Friday, July 2, 1999
today's calendar
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S P O R T | Friday, July 2, 1999 |
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Davenport beats Novotna
to enter semis
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 Former champions Steffi Graf and John McEnroe embrace at the end of their Mixed Doubles match at Wimbledon on Wednesday. The two former champions teamed up to play against Eyal Ran from Israel and Vanessa Menga, of Brazil. McEnroe and Graf won the match 6-3, 6-4. AP/PTI |
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Bhupathi-Annable duo bows
out
Anand draws with Kasparov, Kramnik
Kapil, Yashpal flay Raja’s
remarks Vijayalakshmi sole leader Gilchrist survives Jagtiani scare NFL to begin on December 1 French star Dugarry tests positive Parore triggers Kiwi revival |
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Davenport beats Novotna to enter semis LONDON, July 1 (Reuters) — Third seed Lindsay Davenport reached her first Wimbledon semifinal today when she defeated defending champion Jana Novotna 6-3 6-4. It was the American’s sixth consecutive success over the Czech whose preparations for the tournament were disrupted by an ankle injury at this year’s French Open. Davenport called the victory her biggest on grass — ‘‘to get to the semis is huge’’. She had reached the quarter-finals twice in six previous visits to Wimbledon. Davenport returned from a rain delay to break the fifth seed twice and seal victory. She now faces either Alexandra Stevenson of the USA or Australia’s Jelena Dokic, both qualifiers, in the last four. The other men’s and women’s quarter-finals were disrupted repeatedly by rain and have yet to finish. If she reaches the final, Davenport will reclaim the world number one ranking from Martina Hingis, the top seed knocked out by Dokic in the first round. Davenport’s build-up to Wimbledon was based on hard work in a neighbour’s ‘‘back yard’’ in Tustin, California. AFP: Rain frustrated play in the singles quarter-finals at Wimbledon early today, leaving organisers facing a scheduling headache as they bid to get the tournament finished by Sunday. In men’s doubles, top seeds Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi of India lost the first set 6-3 to Canadian Sebastien Lareau and his American partner Alex O’Brien in their quarter-final before the rain came pouring in. On Centre Court women’s favourite Steffi Graf was a set up but 2-3 down against American sixth seed Venus Williams. Graf drew first blood by taking a nervous-looking Williams’ serve for a 4-2 lead in the first set. The centre court crowd saw only glimpses of the Williams power-play as Graf’s famed forehand found its mark. The 30-year-old German had Williams in trouble again on serve at 2-5 and took the opening set 6-2 when she forced a forehand error out of the American. Graf has never lost a Wimbledon quarter-final but she had just lost serve to trail 2-3 in the second when the rain returned. The court two clash between the two qualifiers, 18-year-old Alexandra Stevenson and giant-killing Australian Jelena Dokic was proving a topsy turvy affair. Stevenson’s heavier serve proved decisive in the first set, though both girls struggled early on. The American earned what proved to be the vital break when she took a 3-1 lead and closed out the first set 6-3. Dokic responded by roaring into a 4-0 lead in the second when the rain intervened. Whoever wins will become the first women’s qualifier in Wimbledon history to reach semi-finals. In the women’s quarter-final to have started French eighth seed Nathalie Tauziat was serving at 5-4 in the first set against Croat Mirjana Lucic on court 18. Men’s second seed Pat Rafter of Australia was 3-2 up on serve in the first set against American eighth seed Todd Martin in the only men’s last eight match to have started. Tim Henman kept British hopes alive with an epic five-set victory over fighting American Jim Courier, while favourites Pete Sampras and Steffi Graf advanced almost unnoticed to the quarter-finals. The sixth seed saved three match points to reach the quarter-finals at Wimbledon for the fourth successive year with a 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 9-7 victory yesterday. Henman, who lost an epic Davis Cup match against Courier in April, now faces Frenchman Cedric Pioline in the quarters. When the 24-year-old from Oxfordshire finally performed the coup de grace with a stunning drop volley after four-and-a-half hours it was just reward for a courageous display. The victory, spread over three days following rain, kept alive Henman’s dream of becoming the first Briton to win the men’s singles at Wimbledon for the first time in 63 years. Courier had been
thankful to get off court when the heavens opened on
Monday with the momentum having swung Henman into a lead
of two sets to one and 4-3 in the fourth. |
ICC knock-out Cup in October 2000 CALCUTTA, July 1 (PTI) — The second ICC Knock-Out Cup Cricket Tournament, aimed at raising funds for development of cricket worldwide, would be held in October 2000.The venue of the tournament has not yet been finalised but an ICC associate member country will stage the meet this time, International Cricket Council (ICC) President Jagmohan Dalmiya said. The inaugural edition of the championship featuring all the nine Test playing nations was held in the Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka last year. “There is no hard and fast rule that the tournament cannot be held in Bangladesh again. Since our aim is to spread the game widely among our associate countries, others should also get their turn,” Mr Dalmiya said. Mr Dalmiya said the ICC code of conduct commission, which was set up to probe into allegations of betting and match fixing in cricket, has already started work and was currently handling the reports submitted by the Indian cricket board (BCCI) and the Australian Cricket Board (ACB). The ICC had formed a nine-member code of conduct commission headed by Lord Griffiths on April 30 this year to probe into the allegations of betting and match fixing in cricket. The code of conduct commission chairman was required to determine whether there was evidence of betting and match fixing in any country. If so, there would be further inquiry with the chairman assisted by two members of the commission independent of the country concerned. The three-man panel would report back to the ICC executive board at the conclusion of the inquiry. Mr Dalmiya said no time frame has been fixed for submitting the report. Commenting on the points
system adopted in the just-concluded World Cup, which
drew much criticism from various quarters including the
Indian team management, Mr Dalmiya said the ICC was
trying to make the system as perfect as possible. |
Anand draws with Kasparov, Kramnik FRANKFURT, July 1 (DPA) — Vishwanathan Anand’s draws with Vladimir Kramnik and Gary Kasparov and loss to Anatoly Karpov at the speed chess tournament here spoiled his wife’s birthday present. Anand had hoped to present a victory on the chess board to his wife Aruna on her 25th birthday yesterday. After two days of play Anand with 2.0 points is at number four. Russians Garv Kasparov and Vladimir Kramnik occupy the top of the points table with 3.5 each. Karpov is third with 3.0 points. Match between Anand and Kramnik ended in a draw. In a dramatic game later in the evening, Karpov, in a poor position and in time trouble, defeated Anand after the Indian grandmaster committed a grave mistake. Kasparov drew his three matches last evening, with Anand, Kramnik and fellow Russian Anatoly Karpov. A major attraction last evening was the clash between the “eternal rivals” Kasparov and Karpov. The 36-year-old Kasparov, playing white, opened with his queen pawn and the 48-year-old Karpov countered with the nimzo Indian defence. Although Kasparov put quite a bit of pressure on his opponent, Karpov was able to resist and the two men agreed on a draw after 49 moves. Late in the evening, the Karpov-Kramnik too ended in draws. Each player is allowed 25 minutes per match for all his moves in what is regarded as the strongest speed chess tournament ever played. The tournament, which marks the first time that Kasparov and Karpov have met in competition since 1996 and in which the four grandmasters play each other four times — twice with white and twice with black — ends on Friday. A masters speed chess event is also being held within the framework of the chess classics festival in Frankfurt, featuring seven grandmasters — among them such stars as Michael Adams (England), Alexander Morozevich (Russia) and Judit Polgar (Hungary) and the computer “Fritz 6”. Another attraction, at
the end of the festival, will be a four-game challenge
between “Fritz” and Anand. The computer will be
seeking revenge for last year’s narrow loss to the
Indian grandmaster. |
Rafter extinguishes flickering Becker flame LONDON, July 1 (AFP) — Pat Rafter extinguished the flickering flame of Boris Becker’s 15-year love affair with Wimbledon by knocking the German veteran out in the fourth round here. Becker stunned the tennis world when he lifted the title on his first appearance at the All-England Club aged just 17, but the old effervescence was no longer there yesterday and the 31-year-old legend’s exit marks the end of an era. After a five-set comeback victory over British wildcard Miles Maclagan in the first round, Becker thrashed compatriot Nicolas Kiefer and Australian teenager Lleyton Hewitt to rupturous receptions on centre court. But Rafter’s superb grass court game proved too much for Becker, who struggled all day with his serve in a sorry 6-3 6-2 6-3 defeat. Becker had already been playing “extra time” for two years having in 1997 revealed to Pete Sampras, his quarter-final conqueror that year, and then to the world at large that he wouldn’t return. Unable to wrench himself away so soon from his favourite tournament at the venue he calls his “garden” a change of heart ensued — but this time the farewell is for good. Boom-boom Boris’ withdrawal from the arena means it could be a tearful time for tennis fans — especially given their fears that his compatriot and fellow legend Steffi Graf is also gradually moving towards the exit door, having already signed off permanently at the French Open. Back in 1985 the flame-haired German, born on November 22 in the southern German town of Leimen, turned the tennis world upside down when, at 17 years and 227 days he became the youngest player ever to win the All-England Club crown beating South African Kevin Curren. He was also the first unseeded player and the first German to win the men’s event. For good measure, he returned and repeated the win 12 months later after beating Ivan Lendl and the third title would follow in 1989 at the expense of Stefan Edberg. That year Becker also beat Lendl to lift the US Open — but Edberg would wreak vengeance for the Wimbledon loss by beating the big German in the French Open semifinals over five sets. Had Becker overcome that hurdle he might just on that year’s form have lifted the title — the only Grand Slam to elude him — and beaten Andre Agassi to the punch by completing the set with the Australian win in 1991. Becker was also a Wimbledon runner-up on four ocassions -the most painful one for him coming in 1991 when he lost an All-German final against Michael Stitch. In all between 1985 and 1991, Becker reached the showpiece match at Wimbledon six times in seven seasons. Becker had an occasionally difficult relationship with Stitch as the latter vied with him for pre-eminence as top dog in the German public’s affections. Davis Cup victories with Becker at the helm in 1988 and 1989 helped to give him an unassailable lead in that respect. Wimbledon was always the greatest stage for Becker’s all-action style and it was fitting that the venue should witness the final Grand Slam appearance of his glittering career. That career will end for good next month when Becker brings down the final curtain in Stuttgart after six Grand Slam singles titles and and 49 ATP Tour titles. Becker had touched rare heights with his energetic, all-court performances against Kiefer and Hewitt, and, even in the twilight of his career, retained the distinctive rocking service action and iron-wristed volleying ability which were the foundation of his grass court dominance a decade ago. His first Australian Open triumph lifted him briefly to number one in the world in January 1991 but he took to the court for his final fling ranked a modest 77, his second Australian win being his last slam title in 1996. Last year, as injuries took their toll, Becker missed all four slams for the first time in his career. Becker was saddened during the build-up to Wimbledon that he was pushed off centre court at the preparatory Queen’s Club Championship which he won prior to his maiden Wimbledon success in 1985. This year he went out in the second round almost unnoticed in straight sets to Australian Scott Draper on an outside court. But his reception at
Wimbledon this past week has made up for all that. |
Boris Becker ‘synonymous’ with Wimbledon LONDON, July 1 (AFP) — Departing Wimbledon legend Boris Becker won lavish praise yesterday from the man he claims owns the keys to centre court, five-time winner Pete Sampras. “Wimbledon and Boris always went together,” said the American, who has appeared in two less singles finals than Becker but won two more titles. “This is where he made his mark in the game and he’s certainly very popular here.” “When I was 14, when he won here at 17 (in 1985) that was the vivid memory that I had of Wimbledon. Then he won it again (in 1986) and repeated and that’s not easy for a young guy.” Sampras thought he had seen the last of Becker, who won three Wimbledon titles in all, when he beat the German in the 1997 quarter-finals and Becker waved a long goodbye to the centre court. This time, however, Becker is adamant he won’t be back and Sampras, like many others, will miss him. “He’s meant a
lot to the game. He’s meant a lot to this
tournament. He’s meant a lot to me because he’s
the one guy I can look back on my career and say that was
a rivalry I’ll never forget,” said the
American. “It was fun to be part of it.” That was my last match: Becker LONDON, July 1 (DPA) — Boris Becker yesterday said his Wimbledon defeat to Australian Patrick Rafter was “his last tennis match”. The three-time Wimbledon champion said he would not be appearing at a tournament in Stuttgart between July 19 and 25 as planned. “That was my last
tennis match,” 31-year-old Becker said shortly after
the 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 last-16 defeat to Rafter. |
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LONDON, July 1 (PTI) — India’s Mahesh Bhupathi and his Australian partner Annable Ellwood yesterday bowed out of the mixed doubles event at the Wimbledon Championship giving a walkover in the second round to their fourth-seeded rivals Mark Knowles (Bahamas) and Elena Likhovtseva (Russia). The unseeded Bupathi-Ellwood pair had earlier entered the second round with a 2-6 6-4 10-8 victory against Ben Ellwood (Australia) and Asa Carlsson (Sweden) Bhupathi’s doubles
partner Leander Paes and American Lisa Raymond are the
top seeds in mixed doubles. |
Kapil, Yashpal flay Raja’s remarks NEW DELHI, July 1 (PTI) — Former India skipper Kapil Dev today reiterated that India should sever all cricketing ties with Pakistan till the Kargil intrusion was vacated and came down on former Pakistan skipper Rameez Raza’s comments that the Indian stalwart was trying to mix cricket with politics. Reacting to Rameez Raza’s comments yesterday, the highest Test wicket-taker told PTI: “I endorse Rameez Raja’s views and agree about not mixing up politics and sporting contacts. “But if we had done to Pakistan, what it has done to us (by intruding into Indian territory), would he have said the same thing?” he asked. “If after that, Rameez still wanted Indo-Pakistan cricket contacts, I’d respect him very much,” Kapil Dev added. Former India batsman Yashpal Sharma announced his total support to his former captain Kapil Dev’s demand and criticised Rameez Raja for his reaction. “I fully, wholeheartedly stand by Kapil. Not only as a cricketer but as an Indian,” Yashpal Sharma, a key member of the victorious 1983 World Cup squad told PTI. Sharma expressed shock at Rameez Raja’s comments and like Kapil Dev asked what would have been Raja’s reaction if it was India that had crossed over into territory under Pak-occupation. “It’s very easy to say (of maintaining cricketing ties) sitting far away from the area of conflict,” Sharma said and vowed not to play in masters or veteran tournaments where Pakistan was involved. Yashpal Sharma, who himself hails from a family which has several members in the armed forces, declared he was ready to join the cause of helping the soldiers who were combating the enemy in the rugged and snow-bound Himalayan terrain. “Pakistan is not at all sincere in improving the situation,” he said and called Pakistan a coward nation for torturing Indian soldiers and mutilating their bodies. “I am ready to serve my country. It’s a family tradition,” he said. Yashpal’s brother Bal Krishan served for 16 years as an Army engineer. Yashpal Sharma said he was started a fund collection drive for the soldiers in his South Delhi neighbourhood. “I will do anything to support Kapil in his mission to help raise funds,” he said. Sharma, whose two nephews — one with IAF’s MiG-21 squardron and another with infantry battalion — are in the armed forces, said: “We should be ready to serve the country if need arises.” “The Pakistanis
started it, we will finish it,” he said. |
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KOZHIKODE, July 1 (PTI) — Top seed and defending champion IWM S. Vijayalakshmi emerged sole leader with seven points at the end of the ninth round of the National Women ‘A’ Chess Championship here today. However, overnight joint leader Swati Ghate of Maharashtra slipped to the third spot following her shock defeat to state-mate Pallavi Shah in the 24th move of a Sicilian keres attack. Bhagyasree Thipsay (Mah), who defeated Safira Shahnaz (TN), is in the second spot with 6.5 points. Safira, who was leading the pack till the seventh round, is now in the fourth place with 5.5 points. Vijayalakshmi outplayed her younger sister Meenakshi in the 52nd move in a queen’s gambit declined variation. Vijayalakshmi, playing white, just waited for the right time to strike against her sister who landed in an inferior rook and pawn ending. Meenakshi’s capture of white’s ‘E5’ pawn in the 41st move with her king let Vijayalakshmi’s rook infiltrate through the ‘G’ file to the seventh rank on the 42nd move. Meenakshi resigned immediately foreseeing the forfeit of queen in the next two moves. Safira fell to Bhagyasree Thipsay in a Dutch defence game. Bhagyasree followed the line of exchanging queens early and forced Safira to resign on the 49th move. Debutant E Sheena (Kerala) and Swati Mohota of West Bengal played A 36-move draw in the slav defence exchange variation, while under-12 world champion Koneru Humpy posted a facile victory over Anupama Gokhale in the English opening. Bindu K Saritha (LIC) and DC Bose (Bih) agreed to split points in the 32nd move of French defence. Though Bose had a smooth sailing till the 25th move, her shifting of the knight from ‘D5’ to ‘C6’ and vice versa neutralised the advantage and allowed Saritha to hold the game through perpetual checks with her rook. Results (ninth round): Swati Ghate (6) lost to
Pallavi Shah (4) D.C. Bose (2) drew with Bindu K. Saritha
(1.5) K. humpy (4) beat Anupama Gokhale (5) S.
Vijayalakshmi (7) beat S. Meenakshi (2.5) E. Sheena (1.5)
drew with Swati Mohota (4) Safira Shahnaz (5.5) lost to
Bhagyashree Thipsay (6.5) R. Aartie (4.5) bye. |
Kipketer runs year’s fastest 800m OSLO, July 1 (AFP) — Wilson Kipketer, Denmark’s Kenyan-born 800 metres world record holder, put young pretender Japheth Kimutai, who had inflicted his first defeat in three years at Zurich last year, firmly in his place here yesterday at the IAAF Golden League meeting when he stormed home to post the fastest 800 metres time this year. The 28-year-old Kipketer, who suffered a severe bout of malaria and liver trouble last year, was not the only athlete to declare he was back in business as 110 metres world champion Allen Johnson also won his event with ease and taunted his critics. However, while USA’s 100 metres world champion Marion Jones started her campaign for a second successive share of the $ 1 million bonus successfully in the 200m, there was only disappointment for world champion Ato Boldon in the men’s event as he was disqualified after winning the race for stepping out of his lane. Kipketer, who has said he will never be able to relax totally as the malaria could return at anytime, stormed away from the high class field leaving Kimutai trailing badly and showing that rumours of his fading powers were far from true as he finished in one minute 43.11 seconds. The 21-year-old Kimutai finished 11th and last. “It is true the king is back!” Kipketer said. Johnson won his event, cantering home despite clattering four of the hurdles in a time of 13.14 seconds to equal his Bislett Games record. The 28-year-old, who has recently returned from a pelvic injury, beat experienced German Florian Schwartoff with perennial American Rival Mark Crear, who beat Johnson into second in last weekend’s American championships, a disappointing third. American sprint queen Marion Jones, who is steadily shaking off her knee strain that she suffered two weeks ago, won easily enough against a less than illustrious field. “I’m satisfied as I have just arrived from the USA and it was pretty cold out there,” the 23-year-old said. On a night where several meet records were broken legendary Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie at one stage looked set for breaking yet another world record only for him to run out of pacemakers. Having been within three seconds of world record pace he gradually slowed down and when Kenyan Sammy Kipketer came onto his shoulder he called the record attempt off and instead concentrated on winning the race. Kenya’s 3000 metres steeplechase world record holder Bernard Barmasai, who says he is in form to run well under eight minutes, was an easy winner but blamed the second pacesetter for a relatively poor time. “I’m out to win all seven races this year that’s for sure ... It’s possible,” he said. The remarkable Romanian runner Gabriela Szabo, world outdoor 5,000 metres champion and world indoor titleholder in both the 1500 and 3000, won the women’s 3,000 metres taking almost nine seconds off the world best time this year — also set by her. However, her ambition of breaking arch-rival Sonia O’Sullivan’s five-year-old European record still remains out of her grasp though she said it was only a matter of time before it happened. “It’s only the beginning of the season so I’m pretty happy but I hope by August that I will run 8.20,” she said. Another female athlete Deon Hemmings, Jamaica’s first ever woman’s Olympic gold medallist when she won the 400 metres hurdles in Atlanta, also ran a world best for this year, beating world champion Nezha Bidouane among others. She now has only gold in her sights at Seville in August. “I’m not settling for second best this time I’m going for gold and I believe that it is on the cards,” the 30-year-old said. Sri Lanka’s
men’s Commonwealth bronze medallist Sugath
Thilakeratne beat a weak field in the 400 metres, coming
back strongly in the final straight to overhaul
Zimbabwean Ken Harnden and South American recordholder
Sanderlei Parrela of Brazil. |
Gilchrist survives Jagtiani scare MUMBAI, July 1 (PTI) — Qualifier Shyam Jagtiani gave England’s ex-world champion Peter Gilchrist a fright before losing their opening group “B” clash in the billiards event of the Om Agrawal Memorial Tournament here today. Jagtiani, a former national snooker champion, squandered chances galore to end up losing 583-619 to the gangling world number three Gilchrist who had ended Indian Geet Sethi’s unbeaten run in the world professional championship two years ago. At one stage the Indian led the Englishman by 90 points in the two-hour match before the latter fought his way back. Jagtiani’s best run when he was on the verge of overtaking Gilchrist was halted when he missed a difficult cannon under time pressure and ultimately lost by 36 points. Gilchrist compiled two century breaks besides a run of 90. Gilchrist also came up with the day’s best run of 301 on his way to drubbing former world amateur champion Mike Ferreira of India 948-486. Another Indian Arun Agrawal, younger brother of the former Asian amateur snooker champion Om in whose memory the tournament is being held at the Garware Club house here, ran Thai cueist C Praprut perilously close in a group “C” encounter before losing 533-547. Agrawal, a qualifier like Jagtiani, rallied magnificently after trailing the Thai with superb runs of 92 and 143 to wipe out the deficit of about 230 points. The second break ended when he missed a difficult red in-off and Praprut compiled an unfinished 21 to ensure victory. Other results: Geet
Sethi 893 (196) beat Antim Singhi 424; Ashok Shandilya
652 beat Mike Ferreira 485; Nalin Patel 770 beat Manoj
Kothari 359; Devendra Joshi 801 beat Varun Taneja 558;
Subhash Agrawal 874 (168) beat Mohd Asim 285; Alok Kumar
606 beat Chandresh Shah 503; Shandilya 582 beat Jagtiani
478; Patel 778 (195) beat Antim Singhi 399; Sethi 1034
(204) beat Kothari 523. |
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NEW DELHI, July 1 (PTI) — The Federation Cup knockout tournament, which kicks off the 1999-2000 football season, is slated to be held from October 4 to November 2 next. The fourth premier National Football League and the second division league has been scheduled to be held from December 1 to March 15 next year, according to the calendar released here by All India Football Federation secretary KN Mour. The Santosh Trophy Senior National Championship will be held from March 20 to April 5 next year, it said. The AIFF drew much flak last year for its unimaginative scheduling that saw the national league continue after the Santosh Trophy had begun, leaving top players a tired lot coming into the national championship. This year, the league will end before the Santosh Trophy starts, providing top players some rest in between. The calendar for 1999-2000. Federation Cup (knockout) tournament: zonal rounds: October 4 to 12; final round: October 20 to November 2. Under-16, under-19 (men) and under-19 (women): December 11 to 30. Under-21 nationals: zonals: October 2 to 13; final round: October 23 to November 4. Women's Federation Cup: October 1 to 13. All major tournaments; November. Women's nationals;
February 1 to 15, 2000. |
German soccer star Kuntz retires BOCHUM, July 1 (DPA) — Former German international striker Stefan Kuntz, the fifth all-time best goalscorer in the Bondesliga, announced his retirement from the game on Tuesday. Kuntz (36) said in a television interview he "no longer had the itch" to play and that his body was sending warning signals that it was time to quit. Last season proved a
frustrating time for Kuntz, who was sidelined for months
with a virus infection and was unable to help Bochum
avoid relegation. |
Srinath, Kumble tie nuptial knots BANGALORE, July 1 (PTI) — All the trappings associated with celebrities were missing as Test stars Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble solemnised their weddings here today. Pace spearhead Srinath tied the “mangalsutra” (nuptial knot) to Jyotsna, an alumnus of the Lady Sriram College, Delhi, at the bride’s residence on the city outskirts in the morning. Leg-spinner Kumble married Chetana from Mysore at his residence in the early hours. The couple hosted a reception later this evening. The marriages were conducted in a simple manner and the media and press photographers were kept out of both functions. Only family members and
close cricketing friends, including Rahul Dravid, D.
Ganesh, Venkatesh Prasad and Sunil Joshi, attended the
weddings. Kumble’s brother Dinesh said “the
function went off well”. |
French star Dugarry tests positive MARSEILLE (France), July 1 (Reuters) — Olympique Marseille confirmed yesterday that their French World Cup striker Christophe Dugarry had tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid nandrolone.The player, who underwent the test after Marseille’s French league match at home to Olympique Lyon on April 30, faces a possible suspension of at least six months. “It’s a fact,
Christophe Dugarry has been tested positive,”
Marseille’s Executive President Yves Marchand said.
“The player is crushed, he can’t understand
what is happening to him. He told us he has never doped
himself. I believe him and we’re going to ask for a
second sample to be tested as soon as possible,” he
said. |
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BIRMINGHAM, (AP) — Recalled England fast bowler Andy Caddick grabbed three wickets before Adam Parore’s unbeaten 43 triggered a New Zealand revival as the Kiwis went to tea at 166 for six in the first Test at Edgbaston. Resuming after lunch at 75 for four, the Kiwis reached 103 before New Zealand-born Caddick broke through to dismiss dangermen Craig McMillan and Chris Cairns in one spell. Caddick, who took the wicket of Matthew Horne in the opening session, had McMillan (18) caught by Graham Thorpe at first slip — his third catch of the day — with the total at 103. With the addition of one to the total, Cairns (17) mistimed a shorter ball and popped up a simple return catch for the 31-year-old bowler. But Parore combined with Dion Nash 62-run stand to guide New Zealand out of immediate danger. Earlier, New Zealand World Cup hero Roger Twose was dismissed without a run on the board on his return to Edgbaston. Scoreboard New Zealand: Twose c Thorpe b Mullally 0 Horne lbw b Caddick 12 Fleming c Thorpe b Tudor 27 Astle c Read b Butcher 26 McMillan c Thorpe b Caddick 18 Cairns c&b Caddick 17 Parore batting 43 Nash batting 14 Extra (lb4, nb5) 9 Total (for six wickets) 166 Fall of wickets: 1/0, 2/19, 3/55, 4/73, 5/103, 6/104 Bowling: Alan Mullally
18-4-48-1, Andy Caddick 19-10-39-3, Alex Tudor 11-2-44-1,
Mark Butcher 7-2-25-1, Phil Tufnell 3-1-6-0. |
H
Bilaspur win hockey meet KULU, July 1 (FOC) — Bilaspur district won the three-day long Invitational Hockey cup by defeating Mandi by a solitary goal, scored by a penalty stroke. Mr Karan Singh, Minister of State for Primary Education, who presided over the closing function, yesterday said that Rs 370.45 crore would be spent on youth welfare in Himachal during the current year. Mr Karan Singh said that the government had offered many incentives to distinguished players, including three per cent reservations in government services. The government had chalked out a comprehensive plan for all-round development of the youth and Vivekanand Incentive Plan and Nodal Yuva Mandal Plans had been introduced. He said Rs 4.50 lakh will be spent in the district under these schemes. Rupees 5 lakh had been sanctioned for Kulu sports stadium and an indoor stadium and a youth hostel would also be built. Patiala skating PATIALA, July 1 (FOSR) — The 10th Patiala District Roller Skating Championships will be held at the local rink hall on July 3 and 4, according to Mr G.S. Harika, Honorary Secretary, Patiala District Roller Skating Association. Skaters may send their entries to Mr G.S. Harika, rink hall, till July 2. |
Badminton camp CHANDIGARH, July 1 (FOSR) — The three-week North Zone training camp for the badminton players of the region concluded here last evening at Sector 42 indoor badminton hall. The camp organised by the District Badminton Association, Panchkula, was meant for younger players (below 16) of the northern states. Rajiv Tuli, Jitender
Vaidya and Kartar Singh told the players about the finer
points of the game. Among the trainees who were given the
training include Sumit of Haryana who last year won the
mini national badminton championships and Rohit Bhakar, a
deaf and dumb player who is one of the winning member of
the Indian team which took part in the World Deaf and
Dumb Games held at Copenhagen (Denmark). |
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