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CHARLESTON, (US), Apr 23: Jennifer Capriati wore down world number one Martina Hingis with an .........more

CRICKET
Windies capture 3 wickets
in pursuit of victory

KINGSTON, Apr 23: The West Indies’ bowlers snared three South African wickets as the home team .....more

World Snooker Champ
Mathew Stevens breezes
through to second round

SHEFFIELD (ENGLAND), Apr 23: Welshman Matthew Stevens, last year’s beaten.....more

Rahman stuns
Lewis to win world
heavyweight crown

JOHANNESBURG, Apr 22: American Hasim Rahman pulled off one of the most stunning........more

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 23: M K Sinha and T Punchok shared today’s honours by winning the finals of Badminton and Table........more

KCCC extends support
to Luxmi Club

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 23: Criticising the non-sporting attitude of some of the players, the members of the favourites KCCC (Kishen Chand ........more

Western Air Command
Inter-area Aquatic
Champ beings

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 23: Wing Commander, Anil Tiwari today declared open the five-day long Western Air Command Inter-area Aquatic Championship at Air Force Swimming.........more

Capriati down Hingis to win Family Circle Cup

CHARLESTON, (US), Apr 23: Jennifer Capriati wore down world number one Martina Hingis with an onslaught of deep, penetrating ground strokes to claim a 6-0 4-6 6-4 victory in the final of the Family Circle Cup.

Second-seeded Capriati breezed through the first set at Daniel island as Hingis, who has twice won the title, failed to out hit the powerful and consistent American from the baseline yesterday.

The first set took only 19 minutes as Switzerland’s Hingis repeatedly committed unforced errors in the face of Capriati’s sizzling ground strokes on the clay surface.

Hingis, regarded as one of the circuit’s smartest players, sensed she was no match for Capriati’s powerful ground strokes at the start of the second set and changed tactics.

The number one seed took some of the pace off her shots and stormed into a 3-0 lead before eventually taking the set 6-4.

But after breaking serve in the first game of the third set, Hingis just missed the lines on a few key shots allowing Capriati to win two long games and charge into a 5-1 lead.

Capriati, with victory in sight, appeared to lose some focus as Hingis rallied to 5-4 and served to tie the match.

But the American, who failed to capitalise on eight match points against Venus Williams last month in the Ericsson Open final, was determined not to let this one get away.

Capriati dealt with a Hingis drop shot in a sensational first point in that 10th game and never looked back.

She blasted an overhead and then took advantage of a short ball for a winning forehand volley and triple match point.

Hingis saved one before a backhand error gave Capriati the title in a tournament in which she was runner-up 11 years ago.

The win is set to take Capriati up to fourth in the WTA world rankings when they are announced on Monday in a switch with Monica Seles who will slip to fifth. (REUTERS)

CRICKET
Windies capture 3 wickets in pursuit of victory

KINGSTON, Apr 23: The West Indies’ bowlers snared three South African wickets as the home team chased a consolation victory yesterday, the fourth day of the fifth and final cable & wireless cricket test at Sabina Park.

South Africa lead the five-match series 2-0 after victories in the second test in Trinidad and the fourth test in Antigua.

South Africa, set an improbable 386 to win, ended the fourth day on 140 for three. Opener Herschelle Gibbs topscored with 51, his fourth half century of the series. Neil McKenzie survived to close unbeaten on 40 in three hours while Jacques Kallis was five.

There was a wicket apiece for West Indies captain Carl Hooper, Mervyn Dillon and Courtney Walsh.

The West Indies had to work hard for their wickets as the tourists set their sights on batting out five sessions to save the match or achieve an unlikely win.

Openers Gary Kirsten and Gibbs comfortably saw off the new ball assault of the Wily veteran Walsh and Cameron Cuffy.

The pair confidently added 37 before Dillon struck to consign Kirsten to another low score. Left-hander Kirsten made 14 before he aimed to leave alone outside off stump and deflected a catch to the wicket-keeper off the bottom edge of his uplifted bat.

Kirsten, who scored a fine 150 in the first test in Guyana, ended the series with 31 runs from his last six innings.

Gibbs and McKenzie continued to play with assurance and the West Indies bowlers was stone-walled by the pair.

The 27-year-old Gibbs started to stroke the ball sweetly and counted five boundaries in reaching his half century. He only advanced to 51 before an injudicious stroke to the part-time off spin of Hooper caused his downfall and lifted local spirits.

Gibbs batted two hours, 45 minutes when he tried to hoist Hooper over the leg side and was bowled off stump. His second wicket partnership with McKenzie was worth 65.

Walsh, who left the field after his new ball spell to see attention on a sore left knee, returned late in the day to energize his home crowd that grew to about 9,000.

The 38-year-old Jamaican, in his 132nd and final test of his distinguished 17-year career, trapped Cullinan leg before for 18 with the third ball of a new spell.

Walsh finished with one for 33 from 13 overs. Hooper took one for 19 from 16 overs while Dillon grabbed one for 38 off 10 overs.

Earlier in the day, the West Indies stretched their second innings from 255 for seven overnight to 301 all out. The home team were dismissed on the stroke of lunch.

Wicket-keeper/batsman Ridley Jacobs, overnight 67, went on to score 85. The 33-year-old was ninth out after hitting seven fours in just over four hours at the crease.

South African captain Shaun Pollock was the best bowler with four for 66 off 34 overs. Left-arm wrist spinner Paul Adams captured two for 54 off 21.4 overs.

Two rain interruptions caused just over an hour’s delay during the day but play was extended and only three overs of the quota of 90 were lost. (AP)

World Snooker Champ
Mathew Stevens breezes through to second round

SHEFFIELD (ENGLAND), Apr 23: Welshman Matthew Stevens, last year’s beaten finalist, breezed into the second round of the World Snooker Championship with a comprehensive 10-1 win over Malta’s Tony Drago at the Crucible.

Stevens, who established an 8-1 overnight lead, wrapped up victory yesterday after claiming the opening two frames of the final session. "I didn’t play great," he said, "but a win is a win."

Seeded English pair Anthony Hamilton and Dave Harold won their first round ties against Scotland’s Marcus Campbell and Australia’s Quinten Hann respectively.

Hamilton, who lost in the quarter-finals last year, beat Campbell 10-4 in a match lasting over five-and-three-quarter-hours.

Harold completed a 10-5 victory over Hann who was very disappointed with his performance.

"It doesn’t matter how much I practice, I struggle in the bigger venues," said the 23-year-old. "My game disappears as soon as I get out there and I pretty much expected to lose."

Fourth seed Ronnie O’Sullivan established a commanding 7-2 lead over Andy Hicks at the end of the first session. The match plays to a finish on Monday afternoon.

Earlier, Paul Hunter reached the second round with a 10-6 win over fellow Englishman David Roe.

Hunter, who led 5-4 overnight, compiled three century breaks on his way to recording his first victory at the Crucible.

"I was pleased with my performance," said Hunter. "I didn’t really miss a ball when I got in. I’m relaxed and enjoying it."

The 22-year-old is confident about his chances of making further progress.

"When I hit a purple patch I can beat anybody," he added. "I’m sure I can do well in the tournament."

Roe, making his Sixth World Championship appearance, backed Hunter to do well.

"He’s certainly one of the players who can win it, without a doubt," said Roe. "There’s probably only two or three players who can stop him if he plays like that." (REUTERS)

Rahman stuns Lewis to win world heavyweight crown

JOHANNESBURG, Apr 22: American Hasim Rahman pulled off one of the most stunning upsets in heavyweight boxing history here today, defeating undisputed world champion with an amazing knockout.

Rahman - a 20-1 underdog earlier this week - sent Lewis crashing to the canvas at the carnival city big top with a sensational overhead righthand two minutes and 32 seconds into the fifth round.

The 28-year-old from Baltimore started the fight purposefully and never looked as if he would crumble under Lewis’ pressure. Using a solid left jab he consistently made light of his disadvantages in weight, reach, and height to find Lewis’ chin.

But his sensational victory came just as Lewis started to up the tempo. With Rahman’s left eye swelling, Lewis went in for the kill and appeared to taunt the challenger by skipping back across the ring.

It was to cost Lewis dear. As he came back off the ropes Rahman launched a desperate onslaught and a massive right hand arced through Lewis’ defence and caught the 35-year-old Briton Flush on the chin.

Lewis was poleaxed by the blow and didn’t even come close to beating the referee’s count, needing to be helped to his feet by Belgian referee Daniel Van De Vielde.

With Lewis counted out pandemonium erupted in the 5,000 -capacity arena as Rahman’s corner charged into the ring for wild celebrations. (AFP)

Prize distribution function today
Sinha bags Badminton title, TT trophy goes to Punchok

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 23: M K Sinha and T Punchok shared today’s honours by winning the finals of Badminton and Table Tennis in the ongoing J&K Police Inter-Zone Sports Meet being held at different playing fields, here.

In the Badminton final, M K Sinha thrashed Dr Narinder Singh in straight sets of 15-0, 15-8 to claim the trophy. For the Table Tennis title, T Punchok defeated Raghubir Singh 21-10, 21-11.

The three events of Badminton, Table Tennis and Lawn Tennis were introduced for the first time in the Police meet that too for the Gazetted Officers’ only.

Armed Zone, the leaders in the medals tally, will take on traditional rival Jammu Zone for the fourth trophy in the Tug of War final to be held tomorrow at 5.30 pm. Training Zone is trailing behind Armed Zone with 26 points.

Before, the Tug of War final, 100 meters race will be held at the Gulshan Grounds, here.

In the finals and prize distribution function, Governor, Girish Chander Saxena will be the chief guest.

Medal’s tally

Armed Zone 42

Training Zone 26

Jammu Zone 12

Kashmir Zone 08

CID and Others 04

Auxiliary 00