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Hewitt, Federer sail into final
Sania falters at last hurdle
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Indian batsmen looked good
Dalmiya BCCI Patron-in-Chief
HAP Range retain trophy
‘Dope testing lab to be functional this year’
Athletics meet
Full membership to Jharkhand
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Kuznetsova wins US Open
New York, September 12 Anastasia Myskina picked up the French Open title in June and Maria Sharapova lifted the Wimbledon crown the following month. “Russia is just too powerful a country,” Kuznetsova joked to the crowd during her courtside interview after sealing victory in one hour 14 minutes with a service winner. Kuznetsova said she had received support from 18-times Grand Slam singles champion Martina Navratilova, her former doubles partner, before the match. “I would like to thank Martina, a legend,” she said. “I took your words on to court with me, you won in your first Grand Slam final and I did it too today.” Sixth seed Dementieva, who lost to Myskina in the Roland Garros final, began strongly, winning the first four points to break Kuznetsova to love. But Kuznetsova soon found her range, taking advantage of her opponent’s weak serve to break back in the following game and then again in the sixth game on the way to the opening set. Dementieva, wearing a heavy strapping on her left thigh, began to open up with the powerful forehand that caused so much damage against Jennifer Capriati in Friday’s semifinal, breaking Kuznetsova to move 2-0 ahead in the second set. But she could not consolidate and a missed forehand allowed Kuznetsova to break back. The French Open runner-up seemed to take a grip of the set again when she broke to lead 4-2. But her younger opponent kept pounding huge forehands and the 22-year-old’s serving demons returned when two double faults gave Kuznetsova the break back. Dementieva saved another break point at 4-4 but two games later a fourth double fault handed Kuznetsova the chance to serve for the match and she completed victory on her second match point. “I wasn’t able to play my best tennis today,” Dementieva said, referring to her thigh injury. “But Svetlana played a great game and deserved to win. “It‘s been a great tournament for me. I played some good tennis and I am not that disappointed. She just played better than me. “I’m very proud that two Russians were in the final. It’s a miracle to me that three Russian girls have won Grand Slam titles in one year,” Dementieva said. After the match, played on the third anniversary of the attacks on the USA, Kuznetsova and Dementieva paid tribute to the dead and also those who perished in the recent hostage siege in Beslan, southern Russia.
— Reuters |
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Hewitt, Federer sail into final
New York, September 12 Hewitt reached his first Grand Slam final in two years, winning 11 consecutive points to close out Joachim Johansson 6-4, 7-5, 6-3. World number one Federer reached the championship match by routing England’s Tim Henman 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. Federer, the reigning Wimbledon and Australian Open champion, could become the first man since Sweden’s Mats Wilander in 1988 to capture three Grand Slam crowns in one year. Hewitt seeks his 24th singles title and the third Grand Slam crown of his career, following his 2001 US Open title and 2002 Wimbledon triumph. The 23-year-old Australian showed why he was one of the ATP’s hottest players with an impressive display of speed and agility against hard-serving Johansson. “I had to put my professional cap on and go out and get the job done,” Hewitt said. “I have been playing well the whole American summer.” Hewitt won 82 per cent of his first serve points and fired nine aces. He broke Johansson’s serve in the eighth game of the third set to go up 5-3 and then successfully served for the match. He opened up a 40-0 lead and then clinched it on the next point when Johansson’s return sailed long. Hewitt took off his cap, wiped his brow and hammered a ball into the stadium stands before going to the net to shake hands with his golfing pal Johansson. It was the first career meeting between Hewitt and Johansson, who is the boyfriend of Hewitt’s sister, Jaslyn. She watched the match from a neutral box while Hewitt’s parents sat in another. “It was a bit awkward because my parents and my sister had sat in the same box for two weeks,” Hewitt said. Heading into the final, Hewitt is on a 16-match winning streak which includes back-to-back titles in Washington and Long Island. “Near the end of last year I was playing some great tennis and then I took eight weeks off and I think it helped me,” Hewitt said. “I have played consistently this year and the guys that have beaten me have had to play great tennis.” Hewitt is also the only man to reach the US Open final without dropping a set and stands to pocket $1.5 million in prize money if he captures the championship here. Hewitt, who has not dropped a set in six US Open matches, had to overcome Johansson’s vicious serve which the Swede unleashed at 224 kmph. Federer broke Henman’s serve five times, hammered seven aces and put 63 per cent of his first serves in play in the one-hour, 46-minute match. He has won three of the past five Grand Slams but this is the one that has given him the most trouble. Federer had lost in the fourth round each of the previous three years. |
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Sania falters at last hurdle
New Delhi, September 12 With the $100,000 event carrying an automatic wild card into the Australian Open main draw for the singles' winners, Sania was hoping to become the youngest Indian woman to enter a Grand Slam. But those hopes evaporated as she went down 2-6 1-6 to Na Li of China in the final, according to information received here. "She played out of her mind. She never allowed me to play my game. It was very difficult to read where she was going to hit. I never expected her to play so well. She played a great match," said the 17-year old Indian as she tried come to terms with the
loss. Sania went into the match in great form, having dismantled top seed Mi-Ra Jeon of Korea in the quarterfinal with her aggressive ground strokes. But Li, who had struggled through her way to the final, packed more power than
Sania. The Chinese second seed never allowed the Indian to get into rhythm to win her fifth title of the year.
— PTI
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SA score 9-wicket win
Birmingham, September 12 After Charl Langeveldt laid the foundation with a three-wicket opening spell to shut Bangladesh out for a paltry 93, Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis beat the rains in time to overhaul the target in 17.5 overs. "It was a clinical victory. The bowlers bowled really well. We needed this win at this stage as any win gives you the much needed confidence," the 23-year old Smith said after the match. South Africa next play West Indies in the final match of the Group on Sep 18 at the Oval while Bangladesh play the Caribbeans on Sep 15 at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. "We needed some decent work out and spend some time in the middle. We have another warm up game during the week and hope to be ready for West Indies," Smith, who took over from Shaun Pollock after the 2003 World Cup, said. "It has been a difficult time in Sri Lanka but we hope to do well against West Indies." Electing to bat in sunny but windy conditions at Edgbaston, Bangladesh lost their top four batsmen for only 20 runs to be eventually bundled out in 31.3 overs. Scoreboard Bangladesh: Omar lbw b Langeveldt 4 Ashraful c Kallis b Langeveldt4 Iqbal c Gibbs b Boje 40 Saleh c van Jaarsveld Ahmed c Boucher Mashud c Smith b Boje 24 Islam Rana b Boje 1 Rahman c Boje b Ntini 0 Rafique c Boje b Ntini 0 Baisya c Boucher b Ntini 5 Hossain not out 1 Extras
(lb-7, w-5, nb-2) 14 Total (all out 31.3 overs) 93 Fall of wickets :
1-7, 2-15, 3-15, 4-20, 5-63, 6-71, 7-72, 8-72, 9-80. Bowling: Pollock 6-1-15-1, Langeveldt 7-0-17-3, Ntini 9-3-19-3, Klusener 3-1-12-0, Boje 6.3-0-23-3. South Africa: Smith not out 42 Gibbs b Tapash Baisya 4 Kallis not out 40 Extras
(b-5 w-2 nb-1) 8 Total (1wkt, 17.5 overs) 94 Fall of wicket:
1-15 Bowling: Tapash Baisya 6-0-39-1 (nb-1, w-1), Nazmul Hossain 6-1-17-0 (w-1), Mohammad Rafique 3-0-9-0, Mushfiqur Rahman 2.5-0-24-0.—PTI
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Indian batsmen looked good
The ICC Awards, equivalent to the Oscars in the entertainment business, have added a new dimension to the game of cricket.
The efforts put by the leading cricketers throughout the year are now judged and endorsed by top former players from different countries before deciding on the awards. It brings genuine value to the awards.
There were desperate yearnings for such recognitions for a long time. While it makes a young emerging player feel that he belongs to the international arena, for a seasoned campaigner, the awards are of purely meritorious value, far ahead of all other materialistic honours. These awards go beyond recognising the normal practice of a team winning over their opponents. It identifies outstanding individual contributors of all cricket-playing nations. This is the most prestigious and coveted award that a player would like to receive from the cricketing fraternity. I am sure that the ICC Awards will take away the sheen out of all other run-of-the- mill award ceremonies, which are, I am afraid to say, diluting the merits of the players. Irfan Pathan has made his debut in the golden era of Indian cricket. The progress this youngster has made in his very first year is mainly due to much-needed mentoring by the seniors in the team. Rahul Dravid’s great successes over the years have culminated rightly and he fully deserves the award. Rahul’s consistency lies in him setting moderately difficult but potentially achievable goals in cricket. More than his batting heroics, it is the exuberance of his human side, which has made him stand tall high on the sports pedestal. The mini World Cup will provide yet another chance to the Indians to prove themselves. Weak Kenyans didn’t offer enough resistance in the first match on Saturday. For India, the match was more or less an assessment of resources before the all-important tie against arch-rivals Pakistan. That the Indians batted well was one of the good points to come out of the Kenya outing. Sachin’s absence and Sehwag’s continued struggle at the centre have brought more responsibility on skipper Ganguly’s shoulders. He regulated the innings along with Laxman to a huge partnership. To see Laxman among the runs was a big relief. His services are extremely crucial when India play better teams. The newfound form of Mohammed Kaif has of late rescued the team whenever it was found struggling. A stupendous fielder, who was responsible in dismissing Kenyan opener Otieno, really looks very much in control. My experience says that any player, who comes out of a rough patch, evolves to become a much better player. Virender Sehwag is yet to get back his form. Sehwag’s game is such that he thrives on taking on the opponents with aggression. A player who plays with such dynamism appears to be taking too much risk while batting. But the same calculated risk has made Sehwag a great player. A batsman like Sehwag will take a little more time in sorting out his batting problems than someone like Rahul. Rahul’s game is based on ones and twos, while Sehwag’s is on scoring shots. It was a right decision to bring back Sehwag as an opener. Indian bowling looked good with Pathan showing great control with the new ball. Although the opponents were not exactly a great team, skipper Ganguly had a good run with all non-regular bowlers. Playing a regular wicketkeeper will call for non-regular bowlers to fill in 10 overs. The biggest question that the team management will face before the next match will be whether to go with Anil Kumble or a third seamer. Considering Agarkar’s ordinary form with the ball, the pendulum might swing in favour of Anil. This will be a difficult decision for the team management to make.
— PTI |
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Dalmiya BCCI Patron-in-Chief
Chennai, September 12 Earlier there were doubts on whether the requisitioned meeting could be held in view of the interim order by the Bhopal Court on a petition challenging the move to appoint Dalmiya as Patron-in-Chief. However, the decks were cleared after the four legal luminaries — Arun Jaitley, Sudhir Nanavati, Shashank Manohar and Ranbir Singh Mahendra — held a 20-minute discussion to analyse yesterday’s court order, which had asked the board to refrain from taking any decision contrary to its rules. The Bhopal court is due to hear the petition again tomorrow. According to board sources, Dalmiya was appointed to the new post with effect from October 1, but no powers were delegated to him at today’s meeting. Dalmiya is due to step down as BCCI President on September 29. “His role as Patron-in-Chief and his powers would be decided at the AGM of the Board in Kolkata on September 29-30,” sources said. Before the meeting started, different views were expressed by the board members as there was some discrepancy in the original court order which was in Hindi and the translated English version. One of the 30 members said during the meeting later, “We cannot straightaway decide in favour of the requisitions by the affiliated units”. As advised by the concerned member, the meeting later asked the legal experts to analyse the whole issue and submit their recommendations. Thereafter, upon the recommendations of the legal experts, the meeting decided to apppoint Dalmiya and deferred the role of Patron-in-Chief, besides other matters to the AGM.
— PTI |
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HAP Range retain trophy
Chandigarh, September 12 Special Range finished runners-up with titles in judo, handball and athletics (women). Rohtak Range were third. Three new meet records were established in the track and field events. Ct Randhir Singh of Special Range cleared 1.98 metres in the high jump against the old record of 1.91 metres set in 1974. Ct Rohtas of HAP Range erased the record of SI Om Prakash (15.50 seconds) by finishing 110 metres hurdles in 15.34 seconds. L/Ct Naresh Kumari stole the show in field events for women as she released the chained iron ball to a distance of 17.33 metres in hammer throw. She improved her own previous record of 14.59 metres by a good 2.74 metres. Rohtas (HAP) and L/Ct Naresh Kumari (Combined Range) were adjudged the best athletes among men and women, respectively. Speaking on the occasion, the Director-General of Police announced that the Haryana Government was planning to establish a sports academy in Madhuban. |
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‘Dope testing lab to be functional this year’
Pune, September 12 At present, there is only one doping laboratory in India run by the Sports Authority of India situated in New Delhi. Addressing a press meet organised by the Pune Shramik Patrakar Sangh, Mr Kalmadi said the delay in detecting doping cases in athletes was due to lack of facilities and the test results were challenged. “Now with the IOA-sponsored laboratory coming up, the problem will be less. We are going to take tough measures to check it,” he said. When asked about the ongoing drought of medals, Mr Kalmadi said that foreign coaches were required. “We are going to concentrate more on disciplines that may yield a medal,” he said.
— UNI |
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Ajeetesh to defend junior title
Chandigarh, September 12 Ajeetesh, who turns 16 on October 16, has been doing well in the junior golf circuit so far. Participation in five of the 10 IGU-categorised tournaments is a must for gradation in the junior golf circuit. Points will be given on the seven best performances in the 10 tournaments. Eightysix golfers from all over the country, including 27 from Chandigarh will be seen in action during the four-day contest. Thirtytwo golfers with a handicap of nine and less in the 15-17 age-group will vie for the Class A title with Ajeetesh defending his title. The runner-up last year was Gaganjeet Bhullar. With Ajeetesh out of the Class B competition (13-14 age-group), Fatehbir Singh Dhaliwal, last year's runner-up, should have an easy field. Rahul Bakshi of Chandigarh will defend his title in category C (11 to 12 age-group). The Class D contest for the under-10 golfers will be a 54-hole strokeplay starting on September 15. Giving this information at a press conference here today Dr G.S. Kochhar, Chairman, Media Publicity, Magazine and Protocol, Chandigarh Golf Club, said the prize distribution would be held on September 17 at 4.,30 p.m. |
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Athletics meet
Amritsar, September 12 Japsimran Singh and S. Pannu stood second and third in the men’s category while Gurmanjit Kaur and Mamta were second and third, respectively, in the women’s section. Mandip Kaur Kairon, Hardip Kaur and Amandeep Kaur stood first, second and third, respectively, in the under-20 100m race while in the men’s section, Amarinder Singh, Amandeep Singh and Japsimran Singh were first, second and third, respectively. In the under-20 1500m race, Rajwinder Kaur, Gurmit Kaur and Charamjit Kaur took first, second and third places, respectively, while in the men’s section, Yudhvir Singh, Hardev Singh and Darshan Singh were first, second and third, respectively. Sandeep bagged the first place in the javelin throw while Gurjeet Singh and Ramandeep Singh were second and third, respectively. |
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Full membership to Jharkhand
Chennai, September 12 Announcing this at a press conference, board President Jagmohan Dalmiya said the meeting also decided to nominate board officials to visit the associate member states before full membership was extended to them. “After three working/playing seasons, an associate member would be promoted to be full member of the board. For this, the board will send its observers to the states concerned to assess their cricket activities and development,” he said. “In future, applications from the central controlling board of a state will only be entertained by the board.”
— PTI |
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