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India Vs england day 5
Batsmen have to take responsibility, says skipper Dhoni
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Cook wants to go for the kill in Nagpur
Kolkata debacle: Zaheer Khan dropped on fitness?
Yuvi, Bhajji made scapegoats: Gavaskar
ranji trophy
3rd World Cup
Kabaddi
England, Malaysia eves slug it out during a match at the MR Government College Stadium, Fazilika on Sunday. — Tribune photo
champions trophy
Sports Code: FITA reiterates recognition to Indian archery
Violent crowd disrupts East Bengal-MB match
ioa mess
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England on course to series win
Visitors humble India to clinch third Test and take 2-1 lead in four-match series Rohit Mahajan /TNS
Kolkata, December 9 The Miracle of Kolkata, courtesy VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Harbhajan Singh and the inspirational captain Sourav Ganguly, gave birth to belief. India were fighting, rising in world cricket. Eleven years on, they have come around a full circle. This December, Kolkata has seen the fall, which hasn't yet abated. They've lost a Test match in the Eden Gardens for the first time this century, after five wins in their last seven Tests here. They've lost two Test matches in a row for the first time at home since 2000. England need just a draw in the last match at Nagpur to join Australia as the only winners of a Test series in India this century. The old older has changed. The old team has disintegrated. Several greats, once-in-a-lifetime players, have gone. The greatest of India's recent Test batsmen, Rahul Dravid, was left to sombrely analyse India's demise today morning. The end came swiftly. India, starting at 239 for nine, were bowled out within 10 balls today, two of which were struck by Ravichandran Aswhin to the boundary to reach 91. That was the score on which he remained stranded as last man Pragyan Ojha was bowled by James Anderson in the next over. England needed 41 to win, though, let's not kid ourselves, they had won already, the game was up yesterday. Yet, a few thousand home supporters had got up early today, left their homes and travelled to the Eden Gardens to watch the home team's burial today -- drawn there perhaps by an impossible hope that there might be life in it yet. There wasn't. It was the English Barmy Army contingent that broke into lusty songs of triumph the moment Ian Bell, 54 minutes past nine in the morning, scored the winning run off Aswhin. The home fans should not beguiled into seeing a victory of sorts in the fall of three England wickets. But, again, let's not kid ourselves — that was no consolation, no moral blow struck for India. Captain Alastair Cook threw away his wicket in perhaps his only bad shot of the series; Jonathan Trott was trapped LBW by Ojha, and Kevin Pietersen was removed for zero by Aswhin. It didn't really matter. England's domination over the previous four days was absolute, even spine-chilling... For if this is being done to the Indian team at home — after the home batsmen batted first on an easy batting track — what fate would befall India when they travel to England, South Africa and Australia from now on, without Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar? SCOREBOARD England 2nd innings
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Batsmen have to take responsibility, says skipper Dhoni
Kolkata, December 9 "On a wicket like this, we need to score runs and give the bowlers the liberty of backing up the runs and the situation will be slightly different," Dhoni said in the post-match media interaction. "The batting will have to take up the responsibility. We need to score more runs. It was a very good wicket to bat on. Of course the bowlers will bowl a few good deliveries that we need to keep out. "But in the top seven most of us have to score runs at the same time so that we have par score which the bowlers can look to defend," Dhoni said. Giving full support to off-colour pace spearhead Zaheer Khan, Dhoni reiterated that the bowler was fully fit and putting in his best despite hardly having any wickets to show for it. "As far as his fitness is concerned, he has been the way he's for the last few years. He's definitely not unfit. He is doing everything. "About being not effective, maybe the batsmen are playing him better. From behind, it looks he's bowling in the right areas. Maybe this is a phase where he's not getting wickets. But he's bowling the same way, swinging both ways. Fitness is definitely not an issue," he said. Asked about the team's poor run, the skipper said: "It's a very technical question. But the beauty of it is we all know the problem. It would be a great help if we find out the solution as everybody is asking the same question." After conceding a 207-run first innings lead, India's bid to save the third Test failed as they slipped from 86 for no loss to 197 for nine, losing six wickets for 36 runs in the post-lunch session yesterday. On the transition phase in the middle-order after the retirement of veterans Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, Dhoni said, "It's a difficult task. It's a situation where everybody will feel a bit of pressure. "But we will want to get rid of this and back each other well. But as an individual you have to back yourself more. It's a self-belief that's important. The effort has to show. We have to make sure if we get our start, we make it big. In the top seven, at least four or five need to contribute." "It would be very difficult if you don't score too many runs in the first innings and the opponents score runs, you would find yourself under pressure." Dhoni, however, backed his bowlers despite the fact that they have struggled to take 20 wickets in a match. "Overall, the bowlers are doing well. If you are not putting runs on the board, you can't question the bowlers whether they could have defended or not. "I felt the spinners have done a really good job; a bit more contribution from the fast bowlers would really help the side." On the English pacers, who seem to be extracting quite bit out of the Indian dustbowls, he said, "It was more about the bounce and the length they bowled. Of course they had (Steven) Finn who bowled quicker. — PTI
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Cook wants to go for the kill in Nagpur
Kolkata, December 9
"Definitely (a win would be on our mind). You can't go into that game with that (draw) mentality. We have to do same as we have done in these last two games (at Mumbai and Kolkata). And again, produce the goods," said Cook. "We know we can do something special, but it will need a lot of hard work to do that," he added in the post-match media interaction. Cook said that his team has put in lot of hardwork to turn the tables around after they went down in the opening Test match to India in Ahmedabad. "What we have done really is take what we did in the nets out in the middle. We have started to perform close to our potential. That's what really happened in this game. "Our bowlers have been outstanding in that first innings to restrict them (Indians) to 300 on that wicket, and that was a great effort. "Yesterday, when they were 80 for nought, to put in a session like we did yesterday afternoon when we took six wickets was high-skill bowling," Cook said. England took six wickets for 36 runs in the post lunch session yesterday with Graeme Swann giving the breakthrough with in-form Virender Sehwag's wicket. "The spinner at one end, Swarney getting Sehwag straightaway and then the reverse swing from Jummy. It was exceptional. What we've done is play close to our potential in the last couple of games. That's why we have won." — PTI
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Kolkata debacle: Zaheer Khan dropped on fitness?
Kolkata, December 9 Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni says that Zaheer is not unfit. “As far as his fitness is concerned, he has been the way he is for the last few years,” Dhoni said today. “He's definitely not unfit. He is doing everything.” An Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) source familiar with the views of the selection committee, however, told The Tribune that the selectors believe that Zaheer is not fully fit. “He has been on the radar for some time... while he has passed the fitness tests, it is clear that he is not able to exert himself fully on the field,” said the BCCI official. On performance, it would be unfair to single out Zaheer for India’s failures. The pitches haven’t been made for the pacers; and while the English pacers were superior to India’s in the third Test, in the first Test, Zaheer and Umesh Yadav were the best pacemen from either side. In the second Test, a rank turner, no pacer prospered and Zaheer bowled only 15 overs. In Kolkata he sent down 31 and took one wicket. While it is true that Zaheer’s form has fallen considerably after 2010, he is India’s premier paceman and looked more threatening here than Ishant Sharma. And while there’s no point in crying over spilled milk, it’s true that Zaheer could have got Alastair Cook caught at the score of 17 in the first innings. Dropping Zaheer before Ishant seems illogical. It’s clear, thus, Zaheer hasn’t been dropped on form. It’s his fragile and injury-wracked body, and his need to preserve it, that have caused the selectors to sack him. It is a tough step, but it was necessary. Now only if someone — ideally the coach or the captain —could sit with Zaheer and persuade him that to prolong his career, he must give up playing in all the formats of the sport.
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Yuvi, Bhajji made scapegoats: Gavaskar
New Delhi, December 9 "If you ask me, Zaheer's exclusion was expected but I believe that Yuvraj and Harbhajan has been made scapegoats," Gavaskar said about Nagpur. "If you look at Harbhajan's performance in Mumbai, he got to bowl some 20-odd overs (21) and also got two wickets. If India lost in Mumbai, it was a collective failure. Yuvraj also got into 30's. If you want to drop them then why not some of the others who have also not performed. Both Yuvraj and Harbhajan are soft targets," Gavaskar said. The opener also seemed peeved with "attitude of some of the players". — PTI |
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Mumbai dream comes true for Mandy
Punjab captain hits double ton in team’s cause
Mandeep made a strokeful 211. Replying to their rivals' huge score, the home team was 69 for the loss of opener Aditya Tare's wicket, with Kaustubh Pawar (26) and Ajinkya Rahane (18) at the crease. The 39-time champions have a formidable task to try and make 512 runs more to take the first-innings lead. The morning belonged to Mandeep and Amitoze who put the Mumbai attack to the sword by rattling up 163 runs in just 31.2 overs, with Amitoze being the aggressor. Mandeep, not out 102 overnight, played second fiddle to his partner who was batting on 83 off 109 balls with 11 fours and 2 sixes in a team score of 451 for four at lunch. Mandeep was 169 not out at the break. Amitoze left soon after lunch for 91, after facing 115 balls in 163 minutes, and his knock contained 11 fours and three sixes. Mandeep, dropped thrice before he reached his ton yesterday, was let off again on 199 today. In all he cracked 32 fours and a six. His previous highest score was 193. The 20-year-old Jalandhar-born batsman put on 195 in just 217 balls for the fifth wicket with Amitoze. Amitoze was the first to go after lunch and then Punjab lost three more wickets quickly, including Mandeep, who offered a no shot to be bowled by spinner Ankit Chavan. But the tail wagged with the last two wickets adding 66 runs to pile on the agony for Mumbai. Mumbai lost Tare to Manpreet Gony in reply, trying to flick the ball off hips and offering a tame return catch.aBrief scores: Punjab 580 (Jeevanjot Singh 42, Ravi Inder Singh 76, Mandeep Singh 211, Amitoze Singh 91; A Agarkar 3 for 95, Dhawal Kulkarni 2 for 106, Ankit Chavan 3 for 142). Mumbai 69/1. — PTI
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Indian eves teach Canada a lesson
Fazilika, December 9 The icing on the cake for the crowd came when the Indian team virtually crushed Canada 62-16. This the second consecutive win for India and the second straight loss for the latter. By this win they have topped within pool and is now secured its place in the semifinals. With Canada’s defeat, Denmark is now placed second behind India. The agility and the tackling prowess of the Indian girls was seen to be believed. They outclassed their opponents in all the departments and some of the players like Jitender and Anu were so good that they did not give any time for their opponents to stop them. They proved that they were the all- rounders on the filed today. In the second match, Malaysia outclassed England though the bets were on the latter to win. The British were more athletic and displayed that they had chalked out their game plan well given that most of them were serving in the army in some capacity or the other. On the other hand the Malaysians proved to be more than a match. The short and wiry girls overcame their more dominating opponents to win the game 38 - 29. There were some ugly moments when some players from both the team played rough and had to be warned by the referees. Malaysia’s raiders Manpreet and Paramjit scored 10 and 4 points. — TNS
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Pakistan beat India 3-2 to clinch bronze
Melbourne, December 9 Pakistan scored through Muhammad Rizwan Junior (22nd minute), Shafqat Rasool (41st) and Muhammad Ateeq (66th) to overcome India, for whom V Raghunath (70th) and Rupinder Pal Singh (70th) scored through penalty corners. Three-time Champions Trophy winners Pakistan's last medal came at Lahore in 2004, where too they won the bronze by overcoming India in the play-off. In fact, Pakistan's last four medals in the Champions Trophy have come at the expense of India, who have lost bronze medal matches to Pakistan in 2002, 2003, 2004 and now in 2012. India, who came to the Champions Trophy on basis of a wildcard after finishing last in the London Olympics, took the early lead when VR Raghunath converted a penalty corner by sending a low drag-flick into the left corner. Pakistan then applied pressure to cause problems for the Indian defence, while at the other end, the Indian forwards messed up some openings due to their wayward shooting. Pakistan equalised in the 22nd minute through Muhammad Rizwan Junior, who sent a soaring shot from top of the circle after being put in possession by Fareed Ahmed. India created a lot of openings in the next 10 minutes, but failed to score, and were lucky to be tied 1-1 at half-time as unmarked Muhammad Waqas shot wide after getting a loose ball on top of the circle. India started the second half by earning a penalty corner, but Raghunath's shot was too weak to cause any threat to the rival goal. Pakistan went ahead seven minutes into the second session. — PTI
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Sports Code: FITA reiterates recognition to Indian archery
New Delhi, December 9 Vijay Kumar Malhotra was re-elected as the president, and all others in his panel were elected with a thumping majority. The FITA decision came as a big boost to the AAI which was "de-recognized" by the Sports Ministry on Friday for not adhering to the Sports Code regarding the age and tenure clauses in the elections. FITA secretary-general Tom Dielen, in a letter to Vijay Kumar Malhotra, said the world body approved of the election process carried out by the AAI, which was in conformity with the rules and regulations of the FITA, and therefore, "fully recognizes the newly elected Indian archery body". Dielen has informed Malhotra that he has also conveyed the FITA decision to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The FITA official's letter was in response to a communication sent to him by AAI secretary-general Anil Kamneni, who had informed Dielen that the "Government is no accepting the outcome of the General Assembly, claiming that it is not in compliance with the Indian law." "Worl Archery clearly states once more that the outcome of the general assembly is recognized by the world body The constitution of the Indian Archery Association is the only document that has relevance for the conduct of the general assembly and this document was respected. We have also informed the IOC of this matter", Dielen's letter concluded. Hailing the FITA decision, Malhotra said it was a vindication of his stand that the AAI had not violated any rule while holding its elections in a fair and democratic manner. "The world body's decision effectively ends the confusion created by the Sports Ministry's decision to de-recognize archery, which was an arbitrary and illegal action. I hope the Government will now realise its mistake and revoke its arbitrary decision", Malhotra told The Tribune. He said the rules and regulations of the AAI and the world body were followed in letter and spirit while holding the elections, and even the rival candidates had not objected to the manner in which the elections were held. "The elections were very transparent, fair and democratic". He noted that there were contests for almost all the posts and all his panel members were elected with huge margin of votes. Malhotra said the FITA ratification of the AAI elections should clear any confusion or ambiguity regarding the Indian archers' participation in international competitions. He said the National Sports Federations (NSFs) were on the horns of a dilemma as on the one hand the Government was professing "zero tolerance" towards those federations not upholding the Sports Code, and on the other hand, the IOC has been asking the IOA and the NSFs not to follow the Sports Code. He urged the Government not to enforce the Sports Code in a rigid and vindictive manner as the Government's unbending attitude was harming the interest of the sportspersons severely. Malhotra said the AAI will hold all the national championships and other competitions as scheduled, and there would also be no letup in the participation of the archers in international competitions, whether the Government extends financial support or not. "If the Government adopts a rigid and unrelenting attitude, it will only sound the death-knell of Indian sports", warned Malhotra, who was the acting president of the IOA when he was re-elected as the AAI president. The Government had also suspended the Amateur Boxing Federation of India for "procedural lapses" in its elections, and has asked the boxing body to hold fresh elections, though in boxing's case, its parent international body had also put sanction against it. |
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Violent crowd disrupts East Bengal-MB match
Kolkata, December 9 Down 0-1, Mohun Bagan midfielder Syed Rahim Nabi had to be hospitalised in the half time after being hit on the face by a missile, forcing the team management to come off the field in the second half. It all started after East Bengal drew the first blood through Harmanjot Khabra in the 43rd minute from a Mehtab Hossain freekick. The highly charged-up game snowballed into madness soon after Mohun Bagan's star player Okolie Odafa was sent off by referee Vishnu Chauhan for showing dissent. As soon as the Nigerian was sent off, Mohun Bagan fans started to hurl missiles, one of them hitting Nabi's face. There was more drama in store when Mohun Bagan left the field, forcing the match to be called off. Bagan's half-time decision to pull out of the match came after their player Syed Rahim Nabi suffered a head injury after being hit by a stone hurled from a gallery packed with Mohun Bagan supporters. Nabi was admitted to a hospital where he needed multiple stitches. — PTI |
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ioa mess
New Delhi, December 9 The Government decision to suspend the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) and de-recognize the Archery Association of India (AAI) yesterday for the violation of certain procedures in holding elections to these two bodies has come as a shock to sportspersons, as boxing was one sport which had done the country proud and archery had done well too. The turnaround in boxing started after Abhay Singh Chautala became its president 12 years ago. He brought money into the sport, and got infrastructure and equipment in place, for the boxers to excel and make a mark. Many leading sportspersons and officials wondered what was wrong in Abhay Singh Chautala getting elected as the chairman of the IABF if it would further contribute in the elevation of boxing to a still higher level. “If political parties can seek people’s mandates again and again for good works done (Sheila Dikshit of the Congress in Delhi and Narendra Modi of the BJP are prime examples) to continue in power, what was wrong in sports officials seeking re-election to sports bodies if they have contributed substantially to the well-being of the sports bodies and sportspersons they head?”, they ask. That the International Boxing Federation (IABF) had decided to act on a “private complaint” to provisionally suspend the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) because there were some procedural lapses in the elections to the body smacks of a conspiracy. For, the IABF had not violated either any provisions in the Sports Code or that of the Olympic Charter. The Sports Ministry seemed to be in a haste to suspend the IABF, though its immediate task should have been to get the IOC suspension on the IOA revoked, as the IOC action had come after the IOA implemented the controversial Sports Code in the recent IOA elections. Sadly, the Government has not taken any constructive steps to sort out the differences between the Government and the IOA/NSFs related to the Sports Code. The IABF elections were held in the presence of Government observer Justice (retd) M.S.Liberhan and retired judge D.K.Sharma, and hence the authenticity of the process could not have been questioned. But the hurry in which the Government took penal action against the boxing body raises many questions, though the suspension should not bother the IABF much as it is willing to go through the election process once again, if that would satisfy the Government. The case of archery is still more amusing. While the IOC still treats Vijay Kumar Malhotra as the (acting) president of the IOA, though he’s well past 70 years, and the world archery body has also no problem with his re-election as the president of the Archery Association of India (AAI), the Sports Ministry will have nothing to do with Malhotra. According to the Ministry, he got re-elected defying the Government’s age and tenure limits, and hence has become a persona non-grata in the Government book. The AAI had been insisting that it did not recognize the Sports Code as it did not have any legal validity. The AAI was alo not bothered about the consequences of the de-recognition by the Government, as it will not affect the participation of the archers in international competitions. “The International Archery Federation (FITA) has conveyed its full support to the AAI, and our archers will take part in international competitions under the tricolor”, informed Malhotra. “The Sports Ministry keeps on stressing that I have been heading the AAI for the past 40 years, but it conveniently ignores that I have also been in politics for the last 60 years, contributing much to the society— as a member of the Lok Sabha four times, Rajya Sabha once, the Metropolitan Council of Delhi several times.” |
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This border town was in for a treat with for women’s team grappled with each other and every point scored was wildly cheered by a record audience at the local MR Government College which included a large number of women, something unheard of in this area.
Mumbai, December 9