New Delhi, February 22
India rode on two brilliant goals from Sandeep Singh to nose out Canada 3-2 in a nerve-wracking contest to garner full points in the Olympic Qualifying Men’s Hockey Tournament at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium here tonight.

Though India had taken a 2-0 lead, scoring once in each half - the second goal coming early on resumption - they looked fragile as Canada always posed a threat to the Indian goal when they mounted their racy raids, and that’s what happened when the visitors pulled off two goals in the space of two minutes to wipe out India’s lead.

But India possessed a trump card in Sandeep Singh, whose drag-flick off the fifth penalty corner went in via the shoulder of a defender, after hitting his stick. Sandeep had earlier scored the second goal when he converted the third penalty corner with his trade-mark drag flick, after Shivendra Singh had put the hosts ahead in the 26th minute.

Tushar Khandekar deflected the ball from goal-line after dispossessing a defender, and Shivendra tapped in, to a loud roar from well-filled stands.

India missed many scoring chances, and all the time were trying to save their own goal from falling as the sudden forays of Canada posed serious threats, before Sandeep got the second goal in the fourth minute on resumption off the third penalty corner. His drag-flick this time rolled on along the carpet into the goal, after he mis-hit the second penalty corner.

When India were looking good with a two-goal lead, Canada produced two stunning goals in the 16th and 17th minutes to get even. Mark Pearson exploited a defensive lapse to score a field goal and a minute later, Scott Tupper converted their lone penalty corner.

But India fortunately had a player of Sandeep’s calibre, whose drag-flicks have now become something of a trade-mark patent. Sandeep’s brace today took his total tally to nine goals and those goals have provided the life-line to the hosts’ in all the four wins so far.

India now head the pack with an all-win record, tallying 12 points from four matches, while Poland have nine points. Though France also have nine points, Poland are ahead of them with a better goal difference.

New Delhi, February 22
The BCCI on Wednesday sought to scotch the intense speculation about a rift in the Indian cricket team in Australia with its President N Srinivasan calling such media reports as "exaggerated". As reports of a rift gathered more steam in the media, Srinivasan said that he had checked with the media manager and the Board had nothing to be concerned about.

"You have no knowledge of it. I don't think there is any rift in the team. There is nothing to be concerned about," Srinivasan told reporters after a meeting of the IPL Governing Council here.

"They were responding to such questions in a press conference. It happens after every match. I have spoken to media manager there. I think the reports are exaggerated," he said.

BCCI Vice President Rajiv Shukla also refuted reports of a rift in the team. "Sehwag has been misquoted. That's what we came to understand. There is no rift in the team. It is only a speculation by a section of media. I don't think there is any problem. BCCI is in constant touch with the team," Shukla said.

Pressed on the rotation policy, which has generated a heated debate, Shukla said,"Playing XI decided by tour management consisting of mananger, captain and coach."

Reports of dissensions surfaced mainly after the team management introduced the rotation policy for only three openers -- Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, a move which sparked off a heated debate on its merits.

The first signs of the rift came into the open when Gambhir took a dig at Mahendra Singh Dhoni for not finishing the matches early enough with the skipper retorting that it was a matter of perception.

Dhoni then dropped a bombshell by publicly snubbing the fielding abilities of the three openers and said they were not being played together as they were slow fielders and could cost the team 20 extra runs.

But Sehwag countered his captain by saying that the seniors were never told that fielding was an issue when the rotation policy was introduced. The verbal duel between the seniors, who have used the press conference to take jibes at each other, have not gone unnoticed by the media, which has constantly highlighted the poor performance of the players in what has turned out of a nightmarish tour of Australia. — PTI

New Delhi, February 22
Amid reports of a rift within the Indian cricket team in Australia, former captain Kapil Dev today urged the BCCI to step in and sort out "difference of opinion" among players.

There has been intense speculation of dissensions within the team particularly after the controversial rotation policy was introduced for only three openers — Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir. Dhoni later snubbed the fielding ability of the three seniors and said they were not played together because they were 'slow fielders'.

But Sehwag added a new twist to the issue by saying the seniors were never told that fielding was an issue. Gambhir had also taken a dig at his captain for not finishing matches early and taking it to the last over.

"The captain (Dhoni) may have a different opinion and normally his opinion is respected. I think the BCCI will have to step in and sort out the matter with the players for the good of the team and country," said Kapil at a cricket clinic for youngsters at the Australian High Commission here.

"I would not want it to call a rift within the team but would prefer to term it as difference of opinion. It's difficult to comment on the issue because we don't know what exactly happened there in Australia," Kapil said. Asked further how a senior player like Sehwag could not have been told about the reason for the rotation policy among the openers, Kapil said, "Even the parents have different opinions and we should not play it up. "The players will have to understand that they are carrying the reputation of the country. If there is a misunderstanding it should be sorted out. They are playing for the country," he added.

Kapil said that in his opinion Sachin Tendulkar should have retired from one-day cricket on a high after India won the World Cup last year, but it was upto the player to call it quit or not.

"I am nobody to say when Sachin Tendulkar would retire. But in my opinion he should have quit ODI on a high after Indian won the World Cup. But that is my opinion. I think I can have my opinion? But it's him only to decide," he said.

"He (Tendulkar) enjoys playing cricket and has achieved so much for the team and for the country. What more we can expect from the little man.

"But if I was in his (Tendulkar's) place I would have said after India won the World Cup that I have achieved so much in cricket for the team and for the country and it's now time for some other player to come in," said the 1983 World Cup-winning captain.

Cricket Board President N Srinivasan had ruled out an inquiry on the Indian team's Test debacle in Australia but Kapil said that the BCCI and the selectors will have to find out what went wrong with the team.

"We should now encourage the players to play like world champions, play tight and win matches. They are the world champions. But after they return from Australia, the BCCI and the selectors should sit and find out what went wrong with the team," he said.

Asked if some of the senior players should be dropped from Test side after the Australian tour, Kapil said that it was for the selectors to take a call on this. "It is for the selectors to decide. I think the right thing is the BCCI and the selectors should sit down after the Australian tour is over and decide on a future road map for Indian cricket. If the senior players are in the scheme of things, its okay. Otherwise the players will have to understand," said Kapil. Asked if the selectors would have axed a non-performing Indian cricketer just like a player of the stature of Ricky Ponting was dropped from the Australian ODI team, Kapil said different systems work in different countries.

"The Australians have a different norm. They stick to performance or non-performance. But it does not work in India like that. There are different systems in different countries. India can't have the same norm as in Australia," said Kapil. Former Australian batsman Dean Jones felt that Sachin Tendulkar will have to retire from one format soon. "It's difficult for Sachin to consistently do well in all the formats. Sooner or later, he will have to retire from one format," Jones said. Asked about the talk of 'rift' within the Indian team in Australia, Jones said, "Things heated up when the team is not doing well. That's what is happening in the Indian team now there."

He also defended the Australian selectors for axing Ponting, which ended the ODI career of the former captain. "In his last six ODI innings, Ponting has not crossed 10 runs. Do you think the selectors will keep on selecting him?" Jones asked. — PTI

Chandigarh, February 22
Hockey is getting a new lease of life. As the Indian team tries to make its way to the London Olympics in New Delhi, World Series Hockey is busy scripting another important chapter in its own right. Starting from February 29, WSH will be hockey’s attempt to grab some eyeballs again and make our ‘national sport’ once again take up the mantle of being a people’s favourite.

With eight teams, or rather franchises, fighting it out for the title, there will be enough action to look forward to. This is hockey’s chance to not only get back on its feet, but also show the world that it can still run to keep the pace. The Chandigarh Comets and Sher-e-Punjab outfits are confident of playing their role in the scripting of what they hope is a success story.

“This is our chance to make a difference to the sport, to the lives of the players and also to the people who follow the sport. We hope for the sake of the sport that the event is a success and that we play a key role in it,” says Chandigarh Comets coach Harendra Singh.

His views are backed up by his team’s high performance manager M.P. Singh, who believes that this is the right opportunity for the players from the region to pick up valuable experience. “We have so many players and teams involved with the WSH that its effects will be very widespread. I am very hopeful about the chances of our team as well as we have a good blend of local, international and foreign players.”

Sher-e-Punjab coach, Olympian Rajinder Singh is equally confident that his players will be in the right frame of mind to dish out attacking hockey. “We believe that attack is the best form of defence. Our team will be going all out to play attractive hockey and put up a fine show. The foreign players and the national players as well will be able to fit right in to the side as that is what you expect from professionals.”

But time is a constraint for practice and strategy development, and Chandigarh Comets’ Assistant coach Australian Charles Gaudoin agrees with that. “Ideally, we would have wanted a little more time, but with the postponement, these things could not be helped. We realize it, but will be going all out in our efforts to make the most of whatever little time we finally get.”

Patiala, February 22
While Punjabi University, Patiala, was busy celebrating the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy win (2010-11) at their university campus today, the Delhi Court has given a stay on the notification issued by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports regarding awarding the MAKA Trophy to Punjabi University.

Giving information in this regard, officiating director sports of GND University Dr Kanwaljit Singh said the decision had been taken in the court of Justice Vipin Sanghi today where the judge has given a stay on the notification issued by Sports Ministry in this regard. He informed that July 3 has been fixed as the next date of hearing.

Notably, this trophy was not awarded during last year's National Sports Awards as the Sports Ministry could not arrive at a consensus. The AIU had invited performance details from the member universities till June 30 but GND University alleged that Punjabi University had sent the entries after the last date, as a result of which this decision was delayed. After the ministry issued a notification in this regard on February 13, GNDU had filed a writ petition against the decision of Sports Ministry and AIU.

Talking to mediapersons, Dr Kamaljit Singh alleged that AIU and sports ministry had ignored their objections against Punjabi University’s claims and therefore they had to go to the court. He also targeted AIU for helping Punjabi University, Patiala, in manipulating their records which helped them in winning the trophy.

Director Sports, Punjabi University Dr Rajkumar Sharma hit back saying, “GNDU has proved itself to be bad loosers but it doesn’t bother us at all. “This trophy has been awarded to us on merit and sooner or later the decision will be in our favour. In the previous years, the decision was in the hands of AIU but now, the final decision has been taken by sports ministry,” added Dr Sharma.

Shiv Khori (Jammu), February 22
Wrestler Rehmat Ali of Malerkotla lifted the 14th ‘Shiv Khori 2012’ title defeating Benia of Basantgarh in a close contest at Government High School here last evening.

As part of the historic annual Shiv Khori Mela, vishal dangal was organized by J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association in collaboration with J&K Tourism Department.

In all 38 bouts were played in the vishal dangal. Another well-contested bout was fought between Kalu of Shiv Mandir Akhara Jammu and Malkeet of Amritsar which was won by Kalu.

Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Sukhdev Singh Sambyal was the chief guest of the event and gave away prizes to the winners.