Scoreboard

Pakistan:

Jamshed c Jayawardene b Kulasekara 0 (1)

K Akmal c Samaraweera b Thushara 13 (19)

Younis c Kapugedera b Muralitharan 23 (73)

Malik lbw b Thushara 0 (4)

U Akmal c Sangakkara b Mathews 18 (28)

Alam c Sangakkara b Thushara 10 (24)

Afridi c Jayasuriya b Muralitharan 7 (9)

Razzaq c Thushara b Jayasuriya 17 (43)

Gul run out 14 (26)

Aamer not out 24 (32)

Ajmal run out 16 (23)

Extras (b 4, lb 4, w 18) 26

Total (all out; 47 overs) 168

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-21, 3-21, 4-53, 5-67, 6-78, 7-87, 8-125, 9-128.

Bowling: Kulasekara 8-2-17-1, Malinga 10-0-37-0, Thushara 9-2-33-3, Mathews 7-1-15-1, Muralitharan 10-0- 41-2, Jayasuriya 3-0-17-1.

Sri Lanka:

Tharanga c Jamshed b Aamer 10 (16)

Jayasuriya c U Akmal b Razzaq 30 (33)

Sangakkara run out 2 (17)

Jayawardene c Younis b Afridi 12 (32)

Kapugedera not out 67 (97)

Samaraweera not out 38 (69)

Extras (b 2, lb 4, w 2, nb 2) 10

Total (4 wickets; 43.4 overs) 169

Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-44, 3-44, 4-74.

Bowling: Aamer 9.4-2-31-1, Razzaq 10-1-35-1, Gul 8-0-30-0, Afridi 8-0-39-1, Ajmal 6-0-21-0, Malik 2-0-7-0.

Gaganjeet Bhullar is going great guns. After recording his first Asian Tour triumph at Jakarta, this 21-year-old Kapurthala lad seems all set to record the season's first back-to-back victories firing seven birdies in a blemish-free seven under card to move up to the joint third slot in the $ 3 lakh Brunei Open at Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei today.

Bhullar is just two strokes behind veteran Boonchu Ruangkit, the 54 year old Thai, who carded a seven under par 64 for a three-day total of 13 under par 200. Philippines Jay Bayron is second at 201. Bhullar shares third slot with Australia's Sott Barr and Korea's Ted Oh on matching 202s.

As the game advances into the final round, Bhullar appears to be his relaxed self. The Kapurthala boy is probably banking on the mental strength that he has acquired over the years to win his second title in two weeks. He said: "The thing is to keep everything simple. The one thing that has worked for me is to keep my mind relaxed".

Bhullar sank his first birdie on the par-five second and sank two more on the fourth and fifth to take the turn at three under par 32. Another four birdies on the back nine (10th, 12th, 15th and 16th) saw the overnight 21st placed youngster move up the leaderboard with a bogey-free seven under 64 card to occupy the thied third slot.

Bhullar who became the youngest Indian to play in the world's oldest Major at Turnberry, said: "My mental vision towards my goal has definitely changed a lot after playing the Open in Turnberry".

As Bhullar moved up the leaderboard, compatriot Chinnaswamy Muniyappa set the Brunei Open greens on fire as he set a new course record firing a sparkling nine under 62, to be just one stroke beind the Kapurthala lad with a three round total of 203. The 32-year-old Bangalorean had carded 69 and 72 in the first two rounds.

The leading scores after third round: 200 Boonchu Ruangkit (Thailand) 65-71-64; 201 Jay Bayron (Philippines) 69-65-67; 202 Gaganjeet Bhullar (India) 67-71-64, Ted Oh (Korea) 64-70-68 and Scott Barr (Australia) 66-67-69; 203 C. Muniyappa (India) 69-72-62, Lu Chien-soon (Taipei) 65-71-67, Kodai Ichihara (Japan) 71-64-68 and Mardan Mamat (Singapore) 65-71-67; 204 Juvic Pagunsan (Philippines) 68-68-68, Marcus Both (Australia) 68-67-69, David Gleeson (Australia) 66-69-69, Shaaban Hussin (MAS) 67-68-69, Wisut Artjanawat (Thailand) 67-65-72, 206 - Sung Mao-chang (Taipei) 69-71-66, Darren Beck (Australia) 71-67-68, Thammanoon Srirot (Thailand) 74-65-67, George Coetzee (RSA) 72-65-69, Sattaya Supupramai (Thailand) 67-69-70, Gavin Flint (Australia) 64-68-74. 

New Delhi, August 1
Indian middle order batsman Yuvraj Singh today said he would go by the collective decision of the players on the question of the contentious "Whereabout Requirements" clause of the WADA anti-doping code. Yuvraj said some of the Indian players, who are in the list of those required to furnish their whereabouts to the International Cricket Council in advance, will meet an ICC lawyer tomorrow in Mumbai and take a collective decision.

"Our concern is that we play 9-10 months of continuous cricket and when we are not playing we should be given that free time. We have a meeting tomorrow with the ICC and depending on that we will take a decision," Yuvraj said on the sidelines of Reebok's footwear collection launch here.

"Every team has their own decision, similarly we have our own. It a complete team decision and I would go by what the team decides. I don't have any individual opinion and even if I have I won't like to discuss it now," he added. The Indian players missed the July 31 deadline to sign the WADA anti-doping code and are awaiting a meeting between the ICC and BCCI tomorrow to get their concerns addressed on the contentious issue.

According to the "Whereabout Requirements" clause of the WADA anti-doping code, all cricketers under the ICC's international testing pool should to furnish in an online form their whereabouts for the next three months, even during off-season, in advance to facilitate effective out-of-competition testing.

The Indian players have reservations on this clause, which they feel infringes on their privacy. Yuvraj doesn't support the view that Twenty20 format was forcing cricketers retire early from Test cricket, saying the two things were not related in any way.

"I don't think players are retiring because of they want to play more Twenty20. Flintoff is a one of the best all-rounders and he has played enough cricket and it has taken a toll on his body, while Muttiah Muralitharan is a legend already. I don't see there is any relation between the two," Yuvraj said. Asked which form of cricket he prefers to play, Yuvraj said," I would play any format that I am asked to play, four-day, 50-overs, Twenty20 whatever." — PTI 

Amritsar, August 1
Following the detection of manipulation of records by the MAKA Trophy Committee constituted by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), a case of impersonation by an over-aged sportsperson, who participated from Punjabi University, Patiala, in 2007-08 has come to light.

The sportsperson allegedly used the certificate of another student with the same name by affixing his photograph for participation in canoeing and kayaking competition. The matter came to light when Kurukshetra University complained against the organising committee to the Inter-University Sports Board of India saying the boy was overaged and had played earlier from Guru Nanak Dev University a few years ago.

The board had scratched the team of Patiala University after finding the charges true. However, the AIU had invited the directors, Sports, Punjabi University and Guru Nanak University, to represent their views for “settlement of dispute” after Patiala University urged it to review the case.

GND University urged the AIU not to reconsider the case decided by the one-man committee scratching the canoeing and kayaking team of Punjabi University for participating in the inter-university tournament 2008.

Former Vice-Chancellor, GND University, Anjali Bhanwra in a letter to Prof D Dongaonkar, secretary general, AIU, quoted rules for inter-university tournaments, which stated that the decision taken by the president of the Sports Board, as the case may be, shall be binding on the parties concerned.

Probe by GND University said Kuldeep Singh, on whose certificate the accused sportsperson had participated in the competition, had stated he had never played in the said competition nor had he participated in water sports competition which was also corroborated by the principal of the school from where he had done his plus II.

The university authorities alleged this was being done to manipulate the record to grab the MAKA trophy. 

Patiala, August 1
Sushil Kumar’s bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics did for Indian wrestling what a hundred years of prayers had failed at. The sport caught the public eye and is on a high in terms of results as well. Its not that before Sushil the wrestlers didn’t perform well at international championships, but their feats were not acknowledged because of lack of publicity. The attention that Sushil has brought to the game a long-awaited boost.

Now, the Indian women grapplers are all set to compete in the World Senior Wrestling Championship and this time they too are aiming big. These wrestlers, who are undergoing a training camp at National Institute of Sports, Patiala have time and again won many medals in the junior world championships but at the senior championships they are yet to make their mark.

The Indian women’s wrestling team practice at Patiala on Friday. Tribune photos: Rajesh Sachar

The junior girls’ squad lately fetched one gold, three silvers and one bronze medal during the Junior Asian Wrestling Championship held in Manila (Philippines) from July 7 to 17. Navjot Kaur of Punjab won gold in 67 kg, Gargi Yadav (56kg), Anmol (72kg) and Sakshi Malik (59kg) lifted silvers while Anju Chaudhary (51kg) accounted for the bronze.

Now as the senior girls prepare for the championship that would be held at Denmark from September 21 to 27, the practice sessions have started getting more intense. P.R. Sondhi, national wrestling coach, along with Georgian coach Robin Doborjginidze, is working hard to get the girls in their best form.

Geetika Jakhar

Seven women wrestlers, including top Indian wrestler Geetika Jakhar, were selected for the championship. The names of the wrestlers include Nirmala Rani (48 kg), Babita (51 kg), Geeta (55 kg), Alka Tomar (59 kg), Suman Kundu (63 kg), Geetika Jakhar (67 kg) and Gursharanpreet Kaur (72 kg).

Sondhi adds, “The wrestlers are getting the best of facilities this time as the Government had budgeted over Rs 350 crore for the training of the sports persons for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Their daily expenses amount to Rs 550, per head, which enables them to get a good diet and facilities required for better performance.

Babita

“Though I believe that these facilities should be provided at ground-level. still a start anywhere is to be appreciated. I can clearly notice an improvement in their performance now that they are mentally at peace and don’t crib about lack of facilities. Moreover, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is helping us in every possible way to get the best out of these girls. Though all girls are good but I have high hopes on Geetika and Alka. Even Babita is going good.”

Both Geetika Jakhar and Alka Tomar are Arjuna Awardees. Geetika on being questioned about the facilities said, “The facilities being provided are far better than earlier. We are being given the best diet along with supplements, which is a must for wrestlers. Moreover, we have even been provided with a physiotherapist Perywinkle Kaur and a masseur. Even the rooms are air-conditioned. Now what remains to be seen is how we perform. The government and coaches could not have given more.”

Alka too gave thumbs up to the facilities. “The coaches are paying attention to each and every aspect and every injury is being dealt with properly. I myself have recovered from an injury and am feeling much better now. Even other girls are in their best form. I think we can really make it big this time.” 

BRIEFLY

Knights’ Indecision: Nothing has been decided, neither the coach nor the other things. The whole team would be meeting for the first time post IPL on August 4 and it's a series of meetings will August 15. — KKR owner Shah Rukh Khan

McLaren Mercedes' British driver and current Formula One World champion Lewis Hamilton plays cricket during a promotional event in New Delhi Saturday. — AFP

Punjab State Super Football League begins
Chandigarh: The 23rd Punjab State Super Football League for the year 2009 has been commenced from July 30. There are a total six teams fighting it out for the title - BSF-Jalandhar, Punjab Police-Jalandhar, RCF-Kapurthala, PSEB-Hoshiarpur and Harbhajan Sporting Club and JCT Football Academy have been promoted to the aforesaid league from Punjab Division-II League. The opening match of the league was held on July 30 between JCT Academy and PSEB, which was held at Phagwara. PSEB won this match by 5-1. The other matches held on the opening day were RCF Kapurthala against BSF Jalandhar (1-1) at Kapurthala and Harbhajan Sporting Club vs. Punjab Police (0-4) at Mahilpur. Harbhajan Sporting Club at Hoshiarpur tomorrow. The action begins at 4.30 pm. — TNS

Salgaocar Club for UK
NEW DELHI: Salgaocar Club, winners of the Nike Manchester United Premier Club India finals, will leave for United Kingdom for the global finals at Manchester. Salgaocar (Goa) had beaten Raghav Club in the finals to become the first team to gain direct entry into the global finals. Sixty teams participated this year, which included Mahindra United, JCT, Pune FC, Viva Kerala, Salgaocar, Sporting Club de Goa and Skikkim Academy. All India Football Federation secretary Alberto Colaco said it was a good augury that an Indian team gained direct entry to the global finals. — TNS

India beat England, level series
Birmingham: India bounced back in style from their first match loss by recording a 4-3 victory over England in the second of their three-match hockey Test series here. The Indians produced a fine display of speed and skill to erase a two-goal deficit and notched up their first win of the European tour at the University of Birmingham. Arjun Halappa (35th minute), Dhananjay Mahadik (41st), Rajpal Singh (43rd) and Gurvinder Chandi (65th min) scored for India, while England's marksmen were Ashley Jackson (22nd and 69th) and Jonty Clarke (26th min). — PTI