Shukla, Ganesh rattle Pakistan
GWALIOR, Jan 24 — Teenager Laxmi Ratan Shukla and Dodda Ganesh caused early havoc in the Pakistan second innings with sensational seam bowling before Inzamam-ul Haq struck his second half-century of the match to retrieve the situation on the second day of their three-day tie against India ‘A’ here today.

Indian doubles pair of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi try to get the ball during their 6-4, 7-6, victory over South African pair David Adams and J. De Jager at the Australian Open Tennis Championships in Melbourne on Sunday. AP/PTI Paes-Bhupathi duo in last eight MELBOURNE, Jan 24 — It could have been easier but top seeds Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi won’t be complaining. Enqvist, Kucera in q-finals

Greg Blewett (far right) leaps in the air as he congratulates Australian bowler Glenn McGrath after Sri Lanka's Marvan Atapattu (2nd left) was caught for a duck by Shane Warne off a ball from McGrath during their match at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday. AP/PTI McGrath propels Aussies to win ADELAIDE, Jan 24 — A five-wicket haul by firebrand Glenn McGrath spearheaded Australia to a crushing 80-run win over Sri Lanka in the tri-nations series one-day cricket clash at Adelaide Oval today. Beleaguered Murali puts up bold front

Indians disappoint
MUMBAI, Jan 24— None of the three Indians seen in action could make it to the second stage even as Aisam Qureshi of Pakistan stormed into the final round of the men’s singles qualifiers at the Gold Flake aces ITF Tennis Tournament.

Jeev finishes joint second
NEW DELHI, Jan 24 — Continuing with his fine run on the European PGA, India’s golf ace Chiranjeev Milkha Singh came up with a brilliant performance to finish joint second in the South African Open over the par-71 Stellenbosch course in South Africa today.

Churchill hold JCT; FC Kochin win MARGAO, Jan 24 — Churchill Brothers rallied from behind to hold JCT to a 1-1 draw in the group "A" of the third National Football League at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, here today.

Shukla, Ganesh rattle Pakistan

GWALIOR, Jan 24 (PTI) — Teenager Laxmi Ratan Shukla and Dodda Ganesh caused early havoc in the Pakistan second innings with sensational seam bowling before Inzamam-ul Haq struck his second half-century of the match to retrieve the situation on the second day of their three-day tie against India ‘A’ here today.

The 17-year-old Shukla prized out three wickets in the space of just 3.2 overs as the emerging Bengal all-rounder and Ganesh left Pakistan tottering at eight for four before they recovered to reach 107 for five at close for an over-all 165-run lead after bowling out Indians for 276 at tea.

Star left-handed opener Saeed Anwar went cheaply, as he fell to Ganesh again and young opener Wajahtullah Wasti was handed a pair by Shukla, who also dismissed first innings’ centurion Yousaf Youhana for nought, as Pakistan faced the embarrassment of being skittled out.

But Haq (60 batting — 133M, 95B, 9x4) kept the form of his first innings knock of 98 not out and added an unfinished 84-run sixth wicket partnership with the unwell veteran Salim Malik (22 batting) to pull his team to respectability.

Pakistan would have been in an even more sorry state had Malik, who was not well and batted with Wasti as runner and came at number seven, been caught by Karim to his right off a stiff chance.

Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram captured five wickets for 55 runs to serve notice ahead of the Chennai Test while leg spinner Mushtaq Ahmed claimed three for 46 as the Indians lost five wickets in the afternoon session after taking lunch at 155 for five.

India ‘A’ top order made useful contributions with Devang Gandhi (30), left-hander Amay Khurasia (41) adding 61 for the third wicket and Saba Karim (28) and Shukla in a cameo 14 enabling breezy scoring.

Pakistan’s hopes of gaining useful batting practice ahead of the first test in Chennai were shattered by Ganesh and Shukla, who left their second innings in disarray, reducing them to a pathetic four for eight runs and then to a precarious five for 23.

Karnataka paceman Ganesh triggered the collapse by once again dismissing left-handed opener Saeed Anwar (4) cheaply. Anwar, who was out for nought in the first innings, tried to glance only to enable wicketkeeper Saba Karim complete a leg-sidecatch.

Teenager Shukla, a junior world cupper considered the most exciting allround cricketer emerging, then got into the act with a two-wicket burst. He forced 20-year-old opener Wajatullah Wasti into a ‘pair’, as the batsman inner-edged an in-cutter onto his off-stump.

Shukla then snared first innings centurion Yousuf Youhana with a beautiful away swinger, one of the few he sent down to mix up with his regular dose of in-swingers. Youhana reached out to a widish ball and Karim took a splendid catch diving to his right.

Indians disappoint in ITF meet

MUMBAI, Jan 24 (PTI) — None of the three Indians seen in action could make it to the second stage even as Aisam Qureshi of Pakistan stormed into the final round of the men’s singles qualifiers at the Gold Flake aces ITF Futures Tennis Tournament here today.

Local lads Mustafa Ghouse, Rohan Bopanna and former Davis cupper Nitin Kirtane all fell by the wayside at the Dr G.A. Ranade Tennis Centre here while Qureshi carved out a fine 6-3, 6-4 win over Singapore’s Jun Kato in under an hour to move into the last round.

Eight qualifiers will join 24 players in the main draw. Ghouse, who scored a hard-fought 6-2, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4 win over Maik Nerer of Crotia in the first round, went down fighting to Jocelyn Robichaud of Canada 5-7, 3-6 in one hour fifteen minutes.

Kirtane lost without putting up any resistance to another Croat Ivo Karlovic 1-6, 2-6 in just half an hour while Bopanna crashed 0-6, 3-6 to Johan Landsberg of Sweden.

Others who made it to the final round were Markus Polessnig (Austria), Iain Bates (Britain), Andrew Rueb (USA), Cedric Kauffmann (France), Denis Golovanov (Russia), Todd Meringoff (USA), Simon Aspelin (Sweden), Markus Hilpert (Germany), Andy Ram (Isreal), Artem Derepasko (Russia) and Minh Le (USA).

Results (qualifying) second round: M. Polessnig (Aut) bt Arvind Parmar (Gbr) 7-5, 6-3, Iain Bates (Gbr) bt Luben Pampoulov (Aut) 2-6, 6-4, 7-5, Andrew Rueb (USA) bt Arta Dyson (Can) 6-3, 6-1, Aisam Qureshi (Pak) bt Cedric Kauffmann (Fra) 7-5, 2-6, 6-1, J. Robichaud (Can) bt Mustafa Ghouse (Ind) 7-5, 6-3.

Ivo Karlovic (Cro) bt Nitin Kirtane (Ind) 6-1, 6-2, Denis Golovanov (Rus) bt Mikael Maatta (Swe) 6-4, 0-6, 6-3. Todd Meringoff (USA) bt Giuseppe Menga (Ita) 6-4, 6-2, S. Aspelin (Swe) bt Andrei Nossov (Rus) 6-1, 6-1, M. Hilpert (Ger) bt Anton Kokruin (Uzb) 6-3, 6-3.

Andy Ram (Isr) bt Andrea Serra (Ita) 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, J. Landsberg (Swe) bt Rohan Bopanna (Ind) 6-0, 6-3, A. Derepasko (Rus) bt Jernej Karner (Slo) 6-0, 6-3, Minh Le (USA) bt Andrei Younzyi (Rus) 7-5, 4-6, 6-1.

Jeev finishes joint second

NEW DELHI, Jan 24 (PTI) — Continuing with his fine run on the European PGA, India’s golf ace Chiranjeev Milkha Singh came up with a brilliant performance to finish joint second in the South African Open over the par-71 Stellenbosch course in South Africa today.

Jeev, who registered his best performance on the EPGA in coming joint third in the Alfred Dunhil South African PGA Championship last week, fired a one-under-par 70 to aggregate four under 280, according to information reaching here.

The Chandigarh-based golfer, who leapfrogged from 25th position to finish fifth yesterday, was in splendid form on second day in a row to cap a good run in South Africa.

The Indian (71+71+68+70) shared the prize with Scott Dunlop (U.S. - 73+65+71+71).

German Sven Struver double-bogeyed the final hole to hand David Frost (281) his second South African open title.

Struver, who led from the second round, needed a birdie in the par-four 18th to claim the title. A par would have taken him into play-off with Fro, who had three-under 68.

Defending champion Ernie Els, who also started the day four shots off the lead, was never in contention. He shot 72 to finish joint sixth.

For Jeev, it was his second top-10 finish on the tour in as many weeks.

The 27-year-old, playing on the competitive European PGA tour for the second year in a row and currently ranked second on the EPGA Order of Merit list, aggregated 280, one shot adrift of winner Frost (279).

McGrath propels Aussies to win

ADELAIDE, Jan 24 (AFP) — A five-wicket haul by firebrand Glenn McGrath spearheaded Australia to a crushing 80-run win over Sri Lanka in the tri-nations series one-day cricket clash at Adelaide Oval today.

Australia were all out for 270 on the last ball of the 50th over after being sent in before toppling the world champions for 190 in 41.4 overs as McGrath grabbed a shattering five wickets for 40 runs.

McGrath finished with his best international one-day figures, surpassing his previous record against Pakistan at Lahore in 1994-95.

At one stage, McGrath had seized 5-19 off 40 balls.

Australia’s much-needed win propelled them to second in the ladder with six points — two behind England. Sri Lanka are languishing on four points, despite their win over England here yesterday.

Sri Lankan skipper Arjuna Ranatunga was booed on to the ground as he took Jayawardene’s place.

A section of the crowd was apparently letting Ranatunga know what they thought about his actions yesterday when he led his players to the boundary in a protest at umpire Ross Emerson’s decision to call off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan for throwing. The game was held up for 12 minutes.

Ranatunga faced just two deliveries before McGrath struck again and he was caught by Julian for a duck.

Sri Lanka were in a dreadful trouble with 5-40 and never fully recovered.

Middle-order batsman Roshan Mahanama waged a lone battle against the Australian bowlers. The seasoned bat, Mahanama was the second last man out in the 40th over, castled by Greg Blewett in his first over, ending the issue for the Lankans.

In between Hashan Tillakeratne edged a McGrath delivery that sent second slip Mark Waugh diving desperately to his right to flick up the ball for skipper Shane Warne to complete the take.

Enqvist, Kucera in q-finals

MELBOURNE, Jan 24 (Reuters) — Sweden’s Thomas Enqvist out-served and ousted Mark Philippoussis in five thrilling set today to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals.

Enqvist saw off a late challenge from the big-hitting 14th seed and US open finalist to win their three-hour fourth-round match 6-2 6-4 6-7 4-6 6-2.

Philippoussis’s defeat on centre court at Melbourne Park ended local hopes that an Australian would win the title for the first time for 23 years.

The unseeded Swede will meet former Olympic champion Marc Rosset of Switzerland in the quarter-finals, with the prospect of a semifinal against seventh seed Karol Kucera.

Slovakia’s Kucera had a 96-minute stroll in the park compared with the Enqvist-Philippoussis battle as he outclassed unseeded South African Wayne Ferreira 6-3 6-1 7-5.

Kucera, beaten in the semifinals last year by eventual winner Petr Korda, has yet to drop a set in a fluid passage through this year’s tournament.

In the women’s singles, world number one Lindsay Davenport underlined her status as title favourite with a resounding 6-1 6-3 thumping of Canadian qualifier Maureen Drake to set up a quarter-final with aggressive fifth seed Venus Williams.

Williams was made to work a little harder by fellow American Chanda Rubin but triumphed 7-6 6-4

The main centre court attraction of the tournament’s middle Sunday was the battle of big servers Enqvist and Philippoussis the sole surviving Australian after Andrew Ilie earlier fell to unseeded and unheralded Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador.

An Australian has not won the season-opening Grand Slam since Mark Edmondson beat John Newcombe on the grass courts of Kooyong in 1976.

Philippoussis was initially shut out of the match by Enqvist, whose serve was not only more consistent but more powerful. The Australian in contrast served up a litany of errors and appeared destined for a straight sets humiliation.

World number 21 Enqvist, who defeated Australia’s US Open champion Pat Rafter in the third round, served for the match a 5-4 in the third set before Philippoussis finally found his range and battled back to claim the next two sets.

In the fifth set, Enqvist rediscovered his killer instinct breaking the Melbourne-born Philippoussis in the sixth game.

Kucera in contrast cruised into the quarter-finals, where he will meet Lapentti after the 91st-ranked Ecuadorean beat Ilie 6-4 6-2 4-6 6-2.

Kucera declared the open wide open after the loss of five of the top eight seeds in the first three rounds and the withdrawal of number one seed Marcelo Rios with a back injury before the Chilean hit a ball.

World number one Pete Sampras opted to miss the tournament citing fatigue after a hectic schedule at the end of 1998.

Kucera barely let Ferreira, an Australian open semifinalist in 1992, into the match. The Slovak dominated with searching groundstrokes and quickly dug himself out of trouble with some powerful serving.

Enqvist’s quarter-final opponent Rosset also served strongly, the unseeded Swiss blasting Czech Bohdan Ulihrach 6-3 6-4 6-2.

Williams’s defeat of Rubin meant she had reached at least the quarter-finals in her past five Grand Slam appearances, and the brash 18-year-old was not overawed by the magnitude of the task against Davenport.

"I’ll approach that match like any other," Williams said.

"I know I’m playing a quarter-final of a Grand Slam and I’m playing the world number one, but I have some rights of my own.

"Lindsay knows she’ll have to play her best tennis against me, whether I’m playing well or not."

Williams proved too strong for Rubin on the big points, particularly when she fought back from a service break down in the first set to force a tiebreak, which she won 7-3.

Belgian Dominique Van Roost also progressed to the quarter-finals, the 11th seed eliminating unseeded Spaniard Maria Antonia Sanchez Lorenzo 6-2 6-3.

Van Roost will next meet Amelie Mauresmo, who beat Emilie Loit 6-0 7-5 in a battle of unseeded Frenchwomen.

Paes-Bhupathi duo in last eight

MELBOURNE, Jan 24 (UNI) — It could have been easier but top seeds Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi won’t be complaining.

They defeated South Africans David Adams and John-Laffnie De Jager 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) to enter the quaterfinals of the Australian Open men’s doubles at Melbourne Park here today.

The two would be happy that they didn’t have to go through any heart-stopping moments as they did two days ago in the second round.

They had two matchpoints when Paes served in the tenth game of the second set and reached 40-15. But both Paes and Bhupathi made simple volleying errors and the former lost the game.

However, the Indians didn’t sit ruing the missed chances. They dominated the tie-breaker and snapped up the match at the next opportunity they got.

"They played very well till 40-15 in that game", said Paes’coach Bob Carmichael. "And then they did very well to shrug off the loss in that game to come back strongly in the tie-breaker".

There was plenty for the Indians to be pleased about. It was evident that the rustiness that had affected their game from the start of the year, including their shocking first-round exit at Doha, was slowly wearing off.

There was considerable improvement in the two areas in which they had appeared vulnerable in the 4-6, 6-4, 8-6 win over Dough Flach and Mark Merklein on Friday.

Both Paes and Bhupathi returned serve better and at the net, there was more steadiness and some moments of quicksilver brilliance.

Said Enrico Piperno, Bhupathi’s coach: "I’m very happy. It was a good performance and it was good tennis. They are getting sharper".

Added Bhupathi: "We are not there yet but we are slowly getting into top form".

Beleaguered Murali puts up bold front

MELBOURNE, Jan 24 (Reuters) - The Sri Lankan cricket team say he is a highly talented player who should be savoured, a brilliant bowler. Others are far less sure.

Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was back in the spotlight yesterday but for all the wrong reasons.

Muralitharan was once more the centre of controversy when he was called for throwing by Australian umpire Ross Emerson at square leg in the triangular series limited-overs match against England in Adelaide.

It prompted Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga to lead his players off the field in protest, before they returned to snatch a one-wicket victory in which Muralitharan hit the winning run in amazing scenes at the Adelaide Oval.

Despite Sri Lanka’s victorious effort, it was the no-balling of their leading spinner that hung like a dark cloud over the match.

For Sri Lanka and Muralitharan, the ghosts of their tour of Australia three years ago had come back to haunt them. On that visit, Muralitharan was called at total of 14 times by three umpires.

Emerson and fellow Australian umpire Darrell Hair both called Muralitharan in 1995-96 because, they said, he was straightening his arm during his delivery.

Hair no-balled him seven times for throwing during a Test match in 1995.

Muralitharan was subsequently reported to the ICC but was cleared to keep playing after the sport’s ruling body said his action was not illegal.

However, Australian crowds have heckled the 26-year-old off-spinner during the current limited overs series, screaming "no ball" when he rolls his arm over.

Doubts over Muralitharan’s action resurfaced earlier this month after Peter Van Der Merwe, a match referee for the one-day tournament, told journalists in Australia he would be submitting a report asking the ICC to review the Sri Lankan’s action.

Van Der Merwe also indicated that at least two umpires had expressed doubt over Muralitharan’s action in their match reports.

But the ICC said in a subsequent statement that Van Der Merwe’s comments had been misunderstood and Muralitharan had not been reported.

Muralitharan, who has a congenital deformity to his right elbow that stops him from straightening his bowling arm, has taken over 200 Test wickets, including destroying England with a 16-wicket match haul in a one-off Test at the Oval last August.

He is hailed by his countrymen.

"People should sit back and savour someone who’s different a very skilful, brilliant bowler," Sri Lankan team manager Ranjit Fernando said last Thursday.

"He’s young man who has had a deformity in his arm and to come out of it and be one of the greatest bowlers in contemporary times is something which people should look at as something special."

After yesterday’s controversy Fernando said Muralitharan was "putting up a very bold front but... he must be tormented inside, there’s no question about it."

Last week, Ranatunga warned that adverse publicity over Muralitharan’s bowling style and heckling by crowds may force the spinner not to tour Australia again.

On Friday, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar expressed disappointment at the hostile reception Muralitharan has received in Australia.

"I always am sad to see a sportsman who is trying to do his best on the field of playing getting a really rough handling from a foreign crowd," said Kidirgamar, a devoted cricket follower who has on an official visit to the Australian captain of Canberra.

Muralitharan has generally been shielded from the media on Sri Lanka’s current Australian campaign.

But last week he told an Australian television network that he felt Australian spectators had unfairly turned against him.

"It’s frustrating when you go to the ground and people are shouting at you every time," Muralitharan said.

"Other batsmen, who hit a four, or other bowlers, who take a wicket, the crowd appreciate them, but when I take a wicket it’s the other way around."

He said he was determined not to let it affect his game.

"The England public’s very good," he said. "I think the only problem is in Australia.

"It’s annoying more than anything else, but I think the more they shout the more I’ll be tougher".

Then came Saturday’s drama to leave Muralitharan confronting another test of character.

SYDNEY: Sri Lankan cricket board chairman Thilanga Sumathipala today said controversial bowler Muttiah Muralitharan was being treated like "a criminal" after the player was called for throwing in the match against England.

But Sumathipala reiterated that Sri Lanka would stay for the remainder of the triangular one-day series, which also includes Australia.

"We do know what he’s (Muralitharan’s) going through, it’s like he’s a criminal. It’s not fair what people are doing to him," Sumathipala told the Australian Broadcasting Corp..

"I can’t see how anybody has any doubt about his action."

Sumathipala said the issue would be discussed at a meeting of the Sri Lankan Cricket Board, expected to be held today.

"I can assure you the tour will go on but the subject will be discussed at the meeting," Sumathipala told ABC.

Muralitharan is recognised as one of the best spin bowlers in the world but his action has been under scrutiny since Emerson and fellow Australian umpire Darrell Hair no-balled him for throwing during the 1995-96 tour.

The ICC examined his action and cleared him of any wrongdoing. He has never been called anywhere else in the world.

Meanwhile, Ranatunga today said the players had discussed the drama surrounding Muralitharan at team meetings but wanted to look ahead to the next match.

"For this game we want to forget about what was happening in our last game, rather than the good chase we had and good play," Ranatunga said in a television interview before today’s clash against Australia at the Adelaide Oval.

Emerson has not been appointed to officiate in today’s match but has been listed in Sri Lanka’s game against England in Perth on Friday.

Churchill hold JCT; FC Kochin win

MARGAO, Jan 24 (PTI) — Churchill Brothers rallied from behind to hold JCT to a 1-1 draw in the group "A" of the third National Football League at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, here today.

The match rose to great heights in the second half after a barren first half with lot of goal-bound moves.

Churchill, who had more of the exchanges in both the sessions, had themselves to blame for the draw as their forwards missed gilt-edge chances in both the sessions.

After the first half, JCT drew first blood in the 50th minute when Jasbir Singh sent a deep cross into the box from the right. Keeper Edward Ansah moved up to foil the cross but failed to intercept the move. Ram Pal headed the ball to Hardip Gill who made no mistake in slotting the ball home.

Undaunted by the reverse, Churchill regrouped and applied relentless pressure on the rivals and after missing two close chances found the equaliser in 81st minute.

Keeper Ansah moved up and sent a long lob into the box for Philip Mensah, who headed the ball after it bounced. ‘Keeper Virender Singh got his hands to the ball but failed to hold on as Somatai Sahiza slotted home from close range.

With this draw, Tollygunge head the table with nine points at the end of the fifth round. Churhcill Brothers, who are tied with Mohun Bagan with seven points, are second on better goal difference. JCT are in fourth place with six points.

mumbai: Two second half goals saw fc Kochin of Kerala post a fine win over local team Mahindra and Mahindra in a group-B match of the National Football League at Cooperage here today.

Substitute K. Naushad headed home off a free-kick taken by Mir Farooq Hyder in the 27th minute of the second half to open the score. Striker Nitin Pradhan then consolidated the Kerala club’s lead nine minutes later.

After a few minutes in the first half when both the teams played out some fast but unimaginative football, Kochin took control over the match with a barrage of attacks.

But the first real chance came to Mahindras in the 22nd minute. Khalid Siddique’s free-kick was fisted away by Kochin goalkeeper Naseem Akthar and the ball went to P.J. Jose, but only to see the veteran striker shooting it out.

Soon after, a harmless-looking lob into the Mahindras box by Kochin midfielder Karunakar Raj could have entered the net after it bounced awkwardly in front of Mahindras’ keeper Manoj Jaggi, who had to leap high to fist it over the bar.

M. Najeeb too had a look at the goal after Jaggi went out of the box to clear the ball. The Kochin forward, however, could not control the ball, allowing the defence to clear it.

After change of ends, the Mumbai team enjoyed the advantage for a few minutes, only to see the young Kerala team win back the edge and score twice to take three points to improve their tally to seven points from four matches against mahindras’ three from four outings.

Chattvinder bags double crown

CHANDIGARH, Jan 24 (BOSR) — Chattvinder Singh justified the top billing given to him in both under-14 and under-16 section, when he romped home with two titles in the PD Vashist Memorial Total Tennis Tournament which concluded here. The girls under-16 title went to Satvika Saboo, while the under-12 boys title was won by Karan Patnaik.

It was a lucky morning for Chattvinder who in the under-16 section, had a tough time against Tushar Liberhan and the thrilling three-set encounter lasted nearly two hours. The first set was won by Chattvinder at 6-2, and the next by Tushar at 6-3. It became a see saw battle but Tushar went down fighting in the third set at 2-6.

In the under-14 section, Chattvinder was pitted against Gurneet Ahluwalia. Gurneet put up a brave fight and in the first set Chattvinder won in the tie breaker at 7-5 (10-8). The second set saw both players even on many occasions. A break in the ninth game put the score at 5-4 in favour of Chattvinder who wrapped up the next game and the set at 6-4 and the match.

Satvika Saboo faced a little difficulty in defeating Simmer Singh at 6-3, 6-2 to lift the under-16 title. Yudhvir Chaudhary had to give a walkover in the under-12 boys final due to stomach ailment and Karan Patnaik was declared the winner. Kinshuk Sharma who yesterday won the under-10 title, was given the most upcoming player award.

Mr Karan A. Singh MD Punjab Warehousing Corporation gave away the prizes.

PU judokas in limelight

CHANDIGARH, Jan 24 (BOSR) — Panjab University judokas dominated the proceedings on the second day of the All-India Inter-University Judo Championship being held at the gymnasium hall of Panjab University Campus here today.

Bhupinder Singh of SD College, Hoshiarpur from PUC clinched the gold in the under-60 kg category and Charanpreet Kaur, a student of BA first year of GN Khalsa College for Women, Ludhiana, representing PUC bagged the gold medal in the 52 kg section.

NZ outplay SZ by 10 wickets

CHANDIGARH, Jan 24 (BOSR) — North Zone outplayed South Zone by 10 wickets on the opening day of the 29th FCI Inter-Zonal Cricket Tournament at the police lines, Sector 26, here today. In another match, FCI, Headquarters surprised holders East Zone by 43 runs, at the Sector 16 cricket stadium. West Zone got the better of debutants North East Zone by 77 runs at the PCA Stadium, SAS Nagar today.

Earlier, the tournament was inaugurated by Mr R.K. Gupta, Executive Director (Vigilance) FCI.

St Stephen's score win

CHANDIGARH, Jan 24 (BOSR) — St. Stephen's School, Sector 45, defeated Yadavindra Public School, SAS Nagar, by four wickets in the second match of the ICSE Schools Cricket Tournament at St Xavier's School, Sector 44 here today.

YPS boys won the toss and decided to bat first. They managed to take the score to 104 for 9 in the stipulated 25 overs. Sunny made 33 in 25 balls and remained the top scorer for YPS. Varun, Raghav and Sunny took two wickets each for St. Stephen's.

In reply, St. Stephen's, at one time 40 for one, were sent to the pavillion due to the successful bowling by Prashant and St. Stephen's were struggling at 50 for the loss of six wickets.

At this juncture, Raghav and Gaurav combined well till the end and remained not out with 34 and 9 runs respectively thus giving their side a four-wicket victory over YPS. St. Stephen's made 105 for 6 in 13.2 overs. Prashant Garcha of YPS bagged four wickets for just 17 runs.

The next match will be played on January 30 between St. Xavier's Senior Secondary School, Sector 44 and Tender Heart School, Sector 33.

Tournament put off

CHANDIGARH, Jan 24 (BOSR) — Elite Badminton Club, Patiala, has postponed its badminton tournament for players of Patiala district will after the senior national and the National Games, according to Mr K.K. Gupta secretary of the club. The club had earlier also organised several tournaments and is managed by the ex-badminton players only. According to Mr O.N. Gupta, Sports Officer, in this tournament one budding youngster could be chosen for a year and would be given all facilities so as to encourage him to perform better in this game.