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Sunday,
September 1, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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India hold Netherlands; Germany down Pak Kuerten ousts Safin; Sampras in third round
Martina-Paes duo upsets top seeds Lanka board, players reach pact |
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India make clean sweep Punjab super league: JCT, BSF in title clash Keane not worried about penalty Ajeetesh wins title Maiden win for PSEB Seema to lead Haryana squad
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India hold Netherlands; Germany down Pak Cologne, August 31 India squandered a golden opportunity to register a victory over the Netherlands when they conceded a last minute goal to split points in their opening match. With just 40 seconds left in the match and India leading 3-2, Holland earned their sixth penalty corner from which Matthijs Brouwer scored the goal to level the score 3-3. India, who had lost 2-5 to the Netherlands a week earlier in the Rebobank Classic, were a completely different side today, especially in the second half, where they dominated the midfield and were dangerous inside the circle. The initial exchanges went the Dutch way as their forward line of Teun de Nooijer and Rob Derikx had the Indian defence sweating. Captain Dilip Tirkey and Jugraj Singh kept away the initial wave of attacks and in the midfield Bimal Lakra did his bit as he, time and again, came back and helped in counter-attacks. The Netherlands took the lead in the 11th minute when Taeke Taekema’s flick off the first penalty corner surprised the Indian defence and goalkeeper Devesh Chauhan, who had already raised his stick for the rising ball, but just couldn’t move sideways as the speeding ball hit a defender’s leg and went into the post. The Indians, normally slow starters, stepped on the steam midway into the first half. Gagan Ajit Singh, Prabhjot Singh and Deepak Thakur kept the dutch defence on their toes. The impressive thing was that the Indian forward line created space in the Dutch circle instead of crowding around. But the man who actually made things a bit easier for the Indians was Bimal Lakra as he held the midfield and also moved up to prop the frontline. The move that began the quest for the equaliser came off Dilip Tirkey’s stick as his shot found Gagan on the top of the circle. The Indian forward made space taking a defender with him and then deftly tapped the ball to Prabhjot Singh who was overlapping. India were awarded a penalty stroke when a rampaging Prabhjot Singh was stick-checked by Jan Geert just before the goal post. Jugraj Singh’s flick in the 22nd minute beat the goalkeeper that levelled the score 1-1. The Indians looked sharper after the goal and the midfield coordinated perfectly with the forwards with some nice long passes. India missed an opportunity to take the lead soon after when Prabhjot Singh failed to connect the stick to a shot from Bimal Lakra near the Dutch goalmouth. The Netherland took the lead just moments before the half time when Brouwer deflected a shot into the Indian post with a helpless Devesh failing to block the angle. India failed to equalise seconds later as a deflection from star striker Dhanraj Pillay was superbly saved by the Dutch goalkeeper Guus Vogels. The Dutch intensified their attack after the break. But goalkeeper Chauhan came up with some briliant saves to defy the opposition moves. The Indians benefitted from a far from compact Dutch defence which was caught on the wrong foot on number of occasions. The equaliser for India came in the 58th minute off the third penalty corner. Bimal Lakra flicked the ball to Dhanraj on top of the circle who gave it to Prabhjot Singh on the edge of the goal-line. But Prabhjot Singh, realising that he was hemmed in by the defence and the goalkeeper, tapped the ball to Pillay who slammed the ball high into the goal. India’s lead came through a brilliant move initiated by Dilip Tirkey. The Indian captain shot straight on the sideline to Deepak Thakur who was deep into the Dutch half. Thakur passed the ball to Prabhjot Singh who shot it into the corner of the post for a superb goal. Desperate for an equaliser, the Dutch pressed hard and won three penalty corners. Brouwer scored off the sixth penalty corner to deny an Indian victory. Tomorrow, India will play the defending champions Germany while the Netherlands take on Australia. The Germans made the most of the yellow card expulsion of skipper Mohammed Sarwar to help themselves to two goals and a victory in the decisive final phase of the game in bright sunshine at this German industrial city. The reigning champions began with their typical efficient play and in the early stages it looked as if they would run away with the game. However, the Pakistan defence played brilliantly to absorb all the German pressure and come back with some breakaway moves with their great flair. Even as Michel, Oliver Domke and Bechmann missed chances early in the first half; Nadeem came up with some brilliant stick work of his own to trouble the German defence. Oliver Domke opened the scoring for Germany in the 19th minute, receiving the ball with his back to the goal and thundering his shot past Ahmed Alam in the Pakistan goal. The Pakistan forwards made the perfect reply with a great move in the very next minute initiated by Mohammed Sarwar and finished cleanly by Kashif Jawad to put them on level terms 1-1. The Germans then forced two penalty corners but wasted their chances in both as they shot over the bar. As they approached half time a great Emmerling run was efficiently blocked by Ahmed Alam. The second half also witnessed some great opportunities created by the Germans with a spectacular Domke reverse shot just sailing over the bar and Reinault failing to score in the 49th minute. Once again the Pakistanis broke back from a German raid and earned a penalty stroke in the 50th minute. Skipper Sarwar made no mistake to put Pakistan in the lead 2-1. Mohammed Sarwar was then served a yellow card for tripping and his sitting out cost his team dearly as the Germans struck twice in two minutes to clinch the match. First Florian Kunz made the most of Germany’s fifth penalty corner in the 66th minute and then Emmerling scored off a rebound from Domke’s shot in the 68th minute to give Germany a sensational 3-2 victory in their opener against Pakistan.
UNI, PTI
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Korea shock Aussies In the last match, Korea shocked Australia 3-2 after the two teams were level 1-1 at half time. Nathan Eglington (19th) and Michael McCann scored for Australia while Woon Kon Yeo (34th, 57th) and Jong Hyun Hwang (60th) were the Korean scorers. |
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Kuerten
ousts Safin; Sampras in third round
New York, August 31 Top seed last year but unseeded this time round, Kuerten is the only player since the US Open turned professional in 1968 to have suffered such a steep fall from grace at the tournament in just 12 months. It has been injuries and hip surgery, however, which have torpedoed his ranking and the former world No. 1 put them all behind him to blow the 2000 champion off court. “This is the happiest day for me this year on a tennis court,’’ said Kuerten yesterday, who had not beaten a top 10 player all year. “I feel like I have nothing to lose now. “To tell you the truth I don’t see anything that can put me under pressure. I am just enjoying myself. “I just want to win matches...Get my confidence back. I have spent a lot of time practising and in the gym and this is payback.’’ Coming into the open having lost 10 of his 23 matches this year, Kuerten carried no form to speak of, but the three-times French Open champion turned on the style to pummel his old adversary. The mighty Russian had no answer to Kuerten’s tracer-like groundstrokes and deceptively powerful serving as the Brazilian found ever-more acute angles off the ground. “He played one of his best matches,’’ Safin sighed. “He was just...Well, I had no chance to return his serve. “Then of course he got confident.’’ Women’s world NO. 1 Serena Williams was also full of confidence as she demolished Nathalie Dechy 6-1, 6-1. Wearing a more traditional pink top and black shorts in place of the eye-popping skin-tight, black lycra outfit that drew stares in her opening two matches, Williams needed only 49 minutes to dispose of the 26th-seeded Frenchwoman. “I’m just getting better,’’ the American beamed. ‘“pretty in pink’...I love pink, it’s my new favourite colour.’’ Britain’s Tim Henman also avoided any New York pitfalls, serve-volleying his way past Belgian qualifier Dick Norman 6-3, 6-4, 7-5. The fifth seed has never gone beyond the fourth round at the final Grand Slam of the year, but looked fit and focused on a damp and overcast day five. Kicking his serves with heavy topspin and floating his approach shots on to the lines, Henman showed no sign of the shoulder injury which has troubled him to dominate from the start of the one-hour 54-minute match. He will next face Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela. “I felt pretty comfortable out there,’’ the Briton said. Third seed Tommy Haas also advanced without any fuss. The German beat former top 10 player Karol Kucera of Slovakia 6-1, 6-4, 6-4. Andy Roddick must also have felt great having celebrated his 20th birthday in some style. He beat Dutchman Raemon Sluiter 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 with ease. Pete Sampras powered into the third round, brushing aside Dane Kristian Pless 6-3, 7-5, 6-4. The winner of a record 13 Grand Slam titles never allowed pless a look in on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court, serving with great precision and keeping his opponent on the back foot at all times. The American will next meet Greg Rusedski, a runner-up here in 1997, after the Briton pulled out all the stops to beat in-form Thai Paradorn Srichaphan 3-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4. Women’s eighth seed Justine Henin of Belgium advanced smoothly, ending New York native Bea Bielik’s run 7-5, 6-1. “It’s always hard to play someone that you have never heard anything about,’’ said Henin. Lindsay davenport, champion here in 1998 and fourth seed this year, wasted no time dismissing French qualifier Marion Bartoli 6-3, 6-1 to enhance her championship credentials. “I felt like I was controlling the points,’’ she smiled. I’m playing well enough...I haven’t taken any steps backwards.’’ French Open runner-up Juan Carlos Ferrero, the seventh seed from Spain, ousted Argentina’s Gaston Etlis 6-2, 5-7, 6-0, 7-5. But 10th seed Sebastien Grosjean was dumped by French compatriot Arnaud Clement 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, -6, 4-6. Reuters
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Safin takes tough
draw in stride New York, August 31 The 2000 U.S. Open champion and a semi-finalist last year, the Russian arrived in New York looking to maintain his success at Flushing Meadows. But when the draw was announced another strong run appeared to seem a daunting task. Safin’s first-round opponent was Nicolas Kiefer, a former top-10 player beset by injuries in recent years. The German gave him all he could handle in an epic five-set duel which saw both players battle cramps before the second seed scraped through.
Reuters |
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Martina-Paes duo upsets top seeds
New York, August 31 Still, the 18-time Grand Slam singles champion, partnering Leander Paes of India, beat top-seeded mixed doubles pair Rennae Stubbs and Todd Woodbridge of Australia 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 yesterday in the first round of the US Open. Navratilova and Paes traded two breaks in the first set with the defending champions before winning the tie-break, and they again traded breaks in the fourth and fifth games of the second set. But with Stubbs serving in the 11th game, Navratilova and Paes won the next eight straight points — breaking Stubbs’ serve before Navratilova served out the match. Navratilova, who has also won 31 Grand Slam doubles titles and seven mixed, has had limited success since reviving her career, but she proved last year that she can still be a threat. At the 2001 US Open, she and team-mate Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario of Spain reached the quarterfinals of the women’s doubles competition. But in mixed doubles, Navratilova and partner Max Mirnyi of Belarus lost to Stubbs and Woodbridge in the first round. Stubbs has also won the mixed doubles at the Australian Open. In women’s doubles, she has won Wimbledon, the US and Australian Opens, all with partner Lisa Raymond. Woodbridge has won 18 Grand Slam tournaments, including at least one men’s and mixed doubles title at each of the four Grand Slams. AP
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‘Hamburg
Hunk’ living life to the full New York, August 31 John McEnroe once came out on court with black shorts at Wimbledon and was sent off to change them for traditional white. In New York, where usually anything goes, Haas was told to change his sleeveless shirt for something more acceptable. The muscled shoulder image would have fitted the ‘Hamburg Hunk’ down to the ground. He is the ATP Tour’s action man, doing things that must make those around him cringe with fear that he could end his career with a moment of carelessness or bad luck.
Reuters |
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Roddick
rescues boy
New York, August 31 On Roddick’s 20th birthday, the 11th seed began signing autographs for fans who gathered near the fence along the court level at Louis Armstrong Stadium, where he defeated Dutchman Raemon Sluiter 6-2 6-4 6-4. Roddick and a security guard saw a young boy being jostled and pushed by older patrons in the surge to get within range of Roddick, so together they pulled the boy out of the pile to safety. Roddick gave the upset boy a souvenir to calm him.
AFP
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Lanka board, players reach pact
Colombo, August 31 An interim body of the BCCSL, following negotiations with the Sri Lanka Cricketers Association (SLCA) yesterday, which was also the deadline set by the ICC to sign the contract, decided to give the player, on the basis of seniority, a “slice’’ of the ICC Champions Trophy guarantee money. The state-run Daily News quoting Graeme Labrooy, an executive member of the SLCA, reported that the controversial issue that had threatened next month’s ICC Champions trophy in Colombo to a great degree, was resolved amicably with both sides “happy’’ with the final outcome. Labrooy, a former Sri Lanka fast bowler said the players would be paid an “undisclosed figure’’ before the commencement of the tournament on September 12. He refused to disclose the amount agreed upon by the BCCSL and the SLCA, but confirmed that it was “much less’’ than what the players had been demanding. The cricketers had demanded a 30 per cent slice of the guarantee money paid by the ICC to the BCCSL for hosting the tournament. The BCCSL, however, turned down the cricketers’ request on the grounds that they were not financially on a sound footing at present and, said they needed the money paid by the ICC for the development of cricket and to keep the Cricket Board going till the end of the year, the newspaper report said. The ICC had asked the players to sign the contract before participating in the tournament. The contract had drawn flak from most of the players around the world for asking them not to endorse products of companies competing with official ICC tournament sponsors on 30 days on either side of the tournaments concerned. Sri Lanka are due to meet Pakistan in the opening match at the R Premadasa Stadium on September 12. The BCCSL officials said arrangements were being finalised to host the tournament successfully. UNI
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India make clean sweep
London, August 31 Displaying maturity way beyond his age, Rayudu, still three-week short of his 17th birthday, scored his runs off just 137 balls to enable India to a memorable series whitewash over England. He flayed the England attack to all parts of the ground and sealed the win that seemed near impossible till the last couple of overs. Chasing 304 for victory, India, at one stage, found themselves languishing at 96 for four and then 135 for six. However, despite regular loss of wickets at the other end, Rayudu continued to flourish with the bat and eventually found an ally in Kuldeep Rawat, with whom he added 115 for the seventh wicket which set the stage for the victory. Even then, England regained control when Tim Bresnan, of Yorkshire, struck twice in three balls. But at 266 for nine with less than six overs remaining, Rayudu was joined by last man Chandrashekar Atram, the hero of India’s one-wicket win on Thursday. While Atram kept his nerve at one end, Rayudu coolly saw his side home, completing the victory when he pulled Kyle Hogg, of Lancashire, over mid-wicket for six. It was a highly frustrating day for the English colts as, batting first, they had piled up a massive 303 for seven in 50 overs, with the bulk of the scoring made by the openers — Kadeer Ali and Andrew Gale. Brief scores: England under-19: 303 for 7 in 50 overs. (Kadeer Ali 125, Gale 77, Hogg not out 35, Mustard 34, T.K. Patel 4/36). India under-19: 306 for nine wickets off 48.1 overs (Rayudu not out 177, Rawat 37, Pathan 23, S. Patel 3/45 Bresnan 2/51). PTI
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Punjab super league: JCT, BSF in title clash Chandigarh, August 31 Having collected 16 points from seven ties, JCT are currently placed on top of the table while BSF, with 15 points from as many matches, are breathing down their necks. Even a draw will suffice for the mill men while BSF are in a must-win situation in the clash for the title. Punjab Police, who also have 15 points from four victories and three draws, have already completed their engagements. Similarly, the two other contestants, namely Punjab State Electricity Board and Rail Coach Factory are already out of reckoning having collected only five and one point, respectively. The league, played on home-and-away basis for the first time, was confined to five top outfits of Punjab. Of these, three have played in the high-profile National Football League. While Punjab Police and BSF could not avert relegation, JCT have escaped the ignominy and are the only team in the NFL currently from northern India. Tomorrow’s contest is of special significance as some of the players who donned JCT colours last season have now signed up for BSF. They include striker Sukhjit Singh and promising winger Jaswant Singh, son of the legendary GS Parmar. JCT, too, have brought in a couple of new faces. The most prominent are star striker IM Vijayan and Joe Paul Ancheri, who played for East Bengal last season. Ancheri is currently in the Indian team which is touring England. Hardip Gill, the hero of Punjab’s victory in the National Games last year, and Hardip Saini besides Ram Pal have time and again proved their worth with sterling performances. Vijayan has been brought in at times in the league and he has also been among the scorers. However, all eyes will be on diminutive striker Gyan Moin, who is among the latest recruits and has proved to be a dynamo upfront. Going by statistics, JCT start as favourites in tomorrow’s tie. In seven matches, JCT have scored 16 goals and have conceded only four while BSF have managed to score only 10 while conceding five. Nevertheless, only one point separates the two teams and it remains to be seen whether the mill men are successful in warding off the challenge of those whom they nurtured and trained till a few months back. According to Arjuna awardee Inder Singh, secretary of the PFA, the kick-off is slated for 4.30 p.m.
The following are the latest standings of the teams after taking into account the result of today’s match at Hoshiarpur. (Read under teams, matches played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against and points).
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Keane not worried about penalty London, August 31 Fa Chief Executive Adam Crozier is currently deciding whether to haul Keane over the coals over his admission that he deliberately set out to injure Alfie Haaland in the Manchester Derby in April 2000. Haaland is considering taking legal action over the comments in Keane’s book, which has been published this week. However, of more immediate concern is a lengthy FA ban, which Manchester United can ill-afford at the moment given their present injury crisis. Manager Alex Ferguson, who caused similar controversy with his autobiography three years ago, has already publicly backed his captain and, despite the uproar, Keane remains defiant. “I am not worried about the FA, there are more important things to worry about,” he told MUTV. “Eamonn Dunphy (Keane’s ghostwriter) has used his style of writing but if I am to be charged, I will face them if and when they come. I am not losing any sleep about it. “I have been asked to do a book for a number of years and I felt this was the right time,” Keane said. “I have been planning the book from the September and I have enjoyed doing it. But there would have been no point if all I was going to say was he’s a joly good fellow or this was an accident. “I have read plenty of books and a lot of them were rubbish — I wanted to be up front, maybe too up front but it’s not the end of the world.” AFP
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Ajeetesh
wins title Chandigarh, August 31 This was the first tournament of the National Circuit arranged by IGU. There were a number of ups and downs on all the four days during which about 150 junior golfers from all over the country tried their best. The course played quite tough for the junior as well as sub-junior participants, as both the categories played from Black Tees, which are usually used for professionals. Ajeetesh Sandhu played excellent rounds of on all the four days to win the B. Division title. His gross score was 325 (80-86-78-81). The runner-up was Kunal Balhara from Delhi and the second runner-up Gaganjeet. In A Division Karan Vasudeva from Delhi won the title. Another local lard Fatehbir Dhaliwal, worked very hard, and finished first runner-up in C Division. Scores: ‘A’ Division Karan Vasudeva 305, Ranjeet Singh 312, Amardeep Malik 313. ‘B’ Division: Ajeetesh Sandhu 325, Kunal Balhara 328, Gaganjeet 339. ‘C’ division: Amanjot 316, Fatehbir Dhaliwal 323. |
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Maiden
win for PSEB Chandigarh, August 31 After a barren first-half, PSEB forged ahead through an opportunistic strike by Jujhar Singh in the 65th minute. Ten minutes later, Kuldeep Singh capitalised on a cross by Sarabjit and headed home to make it 2-0 in favour of the powermen. The struggling RCF managed to pull one back with hardly a minute to go for the long whistle when Kulwinder Singh received a cross from Jasbir, who had moved in dangerously on the right. Kulwinder’s shot brooked no resistance but the goal hardly changed the Kapurthala outfit’s fortunes and they bowed out with only one point to their credit. |
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Seema to lead Haryana squad Chandigarh, August 31 Other
members of the squad are: Men: Surender (100 m, 200 m), Sunil Kumar and Satish Kumar (1500 m, 500 m), Bhupender Singh and Satbir Singh (200 m, 400 m), Malkhan Singh (shot put), Randhir Singh (high jump), Shamsher Singh (pole vault), Jaswinder Singh (110 m hurdles), Devinder Singh Dhaka (long jump), Shakti Singh (shot put/discus) Anil Kumar (discus), Omnarain and Bhagirath (javelin), Zora Singh (decathlon). Women: Seema Antil and Neelam J. Singh (discus), Sunita Dhiya (400 m, 800 m), Gurpreet Kaur (javelin) Neelam (high jump), Suman (hammer throw), Ravina Antil and Meena Chikara (20 km walk). |
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Jones, Sanchez on course for jackpot Brussels, August 31 While the 26-year-old crept to within one win of a share of the 50kg gold bar bonus, so too did 400m hurdles world champion Felix Sanchez, although his 25th birthday celebrations were almost ruined by Frenchman Stephane Diagana.
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