Friday, December 17, 1999
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S P O R T | Friday, December 17, 1999 |
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Nirupama rallies to enter semis Batsmen
likely to hold key Gurjit
sees BSF through Hisar
to have sports academy Punjab
Blues post exciting win Churchill triumph National
sports fest from tomorrow Gujarat
skaters to the fore National
yoga meet from Dec 25 |
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India to expose youngsters HOBART, Dec 16 (PTI) — Determined to put on an improved performance in the second Test against Australia in Melbourne, the Indians will be trying to sort out their batting problems by exposing the youngsters in a four-day match with Tasmania beginning here tomorrow. The team management has decided to rest captain Sachin Tendulkar, leg spinner Anil Kumble, pace spearhead Javagal Srinath, all-rounder Ajit Agarkar and wicketkeeper MSK Prasad. Saurav Ganguly, who missed the practice session at the Bellerive Oval this morning due to an upset stomach, will lead the team in place of Tendulkar, while veteran Nayan Mongia, flown in as a reinforcement wicketkeeper, will make his first appearance of the tour. Young left-hander Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Vijay Bharadwaj will also get a chance to press their claims for a spot in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. “It is our last opportunity to give the youngsters in the team a chance and keep them ready if there is an injury,” Tendulkar said after the Indians’ brief nets following a lighthearted soccer game was cut short by rain. “There is a double header coming up after this game, and so it would be important youngsters are also tried out”, the master batsman said. With three senior players rested, Debashis Mohanty, young paceman T. Kumaran and off spinner Harbhajan Singh will get a chance in the bowling department. The skipper and coach Kapil Dev have put behind them the 285-run defeat in the first Test at Adelaide and are looking ahead to the two remaining games in the series. “A loss is a loss. I believe we came with a better reputation with our batting than we saw in the first Test. They (Australia) played well, but let’s go and fight it out and try to prove your own self,” Kapil Dev said. Looking at the positive side, Kapil Dev said “our bowlers bowled a fabulous line and put pressure back on Australia.” But it is the batting which has emerged as the Indians’ main worry. Opener Devang Gandhi, who made four and zero in the two innings at Adelaide, looks set to sit out the rest of the tour. In this scenario, V.V.S. Laxman will be promoted to open the innings with S. Ramesh, and consequently Rahul Dravid and Ganguly will move up one spot. Bharadwaj, with just 58 runs from four first class innings on the tour so far - his 46 against the Prime Minister’s XI at Canberra did not come in a representative match - has looked uncomfortable against short-pitched deliveries, something Australian captain Steve Waugh has promised aplenty on a bouncier, livelier track at Melbourne. Kanitkar, the other claimant for the number six Test spot, himself failed in the game against new South Wales, getting out to spinners for zero and 13. But it is performance against pace that the team management is looking at right now, and Kanitkar has a creditable record on that count, highlighted by the 143 he made last year against a West Indies ‘A’ attack which included Ian Bishop and Reon King. Home captain Jamie Cox, looking at the Indians’ three losses in the four games they have played so far on the tour, said his team would like to pin the tourists down and “try our best to beat them.” Cox said his team, though without star batsman Ricky Ponting, was an excellent one but the wicket here appeared drier than ever and should encourage spinners. “We have young players who will relish the experience of playing an international side,” said Tasmania coach Greg Shipperd, who promised a tough match to the tourists. Teams (from): India: Saurav Ganguly, V.V.S. Laxman, Sadagopan Ramesh, Rahul Dravid, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, Vijay Bharadwaj, Nayan Mongia, Debashis Mohanty, Thirunavuk-karasu Kumaran, Harbhajan Singh, Venkatesh Prasad, Devang Gandhi. Tasmania: Jamie Cox
(captain), Dene Hills, Mark Atkinson, Michael Di Venuto,
Andrew Downton, Andrew Dykes, Scott Kremerskothen, Dan
Marsh, Collin Miller, Ben Targett, Damien Wright and
Shaun Young. |
Jadeja to be fit for triangular NEW DELHI, Dec 16 (PTI) — Injured middle-order batsman Ajay Jadeja has said he was “99 per cent certain” of being fully fit ahead of the triangular one-day series involving India, Australia and Pakistan to be played in January. “I am feeling better,” Jadeja, who has just returned from South Africa after consulting a specialist for his shoulder injury, said in Doordarshan’s Sportstime programme. The former Indian vice-captain said he had undertaken a rehabilitation programme instead of going in for surgery as the latter would have put him out of the game for six months, a press release issued by TWI, producers of the programme, said. Jadeja has been put on a 25-day programme by his doctor. Expressing his
disappointment at being unable to make it to the Test
side touring Australia, Jadeja said, “after having
played in the last Test against New Zealand, I was hoping
to come good there.... But that’s how the game goes.
Injuries are a part of cricket.” |
Campbell, Griffith in record stand HAMILTON (New Zealand), Dec 16 (Reuters) — Sherwin Campbell blasted 170 in a record opening partnership as the West Indies scored 282 for one on the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand today. Campbell and opening partner Adrian Griffith, who hit his debut Test century, batted for all but the final 15 minutes of the day to compile a record opening partnership of 276 against New Zealand. Griffith ended the day on 103 not out. The pair eclipsed the mark of 225 set by Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes at Christchurch in the 1980 series. Barbadian Campbell also scored centuries in both innings of a warm-up match against Auckland this week. Campbell dedicated his innings to former West Indies Test trio Conrad Hunte, Malcolm Marshall and Sylvester Clarke, who all died in the space of a month between November and early December. “They were fine players and West Indian cricket misses them very much,” Campbell told reporters. “I also dedicate the century to my wife Rosalind and my daughter Sherice, whose second birthday I will miss next month.” Campbell was dropped at first slip by Craig Spearman off the bowling of off-spinner Paul Wiseman when on 81. He eventually fell 15 minutes before the close when he tried to hook seamer Dion Nash, only to sky a catch to wicketkeeper Adam Parore. Campbell and Griffith started the match conservatively, scoring only 57 in the first session, but lifted the tempo by adding 125 in the second session. “It’s great to bat with someone who is as steady as Adrian,” Campbell said of his opening partner. “He gave me confidence to go for my shots today.” Campbell said he was disappointed to get out when he did, adding that he had been in a comfortable groove. “I tried to hook a ball that was rising all the time and perhaps it wasn’t the wisest thing to do,” he said. Nightwatchman Dinanath Ramnarine was five not out at the close. West Indies captain Brian Lara had won the toss and elected to bat on a pitch that turned out to be a batsman’s paradise despite concerns it might cause problems in the early stages. New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said the toss had been a bad one to lose. “We would have batted as well because I think it will be a good batting wicket for two or three days and then will take spin,” Fleming said. Fleming praised his bowlers’ efforts but said they were “a bit underdone” after not playing since arriving back from India in November. Scoreboard West Indies (1st innings): Griffith batting 103 Campbell c Parore b Nash 170 Ramnarine batting 5 Extras (lb2, nb2) 4 Total (1 wkt, 92 overs) 282 Fall of wickets: 1-276. Bowling: Cairns
16-4-59-0, Nash 17-7-51-1, Vettori 21-5-56-0, Astle
13-2-45-0, Wiseman 21-10-47-0, McMillan 4-1-22-0. |
Nirupama rallies to enter semis NEW DELHI, Dec 16 (PTI) — Top Indian player Nirupama Vaidyanathan shed her second-set laxness to defeat fourth seed Wynne Prakusya of Indonesia, while Italy’s Tathiana Garbin displayed clinical precision in ousting Abigail Tordoff to enter the semifinals of the $25,000 ITF Women’s Circuit Tennis Tournament here today. Sixth seed Nirupama, coming into the Delhi event after a semifinal appearance in Manila last week, continued her good run to down the better rated Indonesian 6-2 1-6 6-0 in one hour and 35 minutes on the delta centre court. Nirupama, who lost to eventual winner Tathiana Garbin in Manila, faces second seed Katalin Marosi of Hungary in the semifinal tomorrow. Marosi needed just over an hour to outplay Korea’s Choi Ju-Yeon 6-3 6-3 to make it to the last four. Top seed Tathiana Garbin, the winner here at the $75,000 WTA Challenger last year, was at ease against Briton Abigail Tordoff and won 6-3 6-0 in 59 minutes. Baseliner Garbin committed two double faults, but Tordoff, who yesterday upset seventh seed Lorna Woodroffe, failed to grab the opportunity, making numerous unforced errors before losing the tie. Garbin now locks horns with seasoned Japanese Rika Hiraki for a place in the final. Nirupama began by breaking Prakusya in the opening game and raced to a 5-0 lead with two more breaks. A little loss of concentration and a double fault cost the Indian her serve in the sixth game before she closed out the set 6-2. Nirupama lost her concentration in the second set after suffering cramps in her legs during a rally. Prakusya made the best of the scoring opportunity. For most part of the second set, Nirupama was at the receiving end as her opponent ran her around the court. Strong returns from Prakusya forced Nirupama to change her strategy. However, her chip and charge tactics only helped Prakusya, as she twice failed to put the ball across the net. Nirupama took a medical break towards the end of the set and on return, played like a winner. The Indian hardly gave
any leeway to Prakusya in the decider and blanked the
Indonesian 6-0. |
Batsmen likely to hold key CALCUTTA, Dec 16 (PTI) — Both North Zone and West Zone will rely on their formidable batting strength when they clash in the final of the Duleep Trophy cricket tournament here from tomorrow. Both the teams boast of a few quality batsmen who have been in very good form in recent time and the summit showdown at the Eden Gardens here could well turn out to be an exciting battle of batting skills and temperament. The two teams go into the match with their morale high having got past their semi-final opponents by taking a huge first innings lead and the benign track at the Eden Gardens was expected to favour the batsmen. North Zone batsmen have played a big role in their quarter-final match against South Zone at Agartala and the semi-final tie against Central Zone at Guwahati and captain Vikram Rathore will be hoping that his batsmen can deliver the goods yet again. North Zone, playing in the Duleep Trophy final for the 19th time, have a number of players who have played at the highest level of the game and their experience should come handy in the crucial encounter. With most of their top order batsmen in very good form, North Zone will be relying on their openers Vikram Rathore and Ashu Dani to provide the foundation for a big first innings total in a bid to put pressure on their opponents. In the middle order, Reetinder Singh Sodhi, Pankaj Dharmani and Rajiv Nayyar have put up some decent scores in the two matches so far and could torment the West Zone bowlers if they got going. Dharmani, who has scores of 59, 52, 121 in the tournament so far, has the task of holding the middle order together while all rounder Virender Sehwag, who smashed a career-best 274 against South Zone at Agartala, has proved to be a dangerous batsman down the order. Even Nikhil Chopra has proved that he has grown in stature as a lower order batsman by notching up a career-best 132 in the last match to give a lot of depth to the North Zone batting. The North Zone bowling appears to be a little weak and it remains to be seen whether their pace battery of Robin Singh Jr, Shakti Singh and Reetinder Singh Sodhi could make much of an impact on the docile Eden track. The two spinners Nikhil Chopra and Navdeep Singh will have a big role to play in containing the run flow. West Zone have a very good pace attack spearheaded by the lanky Paras Mhambrey while Iqbal Siddique and Zaheer Khan have captured a lot of wickets in the domestic circuit. Left-arm spinner Nilesh Kulkarni, who has been in the wilderness for quite some time now, and off-spinner Bhavin Mehta were quite impressive in the last match and would be hoping to maintain a tidy line and length against the formidable North Zone batsman. Both the teams had a
light net practice session in the morning to get
acclimatised to the conditions. Both the teams will
announce their playing eleven only on the morrow after
having another close look at the track. |
Gurjit sees BSF through LUDHIANA, Dec 16 — A last-minute goal by striker Gurjit Atwal fetched debutants Border Security Force full points against Dempo Sports Club, Goa, in the fourth National Football League match at Guru Nanak Stadium here today. The dull and drab encounter hardly produced any worthwhile move from either side and just as the show seemed to be heading for a goal-less draw, medio J Oseph’s gentle tap for Atwal from the right flank saw the latter attempting a piledriver which sailed into the net leaving the Dempo defenders dazed. Except for this move at the fag end, BSF, as also their rivals dished out a listless affair, which was in sharp contrast to the earlier tie between JCT and Mohun Bagan. The attacks lacked direction and the disjoined moves by both the teams left the spectators disappointed. BSF, playing their second home match of the league, can draw satisfaction from the fact that they have at last found their winning touch after a dismal outing in the Durand Cup where they lost to PSEB and East Bengal. BSF suffered another setback when they lost the lung opener against Mohun Bagan here on December 10. For Dempo, misery was further compounded as they suffered the second consecutive defeat in the current league after the 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Churchill Brothers at Margao earlier. New coach Ahmad Sanzari brought in Iranian recruits Soltanabadi Asadollah and Seied Ahmadi to bolster the midfield and the attack but the duo, playing their first match today, hardly impressed in their maiden outing. The first half remained a scrappy affair with the two sides hardly initiating any good move. BSF did manage to create a few chances midway and medio Prasanta Das’s volley from the top of the box off Tapan Bhattacharjee’s pass narrowly missed the target. Later Gurjit Atwal’s header, though well directed, struck the horizontal much to dismay of his team-mates. Dempo also carved out a few opening and at least on one occasion when Kannan Pariolkar cut through a row of defenders, it seemed the BSF citadel was in danger. However, Priolkar lost control of the ball and the move fizzled out. In the second half, BSF showed some promise when Gurjit Atwal’s cross, parallel to the goal-line, saw midfielder Sane Lama making an attempt but he only managed to balloon the ball high over the bar. Thereafter, BSF got a couple of more chances but Atwal failed to capitalise on them. First Atwal fumbled in shooting when Dempo custodian Upendra Mansingh failed to collect the ball off a counter-attack and then on another occasion he ballooned the ball high despite being in an enviable position inside the box. Dempo also had a chance late in the second half when the promising Remus Gomes raced in from the right put despite being in a one-to-one situation with BSF goalkeeper Bibhas Saha he only managed to despatch a feeble grounder which Saha collected with ease. With a minute to go for
the long whistle, BSF stunned the rival camp when Gurjit
Atwal, making amends for his earlier lapses, shot home
after receiving a pass from Joseph from the top of the
box. The kick lacked power, but surprisingly Upendra
Mansingh under the Dempo bar failed to get his hands to
the ball which landed safely in the next casting a pall
of gloom over the Goa outfit. |
Hisar to have sports academy BHIWANI, Dec 16 — Introduction of sports as a subject in schools, setting up of a sports academy at Hisar and laying an astro-turf at Gurgaon are among the announcements made by Chief Minister Om Parkash Chautala while inaugurating the 15th Haryana Sports Festival here today. The sports festival is being held after a lapse of nearly four years. Approximately 4000 sportspersons from all over the state, including a contingent of Haryana Police, are participating in the festival. The Chief Minister also announced restoration of three per cent reservation for sportspersons in government jobs and 75 per cent concession in fares while travelling in roadways buses. Mr Chautala said that the sports college at Hisar would be re-opened besides setting up of a sports academy at Hisar. He also announced promotion of international hockey player Baldev Singh from coach to Deputy Director. He said that the various government-controlled boards and corporations in Haryana would be entrusted with the promotion of one game each, adding that though India populationwise ranked second in the world, it had miserably failed to earn a respectable place in sports the reason being political interference in the selection of sportspersons for international events. He also announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh and an acre of land at Panchkula for the Haryana Olympic Association. His government, he said, would also take appropriate measures for rehabilitation of the sportspersons of yesteryears. The Indian Olympic Association president, Mr Suresh Kalmadi, pleaded for setting up of sports schools on the pattern of the Rai sports college in every district in the country. He assured that the National Games proposed to be held in 2004 would be allotted to Haryana. The matter would be decided in the next meeting of the IOA, he said and advised HOA to start preparation for the national mega event from today itself. The major attraction at
the sports festival was the performance of the parachute
jumpers who jumped from a height of approximately 7000
feet amidst thunderous applause from thousands of
spectators and players. The BSF dare-devils also
impressed with their stunts on the motorcycles. |
Punjab Blues post exciting win CHANDIGARH, Dec 16 —Punjab Blues scored an exciting 71-68 win over visiting Indian-Canadians from Vancouver in the opening game of the 4th All-India Nachhattar Singh Gill Basketball Tournament which got underway at Khemka Stadium at Kotkapura last evening. The tournament featuring teams from Vancouver (Canada), Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan and Punjab was inaugurated by Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal. Punjab Blues comprising junior and youth players, put up an excellent show against sturdy and wellbuilt Indian Canadians. In a neck-and-neck fight, the score moved steadily for both the teams as both excelled in man-to-man marking. At the breather, Punjab Blues led 38-37. Midway in the second half, Canadians mounted pressure and forged ahead at 64-61 and maintained lead for some time till Amrinder scored a three pointer with 35 seconds remaining to put Punjab Blues into lead again at 68-66. With eight seconds remaining, there was an intentional foul by a Canadian leading to two free shots which were both cleanly converted by Sarabjit to give Punjab an exciting 71-68 win. Sarabjeet Singh (25) and Jasjeet (16) were the main scorers for the winners while Gurjeet (27), Navdeep (16), Pardeep (11) and Jas (10) were the chief scorers for visiting Canadian team. In another game, Andhra Pradesh defeated Delhi 67-45 after leading 45-17 at the breather. Vinoy (15) and Srinivasa Rao (12) were the architects of Andhra’s win while for Delhi, Uttam Singh (14) and Sanjay (10) were the main scorers.
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Churchill triumph MUMBAI, Dec 16 (PTI) — Winger Francis Silveira’s brace in the first half helped Goa champions Churchill Brothers beat local outfit Mahindra and Mahindra 2-0 in the National Football League at the Cooperage here today. The visitors, who scored their second win of the league, opened their account in the fifth minute when their defender Danzie Ferrao’s cross was smartly headed home by Silveira. Ten minutes later Mahindras got a fine chance to equalise but their striker M. Najeeb’s left footer was well saved by Churchill custodian Edwar Ansan. Five minute from half time, Silveira was bang on target when his left footer off Ukranian import and defender Mykola Shevchenko found the mark. With a couple of minutes
to go for lemon time Najeeb shot over a Bernard pass.
Soon on resumption, Mahindras made two substitutions.
They brought in Abhay Kumar for winger Samshi Raza and
new Jordani-an import Samir Jamil for defender Sushanta
Mazumdar and this move added more pep to their forward
line. |
National sports fest from
tomorrow CHANDIGARH, Dec 16 — The stage is set for the 25th National Sports Festival for Women in three disciplines — badminton, table tennis and lawn tennis — going to begin here from December 18. Briefing the newsmen Dr P.C. Kashyap, Regional Director, SAI, Netaji Subhas Northern Centre Chandigarh, disclosed that a sum of Rs 3 lakh has so far been earmarked for the holding of this four-day extravaganza which also coincides with silver jubilee celebrations of the festival which was started way back in 1975 to celebrate the International Year for Women. The badminton events will be conducted at Panjab University gymnasium hall, table tennis at the Sector 23 TT hall and lawn tennis at the Lake Club courts, Sector 6. The festival will be organised by SAI in coordination with the PU Sports Department and UT Sports Department. Nearly 250 participants from various states and union territories will be reaching here to take part in the festival. The Chandigarh festival is one of the three groups which constitute the festival. Swimming had not been included due to cold weather conditions.The group II games will be held in Delhi in February next year while group III in Davengere (Karnataka) in January next . Mr Kashyap further told that teams from HP, J&K, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, UP, MP, Punjab, Maharashtra and Assam have confirmed their participation. The meet will have individual as well as team events in all three sport. Technical officials have been requisitioned from NIS, Patiala . The participants and
officials will be lodged at Shivalik Public School, SAS
Nagar. |
Gujarat skaters to the fore CHANDIGARH, Dec 16 —Haryana, Punjab and J&K surged ahead in roller hockey by winning their respective matches in different age groups with ease on the third day of the 37th National Skating Championship here today. Among girls (under 14), Haryana pipped MP 9-0. In under 14 boys section Haryana got the better of J&K by 7-2 in under 10 boys category Haryana downed Delhi by 15-6. Punjab skaters blanked Andhra Pradesh by 14-0. J&K girls ousted Punjab in above 14 section beating them 5-1. In speed races a major share of gold medals was claimed by Gujarat skaters. The majority of skaters felt happy at the playing facilities for the playing such as KB DAV Centenary School, Sector 7 where the new rink thrown open from the skaters. One could find even the very young skaters below six years, taking part in Artistic and Speed skating which enthralled the audience with their action on wheels, much to the delight of the spectators. Results: Speed (time trials): 150 mtr: Boys: Under 6 yrs Meet Shah( Guj) 1, Joshen M. George(Guj) 2, Sena Dheeraj Kanth (AP) 3.Girls: Kanika Bhulla (Guj) 1, Juhi Bhavsar (Guj) 2, Nilasha HA( Ktk) 3. 300 Mtr: Boys (6-8 yrs) — Tarun Gandotra (J&K) 1, Abhijit D (ktk) 2, Poovanna PA (ktk) 3. Girls: Aashna Bhow (Guj) 1, Soujania Ganig (Ktk) 2, Ankita Mohangade( Mah) 3. Boys: (8-10 yrs) — Gaurav Singh (Guj) 1, Harshil Shridhar (Guj) 2, Sameer (Del) 3. Girls: Priyanka Parikh (Guj) 1, Sonale Niganla (Guj) 2, Akshi Bhargya (Har) 3. Boys: (10-12 yrs) — Suchit Gupta (J&K) 1, Pritesh Gandhi (Guj) 2, Rahul Suvarna (Ktk) 3. Girls: Sapna Shah (Guj) 1, Kriti Puri (Chd) 2, Vrunda Talati (Guj) 3. Boys: (12-14 yrs) — Apoorva Chandar (Ktk) 1, Sidhharth Uppal (Har) 2, Gautam Narang (Har) 3. Girls:Uttara (Guj) 1, Varuna Nohar (Har) 2, Rachel (Guj) 3. Boys: (above 14 yrs) — Harish BM (Ktk) 1, Vivek (Ktk) 2, Floyo (Guj) 3. Girls: Vanita Suri (J&K) 1, Priyanka Chandan( J&K) 2, Santhrupti Bappa l (Ktk) 3. Rooller Hockey: Boys: U-10 yrs- Delhi b MP 15-0; Punjab b Maharshtra 7-0; Haryana b Delhi 15-6; J&K b Punjab 11-4. U-14: Punjab b MP 12-0; Haryana b J&K 7-2; Delhi b Maharhstra 1-0; Chandigarh b AP 1-0. Above 14 yrs: Chandigarh b Tamil Nadu 1-0; Punjab b AP 14-0; J&K b MP 10-0. Girls: (U-10 yrs) — MP b Chandigarh 5-1; Maharashtra b TN 2-0; haryana b MP 9-0. U-14 yrs: Punjab b Maharashtra 2-1; Chandigarh b Delhi 5-2; Haryana b MP 9-0. Above 14 yrs: Chandigarh
b Karnataka 15-0; MP b AP 9-0; J&K b Punjab 5-1. |
National yoga meet from Dec 25 CHANDIGARH, Dec 16 — Haryana State Yoga Association under the auspices of Indian Yoga Federation (IYF) will organise 18th National Yoga Championship from December 25 to December 27 at S.D. College, Panipat. This was disclosed by Mr Dharam Vir, president of Indian Yoga Federation, here today. He said 600 yoga players from 24 states were expected to take part in the championship. The competitions would be conducted as per the IYF rules. Competitions for girls in age groups of 8 to 12 years, 12 to 18 years and 18 to 25, for women in 25 to 40 years, 40 to 50 years and above 50 years, for boys in 8 to 14 years, 14 to 20 years and for men in 20 to 30 years, 30 to 40 years, 40 to 50 years and above 50 years would be conducted. The first round of competitions for girls and boys in the sub-junior and junior sections would be conducted in the afternoon of the inaugural day, while the first round competitions in senior boys and girls sections would be held on the morning of December 26. The final round of competitions for girls in the sub-junior and junior sections would be conducted during the morning session of December 26. The association has
decided to provide board and lodging facilities to all
participants free of cost. |
New sports policy to be
ready ‘soon’ CHANDIGARH, Dec 16 — “The Bill for inclusion of sports in the Concurrent List will be presented in the Budget session of Parliament,” according to Mr Ananth Kumar, Union Minister for Youth, Culture and Sports, who was in Chandigarh for the inauguration of the 37th National Skating Championships. Mr Ananth Kumar said that various sports federations would be taken into confidence before presenting the Bill in the next session of Parliament. Earlier, the Bill was scheduled to be tabled in the ongoing winter session of Parliament. The Indian Olympic association and various other sports federation have opposed the move of putting sport in the concurrent list. The Sports Minister also assured that a new sports policy would be ready soon. The policy, he said, envisaged broadbasing of sports, managing and creating of infrastructure research and development efforts in sports and participation of private and the public sector in sports. The Union Sports Minister was highly impressed with the performance of Indian skaters. He reiterated that physical education would be made a compulsory in schools so as to make sports reach the grassroot-level. When asked about the
role of the SAI in the development of sports, he said now
the authority would also invite the corporate sector for
promoting sports in the country by opening centres of
excellence in various sport disciplines in the country.
He disclosed that a national sports fund has been created
for the welfare of sportspersons in the country. |
Top teams for ‘Farmtrac
Cup’ JALANDHAR, Dec 16 — Ten top outfits of the country, including Indian Airlines, Punjab and Sind Bank, Bharat Petroleum, Indian Railways, Karnataka XI, Uttar Pradesh XI, Bengal XI, Orissa XI, Punjab State Electricity Board (Patiala) and Steel Authority of India will vie for top honours in the third Romesh Chander Memorial All India Hockey Tournament for the “Farmtrac Cup” starting here on December 17 at the Burlton park here. The tournament has been recognised as an ‘A’ grade tournament by the Indian Hockey Federation. The winners and runner-up in the men’s section will be awarded cash prizes of Rs 1,00,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively, apart from a running trophy. In the women’s section Rs 40,000 is for winners and Rs 25,000 for the runners-up. Mr Parkash Singh Badal,
Chief Minister, Punjab, will be chief guest at the
inauguration ceremony. |
H
Jalandhar kho-kho JALANDHAR, Dec 16 (FOSR) — Kanya Maha Vidyalya (KMV) won the District Kho-Kho Championship. KMV beat Government Senior Secondary School, Virk, by 12-4 in the women’s final. In the men’s section Government Senior Secondary School, Partapura, stole the honours. Mr Harraj Singh Sidhu, President, Punjab Kho-Kho Association, gave away the prizes. PSEB spikers win PATIALA, Dec 16 (FOSR) — PSEB spikers downed Haryana Police 25-23, 25-20, 26-28, 25-22 in the final to clinch the title in the All India Kargil Martyrs Memorial Volleyball Tournament which concluded yesterday at Panipat. In the league stage,
PSEB lost the first match against Kurukshetra University
15-25, 25-23, 24-26, 26-28 but won the second match
against Air Force, Agra, 22-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-19, In
the semi-final PSEB downed SAI Hostel Panipat 25-20,
25-14, 25-23, to make the finals. In the final PSEB beat
Haryana Police 25-23, 25-20, 26-28, 25-22 to annex the
trophy. |
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