 |
|
|
Indians cause Waugh more heartache
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Philippoussis under fire India to field “fit” team for hockey Test series Gulmarg has ‘potential for international events’
Major Singh shines at Lajpat Rai meet Indoor swimming
pool for Sunam
|
|
Indians cause Waugh more heartache
Canberra, January 28 The Indians rode on a sparkling century by Hemang Badani and a tight last over by Amit Bhandari for the narrow win in the exhibition match. Batting first, India made 254 for eight in their allotted 50 overs and in reply the Prime Minister’s Eleven finished on 253 for six. The Indians who wore blue to PM XI’s whites, rested their major batting stars — Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman — but still prevailed, thanks to Badani’s 100 and also some splendid bowling in the final overs. The hosts needed 15 runs from the last two overs and seven from the last over but agonisingly fell short as Waugh, history’s most successful Test captain, bowed out as a beaten man in his last match against a touring team. Cade Brown top-scored for the Aussies with 80 while Waugh could manage just seven before being caught by Irfan Pathan off Murali Kartik. Earlier, left-handed Badani batted with purpose after opener Sanjay Bangar grafted 33 from 63 balls with three fours. Indian XI:
Bangar c McDonald
b Doherty 33, Patel c Wright b Cleary 19, Badani b McDonald 100, Gavaskar c Hartley b McDonald 26, Yuvraj run out 16, Dravid c Waugh b Wright 15, Agarkar c Brown b McDonald 5, Pathan c Cleary b Waugh 1, Kartik not out 12.
Extras: (lb-6, nb-1, w-20) 27. Total: (8 wkts, 50 overs) 254.
Fall of wickets: 1-36, 2-96, 3-150, 4-176, 5-218, 6-230, 7-239, 8-254. Bowling:
Tait 10-0-48-0, Wright 10-0-51-1, Cleary 10-1-32-1, McDonald 9-0-70-3, Doherty 10-0-42-1, Waugh 1-0-5-1. Australian PM’s XI:
Bradley c Kartik b Bhandari 12, North c Nehra b Bangar 74, Hussey c Patel b Nehra 9, Brown c Agarkar b Nehra 80, Waugh c Pathan b Kartik 7, Hartley not out 45, McDonald c Pathan b Bhandari 8, Cleary not out 0.
Extras: (b-6, lb-7, nb-1, w-4) 18. Total: (6 wkts, 50 overs) 253.
Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-59, 3-143, 4-175, 5-213, 6-252. Bowling: Nehra 10-2-41-2, Bhandari 8-0-50-2, Pathan 11-0-47-0, Bangar 10-0-50-1, Kartik 10-1-43-1, Badani 1-0-9-0.
— PTI |
|
Ferrero, Clijsters through to semis
Melbourne, January 28 Second seed Roger Federer marched into the semi-finals of the Australian Open with a 7-5 6-4 5-7 6-3 win over Argentina's David Nalbandian today. Second-seeded Kim Clijsters aggravated an ankle injury in her quarterfinal victory over Anastasia Myskina, leaving her questionable for the semifinals. A semifinalist in all four majors last season but still without a Grand Slam title, Clijsters beat Myskina 6-2, 7-6 (11/9), recovering after a medical time out in the second set to move into a semifinal match against Patty Schnyder of Switzerland. Schnyder, seeded 22nd, advanced to her first Grand Slam semifinal with a 7-5 (7/2), 6-3 victory over Lisa Raymond. Clijsters lost the first four games of the second set against Myskina and needed treatment for her left ankle after holding in the fifth. Clijsters won five of the next six games after getting courtside treatment in the second set and had two match points on the sixth-seeded Myskina’s serve in the 12th before the Russian held to force a tie-breaker. She had three more match points in the tie-breaker and saved two set points before the match in 90 minutes when Myskina’s backhand shot drifted wide. Clijsters, who injured her left ankle at the Hopman Cup and was sidelined for two weeks leading into the tournament, said she would ice her ankle, take painkillers and get the area taped before deciding in the morning if she could play in the semifinal tomorrow. With top-seeded Andy Roddick out of the tournament in a quarterfinal upset to unseeded Marat Safin, former No 1 Ferrero and Wimbledon champion Roger Federer are vying for the No 1 spot in men’s tennis. Ferrero, who won his first major at Roland Garros last year and lost the US Open final to Roddick, won seven consecutive games and gave up only nine points to lead 1-0 in the second set before the left-handed Arazi recovered and started pounding forehand winners. Ferrero had to save three set points in the second set and two in the third before forcing tie-breakers in each. He advanced when Arazi dumped a backhand return into the net facing his first match point. “Today was a good test, and I think I passed, I need some rest today and tomorrow,” said Ferrero. He was tired and strained muscles in his groin bothered him, but Ferrero was still intent on regaining the No 1 ranking he held for eight weeks after September 8 last season. Both women’s semifinals and one men’s semifinal are scheduled for tomorrow. Top-ranked Justine Henin-Hardenne will face Colombia’s Fabiola Zuluaga, seeded 32nd, in the first of the women’s semifinals, followed by Clijsters against Schnyder. In the men’s first semi final defending champion Andre Agassi will play Safin tomorrow. Henin-Hardenne and Clijsters met in two all-Belgian Grand Slam finals last season, with Henin-Hardenne winning in the French and US Opens. With No 3 Venus Williams out in the third round, Serena Williams not defending the title and No 4 Amelie Mauresmo forced to default her quarterfinal because of a back problem, Clijsters and Henin-Hardenne were strong
favourites for the title. — AP |
|
Paes-Martina
duo in semis New Delhi, January 28 The fourth seeds were
stretched to the wire by the local pair but they put to use all their experience to carve out a 6-3, 3-6, 10-7 victory in super-tiebreak and book their place in the last four, according to the information
received here today. In the semifinals, Paes and Navratilova will face unseeded Jonathan Erlich of Israel and Liezel Huber of South Africa, who upset top seeds Mark Knowles of Bahamas and Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) in the round of eight. In the junior section, Indians had a mixed day as Karan Rastogi advanced to the third round in boys’ singles but Sanaa Bhambri was made to bite the dust in the girls’ event. Top Indian junior and fourth seed Rastogi had no problems in packing off local boy Miles Kasiri 6-1, 6-3 to advance to the third round of the year’s first Grand Slam. He will now take on Chu-Huan Yi of Chinese Teipei. But Sanaa, making her first appearance in this Grand Slam event, could hardly pose a threat to the eighth seed Sun Sheng Nan of China and lost 0-6, 5-7. Sanaa’s challenge in the girl’s doubles, where she paired with Indonesian Ayu Fani Damayanti, also came to an end losing to third seed Marina Erakovic of New Zealand and Ekaterina Kosminskaya of Russia 2-6, 0-6 in the first round. In the boy’s doubles, the seventh-seeded pair of Rastogi and Divij Sharan were knocked out by unseeded Thomas Liversage of South Africa and Tonci Peric of Croatia 4-6, 7-5, 6-0 in the first round.
— PTI |
|
Philippoussis
under fire MELBOURNE: Mark Philippoussis has copped a very public hiding from a trio of current and former players over his listless loss at the Australian Open.
Speaking on Melbourne talk-back radio, 1987 Wimbledon winner Cash and Woodbridge, current Davis Cup team-mate of the Melbourne-born Philippoussis, both said concentration would surely be affected by what appears to be a new high-profile romance for the long-time ladies man. Singer Delta Goodrem (19), was a steady member of the Scud’s entourage, cheering him on from the players’ box during his matches after first meeting up with him the week before the tournament.
— DPA
|
|
India to field “fit” team for hockey Test series New Delhi, January 28 Naval Tata’s reign as the IHF president, from 1946 to 1958, was considered as the “golden era of Indian hockey” when the country lifted the gold in three successive Olympic Games—London (1948), Helsinki (1952) and Melbourne (1956). Mr Gill said the Test series will be an ideal preparation for both Holland and India in their build-up for the Olympic qualifiers, to be held in Madrid (Spain) in March this year. India have not yet qualified for the Olympic Games to be held in Athens late this year. Holland, who would be touring India after a gap of 20 years, would be fielding a near full-strength team. India had lost narrowly to Holland by 3-4 when they last met on a hockey field, in the Champions Trophy in 2003. Mr Gill said the Indian hockey team would be named on February 1. The team is practising under the guidance of coach Rajinder Singh at Gurgaon. He said ace forward Dhanraj Pillay, who suffered an injury during the Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament at Kuala Lumpur recently, will undergo a total medical test while Baljit Singh Dhillon and Dilip Tirkey were expected to join the camp “in a day or two”. However, the IHF chief informed that Baljit Singh Saini had not joined the camp. |
|
|
Hockey incentive GURGAON: Sahara, sponsors of the Indian hockey team, on Wednesday handed over the promised incentives to the players for their victory at the Afro-Asian Games in Hyderabad. Sahara had earlier declared an incentive of Rs 1.5 lakh to each of the team members if they win Asia-level tournaments while the amount gets doubled at the world level. Congratulating the team for their win at the Afro-Asian Games, Sahara officials here handed over cheques of Rs 1.5 lakh to all the 16 players and five officials.
— UNI
|
|
Gulmarg has ‘potential for international events’ Gulmarg, January 28 Disclosing this while declaring open the fourth winter national games here today IOA president Suresh Kalmadi said Gulmarg had enough potential for such events. He said the snow slopes of Gulmarg were challenging for all players. He said that the report of a two-member team of international experts on various aspects of the venue for conducting international events was awaited. He added that the IOA was of the view that sports and politics be kept apart, adding “a little window must be kept open always (for sports)”. The inaugural function of the ice events here was a grand occasion. It was after six years that this picnic spot is again playing host to such an event. Commenting on the available infrastructure Mr Kalmadi said the second phase of the Gulmarg Gandola project of the Cable Car Corporation would be completed by August 15 this year. This would help in easy access to the snow slopes of Khilanmarg at a height of over 13,000 ft. In his address, the J&K Tourism Minister, Mr Ghulam Hassan Mir, said if properly exploited Gulmarg would soon become a destination of national and international events. Among others who attended the inaugural function were Minister of State for Tourism, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Col M. Kumar, president Winter Games Federation, Mr Rangil Singh, president, J&K Olympic Association. At least 20 teams participated in the inaugural function. |
|
Major Singh shines at Lajpat Rai meet Dhudike (Moga), January 28 This festival is held annually to commemorate the birth anniversary of the freedom fighter. Major Singh of neighbouring Madhoke village won the bullock cart race for the third time in the past four years. Major Singh reigned supreme out of 62 contestants. It took two burly men of Madhoke village to ‘ready’ the two bullocks while the driver, Major Singh, ensured a secure foothold on his light but sturdy cart. And then, inspired by the roar of the crowd and continuous whacks on the rump, the bullock carts hurtled down the track- a straight line between two gates. Initially, Major Singh seemed to be a bit erratic but managed to steady the beasts towards the end. In his endeavour to gain speed he took recourse to twisting the bullocks tails and completed the 300 yard course by clocking an admirable 39 seconds. He was followed by Kikar Singh of Lope village and Madho Singh of Bajakhana in that order. There were the enthralling dog races too. Because of a ban on hunting, these races were held by dangling a fake bait before the dogs. Here too the cheering was wild and the German Sheperd of Sube Singh of Bajakhana village stood first. In kabaddi, eight top clubs were invited and after the keenly fought league phase, Harjit Sports Club of Bajakhana village triumphed. Nakodar club and Rora Sahib academy followed in that order. The organisers had invited political personalities to grace the festival. Rajya Sabha MP Mr Sukhbir Badal distributed the prizes. |
|
Indoor
swimming pool for Sunam Sangrur, January 28 Meanwhile, the Chief Minister has also given the green signal to a long standing demand of sportsmen of Sangrur for construction of a indoor hall. This hall will have two wooden badminton courts. The hall will also have facilities for table tennis, gymnastics, volleyball, handball, boxing and weightlifting. Sarvjit Singh informed that the money for the hall had already been received and the work on the project would start soon. It will be completed in six months. |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | National Capital | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
In
video: (
