NEW DELHI, Mar 5: The three-day cricket match between Board President’s XI and the visiting Australian side starting here tomorrow has narrowed down to just one significance - the performance of Saurav Ganguly.......more

Former Olympian
for revival of
sports with Pak

NEW DELHI, Mar 5: Former hockey Olympian Aslam Sher Khan today urged the Government to not put restrictions on playing against Pakistan, saying sports and sports lovers of hockey and cricket in India were the losers by having such a policy...........more

India beats Nepal
in SAARC basketball
last league match

GUWAHATI, Mar 5 : Formidable India thrashed lowly placed Nepal 156-33 in their last league match of the first SAARC Basketball Championship at Maligaon here. The winners were leading at 80-22 at half time at N F Railway stadium. ....more

Agassi says Rusedski
not ready to win Slam

SAN JOSE, (California) March 5: Greg Rusedski would love to become the first British.....more

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 5: Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Council, the regulatory authority of the Sports in the State, has asserted.......more

Vishwa Bandhu Knockout Cricket Tourney
Singh Club beat Krishna
by 72 runs to enter semis

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 5: Singh Cricket Club registered emphatic 72 runs victory over Krishna Cricket Club to enter the semi-finals.....more

Water Sports Complex
to be set up at
Akhnoor: Harbans

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, Mar 5: The Minister for Labour and Sports, S. Harbans Singh has said that the Government contemplates.....more

APS Udhampur
celebrates annual
Sports Day

Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Mar 5: Army Public School (APS) Udhampur, celebrated annual Sports Day.......more

Onus on Ganguly to excel in today’s three-dayer

NEW DELHI, Mar 5: The three-day cricket match between Board President’s XI and the visiting Australian side starting here tomorrow has narrowed down to just one significance - the performance of Saurav Ganguly.

For, the Indian captain, who came in for a lot of flak both for his failure with the bat and poor leadership in the Mumbai test, took an extra-ordinary step by including himself in the Board President’s side ostensibly to get vital match practice ahead of the crucial second test at Kolkata within a week’s time.

The effort shows the captain’s willingness to learn and work hard and bodes well for the team. Ganguly will get enough opportunities himself both as batsman and as captain when he leads Board President’s team against an Australian side minus vice-captain Adam Gilchrist, suffering from a hip strain.

But it will also put unnecessary pressure on him and the Aussies are sure to exploit that. It would be a test of nerves for the Indian captain in the way he handles his job.

Another man whose importance has been somewhat relegated to the background is leg-spinner Narendra Hirwani, whose inclusion in the squad after six years might have surprised the bowler himself.

The veteran leg-spinner, best remembered for taking 16 wickets in his debut test against West Indies, a world-record equalling effort which still stands, will be under close scrutiny of the selectors especially after the spinners failed to trouble the Aussies much in Mumbai.

Hrishikesh Kanitkar, Sridharan Sriram, Vijay Dahiya, Mohd Kaif, Sharandeep Singh and Jacob Martin have been in and out of the Indian team and they surely would like to make the best of this opportunity. So would Vinayak Mane, who played for Mumbai in the second three-dayer and impressed with his performance.

The Australians start clear favourites. They struggled in the first two tour games, coming very near to defeat against Ranji champions Mumbai, but bounced back when it mattered most to record their 16th straight test win.

The Australians, who arrived here yesterday, have looked very relaxed and are taking it easy. Only half the team turned out for practice at the Ferozshah Kotla grounds yesterday and decided not to have any net sessions today.

The team left for agra for sight-seeing and is expected to return only late in the evening.

But the thorough professionals that they are, the Aussies can be expected to play to their full strength tomorrow. (PTI)

Former Olympian for revival of sports with Pak

NEW DELHI, Mar 5: Former hockey Olympian Aslam Sher Khan today urged the Government to not put restrictions on playing against Pakistan, saying sports and sports lovers of hockey and cricket in India were the losers by having such a policy.

Khan, who is with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has spoken on telephone with Sports Minister Uma Bharti on this issue and will be meeting her soon to impress upon her to reconsider the decision.

Politics should not be linked to sports, Khan, a former Member of Parliament told UNI.

The full back, who scored the winner against Pakistan in the final of the 1975 World Cup at Kuala Lumpur, said there was no better a contest than an India-Pakistan one when it came to hockey and cricket.

It was because of such thrilling encounters that sports got a boost in the country. And, for sportsmen there was no better an arena to raise their performance to the highest level than when playing against Pakistan.

"Whatever happens in the end everybody in the country looks forward to the result when India plays Pakistan. This pressure forces Indian sportsmen to play their best. It helps establish confidence among our players", Khan, who is planning to start a hockey academy in Bhopal soon, said.

He urged the Government to reconsider its earlier decision and start sporting ties with Pakistan once again. (UNI)

India beats Nepal in SAARC basketball last league match

GUWAHATI, Mar 5 : Formidable India thrashed lowly placed Nepal 156-33 in their last league match of the first SAARC Basketball Championship at Maligaon here.

The winners were leading at 80-22 at half time at N F Railway stadium.

The Nepal team looked jittery on the field and missed several chances except for B Maharajan who scored nine points.

For the hosts it was captain Parminder Singh who sparkled with 21 points to be closely followed by J Muralidharan and S Drobnson who scored 20 each.

Buoyed by a partisan vociferous crowd the Indian men, who had already qualified for the final following yesterday’s match, began with a bang and were on a scoring spree right from the word go.

India will meet the winner of the match between Bangladesh and Maldives in tomorrow’s final. (PTI)

Agassi says Rusedski not ready to win Slam

SAN JOSE, (California) March 5: Greg Rusedski would love to become the first British man since Fred Perry in 1936 to win Wimbledon, but according to Andre Agassi, the powerful serve-and-volleyer is not ready for the Grand Slam winner’s circle.

"To win a slam you have to fall back on more than just your strengths," said Agassi after getting upended 6-3 6-4 by Rusedski in the final of the Sybase Open yesterday

"That’s why you see a lot of really talented good players not pull it off. That’s not a discredit to greg, he just beat me and he can play great, but there are 50 guys who can play well. You’re going to have those matches in a Slam when you’re playing bad or not at you best," said Agassi, who won his third Australian Open title in January.

"What’s difficult for Greg is when he’s not sharp," Agassi continued. "You need the ability to fall back on something. While he’s a huge threat offensively when he’s playing well, over seven matches you’ll always run into guys who are going to make you do something on the days you’re not so sharp.

"That’s what makes winning a slam so hard. He’s one of the most dangerous players out there, but that’s a whole different program than a winning a Slam," added Agassi, one of only five men who have won all four major tennis titles.

US Open runner-up

Rusedski’s best result in a Grand Slam came in 1997 at the US Open, when he lost the final in four sets to Patrick Rafter. His best result at Wimbledon was a quarter-final finish that same year.

Since then, Rusedski has been beset by injuries, including a foot ailment last year that all but took him off the tour.

Even with Rusedski apparently in good health and brimming with confidence, Agassi is not convinced that the big left-hander has the game to carry him to victory in a major on a bad serving day.

"You have to beat a variety of guys to win any Slam," Agassi said. "Greg is not a real clean hitter of the ball. When you play a fast surface like grass and you play guys who are coming in you have to make the shots".

"There’s no question, he can hold serve and he’ll pose a lot of problems. There are a lot of guys he matches up well against, but to win a Slam you have to beat seven guys and there’s a heck of a chance they’re the best guys in the world."

More than one-weapon warrior

Rusedski disagreed with Agassi’s assessment of his abilities, telling Reuters that he is much more than a one-weapon warrior.

"I’m a much more complete player today than I was in ’97," Rusedski said. "I know I’ve never managed to win a Slam but the U S Open final was a good stepping stone".

"I haven’t been healthy. The thing is if I keep building my game and improving, it’s a real possibility," said the Canadian-born Briton.

"If Sampras has a bad day serving he’s usually out of there as well," Rusedski said of the 13-time Grand Slam champion.

"If Andre has a bad day returning, he’s usually out of there. I think I’m better off the ground than U was and my return of serve is better," he continued.

"This year, I’ve beaten three players who have been ranked number one — Agassi, Gustavo Kuerten and Marat Safin. That proves that I am better than I was."

The 27-year-old Rusedski said intensive work with a new team of trainers has helped him physically.

"I’m healthier and that increases my chances more of lasting for seven matches at a Slam. I’ve never played better at any stage of my career than I am now," he said.

Agassi, owner of seven major titles, noted that mental toughness, which Rusedski has lacked in the past, is often what separates the Grand Slam champions from the rest.

After picking up his 10th career title at Agassi’s expense, the 6-foot-4 (1.93 m) Rusedski bristled at the suggestion that he lacks mental toughness, insisting that it has been his health and strokes that have held him back.

"I’ve always been mentally strong but it’s technically where I haven’t been as good," he said.

"Now my technique is becoming so good and I’m physically feeling great so it will come down to a mental thing, and I like that."(REUTERS)

Sports Council asserts, grills J&K Boxing Asso

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 5: Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Council, the regulatory authority of the Sports in the State, has asserted its powers while highlighting the inside stories about the ‘so called sports promoters.

According to the sources, the Council, in its high level meeting, has expressed concern over the plights of some of the Associations which only do business outside the State paying little attention towards the promotion of games at the domestic level. By ignoring the domestic activities, these associations are doing injustice to the hidden talent in the districts other than Jammu, an officer of the Council said while presenting his view point, sources added.

In one such case, the Secretary, State Sports Council, Sheikh Fazal Ahmed has said that the J&K Boxing Association has failed to hold its domestic activities even after getting the advance grant of Rs 7,500 from the Council in the month of November.

The Council repeatedly stated that it is obligatory upon the sports associations recognised by the Sports Council to conduct the domestic activities in the State before fielding the teams for Nationals, he said and added that the dates for the same should be arranged in such a way that competitions are held in all categories and cream thereof should be fielded for coaching camp prior to the participation in any National level championship, so that desired results achieved.

In a letter written to the general secretary of the J&K Amateur Boxing Association, the Secretary said that the working of Boxing Association was contrary to the said procedure which obstructed the release of funds for Seniors and Sub-juniors National participations. It added that the Boxing Association’s proposal for domestic activities was approved by the Sports Council in November 2000 and advance grant of Rs 7,500 was released for organising local competitions. But no such competitions were conducted by the Association and retained the funds and deputed the teams for the nationals in violation of the Council guidelines and provisions.

The letter further read that, "the activities of Association within the State are practically nil and it is due to the sustained training imparted by the Sports Council coaches in the said game that some young boxers have returned with medals in the recently held Sub-junior National Championship, which the Association claims as its achievement".