SPORTS

Frontier Club stun Delhi Cantt in DSA League
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, August 3
Frontier Club stunned Delhi Cantonment 2-0 in a Group B preliminary league match of the Delhi Soccer Association-SAIL A Division Football League Championship at the Ambedkar Stadium on Sunday.

Frontier forged ahead in the 12th minute when Annu Kumar’s long-ranger zoomed into the net, foxing rival custodian S Bharat.

Seven minutes after resumption of play, medio Dharam Singh consolidated the lead. Frontier have collected eight points from six matches while Delhi Cantt have earned eight points from six matches.

In another Group B match played at the Ambedkar Stadium, Ahbab Club edged past Garhwal Diamond with a solitary goal victory. Medio Rupesh slammed in the only goal of the match in the 46th minute.

Ahbab have amassed 13 points from six matches to lead the group while Garhwal Diamond have two points from four matches.

In a Group C match, played at the Nehru Stadium, Uttarakhand defeated Victory Club 3-0. All the goals came in the first half. Umesh Rawat opened the account in the 35th minute while Anil Negi knocked in the second goal in the 55th minute. Dalip Bhandari completed the tally in the 58th minute.

Uttaranchal have earned 11 points from five matches while Victory have earned only one point from five matches.

Ashoka Club crushed Delhi Veterans 5-0 in a Group A match. Striker Samsher Roka drew first blood in the fourth minute while inside-left Rajiv Karmakar scored a brace, with the goals coming in the 9th and 31st minutes. Kapil Gour and Sandeep scored the other two goals in the 35th and 42nd minute respectively.

Monday’s fixtures: State Bank of India vs Bangadarshan (3.30 pm); Indian Air Force, Palam vs Royal Rangers (4.45 pm)—Ambedkar Stadium.

Navjyoti Nepal vs Glorious (3.30 pm); Garhwal Heroes vs Young Boys (4.45 pm)—Nehru Stadium.

Seven-member commission to inspect venues
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, August 3
A seven-member delegation arrived in Delhi to inspect the venues for evaluation of India’s bid for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. After the preliminary presentation in London, the Commonwealth Games Federation has formed an Evaluation Commission.

The Commission will be headed by Edgar Rogers with Richard McColgan, vice-chairman of the Commonwealth Games

Federation (CGF) and chairman of the Evaluation Commission, Michael Hooper, Chief Executive Officer of CGF, Perry

Crosswhite, a member of the Evaluation Commission, Richard Palmer, special adviser, Craig McLatchey and Michele Aidsworth, as members.

The Commission will visit various venues in Delhi to evaluate and assess the capability of India to host the Games. The Commission will visit the Delhi Public School, R K Puram, the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Ranges, the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Siri Fort Auditorium (venue for weightlifting), Siri Fort Sports Complex (badminton and squash), Talkatora swimming pool complex, Talkatora indoor stadium (table tennis), Shivaji Stadium (hockey, women), Ambedkar Stadium (rugby 7s), Ferozeshah Kotla ground (cricket), Indira Gandhi indoor stadium (gymnastics and netball), Yamuna Velodrome (cycling), National Stadium (men’s hockey), Pragati Maidan (media centre), Games Village site near Swami Narayan Temple at Noida mode and the Yamuna Sports Complex (boxing and wrestling).

The commission will be extensively briefed at a conference to be held at the Taj Man Singh hotel on Monday morning, before taking them around for inspection of the venues.

A high-level strategic committee, headed by Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Vijay Goel, and comprising Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi and secretary-general Randhir Singh, has made detailed preparation to “forcefully present Delhi’s claim to host the 19th Commonwealth Games”.

Delhi hosted the inaugural Asian Games in 1951 and the ninth Asian Games in 1982.

Mr Goel has taken a round of the existing facilities and has also reviewed the proposed facilities. He has asked the concerned authorities to be fully prepared to meet the challenge of hosting the Commonwealth Games.

Mr Kalmadi and Mr Randhir Singh were confident that the Evaluation Commission will accept and approve the capability and preparedness of India to host the Games in Delhi. The Commonwealth Games bid will be finalised at a meeting of the Commonwealth Games Federation in Jamaica (West Indies) in November this year.

Indian eves gearing up for big event
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, August 3
The Indian women’s hockey team have been sweating it out at the National Stadium astro turf under the watchful eyes of coach M K Kaushi in preparation of many important events in the coming months.

Rain or shine, the girls have been sparing no effort to hone up their skills and stamina. The Indian eves are determined to be in peak condition as India are slated to host the 5th Women’s Asia Cup Hockey Tournament in Delhi from December 15 to 22. Top countries like China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Uzbekistan are expected join the hosts in the Asia Cup.

Kukoo Walia to attend FIH meeting

Grade I international hockey umpire Kukoo Walia, who is also a member of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Umpiring Committee, will attend the umpiring committee meeting at Amstelveen (Holland) on August 19 and 20 during the Champions Trophy Hockey Championship. Kukoo Walia is the first Indian umpire to become a member of the prestigious FIH Umpiring Committee.

Inter-School Tennis

The Inter School Tennis Tournament, organised by the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association, will begin at the DLTA courts on Monday. Prominent schools like Delhi Public School, Modern, Gyan Bharti, Laxman Public and Col Satsangi will field teams both in individual and team events. Competitions will be held in the Under-14 and under-18 age groups.

For the team championship, a maximum of four players can be nominated in each category.

Inter-School Soccer
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, August 3
The 12th Nivia Inter-School Football Tournament will be held at the Ambedkar Stadium from August 8 to 31. Entries close with organising secretary Mohd. Ashfaq at the Ambedkar Stadium. School boys in the under-14 and under-17 age groups are eligible to participate in the tournament.

Quota for sportsmen

Uttaranchal’s first dental college, Seema, has reserved two seats for outstanding sportspersons from the state. Chairman of the college Dr R K Gupta said no fees would be charged from the sportspersons admitted to the BDS course on sports quota. He said the college took inspiration from former Australian hockey Olympian Rick Charlesworth and former Haryana Ranji Trophy player Ravinder Chaddha, who both were doctors when they played for their country and the State respectively.