|
|
|
|
|
Rio ’14 qualifiers
|
|
|
Former India pacer Agarkar
retires
Indian Open
SAI Shilaru centre to be upgraded
Pak on top against SA
Khurram Manzoor scored 146 as Pakistan made 442 in their first innings of the first Test against South Africa. — AFP
BIC waits to crown Vettel world champ
Top seeds register easy wins in National tennis championship
Saina, Kashyap win, Sindhu falls in Denmark Open
Surjit Hockey A match in progress between Punjab & Sind Bank and Bharat Petroleum during the Surjit Singh Hockey Tournament in Jalandhar on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Malkiat Singh Mandeep enters second round
|
|
Spain, England make it to
Rio
Albacete (Spain), October 16 Spain’s victory in Albacete meant the world and European champions finished top of qualification Group I on 20 points from eight matches, three ahead of France, who beat Finland 3-0 in Paris and go into the
playoffs. Negredo, who scored Spain’s second in Friday’s 2-1 win over Belarus and is looking a strong candidate for a regular place up front, clipped a volleyed Andres Iniesta centre into the net to put Spain ahead in the 26th minute. The Manchester City forward scuffed a shot against the post five minutes before halftime before Mata, who had replaced Pedro moments earlier, pounced on a loose ball and cracked home from close range in the 61st. “It (classification) is a routine thing but you have to give it its worth,” Del Bosque said. “We had a few problems against the lesser teams but we also showed our strength against a powerful France side,” he added in reference to Spain’s 1-0 win in Paris in March. In London, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard scored to send England to the the finals with a 2-0 victory over Poland at
Wembley. Rooney’s 41st-minute breakthrough was brilliantly created and executed after a patient England build-up gathered pace when Leighton Baines crossed for the Manchester United striker, who nodded the ball down and wide of keeper Wojciech
Szczesny. The match was played on a knife-edge as anything other than a win would have consigned England to a potentially difficult two-legged playoff tie, with group rivals Ukraine cruising to an easy win over San Marino. But midfielder Gerrard sparked English celebrations when he put the outcome beyond doubt in the 88th minute, cutting inside, bursting into the area and poking the ball past
Szczesny. England, unbeaten in their qualifying campaign, finish top of the section with 22 points, with Ukraine, who go into the playoffs, second on 21. First-timers Bosnia joined holders Spain, England and Russia in grabbing Europe's remaining automatic spots. Fireworks lit the skies across Bosnia whose fans celebrated qualifying for their first major tournament as an independent nation, while bigger European names like France, Portugal and Greece were consigned to the playoffs. There was heartbreak for Denmark, who pummelled Malta 6-0 to finish second behind Italy in Group B but were the unlucky team to miss out on the playoff spots available for the eight best runners-up from the nine European groups. In the South American qualifiers, Chile beat Ecuador 2-1 as both went through automatically to the finals. The result consigned Uruguay, despite beating group winners Argentina 3-2 in Montevideo, to a playoff against Jordan next month for one more berth in the finals. Argentina, Colombia, Chile and Ecuador occupied the top four automatic qualifying places in the nine-nation group with Uruguay going into the playoff next month.
— Reuters |
||
|
Walsh can take India forward but needs time
Chandigarh, October 16 Even though it has taken HI almost three months to replace Michael
Nobbs, the appointment of Walsh, who has a glowing track record as chief coach of teams such as Australia and Holland, can be seen as a step in the right direction. “In the morning when I read the news, I was pleased. Knowing his track record, both as a player and as a coach, I am very pleased with his appointment,” said former international Hardeep Singh
Grewal, who has played against Walsh, and remembers him as an excellent striker with enviable skills. “In the striking circle he was deadly and was a very skilful player overall. Even as a coach he has been very successful, so I am confident he will have success with the Indian team as well,” added the former India center-half. The 1984 Olympian added that being from the Australian system, which is a mix of Asian and European hockey with great stress on skill, Walsh would be perfect for the team. But he added that the Australian should be given time. “The expectations for next year should be reasonable. Even the top coaches need time to make any kind of lasting change and achieve success, and especially in India, where the whole system needs changing.” The issue has been long in contention, and former players and expert minds have been continuously calling for a change in the system. Michael Nobbs had also, in an interview to The Tribune in July, said that changing coaches was not going to make a big difference until the system was changed. He had said that for improvement in the longer run, the system needed to incorporate modern methods of coaching and training. Aware of the challenges ahead, Walsh, after being confirmed, had said: “The opportunity to head the Indian coaching team is extremely humbling. Coaching India must be regarded as the greatest challenge in the hockey world...I look forward to it.” With so much on the line in the next year – the World League finals, World Cup, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and Champions Trophy – it’s a prospect that every hockey fan in India will also be looking forward to. |
||
|
Former India pacer Agarkar retires
Mumbai, October 16 “Ajit Agarkar has announced his retirement though I wanted him to continue. He said he did not want to block any youngster’s place in the Mumbai team and wanted to announce it at the start of the season and allow someone else to settle down in the team,” said MCA president Ravi Savant. “Agarkar is among the last of Mumbai players to have played for India consistently and also led Mumbai team to the national championship title last year. We appreciate his contribution,” Savant added. The 35-year-old Agarkar started his career as a capable batsman by scoring a triple hundred in junior cricket before shifting his focus to pace bowling. Though wiry in structure, he had a very whippy action with which he generated bounce and pace. He took 58 wickets from his 26 Tests at a costly 47-plus per wicket and 288 in ODIs at just over 27 per victim. His lone Test century (109 not out) in international cricket came at the hallowed Lord’s cricket ground in London in 2002. — PTI
|
|
Indian Open
New Delhi, October 16 Although Mehta’s victory was expected, the 27-year-old from Mumbai, ranked 72nd, was made to fight in every frame by the World No.107 Miah, who is playing in his first season on the pro tour. The 20-year-old Miah had his chances when he constructed a break of 97 in the first frame that underlined his potential but his inexperience on the pro circuit cost him dear. Mehta took the second frame on runs of 28 and 42 after conceding the first frame 20-97 to Miah, who had lost against the Indian 0-5 in their previous meeting. Mehta then had the next three frames with a high break of 67 in the fourth, followed by the 27 in the fifth. Bangladesh-origin Miah, who was born in England, let go a 40-point lead in the fifth and misjudged a yellow to leave Mehta in position to clear the table. After the match, Mehta, who had beaten Miah 5-0 in the Shanghai Masters qualifying tournament, said, “I played better safety today and forced a few mistakes from my opponent. In the first frame, I missed an easy pink and he made a 97. My mindset was not to get negative and go for my shots when there was an opportunity.
— PTI |
|
SAI Shilaru centre to be upgraded
Chandigarh, October 16 Asked about the availability of the arena for the locals, Thomson added that the institution always promotes sports among youth and the same will be applied here. “We will promote daily practice hours for the local players. There were reports that the facilities in arena are not being used properly but leaving past behind, now the arena will be opened for the local players,” he said. “During no-summers camp for national players or during free sessions, the locals can use the entire infrastructure. It is very important to use the infrastructure in proper manner and we are doing it,” added he. Commenting on the preparation for Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, he added: “We have already special coaching staff of about 20 foreigner coaches and hopefully will get results in our
favour.” |
|
|
Pak on top against SA
Abu Dhabi, October 16 With the wicket taking turn and Pakistan’s spinners bowling an immaculate line, the world’s number one Test team showed signs of rust with both bat and ball in their first five-day match in eight months. Having bowled the sub-continent side out for 442 just after tea on day three, South Africa reached 38 in their second innings before Alviro Petersen (17) was caught behind off the bowling of Mohammad Irfan to start a collapse that would see the side lose three more top-order batsmen for the addition of just another 34 runs. Graeme Smith (32) was next to go as he was stumped at the second attempt by Adnan Akmal to become Saeed Ajmal’s 150th victim in Tests. Jacques Kallis, celebrating his 38th birthday, had a day to forget as he was trapped plumb lbw by Junaid Khan without scoring. AB de Villiers (11 not out) and nightwatchman Dale Steyn (0 not out) will resume on day four. Earlier, Misbah-ul-Haq scored his fourth test century to help Pakistan to a first innings score of 442.
— Reuters Brief Scores South Africa: 249 & 72/4 (Smith 32, de Villiers* 11; Ajmal 1/21); Pakistan: 442 (Manzoor 146, Misbah 100; Steyn 3/88) |
|
BIC waits to crown Vettel world champ
New Delhi, October 16 The BIC will go out of the FI radar temporarily in 2014 “for logistical reasons” before the races return in 2015 and 16 to run the full course of its five-year contract with FI boss Ernie Ecclestone. But before that BCI, acknowledged as one of the best-if not the best-FI tracks in the world, is sparing no effort to make the third year the most memorable, and Vettel’s win would be the crowning glory. Vettel is 90 points clear of Fernando Alonso of Spain, and the German, who emerged victorious at BCI last year, was expected to repeat that feat, though there will be three more races left after the Indian leg to realise his dream, if he misses out on the title at BIC. “I did not think I will race in India in my racing career,” said India’s first FI driver Narain Karthikeyan, at a preview of the facilities for the third FI show at BIC. “It’s going to be a nice thing for a world champion to be crowed here.” He said personally, he felt “terrible” sitting out of the FI, due to the slump in the Spanish economy. “So I had to race in the Grand Prix World Series,” added Narain. |
|
|
Top seeds register easy wins in National tennis championship
New Delhi, October 16 Mohit was leading 4-0 when his opponent Saurabh Patil conceded the match due to a lower-back problem, while Arjun Kadhe continued his impressive run with a 7-6(3) 6-3 win over Andhra boy Rishab Agarwal. Veteran Nitin Kirrtane also made it to the men’s quarterfinals with a 6-1 6-0 verdict against Vilaser Khate. In the women’s singles, top seed Shweta knocked out Nehal Sahni 6-2 6-2, and old war-horse Rushmi Chakravorthi got the better of Sahan Shetty 6-2 6-4. Fifth seed Sharmada also had to dig deep to get the better of Manya Nagpal 6-2 4-6 6-3, while second seed Prerna Bhambri beat Davanshi Bhimjiyani 6-1 6-2. |
|
Saina, Kashyap win, Sindhu falls in Denmark Open
Odense (Denmark), October 16 Defending champion Saina brushed aside Bulgaria’s Stefani Stoeva 21-16, 21-12 but world No. 10 Sindhu failed to clear the first-round hurdle, losing 19-21, 20-22 to Japan’s Eriko Hirose in a 50-minute contest. In the men’s singles, Kashyap reached the second round after his opponent Daren Liew of Malaysia retired midway at 11-4. Ajay Jayaram beat eight seed Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand 21-11 21-14, while RMV Gurusaidutt notched up a 21-17, 21-14 victory over Hong Kong’s Yun Hu in other men’s singles opening round matches. However, women’s singles player Arundhati Pantawane bowed out of the first round after suffering a 17-21, 15-21 loss to top seed Xuerui Li of China.
— PTI |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
Abu Dhabi, October 16
Jalandhar, October 16
