pacer Zaheer Khan’s fitness. Zaheer had shin problem during the Test series in Sri Lanka which worsened during the third Test in Colombo. Pacemen Javagal Srinath and Ashish Nehra, who too were nursing injuries, were also expected to be fit in the next few days. BANGALORE: Decks were virtually cleared for the return of strike bowler Anil Kumble and speedster Javagal Srinath into the Indian team for the gruelling South African tour, with team physio Andre Leipus today declaring that both men were “looking positive and good.’’ Leipus, who conducted the fitness test for the duo at M Chinnaswamy Stadium here this morning, told reporters: “I’m very optimistic. However, their inclusion is now left to the selectors. I will be flying to Mumbai and submitting the report to the Board of Control for Cricket in India.’’
UNI |
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BCCI following two sets of
rules? New Delhi, September 4 The BCCI has recognised the existing associations of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. But it has “bestowed” recognition to new Bihar Cricket Association, which was formed in 2001. How can Bihar Cricket Association, formed in 1935, be bypassed? For years, the BCCI’s doings have been full of anomalies. Maharashtra’s three teams figure in Ranji Trophy, which is inter-state (unit) championship. These three teams are: Mumbai, Pune (Maharashtra) and Vidarbha. Similarly, Andhra Pradesh fields its own team, while Hyderabad is an independent entity. Can there be more anomalous situation than this? Bihar, like MP and UP, has been split into two states. One is called Bihar and another is named as Jharkhand. Jamshedpur, which was headquarters of Bihar Cricket Association for decades, now falls in the territory of Jharkhand and hence the vex situation. What has added chaos into confusing situation is that majority of Bihar’s voting members has fallen into the territory of Jharkhand. At the special general body meeting on March 18, 2001, it was decided: “The old Bihar Cricket Association (1935) would continue until recognition would be granted to the new associations, that is, Bihar and Jharkhand. In view of tax liabilities and assets, the members were of unanimous view that the old Bihar Cricket Association should continue to function until ticklish matters were sorted out. The protest letter sent to all the affiliated units says: “In case, the board relieves the old Bihar Cricket Association (1935) of conducting the board tournaments and disaffiliates the old body in preference to the new unit, formed in 2001, how does the Board handle players belonging to Jharkhand?” The letter says: “A good
solution to the above imbroglio would be to continue with old Bihar Cricket Association (1935) for the season 2001-02 until these problems are sorted out.” The Board, at its annual meeting at Chennai on September 29 and 30, will appoint administrative manager, coach and physiotherapist for the tours to Bangladesh, West Indies and England. The meeting will also select delegates for the International Cricket Council (ICC) scheduled for May and June 2002. Apart from discussing on the report of the National Cricket Academy, the meeting will also inform the members about the discontinuance of the policy of withholding 50 per cent of TV subsidy and about the decision to release 100 per cent TV subsidy and also to inform about the increase in the infrastructure subvention from Rs 2 crore to Rs 4 crore. |
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Argentina out to derail Brazil’s campaign Montevideo, September 4 Argentina have already booked their place at next year’s finals in Japan and South Korea after securing a masterly 2-0 win away in Ecuador last month. Now the Argentinians are hoping to throw another spanner into the works of Brazil’s erratic qualification campaign by inflicting defeat on Felipe Scolari’s unsettled side. “Beating Brazil in front of our own fans would be the cherry on the cake,” said Argentina’s Italy-based striker Hernan Crespo ahead of Wednesday’s game in Buenos Aires. Argentina also have a score to settle with Scolari’s men. The only blemish on their imperious march through the qualifiers came last year when they were defeated 1-3 by the Brazilians in Sao Paulo. “We didn’t play at our best then, and the players want to give a better account of themselves this time,” added Crespo, who is expected to partner his Lazio colleague Claudio Lopez in attack against Brazil. With Juan Sebastian Veron supplying the ammunition from midfield, Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa has an embarrassment of attacking riches at his disposal — AS Roma striker Gabriel Batistuta was not even included in the squad for Wednesday’s game. Meanwhile, Brazil have been insisting that for all their troubles on and off the pitch this year they will be more than a match for Argentina. “We have enormous respect for Argentina, they are in very good form at the moment,” Barcelona star Rivaldo said from Brazil’s training camp in Teresopolis at the weekend. “They have already qualified for the World Cup and now they want to beat Brazil. But in matches between us there is never a favourite — I think we showed that in Sao Paulo last year,” he added. Real Madrid fullback Roberto Carlos was also bullish about Brazil’s prospects. “I’m not interested in what Crespo and everyone else is saying,” he said. “We respect Argentina but we don’t fear them — it’s a match either of us can win,” he said. While Argentina have already booked their place at the finals, Brazil’s fate remains far from certain. They did their cause a power of good with a 2-0 victory over Paraguay in their last outing which saw them go fourth in the South American table, three points clear of fifth-placed Uruguay. The top four teams qualify automatically for Japan and South Korea and a win on Wednesday would go a long way towards quelling Brazilian fears of failing to reach the finals for the first time in their history. But Scolari knows that defeat could open the door to Uruguay, who will need to take all three points when they play Peru in Lima tomorrow in their qualifying match. The smart money will be on an Argentina victory. Although Scolari’s Brazil defeated Paraguay last month, the four-time world champions have yet to find a settled look and have appeared unconvincing all year. In other South American qualifiers this week sixth-placed Colombia need a home win against third-placed Ecuador if they are to stay in touch with Uruguay and fifth place. The fifth-placed team goes into a play-off with Australia in November. Paraguay, who are second, should edge closer to their second consecutive appearance in a World Cup if they defeat Bolivia in Asuncion on Wednesday. In this week’s other match Chile play whipping boys Venezuela in Santiago. The Chileans, who defeated world champions France 2-1 in a friendly on Saturday, retain a mathematical chance of taking fifth place in the standings but in all probability will be playing for pride tomorrow.
AFP |
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Honda-Siel Golf an Asian PGA
event New Delhi, September 4 Mr Sidharth Sriram of Siel Ltd said here today that the Honda-Siel PGA Championship, slated to be held at the Delhi Golf Club course from November 1 to 4, has become a part of the Asian PGA Tour. He said the "players will now get more money, but more importantly, it will help them win world ranking points. This will definitely contribute towards raising golfing standards in the country". The field for the forthcoming championship will include the current leader of the Asian Order of Merit Charlie Wi of Korea, winner of the Wills Indian Open Thongchai Jaidee, winner of the Alcatel Sigapore Open Thaworn Wiratchant (both from Thailand), first on the money list Hidemichi Tanaka of Japan, India’s only golfer to hold four cards on different tours Jeev Milkha Singh, and defending champion of Hero Honda Masters Arjun Atwal, twice winner of Hero Honda Masters and defending champion Jyoti Randhawa. The players will be put up at the ITC Hotel Maurya Sheraton and Towers, who are one among the many sponsors for the event, the other major sponsor being the Hindustan Times Group. One of India’s pioneering golfing legends, I.S. Malik, was given a due place in history when his golfing memorabilia was unveiled at the Maurya Sheraton. The memorabilia, donated by I S Malik’s son, and five times national champion Ashok Malik, consists of the last set of golf clubs used by his father, which will be on permanent display at the hotel. Meanwhile, Mr Sidharth Sriram said the Honda-Siel Championship will see a number of ‘fun activities’ like the ‘Calcutta auction’, putting competition, longest drive, hole-in-one, etc. The hole-in-one winner will take home a recently launched Honda Accord. HT will sponsor a golf clinic by Richard Pape, a leading teaching professional from South Africa. Captain of the Delhi Golf Club Rajesh Dhingra, who is a former secretary of the Sports Authority of India, said the club was busy sprucing up the greens and adding more facilities to meet the exacting standards set by Asian PGA. |
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Lifter dropped from
camp Patiala, September 4 The issue would have been swept under the carpet had it not been for some sympathisers in the Kunjarani camp who reportedly threatened to spill the beans if P.Seleja’s name was not immediately withdrawn from the list of 11 lifters selected for Afro-Asian Games. P.Seleja had attended the trials here on August 24 to select the Indian. squad for the Afro-Asian Games. The urine sample of P.Seleja, who competes in the 75 kg weight category, was collected at the NIS on June 4, when she took part in the trials held to select women weightlifters for the Senior Asian Championships in July. In all 13 lifters took part in the trials and the urine samples of all of them, were sent to the New Delhi based SAI laboratory. On June 18, the SAI authorities informed the SAI Executive Director (ED), Teams Wing, that P.Seleja had tested positive. The authorities took a lenient view and the teams wing gave the clearance to the lifter to participate in the Junior World Weightlifting Championships held at Thalessima (Greece) from June 28 to 31. |
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Surgeon’s offer to Daljit Amritsar, September 4 Responding to the report appearing in The Tribune today Dr Sandhu disclosed that he along with the management of Charitable Medical Institution and Kakkar Hospital has decided to offer all services free of cost to the ailing veteran sportsman. |
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Bathinda
crush Sangrur Bathinda, September 4 According to Mr O.D. Sharma, general secretary, district cricket association, Bathinda scored 295 for 4 in 45 overs. Apart from Varun and Balwinder, Manpreet Singh also played well and scored 30 runs in just 10 balls. For Sangrur Rohit took 2 wickets for 24 runs. Sangrur scored 65 runs in 21 overs. Rahul took 3 wickets for 9 runs while Balwinder took 2 for 19. |
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Haryana
swimming Chandigarh, September 4 Entries, which may be sent to Secretary-cum-Treasurer, A-3, HSIDC Officers Apartments, Sector 14, Panchkula, close on September 20. No spot entry will be accepted. |
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Haryana
b’minton New Delhi, September 4 |
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