Jalandhar, October 19
Finally lifting the veil of secrecy and delay, the Punjab Hockey Association announced that defender Kanwalpreet Singh would captain the state team in the 62nd Senior National Hockey Championship set to start at Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium here tomorrow.

The IG Zonal, Mr Hardeep Singh Dhillon, secretary, PHA, announced an 18-member team, with most players from the Punjab Police. Jugraj Singh and Baljit Singh Dhillon also find a place in the team while Gagan Ajit Singh and Prabhjot Singh will miss the action.

Mohan Singh will be the coach of the team and will be assisted by Manpreet Singh. Surinder Singh Sodhi will be the manager.

The matches will start at all four venues — Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ludhiana and Bhaini Sahib. Jalandhar will host the Pool A and Pool C matches. Arrangements for the teams have been made at PAP Complex and Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Mumbai reached the city today.

Hosts Punjab will take on Chhattisgarh at 11 a.m. The Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, will inaugurate the championship at 10.30 a.m. at Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium. Before that Maharashtra will play University XI at 9 a.m.

Besides Punjab and Chhattisgarh, other teams in the pool are Bihar, Maharashtra and University XI.

In Pool C matches at Jalandhar, Vidarbha will challenge Mumbai at 1 p.m., followed by Karnataka Vs Madhya Pradesh match at 3 p.m. In all 15 matches will be played on the opening day at the four venues.

Meanwhile, there were hectic last-minute arrangements and loose ends to be tied before the championship gets underway. A seminar was organised for umpires and the technical staff where Kuku Walia, member of the umpires panel of the FIH, apprise them of the rules and regulations and their duties.

Team: Goalkeepers: Manpreet Singh and Paramjit Singh (Punjab Police); defenders: Kanwalpreet Singh (C), Jugraj Singh, Avtar Singh Jr (Punjab Police); midfielders: Avtar Singh Sr (ESE), Kuljit Singh, Jasbir Singh (Punjab Police), Jagjit Singh (ESE), Prabhdeep Singh (BPCL); forwards: Baljit Singh Dhillon, Ravinder Singh, Jagbir Singh, Amit (Punjab Police), Ranjodh Singh (Surjit Hockey Academy), Lakhwinder Singh (IOC), Jarnail Singh (RCF) and Varinder Kumar (Lyallpur Khalsa College).

Chandigarh, October 19
When Punjab start its campaign to wrest back the national hockey title, which it last won in 1983, it will be with mixed feelings. Punjab had completed a hat-trick of title triumphs at Meerut. They had defeated Railways, Indian Airlines and Bombay, respectively to win the Rangaswamy Cup in 1981 (Jalandhar), 1982 (Kolkata) and Meerut (1983).

Though the 1983 win brought jubilations and admiration to the hockey fraternity of the state but it was also the beginning of a sad chapter in Punjab hockey which faded into oblivion after the death of the then president of the Punjab Hockey Association J.S. Anand under mysterious circumstances.

Writing of this episode began in New Delhi on the eve of the 1982 Asian Games when the then president of the Indian Hockey Federation, Mr Inder Mohan Mahajan, and chief coach of the Indian team, Balbir Singh Senior, fell apart over the inclusion of Rajinder Singh Senior in the team

Rajinder Singh Senior had undergone a knee operation. The chief coach was of the opinion that he was still not fit enough to take the load of a gruelling Asiad. Mr Mahajan, however, insisted on his inclusion. Even the chairman of the organising committee of the Games, Mr Buta Singh, wanted Rajinder Sr to play. Balbir Singh Senior was prepared to try Surinder Singh Sodhi as a deep defender against his favourite position of a forward.

J.S. Anand, who was at one time confidant of Mr Mahajan in the IHF politics, supported Balbir Singh Senior. Incidentally, J.S. Anand was the technical director of the men’s hockey event of the Asian Games.

Rajinder Singh’s inclusion snowballed into a major controversy, which saw Mr Inder Mohan Mahajan and J.S. Anand drifting apart.

When the first National Hockey Championship after the Asian Games was held at Meerut, Punjab fielded its strongest ever side. That was perhaps the last time that Ajit Pal Singh, Surjit Singh and Baldev Singh played together in the national championship.

Trouble started after Punjab won the final. Elated at their memorable win, the Punjab players did a victory lap. It was different not only because they carried their president J.S. Anand on their shoulders but also because they shouted slogans against the IHF as well as some of its office-bearers.

Infuriated at the behaviour of the Punjab team, the Indian Hockey Federation set up a disciplinary committee under the then vice-president, Mr Ghufran-e-Azam, to nail Mr J.S. Anand. A three-page show-cause notice was served on Mr Anand.

At that time Mr Anand, though a Deputy Inspector-General of Police in Punjab, was on deputation with the Border Security Force (BSF) and was posted at Jodhpur. Since I was witness to the drama of an altercation between Mr Inder Mohan Mahajan and Balbir Singh Senior at National Stadium in New Delhi on the eve of the Asian Games as well as the “controversial victory lap by Punjab team in Meerut”, Mr Anand sought my help in drafting his reply to the notice.

He also consulted Balbir Singh Senior. He gave me a copy of the show-cause notice on July 12, 1983, after he had been given an extended deadline for filing his reply. As luck would have it, he could never reply to the notice.

Unfortunately, very next day he died and his body was found at Sukhna Lake. From an initial inquest of a “suicide” it turned out to be a case of murder.

The loss was monumental for Punjab hockey. Mr Anand, in his short span as the president of the Punjab Hockey Association, not only put the state back on the podium but also made sure that all its deserving players were in the national squad.

After Anand’s death, though some police chiefs of the state, including Mr Pritam Singh Bhinder, Mr K.S. Dhillon and Mr KPS Gill, evinced interest in the sport, but Punjab could never wrest back the supremacy it had enjoyed till early 80s.

Now when the championship returns to Punjab and the IHF in a special gesture has allowed some national probables for the Asian Games to play for their home state, it remains to be seen that who will carry home the coveted Rangaswamy Cup this time.

Mumbai, October 19
Sri Lanka face an early elimination from the ICC Champions Trophy unless they beat an inspired but injury-hit New Zealand in a crucial group B match at the Brabourne Stadium here tomorrow.

The Lankans, who came through to the main round with an all-win record in the qualifying phase of the 10-team event, lost to Pakistan in the league opener at Jaipur on Tuesday, to find themselves in a must-win situation against the Kiwis.

New Zealand, on the other hand, started with a shock victory over the fancied South Africa here on Monday and a roll over the Lankans would ensure them a berth in the semifinals ahead of their last league encounter against Pakistan at Mohali on October 25.

But the Kiwis would struggle to field 11 fit players as three of their players — fast bowler Shane Bond (stiff back), all rounder Scott Styris (hamstring twinge) and medium pacer Mark Gillespie (viral infection) — are on the indisposed list.

However, team sources have said Bond and Gillespie were expected to be available for selection.

But even in the likely absence of Bond and Styris, New Zealand will still be a fighting unit and a keen tussle can be predicted, especially now that the newly dug-up square at the Cricket Club of India has started to behave better, as was seen in yesterday’s nail-biting clash between title-holders West Indies and world champions Australia.

The wicket is still expected to aid the slow bowlers and, with both the teams possessing quality spinners, the contest might very well be decided by who wins the toss.

The team that bats first seems to hold a big advantage as the wicket becomes difficult and batting against the sharply spinning ball and the ones that jag back from the pace bowlers become challenging as the match progresses.

The Lankans seem to hold a slight edge because they are the better players of the turning ball although the Kiwis have a good pace attack, even without the three players under the fitness cloud.

A good start is what both the teams would be hoping for and Stephen Fleming, the New Zealand captain, has shown in ample measure how to bat on these surfaces by playing late with soft hands and mostly square and behind the wicket.

The comprehensive 87-run victory over South Africa, fashioned mainly by Fleming’s fine 89 on a difficult wicket, would be an enormous morale-booster for New Zealand who are playing cricket after a seven-month hiatus.

But the Kiwis depend a little too much on Fleming and their most successful one-day player Nathan Astle in batting, which could turn out to be a handicap.

But they do have a good pace attack with Kyle Mills who chopped off the South African top order with an incisive three for 18 in six overs, left-armer James Franklin, and all rounder Jacob Oram all looking good.

In Daniel Vettori, arguably the world’s best left-arm spinner at present, and new comer Jeetan Patel, an off spinner, the Kiwis have the players to take advantage of the spin-friendly surface especially in the latter half of the match.

Meanwhile, Lankans have a fine recent record in ODIs including a 10-match winning streak that was halted by Pakistan after having lost 1-4 in the five-match series in New Zealand spread in two phases because of the 2004 December tsunami.

The lone win, by 20 runs, was in the last ODI played between the two rivals in January this year at Napier. — PTI

Chandigarh, October 19
A 14-member Pakistan team, led by Younis Khan, arrived here this afternoon. Pakistan will play two matches of the ICC Champions Trophy at the PCA Stadium in Mohali — against New Zealand on October 25 and versus South Africa on October 27.

Without giving waiting mediapersons an opportunity to talk to them, Younis and his team-mates scurried out of the hotel lobby through a side exit and went to their rooms upstairs. It was a long and disappointing wait for dozens of mediapersons. Bowling coach Waqar Younis, however, interacted with the journos.

The team did not hold any practice session today. “No, we don’t have any immediate plans for the same,” said Waqar. Coach Bob Woolmer confirmed that the team would not take to the nets today.

There would now be a flutter in the Indian camp. Australia and the West Indies would not be easy to get past by in the pool. It could also be the challenge they need to come out of their slumber and get themselves moving for the World Cup in six months’ time.

You just cannot help but look ahead given the way the West Indies came to the party yesterday. When Brian Lara fires, it sparks a revival in the ranks. His innings was an affirmation that in such conditions, batting in the lower middle order is the best place for him.

It was a smart batting ploy by the captain who did not fall for the lure of a batting position where he could get the maximum runs being the best player in the side; instead choosing to be a glue in the middle where collective collapses have been routines in recent times. He chose team over the self, maybe having Clive Lloyd as one of the backroom boys has helped.

No less impressive was Adam Gilchrist who showed a break of seven months did no harm to his spirit or form. When he plays in such a fashion, eschewing belligerence and buckling down to innings’ management; Australia are doubly dangerous.

Another champion did not go unnoticed but it was for different reasons. Glenn McGrath has rarely been driven over his head or extra cover, much less hoisted over the tent by a number eight batsman in the line-up. But the ‘pigeon’ is just about returning to field after a long absence and the engine is sure to purr back to life soon.

Well as Nathan Bracken bowled, Australia would still be better served when McGrath and Brett Lee share the new ball, especially on a surface that is harder as in Mohali.

Better younger players are coming through the ranks for the West Indies, which accounts for their recent turnaround.

Dwayne Bravo, Jerome Taylor and the two offices in the bowling pack, Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels, all of them played critical hand. More and more it is apparent that it would be folly to treat them as a one-pony bowling attack in Ian Bradshaw. The cameos of others are no less significant.

Australia would be under pressure since their experiment with Shane Watson at the top of the order is not clicking.

Ricky Ponting and Andrew Symonds need to do some damage with Michael Hussey up the order a thought. Even, given the vagaries of pitches in Malaysia and India, their relative low scores are unsettling. They have not been able to defend a 434; scores of over 300 have been few and far in between and eight losses have accrued from their 24 games this year.

Put simply, they have lost every third game they have played. — PTI

Karachi, October 19
Mired in controversies, the Pakistan Cricket Board today gagged disgraced fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif from speaking on the dope scandal.

“We have told them to avoid making any unnecessary statements in the Press as their case is subjudice and it will only damage their credibility,” Saleem Altaf, Director Cricket Operations told PTI today.

Shoaib and Asif were recalled from the Champions Trophy in India after it was revealed that they had tested positive for a banned steroid in internal tests conducted by PCB last month.

Both are to appear before a drug tribunal to plead their case. The minimum ban for a first violation in WADA and International Cricket Council anti-doping rules is two years.

Both players have so far pleaded their innocence to the board and said they did not take the banned substance intentionally.

Chandigarh, October 19
St Soldier International School, Sector 28, Chandigarh, were adjudged overall champions in both categories (boys and girls) on the final day of the CBSE Cluster XII Athletics Meet at the Sector 46 Sports Complex here today.

Local athletes dominated the proceedings today also. Avinash (DAV-15, Chandigarh) and Puneet Kaur (St Soldier School-28, Chandigarh) bagged best athlete awards in u-14 boys and girls categories, while Saurav Kalia( MIA DAV School, Mehatpur (Una) and Manjeet (Chaman Lal DAV-11, Panchkula) walked away with the award in u-16 boys and girls categories.

Results: Discus throw (u-19, girls): 1. Kalsang Dolma (Shimla), 2. Suruchi (Panchkula), Amrinder (Chandigarh); (u-16, girls): 1. Neha (Parwanoo), 2. Bhawna (Solan), 3. Vibhuti (Chandigarh); 5000 m (u-19, boys): 1. Lakhwinder (Chandigarh), 2. Vivek (Shimla), 3. Karan Pratap (Mohali); 3000 m: (u-16, boys): 1. Nitish (Solan), 2. Ishaan (Sujanpura), 3. Harinder (Mehatpur); 200 m: (u-19, boys): 1. Jaideep Singh (Mohali), 2. Rishav Chandel (Sundernagar), 3. Parminder Singh (Naraingarh); (u-19, girls): 1. Tamana (Chandigarh) , 2. Palak Dev (Chandigarh), 3. Swathi (Chandigarh); (u-16, boys) : 1. Yeshu Raj (Chandigarh), 2. Saurav (Mehatpur), 3. Raj Kamal (Nagrota); (u-16, girls): 1. Manjit Nain (Panchkula), 2. Radhika (Chandigarh), 3. Surbhi (Parwanoo); (u-14, boys): 1. Avinash (Chandigarh), 2. Alban (Kalka), 3. Navjot Singh (Jammu); (u-14, girls): 1. Puneet Kaur (Chandigarh), 2. Ankita (Shimla), 3. Ridhima (Jammu); Shot put: (u-19, boys): 1. Kashish (Chandigarh), 2. Lakhwinder (Naraingarh), 3. Inderpal (Chandigarh); Relay 4x400 m: (u-16, boys): 1. Sainik School, Sujanpur, 2. Sainik School, Nagrota, 3. Chapslee School, Shimla; (u-16, girls): 1. St Soldier School, Chandigarh, 2. Chapslee School, Shimla, 3. Sophia Convent, Kalka; (u-19, boys): 1. Chapslee School, Shimla, 2. Gian Jyoti Public School, Mohali, 3. CST, Shimla; (u-19, girls): 1. Chapslee School, Shimla, 2. St Soldier School, Chandigarh, 3. Geeta Adarsh Vidyalaya, Solan; Relay 4x100 m: (u-19, girls): 1. Chapslee School, Shimla, 2. GAV, Solan, 3. St Soldier School, Chandigarh; (u-19, boys): 1. CST, Paonta Sahib, 2. St Soldier School, Mohali, 3. Shivalik Public School, Chandigarh.

Gurgaon, October 19
Ten-man Kerala fired a late winner to score a 2-1 victory against Karnataka and booked a semifinal berth in the Santosh Trophy here today.

Kerala, seeking their sixth title triumph, showed true character in making to the last four as they had to play the last quarter of an hour with only 10 men.

K.S. Joby and Xavier Vijay Kumar found the net for Kerala and Karnataka, respectively, before N.P. Pradeep secured the points in the match, also marked by two freak goals, which were a result of errors from the custodians.

Karnataka, who were out of contention for a berth in the last four after losing their first two encounters, gave a much better display and were in fact the better team in the opening exchanges.

They had an opportunity in the eighth minute when neat approach play from Xavier resulted in D. Raju finding the time and space to shoot, but his weak attempt was easily held by Kerala keeper Jean Christian.

Einstein Abraham Manual was another lively player for Karnataka who repeatedly got behind the opposition defence.

However, Kerala took the lead in the 16th minute when Karnataka keeper N Venkatesh (Senior) misread the flight of a speculative cross from Joby and came off his line to collect it. To his horror, the ball swerved in and went into the net without any further touch. — PTI

New Delhi, October 19
Vijay Kumar’s scorching six-under 66 had him tied for the top spot along with Scotsman Simon Dunn, while Jyoti Randhawa and Gaurav Ghei had a decent start to their campaign in the first round of the $ 400,000 Hero Honda Indian Open here today.

Conditions at the Delhi Golf Club were not easy after a surprising morning drizzle which resulted in a two-hour delay, due to which 66 players could not complete their round.

Vijay, who won the title at the same venue in 2002, was hardly perturbed by conditions as was reflected from his round, while Dunn enjoyed a blemish-free round.

Vijay kicked off with a birdie — a five-foot chip — and signed off in the same style and the bogey on the penultimate hole — when he missed an eight-foot putt — was the lone blot in his sparkling round, which included seven birdies, besides the bogey.

“I did not really go for birdies as such and wanted to post a decent total. I used the driver only four times — on the first, third, 10th and 18th. I was happy with my second shot and putting was good too.

“My longest birdie was from 15 ft on the 18th hole and it was great to start and end with birdie,” he added.

Vivek Bhandari was tied seventh with a round of 68.

Among others, Jyoti Randhawa returned a card of three-under 69 to be tied 12th, mixing four birdies with the lone bogey that came on the ninth hole — his final — as he ended on a disappointing note.

Hot favourite Englishman Simon Dyson, who had two wins in Europe this year, returned four-under 68 to tie for the seventh place, while defending champion Thaworn Wiratchant stuttered to a nightmarish four-over 76 to finish way down at tied 103rd.

Ghei, who finished second in the last edition — best by an Indian — kept it under control and was tied 32nd after his opening round of 71.

Shiv Kapur, a 10th tee starter, returned two-over 74 and was visibly upset after dropping two shots on the par-five final hole. His round also included a birdie and a bogey.

“Far from a perfect start, it was a terrible outing. I guess this was one of those bad days in the office and my putting was just not good. Conditions were not easy but that applies to everyone.

“I’ll have to start it afresh tomorrow and I’ll go into the course with a positive attitude,” Kapur said. — UNI

Kangra, October 19
The 32.2 km ‘goal to race flying task’ was attended by 45 pilots on the second day of the week-long paragliding Himalayan Cup-2006 at Billing despite cloudy weather. All pilots landed safely with 15 of them landing out of the landing area.

Divisional Tourism Officer Vikas Labroo said 45 pilots took off from the Billing take-off site from an altitude of 2290m from the sea level to cover the flying distance of 32.2 km from Billing to Utrala, then back to Joginder Nagar and then to take-off site and landing at Bir the landing site. He said 30 pilots landed at Bir. It is reported some of them landed safely in the nearby forests.

The organisers could not give reasons for non-participation of 12 pilots in today’s task but they speculated that they might be preparing for tomorrow. The participants completed their task today at 3.30 p.m.

On the first day yesterday, 54 km ‘goal to race flying task’ event was aborted following rains en route Utrala area in this district. Pilots reached Utrala but following rains the task was aborted.

Mr Labroo said 25 free fliers also flied in the air today, which included few women pilots. There is no woman pilot in this year’s competition.

Chandigarh, October 19
With a score of 234 each, former national gold medallist from Chandigarh H.S. Kang and Hav Jahangir (Shivalik Golf Club) took the lead on the third day of the 2nd All-India Mid-Amateur Golf Championship at Chandimandir today.

They were trailed by A.N. Gopal from Rajmundhry (AP) with a score of 239 and Balwant Singh from Kapurthala with 243.

Lt-Gen H.S. Kanwar of Delhi, having notched a score of 154, took the overall lead on the second day of the 35th Seniors Amateur Golf Championship, being conducted alongside the mid-amateur event.

In the 55 to 59 years category (seniors), Col RS Grewal (Shivalik) was first with a score of 160. Brig G.J. Singh (Shivalik) was second with 162, followed by Lakshman Singh (Kolkata) with 163.

Lt-Gen H.S. Kanwar topped the 60 to 64 years category, followed by Lt-Gen J.S. Verma (Meerut) with a score of 165 and Col Prem Kumar (Shivalik) with a score of 168.

Among those aged 65 years or above, J.M. Khanna (Delhi) was first with a score of 167, while Col G.S. Brar (Shivalik), with 175 and Col J.S. Kang (Chandigarh) with 179 were second and third, respectively.

Indore, October 19
A third wicket partnership of 87 runs between Y. Venugopal Rao (69) and S. Badrinath (42) helped South Zone to a comfortable 281 runs for nine against West Zone on the first day of the Duleep Trophy match at Usha Raje Cricket Ground here today.

Electing to bat after winning the toss, South Zone began on a disastrous note losing three wickets for a paltry 96 runs, which included skipper V.V.S. Laxman, who was run out at 15.

Opener Robin Uthappa scored 57 runs before he was stumped by Parthiv Patel giving Rajesh Pawar a wicket on the team total of 96 runs.

Venugopal Rao and S. Badrinath steadied the innings with a gritty partnership adding 87 runs for the third wicket.

S. Badrinath compiled 42 runs before he was dismissed at the team score of 183, while Venugopal departed at the team score of 228 runs. After that, wickets fell at regular interval and the team scored 281 at the end of first day’s play with S. Sreesanth batting at five and P.P. Ojha at three.