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Men’s ATP
champions’ MONACO, June 25: Standings in the ATP tour champions’ race today (previous positions in brackets):.......more
Team rallies behind a beleaguered Ganguly BULAWAYO, June 25: The demand for Saurav Ganguly’s head is steadily increasing with every failure of the Indian skipper but the team is solidly standing by him. . ...more Reborn Waqar draws veil over tour that never was LONDON, June 25: Waqar Younis this month re-emerged as one of the world’s great bowlers. Sadly, no one noticed. . ...more Gurjeet gets out of turn promotion Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, June 25: Director General of Police, J&K, Mr A K Suri promoted constable Gurjeet Singh, an outstanding hockey player, out of turn to the rank of Head Constable in recognition of his performance.Gurjeet was part of the Indian team which participated in the Samaranch . ....more |
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Ist Hot Weather
Tamar Cup Cricket Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, June 25: Luxmi Cricket Club thrashed the host Rehari Cricket Club by six wickets in the pre-quarter finals of the ongoing Ist Hot Weather Tamar ...more Sgt
Balbir Singh declared as best player Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, June 25: Extraordinary performance by centre-forward Rajbeer Singh, who struck four goals including a hat-trick, guided last year’s ....more Rehmat
Ali, Happy Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, June 25: Rehmat Ali of Maller Kotla (Punjab) and Happy of Punjab Armed Police (PAP), Jalandhar shared the main bout (Ist Malli) of the 10th .....more 2nd
Kulbir Memorial Cricket Tourney Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, June 25: Cantt Cricket Club outplayed Khalsa Cricket Club by a huge margin of 106 runs in the ongoing......more |
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Men’s ATP champions’ race standings MONACO, June 25: Standings in the ATP tour champions’ race today (previous positions in brackets): The champions’ race starts afresh each January and includes only the points won in a calendar year. A player’s position is based on points received from the four Grand Slams, the nine Tennis Masters series events and his best five additional results from international series events. The top eight players at the end of the season take part in the Tennis Masters Cup. 1. (1) Gustavo Kuerten (Brazil) 490 points 2. (2) Andre Agassi (U S ) 484 3. (3) Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spain) 451 4. (5) Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) 353 5. (4) Sebastien Grosjean (France) 327 6. (6) Yevgeny Kafelnikov (Russia) 250 7. (7) Roger Federer (Switzerland) 244 8. (8) Alex Corretja (Spain) 232 9. (9) Patrick Rafter (Australia) 197 10. (10) Jan-Michael Gambill (U S) 194 11. (15) Thomas Johansson (Sweden) 193 12. (11) Tim Henman (Britain) 188 13. (12) Arnaud Clement (France) 185 14. (13) Albert Portas (Spain) 176 15. (14) Carlos Moya (Spain) 171 16. (16) Guillermo Coria (Argentina) 150 17. (17) Fabrice Santoro (France) 149 18. (18) Dominik Hrbaty (Slovakia) 146 19. (19) Nicolas Escude (France) 145 20. (28) Guillermo Canas (Argentina) 143 —(REUTERS) |
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Team rallies behind a beleaguered Ganguly BULAWAYO, June 25: The demand for Saurav Ganguly’s head is steadily increasing with every failure of the Indian skipper but the team is solidly standing by him. After Ganguly was dismissed for just two in yesterday’s Triangular one-day series match against Zimbabwe, Melbourne radio rang up team manager Chetan Chauhan to know why the stylish left-hander should not be asked to sit out and sort out his batting blues rather than be a liability to the team. "I have a lot of time for him," was Chauhan’s cryptic reply which put an end to the issue.’’ A desperate Ganguly also sought to draw solace from his opening partner Sachin Tendulkar’s clean chit to his batting technique. "He (Tendulkar) has assured me that my technique is okay and I should not worry on that count," the skipper said, while putting up a brave face amidst continued failures. "I know the runs would come shortly. I can feel it from inside," said Ganguly who has led India to five wins in eight tests. But that has not prevented the critics from raising the shrill over his inability to get the runs. The website of the company telecasting the series is flooded with hate mails for Ganguly and questions on his form and captaincy are appearing on the ballot boxes of various other sites. The pressure is showing on the captain who is not leaving any stone unturned in his efforts to get back to his scoring ways. He is having an extra session in the nets and is usually on the ground an hour before the team arrives for practice. This, from a man who usually does not like to bat much at the nets. "I do not quite like batting in the nets but if that is the answer (to my bad form), so be it," he said. In the matches too, he has tried various methods to break the shell. He briefly toyed with the idea of going on the attack to shrug off his poor form but discarded it quickly after it failed to click, and he did not want to be seen as an irresponsible batsman. He did not duck his responsibility even when he had to face the new ball on the crucial fourth morning of the Harare test though it ended in an yet another failure. But its not the efforts but the figures alongside his name on the scoreboard that count and Ganguly needs to get that as quickly as possible to silence his critics. In yesterday’s match, he took two wickets while bowling and thought that finally his time with the bat too might be arriving. Alas, that did not happen and Ganguly had to be satisfied with his bowling contribution only. His deputy Rahul Dravid answered his detractors in style when he scored a brilliant 181 in that epic match-winning association with V V S Laxman in the second test against Australia in Kolkata, and Ganguly knows he will have to come up with a similar effort to turn his fortunes around. But till that happens, his - and his fans’ - agonies will continue to haunt him. (PTI) |
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Reborn Waqar draws veil over tour that never was LONDON, June 25: Waqar Younis this month re-emerged as one of the world’s great bowlers. Sadly, no one noticed. That, at least, is how it must seem to the Pakistan captain. At the start of June, he took five wickets in the second and final test against England at Old Trafford, making one of the key breakthroughs on the last day by removing Graham Thorpe with a venomous new-ball spell before claiming the wicket which drew the series. All the talk afterwards, however, was of how the umpires failed to spot a string of no-balls on the final afternoon, three of them from off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq. The no-balls ultimately cost England four wickets. During the Triangular series which followed, Waqar uprooted the first seven England batsman to claim the second-best one-day figures of all time at Headingley, seven for 36. But the headlines focused on England conceding the match after a premature pitch invasion by Pakistan fans. A haul of six for 59 followed against Australia at Trent Bridge, a background to fresh controversy as Steve Waugh marched his side off after a firecracker landed near Brett Lee. Man of the series Then on Saturday, Waqar was named man of the Triangular series with 17 wickets at 12.88 apiece. He barely got a mention, Australia winning the tournament and Michael Bevan being hit in the face by a beer can flung by a spectator. Waqar, on what he expects to be his last tour of England, must have wondered why he bothered. His team coach, however, does not. "He has re-emerged as a fast bowling force," says Richard Pybus. "The raw pace has gone but the mastery of working a batsman over, of working the angles, the ability to swing the ball both ways at pace has not." If Waqar’s rebirth came against the odds — sidelined in 1995 with recurring back problems, he has struggled to earn a regular place in the side in recent seasons — his appointment as captain to replace Moin Khan was just as surprising, considering his lack of experience. Pre-tour reports from Pakistan suggested Waqar had inherited a poisoned Chalice, with former friend-turned-foe Wasim Akram merely one member of a squad riven by deep personal Enmities. The team, however, beaten at home by England at the end of last year, held together to draw the test series with England after being caught cold at Lord’s. They then reached the Triangular final. Big success Pakistan’s heavy defeat to Australia on Saturday took some gloss off a tour which, however, will surely be seen in retrospect as a big success. "In Waqar as captain we have unearthed a real gem," Pybus said. "He has all the characteristics required — he leads by example, he is not afraid of tough decisions, he’s a good reader of the game and he’s learnt fast." "He has also helped to ensure we have had a harmonious dressing room and that is important." How long Waqar will last — officially he is 29, but lax birth registration practices in Pakistan may mean he is several years older — remains to be seen. "I haven’t got a clue," he says. "People have been asking me this question over the last six years but god alone knows." "It all depends on how long my body can hold itself together. But, when I do eventually leave the game, I want to do so with grace." He may feel he has not been treated with much of that in recent weeks. But Waqar, a big favourite when he played for english county surrey, is one of those few sportsmen who will leave an indelible impression on their sports. Some players are remembered by statistics — Courtney Walsh will go down in history as the 519-wicket man — but those fortunate enough to see Waqar in action will remember him in picture form. They will never forget his trademark delivery, the late in-swinging yorker which generally either shattered the stumps or the batsman’s toe bones. With Wasim, Waqar introduced to the sport reverse swing with the old ball, taking 22 wickets on the victorious 1992 tour of England, followed by 16 four years later. "There are plenty of series which stick out in the mind, like the 1992 and 1996 test series here in England," he agrees. 2001, however, is unlikely to join that list. (REUTERS) |
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Gurjeet gets out of turn promotion Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, June 25: Director General of Police, J&K, Mr A K Suri promoted constable Gurjeet Singh, an outstanding hockey player, out of turn to the rank of Head Constable in recognition of his performance. Gurjeet was part of the Indian team which participated in the Samaranch Cup Hockey Tournament at Moscow in Russia, recently. Gurjeet has created history of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and has become the first player from J&K to play for Indian in any international competition. Gurjeet, who is recipient of DGP’s Commendation medal, has represented the State as well as police team in senior nationals and All India Police Hockey Championships. |
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Ist Hot Weather
Tamar Cup Cricket Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, June 25: Luxmi Cricket Club thrashed the host Rehari Cricket Club by six wickets in the pre-quarter finals of the ongoing Ist Hot Weather Tamar Cup Cricket Tournament being held at M A Stadium, here today. Batting first after winning the toss, Rehari Club bowled out for 110 runs in the stipulated 25 overs, which Luxmi Club chased in just 18.1 overs losing only four wickets. Pankaj was the top scorer from Rehari with 30 runs off 32 balls hitting two sixes, while Prince and Charanjit Singh contributed 18 and 12 runs respectively. From Luxmi Club, Amit Dungal took three wickets for 17 runs in five overs, while Rajesh Patha and Varinder Saini shared two wickets each. Seetu bagged one wickets. Batting second, Luxmi Club began their innings on positive note and reached the required target in 18.1 overs with six wickets in hand. Varinder Saini and Amit Dangal made quickfire 24 (off 17 balls, 5x4) and 23 (off 13 balls, 4x4, 6x1) respectively. Rajesh contributed highest 29 runs, while Randhir Nayak added 13 runs. Pankaj Sharma was the most successful bowler from Rehari Club with three wickets for 22 in three overs, while Prince and Parkash Singh took one each. Ravi Kant and Sanjay were umpires in today’s match, while Rohit Dogra was scorer. Tomorrow’s fixture: Shastri Cricket Club V/s Diamond Cricket Club at 7.30am . |
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Sgt Balbir Singh
declared as best player Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, June 25: Extraordinary performance by centre-forward Rajbeer Singh, who struck four goals including a hat-trick, guided last year’s runners-up Maintenance Air Command to lift the Inter-Command Air Force Hockey Championship beating Central Air Command in an easy final which played at K K Hakhu Stadium, here this evening. Rajbeer Singh had sure the Maintenance win in the very first half by completing his hat-trick. He sounded the board in the 18th, 28th and 34th minute to take 3-0 lead. His fourth goal came in the very beginning of the second half in the 38th minute. Later, Balbir Singh led the Maintenance attack and struck twice in the 50th minute, through a penalty stroke, and 68th minute, to make it a big win. Central Air Command, which otherwise played a good game in the league encounters, could not hold a better side of Maintenance to whom they had lost in the league round. The final was officiated by JWO Satbir Singh and JWO Jogesh Singh, both national umpires of the Air Force. Eastern Air Command has finished third beating South-Western Air Command by three goals to nil in the hardliner. Sergent Balbir Singh of the winners Maintenance Air Command was adjudged as best player of the championship. Later, amidst the firing of various colourful cartridges in the air, lowering of the blue colour championship flag accompanied by the buglers in retreat, the seven days long Championship was declared closed by the Air Commodore, R V Kumar, YSM, Senior air Staff Officer, who was chief guest in the final and prize distribution function. In his address, Air Commodore, congratulated the winners and highly appreciated the organisers for historical conduct of the championship in Jammu. He also stated that a healthy mind rests in a healthy body. He suggested the selected probables for the Air Force team to improve the standard of the game, especially inside the circle. Earlier, soon after the end of the final, the chairman Squadron Leader, Jaipal Singh Chauhan welcoming teams called upon them for dedication, which he said is the most essential element in the making of a sportsperson. Station Commander Wing Commander Anil Tiwari thanked all concerned for the successful completion of the championship. Meanwhile, 25 probables have also been selected out of the seven participating Commands for the Air Force team. |
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Rehmat Ali, Happy share main bout in Majalta Kesari dangal Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, June 25: Rehmat Ali of Maller Kotla (Punjab) and Happy of Punjab Armed Police (PAP), Jalandhar shared the main bout (Ist Malli) of the 10th Annual Vishal Majalta Kesari dangal which held at Middle School, Majalta in Udhampur district. Organised by the Dangal Committee, Majalta, dangal held under the aegis of J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association. The final bout, which remained undecided even after a 25 minutes fight, was declared as draw by the organising committee. Both the wrestlers were given an award of Rs 2500 each. Performance of Happy, who is a junior national gold medalist, was appreciated by the large crowd witnessing the dangal. Besides, Rs 2500 cash award, Happy, who was profusely garlanded also got Rs 4500 from the spectators. In another interesting bout Mukha defeated Raju of CRPF, Dera Baba Nanak in a 13 minutes long fight and was awarded Rs 1100, while Raju was given Rs 800 cash prize. Third bout was fought between Billu of Pathankot, Patha Babu coach and Kuldeep Manik of PAP, Jallandhar. Billu emerged victories in nine minute long fight and was awarded with Rs 1000 cash prize. The runners-up, Kuldeep got Rs 700. Dangal was witnessed by around 11,000 people from in and around Majalta. Mr Sewa Singh Mankotia, DySP, Samba was the chief guest in dangal, who distributed prizes among the winners and runners-up in various bouts. Mr Shiv Kumar Sharma, treasurer, India Style Wrestling Federation of India and president of the State Association was the guest of honour. On the occasion, the organisers honoured the chief guest and other distinguished personalities present on the occasion including Ajit Singh Wazir, Sports Officer, Som Raj Gupta, member State Sports Council and veteran Badminton player, Babu Ram, Madan Lal, veteran wrestler from Jallandhar, Biju Pahelwan and Om Parkash from Roun-Domail. Speaking on the occasion, Shiv Kumar said that dangal is a heritage of Majalta and its surrounding villages and being organised every year with the active cooperation of the locals. He said that J&K has lots of talent, but due to lack of exposure at the national level and faulty selection pattern, the deserving wrestlers remained out of picture. Prominent among those who extended support in successful conduct of the dangal were Capt. Anant Ram, Kuldeep Singh, Gouri Singh, Om Parkash, Sohan Singh, Lochan Singh Bandral, Hans Raj, Onkar Singh, Rajesh Singh, Atma Singh, Yudhvir Singh, Suram Chand, Capt Parkash Singh, Jugal Kishore, Karnail Singh, Charan Dass, Ramesh Singh, Mast Ram Sharma, Om Parkash, Vijay Singh, Dharam Singh, Lambardar, Arjun Singh and Nar singh, besides Kuldeep Sigh, who acted as referee. Locan Singh, Om Parkash, Biju Pahelwan and Gouri Singh were technical officials of the dangal. |
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2nd Kulbir
Memorial Cricket Tourney Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, June 25: Cantt Cricket Club outplayed Khalsa Cricket Club by a huge margin of 106 runs in the ongoing 2nd Kulbir Singh Memorial Cricket Tournament being organised by Azad Cricket Club at Model School, Satwari grounds, here today. Batting first after winning the toss, Cantt Club set a big target of 228 runs for the loss of eight wickets in the allotted quota of 20 overs, which Khalsa Club could not chase and the whole side was bowled out for 122 runs in 19 overs. Vicky was the main batsman, who scored brilliant 89 off mere 59 balls, while Sagar and Parshotam contributed 29 and 25 runs respectively. Raj Kumar made 22 runs in just seven deliveries. From Khalsa Club, Rimpal emerged as the most successful bowler with three wickets, while Laddy took two. In reply, Khalsa Club could not maintain the required run rate of over 11 runs per over and the whole side was bowled out for 122 runs in 19 overs. Rampal was the only batsman from Khalsa Club, who played confident shots and scored 34 runs off 24 balls, while Harjeet and Bobby added 26 and 17 runs respectively. Rajesh took four wickets for Cantt Club in three overs, while Jagtar bagged three. Vicky was declared as man of the match for his fine knock of 89 runs. Jaggu and Mini were umpires, while Jimmi maintained the score in today’s match. |
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