 |
Wednesday,
October
1,
2003, Chandigarh, India  
|
Rajinder, Dhanraj play down incident |
|
||||||
|
Work on
openers at the academy, says Boycott  Participants from Hong Kong practice at Upper Lake in Bhopal on Tuesday. The Asian Kayaking and Canoeing championship, which will begin tomorrow, includes participants from 13 Asian countries. — Reuters |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Syed Kirmani favours specialist wicketkeeper Bangalore, September 30 Newly-elected Chairman of the Selection Committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) S M H Kirmani favours a specialised wicketkeeper for the Indian team, who could also contribute with the bat. SA cricketers arrive in Pak amid heavy security
Randhawa, Atwal set to challenge Tiger Varun
emerges champion Haryana sports fest from Oct 16 Gulab captures second gold Amritraj, Bopanna lose Indian Railways bag bronze
|
|
Hockey team calls on Jugraj New Delhi, September 30 Jugraj Singh was thrilled to meet Dhanraj Pillay and his boys, chief coach Rajinder Singh, Indian Hockey Federation President K.P.S. Gill and secretary Jyotikumaran. He was chocked with emotion when Dhanraj, Gagan Ajit Singh and Tejbir put their individual medals around his neck. “I am happy that you have brought home the cup as promised to me”, Jugraj told Dhanraj and others. Jugraj, the drag-flick expert, quietly bore with all the commotion in his room, but was thrilled to be surrounded by his team-mates. “I wish I were there with you when you won the cup”, Jugraj opined. Dhanraj Pillay said it was Jugraj’s constant egging that motivated the team to go all out and do their best in the Asia Cup. He said the morale of the team was at a low ebb after the poor show in the Champions Trophy. “But Jugraj extracted a promise from us to win the cup for him, and he played a big role in our victory”, Dhanraj said. Chief Coach Rajinder Singh said Jugraj had been keeping in touch with him as well as the other players daily, before and after the match, and his encouraging words played a big part in motivating the team. Rajinder Singh said he had not yet been able to fill the void created by Jugraj’s absence and “I am confident that he will be fully fit very soon to fill the gap in the team”. There was good news for the hockey team as President of the Batra Hospital A.L. Batra announced a cash award of Rs 10 lakh to the hockey team. He also announced that the hospital would provide all the facilities required for Jugraj’s treatment free of cost. Senior consultant of orthopaedics, Dr Laljee Kent, said it would take a few weeks for Jugraj to get on his feet. Dr Kent said Jugraj had suffered “grievous fractures” in the accident and it would take some time to mend. But he was happy to note that Jugraj was a healthy young man who was taking everything in a positive spirit. “He is being made to sit on bed and on chair, and he is responding to the treatment very well”, the doctor added. Dr Seema Grover, chief of physiotherapy, said Jugraj was “improving and his general condition was stable. Now he can move his fractured arm quite well”. She said it would take 10 to 12 weeks for full recovery. Mr K.P.S. Gill said the IHF would go by the advice of the doctors while deciding when to send Jugraj to the USA for expert consultation and treatment. When asked how quickly Jugraj would be able to resume his hockey career, Dr Kent observed, “Let us hope for the best”. Gagan Ajit Singh said Jugraj was elated to meet the team and expressed his desire to get back to the team as soon as possible. The team wished the drag-flick expert a speedy recovery. Goalkeeping coach A.B. Subbaiah observed that Jugraj had tremendous willpower, “and he is determined to get out of his present physical condition quickly”. Subbaiah said Jugraj was extremely happy that the captain had fulfilled the promise made to him by winning the Asia Cup. |
|
Rajinder, Dhanraj play down incident Lucknow: A day after an ugly row, coach Rajinder Singh and captain Dhanraj Pillay were in a conciliatry mood as they tried to play down the incident which had marred the euphoria following the team’s maiden Asia Cup triumph. Defending his stand, Rajinder Singh said “whatever I did was in the interest of the team” while Pillay said the matter was best forgotten. “As a coach I have a right over the players but a captain is also responsible for the team,” the coach told newspersons here during a function organised by sponsors Sahara. “Whatever I did was in the best interest of the team and the country,” he said adding in a lighter vein he did not spare the rod as far was discipline was concerned. On the team’s victory, Rajinder Singh said it was made possible through “team work and discipline”. The former penalty corner ace insisted he “enjoyed a very good relationship” with the team members. “They are like my sons,” he said. Pillay, while urging the media not to dwell too much on the incident, said “no one (media) published the photograph showing me offering a cake to the coach”. The coach and captain were locked in a heated verbal duel soon after the team landed in Chennai from Kuala Lumpur with the Asia Cup title on Monday. —
PTI |
|
Work on openers at the academy, says Boycott New Delhi, September 30 “You have to work at the academy. You have to pick youngsters and work on them before bad habits get ingrained in them”, Boycott said at press conference here today. Boycott, whose aggregate of 8114 runs from 108 Tests was an England record until David Gower and Graham Gooch surpassed him, said India would struggle in Australia because it did not have an opening batsman with good technique. “From what I have seen, I don’t think any of the Indian batsmen have a good technique to counter the ball when it is new and seams and swings a lot. Remember, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly — all come down the order. “In my opinion, only (Virender) Sehwag can make some runs by flashing his bat but he would be able to do it in one odd innings, not in all four Tests,” the former England opening batsman said. India are to play a four-Test series in Australia later this year. They also play a triangular limited overs series Down Under with Zimbabwe as the third team. Boycott said India will struggle to win a Test series outside the subcontinent until they find a specialist opening pair. “Outside India and Sri Lanka, you lose early wickets. If you cannot win against England, I can’t see you doing it against Australia,” Boycott, who is on the ESPN-Star Sports commentators panel, said. Speaking on various topics, Boycott “did not know if the new Twenty-20 shortened version of cricket launched by the England Cricket Board early this year would be a success in other cricket playing countries. “Twenty-20 was launched in England because day-night cricket was not successful there. The sunlight in England during summer lasts till 9’O clock in the evening, which makes floodlights unnecessary. “Secondly, it becomes pretty cold in the night, too. But that is not the case in India, Australia and South Africa,” he said. The Yorkshire batsman, known for his sharp comments on the game, begged to differ from ex-England captain Nasser Hussain’s observation that England needed a genuine spinner to win Test matches. “I don’t think so. I would say that England need three genuine fast medium bowlers. “Darren Gough has retired because of a chronic knee injury and Andrew Caddick has been injured for a long time, he is doubtful for the coming tour of the West Indies. “Andrew Flintoff has bowled fast and taken wickets but they had cost him about 35 runs each. “A true match winning fast bowler takes wickets regularly at 25 runs or so. I think that’s what England need.” —
PTI |
|
Syed Kirmani favours specialist wicketkeeper Bangalore, September 30 “Definitely, I will be looking for a specialist wicket-keeper. We will see who will be doing well behind the wicket. There are young wicketkeepers like Parthiv Patel, Ajay Ratra, Deep Dasgupta and Tilak Naidu, who are talented and promising,” the wicket-keeper of yesteryears told UNI here. “I am not against Rahul Dravid or any other person guarding the wicket, but I am against using one of the best batsman for the job,” he added. Delighted over his selection as the Chairman of the Selection Committee, Kirmani said ‘’it is a big honour, though unexpected.” “In fact, the developments took place within a span of 15 days before the AGM could take place. Brijesh Patel wanted to contest for the Joint Secretary post and he had hinted that my name may be suggested,” he said. Kirmani said he would strive to select a balanced team for the home series against New Zealand. Stating that the selection would be made during the match between India ‘A’ and the Kiwis at Rajkot, he said “depending upon the situation, we may have to decide about the team combination. However, a balanced team would be picked up.” Kirmani said “my first step in the new assignment is to consult co-selectors, Captain and Coach of the Indian team and have discussions as to what could be done to have the best combination against the Kiwis.” “As it is I don’t have any definite plan...but whatever the decision we arrive at will be in the interest of cricket and the country,” he said. About the chances of the Indian team against New Zealand, he said “it depends on how the players will perform. We will be selecting the best combination and it all depends upon how they perform in the field.” —
UNI |
|
SA cricketers arrive in Pak amid heavy security
Lahore, September 30 A dozen Pakistani police commandos cordoned off the arrival terminal at Allama Iqbal International Airport before the South Africans were escorted to their hotel by a squad of 20 police vehicles. South African cricket authorities
initially cancelled the trip following a bomb explosion in the port city of Karachi on September 19. But the tour was later rescheduled, with Karachi as well as the city Peshawar scrapped from the itinerary because of security concerns. “I am happy that South African cricketers have arrived and I hope they left whatever happened in the last week behind them,” said South Africa’s high commissioner in Pakistan, M. Moola. Dozens of policemen were on alert at the Pearl Continental Hotel, where the team was staying, and sniffer dogs checked the hotel’s second floor before the team’s arrival. Led by Graeme Smith, South Africa starts its campaign with a one-day warm-up game against City Nazim XI tomorrow, with the first one-day international scheduled for Friday. Experienced opener Gary Kirsten, one of four South African players who toured Pakistan during the 1997-98 season, will join the team before the Test matches begin later in October. He will replace medium fast bowler Alan Dawson. Jacque Kallis, Shaun Pollock and Paul Adams have also previously toured Pakistan. Team: Graeme Smith (captain), Mark Boucher, Jacques Kallis, Shaun Pollock, Neil McKenzie, Jacques Rudolph, Robin Peterson, Andrew Hall, Alan Dawson, Makhaya Ntini, Charl Langeveldt, Andre Nel, Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs, Paul Adams. Eric Simons (coach), Cassim Docrat (manager). —
AP |
|
Randhawa, Atwal set to challenge Tiger New Delhi, September 30 The $ 6 million championship is one of four premier tournaments that comprise the WGC organised by the International Federation of PGA Tours, which includes the Asian
PGA, European Tour, Japan Golf Tour, PGA Tour, PGA Tour of Australia and Southern Africa Tour. Both Randhawa and
Atwal, along with former Asia No 1 Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, earned their places in the championship on the basis of their performance in 2002 Asian PGA Tour where Randhawa won the Order of Merit crown, Jaidee was second while Atwal finished third. Woods will lead a host of top 10 players in the world rankings. Today, 69 players were expected to tee off. There is no cut applied at the championship and even the last placed player is guaranteed a part of the prize money. The tournament assumes greater significance for the two Indians, as a good finish here could open the doors of the US PGA Tour for them. A victory would earn them an exemption on any tour in the world while a top-10 finish would give them a spot in next week’s Las Vegas Invitational on the US PGA Tour which will be played at the TPC at the Canyon in Las Vegas. The money earned by Atwal and Randhawa will also count towards their respective Order of Merits on the European and Japanese PGA Tours. “This is a huge opportunity for me personally,” Randhawa said in a press statement. “I am looking at it as a chance to pitch my skills against the very best names in the world on American soil. I am playing well at the moment and am hopeful of doing well here,” said Randhawa who finished tied 66th at last week’s $ 5 million Dunhill Links Championship. For
Atwal, more than a jump in the European Tour Order of Merit, he would be eyeing to make it to the US PGA Tour. —
PTI |
|
Varun
emerges champion Jalandhar, September 30 In the veterans’ singles category, Sudhakar Sharma of Jalandhar thrashed Anil Bhatti of Jalandhar 15-12, 15-3. However, in the veterans’ doubles category the pair of Sudhakar and Anil of Jalandhar had to fight hard before defeating pair of Tandon and Rajan from Jalandhar 15-7, 15-8. Mr Amarjit Singh Samra, Revenue Minister gave way prizes to the winners and runners-up of the tournament. Other results (final): Boys’ Doubles Under-16: Gurbax and Raj Kumar (Ludhiana) b Varun and Anandbudh (Jalandhar) 15-6, 15-7. Girls’ Double Under-16: Boy’s Singles Under-13: Girl’s Singles Under-13:
Komalpreet (Jalandhar) b Shweta Wadhwa (Amritsar) 11-4, 11-0. |
|
Haryana sports fest from Oct 16 Yamunanagar, September 30 Stating this here today, the Haryana Olympic Association secretary, Mr M.S. Malik, informed that roller skating and roller hockey will also be included . There will be competitions in 24 disciplines. Three games will be held at Ambala and one will be held at Hissar. Archery, athletics, badminton, basket ball, boxing, cycling, fencing, football, hockey, handball, judo, kabaddi (national), kabaddi (circle), kho-kho, lawn tennis, table tennis, volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling will be organised at Yamunanagar, gymnastics, triathlon & swimming competitions will be held at Ambala, while rifle shooting will be held at Hisar. Mr Malik further informed that the logo of the game has been designed and prepared by district Olympic association, Yamunanagar. Logo depicts a lion — a symbol of power, energy, speed and strength. He said that best eight teams or individuals are allowed to participate from every district. |
|
Gulab captures second gold Bangalore, September 30 The seasoned campaigner, who earlier bagged the top honours in 1500 metres, clocked 15 minutes and 15.5 seconds on the last day of the three-day meet at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium. Favourite P.S. Primesh of LIC won the men’s 800m gold, finishing in one minute, 49.61 seconds, ahead of Services’ Gamanda Ram (1:50.47) and Jay Kumar of Kerala (1:51.09). J.J. Shobha of Railways won the women’s long jump, in the absence of world championship bronze medal winner Anju B. George, clearing 6.10m. With a tally of 7094 points, Services’ Kulwinder Singh secured the gold in decathlon, while the women’s 10,000m gold was won by L. Aruna Devi of Railways, who clocked 36 minutes and 7.3 seconds. —
PTI |
|
Amritraj, Bopanna lose Tumkur , September 30 Sixth seed Marcello Craca of Germany, the world number 242, downed Bopanna 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3) in the match that lasted over two hours, while Amritraj dished out a rather disappointing fare against Martin Lee of Britain, who won 6-2 6-3. Much was expected from Bopanna, who had already won a Challenger title at Jakarta, especially after his excellent performance in the recent Davis Cup tie against Holland but he failed to get his acts together when it mattered most today. Craca broke Bopanna, world number 351, in the ninth game to pocket the first set easily but the Coorg lad staged a come-back in the second to restore parity. —
PTI |
|
Indian Railways bag bronze Patiala, September 30 The Indian squad, comprising of G.S Heera, R.K. Verma, Darshan Singh, Hardev Singh, Inderjeet Singh and A Ravi , was the only Asian team playing in the tournament which was won by Finland Railways. UK Rail were placed third. |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 123 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
In video (
