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India survive shootout
Ministry to recast MAKA Trophy points tabulation
Fisi not going anywhere, says Mallya |
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Sukhbir elected president of unified Hockey Punjab
Federer, Clijsters advance
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India survive shootout
New Delhi, August 31 The defending champions played an encore, relegating Syria to the second best position yet again, to retain the title they had first won at the Ambedkar Stadium on the same date two years ago, in front of a sell out crowd, which spilled over to the adjacent Ferozeshah Kotla cricket ground balconies. Thousands of valid ticket holders were stranded outside, and chased away by the cops, as there was not an inch of space at the Ambedkar Stadium, which was packed like sardines. The engrossing, nearly three-hour long battle, was brought to a fitting fruition when Subrata Paul lunged forward to tip over Hamzeh Alattouni's shot during the sudden-death tie-breaker after Anwar and Surkumar Singh had converted their sudden death shots to put India in the lead (6-5), after Abdalrazak Al Housian had levelled the score for the visitors. Subrata had also come up with two breath-taking saves during the tie-breaker to tie the score 4-4.
After the full time play failed to produce any goal, despite the cracker of a contest when both India and Syria threatened to score many a time, India forged aghead in the 24th minute of extra time when Renedy Singh's free kick from the top of the box curled into the near post, leaving Syrian custodian Mosab Balhous stunned. The free kick was awarded when Bhutia was fouled outside the box. As India celebrated, and the match sure looked like going the hosts' way, Syria produced a numbing equaliser when Feras Ismail headed in, with just 15 seconds to go for the final hooter (1-1). In the penalty shootout, Climax Lawrence took a perfect kick to put India ahead, but Renedy Singh, of all strikers, hit the post. Though Sunil Chhetri and Steven Dias shot at the target, Mehrajuddin Wadoo muffed the fifth kick. India could level the score 3-3 in the tie breaker only because of the saves effected by Paul who stopped Wael Ayan and Ahmad Haj Muhamad, though Raja Rafe, custodian and captain Mosab Balhous and Abdul Fatah Alaga found the mark. With scores 4-4 at the end of the tie-breaker, "sudden-death" was enforced to end the deadlock. Though India converted their first two kicks through Anwar and Surkumar Singh, the contest could have gone either way, but for Subrata Paul's magnificent save off Hamzeh as the ball rose after hitting his hand like a comet to go over. It was a remarkable come back for hosts India, who had begun the tournament on a depressing note, losing to Lebanon, and then lost their final round-robin league match to Syria by a lone goal on Saturday. But this day, the Indians dominated to such an extent that they were worth six goals during regulation play, and made a mockery of Syria's 95th ranking in the world. Baichung Bhutia, Sunil Chhetri, Stevan Dias, N.P.Pradeep and Climax Lawrence failed to find the mark, despite getting some open chances. Syria too squandered easy chances with Abdul Fatah Alaga and Mohamad Alzino coming close to scoring a few occasions. Subrata Paul, though, was in such a mesmerising form that he kept the goal free of poaching, but for that one blemish during the fag end of extra time play. Paul was indeed the hero of the contest, and the busiest man of the match, as he was on his toes throughout the battle.
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Ministry to recast MAKA Trophy points tabulation
New Delhi, August 31 The points are calculated on the basis of the performance of the athletes at international events like the Asian Games, Olympics etc, the National Games, National Championships and the sports events held at the University level, recognised by the All India Universities’ Sports Board. For the award of the MAKA Trophy, the parameters set by the Universities’ Board is taken as the bench mark, which is then whetted by an expert committee before selecting the champion university. A highly placed source in the Ministry told The Tribune that the Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) submitted around 3,500 inflated points than what they had actually earned to vie for the MAKA Trophy while Punjabi University (Patiala) inflated around 1,600 points. On the other hand, Mumbai University undervalued their points as they gave out less than what they had actually accumulated. Though Punjabi University (Patiala) eventually beat the other universities of the country to bag the MAKA Trophy with a huge lead of around 3,000 points, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Dr M.S.Gill was clearly unhappy with the “unhealthy” competition between GNDU and Punjabi. That was the reason the Minister took a personal interest to recast the marking/tabulation of the points system for the MAKA Trophy, which will be implemented from next year. Dr Gill was also learnt to have been unhappy that the Punjabi University projected the Vice-Chancellor more than the two young athletes who accompanied him to receive the MAKA Trophy from President Pratibha Patil at the awards investiture ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan on August 29. “The MAKA Trophy is awarded to the champion university of the country and not to the vice-chancellor. This is an award for the youth of the country, and hence the trophy should have been received by the two athletes (Sarpreet Singh and Meenakshi), who accompanied the vice chancellor, and not the VC himself”, explained the top source. The source said from next year, no Vice Chancellor would be allowed to collect the MAKA Trophy. “The Vice-Chancellor would be an honoured guest at the Arjuna Awards function, who would be given a seat in the front row, but he would not be allowed to collect the trophy. That privilege would be given only to the champion male and female athletes of the concerned University”, the source explained.
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Fisi not going anywhere, says Mallya
London/New Delhi, August 31 After media reports quoted Force India’s commercial director Ian Phillips as saying that Fisichella is poised to join Ferrari as replacement of Luca Badoer, a miffed Mallya said Phillips’ comments should be ignored. “Ian Phillips’ comments do not reflect the views of the Force India Formula One Team management since he is not designated spokesperson for the team. Nor is he authorised to speak to the media. His comments therefore should be ignored,” a miffed Mallya said.
Gill, Mallya’s verbal war New Delhi: Barely a day after Force India's historic podium finish at the Belgian Grand Prix, a war of words broke out between Sports Minister M S Gill and Vijay Mallya on the government's refusal to acknowledge Formula One as a sport. While Mallya questioned the Sports Ministry's stand against Formula One, an adamant Gill virtually snubbed the liquor baron by calling it "expensive entertainment" and said the government would not change its stand just because of Force India's performance. Gill insisted that it was technology and not any sporting skill that determines the outcome of Formula One races. —
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Corporate Cricket Tournament
Chandigarh, August 31 With Indian skipper MS Dhoni, ace off spinner Harbhajan Singh and paceman Rudra Pratap Singh in their ranks, the Blue should be able to make light work of the opening tie against a relatively unkonwn ITC. Dhoni, Harbhajan and RP Singh along with some other players arrived here today after their strenuous training camp in Bangalore and this tournament, which is in it’s inaugural stage, should prove to be an ideal opportunity for them to get back into the groove ahead of the Sri Lankan tour. Apart from the big three stars, the Blues have former India player Mohammad Kaif, Test veteran VVS Laxman and former ICL stalwart Reetinder Sodhi, who is making a comeback to the mainfold after almost two years, in their ranks. However, weather might be the biggest cause for concern as the MET department has given a bleak forecast with heavy showers predicted in the next 24 hours. Even the scheduled evening practice was cancelled due to the ongoing weather turmoil. The teams were supposed to have an evening session but it had to be ultimately called off by the PCA authorities. Teams: Air India Blue: M S Dhoni, Mohd. Kaif, Dheeraj Jadhav, Vijay Dahia, Manvinder Bisla, Rajat Bhatia, Harbhajan Singh, Sachin Rana, J Arun Kumar, R P Singh, Pankaj Singh, Shafiq Khan, Chandan Madan, Reetinder Sodhi, Sonu Sharma, Vinit Jain, Monish Sharma, Kuldeep Singh, VVS Laxman and Deepak Joon. ITC: Bablu Kumar, Pankaj Joshi, Pradeep Chawla, Bipul Sharma, Parvinder Singh, Amardeep Sonkar, Abid Khan, Tushar Pant, Micheal Vishal, Vipan Kumar, Vishal Tyagi, Gokul Kaushik, Mohit Sharma, Ashok Menaria, Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
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Sukhbir elected president of unified Hockey Punjab
Chandigarh, August 31 Only those nations that have a democratically elected body to run affairs of the game can hold an FIH event. The FIH was not happy with the ad hoc body managing the game in the country after the Indian Hockey Association had taken over the Indian Hockey Federation last year. The Tribune was the first newspaper to report Sukhbir Singh Badal taking over reins of Punjab Hockey in May 2008. The delay was on account of litigations and also time taken by the Indian Olympic Association in forming Hockey India after the merger of the Indian Hockey Federation and the All-India Women’s Hockey Association. Hockey India became a reality only a couple of months ago. All four-hockey associations of Punjab met today under the chairmanship of the Punjab Olympic Association chief Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and endorsed the decision to merge and form a unified Hockey Punjab. The existing bodies, before accepting their dissolution, also unanimously resolved to elect Sukhbir Singh Badal as the first chief of the new body. Raja K. S. Sidhu, Secretary General, Punjab Olympic Association called four representatives of each association authorized by their general council to attend the meeting. Represented by their Presidents and Honorary Secretaries, all the four associations attended the meeting. Since it has been an unwritten convention in Punjab that the police chief of the State heads the Punjab Hockey Association, DGP PS Gill, attended the meeting. Nirmal Amarjit Kaur, President, Rajinder Singh, Secretary, represented the Punjab Women’s Hockey Association. Manmohan Singh, a cardiologist and son of former Secretary of the Indian Hockey Federation, Gursewak Singh, attended the meeting as President of the PEPSU Hockey Union. Daljit Singh, Secretary of the Union, joined him. Anupam Vashisht, President and P. P. Singh, Secretary represented the PEPSU Women Hockey Association. To facilitate further smooth merger of the associations, the POA President S. S. Dhindsa authorized Secretary-General Raja K. S. Sidhu to coordinate framing of the new constitution of Hockey Punjab by asking the Secretaries of all the four earlier Associations to submit their respective constitutions and proposals for incorporating in the new constitution. In consultation with them, the Punjab Olympic Association would help in drafting a mutually acceptable constitution and by laws that would further be got approved by the new of Hockey Punjab, Sukhbir Singh Badal. The next meeting of Hockey Punjab would be held within a fortnight.
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New York, August 31 Britton settled down in the final two sets but could not cope with the punishing groundstrokes from the top-seeded Federer, who is seeking a record 16th grand slam crown. The 28-year-old Federer broke Britton’s serve to close out the one hour, 28-minute match under sunny skies and unseasonably cool weather at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Earlier in the day, former world number one Kim Clijsters made a winning return to grand-slam tennis with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Viktoriya Kutuzova of Ukraine in the first round. The Belgian, playing in just her third tournament following a two year break during which she gave birth to her first child, overpowered the world number 79 in just 58 minutes. Clijsters, the 2005 champion but a wildcard entry this year, won the first seven points and romped through the opening set in just 27 minutes. — Reuters
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New Delhi, August 31
Corporate Cricket Tournament
