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do-or-die face-off against Sri Lankans today SHARJAH, Oct 24 : Riding high after winning both their matches in the Triangular Coca Cola Cup series, Sri Lanka would now try to make easy work of luckless Zimbabwe, now in a do-or-die situation, tomorrow.......more Dravid out of tri-series SHARJAH, Oct 24: Indian vice captain Rahul Dravid is out of the ongoing Coca Cola Cup tri-series and will be replaced by Uttar Pradesh all-rounder Mohammad Kaif who is reaching here tomorrow, a day before India play Zimbabwe in the second phase league.........more Marsh wants to be SYDNEY, Oct 24: Former Australian cricket team coach Geoff Marsh today said he was a contender for the top Indian coaching job. Marsh joins former Australian captain Greg Chappell and New Zealand’s John Wright in the race for India’s highest sporting post..........more Rotary
Club lauds Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 24: District Director of the Rotary Club International, Mr R K Mahajan has lauded the efforts of the Royal Club for organising the Basketball Tournament in memory of Martyrs in Jammu.........more |
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Jyoti winner in Jr Billiards,
Nishant in Snooker Kamal outshines Khanna in nail biting Billiards final Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 24: Kamal Rohmetra today outplayed fighting K K Khanna (332-304) to claim the senior Billiards title in the ongoing Jammu District Billiards and Snooker Championship organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Billiards and Snooker Association at M A Stadium, here.........more Trials for
national Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 23: The Volleyball Association of J&K is holding trials for the 23rd Sub-Junior National Volleyball Championship (boys and girls).......more Krishan
beat Arshad to Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 24: Krishan Sharma today won maiden Squash tournament.....more Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 24: Delhi registered an emphatic ten wickets victory over .....more |
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Zimababwe in do-or-die face-off against Sri Lankans today SHARJAH, Oct 24 : Riding high after winning both their matches in the Triangular Coca Cola Cup series, Sri Lanka would now try to make easy work of luckless Zimbabwe, now in a do-or-die situation, tomorrow. Though the final is not scheduled till next Sunday, Sri Lanka’s win tomorrow would make it three out of three for the islanders and put them in the title round match. It would also mean Zimbabwe, who have drawn blank from the first three games, would leave India to win just one game out of two to slip into the final. India, who suffered a defeat against Sri Lanka in the opening match of the triangular last Friday, will now meet Zimbabwe on Thursday. The farings of the tournament indicate that Zimbabwe have had the worst of draw in this tournament since in both the legs of the league phase, their matches have been back-to-back affairs. Zimbabwe, comparatively the weakest of the three teams here, are looking to regroup and rebuild after two of their star players, Murray Goodwin and Neil Johnson, opted to play for western Australia and first class cricket in South Africa earlier this year. Fortunately, they have a few good youngsters coming through with 19-year-old fast bowler travis friend and middle order batsman Dirk Viljoen looking promising in the first phase of the league games. Their former captain Andy Flower has been in terrific touch and captain heath streak would look forward to Alistair Campbell, also a former captain. However, it is the bowling which is giving both streak and coach Carl Rackemann sleepless nights. "We are not bowling well in the final overs and it is a major worry," admitted Rackemann. Streak admitted after their defeat against India that the main reason for the loss was conceding too many runs in the final overs. The problem also became evident when they fielded second to sri lanka in their first game and their main bowler, leg-spinner Paul Stringer, could just not properly grip the dew-soaked ball under the lights. "When you can’t bowl your main spinner in these conditions, it is a worry," Streak had said and not without reason. Strang was given just four overs in this game against Sri lanka. Sri Lanka on the other hand seem to be doing most of the things right. Their batting looks formidable, for besides openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Avishka Gunawardena and middle order guns Mahela Jayawardena and Marvan Atapattu, they have the lower order of the calibre of Kumara Sangakkara and Rumesh Kaluwitharana, not to speak of Versatile Russel Arnold. In bowling, Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa are hard-to-get—away bowlers and Muthiah Muralitharan, as always, is posing the maximum questions to batsmen. (PTI) |
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Dravid out of tri-series with broken finger SHARJAH, Oct 24: Indian vice captain Rahul Dravid is out of the ongoing Coca Cola Cup tri-series and will be replaced by Uttar Pradesh all-rounder Mohammad Kaif who is reaching here tomorrow, a day before India play Zimbabwe in the second phase league. "Dravid is out of the tournament with a broken finger," skipper Sourav Ganguly said after the nets here this afternoon and coach Anshuman Gaekwad informed that Mohd Kaif is flying in tomorrow as a replacement for him. Dravid was seen with a bandaged ring finger of his left hand. The doctors are to examine Dravid who opened the India innings against Ximbabwe instead of Ganguly and scored 85. It is likely that S Sriram will play in the eleven in place of Dravid. Asked about any change in the batting order, particularly in the opening slots, Ganguly said," we will have to think about it. It has to be either S Sriram or me." The Indian skipper had said after the second match that he did not wish to open here as "I have not got runs in this ground." He had, however, made it clear that he would not bat in the middle order in other places. Regarding any change contemplated for Tendulkar, both Ganguly and Gaekwad said," we have not asked him. We have not even given a thought to it." Leg-spinner Anil Kumble, who missed the last match with a bruised shoulder, may miss the next match as well. "We will not like to risk him as we have a long series ahead," the skipper said. Though Vinod Kambli was also seen watching the catching practice of his teammates with a bandaged left arm, Ganguly said,"he has a bruised arm, but he is fit to play." Ganguly attributed the less number of runs in the initial 15 overs to the outfield at the Sharjah cricket ground. "It has to do with the wicket and the outfield," he said. The Indian coach said a conscious effor was being made to give less number of extras. "As long as we keep it under ten, it is good," Ganguly added. Bouyed by a nerve-wracking 13-run win against lightweight opponents Zimbabwe, the newlook team is now stretching up to realise its ambition of adding a title to its kitty after a long haul. Ganguly said the team is shaping up well since the outing at Nairobi. "Three more matches here ... It is one day in the final that matters," he said after the team had a long net session. After a three-day break, India meet Zimbabwe on Thursday and Sri Lanka on Friday in their back-to-back matches. The team came back to the ground today after a day’s rest yesterday as the players needed to recharge themselves. The Ganguly-led team, sans some senior players like Mohammad Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja and Nayan Mongia (omitted in the wake of match-fixing scandal), did raise hopes with its performance in ICC knock-out tournament in Nairobi. But the loss to New Zealand in the finals after having beaten world champions Australia and a resurgent South Africa (smarting under the stigma of Cronjegate), cast a dampener on all its efforts, particularly that of the young replacements in the squad. Ganguly just cannot afford to miss the title here in order to lift the morale of its vast followers back home of the game which took a beating after the allegations of match-fixing against some key players flew thick. India’s last major one-day title came when the team lifted the Titan Cup defeating South Africa in the final. India’s loss by five wickets to Sri Lanka in the ongoing Coca Cola Cup tri-series here raised some eyebrows on Indian aspirations. But the Indians came back in the tournament with the win against Zimbabwe and should have no problems in reaching the finals. Ganguly has made known his preference for seamers. "Of course you cannot approach one-day cricket with fixed ideas, but we would like to play three seamers to win," Ganguly said sounding sceptical of the spinners on a deadpan track like this saying "you can only leave it to god by bowling spinners on this kind of wicket." The way Lanakans and Zimbabweans played, India would have to aim for a total of around 275, if batting first, to feel safe. The reliance in bowling will be on left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan and Venkatesh Prasad who failed to strike in the second match. (UNI) |
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Marsh wants to be Indian cricket coach SYDNEY, Oct 24: Former Australian cricket team coach Geoff Marsh today said he was a contender for the top Indian coaching job. Marsh joins former Australian captain Greg Chappell and New Zealand’s John Wright in the race for India’s highest sporting post. Former Australian batsman Dean Jones also applied for the post but was not shortlisted. A.C. Muthiah, president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), expects Marsh to visit India in the next few days for an interview. The coach’s job fell vacant when Kapil Dev quit in the wake of investigations into match-fixing allegations. Dev has denied the allegations. Wright and Chappell are scheduled to meet Muthiah, former Indian skipper Srinivas Venkatraghavan, National Cricket Academy chairman Raj Singh Dungarpur and BCCI secretary Jaywant Lele. Wright, 46, is coach of English county side Kent while Chappell, 52, coaches South Australia and is a national selector. (DPA) |
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Rotary Club lauds efforts of Royal Club Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 24: District Director of the Rotary Club International, Mr R K Mahajan has lauded the efforts of the Royal Club for organising the Basketball Tournament in memory of Martyrs in Jammu. Mr Mahajan, who was also chief guest in the prize distribution function of the IInd Martyrs Memorial Basketball Tournament at University of Jammu has also extended his appreciations to the host club. |
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Jyoti winner in Jr
Billiards, Nishant in Snooker Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 24: Kamal Rohmetra today outplayed fighting K K Khanna (332-304) to claim the senior Billiards title in the ongoing Jammu District Billiards and Snooker Championship organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Billiards and Snooker Association at M A Stadium, here. It was a nail biting final as the spectators in the dark Billiards hall remained in doubt about the winner till the last two minutes in the one and a half hour long game. It was because of the fact that Kamal was trailing by 40 points when just ten minutes game was left. But, Kamal did not lose his temper and fought back for the victory which came his way when he managed 28 points lead just before the match was finished. Earlier, Kamal started well and was leading by 100 points at the end of the first 35 minutes play with score on board 140-40. However, the lead was well covered by Khanna, within the next 25 minutes. Afterwards, both the contenders saw up and down trends till one and half hour game which concluded in an interesting climax in favour of Kamal. In the junior group, Jyoti Anand defeated Sohail Khalid 277-243 to take away the Billiards trophy. And in the junior Snooker final, Nishant Azad downed Nitin Puri 3-2 (60-31, 23-51, 11-57, 58-43, 53-27) to win his first ever title. Kamal Rohmetra will be fighting for double title when he will meet his arch rival Sanjeev Gupta in the senior Snooker final tomorrow at 3 pm. |
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Trials for national Volleyball tourney Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 23: The Volleyball Association of J&K is holding trials for the 23rd Sub-Junior National Volleyball Championship (boys and girls) beginning from November 20 at Hyderabad. The trials for the coaching cum selection camp will be conducted on October 30 and November 1 at M A Stadium grounds at 3 pm onwards, said a handout issued here today. Interested players who are born on or after January 1, 1985 will be eligible to participate in the trials. The 16-day coaching camp will start from November 2, the handout added. |
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Krishan beat Arshad to lift Jammu Open Squash Tourney Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 24: Krishan Sharma today won maiden Squash tournament when he defeated Arshad Khan in straight sets in the final of the Jammu Open Squash Tournament, played at Jammu Club Sports Complex, here this evening. It was an interesting final full of power-packed shots from both the contenders. Krishan, had come through a crucial semi-final against young Lt Vishal who played a cool and confident game. In today’s final, Krishan’s match temperament paid him the dividends especially in the second and third sets which he virtually snatched from Arshad. To take away the first set, Krishan hardly faced any difficulty and went one game up with score on board 9-1. In the second set, both the finalists were playing at an equal score of 3-3, but three consecutive points by Arshad turned the lead in his favour. However, Krishan fought back and played steady game to win his second set 9-7. In the third deciding set, Arshad managed a handsome lead of five points, but could not maintain his pace and surrendered before Krishan. Playing at a score of 1-6, Krishan added point after point with his powerful shots leaving little chance for Arshad to add any more points in his tally and won the set 9-6 and match also. Earlier, Lt. Vishal defeated Ashish Dar to claim the third position. To encourage the youngsters, a special prize was given to teen-ager Umar Khan, who also participated in this tournament for the first time. A memento was presented to Mr Dinesh Chopra, the brain behind introducing the game of Squash in Jammu. Dinesh is playing Squash from the last 20 years and has done a lot for the promotion of the game in the state. It may be recalled that Dinesh has won almost all the Squash tournaments he has played so far in the last ten years in J&K. Later, a memento was presented to the chief guest, Mr Vinod Sharma, Secretary, Jammu Club by the president of the J&K Petrol Tankers Owners Association, Mr Anan Sharma—the sponsors of the tournament. |
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Cooch Behar U-19
Cricket Tourney Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 24: Delhi registered an emphatic ten wickets victory over host Jammu and Kashmir in the three-day North-Zone Cooch Behar U-19 Cricket Tournament which played at MA Stadium, here. Chasing Delhi’s first innings lead of 222 runs, Jammu and Kashmir scored 227 when whole side was bowled out in the 83.2 overs in the second innings, just two minutes before the lunch break. Satyajeet Singh held tightly one end and made his all out efforts to push J&K to draw level. But, in absence of good support from other end, Satyajeet’s brilliant knock of 86 runs was of no use. He hit 13 splendid boundaries in 272 minutes play facing 185 deliveries. At one stage, there were some hopes that host state could draw the match, but fall of six wickets in a short span of 28 runs shattered all dreams. Satyajeet, who came at number four position and was playing at 43 yesterday, had good partnerships with Vimarsh Kaw (21) and Mayank Goswami (13). Remaining batsmen could not stay for long on the crease and fell victim to left hander, Vivek Khurana, who did not allow the tale-enders to reach the double figure mark. Vivek was the main architect of the Delhi’s big win. He took five wickets for 42 in 20 overs. Satya Saikia and Yogesh Sachdeva shared two wickets each, while Tarun Gupta took one. In the second innings, Delhi took just seven balls to score the required six runs for the victory after lunch. Gautam Gambir made six, while Dhruv Mohan hit the winning single. Dr M S Mahal of Punjab Cricket Association and Sarbhjeet Singh of Haryana Cricket Association were the umpires, while Ashwani Sharma maintained score book. |
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