The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Venus strolls through, Federer sweats again

Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning his match against Australia's Lleyton Hewitt at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on Monday. — Reuters

Melbourne, January 21
Venus Williams and Ana Ivanovic thundered into the Australian Open quarterfinals and Roger Federer overcame his second stern test of the tournament to reach the last eight today.

Lleyton Hewitt's tournament hit the buffers, however, Australia's remaining hope skidding out 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 to third seed Novak Djokovic.

While Wimbledon champion Williams and fourth seed Ivanovic made light work of their opposition, world number one Federer was again made to fight hard to defend his title.

Pushed to five sets on Saturday, he prevailed 6-4, 7-6, 6-3 against 13th seed Tomas Berdych but did not have things all his own way.

Next up for the Swiss is American James Blake who reached his first grand slam quarterfinal outside the United States with a solid 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Croatia's Marin Cilic.

While Federer put Saturday's epic behind him, Hewitt was unable to bounce back from his five-set third-round thriller.

The former world number one took until 4.33 am on Sunday morning to oust Marcos Baghdatis and failed to rouse himself for the Djokovic challenge.

Serbian Djokovic overcame a nervy start to clinch victory in two hours, 26 minutes and set up a last-eight clash with fifth seed David Ferrer of Spain.

Ferrer beat almost-namesake Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 to reach the last eight.

Djokovic's fellow Serb Ivanovic booked her quarterfinal with Venus by ousting Caroline Wozniacki 6-1, 7-6.

The world number three has not lost a set during the tournament and is relishing the prospect of playing the American.

Williams advanced with a routine 6-4, 6-4 victory over talented Polish qualifier Marta Domachowska.

Agnieszka Radwanska became the first Polish woman to reach a grand slam quarterfinal when she came from a set and 3-0 down to beat an ailing Nadia Petrova.

Russian 14th seed Petrova led 6-1, 3-0 but a groin strain hampered her movement in the third set and Radwanska stormed back to win 1-6, 7-5, 6-0 and set up a clash with ninth seed Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia.

Radwanska is the youngest of the eight quarterfinalists. Slovak Hantuchova recovered from a slow start to beat Russian Maria Kirilenko 1-6, 6-4, 6-4. — Reuters

India our toughest opponent: Hussey

Adelaide, January 21
India have proved themselves in different conditions and they are the biggest thorn in the flesh for Ricky Ponting and his team, believes Australia's middle order batsman Mike Hussey.

"India is right up there. They have proved themselves abroad, at home, in all conditions," said Hussey, after the hosts arrived here for the final Test starting Thursday.

"Some very tough cricket has been played in this series and they have my highest regards," Hussey said.

India were minutes away from saving the acrimonious Sydney Test before they eventually collapsed as Australia took a 2-0 lead in the four-match series.

But the spirited visitors bounced back in Perth, scripting a stunning victory to reduce the margin and make it 2-1.

Australia arrived here, stung by their defeat at the hands of the Indians while seeking their 17th straight win, as well as their perceived inability to play swing bowling.

"They used the conditions very well in Perth. I don't think it's going to swing as much in Adelaide," Hussey said.

"Having said that, they are obviously a very fine bowling unit, very balanced be it a matter of swing, seam or spin."

Hussey didn't believe his side made the mistake of taking the Indian pace attack lightly, given their inexperience and that they were not the first choice of the visitors in the series.

"Any bowler who bowls at this level ought to be a good bowler. We don't make the mistake of treating anyone lightly."

"We prepare very well against all opponents and with India it was no different at Perth," Hussey said.

Hussey was forthright in his assessment of his team's downfall at Perth, blaming the batsmen for the first innings flop show and their poor shot selection.

"Our shot selection wasn't very good. I personally was very disappointed at the shot I played in the first innings at a wide swinging delivery. In the second innings, I tried to play with discipline and caution and somewhat redeemed my approach of first knock."

Hussey was at the non-striker's end when he saw Ishant Sharma bowl that splendid spell to Ricky Ponting on the fourth morning.

"He obviously is a very fine bowler, disciplined and aggressive. There was a certain uneven bounce on the off-stump and he obviously was bowling a lot better to right-handers," he said. — PTI

No danger to No. 1 slot: Aussies

Adelaide, January 21
Australia's cricketers have dismissed suggestions they are in danger of losing their place as the world's best team after their shock loss to India last week.

Australia's critics have claimed the 72-run defeat in Perth was the first real sign their golden era was drawing to a close as the rest of the world catches up.

India fully deserved their win in the third Test after outplaying the Australians from the outset to seal victory with a day to spare and are confident of winning the last Test in Adelaide to square the series.

The Indian captain Anil Kumble said his team no longer had anything to fear from the Australians and believed they now had the best batting line-up in the game.

India's bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad echoed the skipper's comments when he said the tourists also had the best bowling attack in world cricket.

India's claims drew a prickly response from the Australians, who remain confident they will win the final match to clinch the four-match series 3-1.

''There's no other side in the world comes close to us when we're playing at our best,'' opening batsmen Matthew Hayden told Australian television after arriving in Adelaide today.

''We've had a bit of a glitch on the radar this week but I don't suspect for one minute that that's going to be in our mindset coming into and preparing for this Test match.''

Australian middle-order batsmen Mike Hussey, who experienced his first Test loss in Perth as well as making his first duck, also bristled at suggestions his team were in decline.

The Australians had won a record-equalling 16 Tests in a row before last week's loss and Hussey said it was inevitable they would slip up at some stage.

''That's cricket, you can't win every game you play,'' Hussey said.

''It is disappointing to lose, but we've just got to move forward and the good thing about our team is we're a very positive group of guys.

''It will probably make us work a little bit harder, prepare better and be even more determined for this Test match.''

Hussey said he expected India's seam bowlers would struggle to swing the ball as much in Adelaide as they did in Perth while Australia will be boosted by the return of Hayden, who missed the Perth game because of a hamstring injury.

Hayden declared himself fit after completing a lengthy batting session and said he was determined to restore Australia's reputation as the dominant force in world cricket.

''It's unbelievable really because a week-and-a-half ago cricket was boring Australia was so dominant, but I guess that's the melodramatic nature of sport,'' he said. — Reuters

Defeat hurts, says Clark

Melbourne, January 21
Stuart Clark is among the six Australian cricketers who tasted their first Test defeat in Perth against India and the pacer admits it hurts.

It was first of its kind experience for Clark, Chris Rogers, Phil Jaques, Michael Hussey, Andrew Symonds and Mitchell Johnson at Perth because they had not experienced defeat in the Test arena earlier.

And once India managed to upstage the mighty hosts, Clark admitted it was not a pleasant feeling.

"It hurts massively," Clark said.

"I don't like losing at any stage, in anything I do.

Obviously there would have been a nice record at the end of this, but losing's losing and the feeling's a horrible feeling," he was quoted as saying by 'The Age'.

Clark said he loathed defeats but also derived a positive out of the loss.

"It just goes to show that if we're not on every day, any team in the world is competitive.

"It was my first loss. Every time you lose a game of cricket or a game of tiddlywinks, it's disappointing. We sat down and had a beer and tried to make sure that next time we play it won't happen again," he said.

Clark echoed his captain's view and felt the hosts probably misread the WACA pitch and went for an all-pace attack that came a cropper.

And as the teams move to Adelaide for the fourth and final Test, Clark reckons the track there too might suit India.

"Like Melbourne and Sydney, I suppose the conditions will suit them. Hopefully we can play well and put them back on the back foot." — PTI

It was Dennis the Menace

Melbourne, January 21
Ricky Ponting and his men probably have a fellow Australian, Dennis Lillee, to blame for their stunning defeat against India in the Perth Test.

As revealed by India's bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad, Lillee agreed to provide crucial information about the wind at the WACA ground, which helped the Indian seamers come up with an extraordinary display of swing bowling to scuttle the Australian batting line-up.

"He told me about the winds and how to use them," Prasad was quoted as saying in 'Herald Sun'.

India's seemingly innocuous attack made the most of the Fremantle Doctor that blew across WACA and stole the thunder from Australia's much-vaunted all-pace attack.

Prasad, however, asserted that Lillee only provided the inputs and it was his wards who actually put it to good use. — PTI

India set to repeat Perth, warns Ganguly

Perth, January 21
Sourav Ganguly has warned the stunned Australians that they better watch out. India have the wherewithal to be No.1 Test nation.

The outspoken former captain said that India were set to repeat their famous third Test triumph this week, adding that Australia were victims of generational change.

Speaking to the Herald Sun, the man who riled Steve Waugh during the epic 2001 Indian series predicted Australia's 12-year stranglehold on the No.1 position is threatened by India.

"Australia is still the No.1 team in the world but I think we have a very good side that could be No.1," Ganguly said.

"We have a side which has played better against Australia than any other side in the world, which is a good sign for us. To be honest, we have played better than them this summer." Ganguly said India were unlucky not to win the controversy-ridden second Test in Sydney.

"I don't want to talk about the past but I feel we were very unlucky not to win in Sydney. We were happy to win in Perth and we think we can level the series," he said.

Ganguly said Australia were no longer as threatening without Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, who have retired. — IANS

Pakistan toy with Zimbabwe bowling

Karachi, January 21
Pakistan established a new record in crushing Zimbabwe by 104 runs in the first day-night one-day international at National stadium today.

Pakistan piled up a total of 347 for five and then restricted the visitors to 243 for seven in 50 overs.

It was the first time in 2,662 ODIs that five batsmen scored half centuries in an innings.

Debutant Nasir Jamshed (61), Younis Khan (79), Mohammad Yousuf (72), Shoaib Malik (63) and Misbah-ul-Haq (55 not out) took part in the run glut.

Zimbabwe were given a encouraging start by Vusi Sibanda (59) and Hamilton Masakadza (14) who were unruffled by the left-arm pace attack of Sohail Tanvir and debutant Samiullah Niazi, putting on 47 in nine overs.

Masakadza was brilliantly taken behind by keeper Kamran Akmal off Tanvir but Sibanda and Chamu Chibhabha put on 56 quick runs.

Sibanda scored his 10th fifty in a free-flowing innings off 54 balls with 11 fours.

Chibhabha made his sixth half century but in a more laboured effort of 52 from 73 balls.

Brief scores: Pakistan 347-5 (Younis Khan 79, Mohammad Yousuf 72, Shoaib Malik 63, Nasir Jamshed 61, Misbah-ul-Haq 55 not out).

Zimbabwe 243-7 (Vusi Sibanda 59, Chamu Chibhabha 52, Sean Williams 52 not out). — Reuters

Alderman seeks inquisition

Melbourne, January 21
Stung by Australia's stunning defeat against India at Perth, former pacer Terry Alderman has demanded an inquisition into the performance of the host bowlers.

A prominent swing exponent of his era, Alderman was baffled by the exploits of the young Indian attack - comprising RP Singh (22), Irfan Pathan (23) and Ishant Sharma (19) - which ran through the Australian batting order.

In contrast, the all-pace Australian attack proved more hype than substance, which clearly irked Alderman.

"Cricket Australia needs to have an inquisition into why India have been able to swing the ball and Australia haven't," Alderman was quoted as saying by 'Herald Sun'.

Australian pacer Stuart Clark too admitted the Indians did a smart job in the match and felt the hosts had been 'outbowled' in Perth.

"They seem to have swung the ball probably better than what we did — and full credit to them," Clark said.

"I think Irfan Pathan was a real handful and probably a real difference in the game. I think they bowled really well."

Captain Ricky Ponting said his team would study the tapes to counter India's swing bowling in the fourth and final Test at Adelaide.

"R P and Irfan swinging the new ball did a terrific job. We have a lot of left handers in our top order, as well, which probably suits the left arm bowlers of India," Ponting said.

"It did swing in Sydney, it probably swung a little bit in Melbourne as well, and it will in Adelaide.

"If it is that area, we have a look at that in this game and we try and find ways and means of making ourselves better against it," Ponting said. — PTI

I lacked match practice: Tait

Adelaide, January 21
Australian pacer Shaun Tait today admitted that his flop-show in the Perth Test has all but ended his chances of being selected for the fourth and final Test against India starting January 24.

"I'm not sure if I'll keep my spot here to be honest, by the look of things," Tait told 'The Advertiser'.

Tait, who was touted as a "wicket-taking machine" by skipper Ricky Ponting, came a cropper in Perth and went wicket-less besides adding to Australia's slow over-rate woes.

However, the 24-year-old remained optimistic about getting a chance in the forthcoming triangular ODI series also featuring Sri Lanka.

Tait said he lacked practice going into the Perth Test and probably would have done better with a warm-up match under his belt. — PTI

Bagan blank East Bengal

Kolkata, January 21
A double strike from Mohun Bagan captain Baichung Bhutia sunk East Bengal further into the relegation zone during their 12th round encounter of the I-league here today.

Injury to its Brazilian striker Edmilson Marques seemed to be hitting East Bengal hard as was evident in the match. Bhutia and Jose Ramairez Barreto combined to get the opening goal in the 29th minute.

In the 62nd minute, Bhutia capitalised on the relative weakness of the red-gold defence to take the game away from their rivals.

With this they also completed five consecutive wins against East Bengal at the Salt Lake Stadium.

Mohun Bagan was reduced in number almost immediately after the start of the second session losing its Brazilian midfielder Douglas Da Silva, who received his second booking, in the 48th minute.— UNI

£3.5 m British aid for Indian sports
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 21
India received a big boost for its sports development plans when British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, on a two-day visit to the country, promised a £3.5 million aid.

Brown's initiative, named "Inspiration International", which is a development project in partnership with governments across the world, will not only provide financial help, but also make available the services of experts for the development of Indian sports.

Though the programme has been in force since 2004 in select schools of the country, supported by Unicef, the British Council, the UK Department for International Development, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British Olympic Association, Brown's promise of the big financial aid will give the programme a massive push.

India, along with Brazil, Azerbaijan, Palau and Zambia, will be the beneficiaries of the pilot sports programme.

The British Prime Minister today interacted with budding sportspersons from schools across the country at the Delhi University Sports Complex, where he announced the £3.5 million aid.

"Inspiration International will use the power of sports to transform lives of millions of children and young people in countries across the globe," Brown said.

The programme has the twin objectives of sports development and social development through sports.

In India, the programme will help develop coaching on modern lines, spotting of talent, physical training, physical education, anti-doping compliance etc. This is in addition to the pact signed between the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and its British counterpart to work together for the promotion of sports.

Pbi varsity w’lifters dominate
Lalit Mohan
Tribune News Service

Anandpur Sahib, January 21
Weightlifters and power lifters of Punjabi University, Patiala, maintained their dominance claiming three more gold medals in the All-India Inter-University Weightlifting Championship being organised here at the Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College.

In the events held today, Ankur Sharma of Punjabi University, Patiala, claimed gold in 69 kg weightlifting for men lifting 270 kg in snatch and clean and jerk categories.

Vikas of Kurukshetra University came second and S. Arul Dass of Vellore University came third.

In best physique for men, Gondakar Sunil Suryan Kant of Shivaji University, Kohlapur, came first, Harpreet Kumar of Punjabi University, Patiala, emerged second and Sd. Karamatulla of Andhra University, Visakhpatnam, came third.

In best physique of men in 70 kg category, Rajnikant of MCKU, Varanasi, came first, Arun Rao T of MG University, Kottayam, second, Manu Kumar of GND University, Amritsar, came third.

In 82.5 kg power lifting for men, Ajit Singh of Punjabi University, Patiala, came first lifting 737.5 kg in squat, bench press and dead lift, Gurvinder Singh of Kurukshetra University came second lifting 710 kg and Shanil of Calicut University emerged third lifting 690 kg.

In 60 kg power lifting for women, Kuswathi of Osmania University came first lifting 385 kg in squat, bench press and dead lift, Kamaljit Singh of Punjabi University came second lifting 385 kg and Saraswati Bali of Mumbai University was third lifting 365 kg.

In 75 kg weightlifting for women, Amanpreet Kaur of Punjabi University, Patiala, came first lifting 172 kg in snatch and clean and jerk, Anjani Nabiyal of Lucknow University was second lifting 170 kg and Pardeep Kaur of GNDU, Amritsar, came third lifting 163 kg.

In 90 kg power lifting for men, Hardeep Singh of GNDU, Amritsar, was first lifting 717.5 kg in squat, bench press and dead lift, Yogesh Kumar of Punjabi University, Patiala, was second lifting 665 kg and Gireesh CL of Calicut University emerged third lifting 662.5 kg.

About 1200 weightlifters from 130 universities across the country are participating in the championship that is being held in Khalsa College here for the third time.

Lyallpur Khalsa upset GHPS Delhi

Jalandhar, January 21
Defending champions Government Model School, Jalandhar, blanked Sat Guru Partap Singh School, Bhaini Sahib, 4-0 while Lyallpur Khalsa School, Jalandhar, routed Guru Harkishan Public School, New Delhi, 6-1 in today's quarterfinals of the fourth All-India Sardar Balwant Singh Kapur Memorial Schools under-17 boys Hockey Tournament here.

The event underway at Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium in Burlton Park here, also saw Government Senior Secondary School, Gurgaon, eliminating Government School, Rampur, 6-2 while Bihar Regimental Centre, Danapur, ousted Spring Dale School, Amritsar, 2-0.

In the semifinals to be played tomorrow, Govt Model School, Jalandhar, will face Bihar Regimental School, Danapur, while Lyallpur Khalsa School will play against Government Senior Secondary School, Gurgaon.

Going all out in the closing stages of the game, local Government Model School pumped in three goals within a span of three minutes as they raced to a 4-0 victory over Sat Guru Partap Singh School, Bhaini Sahib, in the first quarterfinal match. The winners were restricted to 1-0 lead in the first half.

Harjinder Singh gave Govt Model School the lead in the 18th minute. On crossing over, the defending champions pressed hard and were awarded a penalty stroke in the 61st minute. Prabhdeep Singh converted it ease to make it 2-0. — UNI

N.D. Heroes lift soccer title
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 21
New Delhi Heroes sneaked past last year's runners-up Indian National by a solitary goal to annex the Delhi Soccer Association Senior Division League Championship at the Ambedkar Stadium here this afternoon.

In a battle of wits, the efforts of both teams to forge ahead did not fructify till late into the second half. New Delhi Heroes finally settled the argument seven minutes before the final whistle when inside-left Gyan Mayon's half volley from the top of the box foxed National custodian Rajat Guha to find the mark.

Heroes received a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh while the runners-up were awarded Rs 50,000. The losing semifinalists received Rs 25,000 each.

GND varsity korfball champs

Amritsar, January 21
Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, lifted the All-India Inter-University Korfball Championship which concluded here today.

GND University won this championship with six points while Osmania University, Hyderabad, emerged runners up by garnering four points. Kurukshetra University remained third with two points.

In the final day league matches, Osmania University beat MD University, Rohtak, 10-5. In another match, Guru Nanak Dev University defeated Kurukshetra University 12-5. — OC

SAI centre trials
Tribune News Service

Sangrur, January 21
Annual selection trials for admission to Sports Authority of India (SAI) Training Centre in the disciplines of athletics, boxing and volleyball will be held from January 23 to January 25 at Mastuana Sahib (Sangrur).

Players should be in the age group of 13-19 with medals and participation in recognised state, national and international level competitions.

They should report at the centre on January 23 at 9 am with two passport size photographs, original sports and date of birth certificates.