Sunday, September 5, 1999
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S P O R T | Sunday, September 5, 1999 |
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India sail to 115-run victory Sachin, Jadeja slam half centuries SINGAPORE, Sept 4 — Skipper Sachin Tendulkar and his deputy Ajay Jadeja struck sparkling half-tons in a century stand as India exacted revenge for their World Cup mishap overwhelming Zimbabwe by 115 runs to seal a final berth in the Singapore Challenge one-day triangular cricket tournament here today. Jadeja’s injury adds to team’s woes Tendulkar praises Jadeja, Mohanty
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 SINGAPORE : Sachin Tendulkar executes a shot during the Coca-Cola Singapore Challenge cricket match against Zimbabwe at the Kallang ground in Singapore on Saturday. India won by 115 runs. AP/PTI |
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Vijay
wins Hindu Open ‘Akram’s
suspension to continue’ Poulomi
Ghatak, Mouma ousted Aparna
Popat is world No 16 |
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India sail to 115-run victory SINGAPORE, Sept 4 (PTI) — Skipper Sachin Tendulkar and his deputy Ajay Jadeja struck sparkling half-tons in a century stand as India exacted revenge for their World Cup mishap overwhelming Zimbabwe by 115 runs to seal a final berth in the Singapore Challenge one-day triangular cricket tournament here today. Put in to bat after early morning rain reduced the match to a 30-overs-a-side affair, Tendulkar coasted to 85 off only 72 balls with Jadeja blazing away to 88 off just 61 balls to enable India hoist 245 for 6 in the allotted overs. Using the massive score as the springboard for victory, the Indians, spearheaded by under-rated seamer Debasish Mohanty’s three-wickets burst, restricted the Africans to 130 for eight wickets in 29 overs — docked an over for slow bowling — after gaining a vice-like grip at the very outset to the delight of noisy expatriate fans at the Kallang stadium. Zimbabwe, who had lost the West Indies by six wickets on Thursday, were eliminated with their second loss while India take on the Caribbeans tomorrow in the final league tie. Man-of-the-match Tendulkar, showing no visible signs of his back problem, got off to a rousing start before settling down as he with the belligerent Jadeja (88-61 b, 2x4, 6x6) helped the team post stiff victory target for Zimbabwe. Only left-hander Andy Flower showed his mettle with a defiant unbeaten 63 for Zimbabwe, but his effort came after the match had become a no contest after India had reduced them to 65 for four. But the Indian performance could have come at a cost as Jadeja suffered a right calf injury and was forced to retire hurt, hobbling off the pitch in pain. He looks unlikely for tomorrow’s fixture after not going in to field though team management said he was “feeling better”. Tendulkar, seeking to put the reverse in the AIWA Cup tri-series in Sri Lanka behind him, made a brave decision to include left-armer Sunil Joshi as the third spinner besides bringing in Mohanty while leaving out left-handed opener S Ramesh who had done well in both his innings in Colombo, where India failed to make the final. The Indian skipper got off to a rousing start by picking out paceman Mpumulelo Mbangwa, who came in for Henry Olonga, for severe punishment. He slowed down after the early dismissals of Saurav Ganguly (6) and Rahul Dravid (12) and once Jadeja got going. He later struck two consecutive sixes to take 20 runs off the lone over of left arm spin sent down by Grant Flower. Unlike on previous occasions, the Indian innings did not suffer any hiccups at the fall of the two batsmen as Tendulkar and Jadeja ran aggressively between the wickets one rival skipper Alistair Campbell posted five men on the fence and hoped to rely on the sharp fielding of his teammates. Tendulkar reached a run-a-ball fifty, but Jadeja who waded into Andy Whittal’s off-spin and Graig Evans’s slow medium stuff, raced to the mark in only 40 balls with the aid of a four and three sixes to ensure the massive total. Zimbabwe, needing to win to keep on course for a final berth, were left helpless as Mohanty struck thrice in quick succession. He was on a hattrick dismissing Grant Flower (5) and Craig Wishart off successive balls. The 24-year-old Orissa seamer, who claimed a bagful of wickets in helpful conditions in England during the World Cup, but not played in Sri Lanka, once again made up for his lack of pace with movement in cloudy conditions and with steely resolve. Zimbabwe had reached 15 when he struck first, having lefthander Grant Flower caught behind by Rahul Dravid, once again donning the gloves with young stumper M S K Prasad excluded. Two balls later it was Venkatesh Prasad’s turn, beating the dangerous Neil Johnson with an angled delivery for Ganguly in the slips to complete a fine catch. The gangling Mohanty, who shared the new ball in place of the rested Javagal Srinath, struck once again when Craig Wishart played on to his stumps going for a big heave and removed Muray Goodwin, caught by Sunil Joshi at mid-off. The Indian fielders were suddenly a galvanised lot with young Laxmi Rattan Shukla, substituting for Jadeja, producing brilliant stops. Scoreboard India: Extras: (lb-6, w-13, nb-2) 21 Total (for six wkts, 30 overs) 245 Fall of wickets: 1/38, 2/60, 3/203, 4/216, 5/222, 6/233. Bowling: Johnson 6-0-40-2, Mbangwa 6-0-53-0, Blignaut 6-0-34-2, Whittal 6-0-42-1, C Evans 5-0-50—1, G Flower 1-0-20-0. Zimbabwe: Johnson c Ganguly b
Prasad 8 Extras (B-1, lb-3, w-2, nb-1) 7 Total (for eight wickets) 130 Fall of wickets: 1/15, 2/15, 3/15, 4/19, 5/66, 6/87, 7/92, 8/93. Bowling: Venkatesh
Prasad 5-2-17-1, Debashis Mohanty 6-1-28-3 (2W), Nikhil
Chopra 6-0-27-0, Anil Kumble 6-0-30-2, Sunil Joshi
5-1-16-2, Robin Singh 1-0-8-0. |
Jadeja’s injury adds to team’s woes SINGAPORE, Sept 4 (PTI) — Indian vice-captain Ajay Jadeja’s calf injury during his aggressive unbeaten 88 has added to the team’s injury woes and the batsman might to sidelined from the upcoming three-match series in Toronto if he has suffered any ligament tear. “If it is only a pull he should be okay. But if he has suffered any calf muscle tear, then we have to look for a replacement, “cricket board secretary Jaywant Lele said as the basman was confined to the dressing room after hobbling off the field retired hurt. The 28-year-old Jadeja, who already has a weak right knee after undergoing arthroscopy last year, suddenly jumped up in pain as he took off for a single in the 26th over of the Indian innings and then was helped off the field as he could not move his feet. Saurav Ganguly came on as a runner with Jadeja on 88, but he faced and missed two balls from young seamer Andy Blignaut before retiring hurt. Coach Anshuman Gaekwad, however, put up a brave face and said “he is feeling much better,” but he as well as skipper Sachin Tendulkar said a clear picture will be known only after visiting a physician. Jadeja looks highly unlikely to play the league tie against the West Indies tomorrow and if his injury turns out to be serious, he will also be out of the Toronto series to be played on September 11, 12 and 14. Lele said if Jadeja was unable to go to Toronto “then we have to look for replacements.” The injury scare comes
on the heels of skipper Sachin Tendulkar indicating that
he would skip Toronto and the following four-nation event
in Nairobi to consult Aussie specialist Greg Hoy for his
back problem. |
Tendulkar praises Jadeja, Mohanty SINGAPORE, Sept 4 (PTI) — Indian skipper Sachin Tendulkar praised Ajay Jadeja’s aggressive half-century and seamer Debashish Mohanty’s early breakthroughs but said revenge for the World Cup reverse was not in his mind beating Zimbabwe in the Singapore challenge one-day triangular cricket tournament here today. “I don’t think we played for it (to atone for the narrow and shocking defeat in the league stage of the World Cup in England last May. We just wanted to go out there and win,” a pleased Tendulkar said after India’s emphatic 115-run win over Zimbabwe that lifted them to the final against the West Indies with a league tie between the two to spare. Tendulkar said Indian players would have to show the kind of commitment they displayed today to win consistently. “Winning tomorrow will give us the psychological edge ahead of the final”, he added. Asked what was his plan once India were put in to bat first by rival skipper Alistair Campbell in the match shortened to 30 overs a side, Tendulkar said: “We had no target in mind. But it was a good track to bat on”. “I am happy Jadeja batted well and Mohanty provided us the early breakthroughs”. Explaining reasons for gambling with three spinners — Anil Kumble, Nikhil Chopra and Sunil Joshi — Tendulkar said being a truncated game good bowling was crucial. Campbell minced no words
in criticising his bowlers for lack of application after
the second straight defeat knocked them out of the
tournament. |
Hingis moves into 4th round NEW YORK, Sept 4 (AFP) — Martina Hingis breezed into the fourth round while Jana Novotna lost on a day when a who’s who of men’s tennis was replaced by a record “who cares” set of qualifiers. Top seed Hingis ripped German qualifier Sandra Kloesel 6-3, 6-1 here last night. Now all that stands between her and the quarterfinals is a 12th consecutive triumph over 10th seed Arantxa Sanchez Vicario of Spain. Novotna, the 1998 Wimbledon winner, struggled with a nagging ankle injury suffered in French Open doubles and is pondering retirement after a 6-3, 6-2 loss to 27th-ranked German Anke Huber. And strangeness continued on the men’s side, where four qualifiers and a lucky loser have reached the third round, matching a 15-year old mark for success by those who failed to make the main draw automatically. Hingis began her streak over Sanchez Vicario in the round of 16 here in 1996 and has ousted her from Grand Slams five times — at least once in each of the past four years. The Australian Open champion has won 11 sets in a row from Sanchez Vicario since the 1998 Wimbledon quarterfinals, and beaten her three times this year, including in the French Open semifinals. “When you play the No. 1 player in the world you have nothing to lose,” Sanchez Vicario said. “I will try to give her a hard time. I will play her better than the last matches we played.” Sanchez Vicario who beat Hingis in their first meeting in 1996, advanced by beating 18th-ranked Swiss teen Patty Schnyder 6-2, 6-2. Hingis made peace of sorts with the Williams family, giving patriarch Richard and autographed shirt after trading barbs with his seeded children Venus and Serena, who shared a laugh with Hingis over headlines. “We were both kind of laughing,” Hingis said. “Our relationship is fine, all right. I didn’t mean to hurt anybody. Some people just blow up the things. Between us, there’s nothing broken.” Novotna, who worked through her injury to try and defend her only Grand Slam title, was slowed by her ankle and will consider quitting after losing to Huber, who has matched her best US Open showing. “I will think about leaving,” Novotna said. “For now I want to take time to think about everything and not make any emotional statements.” Injuries have already forced out all four 1988 men’s semifinalists — world No. 1 Pete Sampras, 11th seed Mark Philippoussis, eighth seed Carlos Moya and reigning champion Pat Rafter. An open record crowd of 29,042 attended. Andre Agassi plays fellow American Justin Gimelstob in the third round tonight. Despite the lost talent, and the rise of qualifiers, this $ 14.5 million Grand Slam has not become a grand sham, Agassi said. “To win this tournament, you have to be worthy of it,” Agassi said. “Not having Pat and Pete in there certainly opens up the draw for a lot of people. Whoever holds up the trophy is certainly going to deserve it.” He could come from the side of the draw vacated by Rafter and Sampras, where fifth seed Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil, seventh-seeded American Todd Martin and British ninth seed Greg Rusedski all advanced. Rusedski, the 1997 runner-up here, beat 56th-ranked David Prinosil of Germany 6-4, 6-3, 6-1, and fired a 143-mph ace in the third set. Martin beat Richey Raneberg 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 and could face Rusedski with quarterfinal spot at stake. Kuerten ousted Dutchman Paul Haarhuis 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 3-6, 6-2 to book a date with Goran Ivanisevic, a seeded failure in past years here who has never won a US hardcourt tournament. Ivanisevic outlasted Italian qualifier Cristiano Caratti 6-1, 4-6, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, winning a second match in a row on hardcourts for the first time this summer despite a rare five double faults in one game. The freak feat came in
the last game of the third set, when the Croat had a
double fault called good by Caratti but squandered his
second chance at the point with yet another double fault. |
Seles feels happy with life NEW YORK, Sept 4 (Reuters) — Six years after being stabbed, a year-and-a-half after the death of her father, and more than one month since her most recent injury, Monica Seles is finally at peace with her life. One of the more star-crossed athletes to grace the women’s tennis tour, Seles, for the first time in a long while, can utter the words, “I am happy.” “Probably the last four weeks of this summer, for the first time in my life, I really have no outside problems,” Seles said on Thursday after routing Italian Silvia Farina 6-2, 6-3 in the second round of the US Open. “And it’s been really nice. I’ve really enjoyed the last four weeks of my life. If I can just have this for the next two years I’d be really happy.” Even for one more week, Seles would love nothing more than to ride this euphoric feeling into another grand showing in this final Grand Slam of the year. She won the US Open in 1991 and 1992 but did not return for three years after being stabbed in the back during a tournament in Germany in 1993. She was the losing finalist in 1995 and 1996, but did not make it out of the quarterfinals the following two years. She is pleased that although she is the fourth seed, she is almost forgotten as most of the attention centres on Martina Hingis, Lindsay Davenport and the Williams sisters. “They totally deserve it,” Seles said. They played better tennis this summer than I have. I only really got to play two tournaments. So definitely they’re more favourite than I am. But it’s a two-week event and as all the players know, anything can happen. I just look forward to the next match.” Seles took particular delight in beating Farina, to whom she lost during Federation Cup play in Ancona, Italy, in July. Seles was bothered by tendinitis in her arm and hand blisters and did not play in her scheduled second match. In an intriguing insight into her character, the 25-year-old Seles said she always preferred practice to matches, inferring she does not like the concept of beating up on someone else. “I just hate the whole thought that one is better than the other,” she said, “It drives me nuts.” However, she insists, this does not take away the killer instinct so essential to a champion athlete. “No, no, no” she said. It’s survival out there. If I don’t then the other person will, so you go into that automatic mode that you have no choice.” When it was suggested she might be too nice a person, Seles laughed and said: “I sometimes am and I’ve been working on that, but it’s a hard one.” “I just want to be able to say no more to people and I don’t like this, not I like this just for them to be happy... It’s just part of growing up. I think, and not being such a pleaser.” Seles said she misses practising with her father and continues to wonder on which path he would have led her if he had not been stricken with cancer. But she is starting to enjoy the serenity she is now experiencing, and expresses simple — if unrealistic — goals for herself. “Just to have no
other problems in my life,” she said. Just to be
able to play and focus on my tennis fully, like the
majority of the top 10 players now.” |
Vijay wins Hindu Open NEW DELHI, Sept 4 — Vijay Kumar, known for his slow starts to the season, began the 1999-2000 season Wills Sports Golf Tour in style, winning the Rs 7 lakh Cosmo-Hindu Open at the par-72, 6645-yard Cosmopolitan Club course in Chennai today. Vijay played a one-under 71 round to aggregate 14-under 274 for the tournament. That gave him a six-stroke margin over Feroz Ali and Amritinder Singh, who finished joint second at eight-under 280. Defending champion Gaurav Ghei finished fourth at seven-under 281. The amateur title was won by CV Yudvir with a four-day tally of 304. Vijay Kumar started off with two parred holes, before surprising everyone by dropping a stroke on the par-3 third hole. This was promptly remedied by a birdie on the very next hole. Two consecutive birdies on the 6th and 7th holes and a bogey on the 9th saw the Lucknow pro making the turn at one-under. During his return journey, the silent assassin carded a superb birdie on the 12th, but messed up the good work by posting his third bogey of the day on the very next hole. However, after parring the next three holes, Vijay was sitting pretty with a five-stroke lead over nearest rival Feroz Ali and the title well within his grasp. The champion golfer collected the winner’s cheque of Rs 1,13,400. “As I said earlier, my goal is to bag the Golfer of the Year award for the third time,” said a pleased Vijay after the round. Feroz had an impressive front nine. He shot a birdie on his very second hole and followed it up with three pars. The 1998 Wills Indian Open winner moved into top gear with back-to-back birdies on the 6th and 7th. An unfortunate dropped shot on the 8th saw him wrap up his outward journey at two-under, which reduced the overnight difference of four strokes between the Calcuttan and Vijay Kumar by one. His return journey, however, told a sad tale. Carding a birdie in the 11th was the only saving grace, before the number 13 lives up to its notorious reputation as bearer of ill luck. A bogey on the 13th set in motion two more on the 14th and 15th with a pared 16th hole bringing little respite as yet another bogey was registered on the 17th. A pared 18th hole ensured that the Calcuttan finished tied with Amritinder Singh for the second spot. “My second half was a nightmare. I don’t ever want to think of it again, “ said a dejected Feroz who earned Rs 61,250 for his effort. Amritinder Singh atoned for his third-round score of one-over with a blemishless round of golf. The Chandigarh pro carded birdies on the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 7th and 12th holes. Gaurav Ghei putted horribly to finish fourth after being comfortably placed at three-under after the front nine. An eagle on the par — 56th — a birdie on the 5th and a bogey on the 17th were the highlights of his day’s play. Scores (after 72 holes):
274 Vijay Kumar (69, 66, 68, 71); 280 Feroz Ali (70, 70,
67, 73), Amritinder Singh (70, 70, 73, 67); 281 Gaurav
Ghei (67, 74, 70, 70); 285 Mukesh Kumar (70, 74, 73, 68),
Rezwan Ali (69, 73, 73, 70); 286 Basad Ali (73, 73, 69,
71), Amit Dube (72, 73, 68, 73), Uttam Singh Mundy (75,
68, 70, 73), Shiv Prakash (71, 69, 73, 73). |
‘Akram’s suspension to continue’ ISLAMABAD, Sept 3 (PTI) — Pakistan’s Wasim Akram and his two team-mates Salim Malik and Ijaz Ahmed will continue to be under suspension even as the judicial commission inquiring into the match-fixing allegations made it clear that it had not issued any suspension orders against any cricketer. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sources said here yesterday it was yet to receive the report from country’s Ehtesab (accountability) Bureau of clearing the three of any wrongdoings during the World Cup, and till then the suspension of the three cricketers would continue. Javed Zaman Khan, a member of the PCB ad-hoc committee, told the official APP news agency: “The suspension of the three cricketers will continue as long as the board does not receive the Ehtesab Bureau report”. The issue of suspension of Akram, Malik and Ijaz Ahmed was yesterday raised before the judicial commission headed by the Lahore High Court Judge Mr Justice Muhammad, Qayuum, when Akram’s lawyer Khwaja Ahmed Tariq Raheem drew the attention of the commission to the continuing suspension on three cricketers. The commission, however, made it clear that the cricketers have not been suspended on its order, Tariq Raheem told PTI over phone from Lahore. He also said the report of the probe bureau clearing Akram and others of match-fixing allegations during the World Cup has already been submitted to the judicial commission. The PCB ad-hoc committee
had earlier suspended Akram, Malik and Ijaz Ahmed for
their alleged involvement in match-fixing on the basis of
recommendation made by the bureau itself which on
Thursday had cleared all the cricketers. |
Poulomi Ghatak, Mouma ousted CHENNAI, Sept 4 (PTI) — Ryu Seung, the 18-year-old Korean boy, ranked 48th in the world, lived up to his reputation when he beat his Chinese Taipei opponent Wen Chih-Hsuan to enter the semifinals of the Indian Oil Servo 7th Asian Junior Table Tennis Championship here this evening. Ryu, who was instrumental in making a fight of the boys’ team event earlier with two wins over the Chinese, won today’s quarterfinal 21-13, 21-9, 22-20. He relaxed a bit only in the last set when he squandered an early lead and allowed Hsuan to level at 20-all. The Taipei player could grab any more points, as Ryu, with two rocket like smashes, completed the match. The girls top seed, Japan’s Fujinuma Ai, did not have any such luck. Though fighting every inch, she fell to the better craft of Zhang Fang of China 21-19, 21-12, 21-15, it was a neck-and-neck fight in all sets. First, she neutralised the Chinese early lead and narrowed the gap to 19-18 before succumbing. The second set was even closer with the players level at 16 all at one stage, before Zhang took the set. The Chinese had two more players in the evening semifinals as Chen Qing outclassed India’s third seeded Pournami Ghatak 21-13, 21-3, 21-19 while Li Qang Bing outclassed Hiura Raiko (Jpn) 21-19, 21-19, 21-7. The other player to make the last four was Pan Li Chun (Taipei), who beat second seeded Indian Mouma Das 21-10, 21-13, 21-15. Results (q-finals):
Zhang Fang (Chn) b Fujinuma Ai (Jpn) 21-19, 21-12, 21-15.
Chen Qing (Chn) b Poulomi Ghatak (Ind) 21-13, 21-3,
21-19. Li Qangbing (Chn) b Hiura Reiko (Jpn) 21-19,
21-19, 21-17. Pan Li Chun (Tpe) b Mouma Das (Ind) 21-10,
21-13, 21-15. |
US Open diary NEW YORK, Sept 4 (AFP) — There’s a limit to lengths one can go for love, and when it comes to competing for a Grand Slam title. Anke Huber and Andrei Medvedev are taking no chances. “We actually don’t watch each other that much,” said Huber, who got back together with men’s tour player Medvedev earlier this year after a separation. “Everybody’s trying to concentrate on his own tournament. I think that’s better for everybody if you’re both playing.” “I watched his first match,” she added. “I didn’t watch him yesterday. I think we can see each other after the tournament. But now, everybody’s a little bit tight and nervous.” Huber upset struggling eighth seed Jana Novotna 6-3, 6-2 yesterday to reach the fourth round. Medvedev reached the third round on Thursday with a straight-set win over Canada’s Sebastien Lareau. “I get very nervous watching, “Huber said. “Also you lose energy when you’re watching, so it’s maybe not the best thing to do during the tournament.” Even though a Grand Slam tennis tournament doesn’t offer much time for togetherness, Huber said a relationship with another player had a lot to recommend it. “We know each other for six years, so it’s really nice to be together again, ” she said. “He helped me go through the difficult time when I was injured. It’s nice to have somebody who understands what you’re doing.” Wedding plans Matrimony is on the minds of several US Open players. Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, Mary Joe Fernandez and Greg Rusedski all referred to impending nuptials after winning matches here yesterday. Sanchez, Vicario, whose engagement to journalists Juan Vehilis was announced last month, was surprised that one lost soul in her Press conference hadn’t heard the news since she’s been answering questions about the subject non-stop. “You don’t know yet?” she said to laughter. “You must be the only one who doesn’t know”. Sanchez Vicario relieved a score of headline writers when she said she had no plans to take another surname. “It will be too long — Sanchez Vicario — imagine putting another one,” she said. Rusedski clearly isn’t expecting any trouble working his wedding to longtime girlfriend Lucky Connor into his schedule. A good enough performance here might see him playing in the Grand Slam Cup in Munich in September. Fernandez is already giving quite a bit of thought to her April wedding to Gavin Forbes. Serena Williams, who starts fashion school next month, has offered to design her dress. “We talked about it already at the Federation Cup,” Fernandez said. “She has very good ideas”. Boots for Hingis Martina Hingis, an avid equestrienne, was quite taken with the boots she saw worn by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police at the Canadian Open earlier this month. “I saw them at the ceremony,” said Hingis, who took time out from accepting her winner’s trophy in Toronto to admire the apparel of the two mounties on duty. Yesterday, the Toronto tournament director presented Hingis with a pair of the boots. “I’m also a passionate rider, so they’re going to find their place in my collection,” she said. Fromberg finds form Australia’s 90th-ranked Richard Fromberg won his second match at the US Open here on Friday and already considers the effort the best Grand Slam performance of his career. The 29-year-old Tasmanian has twice gone farther, reaching the fourth round at the 1993 and 1998 Australian Open. In Slam events, he has lost in the third round five times, the second round 12 times and the first match 19 times. “For me, I think
this is the best Grand Slam,” Fromberg said.
“Hopefully I can keep it up. This is probably the
toughest Grand Slam to play. There are a lot of small
aggravations — traffic, pollution, a lot of crowd
noise. But I handle things pretty well. I’m a
relaxed guy”. |
Aparna Popat is world No 16 BANGALORE, Sept 4 (PTI) — India’s national champion Aparna Popat has attained a career high ranking of 16 in world, according to the latest International Badminton Federation (IBF) list. The next Indian girl who figures in the ranking, released on September 2, is Neelima Chowdhary at 121, followed by Manjusha Kanwar at 154. B.R. Meenakshi at 189 and P.V.V. Lakshmi at 272, a Badminton Association of India (BAI) release said today. In the men’s section, however, national champion P. Gopichand has slumped five places to 42. Former national junior champion Abhinn Shyam Gupta is placed at 97, Nikhil Kanetkar at 110, Ajit Wijetilek at 171, Sachin Ratti at 197, Srikant Bakshi at 207, Mangrish Palekar at 226, Thomas Kurien at 241 and Chetan Anand at 310. Sun Jun of China leads the men’s ranking, followed by Peter Gade of Denmark. Dai Yun of China leads world rankings in the women’s section. Six of the top 10 in the list are from China, showing that country’s domination of women’s badminton. Meanwhile, Aparna is now
away in California, along with Kanetkar, to play in the
US Open Grand Prix Tournament from September 7 to 11. |
H
Deepak Goel
upset in quarters TT camp at NIS The TTFI has selected eight players, four each in the men’s and women’s section, for the SAF Games. Former national champion Kamlesh Mehta will be the chief coach of the squad and will be assisted by Praveen Ojha. The team: Men’s section: Chetan Baboor. Arup Basak. S. Raman and Arjun Dutta. Women’s section: Paulomi Ghatak, N.R. Indu, Anandita Chakraborthy and Mounto Ghosh. Punjab badminton
from Sept 16 The championships will be held in the events of men’s singles, men’s doubles, womens singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles. Shakti Singh to
lead The team members are: Men section: Jagbir Singh, Dharmpal, Ravinder, Ram Moher, (all from Bhiwani), Shamsher Singh, Sudhir Nandal, Ashok Kumar (all from Rohtak), Kuldeep, Arun Raj, Prabhjot Singh (Karnal), Shish Pal, Madan Singh (Mohindergarh), Praveen and Surender (Sirsa), Jaibir (Faridabad), Arvind (Jind). Women section: Sugan Yadav, Poonam (Bhiwani), Saroj, Phoolwati, Ravina (Jhajjar), Mohinder Kaur (Sirsa). Mr Bhim Singh and Mr Vinod Malik will accompany the team as coach and manager, respectively. Pbi varsity
coach on HFI panel |
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