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Sachin Tendulkar NEW DELHI, Feb 21: Famed Australian spinner Shane Warne ........more
Lanka desperate for GALLE (SRI LANKA), Feb 21: The imposing figure of Muttiah Muralitharan......more Chandigarh wins Junior CHENNAI, Feb 21: Chandigarh defeated Mumbai in the final of the Junior National....more
Paes in quarters, Fazal, CHANDIGARH, Feb 21: Ace Indian player Leander Paes cruised into the men’s singles....more |
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Guru Teg Bahadur Cricket Tourney J&K Police thrashes Singh Club Bandhurakh 7-0 Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 21: The Jammu and Kashmir Police thrashed Singh Club Bandhurakh 7-0, while as Nanak Nagar Club registered an easy 5-0 victory over City Club in two different matches of the Guru Teg Bahadur Hockey Tournament, here today.......more 2nd
Gulbadhan Singh Memorial Cricket Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 21: Lucky and Twinkle led the Shivalik Cricket Club attack to register a brilliant ten wickets victory over PCN Cricket Club and reached the semi-finals of the 2nd Amar Shaheed Gulbadhan Singh Memorial Cricket Tournament at Paloura here today......more Sharma
appointed Indian Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 21: Mr R C Sharma, Volleyball coach of the Department of Physical Education, University of Jammu, has been appointed as manager of the Indian team for the forthcoming 3rd Asian Youth Men Volleyball Championship being held at Esfahan in Iran from March 1 to 8.....more Sher-e-Kashmir
Gold Cup Football Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 21: The Jammu and Kashmir Police defeated International Club, Jammu by a lone goal in the ongoing Sher-e-Kashmir Gold Cup Football Tournament being played at Mini-Stadium.....more |
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Sachin Tendulkar is the best batsmen in the world: Warne NEW DELHI, Feb 21: Famed Australian spinner Shane Warne has described "Sachin Tendulkar as the best batsman in the world." Bowling to Sachin in India is the toughest thing for any bowler in the game. There is nothing you can compare it to. Sachin just plays shots that make you wonder how he did it. He takes the challenge up to any bowler. If you get him out and know you’ve bowled really well. I feel I’ve always got a chance with Lara, he might whack you sometimes but he’s not as tight or as ruthless as Sachin. Speaking on the current series, Warne said "I think we’re in a good position because India don’t have Sidhu who was a key player last time. They are a bit unsettled at the top. In the middle they’ve got three world class players in Tendulkar, Dravid and Ganguly. But there’s no Azharuddin and no Kumble with the ball. So I think it’s going to be a completely different series. We’ve got McGrath who didn’t play last time, same with Gillespie. I think we all learnt a lot on that tour." In an interview to indya.Com, he said "I think I’m bowling well but it is not easy over here. Sometimes even if you bowl well you get smashed. The Indians are so confident in their conditions. They trust themselves to play shots players from no other countries play. India in India is the toughest assignment you can get." When asked about India Warne said "I enjoy it because the people here readily know their cricket. They know our records better than we do. They love it and it gives you a bit of a buzz. I enjoy it here, india is a fascinating place." (UNI) |
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Lanka
desperate for Muralitharan to play in GALLE (SRI LANKA), Feb 21: The imposing figure of Muttiah Muralitharan has dominated the run-up to the opening test between Sri Lanka and England starting tomorrow. Off-spinner Muralitharan, while not 100 per cent fit, appears likely to play following a groin strain and Sri Lanka are desperate for their potential match-winner to be in their side after tailoring the Galle pitch specifically for him. England, whatever captain Nasser Hussain may say in public, would be equally delighted to see him back on the physiotherapy table. Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore said: "He has been bowling during the last couple of days, he should be fit...We are not expecting any problem." Team physio Alex Kontouri was equally upbeat but concerned the injury could be aggravated during fielding. Hussain responded by saying: "He is a phenomenal bowler. We want him to play — and we want him to disappear around the park." The last time Muralitharan played against England at the Oval in 1998 he took 16 wickets, including a second-innings haul of nine for 65 as Sri Lanka romped home by ten wickets. He has 303 test scalps in 59 matches. The England players got another look at Muralitharan during his 1999 season with Lancashire and are clearly not complacent, devoting part of their recent practice sessions to watching videos of the off-spinner. The two sides have met six times in one-off matches but this is their first series, something the Sri Lankans have been seeking for several years. The three-test tour may help to heal some wounds which opened up in a one-day match in Adelaide two years ago. When Muralitharan was called for throwing by Australian umpire Ross Emerson, Arjuna Ranatunga promptly led his team from the pitch in protest, irritating his opponents. Several flashpoints between players followed after the restart. There have been echoes of that bad blood in the warm-up matches, with tit-for-tat complaints which have prompted test referee Hanumant Singh of India to warn against excessive appealing or sledging. The series looks well balanced. England have the confidence of successive series wins over Zimbabwe, West Indies and Pakistan while their hosts, despite a recent 2-0 defeat in a test series in South Africa, have home advantage. Sri Lanka have named a provisional 15-man squad including four other spinners — off-spinners Kumara Dharmasena and Muthumudalige Pushpakumara, left-armer Dinuk Hettiarachchi and 18-year-old leg spinner Kaushalya Lokuarachchi. Hettiarachchi, who took five wickets against England in one of the warm-up matches, and all-rounder Dharmasena are favourites to join Muralitharan in the team. Veteran Aravinda De Silva, the country’s highest scorer in both tests and one-dayers, is also included but, after a string of failures during the one-day series against New Zealand, will be hard-pressed by Tillekeratne Dilshan, who has scored two centuries against the touring team. England will check on the fitness of left-arm spinner Ashley Giles following his achilles problem and are likely to choose between Graeme Hick and Michael Vaughan for their final batting spot. Teams: Sri Lanka (from): Sanath Jayasuriya (captain), Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Aravinda De Silva, Mahela Jayawardene, Russel Arnold, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Dharmasena, Dilhara Fernando, Dinuk Hettiarachchi, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara, Kaushalya Lokuarachchi. England (from): Michael Atherton, Marcus Trescothick, Nasser Hussain (captain), Graham Thorpe, Alec Stewart, Michael Vaughan, Graeme Hick, Craig White, Ashley Giles, Robert Croft, Andrew Caddick, Darren Gough, Matthew Hoggard. (REUTERS) |
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Chandigarh wins Junior National Hockey Champ CHENNAI, Feb 21: Chandigarh defeated Mumbai in the final of the Junior National Hockey Championship through a golden goal by Mangra Munda after the teams were locked 2-2 at the end of the stipulated time here today. The goal was scored off a penalty corner, awarded after Cyril Ekka was obstructed by a defender in the second minute of extra time. With the teams level at two-all, Chandigarh forced as many as four penalty corners in the last two minutes but could not succeed in scoring, forcing the match into extra-time. Incidentally, Chandigarh could not force any penalty corner in the first 68 minutes of play while Mumbai had seven. In the last two minutes, Chandigarh’s medios Jaswinder Singh and Inderjeet Singh alongwith Mangra Mundra and Rajpal Singh who overlapped as forwards showed their ability to intercept the ball close to the 25-yard line. Though they could not score, they achieved a penalty corner, which culminated in three corners in succession. Earlier, Chandigarh scored first through Mandeep Singh off a pass from Mangra Munda in the fourth minute of the first half. Mandeep darted into the goal, drew the goal-keeper Sriram Bishnoi out, evaded two defenders and then banged home. Last year’s finalist, Mumbai missed a golden chance in the 13th minute when Alphonso crossed from the right and Junaid Jada shot straight to the goal-keeper Maninder Singh. But two minutes later, Mumbai equalised following a one-to-one between Premkumar Singh and Alphonso. Maninder Singh misjudged the attempt, and Alphonso scored. Crossing over, Mandeep Singh made best use of defender Joseph Mathew’s lapse to put Chandigarh ahead 2-1. With Bishnoi charging, Mandeep pushed the ball feebly, and Joseph was a bit late in clearing. Mandeep quickly dived to push the ball home. Midway through the second half, Mumbai restored parity through Sunil Singh. Chandigarh is winning the title after 31 years. They had lost to Karnataka in the final in Bareilly in 1993. (PTI) |
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Paes in quarters, Fazal, Ghouse bow out Challenger CHANDIGARH, Feb 21: Ace Indian player Leander Paes cruised into the men’s singles quarter-finals of the Indian Oil-Servo ATP Challenger Tennis Tournament with a straight sets victory over Radek Stepanek of Czech Republic here today but two other Indians crashed out losing their first round matches. Paes overcame a momentary concentration lapse to beat Stepanek 7-5 6-2 in a second round match but Syed Fazaluddin was sent packing by per Thornadtsson of Sweden who won 6-3 6-2. Mustafa Ghouse whose first round match against Donavan September of USA was continued today after rain had cut it short yesterday, went down 0-6 7-5 6-2. The American led 5-1 in the third set at the time of disruption yesterday. In other second round matches, fourth seed Frantisek Cermak of Czeck Republic defeated Glorgio Galimberti of Italy 7-6 (7/5) 6-3 while his compatriot Ota Fukarek beat Artem Derepasko of Russia 4-6 6-4 6-1. Cermak will take on Paes in the quarter-finals tomorrow. Paes was cruising along nicely and had taken a comfortable 5-2 lead in the first set when he lost his concentration which nearly cost him the set as Stepanek levelled it at 5-all. However, Paes regained composure just in time and hit a powerful backhand down the line passing shot in the 12th game to take the set 7-5. He was broken in the very first game of the second set but broke back in the second and fourth to go 3-1 up. Paes had two match points on Stepanek’s serve in the eighth game but could not capitalise. He then survived two break points in the next game to finish off the match. Fazaluddin was no match to Thornadtsson who raced through the match in one hour and 12 minutes. He was broken in the third and fifth games of the first set to see his opponent go 5-1 up. He broke the Swede in the eighth game but that was not enough as Thornadtsson broke back in the next to take the first set 6-3. The second set was also a similar tale with the Indian failing to produce his trademark slice backhand winners. Wild card Ghouse survived just 12 minutes before September wrapped up the suspended match. Top seed Dennis Van Scheppingen of the Netherlands struggled against qualifier Gerald Mandl of Austria before prevailing 6-4 3-6 6-1 to move into the quarter-finals. (PTI) |
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Guru Teg Bahadur
Cricket Tourney Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 21: The Jammu and Kashmir Police thrashed Singh Club Bandhurakh 7-0, while as Nanak Nagar Club registered an easy 5-0 victory over City Club in two different matches of the Guru Teg Bahadur Hockey Tournament, here today. Singh Club, Bandhu Rakh had no match for Jammu and Kashmir Police and were unable to foil the moves made by the cops, especially in the first half of the match. Gurjeet Singh struck twice in the 2nd and 18th minute to score the first two goals through penalty corners. Kulbir Singh and Manjeet Singh were other two forwards, who added one goal each in the 15th and 22nd minute to rise the score at board to 4-0 in the first half. After the breather, Singh Club showed some resistance, even then strong Policemen were able to add three more goals to their tally. Ravinder Singh sounded the board twice in the 37th and 40th minute, while Jatinder Singh netted the ball in the 60th minute to make it a big 7-0 victory for J&K Police. In another match of the day, Nanak Nagar Club defeated City Club by five goals to nil. Gurmeet Singh scored three goals in the 8th, 25th and 50th minute, while Jogi struck twice. Today’s matches were officiated by Amarjeet Singh, Jasbir Singh and Harjinder Singh. Tomorrow fixture: J&K Police V/s Diamond Club at 3 pm; Khalsa Club V/s Nanak Nagar Club at 4.30 pm. |
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2nd Gulbadhan Singh
Memorial Cricket Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 21: Lucky and Twinkle led the Shivalik Cricket Club attack to register a brilliant ten wickets victory over PCN Cricket Club and reached the semi-finals of the 2nd Amar Shaheed Gulbadhan Singh Memorial Cricket Tournament at Paloura here today. Earlier, Shivalik Club bowled out PCN Club, who won the toss and decided to bat first, for 92 in 14.3 overs in the 15 overs match. Later they made 97 runs in just five overs without losing any wicket. Although, Shotu and Kala played confident innings of 40 (off 23, 3x6, 4x4) and 25 (15) respectively, but lack of support from rest of the team caused the end of the innings at 92. Extras contributed 18 runs. From Shivalik Club Sanjay (4-0-21-4) and Sandy (4-0-19-4) bowled well, while Sonu bagged two wickets in his short spell of two overs. Batting second, Lucky and Twinkle opened the Shivalik Club innings and took just five overs to reach the required total. Twinkle scored 68 runs facing mere 16 deliveries with the help of nine sixes and three fours, while Lucky made 29 runs off 13 balls including three sixes and two fours. Twinkle was declared as man of the match for his spectacular batting. Tomorrow’s fixture: In the third quarter-final, Sawar Cricket Club will meet Samuh Cricket Club. |
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Sharma appointed Indian
team manager for Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 21: Mr R C Sharma, Volleyball coach of the Department of Physical Education, University of Jammu, has been appointed as manager of the Indian team for the forthcoming 3rd Asian Youth Men Volleyball Championship being held at Esfahan in Iran from March 1 to 8. His appointment as manager was made by the Volleyball Federation of India in its meeting held at Delhi, recently. Mr Sharma has today left for Delhi, from where he, alongwith the Indian team, presently under coaching at Patiala, will leave for Iran on February 26. Two coaches accompanying the Indian team are Kumaran from Bangalore and M T Semule, who hails from Kerala. It was not for the first time that R C Sharma has been given the assignments outside the country. He has, for several times, accompanied the Indian squad in the international competitions during the last 16 years. His first assignment as assistant coach of the Indian team was in 1984, when he was asked to accompany the Indian team for the Asian Senior Cup (Men) Volleyball championship held at Rehad in Soudhi Arabia. In 1987, Sharma was sent to Germany for the higher studies in Volleyball by the Volleyball Federation. And, in 1995, he was appointed as manager of the Indian team in the SAF Games which were held at Madras. Giving more details about his present position in the Federation, Sharma said he is the convener of the coaching committee of the Volleyball Federation of India. The committee headed by hims used to suggest the Sports Ministry of various plans and improvement of the game of Volleyball in India. Besides this, the committee also recommends nominations of coaches for various competitions within and outside, he elaborated. |
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Sher-e-Kashmir Gold
Cup Football Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 21: The Jammu and Kashmir Police defeated International Club, Jammu by a lone goal in the ongoing Sher-e-Kashmir Gold Cup Football Tournament being played at Mini-Stadium, here today. Police could have made it a big win, had they not missed five sure goal chances came their way during the match. However, International Club too got a golden change to equalise the score, but Shashi Kumar missed the target in the 46th minute hitting the ball over the goal post. Earlier, in the very beginning of the match, Police got a chance in the 5th minute, when Bilal Ahmed after getting a pass from Mushtaq, took a shot which straightway went in the hands of International goal-keeper Bunty. Police continued their attacking strategy by which gave them another chance in the 9th minute, but this time Shabir missed the target. However, they succeeded in converting a well planned move into the goal in the 20th minute through Mushtaq Ahmed. Mushtaq lobbed the ball 25 yards from the goal and the ball fell just in front of the goal-keeper, who had little time to act, and entered into the net kissing the goal bar. It was followed by the dilly dally fight as both sides played long passes and tried to break the defence of each other. Of late, Police got two more goal chances, but on both the occasions, Manjoor Ahmed missed. Sunil Dimple, Harbans Lal, David Masih and Vishwamitra officiated the match. |
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