Saturday, October 2, 1999
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S P O R T | Saturday, October 2, 1999 |
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India ride to victory on
Ganguly’s ton NAIROBI, Oct 1 — Sourav Ganguly struck a splendid century as India whipped Zimbabwe by 107 runs today to set the stage for their second successive one-day title by sealing a potentially explosive final clash against South Africa in the LG Cup quadrangular cricket tournament. Bhutia set for Bury debut BURY (England), Oct 1 — Bury’s new Indian footballer Baichung Bhutia believes he will be the first of many players from the subcontinent to make their mark in British football. |
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 MANCHESTER : Britain's first footballer to be signed from India Baichung Bhutia (right) holds his new teams shirt as he stands alongside Bury Town's manager Neil Warnock, in Manchester on Thursday. Bhutia the 22-year-old striker will become the first Indian to play professional football in England. — AP/PTI
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Rain disrupts play; Ponting nears
ton Karnataka
struggle to 65 for 2 Jeev to lead India in Dunhill Cup Kiwis
restricted to 135 for 6 Milkha
refutes charges Rajeev
shows his form in UK BSF,
Air-India enter last four |
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India ride to victory on Ganguly’s ton NAIROBI, Oct 1 (PTI) — Sourav Ganguly struck a splendid century as India whipped Zimbabwe by 107 runs today to set the stage for their second successive one-day title by sealing a potentially explosive final clash against South Africa in the LG Cup quadrangular cricket tournament. India, led by Ganguly’s eighth one-day hundred, a racy 139 off just 147 balls, piled up 277 for six wickets after being inducted under overcast conditions and then bundled out Zimbabwe for 170 to storm into the summit clash with an all-win record at the Nairobi Gymkhana. Set to reach 278 in only 42 overs to score their second win as well as upstage the Proteas on net run rate, Zimbabwe were overwhelmed by the Indian off-spin attack of Nikhil Chopra (4/33) and impressive newcomer Vijay Bharadwaj (3/34). India, who have put aside the absence of master batsman and regular skipper Sachin Tendulkar to carve out their third straight league win, will take on the World Cup semifinalists in the final to be held on Sunday. Stylist left-hander Sourav Ganguly, adjudged Man of the Match, struck his eighth one-day hundred studded with five sixes, and put on 70-runs with fellow opener S. Ramesh (31) and 107-runs for the second wicket with veteran Robin Singh (41) that effectively put the match beyond Zimbabwe. SCOREBOARD ZIMBABWE: |
Bhutia set for Bury debut BURY (England), Oct 1 (AFP) — Bury’s new Indian footballer Baichung Bhutia believes he will be the first of many players from the subcontinent to make their mark in British football. The 22-year-old striker is set to become the first Indian to play professional football in England, with Bury manager Neil Warnock expected to name him on the bench for tomorrow’s second division clash with Cardiff. Bhutia is convinced there are plenty of players waiting to follow in his footsteps in a country where premiership football is broadcast live on television. He said: “I shouldn’t be surprised to see lots of players coming over here from India. Football is not played in every part of the country but where it is the crowds are really big and the players are starting to improve their standard.” Bhutia’s signing is expected to increase the interest in football among the Asian communities in Britain but he insists he does not feel under any pressure to perform. He said: “People are talking like that but it’s not a burden for me. I don’t think it’s going to bother me much because most people know I’m just one player on a pitch.” “I just want to focus on my game and not put extra pressure on myself. “I hope my arrival
does bring more fans to Bury though, and I hope they will
not just support me but my team-mates as well and
encourage us to do well.” |
Rain disrupts play; Ponting nears ton COLOMBO, Oct 1 (AP) — Australia’s Ricky Ponting was 10 runs short of his fourth Test century today when umpires called off play after heavy rain one hour before tea on the second day of the third and final Test against Sri Lanka. One hour of play had already been lost in the morning due to a soggy field from overnight rain. When play started at 1100 IST there was bright sunshine over Colombo. But after lunch, it started raining heavily. Umpires Peter Willey of England and Kandiah Francis of Sri Lanka called off the play. It will resume tomorrow at 10 a.m. (0930 IST), half hour ahead of the scheduled time to make up for the time lost. The match is crucial for the Australians, as they are trailing 0-1 to Sri Lanka in the three-Test series. Sri Lanka won the first Test by six wickets. The second Test was abandoned due to rain and an unplayable outfield. Australia resumed at the overnight score of 203 for four and went to lunch on 253 after losing the wicket of captain Steve Waugh. Waugh added four runs to his overnight total of 10 and was adjudged caught behind off a sharply turning ball from off-spinner Rangana Herath. After taking second new ball Chaminda Vaas claimed the wickets of Ian Healy and Shane Warne. Damien Fleming joined Ponting and they took the score to 318. Australia (1st
innings): |
Karnataka struggle to 65 for 2 BANGALORE, Oct 1 (PTI) — Defending champions Karnataka were 65 for the loss of two wickets in their first innings against Rest of India on a truncated opening day of their five-day Irani Trophy cricket match here today. Play began only at 1400 hours as overnight rain had rendered the ground conditions soggy, especially the bowlers’ run up area, and could also not be extended due to lack of light. Only 28 of the stipulated 90 overs could be bowled in 137 minutes of play possible. Put in to bat, favourites Karnataka, who are seeking to win the trophy for the fifth time, began on a cautious note and went for tea with 29 off nine overs with both openers holding the fort. But, immediately after the break, Madhya Pradesh medium pacer Harvinder Singh Sodhi struck, dismissing Sujith Somasundar, who was caught well at gully by Nilesh Kulkarni. Somasundar scored a polished 21, with four fours off 33 balls. The hosts reached the 50-mark in the 21st over when J. Arun Kumar cracked a boundary off Reetinder Singh Sodhi. Scoreboard (Karnataka Ist innings) Somasundar c Nilesh
Kulkarni b H.S. Sodhi 21, J Arun Kumar batting 23, A
Vijay lbw H.S. Sodhi 8, V.S. Tilak Naidu batting 4,
Extras (31b, 6nb) 9 |
Jeev to lead India in Dunhill Cup NEW DELHI, Oct 1 (PTI) — A three-member team led by top professional Jeev Milkha Singh will represent India in the prestigious Alfred Dunhill Cup golf tournament, starting at the old course at St Andrews in Scotland on October 7. India has been invited for the tournament for the second time after their superb performance in 1996 when they caused the biggest flutter by defeating strong contenders Scotland who had European No. 1 Colin Montgomerie in their ranks. The Indian team, which was decided by the organisers on the basis of recommendation by Professional Golfers Association of India, includes twice Mahindra Order of Merit winner Vijay Kumar and Jyoti Randhawa. Vijay Kumar, Randhawa and manager Sidharth Sriram left for Scotland here early this morning. Jeev, currently playing in the European PGA tour, will join them in Scotland. India will join 15 top teams including England, Ireland, Sweden, Scotland, USA and France which will be divided into four groups of two seeded and two unseeded teams. The grouping and seedings will be decided by an international advisory committee by draw of lots. Each team will play against other teams of the group in an individual medal matchplay format over 18 holes. All team matches will be decided by three individual games in which player with lower 18-hole score would be declared the winner. The team with most wins out of three individual games will be the winner in the four-day tournament ending with the semifinals and final on October 10. “On form this is the best team. Jeev has been doing very well in Europe, Vijay has won nearly all the tournaments in the country in the last two years while I have won a tournament just last week,” Jyoti Randhawa said at a Press conference last night. “We know the conditions would be tough and the climate not suitable for us, but with my experience of playing abroad and Jeev’s knowledge of courses in Europe, I am sure we will come up with a good performance,” Randhawa said. Jeev has experience of playing in Dunhill Cup when he and Gaurav Ghai accounted for Andrew Coltart and Montgomerie respectively to land India a memorable victory in their maiden appearance in the tournament in 1996. Randhawa said the Indian team will not be under any pressure. “We are going to play our individual game and hope for the best.” Both Randhawa and Vijay Kumar had extensive practice before leaving for Scotland. “I had practised putting a lot as from what I have heard, the greens in Scotland play fast unlike in India. But there was no special training,” Vijay Kumar said. “Also we are reaching Scotland five days in advance so besides two days of official practice we will have three days to get acclimatised,” Randhawa said. With Indian golfers
steadily making progress in the tough professional tour,
a good performance would further lift them and the
stature of the country. |
Kiwis restricted to 135 for 6 PUNE, Oct 1 (PTI) — The visiting New Zealand cricketers, frustrated by lack of any match play so far, got a belated chance on a truncated second day’s play in their tour opener against India “A” but squandered it with some poor batting display at the Nehru Stadium here today. The tourists elected to bat first after skipper Stephen Fleming won the toss when the match finally started after a five-hour delay due to unplayable ground conditions following last evening’s heavy thundershowers. However, their batsmen failed to take advantage of the extended three-hour final session and slid to a sorry-reading 135 for six wickets at stumps on the penultimate day of the three-day match. New Zealand (first innings): M. Horne b Bhandari18, M. Bell c Jaffer b Bhandari 21, C. Spearman b Karthik 9, S. Fleming c Jaffer b Siddiqui 16, N. Astle batting 29, C. McMillan c Mudgal b Sriram 20, A. Parore c Siddiqui b Satpathy 11, C. Cairns batting 1, Extras (NB-9, W-1) 10. Total (for 6 wkts, in 44 overs) 135. Fall of wickets: 1-37, 2-47, 3-67, 4-71, 5-115, 6-134 Bowling: Bhandari
9-1-20-2; Siddiqui 9-1-41-1; Karthik 13-3-52-1; Sriram
9-2-13-1; Satpathy 4-1-9-1. |
Milkha refutes charges CHANDIGARH, Oct 1 — Flying Sikh’ Milkha Singh has strongly refuted the charges levelled against him by Lt Col Kartar Singh in Sport Mail column published on September 25. In a strongly worded rebuttal, Milkha Singh said the charges were a figment of imagination of the writer and had no basis. Denying that he was ever designated as the Director, Sports, as pointed out by the writer, he said he was also never involved in purchase of equipment, much less a golf cart. Regarding the charge that he was not able to nurture any top-ranking athlete during his tenure, he said the late Olympian Surjit Singh, Rajbir Kaur, sons of Lala Amarnath, besides countless other players and athletes, who were later absorbed in the Railways or Tatas, were all products of sports schools and sports wings during his tenure. Regarding his personal
achievements, Milkha Singh said he had run as many as 80
international races winning 77, which in itself is a rare
feat. Referring to athlete Paramjit Singh, he said he
always encouraged youngsters but what was really
surprising was that Paramjit was shying away from
international competition. “From the very beginning
I have been promoting sports and sportspersons, merit
being the sole criteria,” Milkha Singh added. |
Rajeev shows his form in UK CHANDIGARH, Oct 1 — Rajeev Nayyar of Himachal Pradesh is back from England after a fine stint in minor cricket county matches. He had the highest average of 122.40 totalling 1365 runs and a haul of 40 wickets. Playing for Leyett Club for the second successive season, Rajeev slammed four centuries. He was unfortunate to be out for 98 against Sneyd Club. He scored 150 not out against Norton and got six wickets for 64 runs. He scored 110 against Burslem Club and 114 not out against Crewe Club. Out of 23 innings he remained not out in 12 matches. Due to his performance the club got the fourth position in the league. During his last season with this club he had scored 1000 runs and got 42 wickets. He has already signed by the club for the next year. In India also in 1996-97 he scored three consecutive centuries against Punjab, J and K Services and remained not out for 99 against Delhi. This was followed by 108 not out against Central Zone in Duleep Trophy. This was a record from a boy of Himachal not only for the North Zone but in India up to the league Ranji matches. Due to this performance it was rightly written in one of the leading papers of Delhi that “if India needs a stayer on wicket Rajeev is the answer.” In the last season, 1998-99, he again scored two centuries against Haryana and J and K and remained not out both times. In Duleep Trophy he was once again the highest scorer for the zone when he scored 90, 58 and 48 against Central Zone and South Zone. This season he has
scored 454 runs with the average of 56.75 which is again
the highest not only in the zone but in India up to the
league Ranji matches. He has already completed 4000 runs
in first class match with an average of 52. |
BSF, Air-India enter last
four CHANDIGARH,Oct 1--Border Security Force,Jalandhar,and Air-India Mumbai,stormed into the semifinals of the 29th All-India Gurmit Memorial Hockey Tournament,edging out Sikh Regimental Centre and Central Reserve Police Force in keenly-contested quarterfinals at the Sector 42 hockey stadium here today. While BSF overpowered a fighting Sikh Regimental Centre 3-1,Air-India prevailed over 1997 champions Central Reserve Police Force by a brace,scoring once in each half. The 3-1 margin of the BSF-SRC tie was certainly not an indicator of the intense battle between the two teams.The Army outfit kept their rivals at bay while carrying out repeated attacks throughout the stipulated period expect for a brief lapse of concentration late in the second half for which they paid dearly. Similarly,star-studded Air-India had to mobilise all their resources to snuff out the challenge of the paramilitary outfit,who could have even carried the day had 'Lady Luck' favoured them at crucial junctures. BSF,winners of the Baba Farid Gold Cup at Faridkot recently,rallied to thwart many an SRC move before shooting into the lead in the 21st minute through Mariunus Lakra's field goal. Undeterred by the setback,SRC mounted intense pressure on the rival citadel and their efforts bore fruit seven minutes later when SS Gill found the equaliser with a deft placement. There was no further addition to the score although the two teams had a couple of close calls. In the second half,the two teams once again resumed the intense battle for supremacy but BSF had to wait till the 64th minute for taking the lead once again when international Harbhajan Singh scored another field goal after hoodwinking the rival defence.Eventually,it was in the dying minutes that BSF put the issue beyond doubt when Mariunus Lakra capitalised on a cross by Harbhajan from the right corner to shoot home making it 3-1 in favour of the security men from Jalandhar. SRC were awarded three penalty corners while BSF earned four which all went waste.The highlight of the match was that the umpires did not have to flash the warning cards even once during regulation time. The second quarterfinal saw CRPF putting up plucky resistance against the more experienced Air-India,boasting of several internationals in their ranks. In the opening stages,CRPF were in command but the first serious move came in 25th minute when the hard-working Mukesh Kumar,with a clear view of the goal,only managed to shoot straight into the goalkeeper. Thereafter,Mukesh and Tanveer combined to put the ever-agile J.Kumar in possession but before Kumar could shoot home,Air-India custodian Bopanna rushed forward to thwart the move. J.Kumar made another valiant attempt on the run but Bopanna effected a fine save. Two minutes before the breather,Air-India forged ahead following skipper Rajesh Chauhan's move.Chauhan's hit into the 'D' saw Deepak Thakur making a neat deflection (1-0). After the lemon break,the CRPF citadel had another narrow escape following international Davinder's move whose pass to Chauhan failed to achieve the desired result as custodian Yravindro Singh made a timely interception. However,the CRPF defence could not withstand the pressure for long and eventually caved in following Deepak Thakur's move on the right flank.After covering some ground,Deepak gave a quick pass to international Gagan Ajit Singh who dived headlong to put the ball in the goal making it 2-0. CRPF were awarded three penalty corners which failed to achieve the desired result while Air-India could not force even a single. Saturday's
fixtures:(quarterfinals)Punjab and Sind Bank v Food
Corporation of India -- 1.30 p.m.;Punjab Police v Punjab
State Electricity Board --3 p.m. |
Rana shoots gold despite poor show KATHMANDU, Oct 1 (UNI) —Overcoming vagaries of weather and his own pistol, ace shooter Jaspal Rana equalled the SAF Games record on his way to gold medal in the 25 metres centre five pistol event, while Anjali Vedpathak just missed the record by a fraction as India won four of the five golds in the shooting events here today. India won four of the five golds to take the tally to 14, besides seven silvers and four bronze medals. Sri Lanka won the other gold decided today. It was a below par performance by Jaspal Rana as the fickle weather affected the sight of the shooters. However, the ace Indian marksman came up with a superb 581 to win his second individual gold in as many days. As happened in the Bangkok Asian Games where he had some problems with the pistol, the front sight of his pistol got loosened, which was far below his personal best of world record breaking performance of 591 points during the Imphal National Games. He had also done 589 thrice in the coimbatore nationals in 1995, in the 1998 Asian Games and again in Bangalore this year. “I don’t think that might be the reason for the performance. You cannot do well every day,’’ Jaspal told UNI later. ‘But I am happy.’’ “With better facilities I could have done better.’’ the light is bad, it is same for everyone, he added. “In the duelling round the card turns for three seconds. But at the range in Delhi it is about 3.5 seconds, which is quite enormous for a shooter to hit the target,” he said. Ved Prakash of India won the silver with 576 points. The team championship gold also went to India with Jaspal Rana, Ashok Pandit and Ved Prakash tallying a total of 1717 points. However, it was bad luck for veteran Ashok Pandit. With bronze very much in his hands, the fate proved cruel for him. In the fifth shot in the duelling round, where one has to shot five rounds in three seconds, Ashok’s pistol went off when it accidentally fell down in the grass. But he recovered well to score 39 points in the next four shots. But the cynosure of all eyes was the 29-year-old Anjali who showed enormous concentration, and displayed steely nerves in the final shoot out to win the gold in the women’s 50 metres small bore rifle event. She had scores of 10.0, 10.5, 10.4, 9.9, 10.4, 10.3, 9-6, 7.8, 9.7 and 9.5 in the final shoot out to win the gold with a total of 666.1 points, which was a fraction less than the existing record of 661.20 set by Sri Lankan Puspamali Ramanayake in the 1995 games. “I am confident of
making it. My coach said that you had always done well in
finals, that gave me the confidence. Moreover my
performance in the air rifle final which fetched me the
first gold was in my mind and got my concentration
back,’ a jubilant Anjali said later. |
Creditable show by Indian boxers KATHMANDU, Oct 1 (PTI) — The Indian boxing contingent, unfazed by their poor track record outside the country in previous editions, put up a creditable show by winning six of the 12 gold medals on offer in the SAF Games boxing competition. The Indians not only return home with a decent tally of six gold, two silver and one bronze medal, but eight of the 10 boxers managed to make it to the final in various weight categories. “I am quite happy with the overall performance. It is good considering our past SAF Games record outside the country,” Indian coach Gurbux Singh Sandhu said. Asian Games gold medal winner Ng Dingko Singh expectedly won the gold in the bantam weight category, demolishing his Nepali opponent without much difficulty while Bengal lad Mohammed Ali Qamar showed that he had a promising career ahead by securing the gold medal in the light flyweight category. Narendra Rana (lightweight), Sanjit Singh (light welter weight), Jitender Kumar (middle weight) and Gurcharan Singh (light heavy) were the other boxers who did the country proud by their gold-winning performances. Two boxers were however distinctly unlucky not to have won the gold after losing the final to their Nepali opponents by narrow margins. Z.Y. Jollyson, who looked in good nick till the semifinal rounds, lost to Nepal’s Prakash Magar Thapa by a slender 6-7 points verdict in the welter weight category. In feather weight, India’s Ramanand lost to Nepal’s Ramchandra Thapa 6-8 in the final though the Indian started well but could not maintain the tempo. Dalbir Singh (fly weight) and Harpal Singh (heavy weight) were the two Indian boxers who could not make it to the final in their respective events. The Indian boxers had bagged a record 10 gold and two silver medals in the Chennai SAF Games, which was a vast improvement from one gold, five silver and five bronze medals they had managed in the 1993 games in Dhaka. The Indians could manage
just one gold medal in Colombo (1991) and Islamabad
(1989) SAF Games. |
Indian grapplers win 7 gold KATHMANDU, Oct 1 (PTI) — Indian grapplers lived upto their awesome reputation in the South Asian region by sweeping seven of the eight gold medals at stake in the SAF Games wrestling competitions here today. Barring Surender Kumar in the 97-130 kg category, all the Indian wrestlers expectedly won the gold medal in various weight categories to further boost India’s overall medals tally. The Indian grapplers, who had won seven gold and three silver medals in the last SAF Games in Chennai, did not face much resistance though the Pakistani rivals were expected to put up a better show. Pakistan’s Basir Mohammed brought the lone gold for his country in the 97-130 kg weight category. Promising grappler Kripa Shankar won the gold in the 48-54 kg weight category getting the better of his Pakistani opponent Robin Mahsih while Manoj Kumar also proved to be superior than his Pakistani challenger Papoo Pehlwan to clinch the gold in the 58 kg category. Mukesh Kumar also did
the country proud by winning the gold in the 63 kg
category while Sujit Maan Singh claimed the honour in the
69 kg category. Pawan Kumar (76 kg), Anuj Kumar (85 kg)
and Shamsher Singh (97 kg) were the other gold medal
winners for India. Pakistan claimed as many as seven
silver medals. |
Pak stun India in v’ball KATHMANDU, Oct 1 (PTI) — An inspired Pakistan stunned defending champion India in straight sets in the last group ‘A’ league match to storm into the semifinals as group champions, in the SAF Games men’s volleyball championship here today. Displaying the characteristic killer instinct and keeping their cool in crunch situations, the Pakistanis carved out a thrilling 25-16, 25-22, 25-23 victory to complete their league engagements with an all win record earning four points. The Indians, who had won their opening league match against Sri Lanka, also went into the semifinal as the second team from the three-team group but with their confidence badly shaken. India will now take on group ‘B’ toppers Bangladesh in the first semifinal, while Pakistan who have now raised hopes of capturing the coveted gold medal, will clash with hosts Nepal in the second semifinal to be played tomorrow. Indian eves virtually
toyed with lowly Maldives to carve out a facile 25-3,
25-4, 25-5 win to record their second successive victory
in the women’s round robin league matches at SAF
Games volleyball championship here today. |
H
Bridge meet CHANDIGARH, Oct 1 (BOSR) — Chandigarh Bridge Association will organise an ‘open’ team-of-four bridge tournament on Sunday, October 3 at the Sector 42 sports complex, according to Mr Surjit Kapoor, vice-president of the association. Teams from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh would take part in the tournament. Entries would start at
9.30 a.m. on the day of the tournament followed by the
event at 10 a.m. |
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