Daily Excelsior.........state

Bangladesh beat
Maldives 94-71 in
SAARC Basketball

GUWAHATI, Mar 3: Bangladesh edged past Maldives 94-71 on the second day of the SAARC Men’s Basketball Championship played at the NF Railway Stadium here. The winners led 45-34 at halftime................more

World Boxing Heavyweight Title
Ruiz a happy underdog
against Holyfield

LAS VEGAS, Mar 3: John Ruiz is rated a 2-1 underdog against champion Evander Holyfield for their World Boxing Association Heavyweight Title fight today, and the challenger would have it no other way..........more

India beat Japan
in Asian Youth
Volleyball Champ

CHENNAI, Mar 3: India defeated Japan 25-23, 29-27, 25-19 in the Asian Youth Championship being held at Teheran. According to information received by Volleyball Federation of India executive vice-president K Murugan, Indian boys put up a gallant display ........more

Sybase Open Tennis
Rusedski upsets Hewitt
in quarterfinals

SAN JOSE (CALIFORNIA), Mar 3: Feeling healthy and confident in his new entourage of trainers, Britain’s Greg Rusedski has continued his 2001 revival with a 5-7 6-1 6-4 upset of number two seeded Lleyton Hewitt of Australia in the quarterfinals of the 400,000 dollar sybase open.......more

Outstanding cricketer
denied entry into
examination hall

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 3: Even as the State Government has assured all necessary assistance......more

Physical education
orientation course
for teachers end

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 3: A ten-day long orientation course for the general line teachers in physical......more

Kool Kalam Club wins
Distt Wrestling Champ

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 3: Kool Kalam Club, Arnia lifted the Jammu District Indian Style Wrestling......more

Surinder Singh

Surinder finds berth in
Board President’s XI

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 3: Surinder Singh Bagal, who was earlier selected for the India camp......more

World Boxing Heavyweight Title
Ruiz a happy underdog against Holyfield

"If I was the favorite, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself," says the 29-year-old Ruiz, who has a record of 36-4 going into his 12-round rematch with Holyfield. "I feel comfortable being the underdog."

The odds against Ruiz have shrunk dramatically since his first fight against Holyfield last August, when he was a longshot at nearly 10-1.

Ruiz earned the rematch by putting forth a much better effort than expected, losing to a sluggish holyfield by just one point on two of the judges’ scorecards.

The 38-year-old Holyfield, who will be fighting in his 21st world title bout, said he knows how dangerous an underdog can be and is determined to put on a better show than last time.

"I was once in Ruiz’s shoes," says Holyfield, who has a record of 37-4-1. "I know what it is to be an underdog where nobody is giving you a chance, but this is still my time."

Holyfield fought more like his time was running short with his last showing against Ruiz.

"I was embarrassed by my performance against John Ruiz," says Holyfield. "I knew I could hurt him, so I just kept looking to get him out with one perfect shot instead of throwing combinations.

"My style is about technique. It’s not about making someone pay with one shot. I’m not that kind of fighter. Every time I do that, it seems I end up in a long, drawn out fight. I’ve got to go back to the basics and throw a lot of punches."

Even Ruiz was surprised by Holyfield.

"I really expected more from him," admitted Ruiz. "I expect the best from him this time. I’m prepared for him to come out harder this time."

"He used to be a boxer, but somewhere along the line he decided he’s a brawler. I think he’ll come out swinging and try to knock me out. That will work to my advantage, because what I do best is counterpunch."

Holyfield weighed in at 217 pounds (98 kg) Thursday, four pounds (1.8 kg) less than he weighed for their first fight, which was the heaviest he’s been during his 16 1/2-year career.

Ruiz came in at 227 (103 kg), three pounds (1.36 kg) heavier than for their initial meeting.

There are two other 12-round world championship fights on the card Saturday.

Undefeated WBA light flyweight champion Beibis Mendoza of Colombia will have a rematch against former WBA minimumweight champion Rosendo Alvarez of Nicaragua, and unbeaten International Boxing Federation Bantamweight champion Tim Austin of the US faces undefeated Jesus Perez of Colombia. (REUTERS)

Sybase Open Tennis
Rusedski upsets Hewitt in quarterfinals

Fourth-seed Tommy Haas of Germany was eliminated when he bruised his hip and retired down 5-7 6-3 5-1 to Belgian qualifier Xavier Malisse. Rusedski and Hass will meet in today’s semifinal.

Employing a precise serve-and-volley attack and mixing in steady play from the baseline, Rusedski thoroughly frustrated the 20-year-old Aussie in the third set, breaking him to go ahead 5-4 when he chipped and charged and Hewitt couldn’t lift a backhand crosscourt passing attempt over the net.

Rusedski then held at love to win the match, behind three crisp volleys and a leaping overhead.

"I’m really surprised," said the eighth-seeded Rusedski, who has now beaten three top-10 players this year — Hewitt, Gustavo Kuerten and Marat Safin.

"We’re on a three month plan to change a lot of my strokes and make sure my positions are proper to take stress off my body. They’re small changes but they mean 5 to 10 points a match and if you can those it’s the difference between winning and losing. I wasn’t expecting to win too many matches the first three months, but things are going really well."

After being racked with injury the past three years, Rusedski hired a new coach, Pat Cash, in late November, as well as a biomechanist and two physical trainers.

"It’s been a big plus," said Rusedski of his all-Australian entourage. "Even though I was playing an Aussie today, Pat sent me an e-mail this morning, so I guess the team was pulling for me."

The number six ranked Hewitt was impressed by his opponent’s attacking style.

"His slice and kick serve were really moving and he chip-charged at the right times," said Hewitt, who is scheduled to play tournaments the next five weeks. "There aren’t too many guys who play like greg do. The two times I had beaten him before, I had mixed up my serve well and not given him the opportunity to chip-charge."

The Gangly Rusedski said that in the first set, he was telegraphing his approach shots and was too predictable.

"I was playing pretty well but then I missed some shots and you can’t do that because he punishes you if you give him little chance. I stopped chip-charging every single ball because if you give him target all the time, he knows where to go".

Rusedski — a 1997 US Open finalist who ended 2000 ranked Number 69, his lowest ranking since 1994 — said he is hitting his groundstrokes better than ever and is no longer merely chipping his backhand return of serve and blocking it back on his forehand side.

"I’m a more complete player and I’m serving better," said Rusedski, who has always been one of the tour’s fastest servers but hasn’t always been incredibly accurate. Against Hewitt, Rusedski bombed 10 aces and won 84 percent of his first serve points. "I’ve had a good career."

"I’ve been ranked number four and got to the final of a grand. But all these areas had to be cleaned up and I had to take a risk. If I didn’t, then I could have been faced with a lot of questions. At least I can say to myself when I stop playing that I did everything that I possibly could to win." (REUTERS)

Outstanding cricketer denied entry into examination hall

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 3: Even as the State Government has assured all necessary assistance to upcoming sportspersons of the State, the Superintendent of an examination centre at MAM College refused to allow an outstanding cricketer to appear in an examination.

He has been none else, but Surinder Singh Bagal, first cricketer from the Jammu and Kashmir who was selected for the India camp, said the convener of the Jammu and Kashmir Players Forum, Chandan Singh Chowhan. Surinder called on Chandan and briefed him of the whole episode.

Surinder, who was in Jammu recently for appearing in graduation examination, ran pillar to post in search of the examination hall meant for him with roll number slip in his hands, but all in vain.

During his search for a seat for him, Surinder even pleaded before the Superintendent at MAM College and appraised him of his contribution for the college in sports, but later was adamant on his decision, added Chandan Singh.

Later, Players’ Forum in its meeting held this evening condemned in strong words the attitude of those at the helm of affairs and held both Jammu University and MAM College management responsible for wastage of Surinder’s prestigious time.

It may be recalled that Surinder Singh has also found berth in the Board President’s XI which will take on Australia on March 6.