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Asian Junior Squash
Championship CHENNAI, Feb 19: Indian girls created history today by storming into the singles semifinals for the first time in the Asian Junior Squash.......more ITF
Women’s Satellite Tournament BANGALORE, Feb 19: Dimi Ashel of India caused the first major upset firing out sixth seed and compatriot Yamini Tukalandini to advance into the .....more Kapil refuses to NEW DELHI, Feb 19: Ace all rounder Kapil Dev has refused to play in a limited-overs cricket match .....more 3-day opener between NAGPUR, Feb 19: A superb 115 by Justin Langer and 68 by Ricky Ponting powered Australia to 365 runs....more |
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Sher-e-Kashmir Gold Cup Football
Tourney Vijay Club beat New Bharat by a solitary goal Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 19: Vijay Club down New Bharat by a solitary goal in the Third Sher-e-Kashmir Gold Cup Football Tournament being played at Mini-Stadium, Parade, here.......more Sr Billiards and Snooker Champ CHENNAI, Feb 19: In one of the closest encounters, the seasoned Varun Taneja of Railways held his nerve......more BCCI’s three-day BANGALORE, Feb 19: The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s ambitious plan to impart systematic and.....more CHENNAI, Feb 19: Ggaurav Tokhi’s lone first half goal helped Chandigarh defeat Karnataka and storm into ......more |
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Asian Junior Squash Championship CHENNAI, Feb 19: Indian girls created history today by storming into the singles semifinals for the first time in the Asian Junior Squash Championship now in progress here. Joshna Chinnappa ousted Malaysia’s Teng Ooiean 9-4 4-9 9-2 9-2, while Vaidehi Reddy scored a thrilling 9-10 9-4 7-9 9-7 9-7 win over better seeded Karen Lau Siu Ying of Hongkong to progress to the semi finals. However, Rachita Vora, the third Indian quarterfinalist, lost to Tricia Chuah (Mal) 2-9 8-10 5-9. In the boys quarterfinals, top seeded Mohd Azlan Iskandar of Malaysia scored an easy 9-3 9-0 9-3 win over Imran Mohib of Pakistan, while Arshad Iqbal (also of Pakistan) caused a minor upset ousting Kelvin Ho Mum Kit of Malaysia 9-0 9-4 9-1. The other semifinalists are Farrukh Zaman and Shahid Zaman, the Pakistani brothers, who scored over Marcus Yeap Choong (Mal) and Mohd Raqqub Ghuloom Hajiyah (Kuw). Chinnappa, who carried too many guns in her armour, was at her best in both the third and fourth games. In the first, she raced to a six-one lead and took the game at 9-4, but slackened a bit in the next. Trailing 2-6, she found it difficult to bridge the gap and lost the second. She led 5-2 in the third and 4-0 in the fourth before winning them and the match. On the other hand, Reddy should deserve all praise as she showed her grit and fitness in clinching the 56-minute marathon cliffhanger. It was a neck and neck affair for the rivals all through the match and Reddy held at least a three point margin in all the games. Each point in the decider was won on errors by the rivals and Reddy from 8-7 played a brilliant drop-flick which Ying failed to retrieve and a down the line shot helped the Indian girl to wrap up the hard fought match. (PTI) |
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ITF
Women’s Satellite Tournament BANGALORE, Feb 19: Dimi Ashel of India caused the first major upset firing out sixth seed and compatriot Yamini Tukalandini to advance into the second round with "lucky loser" Iciri Rai, third seed and first leg winner Archana Venkataraman and eighth seed Nandita Chandrashekar in the ITF Women’s Satellite Tournament here today. In a match that went to full distance, petite Dimi staved off a spirited fight from the seeded player to win 6-4, 7-5 (5-7), 6-4 and enter the prequarterfinals. Iciri Rai, who was last minute replacement for second seed Riel Kawamata of Japan, faced resistance in the middle of the second set from Sricharanya Thiagarajan. The local girl won 6-3, 6-3 in 80 minutes. Like in the first leg, the Japanese girl did not turn up at the tournament making way for Iciri Rai. Now only three foreigners, including one of Indian origin, are left in the fray in the tournament carrying a prize money of 5,000 US dollars. Twenty-three-year-old software engineer Archana of Bangalore demolished Padma Preetham Mahalingam of Chennai 6-1, 6-1 in just 50 minutes. The other seeded player in action, Nandita Chandrashekar of Chennai overcame some fight from her citymate Sai Swapna Ramakrishnan to win 6-1, 6-3 in 50 minutes. Others to win first round matches were Vishnu Preetham Mahalingam, Liza Pereira, Chirashathi and Lata Asudani, all from India. The match between Iciri and Sricharanya witnessed long rallies and the local girl played well in patches. Iciri started well breaking Sricharanya in the first game. But lost her serve in the fourth game but broke back in the next, seventh and ninth games. Sricharanya had broken Iciri in the eighth game. In the second, Iciri came back well after being down 2-0 to lead 4-2. Iciri broke the opponent in the fourth, sixth and eight games but lost her serves in the first and seventh games. The crucial eighth game went into deuce eight times before Iciri broke to gain the lead. Archana faced no resistance from Padma Preetham, who could win just two games in the 50-minute match. Archana was broken in the first game, but then she won six games in a row. In the second set, Padma Preethan held her serve in the first game, but could not prevent the seeded player from scoring a facile win. Eighth seed Nandita was 4-0 up in no time against Sai Swapna, who held the fifth game. Nandita won the the next two to win 6-1. In the second, Nandita broke Sai Swapna in the second and sixth games and lost her serve in the third. Results: Singles first round: Vishnu Preetham Magalingam bt Sukriti Patnaik 6-4, 6-1 Sai Nandita Chandrasekhar bt Sai Swapna Ramakrishnan 6-1, 6-3, Liza Pereira bt Kalpita Raje 6-1, 6-4 Lata Assudani bt Anupama Rajur 6-4, 6-3 Archana Venkatraman bt Padma Preetham Mahalingam 6-1, 6-1, Iciri Rai bt Sricharanya Thiagarajan 6-3, 6-3 Chirashathi Rajur bt Varsha Shivshankar 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5) Ashel Dimi bt Yamini Thukaiandini 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4. (UNI) |
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Kapil refuses to play in fund-raiser NEW DELHI, Feb 19: Ace all rounder Kapil Dev has refused to play in a limited-overs cricket match between some of the greats of India and Australia in Chennai next month in aid of the the Gujarat earthquake victims. "I don’t want to wear whites again. I have retired from the game. It is goodbye," the former India captain told PTI here today. The man with 434 test scalps, a record till overtaken by Courtney Walsh of the West Indies, said the effort of the cricket boards of the two countries was laudable but "I have nothing to do with the game anymore". Though he said he had quit the game, Kapil Dev confessed his thoughts were still with the team of which he was coach till last year and said "I wish them all luck in the series against Australia". (PTI) |
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3-day
opener between India-A, Australia NAGPUR, Feb 19: A superb 115 by Justin Langer and 68 by Ricky Ponting powered Australia to 365 runs for nine wickets as their three-day match against India A ended in a draw here today. The Australian batsmen had a field day against the India A bowlers on the last day at the close of the third and final day’s play. Australia, behind by 77 runs in their first innings, reached 365 with Kasprowicz on 15 at the crease. Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting took Australia to safety with a 149-run fourth wicket partnership. The two came together just after lunch when their captain Steve Waugh was caught at silly point by Das off Balaji Rao with the total score on 111 for three. At this stage, another wicket would have had the Australians in trouble but both Ponting and Langer thrashed the attack of the India a bowlers to all parts of the ground. Langer, who had failed in the first innings, played some exotic shots. He picked on young Punjab off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, hitting him for consecutive fours on a couple of occasions as he reached his fifty off 102 balls with seven boundaries and a six. His second fifty off just 37 balls contained nine fours and a six. He thus reached his hundred in 139 balls with 16 fours and two sixes. Not to be left behind, ponting cracked nine fours in his fifty. Langer, however, was soon caught out as he played back to take the outside edge off Harbhajan for Laxman to take an easy catch at first slip. Langer made 115. However, by the time Langer fell, the Aussies already had a draw in their hands. When it seemed that the match was already in their hands, the Aussies, after tea some what relaxed their grip slightly resulting in a loss of a few wickets. Ponting, at 68 with ten fours and a six, was the first to leave after tea playing back to part-time bowler V V S Laxman to be trapped in front. The next man to go was Gilchrist who was run out in a horrible mix-up with Damien Martyn with both batsmen at the same end. Gilchrist made 21. A good diving catch by Badani off Balaji Rao saw Gillespie, at the score of five, leaving the ground. Martyn, after scoring a half century, was bowled round his legs by Badani. The match was called off after Fleming was caught out by Laxman off Balaji rao in the 13th mandatory over. Earlier in the morning, resuming at 39 for one, Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer added just 32 runs in the first hour. However, Hayden, immediately after the drinks break, was beaten in flight by Harbhajan Singh and the resultant edge was taken by Hemang Badani at Sillypoint. Hayden made 37. For India ‘A’, Harbhajan was the most successful bowler with three wickets. Balaji Rao, who also took three wickets, was disappointed giving away too many loose deliveries. However, Rahul Sanghvi, who had taken five wickets in the first innings, was given only five overs in the second innings, with Laxman preferring Balaji Rao over him. (UNI) SCOREBOARD Australia first innings: 291 India ‘A’ first innings: 368 Australia second innings: M Hayden c H Badani b H Singh 37 M Slater c. Balaji Rao b. H. Singh 13 J Langer c. Laxman b. H. Singh 115 S Waugh c. Badani b. Balaji Rao 17 R Ponting lbw V V S Laxman 68 A. Gilchrist run out (Badani) 21 D. Martyn b Badani 53 J Gillespie Badani b Balaji Rao 5 M Kasprowicz not out 15 D Fleming c V Laxman b Balaji Rao 2 Extras: 21 (w-2, lb-14, nb-5) Total 365 for nine in 95.1 over FoW: 1-31,2-62, 3-111, 4-260, 5-287, 6-300, 7-324, 8-354, 9-365 Bowling: D Mohanty 16-5,51-0, A. Nehra 15-4-52-0 (5 nb), H Singh 20-3-81-3, R. Sanghvi 5-1-16-0, Rao 181-1-101-3, V Laxman 9-2-22-1, D. Mongia 8-2-20-0, H Badani 4-2-6-1. (UNI) |
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Sher-e-Kashmir Gold
Cup Football Tourney Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 19: Vijay Club down New Bharat by a solitary goal in the Third Sher-e-Kashmir Gold Cup Football Tournament being played at Mini-Stadium, Parade, here today. Vijay Club took one goal lead in the first half and it was remained there, till the completion, because of the poor finishing and two sure goal chances missed by the New Bharat forwards. The lone goal of the match came in the 32nd minute through Ranjit Singh, who took a power-packed shot from inside the penalty area, after getting a pass from Gurmeet Singh (Sonu). In the second half, New Bharat tried hard to equalise the score, but there attempts were foiled by the strong defence line created by the Vijay Club. They missed the sure goal in the 69th minute when Lucky, on a pass from Rajesh, attempted a direct kick right in the middle of the net, but was well stopped by the alert guard at the goal post. Vijay Club too got a chance to increase the lead but they could not do so because of the alert goal-keeper guarding the opponents’ net. This time attempt was made by Anil Kumar, on a pass from Ranjit, but the ball straightway went in the arms of the goal-keeper. Today’s match was officiated by Nazir Ahmed, Suresh Dimple, Nissar Ahmed and Vishwamitra. The tournament is being organised by the Sher-e-Kashmir People’s Association under the auspices of J&K Football Association. Tomorrow’s fixture: Young Hero’s V/s Christian Star at 2.30 pm. |
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Sr Billiards and Snooker
Champ CHENNAI, Feb 19: In one of the closest encounters, the seasoned Varun Taneja of Railways held his nerve to squeak past Dharmendar Lily of Punjab in a Group G match in the khel.Com Senior Billiards Championship here today. Varun Taneja, who defeated K D Cruz of Bihar 597-430 earlier, had to bring off his best in crunch situations to win by a slender 13 point margin after an intriguing battle. Taneja won 496-483. It was touch and go and Dharmender, who won 669-511 against A Haque of Kolkata in the morning, in fact gained the upper hand in the 43rd visit leading 421-412. It was a tight situation for Varun and both played a safe game. At 428 Dharmender had a couple of blank visits and Varun, heaving a sigh of relief, gradually clawed his way back into the match. Though there were no no big breaks, short visits of 13, 13 and a six, besides a foul by Dharmender, helped Varun gain a 458-430 lead. Dharmender responded with a 29 in the 57th visit to wrest the lead 459-458. Varun had visits of 4 and 11 and another 22 in the 60th visit which helped him lead 491-482. Dharmender managed only one point when he dropped his visit and Varun came with a break of five to emerge winner. In the other group matches, Shyam Jagtiani of Railways beat Ammilal of Delhi 600-317, while Arun Agarwal accounted for I S Malik of Uttar Pradesh 553-464 in Group H. In Group F, Rafat Habib crushed Jaswinder Singh of Rajasthan 502-383, and Nitin Kohli of Uttar Pradesh defeated Jaswinder 521-330. Results : Group C : Prem Prakash (TN) bt M S Reddy (AP) 685-425 Group D : Alok Kumar (Pun) bt Harisingh (H P) 965-306 Group F : Nitin Kohli (UP) bt Jaswinder Singh (Raj) 521-330 Rafat Habib (TN) bt Jaswinder Singh (Raj) 502-383 Group G : Varun Taneja (Rlys) bt K D Cruz (Bih) 597-430 Dharmender Lily (Pun) bt A Haque (Cal) 669-511 Varun Taneja (Rlys) bt Dharmender Lily (Pun) 496-483 Group H : Arun Agarwal (Maha) bt Ammilal (Del) 711-340 I S Malik (UP) bt Sandeep Duggal (Chand) 667-379. Shbyam Jagtiani (Rlys) bt Ammilal (Del) 600-317 Arun Agarwal (Maha) bt I S Malik (UP) 553-464. (UNI) |
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BCCI’s three-day seminar begins BANGALORE, Feb 19: The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s ambitious plan to impart systematic and uniform coaching got off to a start with the inauguration of three-day seminar "coaching the cricket coaches" here today. The seminar, being attended by over 70 leading coaches, most of them former test and Ranji cricketers, was inaugurated by former BCCI president Raj Singh Dungarpur. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Dungarpur highlighted the importance of coaching and expected them to broadbase the game, which has now now come under cloud in the wake of matchfixing allegations. The level 2 certificate course will be addressed by cricketing greats like Rodney Marsh, former Australian stumper Wayne Phillips, John Wright, Brian Taber, Bishan Singh Bedi, E A S Prasanna, T A Sekar, sports psychologist Sandy Gordon, Indian team physio Andrew Leipus. The participants would broadbase coaching by imparting the techniques to others. The first day will have lectures by John Wright and Sandy Gordon from Australia on the role of the coach. Sandy Gordon will speak on "developing talent and emotional intelligence". A S Rana will focus on prematch warm up and stretching while Leipus will teach on physical conditioning for cricket. Tomorrow, the great spin duo of Bedi and Prasanna will touch on spin bowling. There would be practical session with three young spinners on techniques. They would study the video of Australian spinner Shane Warne and also discuss on error detection. Wayne Phillips would have a session on batting drills and how to run. It would conclude with physical conditioning talks by Leipus. On the final day, Wayne Phillips, Rodney Marsh and Sandy Gordon will focus on batting techniques and error detection. This will be be followed by fast bowling and injury prevention by T A Sekar and wicket keeping by Rodney Marsh. The great Australian stumper would give tips on wicket keeping and captaincy. (UNI) |
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CHENNAI, Feb 19: Ggaurav Tokhi’s lone first half goal helped Chandigarh defeat Karnataka and storm into the final of the Junior National Hockey Championship after a gap of seven years here today. Chandigarh thus avenged their defeat at the hands of Karnataka in 1993 final at Bareilly by an identical 1-0 margin. Chandigarh await the winner of tomorrow’s semifinal between Punjab and Mumbai in the final on Wednesday. Karnataka should blame themselves for the defeat as they missed scoring chances aplenty and squandered ten penalty corners. They had in fact eight penalty corners in the second half. Despite having a good forward line Karnataka failed to beat Maninder Singh at the Chandigarh goal. Maninder Singh also rose to the occasion and brought off two great saves in the nick of time. However, Karnataka citadel fell in the 32nd minute. The defence failed to intercept a cross by rom the left in front of the goal mouth. Tokhi avoided a defender and then reverse flicked the ball for a goal. Crossing over, Karnataka looked dangerous and in the very first minute earned a corner but defender D P Roy was found wanting. In the 45th minute, Karnataka almost scored and following a melee Chandigarh defender Bharath Kumar brought off a goal-line save. Chandigarh also made a few unsuccessful counter-attacks. Karnataka had yet another chance, a golden one at that, a few minutes later when hardworking Sandeep Michael gave a tailor made cross but Harpreet Singh missed a sitter with his reverse flick going over. Chandigarh then controlled the game to finish the day on a winning note. (PTI) |
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