TEOTIHUACAN, MEXICO : The first runner, dressed in Aztec outfit, leaves the Pyramid of the Moon, behind, carrying the torch of the Pan American Games Wednesday, June 23, 1999, in Teotihuacan, Mexico. Games organisers kicked off the run - which will take the torch to Winnepeg, Canada - with an Aztec ceremony at the ancient site — AP/PTI

Sachin should have come at No 4: Ganguly CALCUTTA, June 24 — Indian opener Sourav Ganguly yesterday said star batsman Sachin Tendulkar should have batted at number four position in the recently concluded cricket World Cup. I should have got more runs: Dravid MUMBAI, June 24 — Rahul Dravid, the highest run-getter in the 1999 World Cup, said today he should have been more consistent in the tournament despite tallying 461 runs. Whatmore may coach Sri Lanka again COLOMBO, June 24 — Sri Lanka’s former Australian coach Dave Whatmore looks all set to take over the reigns of the beleaguered island team again after reaching an agreement in principle with its cricket board for a three-year contract.

Ex-Soviet athlete alleges sexual harassment
MOSCOW, June 24 — Former Soviet Olympic star Olga Korbut, who won four Olympic gold medals at the 1972 Munich and 1976 Montreal Games, said she had been sexually harassed by her former coach.

Asian Cup baseball from today
CHANDIGARH, June 24 — India will play with Iran in the opening match of the 3rd Asian Cup Baseball Championship scheduled to begin tomorrow at Panjab University grounds, Sector 14.

Big victory for Kiwis
OXFORD, June 24 — New Zealand notched up an innings-and-44-run victory over the British students at the Parks here yesterday on the run-up to the first Test against England next week.

Bombay, PSB move into semis
BANGALORE, June 24 — Bombay and Punjab and Sind Bank (PSB) entered the semi-finals in the 30th Junior National Hockey Championship at the Karnataka State Hockey Stadium here today.

Honorary degree for Taylor
SYDNEY, June 24 — Former Australian cricket captain Mark Taylor will receive an honorary doctorate from the University of New South Wales for his contribution to Australian sport, the university announced today.

Amanjot subdues Dhrub Kumar
NEW DELHI, June 24 — In the Adidas Junior Masters Tennis Tournament being played at the DTA complex, Sania Mirza from AP made it to the finals of both Under-16 and Under-14 girls category.

Agassi, Krajicek advance

LONDON, June 24 (AFP) — Andre Agassi stayed on course for a French Open and Wimbledon double by reaching the third round of the men’s singles here today, cruising past Argentina’s Guillermo Canas in straight sets.

Fourth-seeded Agassi triumphed 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 to book a match with Spain’s Alberto Martin, a four-set winner over Morocco’s Younes El Aynaoui.

Agassi was joined by British sixth seed Tim Henman, who completed his match held over from last evening to march past American Chris Woodruff 6-4 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) in 2hr 23min.

There was a shock in the women’s event, as seventh-seeded twice former finalist Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario of Spain slid out to American Lisa Raymond.

Agassi, who became only the fifth man in history to win all four Grand Slam titles when he won Roland Garros three weeks ago, was cruising save for the first three games of the second set.

From 0-3, he rallied strongly to take the set 6-4 and never afforded Canas the slightest glimpse of a chance in the third, putting away a backhand volley to take the tie on his third match point.

Brazilian clay court specialist Gustavo Kuerten, seeded 11, also won, blasting his way past Germany’s David Prinosil for the loss of just eight games.

Henman, who led 6-4, 2-3 when the match was halted for fading light, opened up on Centre Court with a six-game winning streak which took the wind out of Woodruff’s sails.

Henman, the bookies’ second favourite for men’s title, said he was very happy with the way he polished off Woodruff.

He said he had strongly pressed to come off last evening in the gathering gloom when 2-3 down Henman said: "If I had lost my serve then it would have put a totally different complexion on the match."

The Briton now faces Sebastien Grosjean of France before a possible match-up with fifth-seeded 1996 champion Richard Krajicek, who blitzed Australia’s Todd Woodbridge 7-5 6-4 6-4.

Other men going through were Sweden’s Thomas Enqvist, who sped past Rainer Schuttler of Germany 6-2, 6-4, 7-5 and Germany’s Jens Knippschild, who marched into third round with a comprehensive 6-3 6-4 6-4 win over Swiss Marc Rosset.

Three-time former finalist Goran Ivanisevic also progressed, beating Sandon Stolle 7-6 (10/8), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, killing off the Australian with a leaping forehand volley.

Tenth-seeded Ivanisevic now plays Dutchman Paul Haarhuis, who hammered Spaniard Fernando Vicente in straight sets.

In the women’s singles, Australian teen qualifier Jelena Dokic proved her first round humiliation of world number one Martina Hingis was no fluke - but she had to work 10 times harder to oust Katarina Studenikova of Slovakia 6-0 4-6 8-6 to advance in 1hr 47min.

Raymond, who has never been past fourth round in six visits to the All-England Club, shocked Sanchez-Vicario 7-6 (7/4) 6-1.

Third-seeded American Lindsay Davenport easily ousted Slovakia’s Karina Habsudova 6-2, 6-2 in 43 minutes and next meets Laura Golarsa of Italy.

Hingis back home to reflect on defeat

ZURICH, June 24 (Reuters) — World number one Martina Hingis was back home in Switzerland today trying to come to terms with her defeat in the first round of Wimbledon by a 16-year-old qualifier.

The former Wimbledon champion flew into Kloten airport near Zurich to see her mother and coach Melanie Molitor, absent from a major match for the first time in her daughter’s career.

"There are always problems but we are doing fine together, Molitor told Blick newspaper. Many commentators have attributed Hingis’s shock 6-2 6-0 defeat by Australian Jelena Dokic to the absence of her influential mother.

Before she left London, the 18-year-old Hingis told reporters: "We do not have a crisis." She said she wanted to consult her mother about the future.

Hingis, who won Wimbledon in 1997, also pulled out of playing women’s doubles at the All-England Club with Russian Anna Kournikova, citing a recurring heel injury.

Her humiliation on the Wimbledon grass followed a melodramatic performance in the French Open final against Steffi Graf when Hingis was booed by the crowd for petulant behaviour which included crossing the net to argue a call and serving underarm at matchpoint.

A tearful Hingis had to be coaxed back on court by Molitor to watch Graf collect the trophy.

The Swiss press compared Hingis’s problems with the saga of the nation’s other top player, Patty Schnyder, who was dropped from the Fed Cup team after breaking away from her trainer and family to follow a German guru Rainer Harnecker.

In an article headlined "One crisis, two personalities," Blick said Hingis and Schnyder had "pushed aside their dearest ones in their natural struggle for independence and adulthood".

Schnyder, who has now split with Harnecker, lost in the first round at Wimbledon.

Wimbledon notebook

Jelena basks in new-found glory

WIMBLEDON, June 24 (AP) — Jelena Dokic’s agent is already headed to the bank following the 16-year-old Australian’s upset of top-ranked Martina Hingis.

"Obviously, you can’t choose a better place to beat a No 1 player than at a Grand Slam," said her Washington-based agent, Ivan Brixi.

What’s the upset worth? "To put a dollar and cents worth on it, I don’t think you can. It’d be ridiculous."

He said Dokic and her parents — Damir and Liliana — had been selective about linking their daughter to sponsorship deals and had turned down proposals from hotels, restaurant chains, soft drinks and a loan institution.

"With somebody like her, a top player and a top prospect, you have to look at the image, the fit," Brixi said.

Dokic was mobbed by photographers and autograph seekers when she took the court on Wednesday to play doubles.

"Quite a few people obviously knew who I was, it was quite a bit different than a few days ago," she said.

Asked what she’d done to relax after the upset, she replied,

"I’m not relaxing, I’m not finished yet.".

Jelena keeps dad’s faith

Dokic’s father, Damir, always knew his daughter could do it.

"I told Jelena all along she could beat Martina,’’ he said. "in fact, I was so relaxed I was in bed by nine the night before. I left Jelena watching TV, which was probably the best preparation.’’

He was almost stoic at courtside on Tuesday "because of what happened in Birmingham," he said. In that tournament earlier this month, he was ejected for cheering too loudly and abusing officials. Outside the tennis grounds he was arrested for blocking traffic and jumping on a car hood.

"She’s very ambitious but at the moment we don’t know how good she is," he said. "I don’t want to add to that right now because I don’t want to put extra pressure on her.’’

Support for Hingis

Venus Williams and Jennifer Capriati know what Hingis is going through.

"She has done better than me," Williams said after beating Elena Tatarkova 6-3, 6-4 in the second round yesterday. "She has been doing something right. ... I understand when you have a loss like that, I totally sympathise."

Capriati, a 1-6, 3-6 second-round loser to Seda Noorlander was also staunch in defence of Hingis.

"The press makes it out to be a crisis," she said. "It’s like when they’re on top and everything is great, but as soon as there’s one little thing ... (the Press) like vultures can’t wait to knock them down."

Hingis joins Graf, Court

Hingis was only the third top-seeded woman at Wimbledon to lose her opening match, joining Steffi Graf (1994) and Margaret Court (1962). Three other shockers at Wimbledon also come to mind.

In 1967, Spain’s Manuel Santana was top seeded and defending champion, but lost in the first round to USA's Charlie Pasarell. In ’87, Boris Becker, after winning back to back in ’85 and ’86, was ousted in the second round by Australian Peter Doohan.

Then there was 15-year-old Capriati in 1991, becoming the youngest semifinalist at Wimbledon by dethroning defending champion Martina Navratilova.

Retirement for Danny

Britain’s Danny Sapsford, ranked 571st in the world, has said he’ll retire after Wimbledon. He probably won’t have to wait long. He’s due to meet top-ranked Pete Sampras in the third round.

Finals’ ticket

A ticket to the first men’s final in 1877 cost five pence (eight cents). Today, it’s £60. Wimbledon officials expect to sell 27,000 kg of strawberries drenched in 7,000 litres of cream. They’ll be washed down with 12,500 bottles of champagne and 285,000 cups of tea.

Rotten eggs, slogans greet Pak team

ISLAMABAD, June 24 (PTI) — A crowd of more than 5,000 cricket fans greeted the beleaguered Pakistan team with rotten eggs and slogans of "shame, shame" when 10 of the 15-member Pakistan World Cup squad returned to Karachi today amid tight security.

"Match-fixers are back... shame, shame. We do not want gamblers and traitors but want real players," fans shouted outside Karachi international airport.

All-rounder Shahid Afridi escaped injury when he jumped into a speeding car to avoid the furious fans, eye witnesses said.

"The team deserves a kick in the pants... Moin (Khan) the only tiger as rest are lambs," fans shouted.

Some 200 armed commandos were deployed outside the airport, but they could not prevent the crowd from throwing rotten eggs at the players, who arrived from London.

Pakistan, who lost to Australia in a one-sided World Cup final by eight wickets last Sunday, arrived here minus their captain Wasim Akram, who has stayed in England to play league cricket.

Four other players have stayed back in England due to personal and professional engagements as vice-captain Moin Khan, Inzamam-ul Haq, Waqar Younis, Yousuf Youhana, Mushtaq Ahmed, Ijaz Ahmed, Azhar Mahmood, Abdul Razzak and Afridi were left to face the music.

Critics and fans are demanding a probe into the team’s performance in the final after several local newspapers claimed Pakistan’s players sold the final last Sunday for Rs 400 million.

AFP adds: Manager Zafar Altaf criticised the fans reaction to defeat in the final and slammed the national media over match-fixing allegations against his players.

"You should be ashamed of yourselves (media men)," Altaf told a news conference before storming out of the arrival lounge at Karachi airport.

"A team comprising mostly youngsters reached the final and instead of praising their performance you are levelling baseless accusations."

"I don’t want to say anything more (on the allegations) because you people (media) seem to know even the unknown," Altaf said angrily.

"South Africa lost in the semifinal but were welcomed (home) like heroes. Here we are left to justify the defeat in the final," Altaf said.

"We are asked to take the responsibility. What do they want? to hang us? the players are more dejected that anyone else," he said.

"We were drubbed in the final like the way we drubbed Zimbabwe and New Zealand before the final. The Australians played really well in the final," he said.

Pak players under scrutiny

ISLAMABAD, June 24 (PTI) — The top brass of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), including its Chairman Khalid Mahmood, have also come under scrutiny in the match-fixing and betting scandal involving the country's players.

The job of probing Pakistan cricket officials' and players' alleged role in the scandal, which has rocked the Ehtesab (accountability) bureau constituted by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif two years, ago to investigate corruption by politicians and bureaucrats.

The Ehtesab will inquire into the "objectionable activities" of both players and officials, which led to the humiliating defeat of Pakistan team in the World Cup final by Australia last Sunday.

The Pakistan intelligence agencies, according to media reports here, have already submitted report to the bureau. Headed by one of the closest aides of the Prime Minister and the reports clearly show "evidence of indiscipline, lack of coordination, planning and management by the members of the cricket team".

"We have concrete evidence regarding the involvement of Pakistan's World Cup squad in objectionable activities during their stay in England, " a senior accountability bureau official was quoted as saying

The report even accused (PCB) Chairman Khalid Mahmood, who accompanied the team to England, of failing to maintain discipline in the team.

Pakistan cricketers have also been accused of indulging in match-fixing in the World Cup after their shocking loss to Bangladesh and skipper Wasim Akram's controversial comment before the Super Six match against India has added fuel to the fire.

Akram's "It would be a good practice match", which Pakistan lost by 47 runs, is cited as a proof of match-fixing.

The report also indicts players for being involved in "immoral activities" during Pakistan's April tour of Sharjah.

The intelligence report said when the then coach Javed Miandad tried to control it, players revolted against him and forced him to resign.

Meanwhile, senior opposition leader and member of the senate standing committee on sport, Syed Iqbal Haider, has also called for thorough inquiry against players and top officials of the PCB in view of the World Cup debacle.

"This all happened due to criminal negligence of the officials of PCB as they have been trying to hide the criminal acts of match-fixing and betting by the senior players since 1993," Mr Haider said.

He said before the 1996 World Cup, he as the Chairman of the standing committee on sport, had decided to inquire into match-fixing and betting allegations but bigwigs of the PCB and even the President of Pakistan, who is the patron-in-chief of the board, restrained him from going ahead with it saying it demoralise the team.

"The same plea was put forth before the 1999 World Cup when the judicial commission was inquiring into similar allegations," he said adding that senior members of the PCB were always in the know of everything but never acted.

Mr Haider has demanded that the government initiate a thorough inquiry and find out the bank accounts both within and outside the country of PCB officials and senior players.

The standing committee member also alleged that players such as Aamir Sohail, Aaqib Javed, Rashid Latif, Basit Ali and Atta-ur Rehman were forced to leave the team by the PCB mafia because they had raised voice against the 'immoral acts' of some senior players.

Sachin should have come at No 4: Ganguly

CALCUTTA, June 24 (PTI) — Indian opener Sourav Ganguly yesterday said star batsman Sachin Tendulkar should have batted at number four position in the recently concluded cricket World Cup.

Sachin should have come at number four. I told him so personally. I had also given such a proposal at the team meeting. But he insisted on opening the innings and others had to agree" Ganguly said in a signed article in a Bengali daily Ganashakti.

Asserting that Tendulkar would have been among runs even if he had batted at number four, Ganguly said the 'little master' was under tremendous mental pressure which told upon his performance.

"But it would be unwise to say that was the only reason for the paucity of runs from his bat. Moreover, you cannot expect a batsman to plunder runs in every match".

Asserting that India's failure in the World Cup could not be attributed to Tendulkar's failure, Ganguly said the country was done in by some 'minor mistakes' at crucial moments.

"Generally, our performance was not bad, but apart from these minor mistakes, the weather, playing conditions, net run rate-everything went against us".

Citing examples, he said while India's defeat against ultimate winners Australia in Super Six was a major reason for the country's exit, the rain-abandoned New Zealand-Zimbabwe match also prevented India from a semi-final berth.

Describing Australia as deserving winners, Ganguly said no other team could rival Steve Waugh and his men in mental strength.

"Their success also proves that cricket is a team game and that one cricketer can never lead a side to ultimate triumph," the left-hander added.

Naming Glenn McGrath as the best bowler of the World Cup, Ganguly paid tribute to the variety and the controlled bounce of the quickie.

Other than McGrath, Wasim Akram, Shane Warne, Geoff Allot and Javagal Srinath found a place in Ganguly's list of the best five bowlers in the tournament.

Describing Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar as 'truly fast and a good bowler, Ganguly said the bowler nicknamed 'Rawalpindi express' has a long way to go. "He has to earn more experience. One cannot succeed only through sheer pace. But needs to have variety in bowling too."

On Pakistan, he said unlike Australia, the Wasim Akram-led team started off with a bang. But failed to maintain the momentum. "They looked completely out of touch in the final."

Whatmore may coach Sri Lanka again

COLOMBO, June 24 (PTI) — Sri Lanka’s former Australian coach Dave Whatmore looks all set to take over the reigns of the beleaguered island team again after reaching an agreement in principle with its cricket board for a three-year contract.

The board, in a release said an "in principle" agreement had been reached, paving the way for Whatmore to return to the helm of the Sri Lankan team that made an ignominious exit in the preliminary stage of the World Cup. He would be replacing present coach Roy Dias.

The Sri Lanka-born Whatmore, an architect of Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup victory who quit soon after the triumph amidst reports of differences with skipper Arjuna Ranatunga, had met with members of the board’s interim committee at London, board officials yesterday said.

Whatmore, who is currently coaching English county side Lancashire, was ready to return on condition that he be given a free hand in team selection, Chairman of the Sri Lankan Board interim committee, Renzie Wijetilleke has been quoted in the local media as saying.

Board Chief Executive Dhammika Ranatunga and interim committee Vice-President S. Skandakumar who are in London to attend the international Cricket Council’s (ICC) meeting, approached Whatmore to take up the job again.

Sri Lanka turned to Whatmore after England’s South African coach Bob Woolmer, former West Indies batsman Viv Richards and former South African batsman Barry Richards declined offers owing to prior commitments, officials said.

Whatmore, who lifted Sri Lanka into a fighting unit ahead of the 1996 World Cup, left following differences with Arjuna Ranatunga, who expressed his opposition to hiring foreign coaches.

The Aussie’s return is seen here as a major setback to Ranatunga, who is under fire to quit his post following his his team’s abysmal performance.

After Whatmore quit in 1997, he was replaced by another former Australian player Bruce Yardley, but he also quit due to a serious eye ailment and differences with the Sri Lankan setup.

Whatmore was among those shortlisted to take over as England coach, mainly owing to his fine track-record with Sri Lanka.

His re-appointment comes at a time when the Sri Lankan board itself is facing a legal crisis and its president Thilanga Sumathipala and other office-bearers have been barred from functioning by a court, which has appointed the interim panel.

Ex-Soviet athlete alleges sexual harassment

MOSCOW, June 24 (AFP) — Former Soviet Olympic star Olga Korbut, who won four Olympic gold medals at the 1972 Munich and 1976 Montreal Games, said she had been sexually harassed by her former coach.

Korbut, who at the height of the cold war completely disarmed the crowds with her ponytailed smiling appearance, said her coach Renald Knysh had forced her to have sex with him, starting in 1972 when she was just 15 years old, saying she would be thrown out of the Soviet gymnastics team if she refused.

In a recent interview with the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper the 44-year-old diminutive champion described their relations as "sexual slavery," adding that Knysh had repeatedly beaten her during the years that he coached her.

She said their sexual relations lasted for several years until Knysh started having sex with another athlete.

Knysh promptly stopped coaching Korbut, who was subsequently dropped from the Soviet national team.

Korbut is currently working as a gymnastics coach in Atlanta, Georgia, and preparing her memoirs.

I should have got more runs: Dravid

MUMBAI, June 24 (PTI) — Rahul Dravid, the highest run-getter in the 1999 World Cup, said today he should have been more consistent in the tournament despite tallying 461 runs.

The Karnataka star, on his arrival from London, said the team could have done much better only if it had been more consistent.

I personally feel I should have been more consistent with the bat and should have got runs against Zimbabwe which ultimately cost us the place in the semi-finals.

Despite scoring two centuries in the tournament, Dravid felt his performance was patchy and that he should have got more runs which is necessary at the top level.

"I think the loss to Zimbabwe proved very crucial despite playing some decent cricket against top teams like Sri Lanka, England and Pakistan," he added.

About his two big partnerships with Saurav Ganguly (record breaking feat against Sri Lanka), and Sachin Tendulkar (against Kenya), Dravid said it was a privilege to be associated with two of the best batsmen in the world.

"I am a great admirer of their batsmanship and I get inspired just by watching them play. Both partnerships were very crucial for the team as it was a must-win situation against some tough opposition," he added.

Asian Cup baseball from today
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, June 24 — India will play with Iran in the opening match of the 3rd Asian Cup Baseball Championship scheduled to begin tomorrow at Panjab University grounds, Sector 14. In this meet, four countries Iran, the Phillipines, Malaysia, besides the hosts India are taking part. Mr R.S. Verma, Chief Secretary, Haryana will inaugurate the meet at 9.30 a.m.

The six-day meet is being organised for the first time in India by the Amateur Baseball Federation of India.

Big victory for Kiwis

OXFORD, June 24 (AFP) — New Zealand notched up an innings-and-44-run victory over the British students at the Parks here yesterday on the run-up to the first Test against England next week.

Seamer Dion Nash took five for 24 to help bowl the students out for 238, after the Kiwis had declared on their overnight score of 513 for six.

Worcestershire batsman Elliott Wilson followed up his first innings 85 with another determined effort, making 47 this time. But it was Quentin Hughes who top-scored for the students with 52.

Stephen Fleming and co now travel west to taunton for a four-day match against Somerset before the Test series begins at Edgbaston next Thursday.

Bombay, PSB move into semis

BANGALORE, June 24 (PTI) — Bombay and Punjab and Sind Bank (PSB) entered the semi-finals in the 30th Junior National Hockey Championship at the Karnataka State Hockey Stadium here today.

Bombay defeated hosts Karnataka 8-6 via the tie-breaker, after the two teams were locked 3-3 after extra time, while Punjab and Sind Bank overcame Punjab 1-0.

Both the quarterfinals were not upto the mark. Punjab went out meekly, while hosts Karnataka had only themselves to blame for not getting even their basics right.

Punjab came a cropper against the well-knit defence of PSB. For the bankmen, Ajitpal Singh struck in the 44th minute, when he deflected a penalty corner shot off Harmit Singh.

The Karnataka-Bombay encounter saw Bombay holding an edge over their rivals. Goalkeeper Amur Kotwal was the hero, effecting numerous saves in the run of play and twice in the tie-breaker.

Bombay opened the account in the 19th minute through Robindro Singh off a penalty corner (1-0), but Karnataka struck twice via Arjun Halappa and Anup Anthony to make it 1-2 for the hosts.

While Halappa’s goal came off a penalty corner, Anup Anthony capitalised on a brilliant pass from Bipin Fernandez.

Stanly Fernandez scored for Bombay in the 50th minute to equalise at 2-2. Madanna put Karnataka ahead again with a goal off a Bipin Fernandez pass to make it 3-2.

But Asad Khan’s superb solo effort from the left flank equalised scores and the teams remained levelled 3-3 at the long whistle.

Both teams failed to score during extra-time, leading to the tie-breaker. Bombay’s goalkeeper, Kara Bhasin, the hero of the quarter-finals, stopped Anup Anthony’s scoop to enable his team enter the semis.

In pool A "H" match, Gujarat trounced Jammu and Kashmir 6-1. Vishal Pothiwala (47th, 63rd minute), Hiren Modi (44th, 45th minute) scored two goals each while Rinkesh Patel (26th minute and Hitesh Patel (17th minute) struck once for the winners.

Captain Rejinder Singh had Jammu and Kashmir ahead through a penalty stroke in the ninth minute.

Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) went down fighting to Uttar Pradesh 1-3 in a pool ‘F’ encounter. For Uttar Pradesh goals came from Avainash Saxena (24th minute), Arshad Ahmed (48th minute) and Imtiaz Ahmed (56th minute) while Nageswar Topno scored for SAIL in the last minute.

Patiala drew against Haryana 1-1 in pool ‘G’ with Ravinder Singh (29th minute) scoring for Haryana and Jaipal Dhiya restoring parity in the 45th minute.

Honorary degree for Taylor

SYDNEY, June 24 (AFP) — Former Australian cricket captain Mark Taylor will receive an honorary doctorate from the University of New South Wales for his contribution to Australian sport, the university announced today.

The portly batsman nicknamed "Tubby" by his teammates, will receive the university’s highest degree, a doctor of science honoris causa, during a ceremony tomorrow.

The cricketing great graduated from the university in 1987 with a bachelor of surveying.

But that accomplishment has been surpassed by those he made in cricket before his retirement earlier this year.

He equalled Sir Donald Bradman’s Australian best 334 not out Test score.

Taylor also amassed 7,525 runs at an average of 43.5 to become the country’s second-highest lifetime scorer and a record that puts him among the most successful captains in Australian history with 26 wins from 50 Tests and 11 series from 13.

Amanjot subdues Dhrub Kumar
From Our Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI, June 24 — In the Adidas Junior Masters Tennis Tournament being played at the DTA complex, Sania Mirza from AP made it to the finals of both Under-16 and Under-14 girls category. Fourth seed Sania defeated top seed Megha Vakarie from Maharashtra in three sets. Sania easily took the first set 6-3. Megha made a brief comeback in the second set before losing the third set. In the finals, Sania will meet C. Nandita from TN who defeated her compatriot Samrita Sekhar in straight sets.

In the finals, Sania will meet Ankita Bhambri from Delhi who beat her sister Sanaa Bhambri in straight sets.

In the boys Under-16 category, top seed Amanjot Singh from Chandigarh easily defeated sixth seed Dhrub Kumar from West Bengal in straight sets.

In the final, he will meet third seed Vinod Sewa from West Bengal who had a tough three-set match with a fighting eighth seed Chatwinder Singh from Chandigarh.

In the boys Under-14 category, unseeded Vikrant Sane from Maharashtra easily defeated top seed Tusher Liberhan from Chandigarh in straight sets.

In the other semi-finals, R. Arun Prakash of Tamil Nadu subdued his compatriot Vikram Aditya Menon in straight sets.

The following are the results.

Boys-under-16 (semifinals): Amanjot Singh (1) (Chandigarh) b Dhrub Kumar (6) (WB) 6-2, 6-2, Vinod K. Sewa (3) (WB) b Chatwinder Singh (Chandigarh) (8) 7-5,1-6,6-3

Boys Under-14 (semifinals): Vikrant Sane (Maha) b Tushar Liberhan (1) (Chandigarh) 6-1, 5-7, 6-4, C. Nandita (2) (TN) b Priyanka Parekh (3) (West Bengal) 7-6 (2), 6-4

Girls-Under 16 (semifinals): Sania Mirza (4) (AP) b Lata Assudhani (3) (Maha) 7-5, 7-6

Girls-Under 14 (semifinals): Sania Mirza (1) (AP) b Lata Assudhani (3) (Mah) 7-5, 7-6 (4), Ankita Bhambri (6) (Delhi) b Sanaa Bhambri (Delhi) 6-3, 7-5

Wrestling coaching camp begins

SHIMLA, June 24 (TNS) — A four-day wrestling coaching camp started here today under the aegis of Punjab Wrestling Association

The camp was inaugurated in the Indira Gandhi Indoor Sports Complex by Suman Rawat, Arjuna awardee.

Twentyfive wrestlers are participating in the camp.

According to Mr Gurcharan Singh Dhillon, wrestling coach, the camp was earlier held in the high altitude sports complex at Shilaru in the Shimla district.

A separate sub-junior national wrestling coach was being held in Shilaru to train players for the cadet world championship which will be held at Poland from August 5.

Punjab kabaddi championship

CHANDIGARH, June 24 ( BOSR) — Punjab Amateur Circle Kabaddi Association will conduct the second Punjab circle kabaddi championship for men and women from June 25 to 27 at Football Stadium, Sector 17, here, according to Mr J.P Sharma, secretary of the association.

As many as 12 men and seven women circle kabaddi district teams have confirmed their participation so far. The opening ceremony at 5 p.m. will be inaugurated by Mr Sucha Singh Langah, Minister of Industry, Punjab.

Olympic day run on June 27

ROPAR, June 24 (TNS) — An ‘Olympic day Run’ will be organised on June 27 at Anandpur Sahib for the promotion of sports among the youth and to inculcate a spirit of brotherhood.

About 2000 sportspersons, NSS volunteers and ex-servicemen are expected to participate.

Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, will flag off the run. The run will start from Panj Piara Park, near Khalsa College, and will end at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib.