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WC comes to India
Chamundeswarnath given 10-day notice
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Bhullar in top 10 of Asian Tour
Rousing welcome awaits
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WC comes to India
New Delhi, July 27 The 12-team field will feature 42 matches, spread over 15 days. The teams will be divided into two groups of six each, and two teams from each group will progress into the semifinals.
Negre signed the lead title sponsorship deal with Hero Honda managing director Pawan Munjal at an impressive function, attended by half of India’s 1975 World Cup winning team, led by Ajitpal Singh. The FIH also signed an agreement with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for the successful conduct of the World Cup. India would be hosting the World Cup Hockey Championship after a gap of 27 years. India first hosted the prestigious event in 1981 in Mumbai. India, who won the bronze in 1971 and silver in 1973, have not finished among the medals since their gold-winning feat in 1975 at KulaLumpur (Malaysia), under the captainship of Ajitpal Singh. Only five countries, including India, have won the World Cup in 11 editions - Pakistan four times, Holland thrice, Germany, who were the winners of the last edition in 2006, twice and Australia. FIH chief Negre announced that plans were afoot to make India a destination for a major hockey event every year as the country had the hockey culture and would have the necessary infrastructure after the World Cup to hold major international hockey events. He, however, reiterated his stated stand that the hockey body should be put in proper order, and elections to Hockey India should be held within six months, to make it a united, coherent body for the smooth conduct of the World Cup. Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi, who is also the chairman of the 2010 Commonwealth Games organising committee, said the “FIH World Cup will serve as an ideal preparatory platform for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.” India is fully geared up to host the World Cup without sparing any expenses, with just over 200 days to go for the mega event. Four countries have already qualified for the championship. They are: Canada (champions of the third Pan American Cup), South Africa (Africa Cup of Nations champions), South Korea (8th men’s Asia Cup champions) and hosts India. Eight more teams will qualify for the championship round. The automatic qualifiers would be the champions of the 12th Men’s EuroHockey Nations Cup and the champions of the 6th Men’s Oceania Cup, which will feature New Zealand and Australia. Ajitpal Singh said there was a world of difference between the hockey team of 1975 and the hockey team of now. “We went there to become the world champions. The present Indian team have not even qualified for the World Cup. We have qualified only because we are the hosts”, Ajitpal noted. “It’s good the World Cup would be coming to India finally,” observed former Indian captain Pargat Singh. Pargat said the injury suffered by the goalkeeper Baljit Singh was a big blow to Indian hockey. The World Cup launch witnessed a recap of India’s thrilling 2-1 victory against Pakistan at Kula Lumpur in 1975 and the display of the coveted World Cup, which was wheeled into the dais from backstage by Ajitpal Singh. Year Host 1971 Spain 1973 Netherlands 1975 Malaysia 1978 Argentina 1982 India 1986 England 1990 Pakistan 1994 Australia 1998 Netherlands 2002 Malaysia 2006 Germany 2010 India
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Chamundeswarnath given 10-day notice
Hyderabad, July 27 The decision was taken by the ACA at its general body meeting held in the coastal Andhra city of Vijayawada yesterday. Chamundeswarnath skipped the meeting and remained incommunicado even as the stage is set for criminal action against him with a high-level probe confirming the allegations. Several women cricketers had lodged a complaint, alleging that the former batsman and cricket administrator had misbehaved with them and sought “sexual favours” for selection in the team. He was also accused of sending lewd SMSes to some women cricketers. The state Additional Director-General of Police M Ratan, who was asked to probe the charges against the cricket administrator, has completed his investigation and submitted his report to the government, indicting the tainted cricketer. The inquiry report will now be used as evidence in the case against Chamundeswarnath under Section 509, IPC (a word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) booked by the Vijayawada police based on a complaint by women cricketers. Chamundi, as he is known in cricketing circles, was suspended from the ACA last month on charges of corruption and misappropriation of funds. Based on a report by a six-member probe committee, an executive committee of the ACA had suspended Chamundi on charges of corruption and misuse of funds. The allegation against him was that he was involved in the Rs 4 crore scandal in the purchase of chairs, flood lights and gym equipment for the ACA cricket stadium in the port city of Visakhapatnam. “We have received a fax that he will not attend the general body meeting. But, the signature in the fax message did not tally with his original signatures,” the ACA President G Gangaraju said. As many as 13 women cricketers, who had complained against Chamundeswaranath, met the ACA members and reiterated their charges. Fearing arrest, Chamundi is said to be preparing to move a local court for anticipatory bail.
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Roseau (Dominica), July 27 Razzak, who was prevented from bowling in international cricket in December 2008 due to a suspect action before having his suspension lifted in March, opened the bowling yesterday and took four wickets for 39 runs as Bangladesh defended a target of 247 at international cricket’s newest venue of Windsor Park. “I was not surprised when the captain gave me the new ball, especially the way the pitches have been playing in the Caribbean during this series,” said Razzak. “When I played in the Caribbean in the 2007 World Cup, I also used the new ball, so it’s normal. But this was important for me. I was out of the team for eight months, and now I am back in the side, I am looking to do well.” The victory gives Bangladesh a 1-0 lead in the three-match series with the second ODI scheduled for the same venue on Tuesday, and the final ODI on Friday. Razzak again exposed the West Indies’ frailty to spin bowling, after Bangladesh, sent in to bat, were restricted to 246 for nine from their allocation of 50 overs. Mohammad Ashraful hit the top score of 57 and captain Shakib Al Hasan stroked 54 to lead the Bangladesh batting despite Kemar Roach’s career-best five wickets for 44 runs. — AFP Scoreboard Bangladesh Tamim c Fletcher b Roach 0 Junaid c Lewis b Bernard 36 Ashraful run out 57 Raqibul b Roach 12 Shakib c Dowlin b Roach 54 Mushfiqur c Sammy b Lewis 11 Mahmudullah c Bernard b Miller 42 Naeem not out 7 Razzak lbw b Roach 0 Rasel b Roach 7 Rubel not out 1 Extras (b 1, lb 8, w 10) 19 Total: (9 wickets; 50 overs) 246 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-74, 3-97, 4-128, 5-149, 6-228, 7-230, 8-231, 9-241 Bowling: Roach 10-0-44-5, Pascal 4-0-29-0, Sammy 9-0-48-0, Bernard 10-1-31-1, Miller 9-0-50-1, Lewis 8-0-35-1. West Indies Richards lbw Razzak 1 Fletcher b Rasel 5 Smith lbw Al Hasan 65 Reifer c Hasan b Mahmudullah 3 Dowlin b Razzak 10 Bernard c Iqbal b Naeem 38 Sammy lbw Razzak 28 Lewis b R.Hossain 21 Miller not out 16 Roach run out 0 Pascal lbw Razzak 0 Extras (b-4, lb-1, w-2) 7 Total: (all out, 43.4 overs) 194 Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-8, 3-23, 4-42, 5-120, 6-130, 7-171, 8-188, 9-191, 10-194. Bowling: Rasel 8-0-30-1, Razzak 9.4-0-39-4, M’dullah 7-0-38-1, Shakib 8-0-26-1, Naeem 7-0-28-1, Hossain 4-0-28-1.
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Bhullar in top 10 of Asian Tour
Gaganjeet Bhullar has finally done it. His maiden triumph on the Asian Tour on Sunday when he clinched the Indonesia President Invitational has moved the 21-year-old Kapurthala lad to the 10th slot on the Asian Tour Order of Merit. Bhullar has got into the top 10 with his earnings touching US $ 1,24,941 from seven outings. The only other Indian in the top-10 is Jyoti Randhawa, who is placed third with earnings of $2,46,745. But Bhullar is barely 21 and has a long way to go. The morale-boosting win has given Bhullar the confidence that he can now go on and make a mark for himself on the world stage just like fellow compatriot and reigning Asian Tour champion Jeev Milkha Singh. Bhullar said, “This victory will get me into all the co-anctioned events now and will give me a lot of confidence in my coming years”. Bhullar who barely managed to get full playing rights on the Asian Tour this season, has shown a phenomenal rise. His climb up the Order of Merit ladder has been tremendous. From the stage of barely managing to qualify for the full event, Bhullar is now knocking at the doors of the Asan Tour top spot. At the moment Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee continues to lead the standings with Anthony Kang of the United States in second place on and India’s Jyoti Randhawa in third. “My experience from playing with the big boys where Tiger, Ernie Else and Sergio Garcia were competing has certainly helped me a lot,” added Bhullar. Billed as the hottest star on the Asian Tour, Bhullar became the youngest Indian to qualify for the British Open where he equalled world champion Tiger Wood’s opening score of 71 at the world’s oldest major a fortnight ago. Bhullar gives credit to his sports psychologist for helping turn his game around. “Last year, I lost six or seven tournaments when I was in contention where I didn’t play well. I was a bit frustrated and he (Dr Aggarwal) told me to do something to lose my frustration”, said Bhullar. The 21-year-old year Indian from Kapurthala has since witnessed a revival of fortunes, having posted three top 10s and finally a triumph onthe Asian Tour. “It’s all thanks to Dr Pradeep Aggarwal who has helped me a lot in improving my mental strength. Without his teachings, I doubt I would have gone this far,” said Bhullar.
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Rousing welcome awaits
Kapurthala, July 27 RCF Chief Welfare Inspector Sports Harbhajan Singh Bhullar’s only son Gagandeep Bhullar would not only be given a rousing welcome but he would also be appropriately honoured, RCF Senior Public Relations Officer Gurjit Singh told The Tribune. RCF has already been honouring Gagandeep from time to time for his achievements since his childhood, he added. His joyous father Harbhajan Singh Bhullar told The Tribune that Gagandeep was expected to return to Kapurthala after about three weeks after spending two weeks at Brunei and Macao and one week at Bangalore in India. Gagandeed’s coach Gian Chand gave excellent shape to his playing talent and skill with his exemplary directions. Interestingly Gagandeep was just 10 years old when he won the under ten National Junior played at Mumbai in 1998 for the first time. Since then he never looked back. Gagandeep remained number one junior India national player for consecutive three years from 2002 to 2004. Subsequently, he held the title of India number one amateur player in 2004-05. Later Gagandeep won silver medal in Asian Games in 2006 at Doha Qatar. He also bagged first position in his first under eighteen world junior at Bangkok in Thailand in 2004, his father Harbhajan added. |
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New Delhi, July 27
International Hockey Federation (FIH) president Leandro Negre Carrio confirmed here today that the 12th edition of the World Cup Hockey Championship will be held at the National Stadium in Delhi as scheduled from March 7 to 20, 2010.
Gaganjeet Bhullar has finally done it. His maiden triumph on the Asian Tour on Sunday when he clinched the Indonesia President Invitational has moved the 21-year-old Kapurthala lad to the 10th slot on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
Bhullar has got into the top 10 with his earnings touching US $ 1,24,941 from seven outings. The only other Indian in the top-10 is Jyoti
Randhawa, who is placed third with earnings of $2,46,745. But Bhullar is barely 21 and has a long way to go.
Sania wins Lexington Challenger
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