 |
Saturday,
June 15, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
|
Japan book berth in last 16
Koreans make history
Belgium through with late burst
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
USA advance despite defeat to Poland Strangest finals in World Cup history?
Denmark pose ‘danger’ to England Germans out to regain lost glory FIFA panel awards goal to Ronaldo
Dokic
eases into last eight Grand Slam days not over: Sampras Butcher hits second ton of series Tendulkar releases book on Achrekar
Patiala cricketers prove their mettle
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Japan book berth in last 16 Osaka, June 14 Second half goals from Hiroaki Morishima and Japanese football’s Italy-based golden boy Hidetoshi Nakata handed French coach Philippe Troussier’s side a deserved win to set up a last-16 clash with Turkey next Tuesday. Japan, who qualified as group H winners, had started the World Cup desperate to avoid the ignominy of being the first host side to fail to reach the second round. But after a draw with Belgium and a win over Russia they were put firmly on course, and against Tunisia here today the result was rarely in doubt. An inspired double substitution by Troussier at half-time after a low key opening 45 minutes proved crucial, the Frenchman bringing on lively striker Morishima and right winger Daisuke Ichikawa. Ichikawa helped create the first goal, pressuring Tunisia’s defence into a blunder to allow Morishima the chance to blast past goalkeeper Ali Boumnijel on 48 minutes. Morishima came close to doubling his tally soon afterwards, directing a superb diving header past Boumnijel only to see it bounce back off the inside of the post. Tunisia, needing a two-goal win to have any chance of going through, attempted to get back in the game but were frustrated by the slick passing of the Japanese midfield. Again the hosts came close to scoring, Feyenoord star Shinji Ono’s downward header on 65 minutes desperately saved by Boumnijel. Then on 75 minutes Nakata made the game safe after another fine piece of work down the right by substitute Ichikawa. The 22-year-old Shimizu S-Pulse player tormented his marker and floated in a cross to Nakata whose diving header flew into the Tunisian net. In the first half Tunisia’s defence managed to keep Japan at bay for the opening 20 minutes, the hosts’ only chance a long-range effort from Takayuki Suzuki that sailed over the bar. Japan’s best chance came just over the half hour mark. Atsushi Yanagisawa was given a rare amount of room by the Tunisian defence and was able to drill a low shot to test Boumnijel.
AFP |
|
Japan explodes with joy Osaka, June 14 Blue-shirted fans adorned with the
“Hinomaru’’ national flag and chanting “Ni-ppon, Ni-ppon, Ni-ppon’’ rocked the stadium in the western metropolis of Osaka where Japan, co-hosts of the tournament, beat Tunisia 2-0 to reach the second round. “It’s a historic victory. I am proud to be Japanese,’’ said Hideki Iwamoto, a 27-year-old employee of a maker of outdoor goods as he left the stadium. “This gives me the energy to forge on in my own job.’’ Japan had never reached the knock-out stages before and avoided becoming the first hosts to be eliminated in the first round. “It’s amazing, amazing, amazing,’’ said Miyugi
Kume, an office worker in Tokyo. “I want them to keep on fighting.’’ “Players and fans were united as one,’’ said Akemi Hattori, who said her co-workers at a Tokyo-based job placement company brought a television to work to watch. “We sneaked in and out of the room to watch the match,’’ Hattori said. “Everyone here is crying after the game.’’ Many Japanese were officially working and studying on Friday afternoon during the match, but even the Sports Ministry — which had urged its staff to stick to their jobs — said people could watch if they didn’t bother others. “Prime Minister
(Junichiro) Koizumi should make it a half-day national holiday when Japan plays next,’’ Hattori said. Japanese fans were thirsty for a reason to cheer after a decade of economic stagnation and political stalemate. Like co-hosts South Korea, Japan’s team has thrilled their fans in the first World Cup to be held in Asia. They battled to a 2-2 draw against Belgium for their first ever World Cup point, then nabbed their first win, against Russia, laying to rest the memory of a dismal World Cup debut four years ago when they limped home after three defeats. Philippe
Troussier, the team’s French-born coach, had promised fans they would reach the last 16 of the month-long tournament, which ends on June 30. Even before the game was over, a crowd of jostling, ecstatic fans gathered on a bridge over Osaka’s Dotonbori river, where by tradition baseball fans leap into the water to celebrate a win. Some, unable to contain their joy, jumped in after Japan scored their first goal and others, wrapped in the national flag, followed suit later. “I’m deliriously happy that Japan won,’’ said a 23-year-old fan, dripping wet after his celebratory dive in the river. Rows of police three-deep sought to keep the crowd moving. Joyful supporters had partied until dawn and danced in the streets after Japan’s first World Cup win on Sunday, destroying its image of a nation of reserved worker-robots. In Osaka, ticketless fans gathered in a park near the stadium just to hear the crowd roar. “I wanted to hear it live,’’ said 20-year-old student Akiko Masui. ‘’I’m really happy.’’ Thousands of others waited along the road to the stadium in the hope of catching a glimpse of their heroes when they left. Many of those who watched the decisive game at home or work said they now planned to party all night. “I’m very, very happy. I didn’t think they’d get this far,’’ said 26-year-old housewife Naomi
Fukusawa. “Tonight I’m going to go someplace really noisy and celebrate with all my friends. In downtown Tokyo, noisy, happy fans converged on the trendy night-spot of Shibuya chanting ‘’Ni-ppon,
Ni-ppon’’ while about 300 police fanned out through the area. In bars in
Roppongi, people hugged, danced and sang in the streets. Some cities had pulled the plug on plans to show Friday’s match on giant screens in stadiums. At Tokyo’s National Stadium organisers told media — at the police’s request — not to interview any of the some 50,000 fans inside or outside the stadium for fear of exciting them. Reuters |
||
|
Koreans make history Inchon, June 14 A 71st minute goal from Park Ji-Sung sent the stadium into raptures and put the Koreans in the last 16 with co-hosts Japan, the first time the two teams from Asia have made it through the first round. Portugal, one of the pre-tournament
favourites, went out of the competition with just one victory, while the USA scrambled into the second round despite losing 3-1 to Poland. Portugal players left the pitch in tears. The Portuguese campaign finished in disarray when midfielder Joao Pinto was dismissed in the 27th minute after crashing in from behind on Park in their final group D game. Joao Pinto had to be calmed down and led from the pitch after arguing with Argentine referee Angel Sanchez. Portugal defender and captain Fernando Couto held Sanchez by the face as the players argued with the referee over the decision, losing their composure in an intense atmosphere, fuelled by the screaming of 50,000 Korean fans. In the 66th minute defender Beto Severo was sent off for his second bookable offence, a foul on midfielder Lee
Young-Pyo. Portugal came close to equalising on several occasions, late on through Nuno Gomes and Sergio Conceicao who hit the post. Both teams came close to scoring in an electrifying last few minutes of the game. Before the tournament began, Korea had not won a single World Cup game in their previous five finals and were expected to struggle to get past the first-round. But a 2-0 defeat of Poland in their opening game, a 1-1 draw with the USA and Wednesday’s victory has steered them towards a second-round clash with Italy. Park took his goal well cutting in from the right to shoot through the legs of Portugal keeper Vitor
Baia. Portugal came to the tournament having scored more goals than any other European country in the qualifying. Reuters |
||
|
Korean fan burns himself to lift team’s spirits Seoul, June 14 The 39-year-old man was in critical condition, officials said. He lit a candle and bowed several times toward the sea in the south-eastern city of Busan before pouring pain thinner over his body and setting himself on fire, the police said in a statement. They said he left a note saying, “The sweat and tears of coach Guus Hiddink and his players were the biggest birthday gift ever given to me. But we now have to overcome South American and European teams and I am driven to take this road by impetuosity. “I will become the 12th soccer player by becoming a spirit and will run for the victory of the Korean team,” the note said, adding Korean soccer fans’ customary cheer: “Fighting Korea!” The man was dressed in red, the national soccer team colour. Tens of thousands of South Koreans had gathered in the streets of major cities to cheer their team during the first two matches — a victory over Poland and a draw with the USA.
AP |
||
|
Belgium through with late burst Shizuoka (Japan), June 14 Belgium will now take on favourites Brazil in Kobe on Monday for a place in the quarter-finals. The Belgians needed the three points after drawing their first two matches whereas the Russians could have advanced with a draw. But having come back from a goal down Russia were stunned by Belgium's finale. With the scores level at 1-1 Wesley Sonck, a 70th-minute substitute for Mbo Mpenza, climbed above Dimitri Khokhlov to head past Russian keeper Ruslan Nigmatullin following a left-wing corner by Johan Walem after 78 minutes. Midfielder Marc Wilmots then drove home his third goal of the tournament four minutes later to seal the win in a match which had threatened to run away from the 'Red Devils'. Dmitri Sychev pulled back a last-gasp consolation for Russia in the 88th minute but he and his colleagues were unable to wrest the draw as the joyous Belgians embraced and leapt on each other at the final whistle. Walem had broken the deadlock after just seven minutes with a brilliant freekick - but Russia replied through Vladimir Beschastnykh seven minutes after half-time. Midfielder Walem showed Belgium would go for the jugular with his swirling free-kick which ripped past over the Russian wall and inside Nigmatullin's left-hand post. Russia equalised nine minutes after the restart when Beschastnykh fired home after Sychev saw his initial shot saved by Geert De Vlieger. Belgium had had much the better of things in the opening period but Russia stepped up the pace and put them under the cosh early in the second half. Mpenza had earlier forced Nigmatullin to make a fine diving stop after a meaty drive on the run as Belgium applied solid pressure for much of the opening quarter. The Russians compromised their own chances by losing to co-hosts Japan, provoking rioting in Moscow. Russia left midfield wizard Alexander Mostovoi on the bench and appeared not to know whom to turn for creative distribution in his place prior to a marked improvement in the final 20 minutes as they found the energy of desperation. Mostovoi had been expected to start after overcoming a thigh injury. Belgium suffered a blow when playmaker Wilmots required first-half treatment after a collision with Nigmatullin - but he was soon back in the action. Russian coach Oleg Romantsev twice reshuffled his pack, withdrawing midfielder Alexei Smertin and sending Sychev into the fray on the half hour and then taking off defender Yuri Nikiforov for another defender in Dmitri Sennikov. But still Belgium were dominant and a Gert Verheyen lob almost embarrassed Nigmatullin six minutes before the break, but the ball just cleared the bar. Russia were left to rue their bad luck as waves of attacks going into four agonising minutes of injury-time enjoyed no reward.
AFP |
||
|
USA advance despite defeat to Poland
Taejon, June 14 The Americans go through in second place behind South Korea, who handed the USA a lifeline by scoring a late winner against Portugal in the group’s other match. News of Korea’s goal was greeted with cheers from virtually everyone inside Taejon’s World Cup stadium — Koreans and Americans alike. Even the Poles, their side eliminated from the competition, joined in. But for most of an open, exciting game, the USA appeared to have blown their chance of a place in the last 16 against a Poland side which bore no resemblance to the one which lost their opening two matches without scoring. Poland struck twice in the first five minutes to stun their opponents. Nigerian-born striker Emmanuel Olisadebe scored their first with a fierce shot off the underside of the crossbar after his initial header from a corner kick had been blocked. Two minutes later, Jacek Krzynowek found space to cross from the left and striker Pawel Kryszalowicz beat USA centreback Jeff Agoos to the ball to turn a first time shot past goalkeeper Brad Friedel from close range. Between the two goals, in a astonishing opening few minutes, USA midfielder Landon Donovan had an effort disallowed. The 20-year-old midfielder was adjudged to have fouled defender Arkadiusz Glowacki just before he headed the ball into the net. The American players swarmed around Chinese referee Lu Jun to protest the decision, and some of them still appeared to be distracted as Poland surged up to the other end of the pitch to score their second. The Poles almost grabbed a third midway through the half when forward Maciej Zurawski drove a low shot off Friedel’s legs and on to the keeper’s right hand post. Poland added a third in the 66th minute when Marcin Zewlakow, who had been on the pitch for less than a minute, scored with his first touch — a header from a cross from the Polish left. The USA looked down and out until the news came through from the Korean match to propel them into the second round. Friedel celebrated his side’s qualification by saving a Zurawski penalty in the 76th minute after Kryszalowicz had been pulled down by Tony Sanneh. It was his second penalty save of the competition. Then with seven minutes to go, Donovan got some consolation for his disallowed goal, when he pulled back a late goal for the USA after finding space in the Polish area.
Reuters |
|
Strangest finals in World Cup history? Seoul, June 14 The fair footballers from Denmark and Sweden, expected to suffer in the Asian heat and humidity, motoring through to the second phase. And England’s fans popular. Whatever else happens at the World Cup, the 2002 finals are shaping up to be the strangest in the competition’s 72-year history. Perhaps it was only to be expected. The greatest sporting show on earth had generated bizarre headlines before a ball had been kicked. Roy Keane’s spectacular meltdown in the Irish camp, a Swedish training ground spat involving Freddie Ljungberg and the ‘Indomitable Lions’ of Cameroon embarking on a madcap oydssey to the far east which at one point saw them stranded in Bangkok. As Cameroon’s footballers kicked their heels in Thailand — their chartered flight had not obtained permission to fly over three Asian countries — they might have spared a thought for Trevor Sinclair and Ricardinho. England’s Sinclair jetted out to Dubai as injury cover and then onwards to South Korea only to come straight back again after being left out of Sven-Goran Eriksson’s final 23. But barely 24 hours after touching down in London Sinclair was winging his way back to the far east after another injury. Sinclair’s trans-continental trekking was a breeze compared to Ricardinho’s tortuous journey to join up with Brazil, who had seen their captain Emerson ruled out after a freak training ground accident. When Ricardhino got the SOS, he packed his bag and rushed straight to the airport not realising that his passport was due to expire. He would have made it into South Korea but not necessarily back into Brazil. A dash back to his home solved the problem and he travelled on an old Italian passport. But that was just the beginning. After the long haul from South America his connecting plane from Japan was diverted from the southern Korean port city of Busan to Daegu. But a storm in Daegu prevented the plane from landing there. The aircraft with Ricardinho on board went back to where it came from — Nagoya, Japan. Emerson’s exit and Ricardinho’s travails came as the rest of the world were still trying to comprehend the result of the tournament’s opening match: France 0 Senegal 1. But France’s fall was not a one-off. Within days, the USA, the worst team at the 1998 tournament, pulled off another upset with a 3-2 win over Portugal. Cameroon, meanwhile, were still having transport problems. Having got to Japan, coach Winfried Schafer was aghast to discover that the Africans had based themselves in a remote island camp, miles from anywhere. Small wonder Cameroon’s players complained of tiredness — not that it seemed to bother them in their brutal battle with Germany at the end of the first round. With a record 16 yellow cards and two reds, the match officially became the dirtiest in World Cup history. Fatigue was not something that appeared to bother Denmark and Sweden though. Denmark lost an estimated four litres of fluid per player in one game, but they steamed through group A — rounding it off by dumping out France. Sweden, another side expected to wilt in the heat, ended up topping the ‘group of death’, helping ensure Argentina’s embarrassing exit. There have been more surprises. Japan defeating Russia, Mexico topping a group involving Italy, and last but not least, a whole host of footballers deciding that the essential look for this year’s finals is a striking Mohican hair-do.
AFP |
|
Denmark pose ‘danger’ to England Niigata (Japan), June 14 Six members of the Danish squad earn their living in the Premiership and have first-hand knowledge of English football. They may not be household names like the Beckhams and Owens of this world but players such as Everton midfielder Thomas Gravesen and Manchester City’s new signing Niclas Jensen have already proved more than a match for any team -just ask France. The World Cup holders lost 2-0 to Denmark in their final first round match on Tuesday, a result which condemned ‘Les Bleus’ to a premature exit from the tournament they won on home soil four years ago. Steve McClaren, assistant coach to Sven-Goran Eriksson, who when not on England duty manages Premiership outfit Middlesbrough, is expecting few surprises from tomorrow’s opponents as the competition moves in to its knock-out phase. "We know the Denmark team. You get to know their strengths and weaknesses. We know the players individually and we’ve seen them as a team," he said. The Danes could say the same about England. There is little they don’t know about English football and that knowledge served them particularly well against the French who fielded four Premiership-based players on Tuesday. "When I was a kid I remember Denmark beating England at Wembley with a penalty from Allan Simonsen to qualify for Euro 1984. I remember celebrating with all my friends," said Tofting of England’s only defeat against the Danes. Despite Tofting’s eagerness to face England the rugged midfielder is doubtful for the match because of a foot injury. In-form striker Jon Dahl Tomasson is another concern for the Danes. The tournament’s second top scorer with four goals has a groin strain. Should Tomasson fail to be fit in time for the match McClaren will be a relieved man. England’s assistant coach has kept a watchful eye on the forward who struggled to make an impact when he played in the Premiership with Newcastle United. "I watched Tomasson quite a bit last season for Feyenoord who won the UEFA Cup," he said. "He’s matured as a player. He always was a good player, always had good ability and now he’s starting to come through."
AFP |
|
Germans out to regain lost glory Sogwipo, June 14 Playing in the second round was once business as usual for Germany but a series of dreadful results, culminating in a 5-1 thrashing by England in a World Cup qualifier in Munich last September, rocked the team’s confidence. "We want to win back the credit that we have lost,’’ said former Germany striker Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, making clear that a lot more than a quarter-final place will be at stake against the South Americans at the futuristic Sogwipo arena. Fellow traditional favourites Argentina and France have already gone home but Germany, written off by many after struggling to qualify, are still very much alive and kicking. After disappearing from the last two World Cups in the quarter-finals, and making an embarrassing first-round exit from Euro 2000, Germany had entered this year’s tournament with lower expectations than usual, and coach Rudi Voeller named the opening knock-out stage as their minimum aim. But they are more ambitious after surviving the first round undefeated and netting plenty of goals -- including five from top scorer Miroslav Klose. The squabbling that marred their runs in recent major tournaments has been absent and although they might not have a true leader, as German all-time great Franz Beckenbauer put it, they also have no troublemakers for a change. "Team spirit is essential and is one of the reasons why I believe we can go far in the tournament," said Germany captain Oliver Kahn. Nobody was under-estimating Paraguay, who battled through the first round not unlike the Germans themselves as both teams conceded a late equaliser in their penultimate group match before fighting with 10 men for victory in the deciders. "I think it will be very tight," said midfielder Jens Jeremies, who added that he was already dreaming of seeing Germany play in the Yokohama final on June 30. Few would have put money on the South Americans after a shaky build-up featuring a 4-0 drubbing by England, but assistant Germany coach Michael Skibbe recalled that they had qualified for the finals in style. "They beat Brazil and drew with Argentina twice, which says a lot about their ability," he said. Paraguay’s Italian coach Cesare Maldini, who came under fire after replacing the popular Sergio Markarian, showed he still knew a few tricks by bringing on Nelson Cuevas as a substitute in Wednesday’s must-win game against Slovenia. Making his World Cup debut, Cuevas scored twice for a 3-1 victory that set up Saturday’s showdown. Germany paid a high price for the win as Ramelow, Dietmar Hamann and Christian Ziege are all suspended for Saturday’s match, but Klose should be as dangerous as ever while playmaker Michael Ballack has looked better with every game.
Reuters |
|
FIFA panel awards goal to Ronaldo Yokohama, June 14 The tournament has been dotted with decisions about what constitutes an own goal which appear to contradict FIFA’s official guidelines, but Ronaldo’s is by far the most bizarre. The Brazil striker claimed the 10th minute goal against Costa Rica yesterday and it was initially given to him. After video replays showed Ronaldo did not touch the ball, FIFA gave it as an own goal to defender Luis Marin. Both players had converged on a cross from the left at the same moment just in front of the Costa Rican goal. FIFA announced today that after its technical committee studied video replays, they decided to give the goal to Ronaldo.
Reuters |
|
Jeev’s front nine heroics thrill fans New York, June 14 Jeev, who became the first Indian to qualify for the prestigious US Open, the second major championship of the year, shot a five-over 75 on day one to be tied for the 74th place. However, his round had enough heroics to earn him new fans as he thrilled the huge gallery to some outstanding shotmaking from around the green. The Indian had the crowd applauding on the first hole itself when he hit a brilliant second shot to the green from the deep rough. On the second, he got an up-and-down from the bunker and then his birdie putt from 20 ft lipped out on the third. By this time, a goodly gallery of expatriate Indians and several Americans had gathered around fourth hole, Jeev played what could be the shot of the day. His three-wood second shot went into the secondary rough. The almost impossible chip flew over the green, rolled almost 30 ft down the slope and vanished into the thick, long grass. As a horrified gallery wondered what he would do from there, Jeev produced a miracle and somehow hacked the ball to the edge of the elevated and tree-guarded green, and then chipped it dead to make a bogey. He was not done yet. On the fifth, he chipped-in to save par. On the sixth, he almost holed a 20 ft par putt which lipped out. On the seventh, he chipped-in again, this time from 20 yards for a birdie!! He made the turn at one-over, but with the wind picking up and the light fading on the back nine, he couldn’t carry on the momentum and added four bogeys to finish the day at 75. “This was the worst I have used my irons in a long, long time. I just could not find the greens in regulation. Thankfully, my short game saved me from total embarrassment,’’ said Jeev after the round. “However, I am right on the bubble as far as making the cut is concerned and I am very hopeful of making a better score tomorrow when I play in the morning,’’ he added. Meanwhile, Tiger Woods played a steady round and dropped four birdie putts in the 15-20-ft range as he kept alive his chances of wining the four majors in a single season. A 15-footer on the ninth (Tiger’World No 1 Tiger Woods used every trick in his book to overcome the viscious Bethpage Black course. The American shot five birdies and two bogies as he finished the day at three-under 67, one stroke ahead of Sergio Garcia, who looked rock-solid in the morning as he posted three birdies and one bogey. Four players, including Korean Choi Kyoung-ju, were tied for the third place at one-under 69. How tough were the conditions at the Bethpage Black can be gauged by the fact that only six players from the quality field of 156 managed to break par. Only two eagles were shot during the entire day as against 131 double bogies and the 320 birdies scored were completely outnumbered by the 771 bogeys. Defending champion Retief Goosen started with a 79, three-time winner Hale Irwine languished with a 82, while British Open champion David Duval could do no better than 78.
UNI |
|
Dokic eases into last eight Birmingham, June 13 The 19-year-old Yugoslav star admitted she was surprised by how quickly she had adapted to the grass-court game two weeks before Wimbledon. “Considering how much I’ve played on grass I’m very pleased,” Dokic said. “I’ve had two matches on grass now and I’m beginning to put a little more pressure on.” Dokic — whose father Damir was banned from the US Open in 2000 for his outrageous outbursts at court officials — said her impressive form was due to the presence of her mother. “When my father is with me he deals with all the tennis and leaves the rest up to me. My mother deals with the rest and leaves the tennis up to me,” said Dokic. “She has looked after my laundry, food, sleeping and clothes. I don’t have to pack my bags in the morning any more.” Dokic will now face Elena Danillidou after the Greek star defeated Japan’s Ai Sugiyama, the 11th seed, 6-4, 6-2. Earlier, Britain’s Julie Pullin came within two points of taking the first set off Bulgaria’s Magdalena Maleeva. The British number one had a simple chance to shock the third seed, but the 26-year-old fluffed a simple forehand which would have given her set point. Maleeva took advantage of Pullin’s mistake to save the set and then obliterated the British player to reach the quarterfinals with a 7-6 6-0 victory. Despite the loss, Pullin was pleased with her performance and was hoping to transfer her grass-court form to Wimbledon later this month. “I’ve never won a match at Wimbledon but I’m going in this year with a lot of confidence,” Pulin said. “I missed some big points but I’m glad I went in there with a positive attitude,” said Pullin. “I feel I’m playing some of my best tennis at the moment.” Meanwhile, second seed Sandrine Testud of France lost in straight sets to Australian Nicole Pratt 6-4, 6-1, and 10th seed Alexandra Stevenson crashed 3-6 6-2 6-3 to Russia’s Anastasia Myskina.
AFP |
|
Grand Slam days not over: Sampras Halle (Germany), June 14 But he refused to accept his Grand Slam days are over. “I still think I can win a major,” said Sampras despite losing 3-6, 4-6 to Germany’s Nicolas Kiefer. “I was looking to find success here for my self-confidence. But whenever I step on to centre court at Wimbledon, I always play better right away.” But he acknowledged: “It’s getting harder and harder for me. The boys are getting better all the time.” The American said earlier in the week: “After Paris I was really, really down. I was deflated about the whole year. It took me a week just to get going again.” Sampras has won Wimbledon seven times, the US Open four times and the Australian Open twice, but Paris has always eluded him. “I put so much focus on it this year,” the American said. “I was like a balloon that was filled — with so much effort put into doing well in Paris — and it then popped. I was really depressed. Each day was a struggle.” Now he hopes the grass-court season will provide the tonic to get his career fizzing again. He still feels he is one of the favourites for Wimbledon despite Thursday’s loss and his current world ranking of 13.
Reuters |
Tendulkar releases book on Achrekar Mumbai, June 14 The book, written in Marathi by Sanjeev Padhye, gives a detailed picture of Achrekar’s contribution as a coach to the game of cricket. Achrekar, who coached cricketers like Tendulkar, Vinod Kambli, Praveen Amre and Ajit Agarkar, could not attend the function as he was indisposed. Asked about what his plans for the forthcoming tour of England were, Tendulkar simply said, "I don’t want to talk about it as I want my bat to do the talking in England".
PTI |
|
|
Butcher hits second ton of series Manchester, June 14 At stumps on the second day England were 377 for six with Alec Stewart 57 not out and Surrey team-mate Alex Tudor six not out after poor weather meant only 28 overs’ play was possible. Frustrated spectators booed the batsmen when they went off for bad light after rain had prevented play starting. The conditions saw 77 overs lost from the day’s allocation. Stewart, equalling Graham Gooch’s England record of 118 Test appearances, kept up the pressure with a typically brisk fifty from 61 balls. Surrey left-hander Butcher was on 119 before rain, which had washed out the entire morning session, forced a 78 minute stoppage in the afternoon. The Surrey left-hander stroked a faultless 123, his fifth hundred in his 41st Test, as England extended their overnight 273 for four to 374 for six in the last session of a day severely disrupted by rain. Alec Stewart was beaten on 56 and Alex Tudor four not out, with a possible 26 overs still to be bowled before the close. Butcher’s batting has reached a peak since his recall by England at the start of last year’s Ashes series against Australia, and that is partly because of an improved mental approach that has given him the appetite for long innings. He has made 1,186 runs in his last 14 Tests at an average of 49.41, culminating in the prolific form that has produced scores of 17, 105, 94 and now 123 in the current series. Scoreboard England (1st Innings): (overnight: 273-4) Trescothick c Jayawardene b Murali 81 Vaughan c Vaas b Fernando 36 Butcher lbw Vaas 123 Hussain c Murali b Fernando 16 Thorpe c Sangakkara b
Upashantha 32 Stewart batting 57 Flintoff run out 1 Tudor batting 6 Extras (b-5, lb-8, nb-12) 25 Total (6wkts, 100 overs) 377 Fall of wickets: 1-66, 2-192, 3-219, 4-262, 5-354, 6-361. Bowling: Vaas 28-7-73-1, Upashantha 8-0-65-1, Fernando 23-2-118-2, Muralitharan 39-12-103-1, De Silva 2-0-5-0.
AFP
|
|
|
Patiala cricketers prove their mettle Patiala, June 14 In the first match, played against Agra club, the Patiala boys emerged triumphant by beating their rivals by 7 wickets. In the second match, played against Badawar club, the Patiala team riding on a fluent knock of 89 by Tanmeet Bawa, notched up 206 for 5 in the allotted 35 overs. In reply, Badawar club managed to score just 158 runs giving the visiting team a 48-run victory. The Patiala colts lost their third match against Stadium club by 7 wickets. However, in their fourth outing, Agra XI scored 125 runs before being all out. In reply, the Patiala lads managed to win the match by 7 wickets. Tanmeet Bawa was declared the man of the tournament, while Harjinder Singh and Rajvinder Singh were declared the best batsman and best bowler of the
tournament. |
|
Wrestling squad announced amidst drama Patiala, June 14 The walkout staged by Mr Stanslow Harlow was all the more embarrassing for the WFI top brass as both the federation's president and secretary, Mr M.S. Malik and Mr Kartar Singh, were present when the coach stepped out of the hall huffing, puffing and cursing WFI officials in his native language. The logic propounded by the foreign coach, who is quite popular with Indian grapplers, was that since the team for the junior Asian Wrestling Championships, slated to be held in Masad (Iran) from June 19 to 21, was finalised and some of the matmen who were to undergo the trials had already found a place in the team, the trials that were to be conducted for the Commonwealth Games would disrupt the team’s preparations for the junior Asian meet. However, notwithstanding Mr Harlow's antics, both Mr Malik and Mr Kartar Singh went ahead with the trials as the WFI was under the obligation to further the list of the selected matmen to the Sports Ministry by June 15. In the event of the WFI not sending the list, the Indians might not be allowed to take part in the Commonwealth Games. Both Mr Malik and Mr Kartar Singh had little option but to go ahead with the trials despite Mr Harlow insisting that there was no need for the trials and the wrestlers for the Commonwealth Games could be selected through a consensus among the WFI selectors and himself, once the junior Asian meet was over. Mr Harlow even threatened that if the trials were held, he would return to Bellarus. Mr Malik even remarked that if this was the case, the WFI would find a new foreign coach. Afterwards, Mr Harlow did not join the selection committee meeting held after the trials, prompting the WFI to announce the names of the matmen for the Commonwealth Games without taking Mr Harlow into confidence. The selected wrestlers are Ramesh Kumar (66 kg), Sujit Mann (74 kg), Anuj Chowdhury (84 Kg), and Palwinder Cheema (120 Kg plus). The names of Kirpa Shanker and Krishan Kumar (55 kg), Shokinder Tomar and Sushil Kumar (96 Kg) and Jagdish Kaliram ( 96 Kg) have been kept in the stand-by list. |
|
|
|
|
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 122 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
