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Bouncer downs Dravid
Azlan
Shah Cup Naylor Mathew of Australia (left) and Sardara Singh of India vie for the ball at the Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament in Ipoh, Malaysia, on Saturday. India lost 0-1. — PTI
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Carvalho rues missed chances
Italian
Open
Wariner dominates in dress rehearsal
Armaan grabs pole in Sepang
Bindra finishes seventh
JCT striker Parveen Kumar (centre) is sandwiched between HAL defender Joseph Femi Adeola and goalkeeper Gumpe Rime during a match of the 11th National Football League at Ludhiana’s Guru Nanak Stadium on Saturday. — Tribune photo by Sayeed Ahmed
Bhupathi-Stepanek lose in semis
Taekwondo meet held at Patiala
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Kolkata, May 5 When Dravid, who was having batting practice on a grassy centre wicket track, tried to hook a delivery, the ball came off his bat and hit his face. Dravid, who was wearing a helmet, immediately collapsed and team physio John Gloster gave him treatment for a couple of minutes before the Indian captain left for the dressing room with a towel wrapped on his face. Dravid was profusely bleeding when he left the ground. Team’s Administrative Manager Surendra Bhave, however, said Dravid’s injury was not serious and he was expected to start playing in 48 hours. “It is nose trauma but no cut or injury. It is not serious,” he told reporters. “The X-ray showed bruises and a 24-hour rest period has been advised by the ENT specialist. He is expected to play in 48 hours. He will be slowly brought into action,” he added. The team is scheduled to leave for its 23-day tour of Bangladesh on Monday and play its first one-dayer on May 10. Earlier, Sachin Tendulkar had suffered a right ankle sprain on the opening day of the camp on Wednesday, but since then his condition has fast improved. The master batsman sustained the injury when he ducked to a S. Sreesanth bouncer on the same pitch. Laxman exempted
The BCCI has exempted V. V. S. Laxman, who is recovering from gastroenteritis, from attending the team’s ongoing conditioning camp here. “The camp will conclude tomorrow, there is only one day left. So, there is no point in Laxman travelling to Kolkata for a day and then again back home,” board Secretary Niranjan Shah told PTI over phone. Shah said Laxman, who has been selected only for the Test series, would join his team-mates directly in Bangladesh. Laxman had informed the BCCI and the team’s manager Ravi Shastri about his indisposition a day before the conditioning camp began on Wednesday. Panel to solve contract row
New Delhi: The BCCI today formed two-member committee to discuss the vexed contract issue with the cricketers who are said to be unhappy with the new contracts offered to them. The committee comprising Vice-President Shashank Manohar and Treasurer N Srinivassan will hold discussions with the players after they return from the tour of Bangladesh. The decision to appoint a committee was taken at a meeting of top board officials at President Sharad Pawar’s residence this evening. BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah was scheduled to discuss the issue with the players in Kolkata tomorrow but that has been put off now, BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla told reporters here. Shukla also said that the special committee appointed to select the coach of the Indian cricket team will meet in the third week of May.
— PTI
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Azlan Shah
Cup
Ipoh, May 5 Australia, pushed on the defensive in the first-half, showcased their bench strength after crossing-over with Ockenden, playing in only his ninth international, getting a deflection to a Robert Hammond pass. Playing without seven of their World Cup stars, the Aussies nevertheless underlined the depth in talent to emerge winners. But then, it was a match that India gifted to the 2006 World Cup runners-up, wasting at least half-a-dozen clear scoring chances. Shivendra Singh, one of the better players in India’s doomed World Cup campaign last year, repeatedly fumbled in front of the rival goal while Prabhjot Singh, Rajpal Singh and Tushar Khandkar were as guilty in blowing away scoring opportunities. India played a pleasing game in the first-half as they contained the Australians with tight midfield marking. Even granting that the Aussies appeared listless, struggling to put together an effective move, the Indians still looked decidedly superior side. There was purpose and method in the Indian moves that were noticeably without over-dribbling, a trait that has been so much part of their game in the past. First-time passing and quicker release of the ball helped them to sustain pressure on the Aussies while having more of ball possession. In fact, the Indians began the proceedings on an aggressive note and twice came close to scoring the opening eight minutes. Left-winger Prabhjot Singh, making a comeback, latched on to a free ball inside the circle and quickly flicked to a well-positioned Khandkar. However, the experienced Bevan George came up with a timely interception to avert danger in the fifth minute. Three minutes later, Rajpal got to a midfield deflection and raced into the circle from the right, but his shot to second angle was wide. At the other end, the Australians did not make any impression barring a couple of penetrative moves, but the Indian deep defence was ever alert to repel the attacks. Fullback Harpal Singh was noticeably quick in covering and tackling. With about a minute left for the half-time, the Indians launched a quick counter-attack on the right and Roshan Minz let fly a cross, but Khandkar stationed unmarked on the far post failed to deflect the ball in. On resumption, the Australians appeared more positive than they did in the first-half. A series of quick moves brought them within a whisker of scoring. Schubert, virtually invisible in the first session, blasted two shots to goal. The first attempt in the 41st came off goalkeeper Baljit Singh for a penalty corner, and past the 45th, he shot wide. In between, Baljit came up with a fine save to deny Andrew Smith from the second penalty corner. The Aussies continued to press hard and struck in the 50th minute when Ockenden got a touch to Robert Hammond’s free-hit. The Indian deep defence, for once, was caught flat-footed. Koreans scrape past Canada
Asian Games champions South Korea struggled to a 1-0 win against Canada in a Group B match of the 16th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup eight-nation hockey tournament here today. The Korean match-winner came in the 44th minute when Jeong Yun Sang converted a penalty corner. Pakistan draw with Malaysia
Pakistan rebounded from a one-goal deficit to force a 2-2 draw with Malaysia in a group B match of the 16th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament here today. Trailing 1-2 at half-time, Pakistan levelled the score on resumption and then saw off a late Malaysian blitz that did not result in any goals and only caused heartbreak for the capacity crowd. Sunday’s fixtures (IST): Argentina vs Australia (1.35 pm); Canada vs Malaysia (3.35 pm); India vs China (5.35 pm).
— PTI
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Ipoh, May 5 “Overall, I was satisfied with the team’s performance. In fact, I was quite surprised that the young team played so well. It was just that we missed chances after dominating the Aussies. I would say, it was touch-and-go in the end,” he said after the 1-0 defeat. Carvalho, elaborating on India’s strategy, said the players successfully executed their plan for long but were unfortunately beaten late in the match. “Our intention was to hold the ball and draw the Aussies out before counter-attacking using the aerial ball. It was basically to tire them out while we also focussed on distributing stamina by passing bouts. “To a great extent, we succeeded in this and it was unfortunate that a lucky deflection made all the difference in the end,” he said. Looking at the positives, Carvalho, who is on his first assignment with the team, believed that the strong performance against the Aussies would be a huge boost to his team’s confidence. “Our main concern was today’s game and honestly, I was quite happy with the way our young players, quite a few of them playing at this level for the first time, performed,” Carvalho added. On his decision to include midfielder Vikram Kanth, who flew in barely 24 hours back as a replacement to Ignace Tirkey, the coach said: “In a way, it (Ignace opting out) was a blessing as Vikram is a solid and versatile midfield player who is also capable of manning any position. I thought he played pretty well today.” Australia’s assistant coach Colin Batch felt the oppressive weather conditions was a key factor in his side’s insipid first-half performance as compared to their showing in the second session when the forced four penalty corners. “But then, at this level, every player has to adjust to the conditions. Overall, I wouldn’t say I was very pleased with our showing, but given the fact that we were trying out so many young players, I am happy to come away with three points,” he said. He concurred with Carvalho’s observation that the newly-laid pitch did affect the performance of both teams. “The bounce was unusually high and may be, the pitch did not retain as much water as it should have. However, it was not a major problem and hopefully, we will improve as the tournament progresses,” Batch said. — PTI
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Italian
Open
Milan, May 5 Jeev, who had a three-under 69 in the first round, was seven-under after 16 holes in second round, taking his total to ten-under with two more holes to go. The Indian was tied sixth, four shots off the lead in a tournament cut to 54 holes. Jeev, taking full advantage of the ‘preferred lies rule’ and putting beautifully, shot an eagle three on first and then bogeyed the second. He then added birdies on fourth, fifth, ninth, 10th, 14th and 15th holes to be seven-under for 15 holes. The players are being allowed ‘preferred lies rule’ under which they lift, clean and place the ball on the fairways. Meanwhile, Jyoti Randhawa recovered some ground as took some advantage of the ‘preferred lies rule’ to shoot three-under 69 in the second round play yesterday. Randhawa, who finished second in Madrid last week, was four-under after two rounds and tied 53rd. Playing his back-nine first, he opened with three pars and then bogeyed the 13th but was in scintillating form after that as he birdied the 15th, 17th and 18th and added a third successive birdie by slotting the par-first in four. He bogeyed the second and then birdied his closing hole, for a 69. At the top, Andrew McLardy added a second successive 65 to go 10-under and lead the field, even as numerous players were still on the course. Johl slips to 70th
Seoul: A disastrous back nine saw Amandeep Johl slide way down the ladder into tied 70th place after the third round of the GS Caltex Maekyung Open here
today. Johl, who seemed fine with an even par first nine, which he played on the back stretch of the course, shot a six-over 42 on second nine to card a six-over 78, that gave him a total of nine-over
225. Johl had a birdie and a bogey on his first nine after starting at the 10th. However on the front stretch, he bogeyed the second and fourth and then double bogeyed the fifth. He added two more bogeys on sixth and seventh. Earlier, Rahil Gangjee had missed the half-way cut. Meanwhile, China’s Liang Wen-chong stayed firmly on track to grab his second title of the season when he retained his overnight one-shot lead after the third round. The 28-year-old
Liang, who has led since the opening day at the Nam Seoul Country Club, carded a brilliant five-under 67 for a three-day score of 14-under 202 in the $600,000 Asian Tour event.
— PTI
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Wariner dominates in dress rehearsal
Osaka, May 5 The American powered home in 44.02 seconds in Osaka then threatened to break Michael Johnson’s world record of 43.18 at this year’s world athletics championships at the same venue. Johnson set his world record in 1999 but Wariner is on a fast-track to joining his fellow American among the greatest 400m runners in history. “I’m right where I want to be,” Wariner told Reuters. “I think it’s a possible goal to break the world record at the world championships in August.” The 23-year-old added: “The track was real fast. I was impressed with the way it was. I’ve never seen a surface like this in the US so I can’t wait to come back.” Darold Williamson trailed Wariner home in second in 44.68 with Australia’s Sean Wroe third in 45.58. China’s Olympic champion Liu Xiang eased to victory in his first overseas race of the year as he won the men’s 110 metres hurdles in 13.14, well outside his world record of 12.88. “I’m confident I can come back to Osaka and win the world title later this year,” Liu told Reuters. “I’ve won four times in Osaka. It’s a lucky place for me.” Liu’s compatriot Shi Dongpeng finished second in 13.24 with Japan’s Tasuku Tanonaka third in 13.59. There was a surprise in the women’s 100 metres when world champion Lauryn Williams was beaten by Cydonie Mothersill of the Cayman Islands. Mothersill blew past the American at the 60-metre mark to clock a winning time of 11.33 with Williams, who also took silver at the 2004 Olympics, crossing the line in 11.44. Japan’s Shingo Suetsugu took advantage of former Olympic champion Maurice Greene’s late pullout to win the men’s 100m in 10.23. World champion Bershawn Jackson surged to victory in the men’s 400m hurdles in 48.13 ahead of American rival James Carter despite tweaking a hamstring on the third hurdle. Carter clocked 48.22 with Japan’s Dai Tamesue third in 48.73 in a repeat of the result at the 2005 world championships in Helsinki. “I tried to back up a little bit to see if the hamstring would loosen up,” said Jackson. “Heart got me through. I just wanted to win.” This year’s world championships take place at Osaka’s Nagai Stadium from Aug. 25 to September 2. — Reuters
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Gavaskar writes
After the early return home from the 2007 World Cup, Indian supporters are still shocked and thinking that what can be done to give the Indian team a great chance to win the next World Cup that is to be held in the subcontinent. If it was as easy as the soft-drink commercial to go to a corner-shop tailor and get the Indian team’s uniforms made for some quite clearly overweight and chubby kids, then it would be a piece of cake. Thankfully, Indian cricket team uniforms are not made in street corner establishments, nor are World Cups won by drinking a cola.
What was seen of the Indian team in the West Indies was that they seemed a jaded side and did not have the zip that is needed to go that extra mile. India simply play far too much international cricket, and no matter what the ICC Future Tours Programme may be, there is no doubt that by committing itself to play off-shore series, there is an extra load on the players. If, like Australia, the players could be rested, then it would be different, but that’s not possible. If star players are rested from these games, then sponsors back out and the whole package gets dented. Australia rested players like Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Michael Clarke from the Chappell-Hadlee trophy that took place just after their home season ended. That meant that though the Aussies lost that series 3-0, when the team subsequently gathered for the biggest cricketing event, these players were fresh for the fray. It is crucial to have the skipper be the one to show the team how to do that ‘extra’, and that can happen when he himself is fresh and raring to go. Once an Australian skipper is decided, then there is no danger to him if he sits out a few games, unlike in India where a rival is created instantly when a new man is given charge, even if it is due to an injury to the incumbent. By reducing international commitments, the Indian players will be able to participate in domestic tournaments and raise the standards there and give the selectors a more realistic appreciation of the potential that is there in a player knocking on the doors of international cricket. That brings us to the next point, and that is the selection of selectors. It’s not just the national selectors but also the junior selectors in India are important, because they are the ones who are selecting the supply-line to the Indian team. It is here that a selector needs that special ability to pick out a gem and ensure that he is given the breaks at the right time. There has to be more coordination between the senior and junior selection committees and a regular exchange of information. It is at the junior level that the selector has to get rid of his zonal and state bias and look to pick the best for India’s junior teams. The BCCI has decided that it will change the constitution to see that selectors henceforth are not picked on a zonal basis. It has to be the best five guys, irrespective of where they come from, and it’s got to be the entire BCCI that selects them and not a nomination by zones, as has been happening for years now. After selecting these guys, the BCCI has to send them to different zones to watch not just first-class cricket, but also junior cricket, so they are aware of the emerging talent in the whole country and not just in their zones. Of course, that is pretty much a time-consuming job, and so the selectors, if need be, should be compensated for the time that they are giving as they will not be doing their regular business during these months. The pitches that are prepared for the first-class matches have drawn criticism for years, and still nothing has been done about it, simply because nobody in the BCCI wants to pass a resolution that may one day turn back on its own state association. The argument that every home team needs to prepare a pitch to suit its strengths is no longer valid when one sees the pitches prepared in Australia for its Tests as well as domestic games. They are good cricketing pitches, which give ample opportunities to batsmen and bowlers if the effort is there. That’s why the Australians are comfortable wherever they play in the world. It is important to have pitches that encourage new-ball bowlers to try a little harder, and that does not mean grassy pitches. The Indian concept of a fast pitch is to leave plenty of grass on the surface, which makes batting a lottery and exaggerates the deeds of the new-ball bowler in much the same way as a flat batting pitch flatters a batsman, and both get exposed on foreign soil. We need more expert curators, and if need be, they should be sent all over the country to teach their craft to others. The two really sporting surfaces in India last season were the ones at Mohali and in the Ranji final at Mumbai. Both these pitches were not grassy where the cows could fatten themselves, but they had just the perfect sprinkling of grass that gave the new-ball bowlers the incentive to bend their backs and bowl the extra over or so. That the BCCI has decided that all major games will be played at neutral venues is also a good thing, because it will stop home teams preparing pitches to suit their strengths, and there will be pitches that are fair to both batsmen and bowlers. India should also be sending its A teams to tour countries like Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and England, and that too the year before the senior team is due to go there, so if a junior player makes the grade next year, he already has the experience of playing in that country. India has by far the best organised junior cricket in the world and it gives ample chances for players at various age levels to show their potential. These players should be taught that there is no substitute to fitness in modern cricket, and unless they are fit and good fielders, they do not have much of a future in international cricket. In that sense, they have to be all-rounders who can bat and field or bowl and field too. Lastly, if Indian cricket has to progress, it is absolutely important that all stakeholders, which means the board administrators, selectors, former players, media, fans, sponsors, and all those connected in some way to it are honest to it. If that means that one does not promote one’s favourite, then so be it, for if only the best team is selected then only will India have a realistic chance of winning the next World Cup.
— PMG
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Chennai, May 5 In the qualifying sessions held yesterday, the young driver clocked the fastest time of 1:00.534 on the north track of the circuit. According to an official Formula Asia press release, Australian Karl Reindler of E-Rain Racing was only 0.053 seconds behind Ebrahim. Hong Kong’s favourite racing star of Team Meritus, Marchy Lee managed a commendable third with a time of 1:00.913, while Chinese teenage sensation Adderly Fong was in fourth spot. The qualifying sessions proved that the competition for the weekend would be hard fought as only 0.9 seconds separates the top six drivers from one another. Each of five rounds (10 races in all) in five circuits in different Asian countries has one sprint race (on Saturdays) and a feature race (on Sundays) in the 2007 season. — PTI
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Bindra finishes seventh
Bangkok, May 5 In a keenly fought event, Bindra totalled 695.9, with 595 in qualifications and 100.9 in finals, and though it was not a bad score at all, he just could not make it to the podium. The world champion made a jittery start in the qualifying rounds and fired two series of 98 before recovering with three consecutive series of 100 followed by a 99 to enter the finals as fifth. There, Bindra’s score of 100.9 left him overall seventh. Among the other Indians in the fray, Sanjeev Rajput finished a rank below Bindra at eighth. The out-of-form Gagan Narang finished 23rd with a score of 593 (100, 100, 99, 97, 98, 99). The gold in this event was won by Hungarian Sidi Peter.
— PTI
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JCT outplay HAL 3-0
Ludhiana, May 5 In what was perceived to be a tough outing for the visitors, JCT went full blast from the kick-off and rewrote record books with the fastest goal of the current edition. The credit went to diminutive striker Sunil Chhetri who bulged the net in the opening minute itself, taking his tally to 11 goals. Nigerian striker Edeh Chidi and international Parveen Kumar, with one goal each, completed the rout. JCT’s superiority was seldom in doubt even as bottom-placed HAL toiled to delay the inevitable. But having conceded the first goal in the opening minute, the Bangalore outfit seemed resigned to their fate as JCT carved out intrinsic moves leaving the rivals clueless. The victory was a perfect birthday gift to team manager Parminder Singh, himself an international and among the best midfielders that India have ever produced. Seemingly elated over the emphatic win, coach Sukhwinder Singh credited the achievement to team effort, and hoped his team would cap the dream run with another win against East Bengal in the concluding tie at Kolkata on May 19. HAL, who have already been relegated along with Mohammedan Sporting, found the going tough from the outset. The spectators had hardly settled in their seats when JCT striker Sunil Chhetri controlled the ball inside the box and despatched an angular shot which left HAL goalie Gumpe Rime flummoxed (1-0). Thereafter, JCT kept up the pressure and off a flag kick by Rennedy Singh, man-of-the-match Adebayo Tokunbo attempted a header which was slightly off the mark. HAL also hit back with a counter attack when off a cross by Murali, defender Alesh Shamaki despatched a volley but only managed to send the ball high over the bar. The second goal for JCT followed soon after. Nigerian striker Edeh Chidi, having got past HAL defender Alesh Shamaki, was well positioned to score but was brought down by the former with a tackle from behind. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the dreaded spot and Edeh Chidi himself converted the penalty to bolster the lead (2-0). A few minutes before half time, Chidi twisted his ankle and was replaced by international Parveen Kumar. In the second half, JCT were again in full cry. A powerful shot by Jaspal off a cross by Adebayo missed the target narrowly. HAL had the best chance when they earned a free kick deep inside JCT’s territory. Skipper Xavier Vijay Kumar’s curling left footer brought out the best in JCT custodian Karanjit Singh who punched the ball away displaying fine anticipation. JCT had agolden chance when Adebayo initiated an excellent move. Having dodged two defenders, he put Parveen in possession but the latter missed an open goal. Parveen again proved to be the culprit when he had only the goalie at his mercy but he only managed to shoot straight at him. However, making amends for his earlier lapses, Parveen found the target in the 61st minute when off a pass by Chhetri, he shot goalwards. The ball struck the goalkeeper but off the rebound, Parveen found the net with a gentle lob (3-0). Another move by Chhetri, Parveen and substitute Jaswinder looked threatening but Gumpe Rime under the HAL bar prevented further damage. HAL’s counter-attack through Sunil looked dangerous towards the end but his feeble shot was easily collected by Karanjit. JCT medio Adebayo also carved out an intelligent move at the fag end but Jaspal’s piledriver missed the far post by inches. With today’s victory, JCT now have 28 points and are placed second.
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Bhupathi-Stepanek lose in semis
New Delhi, May 5 The Indo-Czech pair went down 6-4 3-6 8-10 to Russia's Mikhail Youzhny and Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany, who would face-off each other in the singles final. Kohlschreiber thrashed Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis 6-2, 6-3 and Youzhny also had it easy against Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic 6-4, 6-3 in the singles semifinals. — PTI
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Taekwondo meet held at Patiala
Patiala, May 5 The students participated with full zeal showed tremendous potential in this recently added new martial art in the school. The results are as follows: Boy’s in 20 kg weight category: Ravneet Singh -Ist position, 24 kg- Arshpreet Singh-Ist and Mehtab Singh IInd. 27 kg- Anmolpreet-Ist, Hritik Dhiman- IInd, and Harshpreet Singh-IIIrd; 30 kg: Karanbir Singh- Ist, Gurpreet Singh-IInd and Jatinder Kumar IIIrd; 35 kg-Simranjit Singh-Ist, Monitpal-IInd and Armaan Singh-IIIrd; 40 kg-Sahil Kukrela-Ist, Karanveer-IInd and Harjinder Singh-IIIrd; 55kg- Navjot Singh-Ist, Karan Mittal-IInd and Gurinder Singh-IIIrd; (Girls) 24 kg: Navjot Kaur-Ist and Anjali Sharma-IInd.
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Ipoh, May 5
Osaka, May 5
