Mahindras hold Bagan to 1-1 draw
CALCUTTA, Dec 19 — Mahindra and Mahindra, Mumbai rode on a second half resurgence to hold former champions Mohun Bagan to a 1-1 draw in a fourth National Football League exchange here today.

East Bengal start favourites
LUDHIANA, Dec 19 — Last year’s runners-up East Bengal start favourites against debutants BSF in their first away match of the National Football League at Guru Nanak Stadium here tomorrow.

Punjab lift Cooch Behar trophy
JAMSHEDPUR, Dec 19 — Favourites Punjab retained the Cooch Behar Trophy (under-19) by virtue of their first innings lead against hosts Bihar on the concluding day of the four-day tie at the Keenan Stadium here today.

Jaffer’s ton keeps West’s hopes alive
CALCUTTA, Dec 19 — Opener Wasim Jaffer’s composed unbeaten 107 kept West Zone on course for the vital first innings lead as they reached 237 for three at close on the third day of the Duleep Trophy cricket tournament final against North Zone here today.

Chandigarh, Punjab in TT semis
Chandigarh, Dec 19 — Chandigarh will play UP while Punjab will take on West Bengal in the semifinal of the table tennis event in the National Women Sports Festival here.

National korfball from Dec 25
CHANDIGARH, Dec 19 — National Korfball Championship will be held here from December 25 to 29, Mr P.S. Gill, president of the Chandigarh Korfball Association, disclosed it here yesterday.

AP, Punjab Whites in title clash
CHANDIGARH, Dec 19 —Andhra Pradesh and Punjab Whites will clash in the men’s final in the fourth All-India Nachhattar Singh Gill Memorial Prize Money Basketball Tournament being played at Kotkapura.

Sunheli records facile victory
PATIALA, Dec 19 — Sunheli Chug of Punjab clinched the title in the 5 km point race for juniors in the girls section in the National Cycling Championships (track) being held at the Punjabi University Velodrome here today.

Devi Dyal bereaved Award for Sunil

Tasmania flay Indian attack

HOBART, Dec 19 (PTI) — Indian bowlers were denied an opportunity to get into form ahead of the second Test against Australia as they were ground into the dust by the Tasmanians, who reached a strong 472 for four on the penultimate day of the four-day cricket match here today.

By close, Tasmania had built a 156-run lead on the visitors’ 316 for nine declared, with Dan Marsh unconquered on 118 and Shaun Young on 32.

Home skipper Jamie Cox and Marsh led the pounding of the Indian attack, knocking up centuries on an easy Bellerive Oval wicket that saw 306 runs being scored during the day.

Resuming at 166 for no loss, the opening pair of Cox and Deanne Hills put on 205 for the first wicket before Hills was beaten by a V.V.S. Laxman throw to the bowler’s end while attempting to steal a sharp single. He made 84.

It was the fifth double century stand and the 21st of hundred or more between the two established openers.

India gained another success in the first session when Michael Divenuto edged a catch behind to Nayan Mongia off Vijay Bharadwaj after making 12.

But Cox batted strongly and, with John Dykes, raised 50 runs for the third wicket. Cox’s dominating innings ended when he heaved a catch to Venkatesh Prasad at mid-on off stand-in skipper Sourav Ganguly. He batted for 400 minutes and 278 balls, hitting 13 fours.

After the 300 of the innings came up off 621 balls, the runs started coming in faster, thanks to Marsh.

The stocky batsman, son of former Australian stumper Rodney Marsh, drove, pulled and hoisted Indian bowlers to all parts of the ground to raise his third hundred in four first class games.

Marsh batted for 188 minutes, hitting eight fours and a six off the 123 balls he faced.

The fourth success of the day for the Indians came in the post-tea session when Bharadwaj won a leg-before appeal against John Dykes. The batsman made 61 runs, completing his half century in 142 minutes and 110 balls with six fours before he missed a straight delivery.

Dykes had put on 104 runs for the fourth wicket with Marsh.

The Indian attack was not helped by a sleeping pitch on which the bowlers bowled as well as the conditions permitted. Coach Kapil Dev defended his bowlers’ insipid display and instead criticised the route the tourists were following on the current tour, AFP adds.

“I can’t understand why we were made to play this game in Hobart”, Kapil said.

It’s cold here and the wicket is flat, very different from what we will get in the second Test in Melbourne.

“There was little the bowlers could do. It was not easy to take wickets,” he said. Kapil, Test cricket’s leading wicket-taker, said he expected a bouncier track and moderate weather in Melbourne.

SCOREBOARD

India (1st innings): 316 for 9 decl.

Tasmania (1st innings):

Hills run out 84

Cox c Prasad b Ganguly 139

Di Venuto c Mongia b Bharadwaj 12

Dykes lbw b Bharadwaj 61

Marsh batting 118

Young batting 32

Extras (lb-7, w-5, nb-44) 26

Total (for 4 wkts, 148 overs) 472

Fall of wickets: 1-205, 2-227, 3-277, 4-381.

Bowling: Prasad 21-5-52-0, Mohanty 26-7-81-0, Kumaran 23-6-90-0, Ganguly 11-0-42-1, Harbhajan Singh 38-4-108-0, Bharadwaj 25-2-84-2, Kanitkar 4-0-8-0.

Windies 66 for 4

HAMILTON (New Zealand), Dec 19 (AFP) — New Zealand medium-fast bowler Dion Nash believes the team can still force a win in the first cricket Test against the West Indies tomorrow after rain dampened their hopes here today.

Nash, who claimed the wicket of Brian Lara which reduced the West to 3-3 in their second innings, was still confident New Zealand could start the two-Test series on a winning note.

The West Indies were 66-4 in their second innings when rain intervened, an overall lead of just 38.

“There’s a lot of cricket left to be played in the Test. The wicket’s turning, Daniel (Vettori) is looking completely dangerous, who knows,” Nash said.

“A couple of quick wickets and we could get into them. I believe it’s certainly on if we can get it right.”

Rain had threatened all day but started falling just before 3.00 p.m. continued into the evening.

While it caused big headaches for the New Zealand team who looked on winning roll, Nash said they were positive about continuing tomorrow with the forecast for improving weather.

“There’s nothing you can really say or do about the weather, you’ve got to hope that it clears up and we can carry on with what’s been an exciting Test match,” he said.

Nash said while Vettori and offspinner Paul Wiseman were two key men for tomorrow’s play, he believed the pitch still had enough in it for himself and Chris Cairns despite it being the fifth day.

SCOREBOARD

WEST INDIES (1st innings): 365

NEW ZEALAND (1st innings): 393

WEST INDIES (2nd innings)

Campbell b Cairns 0, Griffith not out 14, Chanderpaul c Parore b Cairns 0, Lara c Parore b Nash 1, Powell c Spearman b Vettori 30, Adams batting 14.

Extras: (4b, 3nb) 7

Total (for 4 wkts in 30.1 overs) 66

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-0, 3-3, 4-36.

Bowling: Vettori 10.1-7-11-1, Cairns 11-5-11-2, Nash 7-1-37-1, Paul Wiseman 2-0-3-0.

Underdogs Dempo hold JCT
From Amardeep Bhattal
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Dec 19 — Underdogs Dempo Sports Club, Goa, warded off a second half resurgence by JCT Phagwara to snatch a crucial point in their second away match of the National Football League at Guru Nanak Stadium here today.

Putting up a vastly improved performance, Dempo fought back gallantly, especially in the second half, to hold the rivals to a goal-less draw and the result was indeed satisfying for new coach Ahmad Sanzari, who has been with the club for only three weeks.

“We lost the first match by five goals, the second by one goal and today we did not concede any,” said the beaming Sanzari while praising his team for the improved show.

For JCT it was certainly an unlucky day, as, despite creating a number of openings, they failed to score, the crowding tactics adopted by Dempo in the second half also thwarted the moves of the Phagwara outfit who went all out to subdue their rivals but in vain.

Dempo were a transformed team today. The attacks spearheaded by striker Remus Gomes were sharp while the midfield was effectively controlled by Iranian recruit Soltanabadi Asadollah. The defence manned by Sameer Naik, Teotonio Fernandes, Stanley Colaco and Ajay Acharya hardly betrayed signs of nervousness. Iranian Seied Ahmadi also lent strength to the midfield.

Dempo commenced the proceedings on a promising note and striker Remus Gomes tested JCT custodian Baljit Singh with a powerful long ranger in the opening minutes but the ball struck the horizontal and bounced back into play. In sharp contrast to the earlier ties, Dempo’s movements today were swift.

JCT also launched some attacks and midway through the first half, striker Hardip Gill, after trapping a lob outside the box, gave a quick pass to Hardip Saini who, however, failed to find the target.

A few minutes before lemon time, Dempo’s Teotonio Fernandes collided with Harinder of JCT near the centre-line and had to be carried away on a stretcher as he fractured his collar bone.

The second half saw JCT going all out to gain the upper hand and kept Dempo under pressure for considerable spells. In the 52nd minute, medio Hardip Saini chested the ball inside the box before leaving it for Harinder but the latter only managed to shoot straight at the goalkeeper.

Thereafter, Prabhjot Singh, formerly of Tata Football Academy, who made his maiden appearance in the league today, aimed a powerful long-ranger but the ball sailed over the bar.

JCT effected a couple of substitutions with Surjit replacing Sukhjit and Jaswant coming in place of Ram Pal. Jaswant made an immediate impact as his power-packed shot from the top of the box almost beat Dempo custodian Upendra Mansingh. Thereafter, Surjit’s pass to Hardip Gill saw the latter putting Prabhjot Singh in possession who again tested Upendra Mansingh with a piledriver but in vain.

Jaswinder Singh, who replaced Surjit, raced in and despatched an angular shot towards the goal. Hardip Saini made a brave attempt but he failed to get his foot to the ball, which went over the goal-line.

In the dying minutes, JCT virtually stormed the rival territory with all the players moving upfront. A flag kick two minutes from close saw defender Deepak Mondal attempting a header which narrowly missed the mark.

Dempo almost conceded a self goal through a faulty clearance by Eusebio D’ Souza but luckily goalkeeper Upendra Mansingh saved the Goan outfit the blushes with a timely save.

Mahindras hold Bagan to 1-1 draw

CALCUTTA, Dec 19 (PTI) — Mahindra and Mahindra, Mumbai rode on a second half resurgence to hold former champions Mohun Bagan to a 1-1 draw in a fourth National Football League exchange here today.

The wily N Najib restored parity for the visitors in the 76th minute after medio James Singh had put Bagan in the lead in the 39th minute of the opening half.

Bagan, who enjoyed complete domination in the first half, looked tired and incohesive after the breather, as the Mumbai team regrouped and launched a series of well-coordinated attacks, exposing the weak Bagan defence.

The home side were also done in by inept shooting, particularly in the first half, when they called the shots, but failed time and again after reaching the opponent penalty box.

Bagan’s goal resulted from a Kasif Jamal diagonal pass, which was promptly directed into the net by an unmarked James Singh with a sharp right footer.

Najib struck the equaliser by nodding home a Suramani Singh corner from the left flank, as the Bagan rearguard exhibited another shoddy defensive display by failing to react in time.

East Bengal start favourites
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Dec 19 — Last year’s runners-up East Bengal start favourites against debutants BSF in their first away match of the National Football League at Guru Nanak Stadium here tomorrow.

After an initial setback when they lost the opening tie against Tollygunge Agragami by a solitary goal at Calcutta on December 11, East Bengal carved out an impressive 3-1 win over Indian Telephone Industries (ITI) four days later. Both East Bengal and BSF are level with three points each although the former are better placed with a superior goal difference.

For East Bengal, it has indeed been a story of missed chances since the previous season. The glamour outfit, which boasts of an impressive line-up, including five internationals who did duty in the Asia Cup qualifiers at Abu Dhabi, have ended runners-up in a series of major tournaments starting from the Federation Cup, where they lost to Mohun Bagan in the final. They again lost to Bagan in the IFA Shield and to Mahindras in the Durand Cup last year. This season they have lost three finals — the McDowell Cup, All-Airlines Trohpy and recently the Durand Cup which was won by Salgaocar.

However, this is not to suggest that East Bengal are not among the favourites. In fact, the red and yellow brigade with former international Subhas Bhowmick as coach, has already given a taste of their firepower to the BSF in the Durand Cup by pumping in three goals without reply in the quarterfinals on November 29. Moreover, this victory was achieved when almost half-a-dozen front ranking players were away on national duty.

Starting from goalkeeper Prasanto Dora, East Bengal have a tight defence, which includes Falguni Dutta, Ghanian Jackson Egygpong and Rattan Singh. However, star defender Chanchal Bhattacharya will be out of action following two-match suspension announced by the NFL committee chairman Alberto Colaco. Another player who will miss action tomorrow is medio Dipankar Roy who earned a yellow card against ITI on December 15.

The midfielders, including Tushar Rakshit, Carlton Chapman, Emmanuel Opoku, Ranjan Dey and Rennedy Singh strike an effective combination and Rakshit, in fact, was adjudged the best player in the recently-concluded Durang Cup. However, Rakshit is doubtful tomorrow’s tie as he is reportedly runner temperature.

In Bijen Singh, Kennedy Willie Brown and Raman Vijayan, East Bengal have excellent strikers who can spell disaster for any team.

BSF, on the other hand, are struggling to find from after a series of setbacks. They lost to East Bengal and PSEB in the Durand Cup and subsequently in the NFL opener they went down to Mohun Bagan by a solitary goal here. The 1-0 victory over Dempo on December 16 gave them some confidence. Coach Shyam Kumar may persist with the same lineup which kept Mohun Bagan at bay for a considerable spell. As such stopper backs Raghbir Singh and Pradip Gorai are expected to man the defence with Bibhas Saha under the bar. The midfield will be managed by Prasanto Das, Sane Lama and Joseph while strikers Gurjit Atwal and DS Negi will lead the attack upfront.

On the whole, East Bengal who will be playing here for the first time, enjoy a clear edge over their rivals given their performance in the recent past.

The kick-off is at 2.30 pm.

Punjab lift Cooch Behar trophy

JAMSHEDPUR, Dec 19(UNI) — Favourites Punjab retained the Cooch Behar Trophy (under-19) by virtue of their first innings lead against hosts Bihar on the concluding day of the four-day tie at the Keenan Stadium here today.

Punjab amassed a record first innings total of 839 for five with the help of a career-best 358 by skipper Yuvraj Singh and an unbeaten 205 by Vivek Mahajan.

Resuming at their overnight 431 for two, Yuvraj (232 not out) and Mahajan (59 not out) continued their leather hunt against the tired and insipid bowlings of Bihar. Yuvraj treated the Bihar bowlers, spinners Ajay Yadav and Satendra Mishra in particular with scant respect as the stylish left-hander reached his coveted 300-mark before the lunch, which studded 35 hits to the fence and four over boundaries.

The south paw’s marathon innings(579 minutes, 404 balls, 40 fours, six sixes), however, ended in a rather anti-climax, when he went for a big hit to a full toss off Amir Hashmi and missed it tumbling his stumps.

Yuvraj and Mahajan garnered a record 341 runs in the third wicket.

After the exit of the captain soon after the lunch, Mahajan continued merry-making with the bowling and completed his ton (232 minutes,283 balls, 12 fours). He and Manav (66) also added 119 runs in the fifth wicket partnership. Mahajan reached his double hundred during the mandatory overs which compiled 21 well-struck boundaries.

Among Bihar bowlers, Ajay Yadav and Satendra Mishra claimed two wickets each conceding 289 and 218 runs while Amir Hashmi(152/1) took the other one.

This was Punjab’s second successive trophy. Last year they beat Tamil Nadu in Hyderabad.

Scoreboard

Bihar (1st innings) 357 all out.

Punjab (1st innings) Munish Sharma c Hashmi b Yadav 95, Ravneet Ricky b Hashmi 33, Yuvraj Singh b Hashmi 358, Vivet Mahajan not out 205, H.S. Kali st. Dhoni B.S. Mishra 40. M. Duper C.S. Mishra b Yadav 66, S. P. Singh not out 20.

Extras: 22

Total (for five 222 overs): 839.

Fall of wickets: 1/60, 2/26, 3/608, 4/680, 5/799,

Bowling: Mihir Diwakar 18-3-81-o, Tej Pratap 2-0-9-0, Vivek Kumar 26-13-44-0, Ajay Yadav 81-10-289-2, Satendra Mishra 49-3-218-2, Amir Hashmi 43-3-152-1, Manish Kumar 01-0- 10-0, Ratan Kumar 2-0-18-0.

Jaffer’s ton keeps West’s hopes alive

CALCUTTA, Dec 19 (PTI) — Opener Wasim Jaffer’s composed unbeaten 107 kept West Zone on course for the vital first innings lead as they reached 237 for three at close on the third day of the Duleep Trophy cricket tournament final against North Zone here today.

Resuming their first innings at the overnight score of eight for no loss in reply to North Zone’s total of 468, Jaffer played the role of sheet anchor to perfection as the West Zone batsmen played cautiously on a good batting track at the Eden Gardens to provide the foundation for a huge total.

West Zone lost the wicket of left handed opener Connor Williams (21) rather early but Abhijit Kale (30) and skipper Amol Muzumdar (52) came up with useful contributions to prevent further setbacks on a day which saw runs come at a slow pace.

Jaffer, who has been in very good form in the tournament, seemed to be in no discomfort as he played out the entire day and unleashed some delightful strokes when the loose balls came his way.

Elegant left hander Vinod Kambli was giving him company with 10 when play was called off a little early due to poor light.

The opening pair added 47 runs for the first wicket before paceman Robin Singh (Jr) provided an early breakthrough by getting rid of Williams much to the delight of his teammates.

Williams tried to flick a rising delivery outside his leg stump and only succeeded in edging to Vijay Dahiya behind the stumps who made no mistake.

SCOREBOARD

North Zone (1st innings): 468 all out.

West Zone (1st innings): Jaffer not out 107, Williams c Dahiya b Robin (Jr) 21, Kale c Sehwag b Robin (Jr) 30, Mauzmdar lbw Sodhi 52, Kambli not out 10.

Extras: (lb-5, nb-12) 17.

Total (for three wickets) 237.

Fall of wickets: 1/47, 2/113, 3/218.

Bowling: Amit Bhandari 23-4, 80-0, Robin Singh (Jr) 20-7, 35-2, Navdeep Singh 22-7, 53-0, Nikhil Chopra 15-3, 26-0, R.S. Sodhi 10-3, 29-1, Virender Sehwag 3-0, 9-0.

Face-saving win for Zimbabwe

HARARE, Dec 19 (Reuters) — Zimbabwe beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in the fifth and final one-day cricket international here today. The visitors having earlier won all three matches, won the series 3-1.

Sri Lanka:

Jayasuriya c A. Flower b Rennie 6

Kaluwitharana c Goodwin b Olonga 7

Atapattu b G. Whittall 25

Jayawardena c Strang b Rennie 17

Arnold c A. Flower b G. Whittall 39

Dilshan c Carlisle b Strang 51

DE Seram c G. Flower b G. Whittall 7

Chandana c A. Whittall b Olonga 17

Gallage run out 14

Pushpakumara c

A. Flower b Strang 0

S De Silva not out 0

Extras 17

Total (all out in 48.3 overs) 200

Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-14, 3-36, 4-96, 5-110, 6-118, 7-161, 8-200, 9-200

Bowling: Olonga 8-0-42-2, Rennie 9.3-2-21-2, Strang 10-1-36-2, G. Whittall 8-0-37-3, A. Whittall 10-0-45-0, G. Flower 3-0-15-0.

Zimbabwe:

Campbell c Kaluwitharana b Jayawardene 36

G. Flower run out (Jayasuria) 52

Carlisle c Dilshan b Chandana 10

Goodwin not out 47

A. Flower run out 9

G. Whittall not out 37

Extras (b-1 lb-1 w-8 nb-5) 15

Total (for four wickets, 46.2 overs) 206

Fall of wickets: 1/94 2/110 3/111 4/128

Bowling: Pushpakumara 9-1-35-0 (w-2 nb-2), Gallage 8-2-36-0 (w-1 nb-3), De Silva 3.2-0-23-0 (w-1), Arnold 5-0-16-0 (w-2), Jayawardena 3-0-24-1, Chandana 10-0-33-1 (w-1), Jayasuria 8-0-37-0 (w-1).

Chandigarh, Punjab in TT semis
By Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, Dec 19 —Chandigarh will play UP while Punjab will take on West Bengal in the semifinal of the table tennis event in the National Women Sports Festival here.

In badminton, Punjab edged out Karnataka by 2-0 with Nazma and Meeta Bhandari playing the stellar role for Punjab team. In other semifinals, UP got the better of Maharashtra at 2-1.

In TT, city girl Shikha Sharma was the star in its victory over Delhi by three games to one. Shikha won both her matches, one from Pooja Malik and second from Pratima Syal. In other quarterfinal matches, Punjab beat Karnataka by 3-0, UP beat TN 3-0 and West Bengal beat Maharashtra 3-0.

Results:

Badminton: team championship: Punjab b Karnataka 2-0 (Nazma b Nandini 11-1, 5-11, 11-1; Meeta Bahndari & Nazma b Kakila & Amritha 15-3, 15-2), UP b Maharashtra 2-1 (Juhi Verma lost to Shalak 1-11, 5-11; Poonam & Juhi b Shalaka & Vrushala 15-8, 15-4; Poonam b Vrushali 11-2, 11-1).

Table Tennis:

West Bengal b Maharashtra 3-0 (Mousumi Pal bt. Ruhu Chawla 21-14, 21-15; Rajasreesha b Prachiti Joshi 21-16, 21-16; Runa Roy b Sanyogita 21-16, 21-12).

UP beat TN 3-0 (Parvati Bankwal b Aishwarya 21-16, 21-14; Sarojani Negi b Vidya 21-13, 21-17; Divya Khan b Prathima 21-10, 21-16).

Punjab b Karnataka 3-0 (Kuldeep b Anitha V. 17-21, 21-15, 21-13; Anu b Madhuri K.S. 21-16, 22-20; Nittika b Shereen A.S. 21-13, 21-18).

Chandigarh b Delhi 3-1 (Shikha Sharma b Pooja Malik 21-18, 16-21, 21-12; Barkha K.C. lost to Pratima Syal 21-23, 13-21; Ruchi Pandoh b Chaoba 18-21, 21-19, 21-18; Shikha Sharma b Pratima Syal 21-18, 21-18).

National korfball from Dec 25
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 19 — National Korfball Championship will be held here from December 25 to 29, Mr P.S. Gill, president of the Chandigarh Korfball Association, disclosed it here yesterday.

Mr Gill stated that nearly fifteen teams from all over the country are expected to participate in the five-day meet in which Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi teams had confirmed their participation.

The championship, in which the local team was making its maiden entry, will be played at the Panjab University grounds. A coaching camp for the benefit of the team will start from tomorrow.

Mr Gill disclosed that the basic idea behind the staging of the championship in Chandigarh was to spread awareness about the game which originated in Holland as a family game.

For the smooth conduct of the championship various committees have been set up. Arrangements have been made for the board and lodging of the participants, he said.

Haryana were champions in the last edition of the championship held at Rohtak.

AP, Punjab Whites in title clash
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 19 —Andhra Pradesh and Punjab Whites will clash in the men’s final in the fourth All-India Nachhattar Singh Gill Memorial Prize Money Basketball Tournament being played at Kotkapura.

In the women’s section, the final will be all Punjab affair as both Red and White teams of the state have qualified for the final round.

In the semi-finals played this morning, Punjab Whites outplayed Rajasthan 72-57 after leading 38-28 at the breather. Jaspreet (28) and Paramdeep (17) , ably assisted by Bhalender (11) masterminded Punjab’s impressive win. Mahipal (11) and Tilak (10) were the main scorers for Rajasthan.

After conceding an initial lead, Andhra cagers fought back gallantly to defeat visiting Indian Canadians from Vancouver 81-64 in the second semi-final. Indian Canadians were leading 45-32 at the breather.

Ramesh Babu (34), Vinay Yadav (21) were the chief architects of Andhra Pradesh’s win. Navdeep Brar (14), Gurjeet Singh (18) and Jas Sahota (19) were the main scorers for Canadians.

In the women’s section, Punjab Whites defeated Rajasthan 47-29 after taking a comfortable 32-20 lead at the half time. Mukti (12) was the chief scorer for Punjab while for Rajasthan, combined efforts of Sonia (10) and Nirmala (12) were not enough to see their team through.

In the second semi-final, Punjab Red defeated Kotkapura 46-23 after leading 8-11 at the breather. Neena (11) and Sushma (nine) were the main scorers for Punjab.

Sunheli records facile victory
From Our Sports Reporter

PATIALA, Dec 19 — Sunheli Chug of Punjab clinched the title in the 5 km point race for juniors in the girls section in the National Cycling Championships (track) being held at the Punjabi University velodrome here today.

For this edition of the national cycling championships, the track events have been separated from the road races following the guidelines from the International Cycling Body (UCI). With the track events being held here, the road races are to commence at Bikaner from December 26 to 29.

In the 5 km point race for juniors, while Sunheli collected a total of 20 points for her title-clinching effort, Sandhiya R of Kerala was able to garner only 10 points to get the second spot. That Sunheli won by embarrassing ease was due to the fact that Sunheli planned a tactical race and combined stamina with skill in equal measure to win the race comfortably. M. Usha Rani of Manipur was third collecting just 8 points.

Barring a minor hiccup when Yogita Vani of Maharashtra fell down negotiating a corner and slipped on the curve, even as a Kerala cyclist clashed with Yogita on the fall, everything went on smoothly for the organisers. Yogita was competing in the 2000m individual pursuit in the sub-junior section. An X-Ray, however, confirmed that Yogita had sustained a fractured right collar bone.

In the 1000m mass start for sub junior girls (U-14), T. Nitha Devi and her colleague L. Soniya Dave, both from Manipur, had a 1-2 finish with T. Nitha Devi securing the gold, L. Soniya Dave claimed silver while Gatsie from Andeman and Nicobar came third.

The other results:

1000m mass start for sub-junior boys (U-14): heat no. 1: W. Nilkamal Singh-1, Prince H.S. (Manipur)-2, V. Patel (Kerala)-3; heat no. 2: U. Clarke (A.P.)-1, K. Geenedy Singh (Manipur)-2, Ravindera (Maharashtra)-3.

Qualifiers for semi-finals of sub-junior boys in 2000m individual pursuit: Mandeep Singh (Haryana), Narinderjit Singh (Punjab), Harsimran Singh (Chandigarh) and Thaimson Singh (Manipur).

Qualifiers for semi-finals of sub-junior girls in 2000m individual pursuit: Padmini (Manipur), Sukandi (Kerala), Rejani (Kerala) and Pritam Lonare (Maharashtra).

Qualifiers for the final of 1000m sprint for seniors (men section): Vishnu Chand, Ranbinder Singh (Punjab), Inder Kumar (Manipur) and Tejinder Singh (Punjab).

Qualifiers for the final of 1000m sprint for seniors (women section): Chitra T (Kerala), Kamaldeep Kaur Walia (Railways), G. Geetanjali (Manipur) and Sangeetha Khan (Bihar).

Meanwhile the annual general meeting of the Cycling Federation of India (CFI) is slated to be held here tonight. According to sources, the present incumbent, Cabinet Minister Mr S.S. Dhindsa, is all set to be nominated president of the CFI for another term of four years.

Rivaldo is ‘world player of year’

LONDON, Dec 19 (Reuters) — Brazilian international forward Rivaldo of Barcelona has been voted ‘world player of the year’ by readers of World Soccer Magazine.

He finished the overwhelming winner of the poll, collecting 42. 27 per cent of the voters. Manchester United’s England international midfielder David Beckham was second (26.55 per cent) followed by Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko of AC Milan (9.02 per cent).

Devi Dyal bereaved
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 19 — Alankar Sharma, alias Toni, 19-year-old son of Mr Devi Dyal Sharma, a former international kabaddi player and state kabaddi coach of Punjab, died at Dayanand Medical College, Ludhiana, yesterday. He was suffering from blood cancer. His cremation was largely attended. Among those present was Col Raminder Singh, Director, Sports; Mr Teja Singh Dhaliwal, secretary, Punjab Basketball Association, senior functionaries of the sports department and office-bearers of various state and district sports associations.

Award for Sunil

CHENNAI, Dec 19 (PTI)— The world No 1 doubles duo of Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes, who had a fine run this year, have been named the ‘Sportstar’s sportspersons of the year-1999.

Bhupathi and Paes won two Grand Slam titles during the year, the French Open and Wimbledon, and were runners-up at the Australian Open and the US Open, apart from the world doubles championship at Hartford.

The Sportstar has also named the teenaged national hardcourt tennis champion Sunil Kumar and the chess prodigy Aarathie Ramaswamy as its ‘Young Achievers of the year-1999.

Soccer tourney

LUDHIANA, Dec 19 (TNS) — The Master Mehar Singh Memorial Football Club, Kurali, will organise the first district open football tournament at Khalsa Senior Secondary School grounds, Kurali, from December 23 to 26, according to a press note issued here today. Entries close with Mr Bharat Bhushan, secretary, on December 23.

The newly-formed football academy under the aegis of the club will be formally inaugurated on the concluding day of the tournament. The club will also hold the annual Master Mehar Singh Memorial Football Tournament at Kurali in the second week of January, 2000, in which leading teams of the region will take part, according to Parminder Singh, former international, who is also chairman of the organising committee.

Sanjay stuns Anil

Chandigarh, Dec 19 (BOSR) — Sanjay Kapoor of Ambala created a flutter when he upset Anil Sharma, seeded second in the open snooker event of the Haryana State Billiards and Snooker Championship being played here at YMCA, Sector 11 today.

Sanjay bagged the first two frames at 49-40, 51-26 but then Anil regrouped his game and bounced back to win the next two frames at 60-47, 60-54. In the decider, Sanjay got some easy openings and making best use of them, clinched the final frame at 57-38.

In another open snooker match, Deepak Goel struggled hard before defeating Ravi Bhola from Ambala at 52-15, 63-25, 48-59, 15-53, 37-19.

Manan Nagpal who had earlier won the Junior snooker title edged out B. Khurana in four frames. In junior snooker league match, Naman Nagpal outplayed Ashish Noel in two straight frames.