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Aussies hold edge, says Ganguly Kale claims “total innocence”
Selectors wanted money, alleges ex-India ‘A’ player Kartik a doubtful starter |
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Gayle
fashions Windies win Haryana to miss
Ratra, Mishra Baroda face uphill task Punjab beat J&K by an innings PCB chief’s son in
Pakistan team
Aiyappa fastest, Hardevender runner-up
Korea retain title, India runner-up
Women weightlifters earn 4 Olympic berths One tested positive for THG at World Championships Ramaswami-Sipaeya win title Airlines pip BSF, enter semis Aquathlon trials BBSBE College bags trophy BBK DAVC athletes excel Patiala girl in Indian team Harish declared best sports all-rounder
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Aussies hold edge, says Ganguly
Adelaide, November 22 Australian one-day captain Ricky Ponting said after his side’s tri-series final win in India on Tuesday that his players had a psychological hold over the Indians. Ganguly, who arrived with his team-mates in Adelaide today, agreed the Indians had a mental barrier to overcome. “Yes, honestly we’ve lost to them three times now in the last two months in one-day cricket and we accept that they’re a good side and they’re playing good cricket,” he said. “That’s why it’s more of a challenge to raise our game and perform at par with them in Australia. We know they are going to be a tough side at home, they win overseas as well and the playing at home will be even tougher.” He said he doubted his side’s inexperienced pace bowling attack would struggle on the bouncy Australian pitches. India’s most experienced pace bowlers will be Zaheer Khan (26 Tests) and Ashish Nehra (13 Tests), but Ganguly said both players had proved their ability at international level. “They were inexperienced in the World Cup and to be honest they were on par with the best in the world, if you go through the records,” Ganguly said. “Even before the World Cup, we went to New Zealand and the fast bowlers took wickets.” Ganguly added his team had a core of experienced batsmen who had toured Australia before, and that India’s once poor overseas record had improved. “We struggled a bit in the mid-90s, but we’ve started to play well in the past few years, whether it’s in England, the West Indies or the World Cup,” he said. India plays Victoria state in a three-day warmup game in Melbourne starting on Tuesday. The first Test in Brisbane starts on December 4 with other Tests scheduled for Adelaide (starting Dec 12), Melbourne (Dec 26) and Sydney (Jan 2). India will also take part in a one-day series in January and early February involving Australia and Zimbabwe. — AP
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Pune, November 22 After a two-hour hearing before the inquiry committee, Kale told reporters that he was “totally innocent” and denied offering any money to national selectors. “I have nothing to do with these allegations. I will seek legal opinion over the matter,” Kale said after deposing before the committee. Asked whether he was made a sacrificial goat by the cricket board, Kale said “I am going to seek legal opinion so I can’t say anything without consulting my lawyer.” The MCA appointed the committee after written reports about Kale offering Rs 10 lakh each to them were submitted by the two selectors - Pranab Roy (East Zone) and Kiran More (West Zone) - to the BCCI president. The BCCI had yesterday suspended Kale, a prolific scorer in the domestic circuit, and had also appointed D V Subba Rao as the Commissioner of Inquiry into the bribery scandal. The Commissioner has been asked to submit his report to the board’s disciplinary committee within 15 days. More chooses not to comment Bharuch (Gujarat): Indian team selector Kiran More today preferred to remain mum on the current controversy surrounding Maharashtra player Abhijit Kale. Persistent queries from reporters here failed to elicit any answer on the issue. The former India player was here on the occasion of the inauguration of the Ankleshwar Chapter of the Kiran More International Cricket Academy in Bharuch district. Bharuch District Cricket Association, incidentally, has provided a host of top-level players like Munaf Patel, under-17 players Vinay Panchal, Yudhistir Trivedi and Nitin Katara, and under-19 players like Amar Naik, Fenil Desai and Sanjay Singh. Pravin Amre, Atul Bedade and Salil Ankola were among the others who were present on the occasion of the inauguration of the academy. The academy has been set up with a view to search and hone local talent. Star players like Javagal Srinath, Sandeep Patil, Atul Bedade and Pravin Amre are among those who will be coaching the local youths at the academy.
— PTI, UNI |
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MCA chief’s plea to BCCI PUNE: Urging the cricket board to hold a wider probe into the allegations against batsman Abhijit Kale, the Maharashtra Cricket Association on Saturday said the BCCI should also initiate an inquiry to find the authenticity of the charges levelled by the two selectors. “Merely conducting an inquiry against Kale would not suffice as it is also necessary to find out whether there was any substance in the allegations made by the selectors that Kale had offered them bribe,” MCA chairman Balasaheb Thorve told PTI from
Nagpur. “I am writing a letter to the BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya that just like the inquiry against Kale, there should also be an inquiry against those who have made the allegation or else it will be a one-sided affair.”
— PTI |
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Selectors
wanted money, alleges ex-India ‘A’ player
New Delhi, November 22 In an interview to “Sahara Samay Rashtriya” channel, he claimed that he was approached by selectors to pay up for a place in the team. “I have been approached but I didn’t bother,” said Vanka. “Someone approached me on behalf of the selectors. I wouldn’t like to name the selector but everybody in Hyderabad Cricket Association knows who he is.” Vanka was of the opinion that paying for places in the team and not only the national team but even for zonal places is highly prevalent. Vanka also cited the example of Noel David, the Hyderabad off-spinner, who was picked ahead of veteran off-spinner Kanwaljit Singh. “The selection of Noel raised eyebrows. Noel was not even sure of a place in the Hyderabad team but he was picked for the Indian team.” Noel was picked for the Indian team for the 1996/97 West Indies tour. “In the national team it is always happening,” alleged Vanka. “When performance is overlooked, belief sets in that something is wrong.” Vanka Pratap played 83 first class matches, scored 3957 runs with an average of 36.30. Vanka’s highest domestic score was 136 and he hit six centuries and 27 half-centuries in a 10-year career. He also played for India A against the West Indies A side in 1998/99. — UNI
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Kartik a doubtful starter
Ahmedabad, November 22 Kartik, who conceded only 30 runs and grabbed the vital wicket of Australian skipper Ricky Ponting in the TVS cup triangular series final on November 18, did not practice at the nets today due to fever. "Unfortunately,
he (Kartik) is down with flu and is unlikely to play tomorrow. Only a
miraculous recovery will enable him to play", India ‘A’ coach
Sandeep Patil told reporters after the net practice. Patil said the series would give the experienced players an opportunity to prove their mettle and catch the attention of selectors. "It is an
excellent opportunity...especially for Mohammad Kaif and Hemang Badani to get some practice for the longer version of the game", he said. Apart
from Kaif, India A skipper Shiv Sundar Das will also strive to impress
with the bat to regain the opener’s slot, which has evaded him for
over a year now since India’s tour to West Indies last year. "It’s
a new challenge and this is a very important series as also the first
first-class match for me of the season. I hope to score a lot of
runs", Das said. Speedsters Munaf Patel and Siddharth Trivedi, who have had reasonably good outings against New Zealand and Hyderabad respectively, will also strive to leave a lasting impression among selectors. Delhi
speedster Amit Bhandari, who found a place after Balaji was picked for
the Australian tour, would be among the seamer’s trio tomorrow. For the Lankans, who are fresh from a "satisfactory" three-day outing against India under 19 in Rajkot, it would be an uphill task to face the batting acumen of Kaif, Badani, Gautam Gambhir and S Sriram, even as their side consists six international players. Four "key" players - Jehan Mubarak, R Herath, Lanka De Silva and L Marlinga, who did not play against the Indian colts are likely to return in the team tomorrow. "The
series would be a good competition as both teams have players who have
represented their country at international level. India A always
fields a good team and that’s what we need. Win or lose does not
matter", Sri lanka A captain Naveed Nawaz said. Lankan opener
T. Paranvithane is also doubtful for tomorrow’s match, following an
injury sustained at Rajkot. Nawaz said the three-day match at Rajkot had helped the players get acclimatised to Indian conditions as also the SG ball, with which the Lankan seamers struggled earlier. Apart from Karthik, India A team management is also likely to rest Ambati Rayadu, the captain of India U-19 and spinner Amit Mishra while playing the off-spinner Ramesh Pawar. Following are the teams: India "A":
S.S. Das (Captain), Hemang Badani, Gautam Gambhir, S. Sriram, Rohan Gavaskar, Mohammed
Kaif, Murali Karthik, Ajay Ratra, (WK), Siddharth Trivedi, Munaf Patel, Ramesh
Pawar, Ambati Rayadu, Amit Mishra, Amit Bhandari. Coach: Sandeep
Patil. Sri Lanka "A": Naveed Nawaz (Captain), Ian Daniel, Nuwan
Shiromal, Jehan Mubarak, Lanka Silva, K. Weeraratne, C. Mudalige, T.
Kandamby, Omesh Wijesiriwardane, T. Paranavithane, Anushka Pollonwita, Prasanna
Jayawardane, R. Herath, L. Marlinga, T. Lakshitha. Coach: Hemant
Devapriya. |
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Gayle fashions
Windies win
Bulawayo, November 22 West Indies captain Brian Lara scored 113, his 18th one-day century, and overtook Desmond Haynes for the most one-day centuries scored for their country. Lara reached his 18th one-day century in the 41st over and in all he faced 82 balls and hit 14 fours and three sixes. The West Indies captain delivered a consummate display of attacking batting against which the Zimbabwe could mount no meaningful defence. Opener Gayle played the more measured innings, many of his runs coming from straight drives and pulls. He faced 160 balls, hitting 19 fours and two sixes, and grabbed his sixth one-day ton in the 43rd over. Scoreboard
West Indies: Hinds c Taibu b Blignaut 28 Gayle not out 153 Lara run out (Wishart)
113 Sarwan run out (Streak) 0 Chanderpaul lbw b Ervine 8 Samuels b Matsikenyeri 6 Powell c Sibanda Baugh not out 3 Extras: Total: (6wkts, 50 overs) 347 Fall of wickets:
1-77, 2-253, 3-255, 4-282, 5-289, 6-328. Bowling: Streak 10-0-52-1, Blignaut 8-1-57-1, Brent 10-0-61-0, Ervine 7-0-75-1, Price 10-0-52-0, Gripper 2-0-15-0, Matsikenyeri 3-0-31-1. Zimbabwe:
Sibanda c Powell b Drakes 58 Gripper c Lara b Gayle 16 Vermeulen c Wishart not out 72 Blignaut not out 10 Extras:
(lb-2 nb-11 w-4)17 Total: (3
wkts, 34.5 overs) 173 Fall of wickets: 1-40 2-40 3-150 Bowling:
Dillon 7.5-0-52-0 (nb-6 w-1), Drakes 4-0-15-1, Samuels 6-0-22-0 (w-2), Gayle 10-1-21-2 (w-1), Sarwan 3-0-23-0, Rampaul 4-0-38-0 (nb-5).
— Reuters
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Haryana to miss
Ratra, Mishra Rohtak, November 22 Haryana enter the fray tomorrow sans the services of regular wicketkeeper Ajay Ratra and ace right arm leg spinner Amit Mishra. Both of them have been selected to represent India-A. Haryana’s opponents are taking their absence as a cause of content as it has caused slight imbalance in the Haryana squad initially on the paper. However, still this young Haryana side is capable of performing well. The side is studded with the talent of experienced batsmen Jatinder Singh, Shafiq Khan, Ishan Ganda and youngster Chetan Sharma. The bowling portfolio is likely to be handled by all rounder Joginder Sharma and Sumit Narwal, young spinners in Aparajit Singh and Gaurav Vashishta. Joginder had a fruitful season last year having claimed 24 wickets besides scoring 280 runs an average of 46.66 in five matches of Ranji Trophy. Mahesh Rawat, a youngster promoted from under-19 squad has been assigned the job of keeping wickets in the absence of Ajay Ratra. Sunny Singh, who recently returned from Pakistan after playing the under-19 tourney, has also been inducted into the state team this session. On the other hand, Jammu and Kashmir too have a blend of experienced and young talent. The team will be taking the field with a new captain - Dhruv Mahajan in
tomorrow's tie. J&K team Manager, Ashinder Kaul told the Tribune here today that change in the scenario in the valley has encouraged us to induct a number of young cricketers in the team. The presence of experienced cricketers like Vijay Sharma, Kanwal Jit Singh, Surinder Singh Baggal, Ashwani Gupta, and Vikrant Taggar make the side balanced one. The J & K captain Dhruv Mahajan said that since his side has played lot of local cricket, it is capable of doing well. In the last Ranji Trophy encounter held between the two teams, Haryana had registered an outright victory with a margin of 7 wickets at Molana Azad Stadium Jammu last year. The teams: Haryana (from): Jitender singh, Chetan Sharma, Sunny Singh, Ishan Ganda, Shafiq Khan, Mahesh Rawat (wk), Gurpreet Singh, Joginder Sharma, Sumit Narwal, Pradeep Sahu, Gaurav Vashishta, Aparajit Singh, Saurav Virmani, Sachin Rana and Jitender. Coach cum manager: Ashwani Kumar Jammu and Kashmir:
Dhruv Mahajan (Captain) , Surinder Singh Baggal, Kanwaljit, Vijay Sharma, Ashwani Gupta, Rajesh Gill, Vikrant Taggar, Samir Khajuria, Jagtar Singh, Arshad Bhatt, Samiullah, Abid Salam , Majid Dar, Wajahad Majid, Sajjad, Fayaz Ahmed. Manager Ashinder Kaul. Umpires:
Suhas J. Phadkar and Murlidhar. |
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Baroda, November 22 Baroda lost both their matches against Mumbai and Andhra Pradesh and are without any points, while Punjab obtained two points, having played against Kerala and conceded two points to Uttar Pradesh. Punjab coach Bhupinder Singh was not ready to reveal his team’s strategy but was optimistic of his team putting up a good show. He said his team was a balanced side and could give Baroda A run for it’s money. Captain Dinesh Mongia who was not selected for the forthcoming Australian tour is in fine nick with the bat. Pankaj Dharmani, Ravneet Ricky, Manish Sharma, Samarat Sharma wicketkeeper Chandan Madaan and middle order bat Ankur Kakkar form their batting strength. The team has three spinners in Vipul Sharma Navdeep Singh, Rajesh Sharma while the pace attack comprises all rounder Reetinder Sodhi, Vineet Sharma, Gagandeep Singh and left arm bowler Amit Unyal. The Punjab team had a rigorous net practice this morning. Stung by the earlier two reverses, it is a ‘must win’ match tomorrow for Baroda. Coach Vikram Hazare informed that Connor Williams and Tushar Arothe would be rested and Baroda would also be without the services of Irfan Pathan (junior) who will be on Australian tour with the senior team. The three new entrants are Irfan’s brother Yusuf Pathan, Valmik Buch and Rakesh Solanki. Yusuf is a medium pacer while Buch a left arm spinner and Solanki, a middle order bat who was in the India-under-19 team that toured Pakistan recently. —UNI
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Punjab beat J&K by an innings Patiala, November 22 For the visitors, opener Ian Dev Singh led a brief
fight back before off spinner and skipper Ankur Jund (3 for 38) and medium pacer Bharat Loomba (2 for 48) struck telling blows to end the J&K innings. Left arm spinner Sumit Kalia and Karanveer Singh, too, played impressive roles by picking up two wickets apiece. Ankur Jund had a good outing as apart from bagging five wickets in the match, he also scored a 27-ball 50 in the hosts first innings. Punjab by virtue of today's win have garnered five vital points and they will now take on Delhi in their next league match slated to be played at the same venue from November 25 to 27. Brief scores:
Punjab (1st innings): 456 for 6 J&K (1st innings): 152 all out J&K (2nd innings):
193 all out (Ian Dev Singh 84, Obaid Ahmed 45, Shabir 16, Ankur Jund 3 for 38, Sumit Kalia 2 for 64, Bharat Loomba 2 for 48, Karanveer Singh 2 for 22). |
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PCB chief’s son in Pakistan team
Islamabad, November 22 Allrounder Zia, son of PCB Chairman Tauqir Zia, was chosen from outside the probables list because of his good performance in domestic cricket, chief selector Aamir Sohail said. His selection to play Bangladesh in four one-day matches two months back was roundly criticised by the local media. “He was adjudged ‘player of the series’ in Sri Lanka where Pakistan won the Emerging Team Trophy. Also, he was one of the star performers of the inter-departmental qualifying tournament. In addition, the team management requested for his inclusion,” Sohail said in PCB press note here. The team also includes ‘Rawalpindi Express’ Shoaib Akhtar who, however, will sit out of the first two matches following a one Test and two one-day matches ban by ICC for using abusive language in the Lahore Test against South Africa. — PTI
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Aiyappa fastest, Hardevender
runner-up
Bangalore, November 22 In the first phase of the finals, both Aiyappa and runner up Hardevender Singh, the winner in Hyderabad, tied for the top spot after bowling at 135 kph, a press release from Mahindra and Mahindra said. In a bowl-off finale at Mumbai to the two-month event, the title was decided in favour of Aiyappa, when he notched 135 kph to be declared the winner. Singh was adjudged the runner-up, with a speed of 134 kph, the release said. Fourteen aspiring bowlers from across India competed in the final at Shivaji Park Gymkhana in Mumbai, bowling at speeds varying from 120 kph to 135 kph, it said. Alan Durante, Executive Director and President, Automotive sector, Mahindra and Mahindra, presented a cheque of Rs 75,000 and a trophy to Aiyappa, who will now have the
opportunity of attending the Australian Institute of Sports, Brisbane.
— PTI |
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Hyderabad, November 22 The best of nine games semifinals stretched to its full extreme, with the two cueists matching each other point by point during a two hour battle for a place in the final. With the two players taking an alternate frame each, tension and anxiety mounted which was palpable in the room and the two players played under enormous pressure in the decider after being level at 4-4. A relieved Lagan, after winning the game said: "I was under tremendous pressure particularly in the last frame. But I got a good chance and made best use of it." Sandilya on the other hand said his opponent played a better game. "I missed out one canon and it cost me the match. He got the final chance after being level at 4-4 which made all the difference," Sandliya said. Lagan, who said that he was under immense pressure in the decider, had stuck to top table play to safely and surely pick up the points and only played long when the bulk line crossing warning was sounded by referee. Leaving nothing to chance, Lagan picked up an unfinished break of 152 to win the ninth frame and the match enabling his entry into the finals to be played tomorrow. A packed hall witnessed quality billiards at the solitary table laid for the first semifinals, with Ashok fumbling at 46 and the Englishman winning the first frame with a convincing break of 87. Sandilya bounced back to take second and the two players took turns in winning frames until they were level at four all. While the Indian had a century break of 102 in the fourth, Lagan went for a start to finish 152 in the decider to clinch the issue. "The match took quite interesting turns as we were level at 2-2 and I went down 2-3 but my efforts and nice placements on the table got me the match," Lagan, who ousted U Aung Son Oo of Myanmar in the quarterfinals, said. Geet Sethi will be sorting it out with Paul Bennet in the other semifinals to be held later in the day. Result: Ashok Shandilya (Ind) lost to Lee Lagan (Eng) 46-150 151-59 46-153 151-90 151-2 86-151 15-151 150-10 0-152. — PTI
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Korea retain title, India runner-up
Hisar, November 22 India were adjudged as the runner-up in a close contest with 35 points and China got third position with 16 points. The boxers of DPR Korea clinched six gold, two silver and one bronze and of India bagged five gold, four silver and four bronze. The Indian captain and gold medalist of last year’s World Boxing Championship M.C. Marry Com won gold medal in 46 Kg weight category by defeating Chou Szu Yin of Chinese Taipei. The referee had to stop the contest in second round because Marry Com had outscored her rival. Chou Szu Yin was a silver medalist of last year’s World Boxing Championship, but Marry Com’s aggresive attacks led her way to victory and Yin could again retain only the silver medal in this championship.
— UNI
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Women weightlifters earn 4 Olympic berths
New Delhi, November 22 Though the seven member women’s team, which included world No 5 N. Kunjarani Devi in 48-kg and Pratima Kumari in the 63-kg, ended their campaign without a medal, their combined performance saw India finish in the top 10. According to the Olympics qualification rules, the top nine countries in the women’s section at the World Championship can send four lifters of their choice to the Athens Games. The other nations which won the honour were China, Thailand, Bulgaria, Russia, Ukraine, Colombia, South Korea who finished in the 1-7 places and Turkey, who came ninth, according to information received here today. The final standings are provisional pending the results of drug tests which are expected in a fortnight. The top three Indian performers at the meet were Kunjarani, Sanamacha Chanu and Nandini Devi (both 53-kg) who produced their season’s best performance. While the 35-year-old Kunjarani lifted 182.5 kg to finish fifth, Nandini and Chanu recorded 200-kg and 190-kg to finish sixth and seventh respectively. Not living upto their billing were world No 5 Pratima Kumari (63-kg) and Sydney Olympic bronze medallist Karnam Malleshwari, who competed in the 75-kg class. Pratima, who ended 12th, lifted only 210-kg against her season’s best show of 220-kg. Malleshwari too finished 12th lifting a total of 235-kg. Prasmita Magraj (58kg) and Sunaina (63kg) finished 18th in their respective weight categories. While India was eighth with 104 points, China (187), Thailand (145) and Bulgaria (137) occupied the top three places in the women’s team classification. In the men’s section, India was represented by only two lifters, both in the 56kg weight category. Vicky Batta and V. Shrinivasa Rao could not make their presence felt and remained at 20th and 25th positions, respectively. India were placed 45th in the group of 48 countries with China (187) grabbing the top spot followed by Turkey (164) and Russia (132) in the men’s team classification. The top six men’s teams earned six places each at the Athens Olympics. Indian men will get another chance at the Asian Championships slated at Almaty, Kazakhstan from April 7 to 12. — PTI
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One tested positive for THG at World Championships
London, November 22 The International Association of Athletics Federations is retesting some 400 urine samples from the August meet in Paris for the steroid that was undetectable until recently. It’s possible more positives could come out in the testing of the remaining 40 samples. The IAAF, which is meeting in Berlin this weekend, is expected to announce the final figures today. Any athletes found guilty of using THG would face two-year bans as well as loss of their results, including any medals, from the championships. IAAF general secretary Istvan Gyulai told the Associated Press on Thursday the number of positives so far was “very, very low,” indicating the use of TGH is not widespread. “These are excellent results for the IAAF,” he said. “There is nothing extraordinary so far.” Gyulai declined to give an exact number. But the track official who spoke to AP yesterday said there had been a single case so far, and it involved an athlete with a previous positive test. The official did not know the athlete’s identity. Until now, four US athletes and British sprinter Dwain Chambers tested positive for THG. Chambers, the European 100-metre champion, tested positive in an out-of-competition control in Germany in August and has been suspended pending a hearing by UK Athletics. The names of the four US athletes who tested positive at the national championships in June at Stanford, Calif., have not been officially announced. But several news organizations, including AP, have identified three of them as middle-distance runner Regina Jacobs, shot putter Kevin Toth and hammer thrower John McEwen. THG, or tetryahydrogestrinone, was uncovered last summer as a steroid deliberately modified to avoid detection in standard drug tests. After a test was devised by the UCLA doping control lab, the IAAF decided to recheck the stored samples from the championships. The US Anti-Doping Agency has identified California’s Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative (BALCO) as the source of THG, an accusation denied by BALCO owner Victor Conte. Gyulai said the IAAF would consider stiff sanctions against any coaches, trainers, agents, managers or nutritionists involved in doping. The IAAF will also discuss tougher penalties against athletes. Some officials want to increase the standard suspension from two years to four years, but that would be out of line with the World Anti-Doping Agency’s two-year guideline. “I don’t believe it would be clever to deviate now from a harmonized world position,” Gyulai said. Under a proposal by IAAF anti-doping chief Arne Ljungqvist, athletes would still face a blanket two-year suspension but would also be banned from one or two world championships. — AP
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Dehra Dun, November 22 Second seeded Ramaswami and Sipaeya defeated top seeds and Asian Games bronze medallists Mustafa Ghouse and Vishal Uppal 6-2, 6-1 to collect $ 630 in prize money and 12 ATP points. Ghouse and Uppal were playing the final an hour after beating Kamala Kannan and Manoj Mahadevan 7-6, (7/4), 7-6, (8/6) in the semifinal suspended midway overnight due to fading light. The duo earned a purse of $ 330 and eight ATP points. Ramaswami and Sipaeya had won a similar title last week in Thailand. Their two other titles came in Tunisia earlier this year and in Chandigarh last year. Ramaswami in particular was ecstatic after the win as it was his 10th career title — he had won three partnering Prahlad Srinath, two with Harsh Mankad and one with today’s loser Ghouse before. In singles play, the Indian challenge in the tournament came to an end with the ouster of Punna Vishal by British Nicky Crawley who booked a berth in the final with the 4-6, 6-0, 6-4 win. But the tournament could have a Pakistani winner with Aisam ul-Haq Qureshi booking the other final berth with a 6-4 6-4 dismantling of Uzbekistan’s Dmitry Mazur in the other semifinal. The 23-year old Qureshi, even with his slump in rankings due to injury forced lay off, is about 500 places above Crawley, 1050 on the ATP computer. And if his form today against Mazur was any indication, the finale should be a Sunday breakfast show for Qureshi. By all counts, the Qureshi-Mazur tie should have been the summit clash since their latest rankings masked the forced lay off the two players had taken earlier this year. The former was off the circuit for five months after undergoing a surgery to cure his appendicitis while a combination of injury and mandatory army service kept the latter away from action for one year. — PTI
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Airlines pip BSF,
enter semis New Delhi, November 22 The hockey lovers were treated to a great encounter of nerves as the Tamil Nadu boys not only kept their cool, even though trailing their Mumbai opponent for most part of the tie, to clinch the winner in the penultimate minute through a brilliant field goal by Arumugam. Coming into the tie with cent per cent record in the super league phase, Air-India looked like running away with the match when it took a 2-0 lead by the 27th minute as Jitender Saroha (8th) and Dulla Singh (27th) found the net. But the Tamil Nadu team kept the hope of a fightback alive at the break with a 34th minute goal by Gagan Senthil, who made no mistake in converting the penalty stroke. The
beginning of the second half was no different with Air -India skipper Devinder Kumar scoring in the fourth minute to give his team a 3-1 lead. When all looked lost for the team from south India, their captain Laxman Prabhakaran took the onus on himself to take on the Air India defence and created many opportunities.
—PTI |
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Aquathlon trials Ludhiana, November 22 The eligible triathletes have been asked to contact Mr PPS Virk, SP (D) and president, District Triathlon Association, Sangrur, along with their age-proof certificates. The selected players will represent the state in the fourth National Subjunior and Junior Aquathlon Championship to be held on November 29 and 30 at Hyderabad. |
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BBSBE College bags trophy Fatehgarh Sahib, November 22 In the quarter finals BBSBE College, Fatehgarh Sahib, defeated
ITE, Bhadal, GGSC, Talwandi Sabo defeated GTB, Malout; SBS College, Ferozepore defeated AIT, Faridkot;
Riyat, Railmajra, defeated SLIET, Longowal. In the semi-finals BBSBE College, Fatehgarh Sahib, defeated
GGSC, Talwandi Sabo, in tough contest and SBS, Ferozepore defeated
Riyat, Railmajra. Dr Tarlochan Singh Sandhu, Deputy Director, Department of Sports, Panjab University, Chandigarh, presided over the prize distribution ceremony. Addressing the students, he said the standard of the players of PTU was much more than satisfactory. He said sports in India was puking up for the last two years. In his address, Dr D.S. Hira, Chairman of the Sports Council of the PTU, advised the students for active participation in sports activities, along with studies. Dr D.S.
Sheera, organising secretary of the PTU, thanked the participants for their cooperation for holding the tournament. In the women’s category,
GNIMT, Ludhiana, bagged trophy by defeating BBSBE College, Fatehgarh Sahib. The
IET, Bhadal, defeated SIET, Dera Bassi, for the third position. In semi-finals
BBSBEC, Fatehgarh Sahib, defeated ITE, Bhadal, and GNIMT, Ludhiana, defeated
SIET, Dera Bassi. According to information, around 4,000 players from 47 colleges of the state participated in the tournament.
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BBK DAVC athletes excel Amritsar, November 22 Mandeep Kaur and Satwant Kaur of BBK College stood runners-up in hammer throw and shot put, respectively. Narinder Kaur took second position in long jump, 100 m and heptathlon. Charanjeet Kaur, Paramjeet Kaur and Dharmvir Kaur grabbed third position in half marathon, 400 m and five km walks, respectively.
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Patiala girl in
Indian team Patiala, November 22 Meenakshi is among the four girls selected by the Gymnastics Federation of India (GFI) for the championship. The team (men): Vikas Pandey, Sarfraz Ahmed, Rohit Jaiswal, M.G. Vijay Kumar, Mayank Srivastav, Mohit Yadav, Abhey Chander Mishra and E. Chandrakanth Rao. (Women): Meenakshi, Tumpa Debnath, Sundari Mandal and Rupali
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Harish
declared best sports all-rounder Patiala, November 22 Sukhjeet Pal Singh won the Captain G S Dhillon running trophy for best sportsman and the best inter house trophy was bagged by Ashoka House. Akanksha Sidhu was awarded a special prize for her outstanding performance at the meet, the opening ceremony for which was performed by former MP, Ms Amarjeet Kaur. The March past was led by Harmandeep Kaur who was selected best cadet at the recently-concluded National Integration Camp. The Director, N I S Sports Camp, Ms Kamaljeet Sandhu Kooner, gave away the prizes. In her address, she encouraged the children to participate wholeheartedly in sports events. Mr B.M. Singh, Chief Commissioner Income Tax, Shimla, was the guest of honour. He gave away the sports prizes. The Principal of the school, Ms Ravi Singh, read out the annual school report and reassured the parents that the school was committed to prepare the students for a bright future. |
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Adelaide, November 22
Ahmedabad, November 22
