The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Indian Masters From Today
Ernie Els ready for challenge

New Delhi, February 6
Indian golf today received a huge thumbs up when World number 4 and title contender Ernie Els said he was really excited to be here and added that he will come back again to play in the Indian open.

''I'm really excited to be here'' the 38-year old South African said and then added, ''I’ll come back for the Indian Open, we’ll see.''

He expressed confidence that his first visit to India will be fruitful for him saying ''I have worked hard on my game and now I am building my concentration for the road ahead.'' Els is here to take part in the Emaar-MGF Indian Masters starting at Delhi Golf Club (DGC) from tomorrow.

He admitted that it will be hard to beat the Indian challenge but said he was ready for it.

''I'm really excited to be here.I played the course, the full 18 holes, and I think it's a wonderful golf course, old-fashioned course,'' he said about the DGC.

He was asked if he was prepared for the noise during the Indian Masters, he shot back ''Well I think compared to the cricketers we are pretty small here but it was nice to see people's. They seem very golf knowledgeable.

To a query whether he has played on anything like the DGC before, he replied ''I have played a lot of courses around the world obviously and this course for some reason reminds me a little of South Africa.

''The vegetation and some of the trees are very similar to what we have in South Africa. The lay-out is very old style and design which I really like and I enjoy the course. You never play two holes which are similar and you never really see any other holes out there when you are playing which I like too.''

''You have to put your ball in play and while, with technology, the course will be playing a little bit shorter than you would have liked it to play, you have to put the ball in play. The greens are very well designed too and it is well bunkered. It is a true old style golf course which I really enjoy.''

He was asked to compare China and India in golfing terms and his reply was ''They have a couple more tournaments in China and a lot more golf courses but India is right on the heels of China and growing at a very rapid pace. I feel that the Indian golfers at the moment are at a better level than the Chinese players.

''If you look at Jeev who has won in Japan and on the European Tour and Jyoti, Shiv doing well and Arjun playing on the US Tour, they have all broken through.

''You do play a lot of ball sports here like hockey cricket and tennis and so the ball sense is there for the youngsters so for them to pick up golf it might be easier than it is for the youngsters in China.''

About the weather, Els said ''Well if we had the fog we had this morning there is no way we could play so hopefully that will lift for tomorrow morning. But apart from that, conditions are perfect for golf, a good temperature and not much breeze, not too cold, so we should have good scoring.''

''I will be hitting a lot of three woods and three irons and maybe some five woods from tees.''

Asked about the Dubai Desert Classic, where he finished joint third last week, after leading the field at one stage, he said ''It was disappointing to say the least. Losing to the world’s number one is no disgrace but it doesn’t make it better. I had a chance and I probably should have won but I didn’t but I feel my game will be good this year. — UN

	Davis Cup tie vs Uzbekistan Paes keeps singles option open M.S. Unnikrishnan Tribune News Service New DeIhi, February 6 Non-playing captain Leander Paes has kept his options open regarding the singles combination while it is almost certain that Mahesh Bhupathi will teamup with Rohan Bopanna in the doubles of the Asia-Oceania Group I Davis Cup tie between India and Uzbekistan, to be played at the R. K. Khanna Stadium grass court here from February 8 to 10. Interacting with the media on the eve of the draw, Leander said he had the option of having three singles players in Prakash Amritraj, Rohan Bopanna and Somdev Dev Varman and he will take a final decision keeping the "best interest" of the team in mind. Prakash Amritraj said he was fit and ready for the tie while Bopanna said he was prepared to shoulder the burden of playing on all the three days. Young Somdev Dev Varman, who has lately been playing in indoor courts, was also game for a debut show on grass if the captain reposed faith on him. Leander said he was yet to ponder over the question of partnering Mahesh Bhupathi in the Beijing Olympic Games as he was presently totally focussed on the Davis Cup tie. "It is a selfless decision, but it's a hard decision to pull myself out of Davis Cup. But then, it's Team India", he explained. Mahesh Bhupathi, who was not there for India's last Davis Cup campaign, said he was "happy to be back in the team" and was looking forward to the match against Uzbekistan. Leander said "though we had some obstacles" in thepreparation of the Davis Cup, which he did not specify, he was satisfied with the way the team have been shaping up. "We are ready for the tie", he declared, though refused to commit himself about singles tillthe draw ceremony tomorrow as he felt that it was "tough to make the singles choice". He said there was a lot more grass on the centre court than before and it was just fine with the Indian team. Uzbekistan's No 1 player Denis Istomin, still nursing the wound of the 0-5 drubbing the visitors received at Jaipur in 2005, said their preparation for the tie was "OK". He said the players and teams would get a level playing field if the Davis Cup matches were held on a uniform surface, preferrably on hard courts. Istomin said given a choice, he would want to play the opening singles on Friday, as he was confident of putting up a good show. He said though the weather was good, the food was tough as they mostly ate out. "We are ready for the tie. Our team are in good form. We will try to win here", he said. Uzbek's No 2 player, the tall Farrukh Dustov, opined that "it's going to be an interesting tie as we will do our best to win". Though the visitors have better rankings than the Indian players, Davis Cup on grass has always been a different ball game for the hosts, and Leander hopes to cash in on this reputation to avenge the 1-4 defeat India suffered at the hands of Uzbekistan in indoor clay when the teams last clashed in 2007.
	CA may allow Gilly to play in IPL Sydney, February 6 Despite an agreement between organisers and the boards, Adam Gilchrist is set to get a nod from Cricket Australia (CA) to play in the Indian Premier League tournament this year. Gilchrist's manager, Stephen Atkinson, said the CA had given the wicketkeeper an understanding he would be free to play in the Twenty20 tournament, organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India(BCCI). ''[Gilchrist] could well be playing in the IPL this year - Cricket Australia has indicated there would be no problems with it,''Atkinson told the local media. The CA had entered into an agreement with their players forbidding them to join the IPL until two years after their international career is over. The argument behind the agreement is that it is designed to stop young players quitting early for a long career in the IPL. But if Gilchrist is permitted to play, other players could refer to his case as a precedent, although Atkinson said,''That two-year limit is really designed for young players, so it stops a player like Michael Clarke retiring and then signing a 10-year deal with the IPL.'' However, on the last phase of his career, Gilchrist did not see any problem to join IPL. ''The IPL is moving quickly and we're just trying to get a gauge on what the restrictions are,'' he said. ''As far as I know at the moment, Cricket Australia haven't given me any indication they wouldn't want me to part of that, but I'm not 100 per cent sure,'' he added. ''We're just trying to confirm that. It is moving quickly and we're just trying to get a gauge of where it's at so we'll know more in the next few days.'' Gilchrist is a man in demand even on the threshold of his retirement, with the CA preparing to secure his services in a coaching or promotional capacity. — UNI
	National camp called off for want of shuttlecocks New Delhi, February 6 Unbelievable but true. The national badminton camp scheduled to be held in Goa has been called off due to unavailability of shuttlecocks. The camp, was to start from tomorrow to train and prepare teams for Thomas and Uber Cup qualifiers slated for later this month, but the bizarre situation forced the Badminton Association of India (BAI) to abandon the camp and the shuttlers had been asked to go back home. According to BAI President V. K. Verma, this was the first time that a national camp had to be called off due to what he called unprofessional approach of SAI and the Sports Ministry. Verma squarely blamed the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Ministry, saying that for the last five months ''we have been requesting the SAI and ministry for the shuttlecocks but SAI has failed to provide them.'' ''How long we could have run the camp by borrowing shuttlecocks. You can not run a national camp like this,'' he said. ''It is unprecedented and upsetting for our players. This has happened due to the complete apathy on the part of SAI and the Sports secretary. I have met them so many times and informed them about the shortage. We have been managing somehow by begging and borrowing shuttlecocks,'' he added. — UNI
	Amritsar girls win hockey title Puneet Pal Singh Gill Tribune News Service Badal (Muktsar), February 6 It was the ‘Chak De’ moment at the Badal village hockey ground with the final of the Punjab Women Hockey League (PWHL) being played there today. It was won by BBK DAV College, Amritsar, by defeating Shaheed Sukhdev Thapar Memorial Government Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana, through a tie-breaker in an exciting encounter. Baljinder Kaur, in the 3rd minute of the match, stormed through the Ludhiana team’s defence and sounded the board. But the score was equalised in the 22nd minute by Reena of Ludhiana team through a field goal. The half time score was 1-1. In the second half, the Ludhiana team sprung into action and in the 38th minute of the match they were awarded a penalty corner, which they failed to convert. Another easy chance of scoring a goal was missed by the Ludhiana team in the 40th minute. Ludhiana missed two golden chances in the 46th and 47th minutes of the match. The Amritsar team sprung into action once again with an attack in the 48th minute, but the Ludhiana defenders thwarted their move. In the 53rd minute, Rinku of Ludhiana got a green card when she had an altercation with some Amritsar players. A minute later, another altercation took place between the players of both teams. Sandeep Sohi of Amritsar and Sapna Saini of Ludhiana were shown yellow cards as a result of that. Later, director, sports (Punjab), Pargat Singh had to intervene and warned the coaches of both the teams. As both the teams were not able to score in the allotted time, a tie-breaker was held in which the Amritsar eves defeated Ludhiana eves 5-4. Another match, which was held for the third and fourth place, was won by Lyallpur Khalsa College, Jalandhar, who defeated Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidhalaya, Jalandhar, 4-3.
	Heena reigns supreme Prabhjit Singh Tribune News Service Badal (Muktsar), February 6 Eighteen-year-old international star Heena Sidhu of Punjab today won the gold in both the senior and junior categories of the 10 metre Air Pistol, while the 10 metre Air Rifle title was clinched by the much experienced Anuja Jung of Railways at the 1st All India Women Air Weapon Shooting championship here today. Heena scored 476.0 as wore down the strong challenge of CRPF contenders Rachna Devi (475.3) and Pushpanjali (471.2), who won silver and bronze, respectively. In the 10 metre Air Rifle, Railway’s Anuja Jung scored 496.4 points to win gold. NCC girl Lajja Gauswami (495) got the silver and Maharashtra’s Juthike Bhonsle (494.5) won the bronze. Punjab’s Jotveer Kaur Dandiwal shone in the 10 metre Air Rile by getting gold in the event’s junior category. Jotveer prevailed with 392.0 points over Lajja Gauswami (391) and Maharastra’s Dhanashri Kulkarni (390). Maharashtra women proved their overall might as they won 10 m Rifle team gold. That was another matter that they had a tie with Punjab with the overall score of 1166. It was Radhika Barale’s top score of 390 that enabled the visiting team to clinch the team title. The Railways team got bronze with the total score of 1153, followed by Rajasthan at the fourth position with 1146. It was the less experienced Kiranjit Kaur’s low of 384, in the face of Avneet Sidhu’s 390 and Jotveer’s 392, that led Punjab to lose the team event gold to Maharashtra. National champion Avneet Sidhu had a medal drought in the individual category. Results:10 M Rifle: Anuja Jung (Railway)- 496.4 Gold, Jalla Gauswami (NCC)- 495 Silver, Juthika Bhonsle (MAH)- 49.5 Bronze. 10 M Pistol: Heena Sidhu (PUN)- 376 Gold, Racna Devi (CRPF)- 475.3 Silver, Puspanjali (CRPF)- 471.2 Bronze. 10 M Rifle (Jr.): Jotveer Kaur Dandiwal (PUN) 392 Gold, Lajja Gauswami (NCC)- 391 Silver, Danashri Kularni (MAH) 390 Bronze. 10 M Pistol (Jr.): Heena Sdhu (PUN)- 379 Gold, Bhawana Sharma (RAJ)- 372 Slver, Ruby Tomer (PUN)- 368 Bronze. Team results: 10 M Rifle: Gold: Maharashtra(Radhika-390, Neeta Tekawade-386, Neha Chavan-390). Silver: Punjab (Kiranjit Kaur-384, Jotveer kaur-392, Avneet Kaur Sidhu-390. Bronze: Railways (Anuja Jung-394, Rahee Samant-375, Pournima Zaname-384). 10 M Pistol: Gold-: CRPF (Shilpi-375, Pushpanjali-376, Racna Devi -378). Silver: Punjab (Heena Sidhu-379, Lakhbir Kaur 373, Ruby Tomer-368). Bronze: Maharastra (Sanyota-369, Aparna-373, Darshna Jawle-351)
	Azhar joining politics? Tribune News Service Hyderabad, February 6 Former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin today met Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) President K Chandrasekhar Rao here, setting off speculation over Hyderabadi batsman’s foray into politics. The meeting took place at an undisclosed location and lasted for over an hour, the party sources said. “It was a one-on-one meeting. Of course, politics did come up for discussion,” the sources said. It is believed that TRS, fighting for separate Telangana state, has invited the cricketer to join the party and offered a suitable position. The buzz in political circles is that TRS might field Azharuddin for the post of Hyderabad Mayor in the coming elections for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).
	Koertzen making 'rash of bloopers' Sydney, February 6 South African umpire Rudi Koertzen continues to make "embarrassing rash of bloopers" and the latest example was his giving India's Rohit Sharma out caught behind against Sri Lanka Tuesday when bowler Muttiah Muralitharan did not even appeal, the media reported Wednesday. Sharma was later fined 10 per cent of his one-day international (ODI) match fee for standing his ground after being given out in the Commonwealth Bank Triangular Series in Brisbane. "Frustrated India were struck by another umpiring blunder as the fading finger of death, Rudi Koertzen, produced his latest howler to infuriate the tourists in the washed-out match against Sri Lanka at the Gabba," wrote Daily Telegraph. "It continued an embarrassing rash of bloopers for the South African official, who robbed (Kumar) Sangakkara of an almost certain Test double century against the Australians in Hobart with another error," it said. Sharma, 20, failed to score. "Rookie batsman Rohit Sharma was incredulous to be gunned out by Koertzen despite missing a Muttiah Muralitharan 'doosra' by a wide margin. The spin wizard did not even offer an appeal for caught behind, but Koertzen was convinced by a shout from Sri Lankan keeper Kumar Sangakkara," it wrote. — IANS
	Rural fest: heats today Sanjeev Singh Bariana Tribune News service Ludhiana, February 6 The annual rural festival at Kila Raipur village starts tomorrow with the elimination rounds in the runs by bullock carts. The festival will be formally inaugurated on February 8. Undisputedly, the “king of rural sports”, the event, like usual, has attracted sponsors from multinational companies and the best of over 4500 sportsmen and women. At least 150 carts are scheduled to feature in the practice runs by bullock carts on the dusty track of the seven-acre odd stadium which is the venue for the four-day 'Haywards 5000 Kila Raipur Sports Festival'. Wall paintings, hoarding and bunting gave a festive look to the venue which is cynosure of the public from the adjoining areas from its inception in 1933. During the training sessions today, specially trained jockeys, perched precariously on the carts, led the bulls assault towards the race endline giving thundering battle cries. The jockeys are a big catch for the bull owners during preparation of the event which carries a prize money of Rs 2 lakh up for grabs. The jockeys bag nearly 25 per cent of the prize money. A senior organiser said "money is not that important to majority of the owners. A victory in the race is a matter of pride and they spend huge amounts in maintaining the health of the bulls and ensuring training of the jockeys, who get at least 25 per cent of the prize money". The winner will get a prize money of Rs 35,000. Besides the official prizes, the winners on the final day will get away with a bigger sum as the spectators also announce their share for their prize bull. The carts finishing second, third and fourth get Rs 30,000, Rs 20,000 and Rs 15,000, respectively. Cash prizes are also given to the carts finishing up to the eighth position. Athletes will vie for the cash prizes at stake from a total prize money of Rs 1 lakh. Another Rs 75,000 and Rs 85,000 cash prizes have been set aside for hockey and kabaddi. The prize money for different events, including dare-devilry, totals up to Rs 10 lakh. A visit to the site of the rural Olympics gave a peep into the royal treatment meted to the "prized oxen". A bull can cost as high as Rs 6 lakh, casual enquires revealed. The diet of the "special children (bulls) of affluent farmers include almonds, milk and butter. The thick wooded heavy chariots have now been replaced with the sleeker carts made of pipe with rimmed wheels and tyres. Second generation cart racers occupy a special place in the heart of the onlookers as do the certain prized horse owners.