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Sunday,
July 6, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Wimbledon crown for Serena Williams
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Mixed doubles
Paes-Martina duo enters semis
East Bengal rout Bagan
Kaif leads Derbyshire
fightback
Jeev, Randhawa disappoint
Dharamsala stadium nearing completion Role of Punjab cops in sports lauded Asian skating meet in September
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Wimbledon crown for Serena Williams
London, July 5 “I just had to tell myself to look at the ball and nothing else,” said Serena. “It was really tough. She’s really inspiring for me. Venus, 23, came out with heavy strapping around her stomach under her stylish dress in Wimbledon white to combat the abdominal problem which had hampered her semifinal win over Kim Clijsters of Belgium. “I came out because I just thought the people the fans deserved a final - that’s why I was out here,” said Venus. “She was playing the best this whole tournament,” she added, insisting Serena deserved the title. Adding to her anxieties was a left hip strain which necessitated further strapping and a WTA spokeswoman said before the start she was only 75 per cent fit. But the former champion still managed a smile as she won the toss and elected to serve. Serena went into the match having defeated her elder sibling in four of the five most recent women’s Grand Slam finals over 13 months dating back to last year’s French Open. The 21-year-old also beat Venus in last year’s Wimbledon final, winning 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 on that occasion to deny her sister a hat-trick of victories. Now they stand at 2-2 in titles here. While Venus, the 2000 and 2001 champion, established early dominance by winning the first three meetings of an on-court rivalry which neither player enjoys, Serena has now won their last six meetings. On every occasion, the sister winning the first set had gone on to triumph - and Venus, taken to three sets in both her quarter-final and semi, looked set fair after racing 3-0 clear with a break to love and notching 11 straight points. But Serena saved four break points in the fourth game as she held for 1-3 and Venus then saw her first serve desert her with Serena breaking, then holding to love for 3-3 - before Venus held after saving two break points. A double fault from Serena in the tenth game, a missed overhead and then an unsuccessful drop shot moved Venus, who defied medical advice not to play the French Open a month ago, a set clear in 43min. However, Serena streaked 5-2 clear in the second despite a first Venus ace having broken in the third and fifth games. Serving for the set Serena drove into the net and Venus then held despite a serve which was losing power by the point. —
AFP |
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Mixed doubles
Paes-Martina duo enters semis New Delhi, July 5 The fifth-seeded Australian Open champions upset second seeded American team of Lisa Raymond and Mike Bryan in three sets 5-7, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 in the quarterfinal yesterday. Navratilova is hoping to win her 20th Wimbledon title and equal Billie Jean King’s record. She has so far won nine singles titles, seven women’s doubles and three mixed doubles trophies. Later, in a girls’ doubles second round match, India’s Sania Mirza and Alisa Kleybanova of Russia defeated Emma Laine of Finland and Nadja Pavic of Croatia. —
PTI |
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Indian to officiate in final Mumbai, July 5 Kannamwar, who is also the coach of the Western Railway tennis team, is also the first Asian official from the Star Trek team, formed by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), to have got an opportunity to officiate in a Grand Slam final, a Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) press note said here today. A former Maharashtra state player, Kannamwar is also a bronze badge umpire and a silver badge referee and has officiated as a chair umpire in the Australian, US, French Open and the Olympic Games, the note added. —
PTI |
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East Bengal rout Bagan Kolkata, July 5 A huge crowd of 1.10 lakh at the Salt Lake Stadium got their money’s worth as the two teams played attacking soccer, though East Bengal’s superiority was indisputable. The winners reaped the fruits of month-long pre-season training under South African fitness adviser Kevin Jackson, towering over their opponents in every department of the game. They went into the lead in the opening half through Ghanaian Suley
Musah, before Bhutia scored twice in the second session to seal Bagan’s fate. Skipper Musah’s goal came in the 23rd minute when he outjumped Bagan defenders to unleash a snap header, giving no chance to custodian Imran Khan. The spadework was done by attacking medio
Malsawmtluanga, the fulcrum of the East Bengal moves, who sent a measured floater to the right.
Malsawmtluanga was also instrumental in initiating the move for the second goal in the 23rd minute of the second session. He sent a centre to substitute Alvito
D’cunha, who ran to the right and found Bhutia. Finding himself at a distance from the ball, the lethal striker threw himself in the air, and put the ball in with a side-volley in a flash. —
PTI |
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Gibbs leads S. Africa to victory
Cardiff, July 5 Gibbs, who had scored 11 runs in three previous matches in the series, thumped an unbeaten 93 from 97 balls as South Africa easily overhauled Zimbabwe’s 174 for eight with more than 15 overs to spare at Sophia Gardens. South Africa captain Graeme Smith weighed in with 58, sharing in a stand of 154 before edging a catch behind to give Sean Ervine Zimbabwe’s only success of the innings. Earlier, Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak top-scored with 54 in their 50 overs but his side found run-scoring difficult after being asked to bat first in overcast conditions. The win was South Africa’s third in the series, and they top the standings with 17 points, ahead of England (10) and Zimbabwe (9). Scoreboard Zimbabwe Ebrahim c Boucher b Kallis 20 Marillier c Rudolph b Ntini 4 Friend b Langeveldt 12 Flower b Hall 26 Taibu lbw b Adams 19 Matsikenyeri c Rudolph b Hall 1 Streak b Kallis 54 Ervine c Boucher b Kallis 18 Blignaut not out 13 Price not out 3 Extras: (lb-1, w-2, nb-1) 4 Total: (8 wkts, 50 overs) 174 Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-36, 3-38, 4-67, 5-80, 6-92, 7-144, 8-167. Bowling: Pollock 10-3-23-0; Ntini 10-2-36-1; Langeveldt 6-0-22-1; Kallis 10-0-47-3; Adams 8-0-26-1; Hall 6-2-19-2. South Africa: Smith c Taibu b Ervine 58 Gibbs not out 93 M Van Jaarsveld not out 8 Extras: (lb-4, w-11, nb-1) 16 Total: (1 wkt, 34.2 overs) 175 Fall of wickets: 1-154 Bowling: Streak 6-1-16-0, Hondo 5-0-22-0, Blignaut 5-0-40-0, Marillier 3-0-20-0, Price 9-1-33-0, Friend 4-0-27-0, Ervine 2.2-0-13-1. —
AFP, Reuters |
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Kaif leads Derbyshire
fightback London, July 5 Earlier, in the first innings, Derbyshire were reduced to 80 for eight but stout resistance from Nathan Dumelow, who scored an unbeaten 60, carried them to 128 before they were all out. Brief scores: Yorkshire: 444 (C White 173 not out, M J Lumb 93 G Welch 6 for 102). Derbyshire: 128 (M J Di Venuto 27, N R C Dumelow not out 60, Kirby 3/31 Sidebottom 6/38) and 238 for 5
(Venuto 74, M Kaif not out 76, D G Cork not out 26). —
PTI |
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Greene fails to find golden touch Paris, July 5 The 25-year-old improved on his second at Lausanne on Tuesday to edge the victor there, Deji Aliu of Nigeria, while Greene — three-time world champion and Olympic title holder — was third, experiencing his first ever defeat at the Stade de France. Two other Olympic champions suffered differing fortunes as Ethiopian great Haile Gebrselassie failed to win his first 5000m in three years as he finished second while Romania’s Gabriela Szabo showed she still had speed in her legs running the best time in the world this year in the 3000m. The 400m hurdles world champion Felix Sanchez strolled to victory for his 20th successive win and complained that he hadn’t run very well - but the rest had run even worse. Allen Johnson, Olympic 110m hurdles champion in 1996, remained unbeaten this season as the 32-year-old recorded a world best for the year of 12.97 seconds and put the young pretenders out to halt his dream of a fourth world title in their place. “They’re all coming up on me but I can still win the world championship,” said Johnson, whose time was the fastest by anyone over the distance in three years. Among his victims was Stansislas Olijars, who saw his dreams of sharing the Golden League bonus disappear as did several others leaving just two, Maria Mutola in the 800m and the revitalised 100m Bahamas sprinter Chandra Sturrup to fight it out over the remaining four meetings. Greene was struggling halfway through the race — an indication of his desperation to turn the tide in his favour he had already been called for a false start — and Williams always had his measure. Aliu arrived late on the scene to rob Greene of second place. Williams refused to admit he was the favourite for the world title. Greene, though, said there would be just one winner here in August. While Williams performed his usual comedy style act to the crowd, Greene took out his frustration by punching one of the advertising hoardings. Sanchez experienced little trouble, taking command on the bend and running away with the 400m hurdles. Judged on this the 25-year-old’s belief that only veteran Frenchman Stephane Diagana — who was not running here — posed a threat to him at the world championships in August looked to be spot on. Gebrselassie’s fear that he had lost some of his speed proved well founded as having stayed in contention despite the attentions of three Kenyans he had no answer to the electrifying burst by one of them, Abraham Chebii. —
AFP |
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Jeev, Randhawa disappoint New Delhi, July 5 According to information reaching here from Ibaragi, Jeev was tied for the 24th place at one-under 212 after the penultimate round. Jeev, who shot a four-under 67 on the opening day and followed it up with a one-over 72 on day two, made two birdies on the par-4 fifth and ninth holes but was undone by a three-putt double bogey on the par-4 14th and bogeys on the seventh and 15th holes. The other Indian in fray, Jyoti Randhawa, failed to survive the cut by one stroke after aggregating two-over 144 in the first two rounds. Japan’s Toshimitsu Izawa continued his fine form and added a three-under 68 to his brilliant effort of eight-under 63 on the second day. Izawa was one stroke clear of New Zealands David Ismail, who had the best round of the day, a four-under-67, to tally 11-under 202. The Japanese duo of Tadahiro Takayama and Taichi Teshima were tied for the third place at 10-under 203. —
UNI |
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Dharamsala stadium nearing completion Chandigarh, July 5 Mr Thakur, however, was emphatic that at least one Ranji Trophy match would be played at the picturesque Dharamsala stadium where construction of a top-class and modern cricket stadium was in progress. When completed, the stadium would not only make international matches possible in Himachal but also enable state cricketers to avail themselves of the latest cricket facilities within the state, he said. About the work in progress, he elaborated that the playing area and the nets were ready, while dressing rooms for players and the adjoining stairs were on the verge of completion. A sum of Rs 4 crore had already been spent on the stadium. Mr Thakur, who completed three years as head of the state body recently, revealed that a sum of Rs 10.82 crore would be spent on the major cricket project designed to give a boost to cricket as well as tourism in the hill state. The stadium with lofty Dhauladhar Hills forming the backdrop will be one of its kind not only in India but in the world. When completed, it would go a long way in improving the cricket infrastructure in Himachal. Two national-level cricket stadiums have already been constructed in Una and Bilaspur, he stated adding that his tenure had seen a steep hike in the funds being spent on the promotion of the game. Introduction of tournaments in under-15, under-17 and under-19 age-groups was another major step taken by the HPCA, he said. Earlier, the tournaments were played on the knock-out basis which provided limited competition to youngsters. But after the format was altered and played on the league and super league basis the scope of competition had increased manifold. The earlier format entailed nine matches, while 27 matches were now being played after the introduction of the new format. The HPCA is running a junior cricket academy at Una where besides the coaching, board and lodging, books and medical facilities were being provided to the budding cricketers free of cost. The association was promoting cricket academies at the block level in order to identify and nurture talent at the grassroots. The HPCA was in the process of distributing 1000 to 1500 cricket bats and nearly 3000 balls to various youth clubs to promote the game, he said in a written statement. The TA\DA of players had been hiked considerably, while better accommodation was bing provided to the players during tournaments as well as coaching camps. The HPCA was spending Rs 25 lakh on the conduct of domestic tournaments, he said. Physical fitness equipment worth Rs 13 lakhs had been imported for the benefit of cricketers of the state. Grant-in-aid was being provided to districts to develop turf wickets. Besides, rollers and nets were being made available to them free of cost, whereas 70 per cent subsidy was being granted on cricket balls, he added. The preparatory camp for the state Ranji Trophy squad would be held at Dharamsala which would begin by the end of September. |
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Role of Punjab cops in sports lauded Chandigarh, July 5 The Sports Minister said Punjab police had played a vital role in the sports arena of the country and sportspersons from state police had been instrumental in winning medals at the national and international level. He added that though winning medals was important, at the same time participation was all the more important. Since sports inculcated a sense of discipline, it had weaned away youth from a alcohol and drugs. DGP Mehal Singh Bhullar during his tenure at the PAP had given a boost to sports activities, the minister said after visiting the swimming pool, shooting range, golf course and DAV Punjab Police Public School. Mr Kang said police personnel who excelled in sports and had won laurels for the country would be given appropriate promotions and other incentives. A demand draft for Rs 1.66 crore was presented by Mr Kang to the DGP for completion of the pending indoor sports stadium on the campus. The sports minister also announced a grant of Rs 51,000 for the library of DAV Police School. Prominent among others who were present on the occasion were the ADGP, Mr D.R. Bhatti, IG, PAP, Mr J.P. Virdi, Commissioner, Jalandhar Division, Mr R.S. Sandhu and Director Sports, Kartar Singh. |
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Asian skating meet in September Chandigarh, July 5 Mr Ganeriwal further said that earlier this year, two camps were held for the benefit of skaters. The third phase of the camp-cum-selection trials would be more stringent. He said the final camp for the selected skaters would be held from August 23 for a period of two weeks till the departure of the Indian skating team for the Japan event. Ms Madhu Bahl, coordinator, Chandigarh zone, said the registration for those skaters who deposit the requisite fee of Rs 7500 for the camp would be done at 4.30 pm on July 6. The trials-cum-camp would begin on July 7 at 11.15 am at the KB DAV Centenary School, Sector 7. The RSFI has also announced the selection-cum-camp coordination committee for roller hockey. Mr Mangat Dhani, a former national skating champion will be its chairman, while Mr TC Gupta, IAS, and Mr TBS Gill be its two vice-chairmen. |
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London, July 5
