NEW DELHI, May 16: Former India opening batsman Chetan Chauhan, who performed successfully ..............more

Is India having second
thoughts about ICC
Knock out Tourney?

NEW DELHI, May 16: With the ticklish question of playing cricket against Pakistan yet to be sorted .......more

Divya threatens
to go to court

BANGALORE, May 16: Former national junior champion Divya Ramesh today threatened the Badminton Association of India that she would go to court for "ignoring" her for the coming Sudirman Cup World Badminton Championships .......more

India’s back-to-back goals
keep U S from advancing

BUENOS AIRES, May 16: Adline Kerketa slapped in back-to-back goals as India stunned the United States 2-0 in field hockey, dashing the U S hopes of qualifying for the championship round of the Women’s Junior World Cup.....more

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 16: The Jammu and Kashmir State is participating in the 8th International Pantholan High School Karate.......more

Inter-school tourney of
Gandhi Nagar zone ends

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, May 16: Inter-school competitions of Gandhi Nagar zone organised by the Department of Youth Services and Sports......more

DG NCC inaugurates
GCWP cell in J&K

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 16: Director General, National Cadets Corps (NCC) Lt Gen A S Rao, PVSM, AVSM, today declared........more

Judo competitions begin

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, May 16: Judo competitions of the Regional Coaching Centre Jammu begins today at Indoor halls of M A Stadium, here today.......more

Lt Gen A S Rao, PVSM, AVSM, Director General NCC planting a sapling at DBN Vidya Mandir at Jammu on Wednesday. -Excelsior/Ashok

Chauhan manager administration for Zimbabwe tour

NEW DELHI, May 16: Former India opening batsman Chetan Chauhan, who performed successfully as administrative manager of the Indian team in the recent home series against Australia, has been retained in the post for the forthcoming tour of Zimbabwe.

"I have been told by board president Dr A C Muthiah on phone about my appointment," the cricketer-turned-politician told PTI here today.

The Zimbabwe tour, from May 28 to July 7, will be the first major tour by the Indian team after the match-fixing scandal led to the banning of four cricketers - Mohammed Azharuddin, Ajay Sharma (both by BCCI.

In the modern context, the administrative manager’s responsibilities would also extend to keeping a wary eye on the players off the field and protecting them from suspicious persons trying to get close to them.

Chauhan, 53, who has been member of parliament twice, was the legendary Sunil Gavaskar’s most successful partner and scored 2,084 runs in 40 tests at an average of 31.57. (PTI)

Is India having second thoughts about ICC
Knock out Tourney?

NEW DELHI, May 16: With the ticklish question of playing cricket against Pakistan yet to be sorted out, the Indian Cricket Board today said it was "not necessarily keen" to host the ICC Knock out Tournament next year.

"We have asked ICC (International Cricket Conference) to come out with the details," board secretary Jaywant Lele told reporters here today.

After a visit to the North Zone Cricket Academy here, Lele said "we don’t know the terms and conditions, particularly revenue sharing, offered to Bangladesh and Kenya for hosting the previous editions. This whole matter will be discussed at ICC’s annual meeting in London in Pune. Till then we are not necessarily keen to host the tournament".

While Lele did not mention the issue of Pakistan’s participation, Sports Minister Uma Bharti is on record saying that the ban on playing cricket was on bilateral series between India and its neighbour and there was no hitch about participating in multi-lateral tournaments.

Bharti also had assured full support, including tax exemption for the tournament when ICC president Malcolm Speed met her here last month.

India had hosted the 1987 World Cup jointly with Pakistan and Sri Lanka joined these two countries for co-hosting the 1996 edition.

Weatherwise too, Lele said September, when the tournament is proposed to be held, would not be a suitable time of the year as it would be raining all over the country except, maybe, in Chennai and Bangalore.

He confirmed that India would be going to Australia in September this year to participate in a three-match one-day series against that country.

The first two matches, to be played on September 14 and 16, would be indoors in Melbourne while the final one on September 18, would be outdoors in Brisbane.

"The arrangement for the series is on reciprocal basis and in return, Australia will play three one-dayers in India next year," the board secretary said.

After inspecting the facilities offered to the trainees at Ferozeshah Kotla here, Lele said he was happy and satisfied with the way the National Cricket Academy and its zonal branches were functioning.

"I have visited all except the East Zone Academy which is being visited by board consultant Geoff Marsh of Australia in a day or two," he said.(PTI)

Divya threatens to go to court

BANGALORE, May 16: Former national junior champion Divya Ramesh today threatened the Badminton Association of India that she would go to court for "ignoring" her for the coming Sudirman Cup World Badminton Championships and for the "continuous injustice" done to her by BAI.

In a statement, she said "gross injustice has been done" to her by not selecting her for the Indian team participating in the championships to be held in Spain from May 28.

"There is no justification in denying a place to me in the team for the World Cup, she argued. Since the first position player is not participating, the second and third position players become automatically eligible for selection, according to her.

"They (BAI) have selected the fourth position player by ignoring me, which is a gross injustice to me. The ranking system they (BAI) cite is only followed for the women’s selection and not for men," she alleged.

Giving several other "reasons" for supporting her claim, she said "I have never behaved impolitely with anyone and I think I have nowhere to go except court, when there is continuous injustice, since so many years."

Incidentally, Divya had recently served a legal notice on BAI, among others, for "ignoring" her for the championships. BAI secretary S S Mani had said association would ignore the legal notice. (PTI)

India’s back-to-back goals keep U S from advancing

BUENOS AIRES, May 16: Adline Kerketa slapped in back-to-back goals as India stunned the United States 2-0 in field hockey, dashing the U S hopes of qualifying for the championship round of the Women’s Junior World Cup.

India overpowered the United States yesterday by playing a faster game from start to finish. Outwitting an American defense that was momentarily distracted, Kerketa rushed into the circle in the fourth minute and slammed home India’s first goal.

The Americans were still smarting when Kerketa came back a minute later with yet another swift attack, lunging and falling as she scored. The angle of attack was too sharp for American goalkeeper Carey Fetting-Smith, who otherwise had some good saves elsewhere in the match.

With its second straight loss in as many days, the United States saw any chances dashed of reaching the championship round of the under 20s event. On Monday, New Zealand trounced the Americans 3-1 in their tournament-opening match at a stadium in Southern Buenos Aires.

Led by the defending champion Netherlands, some 15 teams from around the world were battling it out to reach the title round that begins Saturday, culminating in the championship match May 26.

Assistant U S coach Jon O’haire was disappointed with the Americans’ failure to withstand the sure-footed attack by India. But he insisted the Americans simply let their guard down, despite what appeared to be a slight edge by India in both stickwork and attacking. (AP)

J&K Karatekas to take part in international championship

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 16: The Jammu and Kashmir State is participating in the 8th International Pantholan High School Karate and Kick Boxing championship 2001 being organised by Ministry of Youth and Sports NKF Olympic Committee of Nepal.

As per a release 18 member state contingent has been selected in a 10-day selection-cum-coaching trial camp held at Jammu University under the guidance of Chief Coach Mr Joginder Singh. A total of 30 karatekas participated in the said camp.

In senior (boys) the selected Karatekas are Anil Mehra, Bhushan Sharma, Rajan Sharma, Pardeep Kumar, Som Dutt, Balvinder Kumar, Karan Raj, Romesh Chander (IRP) and Sunil Kumar. In junior (boys) the selected players are Ashwani Uppal, Shamsher Singh and Ashish Bhardwaj. In the Sub junior the players are Vipan Chatri, Akash Chatri, Pawan Singh, Rajesh Kumar, Sahil Sharma and Akash Gupta.

The state contingent is leaving Jammu for Kathmandu on May 19 and shall return on May 29. One team each from eighteen states of the country shall participate in the championship. These included from J&K, Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, MP, HP, UP, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.