New Delhi, November 4
Sachin Tendulkar's scathing attack on Greg Chappell today received the backing of three of his then teammates —-VVS Laxman, Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh — even as the Australian hit back at the batting maestro's claim that he tried to topple Rahul Dravid as captain.

A day after Tendulkar's revelations that Chappell tried offering him the captaincy at the expense of Dravid barely a few months before the 2007 World Cup, the Australian denied discussing such a possibility with the now-retired legend.

In his autobiography Playing it My Way, which is due for release on Thursday, Tendulkar has claimed that the Australian visited his house and tried to convince him to take over the captaincy from Dravid.

But Chappell said he was stunned by the claims. “Whilst I don't propose to get into a war of words, I can state quite clearly that during my time as India coach I never contemplated Sachin replacing Rahul Dravid as captain,” Chappell said in a statement.

“I was therefore very surprised to read the claims made in the book. During those years, I only ever visited Sachin's home once, and that was with our physio and assistant coach during Sachin's rehabilitation from injury, at least 12 months earlier than what was reported in the book,” he said.

Chappell said he enjoyed a pleasant afternoon at Tendulkar's home and the captaincy issue never came up for discussion. Tendulkar, in the book, said that he was shocked by Chappell's suggestion and the lack of respect shown to Dravid. Tendulkar is scathing in his criticism of Chappell, who was the national coach from 2005 to 2007, describing him as a “ringmaster who imposed his ideas on the players without showing any signs of being concerned about whether they felt comfortable or not”.

However, VVS Laxman, Zaheer and Harbhajan supported Tendulkar's version of the events, stating that they too had been victims of Chappell's dictatorial style of functioning.

While Zaheer claimed that Chappell tried his best his to prevent his comeback into the national team, Harbhajan said that the Australian “temporarily destroyed Indian cricket” and targetted the senior players. Laxman said the Australian took “Indian cricket backwards” during his two-year tenure. — PTI

Mumbai, November 4
Former India captain Rahul Dravid today said he won’t be commenting on each and every thing batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar has written in his autobiography, adding that it would be unfair to comment on any issue without reading the book.

Tendulkar, in his soon-to-be-released autobiography Playing It My Way has written that Chappell visited his home just before the 2007 World Cup and suggested about making him the Indian captain at Dravid’s expense.

“I have made some other comments yesterday on what I have information about, which is that it was a private conversation between two people. So, it is hard for me to make a comment on that and actually say what happened or what didn’t happen. It is up for the two individuals to figure out what happened. I don’t really want to make a comment on that sort of conversation or whether it happened or whether it didn’t happen or what happened.

“So, the rest of the book, I would like to read it. There is a lot of other stuff. Without reading it is quite unfair to make a comment and after I have read it, if I do feel like I want to say something then I will,” he said.

Tendulkar had also suggested to the Board to send the team without the coach to the World Cup in 2007 and asked if he agreed with the view in hindsight, Dravid said he didn’t have to comment on everything the batting icon says.

“In what context Sachin has mentioned, what has he said, it is hard to make a comment on something that you are hearing from the media and getting snippets of. So, wait to see what the context is and what this thing was. I am not going to comment on every single thing that Sachin says,” he said. — PTI

New Delhi, November 4
India’s leading race walker, Khushbir Kaur, is another glaring example of how the Punjab government treats its own athletes when it comes to honouring them with cash awards for bringing international laurels to the state.

While the neighbouring Haryana government showered its athletes with huge cash rewards and jobs in the police departments for winning medals at the Commonwealth and Asian Games, the Punjab government seemed oblivious to these tokens of appreciations.

The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal, had last month publicily announced that his government would honour CWG and Asiad medal winners belonging to the state with cash awards of Rs 26 lakh, 16 lakh and 11 lakh for gold, silver and bronze medals respectively.

But when it comes to actually honouring them, such decisions have largely remained confined to the government files.

A “hurt” Khushbir, who became the first Indian woman to clinch a 20km Race Walk silver medal at the Incheon Asian Games, is one among the many state athletes who are feeling let down by their own government.

Khushbir, who hails from a small town in Amritsar called Rasulpur Kalan, is still living in the hope of getting the promised cash award.

“Sirji, maine to sochna hi choddh diya hai iske baare mein (Sir, I have stopped thinking about it),” was Khushbir’s immediate response when asked about the cash award.

“Like other medal winners from my state, I too haven’t got the promised amount. The government had made big promises after state athletes won medals at the Asian Games, but nothing has come to me. We also need jobs and cash awards,” Khushbir told The Tribune on the sidelines of the National Open Athletics Championships here.

Did she approach the sports department? “They don’t listen to me. I am an eight-time national champion and a National Games record-holder for four times in the last three years. I am still waiting for the previous cash awards, but it seems the system in India works like that. Koi kisi ki nahin sunta (No one really listens to anyone),” she said.

Khushbir said her employer — Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) — has offered her a permanent job after her Asian Games exploits.

“I was working as a contractual employee for three years. ONGC has provided me the job security which my state government failed to offer,” she said.

As the talk veered towards her struggling days and overcoming societal pressure, Khushbir said that it was a tough time for the family.

Like her sisters, she too hoped to attain a higher degree. But her mother loved sports. She wanted at least one of her children to take it up professionally.

“My mother introduced me to the game. She always wanted me to become a sportsperson. I am just making my mother happy because she has gone through a lot of hardships,” said the MA first year student of the Khalsa College for Women, Amritsar.

“There was a lot of societal pressure. A lot of the villagers used to pass comments, they even tried to stop my mother from sending me outside in a track suit to compete. My mother sent me to Amritsar for training. I trained under Baldev sir for some time, before joining the national camp in Patiala. My life changed when I started training under Russian coach Alexander Artsybashev. Whatever I am today is because of Alexander sir.”

New Delhi, November 4
VS Surekha bettered her eight-year-old pole vault national record in a stunning performance to add some spark to an otherwise uneventful National Open Athletics Championships on the penultimate day here.

The 30-year-old Railways athlete soared to 4.15m to erase her earlier national record of 4.08m set in October 2006 in Patiala.

KC Dija of Railways and Kiranbir of Police were distant second and third respectively, both clearing 3.60m.

In women’s 3000m steeplechase, Sudha Singh of Railways won gold in 10:08.50, breaking her own meet record of 10:09.04 of last year. Sudha was over half a lap ahead of teammate Priyanka Singh Patel who took silver in 10:35.86. Asiad bronze medallist Lalita Babar pulled out after one lap.

Another Asiad bronze medallist Annu Rani won gold in javelin throw with an effort of 54.01m. Rupinder Kaur (52.26m) of Police won silver, while Railways’ S Saraswathy was third with 47.85m. Men’s discus throw was won by Arjun (56.45m) of Haryana, while Dharamraj (Services) and Vikas Punia (Railways) were second and third with efforts of 55.62m and 53.17m respectively.

Tamil Nadu’s G Gayathry took gold in women’s 100m hurdles while K Prem Kumar of Telangana won the men’s 110m hurdles. — PTI

Chennai, November 4
Coming back after an injury layoff, Atletico de Kolkata skipper Luis Garcia and the tournament's leading scorer Elano Blumer, of Chennaiyin FC, scored a goal each as the two sides shared points in a top-of-the-table clash in the Indian Super League on Tuesday.

Garcia found the target in the 35th minute when he successfully converted from the spot, while Elano struck as late as the 90th minute, also from the spot at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

After missing the last two games, Garcia seemed to be taking Kolkata to another victory before Elano, leading the scoring chart with six goals, dashed the visitors' hopes of pulling off a win on the road.

Garcia, the Spanish defensive midfielder, made a difference in the middle and was one of the best players of the day on either side. ATK maintained their table-topper status scoring against the run of play. But it was Elano, who bagged the Moment of the Match award with his strike at the death. The hosts were awarded the penalty after John Mendonza was brought down by ATK's substitute Kingshuk Debnath.

Elano, who couldn't do anything special till that point, succeeded in beating the Kolkata goalkeeper Apoula Edel with a low shot. Chennaiyin goalkeeper Shilton Paul was red carded for raising his left leg as he fell on the ground when Mohammed Rafi was about to take a shot at the empty goal.

Chennaiyin had nine shots at the goal as against just two by the visitors. While he may have consolidated his position at the top of scoring chart, Elano was not his usual self for most part of the match.

With six minutes to go for the final whistle, Jeje Lalpekhlua, who substituted Chennaiyin's marquee manager cum coach Marco Materrazi, almost scored but his measured cross hit the upright. After Paul was given the marching order, Gennaro Bracigiliano took on the responsibility at the post, and he failed to read Garcia. — PTI

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Taipei, November 4
Rahil Gangjee shot a two-under 70 to move into tied sixth place on a very windy and difficult scoring day at the $650,000 Mercuries Taiwan Masters on Saturday.

Gangjee, at one-under 215 is only three shots behind the leader, England's Steve Lewton (70). SSP Chowrasia (72-77-70) also carded 70 to move to tie 16th, while Jyoti Randhawa (75-72-73) went one-over 73 and was lying tied 18th after three rounds. PTI

New Delhi, November 4
The Indian men's hockey team suffered a 0-4 loss against Australia in the first of the four-match Test series at the Perth Hockey Stadium.

Dragflicker Jeremy Hayward (15th, 34th minutes), Jacob Whetton (30th) and Glenn Simpson (39th) scored for the world champions Australian team, which dominated the contest. Both the teams started aggressively but it was Australia who capitalised on the first opportunity.

Hayward sounded the board in the 15th minute to help his team take 1-0 lead which was doubled with Whetton's field goal in the 30th minute. India found the going tough as Australia stepped up the pressure and scored the third goal in the 34th minute with Edwards' second goal. Five minutes later. mid-fielder Simpson made it 4-0 with a perfectly executed penalty corner. The Terry Walsh-coached Indian team will play its next match Wednesday. — Agencies

New Delhi, November 4
Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday assured to look into the matter after some of the country's top athletes were forced to compete in the warm-up area at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, which is hosting the National Open Athletics Championships after 10 years.

With the ISL being held inside the main arena, the SAI has shifted the throwing events.

BRIEFLY

Binny replaces injured Aaron in Indian team
New Delhi: All-rounder Stuart Binny replaced injured pacer Varun Aaron in the Indian team for the second and third ODIs against Sri Lanka, the BCCI said in a statement today. Aaron suffered a muscle strain in his right leg during the series opener on Sunday. He had to leave the field after bowling the first ball of the 13th over forcing Virat Kohli to complete his over. Binny last played an ODI for India in June this year in Bangladesh. The second match of the series is scheduled in Ahmedabad on Thursday.

BCCI postpones selection meeting amidst confusion
Mumbai: In a mysterious turn of events, the national cricket selectors today met here but did not select the team for the final two ODIs against Sri Lanka and the upcoming Australia tour, triggering speculation on the actual reason behind the postponement. BCCI Secretary Sanjay Patel said that they wanted to see the performance of the team in the first three ODIs against Sri Lanka before finalising the squad. The sudden postponement raised speculation whether the Justice Mudgal Committee report had prompted the selectors not to announce the squad. Patel, however, denied that it was a reason behind the postponement of the selection. "First of all, we have not received the report. The matter is sub judice. Selection committee's meeting has nothing to do with the Mudgal Committee report and we haven't been restrained by the court in that regard," he said.

Rathore jr wins gold at Asian Shotgun Championships
Al Ain (UAE): Manavaditya Rathore, son of Olympic silver medallist Rajyavardhan Rathore, clinched the gold medal in junior trap at the 4th Asian Shotgun Championships here today. This was India's third gold in the continental tournament. Rathore, 15, shot 114 out of 125 to win in a shoot-off.

World Kabaddi League: Mohali to host final
New Delhi: Mohali has got the nod to host for the semifinals and the final of the Wave World Kabaddi league. The final was originally planned for Mohali but then Lahore came into the picture later on. “But looking at the overwhelming audience response in the October weekend,” the organisers claimed, “it was decided that Mohali would host the final.” The next set of matches will be held in Ludhiana from November 7 to 10. Lahore Lions, which could not play in Bhopal due to visa issues, will also play in Ludhiana. — Agencies