DIUDAD DEL ESTE : Brazil's Antonio Carlos (left) and Mexico's Daniel Osorno fight for the ball during an America's Cup Group B game in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay on Saturday — AP/PTI

Brazil enter last eight
CIUDAD DEL ESTE (Paraguay), July 4 — Chile shrugged off two sendings off to administer another beating to copa America whipping boys Venezuela in torrential rain here.

Ronaldo back to his dazzling best
FOZ DE IGUAZU (Brazil), July 4 — After a miserable season hampered by injury, Brazilian superstar Ronaldo says he will use the Copa America to show the world he is back to his dazzling best.

Pele’s emotions mixed as Brazil meet USA
STANFORD (California), July 4 — He’s the greatest player from the most successful soccer nation, Brazil. He’s the man who sparked the development of the sport in the USA.

Paes-Bhupathi duo wins doubles
LONDON, July 4 — World number one Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi today marked a red letter day for Indian tennis by claiming the Wimbledon men’s doubles crown for their second straight Grand Slam title together.

Agassi, Davenport regain top slots
LONDON, July 4 — As well as reaching the Wimbledon singles finals, Andre Agassi and Lindsay Davenport took over the No. 1 rankings yesterday — the first time two Americans have jumped to the top on the same day.

Henman’s exit dashes Britain’s hopes
LONDON, July 4 — Maybe Britain will find a man to win Wimbledon in the next millennium. “At this rate, In 2001 I’ll be the clear favourite,” said Britain’s Tim Henman, ousted yesterday in the semifinals by five-time champion Pete Sampras 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.

NZ Ranji schedule announced
SHIMLA, July 4 — Mr Sunil Dev, convener of the North Zone Cricket Fixtures Committee, has underlined the need to develop a proper cricket ground at high altitude for conditioning of players.

Jeev drops to 24th place
NEW DELHI, July 4 — Nothing went right for Jeev Milkha Singh on the third day of the Euro 1.4 million Murphy’s Irish Open, when he returned a four-over 75 card to drop down to tied 24th place from overnight third at the Glens Druid Golf Course, 10 miles south of Dublin.

East Bengal in final of McDowell Cup
CALCUTTA, July 4 — Formidable East Bengal pipped Mohammedan Sporting by a solitary late second half goal to move into the final of the fifth McDowell Cup here today.

IHF seniors post victory
CHENNAI, July 4 — International Sabu Varkey’s first-half goal helped Mumbai XI earn three points, beating Tamil Nadu, while IHF senior eleven virtually booked a semifinal berth, overwhelming Karnataka 4-0 in the 77th MCC-AMM Arunachalam All-India Hockey Tournament here today.

• Sivanthi Gold Cup tourney put off
• Fernandez to be back as coach
• Simi placed 67th

Sampras lifts record sixth title

LONDON, July 4 (Reuters) — Pete Sampras provided all the fireworks on American Independence Day beating Andre Agassi 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 for his sixth Wimbledon title — a record this century.

Today’s centre court victory means Sampras equals Roy Emerson’s record of 12 Grand Slam crowns.

"There is no question Wimbledon is our biggest tournament and to beat Andre here on the fourth of July is phenomenal," he said.

"It is a weird feeling after you win... it all hits you at once but it’s a great feeling. I have got a lot of respect for Andre, I had to be at my best to beat him and although it was straight sets it certainly wasn’t easy."

French Open champion Agassi, who will replace Sampras as world number one tomorrow, was relegated to a supporting role for three sets as Sampras produced vintage, breathtaking tennis.

"He is certainly the champion... he proved it out there," Agassi said.

"I’m feeling a little bit emotionally beaten-up... and I didn’t really feel like number one out there."

"But Pete’s won Wimbledon a lot of times for a good reason."

The top seed and defending champion fought off a break point in the third game with an ace and saved three more in the seventh game as he continued to frustrate his fellow American.

But Sampras needed just a solitary break point in the eighth game, and he forced the fourth seed to net a forehand for 5-3 before serving out for the set.

A huge backhand winner and a forehand return winner, coupled with a netted Agassi backhand, handed Sampras three break points in the first game of the second set and Agassi cracked, dumping a forehand into the net to be broken.

Sampras turned the screw and, although Agassi saved two more break points in the fifth game with inspired winners, stayed a step ahead serving out for a two-sets-to-love lead after 69 minutes.

Agassi, the best returner in the game, struggled all afternoon to read the Sampras delivery while Agassi always faced danger when he stepped up to serve.

The pair slugged it out toe-to-toe in the third as the tempo raced. Agassi saved two break points in the seventh game of the decider with two big serves.

But four games later two double faults, a forehand error and a netted backhand gave Sampras the chance to serve for victory and he grasped it, clinching the title with a second serve ace on his first match point.

Davenport lifts maiden title

LONDON, July 4 (Reuters) — American Lindsay Davenport today powered past seven-times champion Steffi Graf 6-4 7-5 to celebrate Independence Day by claiming her first Wimbledon title.

In a tense, tight match interrupted for 30 minutes by rain, Davenport, 23, used her huge serve and thunderous groundstrokes to counter 30-year-old Graf’s speed.

Graf, who beat the US Open champion on her way to the French Open title last month, dropped her serve in the first game of the match and in the 11th game of the second set.

Steffi Graf said she would not return to play at Wimbledon after being beaten 6-4, 7-5 in the women’s singles final by American Lindsay Davenport. Graf was upset as she announced her decision at a post-match news conference. “Basically, I won’t be back. I won’t be here as a player again”.

They were the only break points the third-seeded Davenport earned and they made all the difference as Graf failed to convert the two she had against the American’s solid delivery.

“I served well and that was the main thing. I only had two break points and it was pretty amazing that I converted them both. I played concentrated and calm and I can’t believe I did it’’.

It was Davenport’s second Grand Slam title against 22 for Graf.

Davenport, who won the US Open last year, broke Graf’s serve in the opening game with a mishit backhand return of serve on her first break point.

Davenport chose to receive serve and it proved a good decision as Graf was taken to three deuces before the American broke through.

Graf also took Davenport to deuce on her first service game, and held a break point after a fine forehand return of serve, but Davenport served her way out of trouble as she did repeatedly in her 6-1 6-1 semifinal win over qualifier Alexandra Stevenson.

With Davenport 2-0 up, the next two games were won without the server dropping a point but the 23-year-old American was finding her range better than Graf who was making more than her fair share of unforced errors.

In the sixth game Graf set up a 30-15 lead on Davenport’s serve with two fine shots and appeared to have taken a 40-15 lead when Davenport’s shot to the baseline was called out.

The umpire over-ruled immediately but, instead of giving the point to Davenport, she made the two play the point again, much to Davenport’s annoyance.

Brazil enter last eight

CIUDAD DEL ESTE (Paraguay), July 4 (AFP) — Chile shrugged off two sendings off to administer another beating to copa America whipping boys Venezuela in torrential rain here.

Venezuela, spanked by Brazil 7-0 in their opening group ‘B’ match, are now effectively eliminated from the tournament with their dismal goal difference making it highly unlikely they will qualify even as one of the best third placed teams even if they beat Mexico in their last match.

However, Chile — yet to assure their passage into the last eight - will have to take on favourites and reigning champions Brazil in their last match without star striker Marcelo Salas and Jorge Vargas, who both were dismissed.

It only took three minutes for Chile to go in front with their highly-rated strike pairing of Salas and Inter Milan striker Ivan Zamorano linking up well. Salas raced down the left flank and centred to Zamorano who made it 1-0.

Venezuela’s Rolando Alvarez was the first to be expelled after just 17 minutes. The second goal was all down to Jose Luis Sierra who struck from 30 metres with an unstoppable shot after 20 mins for one of the goals of the tournament so far.

In the second half Chile made a sluggish start with Venezuela raising the game and twice testing Chile goalkeeper Marcelo Ramirez while substitute Juan Garcia squandered one golden opportunity, blasting wide with the goal at his mercy.

The dismissal of Vargas did not help Chile’s situation but they then killed the match with a breakaway strike. Again Salas was the instigator with his measured cross turned into his own net by Venezuela defender Edson Tortelero with Zamorano poised to apply the finishing touch had Tortelero not got there first.

Then Salas was dismissed — for dissent — after having his hair pulled by his marker. Even down to nine men Chile never looked likely to surrender their lead and they hung on to boost their chances following their opening defeat by Mexico.

Earlier reigning champions Brazil had booked a place in the last eight of the Copa America, or South American Football Championships, with a 2-1 victory over Mexico here on Saturday.

The match may not have been as one-sided as Brazil’s opening 7-0 victory over Venezuela but their football was clearly superior to that of Mexico.

The pairing up front of Ronaldo and Amoroso was inspired and it was Parma’s Amoroso who raced on to a pass from the Inter Milan man to put the Brazilians in front after 19 minutes, beating Mexico’s flamboyant goalkeeper Jorge Campos.

Mexico’s strike force of Luis Hernandez and Cuahtemoc Blanco did not get the service they needed to really trouble the Mexican defence.

It was emerging talent Alex, who plays for Palmeiras, who made it 2-0 for the favourites when he unleashed a ferocious shot from 25 yards in first-half stoppage time.

Mexico, who are competing as specially invited guests alongside Japan, made a better show in the second period. They reduced arrears after 73 minutes through substitute Isaac Terrazas who replaced Paulo Cesar Chavez at the interval.

Paes-Bhupathi duo wins doubles

LONDON, July 4 (PTI) — World number one Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi today marked a red letter day for Indian tennis by claiming the Wimbledon men’s doubles crown for their second straight Grand Slam title together.

The top seeded Indians, fresh from their maiden Grand Slam triumph at the French Open, waged a grim battle over four sets as they made a scintillating comeback from a set down to vanquish eighth seeds Paul Haarhuis of the Netherlands and American Jared Palmer 6-7 (10-12) 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7/4) at at court one of the All England Club.

Paes and Bhupathi, who had come up with the best ever performance by Indian players in reaching their third straight Grand Slam final, made it memorable as they recovered from losing a marathon first set tie-break to shift gears for the next two sets before winning the fourth set tie-break to set off scenes of jubilation among Indian fans.

Paes-Bhupathi, who survived marathon five-setters in the last two rounds, ensured the summit clash did not go to the wire and clinched the fourth set tie-break.

Stung by the first set loss in a nerve-wracking tiebreak, Paes and Bhupathi came back with vengeance after a brief rain interruption to attack the serve of Palmer, weaker of their opponents. Once they grabbed the second set 6-3, there was no looking back for them.

Meanwhile India today erupted with joy in hailing the glorious win of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi. Vice-President Krishan Kant and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee joined the nation in shower encomiums on the world’s number one pair.

The Vice-President conveyed his best wishes to the triumphant duo and congratulated them for their “splendid victory” over Dutch-American pair of Paul Haarhuis and Jared Palmer in the final. “You have done the country proud,” said Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Lauding Paes and Bhupathi, he said: “your victory will inspire millions of young Indians to strive to become world champions.

In Calcutta an elated Dr Vece Paes, father of Leander Paes, described the title triumph as a “big win” and hoped that the crack doubles pair would be able to win more Grand Slam titles.

“You have once again proved you are the best doubles pair in the world. I’m glad that you’ve maintained your winning spree after your grand victory in the French Open (last month),” Mr Vajpayee said in his congratulatory message.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Pramod Mahajan said the entire country would celebrate this historic win.

“I am obviously excited and elated for them. It’s a big win. They worked hard and the results have shown in the last month or so,” Dr Paes told PTI here minutes after the Indian pair defeated Dutchman Paul Haarhuis and his American partner Jared Palmer in the final.

Ronaldo back to his dazzling best

FOZ DE IGUAZU (Brazil), July 4 (AFP) — After a miserable season hampered by injury, Brazilian superstar Ronaldo says he will use the Copa America to show the world he is back to his dazzling best.

The Inter-Milan striker went some way to answering the critics with two goals in Brazil’s 7-0 swamping of Venezuela in their first group ‘B’ match midweek, and he insists that is just the start.

“I want to get back on track gradually without too much hardship”, said Ronaldo, who had so far had a nightmare year and who recently suffered the indignity of being voted Brazil’s second worst footballer in a recent magazine poll.

That was all forgotten as he delivered a five-star turn in the Venezula match.

Ronaldo has added competition at the Copa from budding star Ronaldo Gaucho, but he is ready to rise to the challenge after weeks of hard graft getting back to fitness under the watchful eye of Physio Nilton Petrone.

“I have a single objective — I want go get back to being the best in the world”, said Ronaldo, who has hit three goals, in two games since returning to the national side.

“We want to win this tournament and be South American champions, and I intend to get better and better along the way”, said Ronaldo in a stark warning to his country’s rivals.

“I want to score goals but my first goal is to recover my physical and technical form”, said Ronaldo, who added he didn’t mind not being top scorer as long as Brazil lifted the trophy.

His own tip for the goalscoring crown will raise a few eyebrows in Brazil — Ronaldo says Argentina’s Martin Palermo is the man with the most dangerous shotting boots in the tournament.

Palermo, like Ronaldo, opened with a double salvo in a 3-1 win against Ecuador.

Ronaldo is looking to help boost Brazil’s moderate record in the Copa, which they have won just five times — compared to 14 wins for Argentina and Uruguay.

Four of Brazil’s triumphs were on home soil but they are the holders this time round after winning the most recent edition in Bolivia two years ago.

Asked which sides would make the final Ronaldo unhesitatingly plumped for Argentina and Brazil.

“Given their footballing tradition and their high technical ability, they have without a doubt what it takes to take the title”, he said.

Ronaldo said he was delighted with the progress shown by the ‘other’ Ronaldo, Ronaldo De Assis Moreira, otherwise known as Gaucho, who scored a superb goal against Venezuela.

“I am proud to be playing alongside him. The lad is desperate to hold down a place and the way he is playing he’ll do just that”, said Ronaldo.

End cricket ties with India: ex-Pak stars

KARACHI, July 4 (Reuters) — Former Pakistani Test cricketers agreed yesterday with Indian players who have called for an end to cricketing relations between the two countries.

The Pakistani players said relations should be suspended until India changed its views on matters such as the Kashmir conflict, which earlier led to the scrapping of the annual Sahara Cup tournament between the two in Toronto in September.

“Pakistan should not compromise on nonsense. The door should be slammed on India until they realise that sports and politics are two different things,” former captain Intikhab Alam said.

“In the recent past we have played (them) in Canada and Sharjah. Now if we don’t play there, what difference would it make? But Pakistan should not tolerate irresponsible statements,” former Test paceman Aqib Javed said.

Indian cricket star Sachin Tendulkar had on Friday said in New Delhi that while the two countries were fighting “it’s very hard to go out there and play on a cricket field”.

His remarks, referring to the Kashmir conflict, came after former Indian captain Kapil Dev demanded that India should not play Pakistan even on neutral territory.

Indian cricket board chief Raj Singh Dungarpur was reported as saying that India might sever cricketing ties with Pakistan.

“Isn’t it ridiculous, sportsmen trying to repair a cocktail of sports and politics? Sportsmen are supposed to ease tension rather than create hatred amongst the people of two countries,” Intikhab said.

He said Dungarpur’s statement backed up the feeling of Pakistani politicians that India did not want to restore peace over the Kashmir conflict.

Javed, whose one-day best of seven for 37 was against India, said Tendulkar would lose the respect of the Pakistani people.

“Tendulkar was not only a champion for India but Pakistan’s budding players also looked up to him. Now he is set to lose the reputation of being a gentleman because you don’t expect sensible people to talk mindless things,” he said.

Intikhab and Javed both said that India should have the courage to pull out of the tri-nation one-day series in Australia early next year.

“But they can’t dare do that. The Australian Cricket Board will hold them by the scruff of their necks,” Javed said.

Pakistan and India are due to participate in the one-day series besides playing three Tests each against Australia. Pakistan will tour Australia, with the first Test starting in the first week of November.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief executive Majid Khan said the scrapping of the Sahara Cup might not be possible because of television contracts signed by the two countries.

Henman’s exit dashes Britain’s hopes

LONDON, July 4 (AP) — Maybe Britain will find a man to win Wimbledon in the next millennium.

“At this rate, In 2001 I’ll be the clear favourite,” said Britain’s Tim Henman, ousted yesterday in the semifinals by five-time champion Pete Sampras 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. It was Henman’s second Wimbledon semifinal loss in two years to Sampras.

You have go to back 63 years to find the last British man who won here: Fred Perry in 1936.

“It’s disappointing,” said Henman, 24, who is always built up wildly in the British tabloids as Wimbledon approaches. “It’s another semifinal and I lost ... To the better player. I think it was as simple as that.”

Australian Pat Rafter wasn’t as let down as Henman about going out as Andre Agassi prevailed 7-5, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2. Agassi was just too much.

“Everything was on for him,” Rafter said. “He was very strong. He was very powerful with everything he did.

“His serve was the best I’ve seen him serve — very strong from the baseline. He never really gave me a chance to control the points.”

It was Rafter’s first semifinal here after reaching the fourth round three times.

“It’s a step in the right direction, anyway,” Rafter said. “I’m very happy, just very happy to be in the semifinals here — finally.”

Father talk

Alexandra Stevenson isn’t ready to talk about her father, former basketball star Julius “Dr. J” Erving. But she hasn’t ruled it out.

“I don’t know, when I feel ready — maybe,” said the 18-year-old Californian yesterday, a day after Erving acknowledged he was the girl’s father.

The question about her parentage became an issue this week as she marched through the tournament — with her highly visible mother, Samantha, by her side — to become the first woman qualifier in Wimbledon history to reach the semifinals.

Her mother, who has answered only “no comment” to questions about Erving, was asked when she would be ready to talk about it.

“Never,” she replied.

Stevenson's earnings

What will the younger Stevenson do with the £ 96,690 (about Rs 70 lakh) she won in her first tournament as a professional?

She’d like a Volvo convertible. But first she may buy her mother a washer and dryer.

“We live in an apartment building and we don’t have our own,” she explained. “She’s always complaining because the neighbours in the apartment come in and take her laundry out ... So she wants her own instead of a communal one.”

Poor Novotna

Last year, Jana Novotna went home with 468,580 pounds (about Rs 3.2 crore) after winning the women’s singles and doubles titles.

Not such a good payday this year. She lost in straight sets to Lindsay Davenport in the singles quarterfinal, and didn’t make it to the doubles final when she and Natasha Zvereva lost 6-4, 2-6, 7-5 to Mariaan de Swardt and Elena Tatarkova in yesterday’s semis.

Davenport has a chance to match Novotna’s double triumph today.

If she beats Steffi Graf in the singles final she collect £ 409,500 (about Rs 2.95 crore), and if she and Corina Morariu down De Swardt and Tatarkova, she picks up £ 83,885 (about Rs 60 lakhs) and will go home with £ 493,385 (about Rs 3.55 crore).

Agassi, Davenport regain top slots

LONDON, July 4 (AP) — As well as reaching the Wimbledon singles finals, Andre Agassi and Lindsay Davenport took over the No. 1 rankings yesterday — the first time two Americans have jumped to the top on the same day.

Agassi guaranteed going to No. 1 by beating Australia’s Pat Rafter in yesterday’s semifinal. Rafter would have been No. 1 had he won the match.

Agassi last topped the rankings in February 1996. He supplants Pete Sampras, coincidentally the player he meets in today’s final, and will stay No. 1 even if he loses.

After today’s final, the order at the top of the rankings will be Agassi, Rafter, Sampras.

Davenport, who won the U.S. Open last year, went to No. 1 in October and dropped behind Martina Hingis in February. Now she replaces Hingis at the top and Graf will stay No. 3.

NZ Ranji schedule announced
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, July 4 — Mr Sunil Dev, convener of the North Zone Cricket Fixtures Committee, has underlined the need to develop a proper cricket ground at high altitude for conditioning of players.

Addressing a Press conference here today, he said the Annandale Ground in Shimla was ideal for the purpose. It could be developed with minimum resources as only changing rooms, conditioning rooms and turf wickets were required to be provided.

He said although a cricket ground existed at Chail too but the one at Shimla would be more suitable.

He suggested that Himachal Pradesh should include at least two players from outside the state as provided in the BCCI rules as it would improve the state’s chances of entering the super league and thus allow more opportunity to players. Rajiv Nayar and Nishchal Gaur, two batsmen of the state, topped the batting averages in north zone aggregating 470 runs and 454 runs during last season.

The fixtures committee which met here today finalised the schedule for Ranji matches and the under-18 and under 16 tournaments. The Ranji matches would commence from October 23. The following is the complete schedule:

October 23 to 27: Jammu and Kashmir vs Haryana Punjab vs Himachal (Mohali) (to be hosted by Haryana) Delhi vs Services (Harbux Stadium, Delhi).

October 30 to November 3: Delhi vs Haryana (Delhi) Jammu and Kashmir vs Himachal (Chamba) Punjab vs Services (Punjab).

November 5 to 9: Haryana vs Services (Haryana) Delhi vs Himachal (Mandi) Punjab vs Jammu and Kashmir (Punjab).

November 12-16: Jammu and Kashmir vs Services (Harbux Stadium, Delhi) Himachal vs Haryana (Haryana) Delhi vs Punjab (Punjab).

November 19 to 23: Delhi vs Jammu and Kashmir (Delhi) Services vs Himachal (Una) Punjab vs Haryana (Haryana).

Under 19 fixtures: Himachal vs Delhi (October 25 to 27 at Mandi) Himachal vs Punjab (November 4 to 6 at Solan) Himachal vs Haryana (November 9 to 11 at Chamba) Himachal vs Jammu and Kashmir (November 13 to 15 at Chamba).

Under 16: Himachal vs Punjab (November 30 to December 2 at Una) Himachal vs Haryana (December 4 to 6 in Haryana) Himachal vs Delhi (December 8 to 10 Delhi) Himachal vs Jammu and Kashmir (December 13 to 15 at Bilaspur).

Pele’s emotions mixed as Brazil
meet USA

STANFORD (California), July 4 (AP) — He’s the greatest player from the most successful soccer nation, Brazil. He’s the man who sparked the development of the sport in the USA.

So who better to analyse today’s women’s World Cup semifinal between the Americans and Brazilians than Pele?

“I’m in a very difficult situation,” Pele said yesterday in an exclusive interview with the Associated Press. “My heart is with Brazil, but on the other hand, I’m very happy the US team has done so well. I was active with my soccer camps years ago and teaching the ‘beautiful game’ to young girls across the country.

“This leaves me in a very emotional state. I only wish this was the final.”

The final will be at the Rose Bowl next Saturday, with the winner of the China-Norway semifinal meeting the survivor from Stanford Stadium. Pele, who is the soccer spokesman for official sponsor Mastercard, hopes to see either Brazil or the USA, win in Pasadena, California.

For now, however, he is reliving the emotions of July 4, 1994.

“I remember feeling this way five years ago during the men’s World Cup ’94, when Brazil played the USA In the second round,” Pele said.

Brazil won that game 1-0 and went on to win its fourth world title, a record.

Pele was a guiding force for US soccer during the 1970s. After leading Brazil to their first three World Cup titles, he joined the Cosmos of the North American Soccer League and started a soccer boom on the professional level that lasted into the early 1980s.

More importantly, his work through clinics and as an ambassador for the sport was instrumental in establishing grass roots programs. Those programmes produced the players who will take the field today.

And he likes what he is seeing on the field.

“I’m very pleased to see how much attention the tournament has received worldwide,” Pele said. “The level of play has been fantastic, very open, just the way I like it. This tournament no doubt will provide a tremendous lift to women’s soccer around the world.”

As for the makeup of the teams, Pele sees something very special: inner strength.

“Brazil showed a lot of heart after allowing Nigeria to tie the game,” he said of the Brazilians’ 4-3 overtime victory in the quarterfinals after they blew a 3-0 half time lead. “Sissi has been a true leader and the key to Brazil’s success”.

“They will need to shore up the defence against the Americans in order to keep it close, because the US Team has so many strong finishers.”

Indeed, the Americans have displayed great depth, always a key to going far in a tournament involving five games in two weeks just to get to the final.

Sivanthi Gold Cup tourney put off

CHENNAI, July 4 (PTI) — The Sivanthi Gold Cup international men’s volleyball tournament scheduled at Visakhapatnam from July 28 to August 1 has been postponed due to lack of sufficient entries.

Volleyball Federation of India secretary K Murugan disclosed that the postponement was due to lack of entries and “the coming Lok Sabha elections”.

Jeev drops to 24th place
From Our Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI, July 4 — Nothing went right for Jeev Milkha Singh on the third day of the Euro 1.4 million Murphy’s Irish Open, when he returned a four-over 75 card to drop down to tied 24th place from overnight third at the Glens Druid Golf Course, 10 miles south of Dublin.

According to information reaching here, Jeev shot just one birdie (on the par-4 6th) as against three bogies and a double bogey on the par-47th hole under squally conditions. That took his aggregate to three-under 210 for 54 holes.

On a day when the 27-year-old was wildly erratic off the tee — he found just four fairways — Icey’s putting also deserted him and he required 30 putts to complete the round.

Leading the tournament was Argentinian Angel Cabrera, who fired his second successive round of five-under 66 to go 11 under for the tournament. Two strokes behind were Spanish sensation Sergio Garcia, who hit two eagles and two birdies on his back nine, and Australia’s Jarrod Moseley.

Scores (after 54 holes): Ist: 202 — Angel Cabrera (Arg) 70,66,66; T-2nd: 204 — Sergio Garcia (Esp) 69,68,67, Jarrod Moseley (Aus) 66,69,69; 4th. 205 — Michael Campbell (NZI) 68,69,68; T-5th: 206 — Colin Montgomerie (Sco) 68,67,71, Eamonn Darcy (Ire) 68,67,71; T-24th: 210 — Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 66,69,75.

Simi placed 67th
From Our Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI, July 4 — Simi Mehra, the lone Indian ladies pro in the elite Ladies Professional Golfers’ Association (LPGA) Tour, shot a five-over 76 on the third day to plummet down to the 67th place in the $-900,000 Jamie Farr Kroger Classic, being played at the par-71 Highland Meadows Course in Sylvania, Ohio.

Simi, who made only her second cut of what is proving to be a frustrating season, was tied for the 45th place yesterday. She is five-over 218 after 54 holes.

Leading the tournament was defending champion Se Ri Pak, the Korean sensation, and Australian Shani Waugh and Peru’s Jenny Lidback at eight-under 205.

Fernandez to be back as coach
From Our Sports Reporter

PATIALA July 4 — The Sports Ministry has approved the appointment of renowned Cuban boxing coach B.I.J. Fernandez, till the Sydney Olympics.

Fernandez, along with other foreign coaches, had written a strongly worded letter to the ministry questioning the selection process prior to the Bangkok Asian Games in the backdrop of the last minute exclusion of Dingko Singh.

It has been made clear that the 44-year-old Fernandez will be working as an assistant to G.S. Sandhu.

East Bengal in final of McDowell Cup

CALCUTTA, July 4 (PTI) — Formidable East Bengal pipped Mohammedan Sporting by a solitary late second half goal to move into the final of the fifth McDowell Cup here today.

Man of the match Raman Vijayan showed fine opportunism to net the winner in the 76th minute of the semifinal to seal the fate of their opponents, who had then been reduced to 10 men following a red card shown to defender Ali Reza a short while back.

East Bengal will take on Tollygunge Agragami in the final on July 6.

The sporting defenders were partially responsible for the goal as they had moved up to lay the offside trap leaving scores of vacant spaces near their citadel.

Supriya Dasgupta, who substituted Dipankar Roy a little while back, found Vijayan in the clear and essayed a fine short pass through to the lanky striker, who kept his cool and slotted home past a diving sporting custodian Santi Mazumdar.

The match, played at the Salt Lake Stadium, was of mediocre standard. Though East Bengal started off well, Sporting soon regrouped in the midfield and looked the better side for the remainder of the session.

IHF seniors post victory

CHENNAI, July 4 (PTI) — International Sabu Varkey’s first-half goal helped Mumbai XI earn three points, beating Tamil Nadu, while IHF senior eleven virtually booked a semifinal berth, overwhelming Karnataka 4-0 in the 77th MCC-AMM Arunachalam All-India Hockey Tournament here today.

Mumbai were rattled, particularly in the second half, by the hard working Tamil Nadu forwards. Mumbai’s Ravi Nayakar put Allen Barla in front and the latter’s centre near the goal mouth was well received by Sabu Varkey, whose backhand flick in the 17th minute beat the goalkeeper and a few defenders.

Then on, Tamil Nadu were more in the attack and dominated the second half. They earned five penalty corners, proof enough of their control of the game. But Mumbai goalkeeper Brian D’Souza was at his best in denying Tamil Nadu players.

In the other match, Karnataka were equally good in both attack and defence against a superior Indian Hockey Federation eleven. This might perhaps have been due to the fact that IHF’s star player Dhanraj Pillay was keeping a low profile.

IHF got their first goal in the 28th minute off their fifth penalty corner trough a direct hit by Lazarus Barla. The Karnataka youngsters’ put up a pathetic show in the second half and were mostly pinned to their side.

Hazrat Qureshi, Rajinder Singh and captain Rajnish Mishra then scored for IHF senior eleven to make it 4-0 for the winners.

Ludhiana Club score win

LUDHIANA, July 4 (FOSR) — Thanks to fine spin bowling by Tarun Kanish and Karan Goyal, who grabbed four wickets each, Ludhiana Club registered an emphatic 49-run victory over Sethi Club in the inaugural match of the fourth Chamanlal Malhotra Cricket Tournament (U-16) being organised by the Ludhiana District Cricket Association at the S.D. Government College grounds here today.

Batting first, Ludhiana Club were restricted to 113 runs in the stipulated 30 overs. Sethi Club batsmen began their chase on a solid note with 31 runs on the board after seven overs. But suddenly their batting crumbled and they slipped to 64 all out in 20 overs. Tarun Kanish and Karan Goyal came up with brilliant efforts claiming four wickets conceding 18 and 8 runs respectively.

Brief scores — Ludhiana Club 113 for 9 in 30 overs (Karan Goyal 12. Aashish Vinayak 12. Vinod 2 for 15. Jahangir 2 for 21. Garry 2 for 9).

Sethi Club 64 all out in 20.2 overs (Saurabh 16. A Gill 17, Tarun Kanish 4 for 18, Karan Goyal 4 for 8).