New Delhi, November 18
Former Indian captain Mohammed Azharuddin today lashed out at Vinod Kambli for hinting that India's 1996 World Cup semi-final match could have been fixed, saying the allegations have been made by a person who lacks character and were "absolutely rubbish".

"Absolutely rubbish, whatever he (Kambli) is talking. He doesn't know what he is talking, when you have people who have no character and no background come on TV and talk absolute rubbish in front of the nation and demeaning all the players who played in the team, it is totally disrespectful and its very sad," a livid Azhar told reporters.

Azhar, who was the Indian captain at that time, said the decision to field first was a collective decision. "May be when he was sitting in the meeting, he must have been sleeping," he added. Kambli, a former Indian cricketer who has often been embroiled in controversies both on and off the field, yesterday raised suspicion on the 1996 World Cup semi-final between India and Sri Lanka and said he found "something amiss" in the game.

"I will never forget the 1996 match because my career ended after this and I was dropped from the team. I was stunned by India's decision to field," Kambli had said. Azhar, however, refuted all the allegations leveled against him saying it was a team decision to field after winning the toss.

"It was a team decision which was taken by all the team members that when we win the toss we will field. Whatever he is talking is absolutely rubbish and nonsense".

Azhar also refuted the claims that Kambli was made a scapegoat, saying the cricketer got enough chances to prove himself but failed to capitalise on the opportunities.

Wadekar, however, said that electing to field first was a collective decision as the team felt that Sri Lankan's were good chasers. "In the team meeting before the match it was decided that India would field in the event of winning the toss. The decision was taken after consultation with the entire team," Wadekar said.

Wadekar added that even though he and Sandeep Patil were of the opinion that the wicket would turn, the team still decided to field keeping in mind the chasing prowess of the Sri Lankans.

Former cricketers Arun Lal and Atul Wassan also criticised Kambli for raking up the issue after nearly 15 years. "Kambli's credibility is a problem, I dont know why he is talking about it after so many years", Wassan pointed out. — PTI

New Delhi, November 18
Hockey India (HI) has taken a firm foot hold of the administration of the game in the country after the International Hockey Federation (FIH) recognized it as the sole custodians of hockey during its Executive Board meeting at Lausanne (Switzerland) on November 14. HI announced here today that India will participate in the Champions Challenge Trophy Tournament in South Africa from November 26 to December 4.

India were given a slot in the Champions Challenge after the FIH shifted the Champions Trophy from New Delhi to Auckland (New Zealand) as a reprisal when the Sports Ministry played the role of a mediator to bring together HI and the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) to forge a working relationship. The FIH stuck to the stand of one federation for one sport to be in tune with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Charter.

India have been drawn in Pool A of the Champions Challenge, along with Belgium, Poland and hosts South Africa. Pool B consists of Canada, Argentina, Malaysia and Japan.

Hockey India has retained custodian Bharat Chetri as the captain, with Tushar Khandker as his deputy. They have a combined experience of 318 international matches, including Chetri’s 116 caps. India will meet Belgium in the opening match on November 26, followed by matches against South Africa (Nov 27) and Poland (Nov 29).

HI, at its second Annual General Meeting held here, named former Indian captain Ajitpal Singh as the chairman of the Coaching and Development Committee. Ajitpal has the historic feat of leading India to their only World Cup victory in 1975 at Kuala Lumpur, and represented the country in three Olympic Games, World Cups and Asian Games from 1968 to 1976. He had earlier headed the senior selection committee.

Meanwhile, Ten Sports has entered into a long-term partnership with the FIH to acquire the broadcasting/telecasting rights for the major FIH-sanctioned events till 2014. FIH president Leandro Negre said, “We are delighted to extend our long-term partnership with Ten Sports for a further four years. This deal is of unprecedented value to the FIH, not only in terms of the record license fee, but also for us to guarantee hockey fans and FIH sponsors unparalleled exposure for the world's best hockey events”.

Thus, Ten Sports will be telecasting the following tournaments: Champions Challenge, South Africa (Nov-Dec 2011), Champions Trophy (New Zealand, December 2011), Olympic qualifiers (Delhi, February 2012), Champions Trophy (Australia, Dec 2012), World League semis (Germany, June 2013), Junior World Cup for men (India, Nov 2013), World League finals (India, December 2013), Champions Trophy (Argentina, 2013) and World Cup (Netherlands-Hague, June 2014).

Follwing is the Indian team for the Champions Challenge in SA: Bharat Kumar Chetri and P.R. Sreejesh (goalkeepers), Manjeet Kullu, Rupinder Pal Singh, V.R. Raghunath, Sandeep Singh, Gurbaj Singh, Sardar Singh, Arjun Halappa, Manpreet Singh, Birender Lakra, Sarvanjit Singh, Yuvraj Walmiki, S.V. Sunil, Danish Mujtaba, Tushar Khandker, Chinglensana Singh Kangujam and Shivendra Singh. Chief coach: Michael Jack Nobbs; coaches: Mohd. Riaz and B.J.Kariappa.

Meanwhile, HI has stuck to its stated stand that those players, who would be attending the national camps, would not be released for the World Series Hockey (WSH), to be held from December 17, though most of the top Indian players have been contracted by WSH for playing in the league. 

Bathinda, November 18
India’s men team entered the final of gthe ongoing second Kabaddi World Cup after beating Italy (74-15) in the first match at Bathinda stadium tonight. Indian players did not allow the Italians any room for comfort and managed to score 17 points without giving the Italians a chance to open their account.

The Indian raiders took a considerable lead, which they kept expanding till the completion of the match. While India got 74 points, Italian players managed to score a mere 15 points. The robust Indian team members enthralled the audience by carrying Italian players twice on their shoulders amidst cheers and applause.

Earlier, India won the toss and team captain Sukhbir Sarana opened the account for his team by getting a point from his very first raid. The captain continued picking up the points and adding to the misery for his rivals. Indian raiders including Sandeep Dirba scored 11, Gagandeep Khiranwali 10, captain Sukhbir Singh Sarawan 8, whereas, Indian stoppers Ekam Hathoor scored 9, Mangat Singh Mangi 6 and Gurwinder Kahlwan 6 points, helping India prove their supremacy over Italy.

Till half time the score was in favour of India (33-4). Audience kept cheering for the Indian players who managed to get 49 points around 25 minutes before the completion of match. In the Italy team raider Dharminder Singh Bhindi scored 7 points and Baljinder Khiranwali scored 6 points. The single stop by Major Dhandowal on Sukhbir Sarawan was the only saving grace for Italy.

The second match between India and US women’s teams remained the most engrossing match of the day. India beat US (57-7) and entered in the finals. Just like the first match of the day, Indian players dominated the US from the word go. 

Patiala, November 18
As many as eight more players have tested positive in the dope test results declared by NADA today. With this, the total count of the dope-tainted players has now reached 42 and all of them have been provisionally suspended from the Cup. As per the latest report, the number of dope-positive players for England and Spain is 8 and 7, respectively, and therefore they have been suspended from the tournament because of shortage of players.

Though these teams did not make it to the semifinal and were already not playing future matches but they have been suspended in the wake of large number of dope-positive players.

Talking to The Tribune in this regard, Director General of NADA Rahul Bhatnagar informed that out of these 42 players, 8 are from England, 7 from Spain, 6 from Australia, 6 from Canada, 5 from Italy, 4 from USA, 3 from Norway and one each from India, Germany and Argentina,” he added.

When questioned as to what would be the future course of action of NADA during the semifinal and final matches of the Cup, Bhatnagar informed that they would continue to take samples and would declare the reports within a day to ensure that guilty players do not get away.

“We will collect the samples of all players who have not been tested earlier and in case we are suspicious about any player who has been tested before, we might again collect his samples for re-testing” he added.

Meanwhile, after one of the players and an official of the participating team had allegedly threatened the dope coordination committee official of NADA of dire consequences, the dope officials have been provided four security guards. 

Johannesburg, November 18
South Africa battled back in another topsy-turvy Test against Australia to take four wickets after lunch and slow the tourists' progress after their imposing 174-run opening stand at Wanderers here today.

Australia were 220-4 at tea, adding just 51 runs for the loss of four wickets in the second session after hammering 169 for no wicket before lunch.

Openers Shane Watson and Phil Hughes, who both scored 88, dominated the morning as they hammered South Africa's bowling to all parts in Johannesburg in their 169-run stand before lunch.

But Vernon Philander broke through with the wicket of Hughes soon after lunch and South Africa dragged Australia back from 174-0 to 220-4.

Australia were still only 46 runs off South Africa's 266 with six wickets in hand and in a strong position to take a first-innings lead in a match it has to win to save the two-Test series.

Australia trail 1-0 after their eight-wicket defeat in Cape Town, another rollercoaster game between the teams that ended inside three days. The second Test looks to be moving on rapidly, too.

Hughes hit 14 fours in his 111-ball knock, sending Australia to an initially very strong position alongside opening partner Watson. The left-hander fell soon after lunch, however, ending the imposing stand when he tried to cut too close to his body and sent an edge off Philander to AB de Villiers at slip.

Allrounder Watson slammed 14 fours and two sixes, shrugging off a right hamstring injury sustained on day one to punish South Africa's famed pace attack, which was wicketless, toothless and expensive before lunch. But Watson fell 18 runs after Hughes to a diving catch by Imran Tahir at square leg off Jacques Kallis to give the Proteas a key double strike. Former skipper Ricky Ponting failed again when he was lbw to Dale Steyn for a duck and captain Michael Clarke was out for 11 toward the end of the session. — AP

Dubai, November 18
Pakistan could not make good of a flying start provided by their openers, and ended with a rather ordinary score of 257 for 8 against Sri Lanka here tonight. Batting first, Pakistan openers Imran Farhat and Mohammed Hafeez started cautiously and were involved in a 151-run stand, but the rest of the batting could not follow their lead, leaving them short of what should have been a massive score.

Earlier, Pakistan were 150 for 0 in 29 overs, but the pitch was not flat, and run-making wasn't easy. They then lost 5 for 43 in the next 10 overs, but the wicket hadn't suddenly started playing tricks.

The truth lay somewhere in between: Imran Farhat and Mohammad Hafeez were tested on a strip hosting its third game in eight days, but were helped by a tame bowling effort. Sri Lanka's spinners, led by the leggie Seekkuge Prasanna, hit back in the middle overs, but were aided by a raft of poor strokes.

After lurching unpredictably through the bulk of the innings, both sides were relegated to guarding their positions in the end overs, leaving Sri Lanka chasing 258 for a 2-1 lead.

That Pakistan got so far despite the middle-overs slump was down to the exemplary opening stand - the biggest for any wicket in Dubai - that came in tricky conditions. There was prodigious shape off the seam as evidenced by the very first ball of the day, that Hafeez edged to third man. — Agencies

London, November 18
Embattled FIFA president Sepp Blatter apologised for his controversial comments about racism on Friday but said he would not be resigning despite a growing clamour in Britain for him to step down. "It hurts and I am still hurting because I couldn't envisage such a reaction," the 75-year-old head of world soccer's governing body said in a BBC interview.

"When you have done something that was not totally correct, I can only say I am sorry for all those people affected by my declarations." Blatter sparked outrage, most notably in England where the FA is dealing with two high-profile racism allegations, when he suggested on Wednesday that incidents of racist abuse on the pitch should be settled with a handshake after the game.

Blatter said he would not quit over the remarks that have provoked back page headlines in Britain's newspapers such as "Go Now Blatter" and "Now He Must Go".

"I cannot resign," Blatter said. "Why should I? When you are faced with a problem, you have to face the problem. To leave would be totally unfair and not compatible with my fighting spirit, my character, my energy." — Reuters 

Patiala, November 18
After the success of the first ever 30km All-India Horse Endurance in Punjab, horse breeders and riders have started arriving at Kaler Bhaini village in Patiala district today along with their horses to take part in the 2nd All-India Horse Endurance. An initiative of the Horse Sports and Breeders Society of Punjab, this time it will be a 40km endurance run that will be divided into two rounds of 20km each.

Union Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur will inaugurate the event at 9 am. Talking to The Tribune, president of the society, Sumrinder Sira informed that this sport attracted large crowds in Punjab as people here had natural passion for horse riding. “The average speed of the winning horses in 40km national endurance run is around 14 to 16 kms per hour whereas during last Punjab Endurance meet, which was held in April 2011, the winner delivered the speed of 18.38 km per hour and that too by Indigenous horses against higher standards performances generally attributed to other established horse breeds. Therefore, we are looking forward to another top-class action here.”

Gagandeep Ahuja, Vice president (media) informed that for a rider to be eligible to participate, he should be able to qualify the 40km ride. “We are hoping that such an endeavor will introduce to the new generation the skills associated with horsemanship and acquaint them to the modern day equestrian sports, thus preparing them to eventually compete at the national and international levels.

Subedar Sher Singh from Doaba Public Senior Secondary School, Garhshankar, said, “I teach horse riding in the school and have come here along with five students who would be riding the horses during the competition. Its a good opportunity for kids take it up as a profession,” added Singh.

BRIEFLY

St. Columba’s advance
NEW DELHI: St. Columba’s defeated Golden Stars 3-1 in a Group III match of the Delhi Soccer Association B Division League played at the Jasola ground here today. Ujjawal and Mancom scored in the first half for the winners while Harsinder reduced the margin. Archie consolidated the lead for Columba’s mid-way through the second half. Royal got full points from State Bank of India as the match was abandoned when the latter were reduced to just six players following a spate of injuries. Saturday’s fixtures: Victory vs Gulabi Bagh (2 p m); Delhi Tigers vs Goans (3.30 p m). — TNS

Indian blind cricketer Prakash Jayaramaiah (R) plays a shot during the first international T20 match against Pakistan in Lahore on Friday. Pakistan beat India by 71 runs. — AFP

Adil wins golf title
Kolkata: Four day long Toyota IGU Eastern India Golf ended in Tollygunge Club on Friday as Chandigarh boy, Adil Bedi finished at the top in the U-11 category. Adil with some brilliant birdies and putting was already leading from the early rounds of the four day Toyota IGU Eastern India Junior Golf Tournament. He carded 240 points in the course of four rounds to clinch the title. In the U-13 category too, Chandigargh Golf Club players, Karandeep Kochar and Jaiveer Singh were in the top three. Both the players carded 309 and 314 respectively. — TNS

Adams quits FC Gabala
BAKU: Former England captain Tony Adams has quit as coach of Azeri club FC Gabala midway through the season for family reasons, they said on Friday. "I came to Gabala to share my experience and help the club grow and achieve something great," the 45-year-old, who was appointed in May 2010 on a three-year contract, was quoted as saying by the club's press office. "I've spent some interesting time here. I did what I could but unfortunately I had to leave the club for family reasons." The club said Adams' Turkish assistant, Fatih Kavlak, has been appointed caretaker coach until the end of the year. — Reuters

FIFA anti-doping trials
Zurich: Lionel Messi and Neymar will take part in a new anti-doping program to trial a biological passport in football, FIFA said. All players set to be involved in the seven-team Club World Cup next month will give samples beforehand to help laboratories prepare their individual steroid profiles. Players then selected for anti-doping controls in the December 8-18 tournament in Japan will have their results measured against out-of-competition tests taken up to one month earlier. "(FIFA) recently reviewed the current drug-testing procedures within football and come up with a new approach," the governing body said in a statement. — AP

Humpy loses to Yifan
Tirana: Grandmaster Koneru Humpy misplayed a fine position and went down to defending champion Yifan Hou of China in the third game of the Women's World Championship here. Looking good after the first two of the 10-game match, Humpy went for an erroneous plan and Yifan cashed in to go one up. The scoreline now reads 2-1 in the favour of the Chinese 17-year old. With seven games still to come, Humpy will now be under pressure especially as her loss came with white pieces. The Indian will have to device new ways to tackle Yifan as the wild complications did not work in the third game. — PTI

Indian wrestlers in Pak
Lahore: A four-member Indian wresting team today arrived in Pakistan for a series of matches to be held in several cities across the Punjab province from November 20. The Indian team, which entered the country via the Wagah land border, was welcomed by representatives of the Punjab Wrestling Association and Sports Board. A group of musicians played drums and danced to its tune to greet the Indian contingent as it walked across the frontier. The matches to be held in Gujranwala (November 20), Lahore (November 21) and Faisalabad (November 24) are part of the second India-Pakistan wrestling championship. — PTI

Rory gushes about Caroline
London: Just months after splitting with childhood sweetheart Holly Sweeney, golf champ Rory Mcllroy has declared his love for tennis ace Caroline Wozniacki. Mcllroy and Wozniacki - now called Wozilroy - have become the golden couple in the sporting world. The two hooked up when Rory shot to glory in the US Open in June, only a few months after breaking up with Sweeney. The Irish golf star met the Danish tennis champ at a boxing match in Germany in July and sparks flew when they met up again at Wimbledon. — ANI