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Monday,
September 9, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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India squander lead, finish fourth
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Players preparing reply to BCCI deadline Chetan Sharma writes |
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Anwar may be dropped for ICC Trophy Agassi sets up title clash with Sampras Serena captures third Grand Slam title in row
Stalker says he’ll never harm Serena
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Dravid
hits double century London, September 8 The 29-year-old right hander’s previous best Test score was 200 not out against Zimbabwe in Delhi in 2000. Dravid, who became the first player in 2002 to score 1000 Test runs when he reached 139, has also now set the record for most runs (585) by an Indian batsman in a series in England, surpassing Sunil Gavaskar’s 542 in 1979. He did give a sharp chance when Ashley Giles dropped him in the gully on 168, but shook off the near miss to go to lunch on 184. Dravid moved through the 190s with a series of singles greeted enthusiastically by the loud Indian contingent of fans who banged drums, blew whistles and horns and cheered every shot before he went to 199 with an off drive for four off fast bowler Matthew Hoggard. He brought up his double century, the first of the series after Michael Vaughan was dismissed for 197 at Nottingham and 195 at the Oval and Sachin Tendulkar made 193 at Leeds, with a flick to fine leg for a single off Hoggard. His 200 came from 449 balls and included 26 fours. He raised his arms in triumph and acknowledged the crowd who went into raptures, waving Indian flags and continuing to blow their whistles and horns. India took tea at 486 for eight about half an hour after Dravid was run out in an unfortunate mix-up with Ajay Ratra. Later, they were all out for 508. Dravid, who improved on his previous best of 200 not out against Zimbabwe in 2000, needed only four runs to overtake Sunil Gavaskar’s 221 which is the highest score by an Indian outside the country. Dravid, who batted for more than ten and a half hours and faced 468 deliveries while hitting 28 fours, also became the first batsman to cross the 1,000 runs this year. India, resumed at their overnight 315 for four, and Dravid alone accounted for 86 today as he progressed from 131 to 217. Dravid put on 113 runs for the fifth wicket with V.V.S. Laxman who contributed a handsome 40 runs, and another 69 runs with Ajit Agarkar who made 31. Dravid reached his double century in the second session when he flicked Matthew Hoggard to square leg for a single. When on 202 he reached another landmark by overtaking Vijay Manjrekar’s tally of 586 runs during the 1961-62 series and now has 602 runs from his four Test series, the highest any Indian batsman has ever made in a series against England. At the break, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh were batting on five each. Reuters Scoreboard England (first innings) 515 (M.Vaughan 195 M.Trescothick 57 M.Butcher 54 D.Cork 52 Harbhajan Singh 5-115) India (first innings overnight 66-1) Bangar c Butcher b Hoggard 21 Sehwag c Cork b Caddick 12 Dravid run out Giles/Stewart 217 Tendulkar lbw b Caddick 54 Ganguly c Stewart b Cork 51 Laxman c Giles b Caddick 40 Agarkar b Vaughan 31 Ratra c Butcher b Caddick 8 Kumble c Hussain b Giles 7 Singh b Giles 17 Khan not out 6 Extras (b-10 lb-6 nb-28) 44 Total 508 Fall of wickets: 1-18 2-87 3-178 4-283 5-396 6-465 7-473 8-477 9-493 Bowling: Hoggard 25-2-97-1 (11-nb), Caddick 43-11-114-4 (3-nb), Giles 49-12-98-2, Tudor 19-2-80-0 (8-nb), Cork 22-5-67-1 (6-nb), Vaughan 12-1-36-1 |
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India squander lead, finish fourth Holland champs Olympic champions the Netherlands today defeated world champions and title holders Germany 3-2 in a penalty shootout to win the Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament for the sixth time. Ronald Brouwer converted the winning penalty stroke as the Dutch avenged their defeat to the Germans in the 2001 final. The game was scoreless after 70 minutes of regulation and 15 minutes of Golden Goal extra time. Earlier, Australia prevailed 3-0 in the match for fifth place over South Korea, who are relegated. Argentina will take their place at the 25th edition of the tournament in 2003 to be held in Amstelveen or Rotterdam.
Cologne (Germany), September 8 With goals from Jugraj Singh, Dilip Tirkey and Gagan Ajit Singh, India enjoyed a comfortable 3-1 advantage by the 56th minute — the lone Pakistan goal coming in the 28th minute by Mudassar Ali Khan. However, as the Indians looked to have dropped gear, Pakistan stepped up their attack and pumped in three brilliant field goals minutes before the final hooter. Mudassar Ali Khan scored his second goal with a pass from Wassem Ahmed in the 63rd minute and then Rehan Butt, who came in as a substitute just minutes back, produced two astonishing goals in the 65th and 67th minutes to win the bronze medal for Pakistan. The defeat was an anti-climax to
Unlike their previous encounter, the match did not rise to great heights and the real good moves came only in the second half. India’s star-striker Dhanraj Pillay, who had played a pivotal role in India’s victory in the previous game, went unnoticed today, mostly remaining confined in the mid-field trying to build the moves. Once again, it was Pakistan who launched the first attacks and earned penalty corners in the second and third minutes. But Indian goalkeeper Devesh Chauhan thwarted the attempts from specialist Sohail Abbas. India’s first chance came in the fifth minute when they earned their first penalty corner but an indirect hit was saved by goalkeeper Ahmed Alam. India’s forward line was a litle hackled today, with an extra defender on Dhanraj Pillay and Deepak Thakur, making them both shift positions as Thakur especially came in from the left instead of the right that he plays nowadays. With both the teams cautious knowing that a loss would mean not going back with a medal, they played their midfield tightly. India showed enterprise as the match moved on with Bimal Lakra really shining with some great runs in the middle and for the first time in the tournament, even Viren Rasquinha moved up leaving his defensive posture. India went into the lead in the 12th minute with their second penalty corner when Jugraj Singh scooped the ball into the left corner of the goal. Egged on by the Indian fans, the team dominated the possession for a major portion of the first half. In between there was a glorious run by Deepak Thakur, who raced down the left flank and then dribbled on the line but Ahmed Alam judged the tap correctly to bring off an equally good save. For Pakistan, Kashif Jawad had a nice opportunity but his shot, after having beaten Devesh Chauhan on his charge, went inches past the post. Pakistan, finally, equalised in the 28th minute off their third penalty corner. The Indians were committed for Sohail Abbas to take the flick but Pakistan sold the dummy that sent the defence on the wrong foot as the pass went to Mudassar Ali Khan, the penalty corner pusher, standing just next to the Indian goal. Mudassar calmly flicked the ball past Devesh Chauhan, who had absolutely no chance. At the break, India and Pakistan were locked 1-1. A couple of minutes after resumption, Dhanraj Pillay raced away to deflect Pakistan’s third penalty corner. Possession was still with India as they earned their third penalty corner in the 48th minute. Indian captain, Dilip Tirkey was right on target with a stinging shot that completely beat goalkeeper Ahmed Alam and give India a 2-1 lead. Attacking all the way, Bimal Lakra moved up into the Pakistan circle in the 53rd minute and nudged the ball to an advancing Gagan Ajit who ran wide, and as Ahmed Alam fell, shot the ball into goal to have India lead 3-1. All India needed to do now was to close the defence but they created a huge gap between the forwards and the defence. Pakistan saw their chance and utilised it to the maximum. First, Mudassar Ali Khan got enough space between two defenders and shot it past a diving Devesh Chauhan to cut India’s lead to 2-3. And then started Pakistan’s most brilliant phase as newcomer Naved Butt, playing his first international tournament, equalised the scores for Pakistan at 3-3 in the 65th minute. India still did not learn and gave away huge gaps in the defence. With just seven minutes left in the match, Rehan Butt latched onto a long drive from deep in the Pakistan half and brilliantly deflected it below Devesh Chauhan’s pads for the match-winner. The Indians were disappointed to say the least but as coach Rajinder Singh said the Indians played well and loss of focus in the dying minutes proved costly. “But I think this side is capable of still playing better hockey and we will improve further when we go to defend the gold medal in the Asian Games in Busan next month.” In an earlier game, Australia registered their first victory in the tournament, beating South Korea 3-0 to take the fifth spot.
PTI
Pillay ‘player of the tournament’ Cologne
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Players preparing reply to BCCI deadline London,
September 8 The Indian team, currently playing in the fourth cricket Test against England, received a written communication from the board last night conveying the board’s decision that they had time till 2pm IST tomorrow to sign the players’ contract which included the 30-day bar clause. Only after that they would be eligible to be considered for the Colombo tournament by the selection committee which is meeting in Kolkata tomorrow to pick the team. The players said they were still discussing their reply to the BCCI’s offer and would announce their next course of action soon. The ongoing match was taking most of their attention but they will surely come up with their response before the deadline, they said. Meanwhile, the ICC which had reached a deal with the Indian players over the sponsorship issue, is said to have been taken by surprise by BCCI President Dalmiya’s rejection of the deal and his insistence that the players should sign the 30-day bar clause. The ICC had thought that the way had been cleared for the participation of the top Indian players in the Colombo tournament till the board threw in the spanner yesterday. The working committee of the board which met in New Delhi yesterday asked the players to sign the players’ terms form and offered to compensate them “in entirety” for any financial losses accruing due to this decision. Board President said this was necessary since the ICC had refused to give a written assurance that the BCCI would not be called upon to pay damages if any of the tournament sponsors later demanded compensation for any losses due to the deal between the ICC and players.
PTI |
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Chetan Sharma writes THIS
Test looks set to go into the scoresheets as drawn and with that the series will also be shared by India and England. I would say it will be a more apt result because the two teams were more or less even. The Indian batsmen tried to make a match out of the contest by trying to post quick runs on the fourth day. Their hope was for the wicket to afford vicious turn to the spinners, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh but the Oval wicket remained lifeless throughout and the final session today only had Michael Vaughan scoring another half-century. Don’t be surprised if he scores his fourth century of the series tomorrow. Vaughan’s rival for the man of the match award will be Rahul Dravid. Dravid got a big reward for his hard work in the form of his highest personal Test score of 217, but his dismissal was very disappointing. It baffled me why did he throw away his wicket when the run wasn’t there. Dravid could have got to 250, even VVS Laxman’s Indian mark of 281 had he not got run out at that stage. Even Laxman batted with some glimpses of his rare talent but again he tried to drive the moving ball without moving his feet. I don’t want to be harsh but the difference between good players and great players is that great players don’t waste a start. If they can score a 30 or 40, they settle for nothing less than a 100. That is how Dravid has changed his game this season. I wish Laxman does the same because these two batsmen have to lead the Indian batting in the next 7-8 years. The pitch here was a blunder on the part of the organisers. I am sure people go to watch cricket when batsmen score runs but they also like to see the bowlers pick up wickets. Here the first innings of the two teams finished when both were past 500 runs each, and only on evening of the fourth day. When we toured England in 1986, the wickets were very bowler friendly though it had much to do about our touring there in the first half of the English summer,which is still cold by Indian standards. This time it has been a reversal, so much so that Indians scored more than 600 runs at Headingley, considered a seamers’ paradise! |
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Anwar may be dropped for ICC Trophy Islamabad, September 8 Pakistan could also miss the services of an injured vice-captain Inzamam-ul Haq, who is doubtful for the Colombo meet and Saqlain Mustaq. The off-spinner would not be available for selection as he is alongside his sick and pregnant wife. The country’s cricket selectors took the decision to drop Anwar due to his poor performance in the last month’s triangular series in Morocco. The veteran opener also failed to impress in the Nairobi triangular tournament. The selectors who hold a telephonic meeting yesterday, however, made it clear that the final decision to drop Anwar rests with the team management. “Saturday’s development is that Saeed Anwar has to return. But let’s see if the tour team management agrees to our decision,” a selector said.
PTI |
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Agassi sets up title clash with Sampras New York, Sept 8 By ousting the Wimbledon champion and world number one from Australia, sixth seed Agassi yesterday set the stage for an epic championship match here today against Sampras, their fifth meeting in a Grand Slam final. “This is New York baby. Where else would you rather be?” Agassi said. “This is it. I worked all year thinking abou tomorrow. We’re both here again and it’s going to be a blast.” Sampras, in a title drought that has reached 33 events over more than two years, advanced to his third consecutive US Open final by defeating Dutch 24th seed Sjeng Schalken 7-6 (8/6) 7-6 (7/4) 6-2. “It will be a huge moment for us, for the game,” Sampras said. “Two older players, two rivals over the years. He brings out the best in me. To walk out there with him will be very unique, very special.” Agassi, 32, and Sampras, 31, have the third-highest combined ages of any Grand Slam final. The mark was set at the 1972 Australian Open when a 37-year-old Ken Rosewall defeated 36-year-old Mal Anderson. Sampras has a 19-14 lead over Agassi in the greatest men’s tennis rivalry of the 1990s. Sampras beat Agassi in the 1990 and 1995 US Open finals and 1999 Wimbledon final while Agassi topped Sampras for the 1995 Australian Open title. If Agassi wins his third US Open title, he will become the second-oldest US Open champion in the Open era after Rosewall, who was 35 when he won the 1970 crown. Sampras, a four-time US Open champion, will bid for his 14th Grand Slam title. Sampras has not won a title since capturing his record 13th Grand Slam crown in 2000 at Wimbledon to break Roy Emerson’s career record. By reaching his eighth US Open final, Sampras matched the Open era record over Ivan Lendl. Agassi qualified for his fifth US Open final. Sampras was runner-up here the past two years, losing to Russia’s Marat Safin in 2000 and Hewitt last year. Sampras is the first man to reach the US Open final three years in a row since Ivan Lendl in 1989. Sampras, outside the top 16 here for the first time since 1989, fired 23 aces past Schalken with 13 double faults and hit 68 winners to only 22 for the Dutchman, who fell to 0-5 against Sampras. “He was serving so good I could not get them on my racket,” Schalken said. “He was placing the ball so good with 120 mph serves. I couldn’t touch the ball. I was underpressure the whole match.” Hewitt failed in his bid to become the first man since Sampras in 1995 to win Wimbledon and the US Open back-to-back and the first US Open winner to defend since compatriot Patrick Rafter in 1998. No top seed has won here since Sampras in 1996. Agassi rose to 3-4 against Hewitt, snapping a three-match losing streak in their first Slam meeting. Agassi landed a backhand drop volley winner to break Hewitt for a 3-2 lead in the fourth set, but Hewitt forced a break point in the next game. Agassi won the next 10 points, saving the break when Hewitt sent a forehand long, then breaking the Aussie at love and reaching triple match point with his seventh and final ace of the match. One minute shy of three hours, Agassi finished it with a forehand winner that Hewitt could only backhand into the net in desperation. Hewitt recovered from being a break down in the third set, breaking Agassi twice for a 6-5 lead. Agassi broke back, zipping a crosscourt forehand winner to force a tie-breaker, but Hewitt dominated and battled into the fourth set. Hewitt won the first seven points of the second set and grabbed a 2-0 lead when Agassi sent a forehand just long on the third break-point chance.
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Serena captures third Grand Slam title in row
New York, September 8 The 20-year-old American yesterday became the first woman to win three Slam titles in one year since Martina Hingis in 1997 and the first with three in a row since Hingis won the 1998 Australian Open. “I’m just so happy,” Serena said. Serena, who also won the 1999 US Open title, also defeated 22-year-old Venus in the French Open and Wimbledon finals. She became the first woman to win the US Open, Wimbledon and French Open titles in the same year since Steffi Graf in 1993. With a victory at next year’s Australian Open, Serena would become the first woman to own all four Slam singles titles at once since Germany’s Graf won the 1994 Australian Open — and only the fourth woman to achieve the feat. An ankle sprain kept Serena Williams out of this year’s Australian Open or the US Open final could have been for a Grand Slam sweep. This fourth all-Williams final in the past five Slams was a rematch of last year’s title match won by Venus and marked the first time since 1987 that the same rivals have met for three consecutive Slam crowns. Venus had 33 unforced errors and 10 double faults, the last on the penultimate point, to give her sister the $ 900,000 top prize. Venus settled for the $ 450,000 runner-up prize. “I don’t think it was the serve. Serena played too well,” Venus said. “Serena was just the better player. I’m proud of her.” Serena, wearing the skin-tight black cat-suit she debuted here, completed a run through the fortnight without losing a set to level the sibling rivalry at 5-5, not counting a walkover win over Venus last year at Indian Wells. It was the sixth title of the year for Serena, now 45-4 on the season. Venus fell to 60-7, with four of those losses coming to Serena. Venus, with tape over a blister in her right palm, failed in her bid to become the the first woman to win three US Open titles in a row since Chris Evert matched the tournament record with her fourth in a row in 1978. Serena, who turns 21 later this month, matched her sister’s four career Slam titles. Venus saved four break points in the opening game of the first set and three more in the fifth game before surrendering the decisive service break to Serena in the ninth game. In the second set, Serena broke in the third game to 2-1 and again in the fifth for a 4-1 edge, although Venus broke back in the next game with her back to the wall. They held serve to 5-3 but Serena reached double championship point when Venus sent a backhand long. Venus hit a second-serve ace to save the first and a backhand winner to salvage the second. But Venus followed with a double fault, her 10th, and Serena took the title after 72 minutes when Venus netted a forehand.
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Stalker says he’ll never harm Serena New York, September 8 “I would never physically harm Serena,” Stromeyer told today’s New York Post. “But I inadvertently caused mental anguish to her father and if I hurt him, I must have hurt her.” Richard, Serena’s father, threatened to kill Stromeyer (34) if any harm came to his 20-year-old daughter. Stromeyer was arrested here a week ago after watching Williams practice before a match. He pleaded guilty Thursday to stalking charges was ordered to keep away from Williams and her family. He remains in custody here before being flown home to Frankfurt, which is expected to take place Monday. He has agreed to psychiatric treatment. “I have been very selfish, pursuing what I want without realising the impact,” Stromeyer told the newspaper. “I have to find a way to break the patter. I need help emotionally and creatively.” Stromer told the Post of his love at first sight for Williams, saying: “I was smitten as soon as I saw her. I love her deeply. My heart is pure. It is not a sexual love but an aesthetic one. “I also admire her discipline. It’s something I never had.” Stromeyer has been disciplined a lot lately. He was arrested for disturbances in Italy, Germany, England and the USA, where he once stripped naked in a hotel lobby after his demands to see Williams were dismissed. “Serena is a dancer,” Stromeyer said. “She is the ballerina of tennis.” Stromeyer was aided by wealthy relatives and friends in his stalking bids, including charges of $ 15,000 on his credit card and reduced airline fares thanks to a brother who works for an airline, the newspaper reported. “Please thank the bank,” Stromeyer said. “I couldn’t have stalked without them.” Stromeyer said he fell in love with Williams two years ago when he saw her play on television. One year later, he was in the front row at Wimbledon. “I had to watch her in person,” Stromeyer said.”She played beautifully. We had eye contact. She was so close to me. I wanted to declare my love and ask her to marry me but I was too shy. “I was a white European with no job. What could I offer her?” Once Williams lost a match he missed, Stromeyer was even more determined to watch her every match. “I felt so guilty,” he said. “I knew I had to be at all the games to support her.”
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Yoga tourney concludes Ambala, September 8 In 14 to 17 years boys’ category, Manjit of Bhiwani and Amrish Arya of Yamunanagar were joint first, while Ram Dass of Sirsa was second and Bhim Singh of Faridabad was third. In 14 to 17 years girls’ category, Priyanka of Yamunanagar was first, while the second spot was shared by Pinki of Bhiwani and Vijay Luxmi of Sirsa and the third position went to Raj Rani of Yamunanagar. In 17 to 21 years boys’ category, Som Dutt of Rewari was first, Praveen Verma of Hisar and Bhupinder Sharma of Bhiwani were second and Kapil Dev of Sirsa was third. In 17 to 21 years girls’ category, Sweta Jain of Sirsa was first, Rubbal of Yamunanagar second and Seema of Yamunanagar third. In 21 to 25 years men’s category, Ganesh Kumar of Jhajjar was first, Mukesh Kumar of Bhiwani was second and Chander Kant of Faridabad was third. In 21 to 25 years women’s category, Neelam of Sirsa was first, Gargi Chamola of Yamunanagar second and Davinder Kaur of Yamunanagar third. In 25 to 35 years men’s category, Lalit Kumar of Hisar was first, Rajiv Makan of Rohtak second and Ravinder of Jhajjar and Pawan Kumar of Jind third. In 25 to 35 years women’s category, Seema Saini of Rohtak was first, Sant Kumari of Yamunanagar second and Vandana Sharma of Hisar third. In 35 to 45 years men’s category, Jasbir Singh of Panipat was first, Raj Nath of Bhiwani second and Ishwar Singh of Hisar third. In 35 to 45 years women’s category, Kamlesh Roperia of Hisar was first, Kamla Kumari of Hisar second and Neena Sharma of Sirsa third. In above 45 years men’s category, Ratti Ram of Jhajjar was first. Illam Chand of Sirsa second and R.K. Dogra of Rohtak third. In above 45 years women’s category, Neelam Bahri of Ambala was first, Laxmi Dogra of Rohtak second and Narender Batra of Hisar third. |
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