 |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dravid, Sehwag flay Lahore pitch
JCT (B), Punjab cops in semis
Cops hold the edge
|
|
Sania makes winning start
Melbourne, January 17 She needed 81 minutes to brush off the challenge from the World Junior champion who was making her maiden appearance at the Australian Open. Last year, it was Sania who had played in her maiden Grand Slam at the Open here as a wildcard and hit headlines in India by making it to the third round. The 19-year-old Indian will now take on unseeded world No 43 Michaella Krajicek of the Netherlands. Micahella beat Puerto Rico’s Kristina Brandi 6-4, 7-6 (7-1) in another first round match. Later, Sania admitted she was nervous to start with, given the expectations of an entire nation hinging on her performance. “Early in the match there was some nervousness but I settled down and that is why I was able to take control in the later stages of the match,” Sania said. But Sania denied she was under any undue pressure, saying “pressure and expectations are a part and parcel of every athletes’s life and you just have to deal with it.” Sania started the match confidently, racing to a comfortable 5-3 lead in the first set after breaking Azarenka in the eighth game. However, the Belarussian fought back to win the next three games and take the set into a tie-breaker. Sania kept her cool and nerves in the tie-breaker to take it at 8-6 after establishing a 4-1 lead. Enthused by her win in the tiebreaker, Sania broke her opponent in the first game of the second set before racing to a 5-2 lead after breaking Azarenka for the second time in the seventh game. She served out in the next game to take the set and match at 6-2. World number one Roger Federer and a resurgent Mary Pierce sent warnings to their rivals today as they swept into the Australian Open second round in ruthless fashion. Federer, who equalled US great Pete Sampras’ mark of 102 weeks as world number one in the ATP rankings released yesterday, was in devastating form against Uzbekistan wildcard Denis Istomin, swatting him 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 in under 90 minutes. Third seed Lleyton Hewitt fought back from the brink of defeat to beat rising Czech player Robin Vik 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 7-6, 6-3 in the first round today. Hewitt’s win sets up an intriguing second-round encounter with the equally feisty Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina. Chela was fined after spitting in Hewitt’s direction during a fiery third round match in Melbourne last year. Second seed Kim Clijsters shrugged off a break of serve in her first game to thrash South Korea’s Cho Yoon-Jeong 6-3, 6-0 in the first round. Pierce, the fifth seed, might not be the favourite to win her second Australian title, but after a remarkable comeback year in 2005 no one is dismissing her chances. She was as commanding as Federer in brushing aside Australian wildcard Nicole Pratt 6-1, 6-1 in less than an hour to silence the home crowd and set up a second round clash with the Czech Republic’s Iveta Benesova. Patty Schnyder, the Swiss seventh seed who reached the quarter-finals here last year, is also through after overcoming Eleni Daniilidou of Greece 6-4, 6-3. Number 12 seed Anastasia Myskina also comfortably made the second round with a 7-6 (8/6), 6-1 victory over Yuliana Fedak of Ukraine, making her the seventh Russian women to pass the first hurdle. In the men’s draw, sixth seed Guillermo Coria of Argentina booked his berth in the next round with victory over Romanian Victor Hanescu and Tommy Hass, considered a dark horse, continued his impressive form. The German, who beat Federer at the Kooyong Classic last week, ousted 14th seed Richard Gasquet of France in straight sets 6-2, 7-5, 6-2. World number three Amelie Mauresmo overcame a sluggish start to put down an unexpectedly stiff challenge from China’s Sun Tiantian 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the first round of the Australian Open today. Fifth-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko rallied from a set down to beat towering Croatian Ivo Karlovic 7-5, 4-6, 3-6, 7-5 6-3 in the opening round. Argentine sixth seed Guillermo Coria advanced to the second round of the Australian Open today with a hard-fought 6-4, 1-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 win over Victor Hanescu. Martina Hingis made a stunning return to Grand Slam tennis today, beating Russia’s 30th seed Vera Zvonereva 6-1, 6-2 in the first round of the Australian Open.
— Agencies |
|
Indian duo miss record
Lahore, January 17 Only 14 balls were possible on a rain-truncated final day which turned out to be all the more heart-breaking for India as their opening pair missed breaking the 50-year-old record by just four runs with Sehwag being dismissed for 254 and the team total reading 410. The only interest left in the match going into the final day, with India on 403 overnight, was whether the Indian duo would overhaul the world record. But Sehwag, after adding seven runs to his overnight score of 247 and when the partnership was worth 410, top-edged an attempted slash over the slip cordon off Rana Naved ul-Hasan, bowling the second over after a four-hour rain-hit delay, to squander a golden chance to leap into Test record history. Sehwag fell into the trap set Inzamam-ul Haq as he attempted to get for the record with what could have been his 48th four. But he only ended up in top-edging the short ball to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal. Sehwag's knock, which came in 328 minutes and off 247 balls, contained 47 fours and a six. The partnership of 410 in 76.5 overs by Sehwag and Dravid was the tenth-best for all wickets in Test history and only the eleventh plus-400 stand ever. Scoreboard Pakistan (1st innings) 679 for 7 decl. India (1st innings) Sehwag c Akmal b Rana 254 Dravid not out 128 Laxman not out 0 Extras
(b-2, lb-7, w-2, nb-17) 28 Total (for 1 wkt) 410 Fall of wicket:
1-410. Bowling: Akhtar 16.2-6-46-0, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan 16-1-94-1, Afridi 11-0-55-0, Sami 12-1-67-0, Kaneria 10-0-69-0, Malik 12-1-70-0.
— PTI |
|
Dravid, Sehwag flay Lahore pitch
Lahore, January 17 “Bowlers would not like pitches like these,” said Dravid who remained unbeaten on 128 in the match which saw only eight wickets fall over five weather-hit days. Sehwag agreed with his captain and said even though the wicket was a beauty to bat on, “it was not good enough for international cricket” as it did not allow a fair contest between bat and ball. Dravid was, nevertheless, happy that India came back strongly after “being under the hammer for the first two days.” Referring to his decision to open the innings, Dravid said “we decided that the best side should play and thought that I was the best equipped to come as opener.” Complimenting Sehwag’s blazing innings, the Indian skipper said he had the best seat in the house. “The balls which other batsmen defend, he was hitting to the boundary,” Dravid said. Sehwag, adjudged man of the match, said he was indeed disappointed at not breaking the world record for the highest opening partnership. “We came to the field for that reason only even though the light was not good,” said the cavalier batsman. Sehwag said he enjoyed playing against Pakistan. “Everybody in the team gets charged up when playing Pakistan.” Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq admitted that the pitch was not helpful to the bowlers but said his team did not bowl in the right areas. “I hope that the wicket in Faisalabad for the next Test is a fast and good one which produces a result,” he said.
— PTI |
|
Lankans tame Proteas
Brisbane, January 17 Kumar Sangakkara and Jehan Mubarak made half-centuries as Sri Lanka reached 282 for six, punishing South Africa’s decision to bowl first. South Africa struggled from the start of its reply. Herschelle Gibbs (7) and super-sub Jacques Rudolph (53) were run out before the Proteas slumped to 93-4. Mark Boucher scored 62 off 71 deliveries to hold the innings together, but South Africa was unable to replicate the middle-order stands that earned them a suprise win over Australia on Sunday. Scoreboard Sri Lanka Tharanga c Boucher b Kruger 16 Mubarak lbw Botha 61 Sangakkara c Smith b Pollock 88 Dilshan c Gibbs b Zondeki 15 Atapattu run out 33 Jayawardene c Prince b Botha 14 Arnold not out 15 Vaas not out 14 Extras(lb-12, w-9, nb-5) 26 Total
(for 6wkts, 50 overs) 282 Fall of wickets: 1-33, 2-145, 3-172, 4-211, 5-244, 6-259 Bowling:
Pollock 10-1-39-1, Kruger 8-0-61-1, Hall 10-0-58-0, Zondeki 9-0-49-1, Botha 10-0-49-2, Smith 3-0-14-0. South Africa Smith lbw Vaas 3 Dippenaar b Kulasekara 10 Rudolph run out 53 Gibbs run out 7 Prince c Kulasekara 29 Boucher c Dilshan b Bandara 62 Kemp b Bandara 10 Pollock c Atapattu b Vaas 4 Hall b Muralitharan 4 Botha lbw Muralitharan 2 Kruger not out 0 Extras
(lb-1, w-3) 4 Total (all out, 44.2 overs) 188 Fall of wickets:
1-8, 2-30, 3-57, 4-93, 5-127, 6-152, 7-179, 8-184, 9-188, 10-188. Bowling: Vaas 8-2-21-2, Perera 6-0-38-0, Kulasekara 6-0-24-1, Dilshan 6-0-29-0, Muralitharan 9-1-34-2, Bandara 8.2-0-31-3, Mubarak 1-0-10-0.
— AFP |
|
New initiative to popularise sports
Chandigarh, January 17 He said, “An Executive Committee of these eminent sports personalities has been set up to improve the level of sports in the state”. The members of committee, headed by Pargat Singh, are Brig Labh Singh (retd.) (Dhyan Chand Awardee), Dr Ajmer Singh (Arjuna awardee) (both athletics), Col Balbir Singh (retd.) and Sukhbir Singh Grewal (hockey), Tara Singh (weightlifting), Sajjan Singh Cheema (basket ball), Sukhpal Singh (volleyball), Jaipal Singh (boxing), Hardeep Singh (kabaddi), Inder Singh (football), Gurbir Singh (shooting) and Sukhchain Singh (wrestling). The purpose of the committee would be to improve the level of supervision as well as identify and attract the new talent towards sports. The optimum utilisation of the department coaches and existing sports infrastructure facilities is also high on the agenda. Giving further details, he said, “We picked the experts from 10 disciplines, who would look after everything, including problems, requirements and other needs of players as well as coaches of their respective fields and provide feedback in the meetings of the committee, which will be held every month”. About the implementation of the plan he said the coaches of the department will be made accountable to the committee directors. The sub-committees will also be created under the committee directors to smoothen the affair. Besides, the committee members will also explore the new avenues to generate funds for their respective disciplines from government, corporate sector and NRIs. To encourage the coaches, the rewards will also be given on achieving high goals. “As many as 350 players will be selected after various physical and psychological tests and scholarship, best training and facilities will be provided to them for their growth” said Mr Pargat Singh. At the moment the department has been contemplating to start with 164 coaches in 164 centres, already existed in Punjab, where the coaches and the members of the committee would coordinate to groom the talent at grass root level. |
|
JCT (B), Punjab cops in semis
Chandigarh, January 17 In an other match, Punjab Police, Jalandhar, defeated H.S. Club Mahilpur 2-0. Harshdip and Pardip Singh were the scorers. The winning teams entered the semifinals. In the college category, Khalsa College, Mahilpur, entered the semifinals defeating Sikh National College, Banga by a solitary goal scored by Balwant Singh. In another match F.A. Hoshiarpur defeating Khalsa College, Jalandhar, 2-1. Both the goals were scored by Sahejpal Singh. Tomorrow JCT Academy will meet BSF, Jalandhar and PSEB Hoshiarpur will meet RCF Kapurthala. In the womens' section, Khalsa College, Mahilpur, will meet Khalsa School, Paldi, in the last league match. |
|
Cops hold the edge
Patiala, January 17 Heats and qualifying races for various age groups were held. But no state or unit has yet been able to establish a clear dominance in any of the categories. While in the men’s category Punjab Police continue to have the edge, other strong contenders like Indian Railways, Services, Manipur and Rajasthan may pose a threat to the defending champions. The riders who have qualified in various events are: individual pursuit (men) — Sarabjit Singh (Punjab Police), Sai Krishan (Railways), O. Bikram Singh (Railways), Rajinder Bishnoi (Rajasthan); (women): Ch Romeshwari Devi (Manipur), N.Chandra Devi (Manipur), Kulwinder Kaur (Punjab), Reshmi BR (Kerala); individual pursuit (boys) — Rajinder Bishnoi (Rajasthan), Dayala Ram Jat (Rajasthan), Sarpreet Singh (Punjab), Kamalpreet Sharma (Punjab). |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
In
video
