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Dravid dreams
of series win
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ICL threat worked for Shoaib
Federation Cup
Serena sets up clash with Henin
Punjabi University moves court
Eves maul Thais 16-0
F1 circuit designer does ‘site-seeing’
IOC cautions govt on sports policy
Vipin, Pramod in quarters
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India book berth in semis
Chennai, September 3 The Indians exhibited skilful hockey to beat the formidable Koreans, taking their points tally to nine from three matches. India led 3-2 at half-time. Shivendra Singh, Ignace Tirkey and Prabhjot Singh scored for the winners, while Jang Jong Hyun and Kang Seong Jung struck for Korea. It was a gripping Pool B encounter as Korea kept up the pressure, making full use of their speedy runs to dislodge the Indians. However, the hosts showed total cohesion and understanding between the forwards, medios, and the defenders throughout the match. In other Pool B matches, China thumped minnows Thailand 13-0, while Bangladesh overcame Sri Lanka 3-2. In Pool A matches, Japan thrashed Hong Kong 7-1, while Pakistan revived their semifinal hopes with a 8-0 win over Singapore. Japan’s Yamabori struck six of the seven goals and Yoshida Kazuo scored the other one. For Hong Kong, the lone goal came through a penalty-corner conversion by Arif Ali. Still smarting from the shock defeat at the hands of Japan, Pakistan needed to win by a big margin to stay in contention. The start was perfect, with Muhammad Imran drawing first blood with an impeccable drag flick in the fourth minute. Thereafter it was a tale of missed chances, before Pakistan struck thrice in a span of four minutes for a 4-0 lead at half-time. Abbas Haider scored in the 25th and 28th minutes and Tariq Aziz added one in the 26th. After change of ends, Pakistan scored two more goals through penalty-corner conversions by Ihsan Ullah (40th) and Imran Khan (63rd). Skipper Rehan Butt rounded off the tally with good finishes in the 64th and 65th minutes to give Pakistan their second win in three matches. China’s penalty-corner specialist and captain Hu Hui Ren slammed in six goals, including a field goal, while Lu Feng Hui, Meng Jun and Yu Yang struck a brace each in China’s victory. The margin would have been much bigger had it not been for some valiant clearances by Thai goalkeeper Rachan Suwanmanee. Sri Lanka did well to recover from the humiliating 0-20 loss against India on Saturday to rally from a one-goal deficit to level the score at 1-1 at half-time against Bangladesh. However, Bangladesh shot into the lead against with Mohammad Mamun making no mistake with a penalty stroke and then converting a penalty corner to post a 3-1 lead before wrapping up the match. Rasel Mahmud and Mohammad Zahidul Islam were the other scorers for Bangladesh, while Panditharathne netted one for Lanka. — PTI
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Leeds, September 3 India went into the fifth ODI trailing 1-3 and just one defeat away from conceding the series. But stellar performance from Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni not only fashioned India's 38-run win under the Duckworth/Lewis method but also kept the series alive for the visitors. "I thought we batted beautifully. It was a good all-round batting performance and a great start again from Sachin and Sourav," Dravid said after the match. "It's nice to go to London with a chance to win the series," said the buoyant Indian skipper. Both the teams now move to London to play the last two matches at The Oval (September 5) and Lord's (September 8). Dravid said the side got just the perfect score and the top order also lived up to the expectations. "It was a perfect batting performance. We needed a big score because we knew Duckworth-Lewis method would come into play," Dravid said. "Sachin and Sourav gave us a strong start, Gautam Gambhir sustained the tempo and Yuvraj then finished with a flourish." His opposite number, Paul Collingwood, said the target was stiff but the conditions were not that bad. "When an opposition gets 320-odd you are always going to question it. It was overcast but the ball didn't do as much as I thought it would. "But give a lot of credit to Tendulkar and Ganguly, it was hard to stop them," he said. — PTI
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Sachin admits ODIs taking toll on body
London, September 3 "I enjoy every moment I have on a cricket field, but the recovery times between games these days are difficult, especially for one-day internationals, and that's my major obstacle," he said. "It does take its toll on the body. When you are 22 or 23, you recover a lot more quickly. But at 34, it's not so easy," he was quoted as saying by 'The Times' today. Tendulkar recently opted out of the Twenty20 World Cup but refused to agree that he was old enough to call it quits. "My body will tell me when I have played enough cricket, but I don't feel old just yet. I still think I'm a young boy at heart." He, however, confirmed that this was likely to be his last tour of England. "Whatever cricket is left in me, I would like to make the most of it," he said.
— PTI
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Twenty20 WC
Sydney, September 3 The two stayed back in Australia when the team flew to South Africa Monday. Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said Ponting's absence was due to a family issue that had arisen over the weekend. He said a decision on whether Ponting would join the team in time for their opening match of the tournament, against Zimbabwe next Wednesday, would be made in a few days. — IANS
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ICL threat worked for Shoaib
Karachi, September 3 Shoaib had left a training camp here last month without informing the manager even though the pacer claimed he had informed captain Shoaib
Malik. Pakistan Cricket Board fined him and docked points from his central contract. Shoaib appealed against the punishment and eventually a PCB appeal committee upheld his plea.
— PTI
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Federation Cup
Ludhiana, September 3 JCT, who won the Federation Cup in 1995 (Kolkata) and 1996 ( Kannur), start favourites in the opener, but their coach Sukhwinder Singh said they could not take their opponents lightly. “Though Vasco finished among the first four in Division II of the National Football League (NFL), the Federation Cup is a different kind of tournament. One cannot afford to lose any game. Once your are down, you are out,” Sukhwinder said. With a number of star players in their ranks, such as Sunil Chetri, Parveen Kumar, foreign recruits Marcos Pererra and Edu (both from Brazil) and Julius (Nigeria), JCT look a solid outfit. Guru Nanak Stadium has been a happy hunting ground for JCT. Earlier this year, they finished runners-up in the NFL. The second match tomorrow will be played between East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting. East Bengal, which finished fifth in the NFL, have won the Federation Cup four times. Mohd Sporting, placed ninth in the league, have won the Cup twice. Tuesday’s matches: JCT vs Vasco (3.30 pm); Mohd Sporting vs East Bengal (6.30 pm).
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Serena sets up clash with Henin
New York, September 3 World number one Henin, who took her sixth Grand Slam title in June at the French Open, blasted Russian 15th seed Dinara Safina 6-0, 6-2, while Australian Open winner Serena Williams defeated French 10th seed Marion Bartoli 6-3, 6-4. Henin defeated US eighth seed Serena, an eight-time Slam champion, in this year’s quarterfinals of the French Open and Wimbledon. Venus overwhelmed Serbian fifth seed Ana Ivanovic 6-4, 6-2 in a rematch of their Wimbledon semifinal to book a date with Serbian third seed Jelena Jankovic, who beat Austrian 19th seed Sybille Bammer 6-4, 4-6, 6-1. In the men’s draw, Rafael Nadal kept his US Open campaign on track yesterday despite a painful knee as Spanish-speaking claycourters clamped a stranglehold on the bottom half of the draw. The 21-year-old second-seeded Spaniard charged into the last 16 by defeating big-hitting Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6, 6-2, 6-1, winning 10 out of the last 11 games after a tough first set. Following him into the fourth round were compatriots and close friends Carlos Moya and David Ferrer as well as the Argentine pair Juan Monaco and Juan Ignacio Chela, all better know for their skills on clay rather than hardcourts. French Open champion Nadal’s next opponent will be Ferrer, who saved a match point against Argentina’s David Nalbandian before winning a gruelling 6-3, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6, 7-5 encounter that lasted just short of four hours. Life was much simpler for third seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia, who had a routine 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 win over 18-year-old Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina. — AFP
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Henry divorces in London court
London, September 3 British reports speculated the big-earning striker, who plays for Spanish giants Barcelona, could face the biggest ever divorce payment by a footballer. Merry is expected to be entitled to a large chunk of his wealth - estimated at around USD 50 million. The couple shared a plush six-bedroomed house in the well-to-do north London suburb of Hampstead, which Henry bought for 5.95 million pounds in 2002. Henry, 30, and Merry, 27, a British model and the mother of their two-year-old daughter Tea, met when they worked on car television advertisements. The "quickie" divorce was granted by a judge at the Principal Registry of the High Court's Family Division, who granted the couple a decree nisi. The Sun daily said it will be rubber-stamped in a decree absolute in six weeks' time. Henry announced he was splitting from Merry in June, shortly before his transfer from London's English Premier League side Arsenal to Barcelona. A statement in July from law firm Mishcon de Reya on behalf of Henry read "Thierry is extremely saddened by the breakdown of his marriage. "He is anxious to move on with his life and maintain the best possible relationship he can with Claire for the benefit of their daughter Tea, whom he loves very much. "Thierry would like to stress that contrary to reports...his move to Barcelona was entirely for footballing reasons." — AFP
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Punjabi University moves court
Patiala, September 3 The AIU had announced on August 24 that the trophy had been won by the Amritsar university, while Panjab University, Chandigarh, was placed second. Punjabi University were given the third spot. In a writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution in the Delhi High Court, Punjabi University has claimed that the points awarded to them in the All-India inter-university canoeing and kayaking competition (men) held at Sukhna Lake from March 8 to 10 this year had not been added to their overall tally. It is on the basis of the total points accumulated by various universities in zonal and All-India inter-university tournaments that the AIU decides the winner of the MAKA Trophy. Punjabi University has engaged Sushil Dutt Salwan as counsel. Salwan fought the doping cases slapped against middle-distance runner Sunita Rani and discus thrower Neelam J Singh. According to the petition, “Taking into consideration the results of the All-India kayaking and canoeing competition, which was held as per rules, Punjabi University should have been No. 1 on the merit list. It is apparent that the AIU is desirous of denying the petitioner its legitimate claim and right over the trophy.” In its petition, the university has alleged that “the action of the AIU is totally illegal, mala fide and against the rules and regulations of inter- university tournaments. It is apparent that the AIU has conducted itself in this manner at the behest of certain vested interests.” The case has been listed for final hearing on November 7 in the Delhi High Court.
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Srinagar to host U-19 soccer meet
Srinagar, September 3 At least 25 teams from across the country will participate in the six-day league-cum-knockout tournament. Director, youth services and sports, Ravinder Gupta, told reporters here this afternoonthat matches will be played at the Polo Ground, SP College and the Bakshi Stadium. He said teams from Punjab, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Kendriya Vidyalaya had arrived here. Gupta said other teams that had confirmed their participation were Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Goa, Puducherry, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Tripura, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Bihar and IPSC teams. — UNI
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Victorious spikers fail to enter q-finals
Jakarta, September 3 But this emphatic win was not enough for India to clinch a last eight berth as Australia made it to the next stage from their group with an unbeaten record in the championship. The 27th-ranked Indian team finished second in their group, with a 2-1 record -- losing their first match to Australia, but winning the next two against Kazakhastan and Kuwait. The other teams who have made it to the quarter-finals were hosts Indonesia, Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Iran, Korea, Japan and China
— UNI
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Football sponsorship on rise: PFA chief
Ludhiana, September 3 The knockout tournament features 16 teams - East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, JCT, Mahindra United, Mohammedan Sporting, United Sports Club, Sporting Clube De Goa, Viva Kerala, Air India, Army XI, Dempo, Vasco, Churchill Brothers, Salgaocar, HAL and ONGC. The winners will pocket Rs 12 lakh, while the runners-up will get Rs 7 lakh. Winners of the quarterfinals will get Rs 60,000 each and the winners of pre-quarterfinal will receive Rs 30,000. The fair play award is worth Rs 50,000. All matches are ticketed, but the public response a day before the start of the tournament seemed lukewarm. Samir Thapar, president of the Punjab Football Association (PFA), said, “We had been working out last-minute details with the sponsors. Now, the campaign will become more intensive. Daily dose of football over the next 10 days or so, the participation of a local team (JCT), an SMS campaign and the presence of floodlights should draw crowds to the stadium.” “India’s victory in the Nehru Cup probably marks the beginning of a new era for football. Sponsors have started coming in a big way to promote football,” Thapar said. Satish Menon, president of Zee Sports, said, “Corporate houses are stepping forward for the sponsorship of football teams. It is a major development towards promoting sports among the youth.”
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Eves maul Thais 16-0
Hong Kong, September 3 Mamta Kharab chipped in with three goals, while Rita Rani, Jasjeet Kaur and Saba Anjum contributed two apiece. Suman Bala and Rajwinder Kaur sounded the board once each. For Surinder, her goal tally swelled to nine as she had scored four in a row in India’s 6-0 thrashing of Malaysia yesterday. The defending champions led 5-0 at the interval. The 16-0 win bettered China’s 15-0 walloping of Singapore yesterday as the tournament’s highest victory margin so far. Indian eves showed impressive stick work against the Thais. Rather than using raw power in their shots at the Thai goal, they showed deft touches both in open play and in taking penalty corners. India’s next match is against Singapore on Wednesday.
— UNI
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F1 circuit designer does ‘site-seeing’
New Delhi, September 3 “Tilke visited some sites today. He will see more sites tomorrow,” Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi told PTI. “He will leave the day after and file his report to F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone,” Kalmadi added. The IOA chief preferred not to divulge the exact locations where Tilke visited or would be visiting, but merely said, “They are around the National Capital Region.” Newspaper reports had earlier said that vast vacant areas in Greater Noida, Wazirabad and a place near Indira Gandhi International Airport had been identified by the IOA for laying the track. — PTI
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IOC cautions govt on sports policy
New Delhi, September 3 In a letter addressed to Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi, with a copy to IOC member and IOA general secretary Randhir Singh, IOC director Pere Miro has cautioned the government to “refrain from any measure which may prevent them (IOA and sports federations) from complying with the Olympic Charter.” “We have learned that a new sports policy would currently be under study in India, which might impact the rules and principles governing the Olympic movement as defined in the Olympic Charter,” the IOC official has stated. — OSR
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Vipin, Pramod in quarters
New Delhi, September 3 Vipin, who got a bye in the first round of the 50kg category event, defeated Russian Farson Chilubayev 21-9 in the second round. He will now take on Ukrainian Borys Storoznenko in the quarterfinals. Storoznenko beat Georigia's Topmike Kotrikadze 34-19 in his second round bout. Among other Indian in the fray, Pramod (52kg) outpunched Australian Williams Timacoy 15-7 to advance to the quarterfinals.
— PTI
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