SPORTS

Let my bat speak, comments Sachin
Akash Ghai
Tribune News Service

Mohali, October 12
After two continuous dismal performances in the ongoing Kingfisher Challenger Series for the NKP Salve Trophy, Sachin Tendulkar now wants his bat to speak instead of him.

“I have talked a lot. Now let the bat talk,” were the comments of the batting genius after his practice session at the nets of the PCA stadium here today.

It only shows the dedication of the master blaster for cricket that he turned up for net practice on Dasehra for tomorrow’s final match. Accompanying him were Greg Chappell, the coach, Mohammad Kaif, Murali Kartik and Harbhajan Singh.

He spent around two hours on the nets. He was also seen taking tips on leg spin bowling from Chappell. Greg observed the bowling of upcoming local bowlers, who were put in the service in the absence of other players.

Sachin, who has made a comeback with this series after six months of rest, could not do well with the bat. He made a paltry 12 runs in his first one-day against India ‘A’ and scored only four in the second match while playing with India ‘B’ in the series.

Meanwhile, many cricket administrators like N.K.P. Salve, Raj Singh Dungarpur and K. Khemji, President of the Oman Cricket Association, were present for today’s match, played between the teams of India ‘A’ and India ‘B’.

The final match will start tomorrow at 2.30 p m at the stadium.

Team efforts must for success, says Patil
Akash Ghai
Tribune News Service

Mohali, October 12
Sandeep Patil, coach of India A team, feels that big names and reputations does not matter much and it is the team efforts which lead to success. Looking exuberant with Monday’s one-wicket success in the ongoing Challenger Trophy against India Seniors, comprising of big stars like Sachin Tendulkar, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif, the coach, who was supervising net sessions of his team at the PCA stadium in the afternoon here today, gave credits of the success to team efforts.

“We played as a cohesive unit and the plus point was we did not give up in the weak moments”, Patil said. However, he admitted that the fielding and bowling of the team was not up to the mark. But he was all praise for the promising cricketer, R.P. Singh, who claimed 2 wickets for 34 runs.

Terming One-Day matches just like lottery, Patil said, “A lot depends on luck and the performance of the team on the given day.”

Talking about the forthcoming series with Sri Lanka starting from October 25, Patil emphasised on consistent performance. The Indian players have to give consistent performance to win the matches, opined the former Test player.

Patil, instrumental in helping the novice Kenyan cricket team to make it to the semifinals of World Cup 2003 as coach, is now willing to train players even at a junior level on the recommendation of the BCCI.

Guru Gobind Singh College girls win v’ball championship
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 12
The Guru Gobind Singh College for Women, Chandigarh, won the Panjab University Inter-college Volleyball A-division (women) Championship held on the PU campus, here, today.

Swami Ganga Giri Janta Girls College, Raikot, MCM DAV College for Women, Chandigarh, and Khalsa College for Women, Ludhiana, got second, third and fourth positions, respectively.

Cricket tourney

AKSIPS, Sector 41, beat Stepping Stones School, Sector 37, by five wickets in the under-11 8th Blessed Edmund Rice Cricket Tournament played at St John’s High School, Sector 26, here today.

Brief scores — Stepping Stones: 71 for 7 in 20 overs (Davinder 19, Abhijeet 2 for 5 and Ashish 2 for 12); AKISIPS: 72 for 5 in 14.3 overs (Preet 30, Arshdeep 17 n.o. and Piyush Arora 3 for 23).

Soccer coaches get tips
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, October 12
It was a useful and invigorating experience for the 22 soccer coaches from all over the region to have tips from reputed German soccer coach Torsten Spittler. The 10-day workshop “‘Youth development coach education” concluded here today at the Sector 17 football ground which was held under the aegis of the All-India Football Federation and organised by the Chandigarh Football Association.

Torsten taught the coaches on various techniques in theory, football tactics, practical coaching of grassroots and youth teams, psychology of coaching, common injuries in football and their treatment and theory and practice of goalkeeping. Shaji P, Director of the Vision India of the AIFF, was also among those who were part of the training. Torsten said city has good potential and they need more exposure to tournaments at the national level.

Ravinder Talwar, president of the CFA, said the tips for of coaches were required on continuous basis and they were grateful to the AIFF for allotting this training camp by reputed instructor from Germany. He said if our coaches were regularly given such tips from world-class coaches, then it would help our youngsters.

Rakesh Bakshi, secretary of the CFA, said their association was committed to provide hi-tech coaching techniques to its coaches. He said the Vision India project of the AIFF is going to be of great help for the game.

Cricket trials tomorrow
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 12
Trials to select Chandigarh cricket team, which will participate in the Haryana State Inter-district Pataudi Trophy, will be held on at Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 19, here on October 14 at 2 pm.