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Arch-rivals clash today
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Court rejects WADA appeal
Dilip Sardesai dies at 66 Carvalho satisfied with Boom show
Manavjit finishes 13th in World Cup
Multipurpose hall at Rai school by Dec
Tombi bags judo gold
Anand settles for tied 2nd
Jyoti finishes 7th, Jeev 12th
Lee among Twenty20 WC
probables
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Arch-rivals clash today
Glasgow, July 2
Shoaib Malik, the new Pakistani captain, alluded to any Indo-Pak tie being a “pressure game” and admitted to being a “little nervous” about captaining his side for the first time against India. The proceeds from television rights and ticket sales will go to a “British-Asian Trust” operated by Prince Charles, heir to the British throne; but the players will be paid appearance money. Rahul Dravid said his squad felt “relaxed” because the match was away from the subcontinent and “confident” after Sunday’s series win over South Africa. The atmosphere is abnormal. Glasgow is not exactly renowned as a cricketing venue, and the match will be held under a cloud of concern generated by the alleged terrorist attack at this city’s airport on Saturday. Security at the game will, in fact, be exceedingly tight, with Charles himself — who is slated to present the trophies, one of the persons high on the list of the protection force. Last but not the least, persistent rain thwarted the Pakistani practice session today; and the forecast for tomorrow is uncertain. After the catastrophe of the World Cup, a “feel-better” factor has filtered back into Indian cricket after Rahul Dravid’s team completed a creditable 2-1 series victory over South Africa. The South African bowling attack possessed most of the ingredients to test the best, that, too, in helpful conditions. But Sachin Tendulkar passed the examination with flying colours, notwithstanding his slightly flirtatious visit to the crease on Sunday. Yuvraj Singh had provided every indication during his truncated appearance in the World Cup that he’s back in business with the willow. His two finishing jobs in Belfast has reinforced this view. Dinesh Karthik, though, is the real find in recent months, with his excellent technique and temperament and capability of conjuring innings according to the team’s requirements. In bowling, RP Singh made batsmen hurry and miss, Zaheer Khan was steady, while Ajit Agarkar troubled batsmen with his aerial curves. It was, however, a pity that Ramesh Powar, who has operated with the loop of a classical spin bowler, had to be sacrificed in the final match because an extra batsman was deemed necessary in the shortened situation. Luckily, India were able to at least loosen their limbs in the afternoon. They will only indicate their XI in the morning, but it may be shrewd not to play two spinners against Pakistan. Squads (from): India: Rahul Dravid (captain), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (vice-captain), Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Dinesh Kaarthick, Ajit Agarkar, Piyush Chawla, Ramesh Powar, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Robin Uthappa, Rohit Sharma, Rudra Pratap Singh and S. Sreesanth. Pakistan: Shoaib Malik (captain), Salman Butt (vice-captain), Imran Nazir, Yasir Hameed, Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Fawad Alam, Iftikhar Anjum, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Gul.
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London, July 2 They had started the match on Saturday when just over an hour’s play was possible before rain halted play with only two matches completed that day. After two nights to sleep on her lead, Dementieva did not seem to wake up and allowed the young Austrian to take control from the start. Fellow Russian and fifth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova had no such problems, needing just two games on Monday to seal a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska. Justine Henin marched into the Wimbledon quarterfinals today with a straightforward 6-2, 6-2 defeat of a lacklustre Patty Schnyder. The top-seeded Belgian, bidding for the one title she needs to complete a career Grand Slam, needed just 56 minutes to end her Swiss opponent’s weak challenge. Henin did not bring her best game to the court on Monday, but did not need to against the normally gritty Schnyder. Henin, who completed a hat-trick of French Open titles last month, has dropped just 15 games in her four rounds so far. Three-times former champion Venus Williams survived a hair-raising third round match against Akiko Morigami of Japan winning 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 but looking far from comfortable. The American former world number one had seemed to be cruising when she eased to a convincing first set lead in the match, which started on Saturday. But a double break by the Japanese player gave her a 4-1 lead before the weather intervened and halted play until Monday. Williams kept herself in the second set by saving six set points in the seventh game and then breaking in the next. But Morigami unleashed some accurate shots down the line finally to snatch the set. Seemingly intent on making it difficult for herself, Williams dropped serve in the eighth game of the third, before breaking back. In the end it was a mistake by Morigami that handed Williams the match, with the Japanese player putting her return into the net. Williams jumped up and down in celebration and, most likely, relief. They had started the match on Saturday when just over an hour’s play was possible before rain halted play with only two matches completed that day. Sixth seed Ana Ivanovic, runner-up at the French Open last month, also quickly wrapped up a 6-3, 6-2 win over Aravane Rezai of France to book her place in the fourth round. Nicole Vaidisova, the Czech 14th seed, rattled off three games after resuming her match against Belarussian Victoria Azarenka to win 6-4, 6-2. Eleventh seed Nadia Petrova of Russia was also pushed hard in the second set of her resumed match against Spaniard Virginia Ruano Pascual but eventually won 6-3, 7-6. — Reuters
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Relief for Shoaib, Asif
London, July 2 The CAS said in its verdict that it rejected the WADA appeal at the “preliminary level” since it had no jurisdiction to rule in the case. The apex body for sports disputes, headquartered in Lausanne, said an arbitral panel found that neither the PCB nor cricket’s world body, the International Cricket Council, had a “direct reference” in their statutes providing for an appeal to the CAS. “The CAS has considered that it has no jurisdiction to decide the dispute between the World Anti-Doping Agency and the Pakistan Cricket Board, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif,” CAS said in a release posted on its website. “Although the PCB had contested the jurisdiction of CAS to hear this case, it was necessary for the CAS to constitute an arbitral panel to rule on its own jurisdiction as a preliminary matter,” CAS said. The CAS arbitral panel comprised: David Rivkin, Attorney-at-Law (USA), President, Peter Leaver QC, Barrister (England) and Jan Paulsson, Attorney-at-Law (France). “In order for the CAS to have jurisdiction to rule on an appeal, the CAS rules require that a direct reference to the CAS be contained in the statutes or regulations of the body whose decision is being appealed. “However, the PCB regulations do not provide for a right of appeal to the CAS and the Code of the International Cricket Council (ICC) does not provide for a right of appeal to the CAS of decisions of the PCB Appeals Committee. “Furthermore, the ICC Code contains no provision which obliges the PCB to allow a right of appeal of its decisions to CAS.” Akhtar and Asif tested positive for banned steroid nandrolone in an in-house doping test conducted by the PCB before the Champions Trophy in India last October and were subsequently banned for two-years and one-year respectively by PCB’s Anti Doping Commission in November, 2006. But the decision was overturned and the sanctions imposed were revoked by an independent anti-doping appeals committee of the PCB following which WADA decided to take the issue in CAS. Meanwhile, PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf said his organisation had been vindicated by decision of CAS. “We followed the correct procedure and policy from the start and our stand is vindicated by the CAS decision to throw out the WADA appeal,” Ashraf told Reuters from London. Shoaib and Asif have both been included in the Pakistan team currently visiting Scotland. — Agencies
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Mumbai, July 2
Sardesai, 66, who was admitted to Bombay Hospital late last month with chest infection, was shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU) last night after he developed complications. His end came late this evening. Sardesai is survived by wife, a son (noted television journalist Rajdeep), and a daughter, who is in the USA. Suffering from kidney problems for a long time, he had been on dialysis and had been off-and-on in and out of hospital.
Born on August 8, 1940, at Margao, Goa, Sardesai made his Test debut against England at Kanpur in December, 1961, and played his last Test against the same team at Delhi in December, 1972. During a career spanning 11 years, Sardesai played 30 Tests and scored 2001 runs in 55 innings at an average of 39.23, helped by five centuries, including two double tons. He is most remembered for his stellar performance during the tour to the West Indies in 1970-71, when Sunil Gavaskar made his Test debut, by hitting three centuries — including a double hundred — that powered India to a historic first-ever series victory in the Caribbean. He aggregated 642 runs, the second highest after Gavaskar’s 774, in the series. Sardesai also played a key role in India’s Oval Test victory in the summer of 1971. Though predominantly a defensive batsman, he could also go into the attacking mode. A fine example of this came when he scored one of India’s fastest centuries against New Zealand in 1964-65. BCCI President Sharad Pawar and Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee condoled his death. — PTI
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Carvalho satisfied with Boom show
Boom, July 2 “Of course, we came here to win the tournament, but I will take the bronze medal,” the coach summed up India’s display in the six-nation tournament whose winner, Argentina, qualified for the 2008 Champions Trophy. “Frankly, I did not expect our team to perform so well in this competition. I think both the team and I are getting hungrier for more success. “If we work hard and improve, then I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t perform better,” he said. Carvalho felt that India’s performance here was far better than the one in Ipoh, Malaysia, where too they finished third in the eight-nation Sultan Azlan Shah Cup tournament in May this year. “The opposition and conditions were different then. Here in Boom, it was far tougher and I am happy that our players passed another test like playing in such trying conditions,” he said. Carvalho said the tournament provided useful exposure to the team that comprised mostly of young and inexperienced players. “The weather conditions at the start of the tournament were tough, but I am happy that despite losing to New Zealand in the first game, we came back to win four of the remaining five matches,” he pointed out. India wasted 12 penalty corners in the 1-2 loss to Argentina. In all, India received 25 penalty corners, of which only six were converted. Incidentally, in the playoff with England, India went without any penalty corner.
— PTI
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Manavjit finishes 13th in World Cup
New Delhi, July 2 Manavjit yesterday shot 119 in the qualification round with scores of 23, 25, 23, 24 and 24. The Chandigarh-based marksman, who scored 71 on day one, came back strongly with two near perfect rounds of 24 each to climb up the charts. But his effort went in vain. Mansher Singh, who recently booked the Olympic berth at the previous World Cup at Lonato last month, ended up 26th with a score of 117 (23, 23, 24, 23, 24) while Zoravar Singh Sandhu returned 109 (22, 24, 22, 18, 23) to be placed 83rd in the field of 110 shooters. The gold in this event was won by Jesus Serrano (Spain) with a score of 143 (122+21), while the silver went to Burnett Derek (Ireland) with a score of 142+1 (120+22). Sinmazisik Mustafa (Turkey) won the bronze with a score of 142+0 (120+22). — PTI
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Multipurpose hall at Rai school by Dec
Chandigarh, July 2 This was revealed during a review meeting of the sports department chaired by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda here today. Hooda asked commissioner and secretary, sports department, N.K. Jain, to monitor the construction of stadiums and also ensure the quality of construction. The CM directed the chief administrator of Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board Navraj Sandhu that HSAMB land be provided to the sports department for construction of a stadium at Dadri (Bhiwani). Hooda said 50 per cent of the cost of the construction of Nawab Samsuddin Stadium would be borne by the state government, while the Mewat Development Board would give the remaining 50 per cent.
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New Delhi, July 2 L Brojeshori Devi, also of Manipur, won the bronze in the 57 kg to make it a double delight for India. The Indian judo team is presently attending a training programme being organised by the European Judo Union, which will last till July 6, in preparation for the World Championship to be held in Brazil in September. — OSR
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Dortmund, July 2 World champion Vladimir Kramnik picked his eighth title in Dortmund when he signed peace pact with compatriot Evgeny Alekseev in their last game of the seven-round event. Hungarian GM Peter Leko tried to grab the second spot but could not crack the defence of Azerbaijani GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov while in another drawn game, Arkadij Naiditsch failed to lift himself from the bottom spot as he split point with Israel’s Boris Gelfand. Anand played Slav defence against Carlsen and obtained a roughly equal position from the opening. After exchange of queens, Carlsen had a slight technical edge due to his bishop pair but Anand set up a safe defensive formation. The players agreed to split the point on the 39th move in an opposite colour bishop ending where neither had the slightest chance to win. Kramnik once again relied on his favourite Petroff defence and easily equalised in the opening. Alekseev tried to build up pressure in the centre and managed to win a pawn on the queenside. However, he seriously weakened his king position in the process, allowing Kramnik an easy draw by perpetual check. Leko strove hard against Mamedyarov after obtaining a positional edge from the opening against the Paulsen variation of Sicilian defence. He had winning chance in the end game but Mamedyarov defended stubbornly and Leko eventually agreed for a draw after 107 moves. — PTI
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Versailles, July 2 After being five-under with four more holes to play, the leaders were hovering at six and seven-under, Randhawa ended up with a final round card of 3-under 68, thanks to a birdie on the 18th. The overall score of four-under 280 fetched him a cheque of 1,10,000 euros. India’s other contender, Jeev Milkha Singh, started the day at tied fifth place, but never really got going and ended with a one-over 72 that saw him finish tied 12th. Graeme Storm played a flawless round of five-under 66 and came from five shots behind overnight way below to emerge champion. A first-time winner, Storm won by a shot from the third round leader, Denmark’s Sxren Hansen. Storm totalled seven-under par total of 277. Tame end for Chopra, Atwal Grand Blanc (USA): Disappointment was in store for the Indian fans at Buick Open golf tournament as Daniel Chopra finished tied 49th while Arjun Atwal settled for tied 70th spot. Brian Bateman, meanwhile, was the surprise winner. He finished at 15-under 273.
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Lee among Twenty20 WC
probables
Sydney, July 2 Team officials said Lee was progressing well in his rehabilitation and hoped to be fully fit for the event from September 12-24. Selectors chairman Andrew Hilditch said the squad would be reduced to 15 players in mid-July. Australia, who won the ODI World Cup, play their first Group A game against Zimbabwe on September 12 in Cape Town. Probables: Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist (vice-captain), George Bailey, Nathan Bracken, Luke Butterworth, Stuart Clark, Michael Carke, Dan Cullen Brendan Drew, Brad Haddin, Shane Harwood, Matthew Hayden, Ben Hilfenhaus, Brad Hodge, Brad Hogg, James Hopes, David Hussey Michael Hussey, Phil Jaques, Mitchell
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