Daily Excelsior.........state

India snatch 13-run win
over Zimbabwe

SHARJAH, Oct 22: Zimbabwe batsmen Andy Flower and Stuart Carlisle gave a scare to India with a 118-run stand for the third wicket, but the Indian bowlers struck just in time to snatch a 13-run win in the last match of the first phase league in the tri-nation ......more

Jaywant Lele

Coach not to be appointed before Feb next year

SHARJAH, Oct 22: Cricket Board Secretary Jaywant Lele today ruled out the appointment of a foreign coach for the Indian cricket team before February next year.........more

Karan, Ankita win triple crowns as junior national ends

NEW DELHI, Oct 22: It could not have been any better for Karan Rastogi. For the 14-year-old Maharashtrian whose best at the nationals so far was a .........more

India thwarts attempts
to exclude Kabbadi in
S Korea Asian Games

VIJAYAWADA, Oct 22: India has successfully thwarted attempts to exclude in the coming Asian Games in South Korea the game of Kabbadi.......more

Alpha Club lifts Martyrs Memorial Basketball Trophy
Rakesh emerges as best defensive player, Vikas best offensive

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 22: Experienced Alpha Club today proved that they are still best when they beat young cops of Jammu and Kashmir Police 75-50 to lift ......more

Cooch Behar U-19 Cricket
Bowling out host J&K for 124, Delhi takes 37 runs lead

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 22: The guest Delhi today bowled out the host Jammu and Kashmir for a small total of 124 runs just after the lunch and then managed .......more

Inter-college Handball competitions
GCW Parade bags Women’s trophy; PG Deptt, MAM in Men’s final

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 22: Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar today bagged the Women’s trophy, while, in Men’s section, Post Graduate(PG) .....more

Two-day rural sports meet of Block Majalta ends

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 22: Two-day rural sports meet of block Majalata organised by the J&K State Sports Council concluded.....more

India snatch 13-run win over Zimbabwe

Southpaw Andy Flower, whose unbeaten 120 last night could not salvage the team which lost to Sri Lanka by seven wickets, continued from where he left scoring a chanceless 63 (68b, 4x4) and along with Carlisle (60, 99b, 2x6, 1x4) took the score from 32 for 2 to 150 off 151 balls.

Tension was writ large on the Indian fielders as after 32 overs, Zimbabwe was placed at 145 for 2 as compared to India’s 145 for 3 at that stage. Six runs later, Sachin Tendulkar made Andy Pull to Joshi at deep mid wicket and Carlisle was bowled trying to square cut Joshi with the addition of another 15 runs to bring India back in the game.

The breakthoughs came long after left-arm seamer and man of the match Zaheer Khan bowled the two openers - Alistair Campbell (28, 35b, 2x4) and Douglas Marillier (02) - in his fifth and ninth overs.

Campbell had earlier survived off the same bowler in the fifth ball of the first over when Eahul Dravid dropped him at the second slip when the scoring was still to begin. Zaheer finished with 3 wickets for 37 runs.

Though Zimbabwe had four wickets in hand with two overs to go, but the run rate mounted to 15.5 an over and 20 off the last six balls which the batsmen found unsurmountable. Nevertheless, it was a creditable performance from the Zimbabweans against a much superior team. They were certainly not disgraced in the defeat.

After having lost to Sri Lanka in the opener, Indian aspirations in the tournament could have been in jeopardy had they lost the match.

In the first part of the match, Indian vice-captain Rahul Dravid remained unfazed by the early fall of the top order and anchored with a patient 85 as India put up 265 runs for 8 wickets on the board.

Skipper Sourav Ganguly surprised all by not coming as an opener and instead sent his deputy Dravid who carried out the task admirably knitting the innings as Zimbabwe achieved breakthoughs in time to send shockwaves to the Indian dressing room.

Dravid (85, 121b, 4x4) showed no hurry realising that a defeat could make the side’s chances bleak in the tournament after the first match loss to Sri Lanka and steadily built the innings around a total that could be defended on a wicket where the ball is hardly coming to bat to the disadvantage of the batsmen.

He deserved a century which Tendulkar achieved in identical circumstances against the Lankans and was out while trying to pace up the scoring with a little more than five overs remaining. G Flower took the skier at square leg off left-arms spinner Viljoen.

Ganguly lost the toss and predictably Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak asked the Indians to have first strike of the wicket as the team fielding second was found to have great difficulty in handling the wet ball in late evenings due to excessive dew in the first two matches.

In fact, playing conditions were modified because of the dew factor by the match referee and the three umpires who have allowed the ball to be changed after 35 overs in the first innings and after 30 and 40 overs in the second.

Sachin Tendulkar, century-maker in the first match against Sri Lanka, was off-colour today and could not capitalise on a reprieve from Guy Whittall at mid-wicket off the third ball of the second over, first by Bryan Strang, with no run on the scoreboard.

Tendulkar (8, 15b,1x4) did hit a boundary off streak in the fifth over, but in the seventh over snicked the bowler to Andy Flower behind the stumps.

Vinod Kambli and Ganguly were claimed by T Friend at their identical individual scores of 18 within 42 runs. Kambli has to blame the rush of blood for his early departure. In the fifth ball of the 13 over, bowled by Friend, he was hit on the hand while trying to hook and as he was attended to, the umpires called for drinks.

In the very next ball after the break, a rising delivery, the batsman tried the same shot and was picked up at the square leg by Viljoen.

The batsman seemed to have an argument with leg umpire Steve Dunne before returning to the pavilion and it is to be seen what view is taken of the incident by match referee Denis Lindsay.

Dravid continued with his straight bat holding one side like the ‘wall’ as he is known and soon after Ganguly’s (18, 26b) departure reached his half-century off 74 balls.

Dravid was then associated with Yuvraj Singh who delighted the small crowd with the two sixes and one boundary during his 39-ball stay for 34 runs (2x6,1x4) and 54 for the fourth wicket. Robin Singh (22,28b,1x4) relied on his singles to keep the scorecard ticking and produced 42 runs for the fifth wicket with Dravid.

Sunil Joshi with a 13-ball 19 (1x6 and Vijay Dahiya (32) off only 23 balls (1x6,3x4) did some lusty hitting towards the dying moments to take the score to a dependable total.

For Zimbabwe, T J Friend was the most successful bowler taking four wickets for 55 runs in his 10 overs while Streak was a little expensive (63 runs in 10 overs) for his two scalps. (UNI)

Scoreboard India

R Dravid c G Flower b Viljoen 85

S Tendulkar c A Flower b Streak 8

V Kambli c Viljoen b Friend 18

S Ganguly c A Flower b Friend 18

Yuvraj Singh b Friend 34

Robin Singh run out 22

V Dahiya c Mariller b Friend 32

S Joshi b Streak 19

A Agarkar not out 12

Z Khan not out 4

Extras (w-5, nb-3, lb-5) 13

Total (for 8 wickets in 50 overs) 265

Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-51, 3-93, 4-147, 5-189, 6-206, 7-234, 8-252.

Bowling: 10-1-63-2, B Strang 10-1-32-0, T Friend 10-0-55-4, P Mbangwa 9-0-40-0, D Viljoen 7-0-40-1, G Flower 2-0-19-0, A Campbell 2-0-11-0.

Zimbabwe

Alistair Campbell b Zaheer Khan 28

Douglas Marrilier b Zaheer Khan 02

Stuart Carlisle b Joshi 60

Andy Flower c Joshi b Tendulkar 63

Grant Flower c Ganguly b Agarkar 22

Guy Whittall not out 36

Dirk Viljoen c Dahiya b Khan 12

Heath Streak not out 11

Extras: (b-7, lb-10, nb-1) 18

Total:

Fall of wkts: 1/21, 2/32, 3/150, 4/165, 5/214, 6/235

Bowling:

Zaheer Khan 10-0-37-3

Venkatesh Prasad 7-0-25-0

Ajit Agarkar 9-0-43-1

Sunil Joshi 10-0-44-1

Yuvraj Singh 3-0-14-0

Robin Singh 5-0-26-0

Sachin Tendulkar 6-0-46-1

Karan, Ankita win triple crowns as junior national ends

NEW DELHI, Oct 22: It could not have been any better for Karan Rastogi.

For the 14-year-old Maharashtrian whose best at the nationals so far was a quarterfinal (at Chennai), today was special as he added the sub-junior and mini-junior singles crowns to yesterday’s mini-junior doubles, making it a triple for himself.

Joining him in sharing the honours was local-girl Ankita Bhambri, who also managed three crowns, taking the girls sub-junior, mini-junior and under-16 doubles title.

Karan, who had yesterday won the under-14 doubles title pairing with Delhi’s Divij Sharan, today defeated Chandigarh’s Tushaar Liberhan, the seventh seed, in straight sets for the mini-junior title, winning 6-2, 6-2 in 57 minutes. Later, he clinched the sub-junior championship, beating Karnataka’s Tejeshwar Chigateri 6-2, 6-3 in about an 80 minute encounter.

In the girls section, Ankita, who had yesterday taken the under-16 doubles crown pairing with younger sister Sanaa, today became the mini-junior beating Sanaa 6-2, 6-4. Later, she won a thrilling three-setter over second seed Isha Lakhani, scoring a come-from-behind victory 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 to emerge the sub-junior champion.

Karan receives Rs 8,000 for his each victory at the sub-junior and mini-junior singles while for the doubles victory, he shares Rs 4,000 with Divij.

In the girls section, Ankita collects a winners prize money of Rs 5,000 for each victory at the sub-junior and mini-junior sections while she shares Rs 3,000 with Sanaa in the sub-junior doubles. Ankita also received a special Rs 50,000 cash prize from the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA) for her stupendous performance.

The runners-up in the boys singles (in both categories) gets Rs 5,000 and in the girls singles Rs 3,000.

Karan began his day well when he broke Tushaar in the first and the seventh game of the first set, retaining his own, to take it 6-2. In the second, though the players traded a break each in the third and the fourth games, Karan came up strongly, breaking Tushaar in the fifth and the seventh to lead 5-2. Then he served the set out for the Mini-junior Championship.

In the under-16 finals, Karan broke the seventh seed Chigateri twice in the first set - in the third and the seventh - to serve it out at 6-2. Though the players stuck to the baseline, Karan’s occasional forays to the net gave him the cutting edge.

In the second, the players traded a break each in the beginning games. However, Karan again took the crucial break, breaking his opponent in the fifth as the latter made a double fault. Though Chigateri managed two break points on karan’s serve, he could not convert them.

Karan again broke chigateri in the seventh to lead 5-2. However, he missed two championship points in the eighth where Chigateri broke him.

But he came up strongly in the next, breaking Chigateri with a backhand down the line for the championship.

This was fourth seeded player to be thrown out by Karan on way to the championship, the earlier being eighth-seeded Nehal Advani (in the first round), third-seeded Somdev Dev Varman (second round) and sixth-seeded Rishi Behl (semis).

Asked of his amazing run here, Karan said, "I was confident from the very beginning. Though I was unseeded, I had expected to do well."

He said he would now be heading for Mumbai, where he would be playing in the Adidas Junior Tournament.

On her victory, Ankita, who turns 14 on October 28 and is a student of Delhi Public School here, said "though I am happy with the results, it was pretty sad to beat my own sister.

However, I would like to add that it was tough against isha as she started the match well and I had to come up after a one set deficit.’’ Results (finals):

Boys under-16: Karan Rastogi (Mah) bt (7) Tejeswar Chigateri (Kar) 6-2, 6-3.

Boys under-16 doubles: Vikran Sane (Mah)/Tejeswar Chigateri (Kar) bt V. Vignesh (TN)/Somdev Dev Varman (TN) 6-2, 6-2.

Boys under-14: Karan Rastogi (Mah) bt (7) Tushar Liberhan (Chd) 6-2, 6-2.

Boys under-14 doubles: Karan Rastogi (Mah)/Divij Sharan (Del) bt Anshuman Dutta (Asm)/Rupesh Roy (WB) 6-2, 6-1.

Girls under-16: (1) Ankita Bhambri (Del) bt (2) Isha Lakhani (Mah) 3-6, 6-1, 6-3.

Girls under-16 doubles: Ankita Bhambri (Del)/Sanaa Bhambri (Del) bt Lata Assudani (Mah) Priyanka Parekh (Mah) 6-2, 6-3.

Girls under-14: (2) Ankita Bhambri (Del) bt (1) Sanaa Bhambri (Del) 6-2, 6-4.

Girls under-14 doubles: (2) Oormila Ram/Sandri Gangotri (AP) A Jahan/P Shravan (AP) 6-0, 6-4. (UNI)

India thwarts attempts to exclude
Kabbadi in S Korea Asian Games

VIJAYAWADA, Oct 22: India has successfully thwarted attempts to exclude in the coming Asian Games in South Korea the game of Kabbadi in which the country has won gold medals in the Asian Games at Beijing (1990), Hiroshima (1994) and Bangkok (1998).

Disclosing this to UNI here today, Amateur Kabbadi Federation of India (AKFI) joint-secretary K Jagadeshwar Yadav said initially, South Korea had not selected Kabbadi. Thanks to the relentess efforts of Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi and AKFI president J S Gehlot, the Asian Olympic Council persuaded South Korea to include the game in the coming Asian Games.

Kabbadi being played by more than 20 countries, including Japan, would be included as a demonstration sport in the Afro-Asian Games to be held at New Delhi in November 2001, he added.

In Sri Lanka, the game was the most popular one after cricket and even played in indoor stadiums, he added.

India should emulate Japan, which was popularising its martial arts takewondo and judo, by giving free kits and sending coaches to other countries to train players, in order to popularise Kabbadi, the cheapest of all games, and ensure its inclusion in the Olympics to improve the country’s medal tally, Mr Yadav suggested.

Asked about groupism in Kabbadi in the country, he said the issue was once for all settled with the IOA arbitration committee in November 1998 recognising the federation led Mr Gehlot and the Union Goverenment in December 1988 derecognising the one led by former federation general secretary P Pandian.

Mr Yadav, who is a member of a three-member committee constituted as per the decision taken at the federation Mumbai general body meeting in May, 2000 to study the pros and cons of accommodating Mr Pandian in the federation after the later pledging unconditional support to Mr Gehlot, said the exercise of eliciting opinion of various associations and departments playing Kabbadi would be taken up after the junior national championship at Patna from November nine to 12.

On the promotion of the game in the country, he said all the States should emulate Karnataka where the Government, public sector undertakings and industrial houses were providing more job opportunities and avenues for promotion leading to production of several international players, including the Indian team captain Onnappa, K C Ramesh, K C Suresh and Munivenkatappa. (UNI)

Alpha Club lifts Martyrs Memorial Basketball Trophy
Rakesh emerges as best defensive player, Vikas best offensive

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 22: Experienced Alpha Club today proved that they are still best when they beat young cops of Jammu and Kashmir Police 75-50 to lift the IInd Martyrs Memorial Jammu Open Basketball Tournament organised by the Royal Club, here at University of Jammu courts.

Leading right from the very beginning of the grand final, Alpha Club never allowed the young and sharp cops to go ahead or even reduce the lead.

At the end of the first half, winners Alpha Club was leading by six points with score on board 31-25. It was again the day of tall man Vikram Singh, who played a key role in sidelining the title contenders Jammu and Kashmir Police. Likewise in other league and semi-finals, he played in the same pace and led his side to a grand victory. This time, in the final today, he got good support from Suresh Pal in both defense and attack.

Cops too did well with lots of stamina they have, but could not over come the pressure built by the experienced Alpha Club. Amit Bharati and Kuldeep played nicely for J&K Police.

On the concluding day today, two faces were introduced to the gathering for their best play throughout the tournament. They were Rakesh Sharma of Royal Club, best defensive player of the tournament and Vishal Mahajan of J&K Police, best offensive player.

Ajay Kapoor, president Rotary Club, Jammu Cantt, who was chief guest, gave away winners and runners-up trophies, besides individual prizes to both the sides.

Proceedings were conducted by Aman Sharma, Basketball (SAI) coach of the University of Jammu, while the organising secretary of the tournament, Mr Bharat Sharma helped the chief guest in giving away the prizes to the winners and runners-up sides.

Prominent among those present on the occasion were Messrs Mohinder Verma, Sat Pal Sharma (SAI Badminton coach) and Jatinder Kotwal (Retd SP). Mrs Krupali Singh, Arjuna awardee and Gymnastics coach of the J&K State Sports Council was also proudly introduced with the gathering by the organisers and she was also called on the dias to accompany the chief guest in prize distribution.

The tournament which was a grand success was sponsored by the Rotary Club, Jammu Cantt, JP Share Shoppee, Pepsi, Arena Multi-media and Jammu Motors and J&K Sports.

It may be recalled that Alpha Club had finished runners-up in the last year’s State championship which was organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Basketball Association in Jammu after a gap of nine years.