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Sachin Tendulkar says LONDON, May 7: Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar says that he has drawn on the..........more
I’m bad news for England, KARACHI, May 7: Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar warned Nasser Hussain’s team...........more ST GEORGE’S (GRENADA), May 7: West Indies suffered their third successive crushing defeat ......more Two killed, hundreds TEHRAN, May 7: Another Iranian football spectator died today, raising the death toll to two after....more |
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27th Vishal Dangal at Roun Domail on May 14 Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, May 7: Twentyseventh Vishal Dangal, organised by the Thill Roun-Domail Committee under the aegis of J&K Indian Style Wrestling........more Shiv
elected treasurer of Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, May 7: President of J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association, Shiv Kumar Sharma, has been elected as treasurer of the Indian Style Wrestling Association....more Ist
I K Kotwal Memorial NZ Invitational Badminton Tourney Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, May 7: Host women made a good start when title contenders Madhvi Jolly and Samarika Manhas beat their opponents to reach the last four stage in the Women singles .....more 5th
Mahant Bachiter Singh Memorial Cricket Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, May 6: Rajan Cricket Club reached the final of the 5th Mahant Bachiter Singh Memorial Cricket Tournament beating Combined XI......more |
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Sachin Tendulkar says he drew on
qualities LONDON, May 7: Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar says that he has drawn on the qualities of Sunil Gavaskar and Vivian Richards, but it was the West Indian great that he found inspirational. "Gavaskar had incredible discipline and consistency and the technique to match and Richards had such aggression. He could destroy the best bowling anywhere. I suppose I like to think I’ve got the qualities of both those players, but it was Richards who, I suppose, I found inspirational," says Tendulkar, who, at 16, dreamt of being the best player in the world, in an interview to the Daily Telegraph published today. Of his contemporaries, Tendulkar believes Steve Waugh and Brian Lara are the best. Describing him as a rarity in modern sport, the newspaper says that many, including England’s greatest all rounder Ian Botham who believes Tendulkar could go on to be "the finest of all time," say his best years may still be ahead of him. Tendulkar feels match-fixing in cricket was a "horrible phase and says he was surprised by the depth of the problem. "I think a lot of cricket fans felt badly let down and disappointed. Although I think the game is far too big to be damaged long-term," the young Stalwart said. Tendulkar told interviewer Sebastian Coe "I didn’t expect to read those kind of things in a paper. Luckily, it didn’t affect the morale of the (India) team and I think we all felt our great challenge was to start a new chapter. We were also lucky that our team was a young team and the Indian public did really get behind us". Although he enjoys the cut and thrust of the one-day game, he recognises that the five-day distance is more challenging and "provides the real test for the batsman or the fast bowler." Tendulkar considers himself to be a product of the one-day game. Not for him the tortuous arguments of traditionalists versus modernists. "The one-day game has advanced, not hindered, the traditional test series. It has made cricket far more positive. It has improved, without question, the standard of fielding. It has brought massive changes to the game, but it has made it much faster and has changed the fitness level of everybody. "I don’t see a problem in picking two different types of team and if the player can’t adapt he should be left out." The batting genius considers his greatest innings to have been his 141 against Australia in the Wills International Cup quarter-final in Dhaka in 1998. "Nobody expected us to win. It was the day that everything came together. I can still remember almost every stroke I played that day." His total came from 128 balls with 13 fours and three sixes. It also got him his 30th man-of-the-match award at international level, and he followed this up with bowling figures of four for 38 off little more than nine overs. In the same year, at the age of 25, he set a world record when he scored his 18th limited-overs century, relegating that of Desmond Haynes to second place in the record books. The daily says Tendulkar’s talents were all too briefly on show when he played a season for Yorkshire, in 1992. "It was a tremendous experience and exposure and, in many respects, a highlight for me particularly as I was the first overseas player to play for Yorkshire," he said, although Sir Len Hutton was probably turning in his grave. "I’m sorry I couldn’t stay longer, but there was just no way I could combine five months’ commitment to the Indian team with a County season. I don’t think it will be possible for me to play for a County". Tendulkar is keen to go on chasing records and, in the process, ripping the heart out of the world’s best bowlers. He has established unquestionable superiority over the world class bowlers including Australia’s Shane Warne, who he places among a handful of great bowlers against whom he has played, including Sir Richard Hadley, Malcolm Marshall, Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh, although he is unwilling to rank them. According to Coe, there is little hinterland in Tendulkar’s life. Cricket is all-consuming and, apart from a devotion to his family, everything else is on hold until he retires. "I want to stay as fit as I can for as long as possible and focus all my energy on scoring runs. I don’t like living in the past or the future and I certainly can’t think five years ahead," he said. (PTI) |
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I’m bad news for England, warns slow starter Shoaib KARACHI, May 7: Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar warned Nasser Hussain’s team to prepare for some "bad news" as he flew out from Pakistan to join his team mates in England today. Shoaib, who faces a race against time to try and earn selection for the first test after missing the start of the two-test tour, said: "I am fit and in a proper frame of mind... They (England) haven’t faced me but I am sure they are aware of what I am capable of". "I am sure it is a bad news for the english team." Shoaib, one of the fastest as well as one of the most controversial bowlers in the world and dubbed the "Rawalpindi Express", failed to fly out with the rest of the 17-man squad last week after failing a medical. But he was given permission to travel by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) panel of doctors on Saturday. "Shoaib left Lahore for England on Monday morning and in all probability will be available for the second tour match," director of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Munawwar Rana told Reuters. Shoaib, who has just been cleared after being reported for a suspect bowling action for the second time in his career, missed Pakistan’s test series in New Zealand in March with a thigh injury. The 25-year-old, who has taken 45 wickets in 15 tests, will be challenging Wasim Akram and Mohammad Sami for a place alongside captain Waqar Younis in the Pakistan pace attack. Question marks remain over his match fitness, though. Shoaib, who had not played in a competitive game since February 28, appeared in a club match on Friday but failed to take a wicket in six overs costing 20 runs. He seemed unconcerned, however, adding: "I think this tour will help me put my cricket back on track. "I think I will be more aggressive and fearsome because I will be trying to make up for the lost time." The tourists have two more warm-up matches against County opposition before the first test, starting at Lord’s on May 17. They end their tour with a triangular one-day series also involving Australia. (REUTERS) |
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ST GEORGE’S (GRENADA), May 7: West Indies suffered their third successive crushing defeat when South Africa won the fourth one-day international by eight wickets at Queen’s Park yesterday. Fast bowler Allan Donald took four for 38 as West Indies were restricted to 200 all out after being sent in. Opening batsman Gary Kirsten and stand-in number three Boeta Dippenaar made half-centuries as South Africa cruised to victory with 23 balls to spare. South Africa went 3-1 ahead in the seven-match series. They won the first leg of a double-header by 132 runs at the same venue saturday after an eight-wicket win in St John’s, Antigua, Wednesday. West Indian captain Carl Hooper was 17 minutes late for the toss to the annoyance of the South Africans. Although he made 46 and bowled steadily to take one for 29 he found himself with few options in the field. He looked downcast after the match, but said: "we can still win the series. We have to be optimistic." Hooper added that the batting had been poor. "We were 50 runs short again," he said. Marlon Samuels made a fighting 65 as the West Indies batsmen struggled against a disciplined South African bowling and fielding performance. The hopes of a capacity crowd of about 12000 were ignited briefly when Donald’s first three deliveries were hit for fours by star batsman Brian Lara. Lara made only 25, however, before he became Donald’s first victim, charging down the pitch and edging a simple catch to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher. At that stage West Indies were in deep trouble at 61 for four in the 21st over. Hooper and Samuels put on 67 for the fifth wicket before Hooper was caught at deep midwicket off Donald. Samuels took 26 balls to make his first ten runs but then hit some powerful drives, especially straight down the ground, as he went on to make his 65 off 71 balls with seven fours. Saturday’s man of the match, South African allrounder Jacques Kallis, did not play because of a hamstring injury and was replaced by Justin Kemp, who took three wickets, although he was expensive in conceding 54 runs. Kallis’ injury gave Dippenaar his first chance to bat in an international match on South Africa’s tour, which started in March, and he took his chance by stroking an unbeaten 62 off 109 balls. Herschelle Gibbs and Kirsten gave South Africa a quickfire start, putting on 58 for the first wicket in 10.4 overs, before Kirsten (72) and Dippenaar added 96 in a second wicket stand which made a South African victory certain. South African allrounder Lance Klusener joined Kallis in the injury list when he limped off with a groin injury after bowling one ball of his seventh over. SCORECARD: West Indies C Gayle c Rhodes b Kemp 9 R Powell c Ntini b Kemp 7 S Chanderpaul c Kemp b Ntini 10 B Lara c Boucher b Donald 25 C Hooper c Kemp b Donald 46 M Samuels lbw b Pollock 65 R Jacobs c Pollock b Ntini 8 N McGarrell c Donald b Kemp 2 N McLean c Gibbs b Donald 7 K Jeremy not out 8 C Cuffy c Boucher b Donald 3 Extras (lb-3, w-6, nb-1) 10 Total (all out, 49.3 overs) 200 Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-22, 3-49, 4-61, 5-128, 6-174, 7-177, 8-185, 9-189. Bowling: Pollock 10-3-16-1, Kemp 8.5-0-54-3, Donald 9.3-1-38-4, Ntini 10-1-26-2, Klusener 6.1-0-32-0, Ontong 5-0-31-0. South Africa: H Gibbs c Chanderpaul b Jeremy 27 G Kirsten c Powell b Hooper 72 H Dippenaar not out 62 J Rhodes not out 30 Extras (lb-4, w-2, nb-4) 10 Total (2 wkts, 46.1 overs) 201 Fall of wickets: 1-58, 2-154. Bowling: Cuffy 8-2-36-0, McLean 6-0-34-0, Jeremy 4-0-18-1, McGarrell 4.1-0-21-0, Hooper 10-1-29-1, Gayle 10-0-38-0, Samuels 4-0-21-0. (AFP) |
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Two killed, hundreds hurt in Iran football tragedy: Official TEHRAN, May 7: Another Iranian football spectator died today, raising the death toll to two after stands in an overcrowded football stadium in Northern Iran collapsed injuring close to 300 people, state radio said. Mohammad Jafar Kambouzia, deputy head of the National Physical Education Organisation, said earlier that five people were in serious condition in intensive care, and 106 others still in hospital. A total of 287 people were injured in the collapse yesterday during a bad-tempered cup-tie featuring one of the nation’s most popular teams and a rival first division club. An estimated 25,000-30,000 people were crammed into the 15,000-capacity Mottaqi Stadium in the city of Sari when the Northwest stand fell apart during the match between Pirouzi, who have a nationwide following, and Shamushak. The injured were treated in at least four hospitals, and officials said some patients were sent home last night. Further injured are expected to be released later today. President Mohammad Khatami has asked officials to launch an immediate investigation into the incident, state radio said. (AFP) |
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27th Vishal Dangal at Roun Domail on May 14 Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, May 7: Twentyseventh Vishal Dangal, organised by the Thill Roun-Domail Committee under the aegis of J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association will be held on May 14 at Roun Domail in Udhampur. This was stated by retired Captain Kour Singh, who is Sarpanch and secretary of the organising committee. He said near 60 wrestlers from within and outside the State, besides from J&K Police, BSF, Army are taking part in this Vishal Dangal. Prominent among those participating from outside the State are Rehmat Ali (Maller-Kotla), Moti Singh (UP), Bhura and Billu of Pathankot. Prominent wrestling taking part from State are Rustam-e-J&K 1998, Dheeraj Sharma, Panthal Kesri 1999 and Jammu Kesari 1998, Raju Pahalwan, Mohd Billa, national silver medalist and Suneet Singh of Kalakot, An expenditure of Rs 72,000 has expected to be incurred on this dangal, wherein organisers will provide boarding and lodging to the wrestlers at hotel Basera and Subash guest house at Katra. The winner of the first mali will be awarded with a handsome cash prize, besides a silver Gurj and Patta of Roun-Domail Kesri 2001. Winners in other bouts will also be given attractive cash prizes, informed the organiser Shanker Dass, who is ex-Gram Sevak. Mr Prem Choudhary, NIS wrestling coach and general secretary of the Indian Style Wrestling Association has been appointed as chairman technical committee, while Bansi Lal Tidyal, Prithvi Raj Sharma, Inderjeet Khajuria, Shatrugan Jamwal, Vijay Kumar, Biju Pahalwan, Surma, Rama Kant (Biju Shah) have been named as technical officials. |
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Shiv elected treasurer of national wrestling body Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, May 7: President of J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association, Shiv Kumar Sharma, has been elected as treasurer of the Indian Style Wrestling Association of India in an election meeting held at Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. Shiv Sharma, who is also chairman, selection committee of the State body, was elected unopposed by the members from all over the country. He has also become the first person from J&K who has been elected unanimously to a post at national level because of his sincerity, dedication and devotion towards the promotion of the indigenous game. Other members elected to the Association were Ramashrey Yadav (UP) as president, Rohan Lal (Railways), honorary general secretary, Baba Sahib Landge (Maharashtra), working president, Rajbir Singh (ex-BJP MLA from UP), senior vice-president and Nafe Singh (MLA, Haryana), Surinder Vij (Delhi) and Ustad Ramkrishan (Punjab) were elected as vice-presidents. Bishember Singh (Olympian) of Railways was made chairman technical committee. While as Pankaj Sharma (UP), C L Sahu (MP), Chuni Captain (Rajasthan) and Basant Pawar Patil (Maharashtra) were elected as joint secretaries, besides Surjeet Singh (CRPF), Chotte Lal Sharma, Rajinder Singh (UP) were the new executive members. Lala Ram (UP) was made zonal secretary. Anandeshwar Pandey, secretary general UP Olympic Association and UP Handball Association was observer in the election meeting. Talking to EXCELSIOR on his return from UP, Shiv Sharma informed that the newly elected body has decided that Junior National Championship and Asian Championship will also be organised by the Association in addition to the Senior Nationals. In the Asian Championship, wrestlers from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldeep, Bhutan will participate, he added. To promote the Indian style wrestling in the country, the closed Akahra’s will be revived by the Association not only in Jammu and Kashmir, but throughout the country, he further said. |
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Ist I K Kotwal
Memorial NZ Invitational Badminton Tourney Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, May 7: Host women made a good start when title contenders Madhvi Jolly and Samarika Manhas beat their opponents to reach the last four stage in the Women singles on the opening day of the Ist I K Kotwal Memorial North-Zone Invitational Badminton Tournament began today at Indoor Complex, M A Stadium, here today. The finalists of the last year’s open tournament, which was held in Chandigarh, Sharda (winner) and Mala Gaba (runners-up) of Chandigarh too have qualified for the semi-finals in the women singles beating their opponents in easy straight set games. In men section, state champion, Rahul Sharma and State number two Avneesh Sharma also won their respective ties to advance into the second round. However, in the Junior boys singles, Vikram Jolly of J&K lost to Varun of Chandigarh in equal straight sets of 4-15, 4-15. Whereas, in the second match, Vikram Saini managed his victory over Kundvi of Haryana in close sets of 15-13, 15-12. In Junior girls, Madhvi Jolly defeated Parmeeta of Chandigarh 11-7, 11-5 to reach the semi-finals. In another match in the same group, Mala Gaba of Chandigarh outplayed Neeta Mathur of Rajasthan 11-7, 11-5 to sail into the semi-finals. Earlier, the tournament was declared open by the former Minister and provincial president of National Conference, Mr Bodh Raj Bali amidst cultural programme by the tiny tots of the Cooperative School. Mr G M Jan, MLA, presided over the function. Later, 56 pages souvenir was also released by Mr Jan. Only two States of Chandigarh and Rajasthan have field their women teams for this tournament. So, the hosts J&K eves have a lot of winning chances in both Junior and Women groups, especially Madhvi Jolly and Samarika Manhas. In all, 40 players including 18 from Jammu and Kashmir have registered themselves for the singles and doubles events in the junior and Senior groups. They are from Chandigarh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan. Team from National Capital Delhi could not report. The 18-member team of host Jammu and Kashmir is being represented by Rahul Sharma, Avnish Sharma, Pawanjit Singh, Som Raj Gupta, Arunav, Vipin, Makrand, Mohit Jain, Rajesh Aggarwal, Mohit Aggarwal and Vinit Aggarwal in Men section. In women, Madhvi Jolly, Samarika Manhas, Nishu, Jyoti, Kanchan and Shweta are the contestants. Today’s detailed results Men’s singles: Varun Sharma of Chandigarh beat Sukhvinder of Haryana 15-6, 15-10; Navdeep of Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) got walkover against Harinder Singh of Punjab; Avneesh Sharma of J&K beat Piyush of Haryana 15-10, 15-9; Ram Lakhan of PSEB beat Mayank Behl of Punjab 17-15, 15-10; Rahul Sharma of J&K beat Ram Karan of Haryana 15-12, 14-15, 15-6. Women’s singles: Sharda of Chandigarh beat Deepa Mathur of Rajasthan 11-4, 11-2; Madhvi Jolly of J&K beat Parmeeta Verma of Chandigarh 11-1, 11-1; Mala Gaba of Chandigarh beat Neeta Mathur of Rajasthan 11-3, 11-3; Samarika Manhas of J&K beat Isha Sharma of Chandigarh. |
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5th Mahant Bachiter
Singh Memorial Cricket Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, May 7: Rajan Cricket Club reached the final of the 5th Mahant Bachiter Singh Memorial Cricket Tournament beating Combined XI by 39 runs in the second semi-final played at Simbal, here. Earlier, batting first after winning the toss, Rajan Club set a target of 169 runs in the allotted 20 overs, which Combined XI could not chase and the whole side was bowled out for 130 runs in the 19 overs. Ankit was highest scorer with 46 runs off 36 balls including four boundaries, while Funny contributed 30 runs hitting three fours. Inderjeet (26 runs off 19 balls) and Prince (21 runs off 13 balls, 4x4) were other two main scorers. From Combined XI, Janak took four wickets including a hat-trick, while Mantoo and Gurdev bagged three and two wickets respectively. Batting second, Combined XI lost all the wickets for 130 runs when 19th over was in progress. Pinttoo was the top scorer with 25 runs, while Raju and Gurdev added quick 21 (off 15) and 24 (19) runs respectively. Harmeet added 17 runs. Prince and Funny took three wickets each for Rajan Club, while Inderjeet and Ankit shared two each. Prince was declared man of the match for his valuable contribution of 31 runs and three wickets. He was given the man of the match trophy by Jagjeet Singh, Sarpanch. Rumy and Goldy were umpires, while Ajmeet Singh was scorer. Meanwhile, the organisers have decided to hold the final between Rajan Cricket Club and Shine Star, R S Pura by the next week. |
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