SPORTS

Gyan Bharti lift Bon-Ton cricket title 
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, October 30
Superb all-round performances by skipper Manav Sharma (43, 4 for 65 and 4 for 85) and Ankur Julka (89 n o, and 3 for 42) helped Gyan Bharati School to lift the Bon-Ton Trophy for the first time since the tournament started six years back by defeating Modern School, Barakhamba by 40 runs.

Electing to bat first, Gyan Bharati School at one time were 80 for 5, but a match saving partnership of 89 runs between Chetan Logani (42) and Kushal Sthapak (41) helped them to reach 201 all out in 59.2 overs. Leg-spinner Aviral Himmat Ramka (5 for 52) and Manik Babbar (4 for 55) bowled brilliantly for Modern Barakhamba.

In reply, Modern at one stage were 121 for 2 with Ashwat Kumar (57) and Vartik Tihara (21) still at the crease, but superb medium-pace bowling by Ankur Julka (3 for 42) and leg-spinner Manav Sharma (4-65) helped Gyan Bharati to restrict Modern Barakhamba to 171 all out and took 30 run lead in the first inning.

In the second inning, it was Ankur Julka all the way who made a match winning 89 n o and helped Gyan Bharati School to reach 193 for 7 in 40 over.

Set to score 223 to win in 40 overs, brilliant partnership of 105 runs between Vartik tihara (64) and Ashwat Kumar (58) helped Modern to be in a match winning position at one stage. They were 150 for 3 and needed another 73 runs in 10 over with 7 wickets in hand, but Manav Madan (3 for 66) and Manav Sharma (4 for 85) had other ideas and got the last seven wickets by giving just 33 runs and helped Gyan Bharati to its maiden triumph.

Man of the match was given to Manav Sharma by Mr Sanjeev Madan of Bon-Ton for his brilliant all-round performance. Mr Sanjeev Madan of Bon-Ton inaugurated the final by meeting both the teams.

Score: Gyan Bharati School, Saket: 201 all out in 59.2 over: Varun Sudan 30, Kushal Sthapak 41, Chetan Logani 42, Manav Madan 22, Aviral Himmat Ramka 5 for 52, Manik Babbar 4 for 55.

Modern School, Barakhamba Road: 171 all out in 54.2 over: Abhishak Kapoor-36, Ashwat Kumar for 57, Vartik Tihara for 21, Manav Sharma 4 for 65, Ankur Julka 3 for 42, Manav Madan 2 for 54.

Gyan Bharati School, Saket: 193 for 7 in 40 over, Ankur Julka-89 n o, Manav Sharma 43, Chetan Logani 21, Deepak Rajput 2 for 20, Ankit Lamba 2 for 65.

Modern School, Barakhamba Road: 183 all out in 37.2 over, Vartik Tihara 64, Ashwat Kumar 58, Surya Azad 23, Manav Sharma 4 for 85 and Manav Madan 3 for 66.

CEAT announces cricket rating awards
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, October 30
CEAT Cricket Rating yesterday announced the winners of the 8th Annual CEAT International Cricket Rating Awards for the year 2002-2003. The awards, a-la Oscars for the international cricket fraternity, are to recognise the sterling performance across 8 categories. The awardees will be honoured with exclusive trophies and prize money worth rupees two million.

Announcing the winners, Harsh Goenka, Vice-Chairman, CEAT Limited, said: “We are delighted to honour the talents and hard work of the winners and celebrate their victory along with cricket enthusiasts across the globe. I congratulate our award winners and salute all those who have made it to the top in the CEAT Cricket Ratings.”

The CEAT panel of judges for the nominate awards includes ex-cricketers Ajit Wadekar and Sanjay Manjrekar and eminent journalists Ayaz Memon and Lokendra Pratap Sahi. The recipients in eight different categories will be honoured with the CEAT awards during the star-studded 8th Annual CEAT International Cricket Rating Awards ceremony to be held on October 31, 2003, at Hotel Taj Mahal, Mumbai.

The following are the award winners:

CEAT International Cricketer of the year 2002-2003 - Ricky Ponting CEAT International Team of the Year 2002-2003 - Australia CEAT International Batsman of the Year 2002-2003 – Ricky Ponting CEAT International Bowler of the year 2002-2003 – Harbhajan Singh CEAT International Fielder of the year 2002-2003 – Virender Sehwag CEAT Cricketer of the World Cup 2003 - Sachin Tendulkar.

Cyber Media Cricket tourney from November 1
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, October 30
The Cyber Media Cricket Tournament, the popular annual event, organised by Cyber Media India Ltd. (CMIL), will be held in the Capital from November 1 to January 4, 2004.

Sponsored by Keane India Ltd., a leading information technology (IT) Solutions and Services Company, the tournament will witness leading IT firms battling it out for the prestigious Keane Cup with zeal and enthusiasm. The event will be hosted at Kamla Nehru College, Khel Gaon Marg, New Delhi, and will be inaugurated by Mr Parmindar S. Miglani, MD, Keane India.

This year, the tournament has received participation from leading IT firms including HECL, Cadence, NIIT, HP India, ST Microelectronics, Efunds, etc. Divided into two leagues, each team will compete in four matches with every game being held over the weekends. Pool A will see participation from Cyber Media, EDS, Efunds International, HECL and Keane India and Pool B comprises Cadence Design Systems, HP India, NIIT, STMicroelectronics and WeP Peripherals.

Speaking on the occasion Mr Miglani said: “The Cyber Media Cricket Tournament has evolved into a true sporting event that promotes the spirit of sportsmanship and camaraderie amongst fellow IT professionals. We are delighted to be associated with the event for the second year in a row.”

Neha clinches U-12 title in TT
Our Sports Reporter

Sonepat, October 30
Neha of Sirsa clinched the title of under-12 girls’ section of Haryana State Table Tennis Championship by defeating Rashu also of Sirsa by 11-1, 11-8, 6-11 and 11-7. Third place of this section went to Minakshi of Bhiwani who defeated Anchal of Sirsa by winning three out of four sets.

In the boys’ section of this age group, Navneet of Bhiwani managed to register a win over Aman of Gurgaon in an evenly five-set final match.

In the semi-finals of girls’ section, Neha defeated Minakshi of Bhiwani by 11-8, 12-10 and 15-13 and Rashu humbled Anchal of her district by 11-5, 11-9, 6-11 and 11-6.

In the boys’ semi final, Navneet struggled to win over Harprit of Panchkula 11-7, 9-11, 5-11, 11-7 and 11-7 and in the second semi final, Aman of Gurgaon met with stiff challenge from Neeraj of Sirsa in the five-set match. After loosing first and second sets, Neeraj fought back and won third and fourth set, but he lost the fifth and final set to Aman by 8-11.

In the first round of sub-junior girls’ section, Richa of Rohtak defeated Renu of Bhiwani, Praveen of Hisar won over Bhumika of Sonepat Meenakshi of Sirsa registered a win over Bharti of Sonepat, Suman of Sirsa outplayed Minakshi of Bhiwani and Manisha of Rohtak humbled Bhawna of Sonepat.

Inter-University Softball Championship
Our Sports Reporter

Rohtak, October 30
Delhi University and M. D. University (MDU) won their matches convincingly in the men and women sections respectively of the 10th All India Inter-University Softball Championship being held at Maharshi Dayanand University. Delhi University defeated Utkal University with 13-0 margin.

In the women section, hosts MDU defeated North Gujarat University, Patan with 13-3 margin. Kurukshetra University also registered win over Lucknow University with 14-4 margin. OSR

Rahil Ganjee extends lead at HT Pro Golf
Our Sports Reporter

Gurgaon, October 30
Rahil Gangjee fired six birdies but still submitted a card of two under 70. Yet, it was enough for the Kolkata-based pro to extend his lead to two strokes at the end of the third round of the Rs 8-lakh HT Pro Golf 2003, the seventh leg of the Hero Honda Indian Golf Tour at the Classic Golf Resort today.

The 25-year-old Rahil was sitting pretty with a 54-hole total of 11-under 205. Mukesh Kumar and Digvijay Singh both shot identical one-under par 71 as the overnight lead positions remained unchanged. Gaurav Ghei was in the fourth with a total of 212 while Gurbaaz Mann submitted a card of three-under 69 to share the fifth position along with Pappan and SSP Chowrasia, who were a stroke behind Gaurav.