Daily Excelsior.........sports

Wet outfield prevents
play on first day
India-SA test

EAST LONDON (South Africa), Nov 10: The beleaguered Indian team was once again denied vital .........more

MANDI (HP), Nov 10: An outstanding five wicket haul by Shakti Singh and three wickets by Vishal Bhatia converted an otherwise draw match into a 46-run win for hosts Himachal Pradesh on the fourth and final day of their North-Zone Ranji Trophy league encounter with Jammu and Kashmir today..........more

DPS organises inter-school painting competition

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 10: Delhi Public School, Jammu in collaboration with Jyoti Talent Boosting Centre, Jammu organised inter school painting competition.....more

Inter-college competitions
Kathua beats
Rajouri in Football

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 10: Degree College Kathua thrashed Degree College, Rajouri 9-0 in the opening match of the Inter-college Football competitions being organised by the Directorate of Physical Education, University of Jammu at Campus grounds, here today.......more

Raghav—the World Golf champion in offing
* J&K’s India No.1
golfer wants to play
with Chief Minister

By Sanjeev Sharma

JAMMU, Nov 10: The 12-year old golfer of Jammu and Kashmir, Raghav Wahi has attained the India No.1 position....more

Royal Health SPA
introduced in Hari
Niwas Palace Hotel

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 10: To provide health conscious people with the best possible infra-structural facilities and expert guidance......more

Late Varun Memorial Basketball Championship
Semis position
cleared in women

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 10: The semi-finals line-up has been drawn in the women’s section, while Tiger Sports Club, BSF, Jammu and J&K Police have reached the.....more

National Unity Day
Debate, evening of classical music mark celebrations

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 10: Debate on ‘War leads to Peace’ and an evening of classical music marked the.....more

Wet outfield prevents play on first day India-SA test

EAST LONDON (South Africa), Nov 10: The beleaguered Indian team was once again denied vital match practice when wet outfield prevented play from starting on the opening day of the four-day game against South Africa ‘A’ here today.

Though there were no rains today, intermittent showers last evening had rendered the ground unfit to play.

The Indians twice visited the ground in the hope that the wet outfield would improve sufficiently for the game to begin but despite bright sunshine no play was possible.

This is the only practice game before the two back to back test matches against South Africa.

The Indians’ previous practice game at Kimberly ahead of the first test was also abandoned due to wet field. India went into the Bloemfontein test with some players who did not have any match-practice at all and lost the match by nine wickets.

The second test starts in Port Elizabeth on November 16. (PTI)

Himachal beat J&K by 46 runs

Resuming at the overnight score of 38 without loss, J and K played confidently but suffered the first blow in the 17th over with Ranjeet Bali.

Raju Sharma and Kanwaljeet Singh followed by Dhruv powered the innings with boundaries and took the score past 150. The visitors lost three wickets within a span of four overs and that all of the difference for them.

However, a brilliant half-century by Vijay Sharma for the seventh wicket revived the hopes of the visitors tourists before he became Shakti Singh’s fourth victim. The tail enders threw their wickets and J and K were all out for 257 runs with just a ball to spare.

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Punjab win by 118 runs

AMRITSAR: Punjab bowled out Services for 223 in their second innings to register a comprehensive 118 run victory in a North Zone Ranji Trophy league match here today.

A fighting 114 runs from Jasvir Singh could not save Services, who resumed at their overnight 13 for one while chasing 342 for a win, from their second successive defeat in the tournament.

Opener P M S Reddy (36) and first innings double centurion Yashpal Singh (22) were the other notable scorers for Services but the day belonged to Punjab’s Vineet Sharma who took six wickets to wreak havoc with the visitors’ batting line-up.

Resuming at their overnight 13 for one, Services, who had taken a 56-run first innings lead, were going on smoothly with Reddy and Jasvir scoring fluently. They took the total to 122 before reddy was bowled by Sandeep Sawal.

Jasvir then added 58 runs for the third wicket with Yashpal Singh who was run out for 22. The dismissal of Yashpal saw a total collapse as the rest seven wickets fell with the addition of just 41 runs.

Jasvir Singh batted for 293 minutes and hit 15 boundaries and three sixes in his 114. C D Thomson contributed an useful 35 runs but the rest of the batsmen simply caved in to Vineet Sharma who finished with figures of six for 61 from his 24 overs.

Punjab had scored 300 in their first innings to which Services had replied with 356. In their second innings, Punjab declared at 397 for three setting a target of 342 for the visitors. (PTI)

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delhi record their second straight ranji trophy win

NEW DELHI, Nov 10:

Spearheaded by Gautam Gambhir who scored quick fire 107, and his 101 first wicket stand with Akash Chopra helped Delhi trounced Haryana by six wickets to chalk out their second successive win in the North Zone Ranji Trophy league here today.

With this win, Delhi has 16 points from two matches while Haryana has eight from two outings.

Haryana had scored 316 in their first innings and conceded 11 runs lead as Delhi scored 327 runs in their first essay. Haryana set up a victory target of 191 for the hosts as they were all out for 201 in their second innings.

Delhi achieved the victory target scoring 193 for 4, half an hour before tea this afternoon.

Ghambir and Chopra thrashed Haryana bowlers all over the ground and raced to a 101 run stand in 18.4 overs before Chopra was caught at silly point by Shafiq Khan of Amit Mishra. The opener made 30 runs with the help of six boundaries.

Ghambir and Radhey Shyam Gupta were involved in 61 run second wicket partnership which was broken by medium pacer Nitin Aggarwal.

Ghambir edged Aggarwal and Ajay Ratra took a smart catch. His knock of 107 came off 86 balls and included 22 boundaries. He was at the crease for 137 minutes.

Skipper Mithun Manhas was out on the very first ball he faced as Chetan Sharma took a good catch at forward square leg.

Gupta and Pradeep Chawla added 19 runs off 15 balls for the 4th wicket before Gupta was caught by Sumit Narwal at deep square leg to give Aggarwal his third wicket.

Chawla (11, 2x4) and Sohail Rouf (2) chipped in 12 runs for 5th wicket without getting separated to enable Delhi to race to an easy win.

Earlier resuming at their overnight score of 180 for 8, Haryana lost their ninth wicket on the same score as Vijay Ratra was out of the third ball of the first first over. Ratra edged leg spinner Abhishek Sharma and Chawla took a fine catch. Ratra hit 5 boundaries in his knock of 30.

Gaurav Vashisht and Aggarwal added 21 runs for the last wicket off 16.2 overs before Vashisht (19,2x4) was caught by Radhey Shyam Gupta at silly point off Sharma.

Sharma was the most successful bowler claiming five wickets for 37 runs. (UNI)

DPS organises inter-school painting competition

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 10: Delhi Public School, Jammu in collaboration with Jyoti Talent Boosting Centre, Jammu organised inter school painting competition.

In all eleven schools of city took part in the competition, young children below 10 years of age took part in expressing their creativity freely.

The programme was inaugurated by Dr Ashwani Kumar Arora and Master Chela Ram, the source of inspiration behind the programme gave his blessings.

The Principal of the School welcomed the guests and the judges which included Mr Shanti Swaroop, Mr Rohit Verma and Mr Bhushan Kesar.

In Group-A, Netika Kapoor of New Era Environmental High School bagged first prize, Siddhant of Delhi Public School got second prize and Apoorva Saraf of Delhi Public School got consolation prize.

In Group-B, Rishika Kohli of DPS bagged first prize, Radika Khajuria of DBN Amarvila, second and Avni Singh of Shangrilla High School, third prize respectively. Meenakshi Abrol of Army School Kaluchak got consolation prize.

In Group-C, Aviral Singh of DPS got first prise, Arjun Chandan of JK Public, second and Rohit Ray of New Era Environmental School, third prize. Ajay verma of Shangrilla High School bagged consolation prize.

Raghav—the World Golf champion in offing
* J&K’s India No.1 golfer wants to play with Chief Minister

By Sanjeev Sharma

JAMMU, Nov 10: The 12-year old golfer of Jammu and Kashmir, Raghav Wahi has attained the India No.1 position in just two years of his active play and has won 11 trophies from as many tournaments including one in the Asia Pacific.

Not only in the country, Raghav has become the first Indian to cut the world ranking after finishing at No. 14 in the 33rd World Golf Championship held at California.

The hidden talent in Raghav was spotted by none but his golfer father Sanjay Wahi, who introduced former to the royal game at the Border Security Force (BSF) golf course in 1993.

Raghav, who is 1989 born, started learning the basics as soon as he picked up the clubs under the guidance of former Inspector General of BSF, Dr Surinder Singh, who is a regular at the BSF Golf Course.

After three years of regular intensive training, Raghav participated in the first tournament in 1999—Northern India Junior and Sub-junior Golf and finished third in the 5-8 years group.

Thereafter, he never looked back and refused to return empty handed from the tournaments he participated. From the 11 tournaments he attended so far, Raghav clinched first positions on four occasions. He had finished fourth in the Asia pacific.

At this young age Raghav did what his father has not. He achieved the distinction of entering the list of a few individuals for making hole- -in-one at the BSF golf course.

He has achieved the number one position in India in Junior circuit after he clinched the first position in the All India Golf Tournament held at Delhi Golf Club. It was followed by his participation, alongwith six other golfers in the 33rd Annual World Golf Championship held in San Diego, California in the 9-10 years division where he finished at No. 14.

At present Raghav is preparing himself for a handful of Junior and Sub-junior Golf Tournaments this season. He will start from South India to be held at Bangalore, West India at Bombay, East India and All India Golf Tournament at Kolkata.

Raghav’s father, Sanjay Wahi, himself a golfer of national repute remained like shadow with his son during the last two years of Raghav’s participation in the national and international tournaments.

"Every parent has a dream that their wards attain some top positions in life for which they work day and night to push them towards that ultimate aim. So, I have a dream that my son becomes a world champion one day and I have devoted myself accordingly" said elder Wahi.

"To participate in all the ranking tournaments in India, it took four to five months to cover the season, besides another month for Asia Pacific and I have to remain with him throughout the season", he explained. Besides, Sanjay has a daily routine of accompanying his son to the BSF golf course for three to four hours practice sessions.

However, Sanjay Wahi is now in search of some sponsorship for his son’s care in his absence. "We are making efforts for sponsorship and I am sure, the way Raghav is playing, some sports company will definitely recognise the achievements of this young golfer of Jammu and Kashmir", hoped Sanjay.

A student of KC Public School, Raghav is good in studies. When asked how he managed both studies and game, Raghav said in polite tune, "I have scheduled my whole day in such a way that it never disturbs me in handing my studies and game. I also play cricket during my leisure time in the school".

Asked about his favourite golfer, he was quick to name Tiger Woods. "Like Tiger Woods, who is my favourite golfer, I want to become a professional golfer and attain the number one position in the world", said confident Raghav.

However, after playing with every senior golfer at the BSF golf course, Raghav wants to play with the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah.

Father of golf in Jammu, Dr Surinder Singh, who used to give tips to Raghav said, "Since he possess necessary physical capabilities of becoming an international golfer, I am paying more attention to make him mentally strong, because I myself lacked on that part", adding that the golf is a game of temperament, so making one psychologically and mentally forceful at this young age, will pay a key role in the crucial later stages.

Dr Surinder is a regular companion of Raghav at the three-hour daily evening practice sessions at the BSF Golf Course, where a number of other top BSF and civil personalities use to play.

"Raghav is one of us and he used to beat the seniors, including me at the course. After taking the first tee-off, this young fellow play shoulder to shoulder fighting for every hole".

However, Raghav’s uncle, Kuldeep Wahi, who is also a senior golfer, demanded a private civil golf course on the line of those in Kashmir. "In Kashmir the State Government has developed two golf courses, including one of international standard and ensured the presence of two coaches over there, but nothing has come-up in Jammu during all these years".

In Jammu there are only two playable golf courses, one that of Army at Nagrota and another managed by the BSF at the BSF Headquarters, Paloura