SPORTS

Air Force sneak past Ashoka
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, October 6
Indian Air Force, Palam beat Ashoka Club to record their fifth straight victory in the Delhi Soccer Association (DSA)-SAIL Open Clubs Football League Championship at the Ambedkar Stadium in the Capital.

Outside-left Agnihotri struck the match-winner in the 40th minute. Air Force’s Rajesh was sent out by referee Deepal Bisht after he received his second yellow card booking. The Airmen have earned 15 points from five matches while Ashoka have collected just four points from as many matches.

Nav Jyoti Nepal defeated Delhi Veterans 4-0 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium West ground. Rajesh Singh opened the account in the 24th minute while Shyam Thapa added the second goal in the 38th minute. Vikram Bhandari struck the third goal in the 53rd minute while Tapan completed the scoring.

Youngmen edged past Uttrakhand by a solitary gal at the Nehru Stadium West ground. Pardeep scored the all-important goal. Youngmen have collected 13 points from five matches while Uttrakhand have earned only four points from five matches.

Raisina Club defeated Victory Club 4-0. Sameer Singh scored the first goal while Rakesh made it 2-0 before Sameer struck to get the third and fourth goals.

In a B Division match at the Ambedkar Stadium, Rohini Club beat Goodwill 1-0. Bhupinder Adhikari scored the only goal in the 30th minute. At the Nehru Stadium East ground, Nivia defeated Columba’s Club 4-1. Rajiv scored the first, second and fourth goals of Nivia. Kapil accounted for the third goal while S Voz got the consolation goal for Columba’s.

Monday’s fixtures: Garhwal Diamond vs Ashoka (3.30 pm); Golden Stars vs Cosmos (2 pm); Victory vs Royal (3.30 pm)—Ambedkar Stadium. Youngsters vs Hans (2 pm); Ahbab vs Uttranchal Heroes (3.30 pm)—Nehru Stadium East ground.

This spin wizard teases batsmen 
Our Sports Reporter

Rohtak, October 6
Within a couple of months after golden girl Mamta Kharab’s sudden burst to fame, now it is the turn of leg spinner Amit Mishra to bring this city in news for his Rohtak connections. The leggie who represents Rohtak in Haryana cricket has been able to find the nod of national selectors to win a place in the Indian squad against West Indies for the first two tests.

If he is finally included in the playing bunch, he will be joining the elite group of the other seven Haryana cricketers who have represented India so far. Earlier, Kapil Dev, Ashok Malhotra, Chetan Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, Ajay Jadeja, Viajay Yadav and Ajay Ratra are the state cricketers to have brought laurels to the nation.

Born on November 24, 1982, in Delhi, Amit learnt and experienced the art of teasing batsmen with leg breaks and googlies at Rohtak. Having played 15 first class matches so far, Amit has bagged 67 wickets. Before becoming an integral part of the Haryana Ranji team, Mishra proved his mettle in the under-19 series played on Indian soil against England. Recalling his performance in that particular series, the then selector-in-chief of the Indian junior cricket, Rajinder Goel told to the NCR Tribune here today that Mishra not only bowled well but got vital wickets too. “Since he belongs to the rare breed of right arm leg spinners, it is a good opportunity for Amit,” said Goel.

Mishra has been drawing the attention of national selectors for a considerable time now through the string of productive performance in domestic cricket as well as in other first class fixtures including those against the teams of other countries. In the Ranji Trophy in 2000-2001, Amit Mishra bagged 22 wickets. His five wicket haul for India ‘A’ against Sri Lanka ‘A’ at Sinhalese Sports Club ground probably put him in the company of young candidates seeking entry in international cricket. With experienced Kumble not getting young at the same is losing his striking power and lack of performing youngsters in the rare art of right arm leg spin bowling in the domestic cricket, it is indeed a good opportunity for the Haryana youngster.

Nauhar stars in boys golf
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, October 6
Nauhar S Rana finished with the best gross score of 3 under 69 and lifted the trophy in the fifth Inter-House Doon School Old Boys’ Golf Tournament at the Jaypee Greens Golf Course in Noida. This annual golf fiesta is organised by the Doon School Old Boys Society and attracts participation from its alumnus from the year 1939 onwards. Worldwide, the regional chapter of the society hosts local tournaments and a final inter-house result is declared during the Founders’ Day every year.

Nauhar S Rana of the 1986 batch was far superior to beat off the challenge of Samvit Chopra, who finished second with a card of 71. Anil Handa emerged victorious in Stableford with a score of 44. K N Singh Dev took the second place with a score of 39.

Ashok Batra, who returned a card of 124, took the wooden spoon. Akshay Mohindra won the prize for longest drive on hole 17 that covered 293 yards. The prize for the straight drive on hole 4 was lifted by Deepinder Singh. The closest to the pin on hole 12 was bagged by Anil Malhotra at four feet and five inches and the chip closest to the pin on hole 7 went to Ashok Singh Malik at three feet and 10 inches.

Those who participated in the event included retired headmaster of Doon School, Padmashri Hari Dang, Air Marshal (retd) Chudamani Ratnam, T S Brar, R C Bhargva, Peter Mukherjee, Col. Pickle Sodhi, K N Singh Dev, Rajiv Khanna, Amir Z Pasrich, Nakul Kapur and Ashish Bharatam.

Samar swims to victory in Rajiv Gandhi meet
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, October 6
Samar Mazumdar won the seven-mile swimming event while Surender Singh and Sunil Kumar took the second and third position respectively in the Rajiv Gandhi Swimming Meet, organised by the Yamuna Yuvak Kendra at Ghat No 2 of river Yamuna.

In the five-mile race, Satyanarayan swam to first place while Sonu and Arjuna finished second and third. Gopal stood first in the three-mile event. Akash and Sumit took the second and third position.

Manesh Sharma came first in the two-mile event. Sonu and Neeraj Kumar finished second and third. In the one-mile swimming meet for girls, Subhadra bagged the first place. She was followed by Chanchal and Chandani. Over 100 swimmers took part in the meet.

Delhi Mayor Jayshree Panwar and Delhi Health Minister Dr A. K. Walia flagged off the races. Chairman of the MCD Standing Committee Ram Babu Sharma gave away the prizes.

Sunil shines in TT
Ours Sports Reporter

Rohtak, October 6
Sunil Ahuja of Sirsa bagged the men’s crown in the Liberty 3rd Haryana State Ranking Table Tennis Championship, which concluded at I.C. College here today.

Sunil defeated his rival from Faridabad, Navin Kohli, in the final by 11-9, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 margin. Atul of Kurukshetra and Monika of Sirsa emerged winners of kids (boys) and Kids (girls) titles. In the under-17 boys category final Kurukshetra's Atul Mangwana defeated Rohtak’s Deepak Malik 13-11, 12-10, 11-4 and 11-9.

In the girls (under-17) category Sirsa’s Monika defeated Suman of Sirsa 11-7, 11-5, 11-3, 11-9 to bag the corwn. In women’s category Monika of Sirsa defeated Nadia of her native district by 11-3, 11-7, 9-11, 14-12, 10-12 and 11-8. Bhawna of Rohtak finished third in this category.

Some 250 contestants from 15 districts participated in the four-day championship. Commissioner of Rohtak Division Sh. R.R. Banswal gave away prizes to the winners of various categories. He called upon the participants to ameliorate their skills further to bring laurels to the state and the country by way of their excellent performance at international level. Various officers of District administration, officials of the State and District Table Association and officials of the sports department were also present on the occasion.

Ganga move up in soccer
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, October 6
Hosts Ganga International School (Hiran Kudna) defeated Delhi Public School, Rohni 3-1 and entered the quarter-final of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Junior Football Tournament at the Ganga School ground. Kamlesh, Manas and N Taram were the scorers for Ganga School.

Ramjas School (Anand Parbat) beat Shiksha Bharti School 2-1. Mehul Sukia scored both the goals for Ramjas School.

In the senior section, Sarvodaya School beat Sumermal Jain Public School, Janak Puri 4-0. Vinay, Anil, Sandeep and Kamesh were the goal-scorers. Shiksha Bharti School, Palam beat J L DAV School, Paschim Vihar 3-0. Mephav, Sagar and Mdouish were the goal-scorers. Upras Public School beat Navyug School 3-1 while Kalka Public School trounced Lancer Public School 5-0.

Ravindra in semis 
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, October 6
Tushar Alekar's spitfire knock of 60 off 42 balls with one six and five fours, and a fine all-round performance by Delhi State Under-14 player Sandeep Karki (40, 4x4, 2 for 37), helped Ravindra Public School, Pitampura beat K N Colts Club by 54 runs in the second Shaheed Smriti Under-19 Cricket Tournament for the Rameshwar Trophy, organised by the North Delhi Cricketers' Association, at the Bharat Nagar Sports Complex ground. Ravindra School will take on S P Academy in the semi-final. Tushar Alekar, who was adjudged the man of the match, was presented the trophy by Vijay Bahadur Mishra.

Scores: Ravindra Public School: 229 for 6 in 40 overs (Tushar Alekar 60, Hemant Singh 44, Sandeep Karki 40, Harish Kumar 20, Rakesh Chauhan 17, Karan Passi 16, Karan Narang 1 for 22, Hemant 1 for 32, Saurabh Tiwari 1 for 27).

K N Colts Club: 175 all out in 36.4 overs (Jaspreet Singh Bedi 62, 6x4; Rahul Dewan 23, Simran 20, Shekhar 3 for 41, Harish Kumar 2 for 27, Shawej Khan 2 for 35, Sandeep Karki 2 for 37).

Worrell, Chappell in ‘Legends of Cricket’

New Delhi, October 6
Wasim Akram, Sir Leonard Hutton, Sir Frank Worrell, George Headley and Greg Chappell will feature in the “Legends of Cricket” programme, the newly launched series by ESPN Star Sports, to be featured from October 7 to 11 (Monday to Friday). The programme will be aired at 8.30 pm.

Apart from the rare never-seen before footage, each episode also offers views and comments by the legends on themselves as well as others. OSR