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| Sodhi, Harvinder
to play against Kenya PORT ELIZABETH (South Africa), Oct 15: Buoyed by two big wins in successive matches, India have decided to give their reserves a chance in their next game against Kenya here on Wednesday............more Young Americans WINSTON-SALEM (North Carolina), Oct 15: Andy Roddick and James Blake both won the reverse singles as the U S secured their place in next year’s world group with a 4-1 Davis Cup qualifying round victory over India..................more It took time, but Capriati FILDERSTADT (Germany), Oct 15: From promising prodigy to troubled teen, Jennifer Capriati is finally where her talent should have taken her a long time ago - at the top..........more IOC not insured if Salt LONDON, Oct 15: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has revealed that it is not insured if next year’s winter Olympics in the United States are cancelled because of security fears.......more |
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Ashok Singh made BCCI’s tech committee member Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 15: The outgoing joint secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), Jammu wing......more Inter-district
Volleyball Tourney Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 15: District Rajouri outplayed host Jammu 25-15, 25-13 in a league encounter in the ongoing Divisional.....more State
Athletic Championship Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 15: Sameena of Jammu and Naseeb Ahmed of Kathua bagged 100 meters gold in 18 and 16 ......more Trials for
North-Zone Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 15: The Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association, Jammu wing has asked the......more |
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Sodhi, Harvinder to play against Kenya PORT ELIZABETH (South Africa), Oct 15: Buoyed by two big wins in successive matches, India have decided to give their reserves a chance in their next game against Kenya here on Wednesday. Captain Sourav Ganguly today confirmed Punjab all-rounder Reetinder Singh Sodhi and Railways medium-pacer Harvinder Singh, two players who are yet to get a game on this tour, would be playing in the next match. "Sodhi will get in," Ganguly said at the team’s practice session here. "Most probably Virender Sehwag will get a break (rest) in this game." Ganguly said he was keen every member of his team got a game and was psycholgically prepared when given a chance. "It is important everyone has fallen in groove and can come in when required," he said. Ganguly did not name the player to be left out to accommodate Harvinder Singh but was absolutely certain neither he nor master batsman Sachin Tendulkar would sit out. "Both Tendulkar and I would play. There is little doubt about that," he said. Though Ganguly did not commit himself, the omission could be Yuveraj Singh, who is suffering from a viral fever. "We will see how it goes for him," the captain said about Yuveraj. Yuvraj, who has looked good in this series, himself hoped that things would work out well for him in this game. The Indians were in full strength at the nets of the St George’s park on a morning of grey skyline and a few dark clouds. Ganguly said he had watched the Kenyans play South Africa in Kimberly yesterday and it was apparent they were improving. "We would not be taking them lightly," he said brushing aside suggestions that Kenyans were a second-rate competition in this tournament. Anil Kumble, who has made a sensational return to international cricket after a year’s lay off because of a shoulder injury, didn’t bowl or bat at all in the nets today and preferred to have his shoulder exercise done with the help of team physio Andrew Leipus. The drill lasted close to two hours. Tedulkar, who did not get to bat against Kenya in the last match, was the first one to have his batting nets against Javagal Srinath and Ajit Agarkar and thereafter preferred to give Sehwag practice through a bowling machine, followed by a long bowling stint to different batsmen at the nets. (PTI) |
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Young Americans overpower India in Davis Cup WINSTON-SALEM (North Carolina), Oct 15: Andy Roddick and James Blake both won the reverse singles as the U S secured their place in next year’s world group with a 4-1 Davis Cup qualifying round victory over India. Teenager Roddick dropped the first set to Davis Cup veteran Leander Paes but came storming back to win 4-6 6-3 6-2 7-5 to give the Americans an unassailable 3-1 lead at the Lawrence Joel veterans Coliseum yesterday. In the final dead rubber, debutant Blake, 21, claimed his second singles victory of the week by easily defeating Harsh Mankad 6-3 6-0. US captain Patrick McEnroe went into the tie pinning his hopes on an inexperienced team who were all keen to play in the competition, and the young players did not let him down. "The day I took this job, I said that the people who play Davis Cup are going to want to play Davis Cup," McEnroe said. "That’s the end of the story. If I have to go down to the kids who are 17 and find those guys that are desperate to play, that’s what I’ll do. I don’t think I’ll have to. "The guys who were here made it fun. And when you are together as a team, good things happen. I really believe that. I think this is a new start for us." Going into the final day against India, Roddick, 19, had played only two Davis Cup singles matches, a win over Mankad on Friday and a meaningless victory in the U S defeat by Switzerland in February. Paes, 28, had played in 80 Davis Cup rubbers and the value of his experience was evident right away as he pounced on a nervous Roddick early in the first set to take a 3-1 lead. Roddick fought back to 4-4 but Paes broke him in the ninth game and served out the set 6-4. "I was expecting Leander to come out firing," Roddick said. "He’s come out in Davis Cup and beaten (Goran) Ivanisevic when he was five in the world and beaten (Karol) Kucera when he was up there. "He just outplayed me. I just tried to maintain my level of play and see if he cooled off a little bit." Paes told reporters: "Like I said to you yesterday, I was going to take the match to Andy and I feel fairly proud that I did. I made him come up with the goods. It just goes to show what a great talent he is. He was a bit too good for me today." Roddick settled down after the first set and never dropped his serve again, repeatedly frustrating his experienced opponent. "You don’t have much time out there against an Andy Roddick serve," Paes said. "You have just got to block it and come in and I wasn’t going to sit out there and rally with him." After clinching his win, Roddick ran to the sidelines to celebrate with his team mates and grab an American flag for a victory lap around the court as the cheering crowd of 5,964 waved flags of their own. "They were feeling it, I was feeling it, it was awesome," said the teenage Floridian. "I’ve seen americans do that for years at sporting events that I was watching on TV. I was having a blast out there. These are the moments you play for. You only get these kind of moments three, four, five times a year." Entering the qualifying round tie, captain McEnroe had made it clear that he was expecting the youngster to carry the team to victory. Although inexperienced, he had performed spectacularly this year, winning three tour titles and reaching the quarter-finals of the U S Open to seize a no. 15 world ranking. It was a responsibility that Roddick was honoured to accept. "I like challenges. I liked it when Patrick said, ‘ok, come in, step up and do your thing’." Paes credited his young opponent for his ability to block out the responsibility that had been placed on his shoulders. "All of us have pinned him as the new U S hope," Paes said. "we have put a lot of pressure on him. But his talent, his demeanour on and off the court, he played really well mentally today. "If he matures as he’s supposed to, it’s going to be very tough to stop him because he’s a phenomenal talent." Roddick is already looking forward to February when the U S will begin the quest for another Davis Cup title. The draw is in Zurich on Thursday. "We are back in the hunt," Roddick said. "I think we might have the ability to beat teams on any given day. We are going to go in and do our best, try our hardest and see where that takes us. "There’s a good spirit around this team. We have each other’s backs and so we’ll see where that takes us next year." (REUTERS) |
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It took time, but Capriati is finally number one FILDERSTADT (Germany), Oct 15: From promising prodigy to troubled teen, Jennifer Capriati is finally where her talent should have taken her a long time ago - at the top. Capriati, 25, begins her reign as the new no. 1 in women’s tennis today, completing a spectacular comeback from a string of personal problems that had put her career on hold for more than two years. "It feels great. I haven’t really digested it yet - I think I’ll have to see it on paper first," Capriati said after it became clear that she would dislodge Martina Hingis from the no. 1 ranking. Hingis lost the top spot when she Sprained her right ankle and had to quit during a semifinal on Saturday against Lindsay Davenport at the Porsche Grand Prix. Hingis needed to beat Davenport to stay at no. 1, which the 20-year-old Swiss player held for 209 weeks, the last 73 in a row. By the time she became no. 1, Capriati was no longer in the tournament, having lost in the quarterfinals. The complicated computer ranking system rewards consistency over a year and Hingis is losing points she earned last year when she won four events - including Filderstadt -in a strong end to the season. With Hingis going through the worst slump of her career -13 tournaments without a title, no Grand Slam since the 1999 Australian Open and perhaps facing an injury lay-off - and with Capriati having the best year of her career, the American looks likely to finish the year ranked no. 1. (AP) |
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IOC not insured if Salt Lake games called off LONDON, Oct 15: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has revealed that it is not insured if next year’s winter Olympics in the United States are cancelled because of security fears. IOC president Jacques Rogge is confident that the games will go ahead in Salt Lake city in February despite the September 11 attacks and concerns in the U S about cases of Anthrax around the country. But IOC vice-president Thomas Bach, a German lawyer, said the IOC had been unable to get insurance for cancellation of the games because of a "situation of war". "The IOC chose not to have insurance for cancellation of the games," the former Olympic fencer told Reuters. "It was not covered in any insurance offered to us." The insurance of major sporting events has become a huge issue since soccer’s world governing body FIFA announced on Friday that Axa, the main insurers of next year’s world cup finals, wanted to renegotiate its policy after the attacks. Axa had insured the finals in Japan and Korea, sport’s most prestigious event after the Olympics, for various risks including terrorism, but the company told FIFA it was no longer prepared to carry the risk following the attacks. The IOC discussed the issue at a meeting of its ruling executive board in Switzerland last month, and security is certain to be on the agenda when IOC leaders gather again in Lausanne in December, a key meeting before the games. "It was decided at the executive board that we would watch the insurance market," Bach said. "What has happened with FIFA shows it was the right decision (not to take out insurance)." The IOC has earned billions of dollars from selling the television and sponsorship rights for the games. The income would almost certainly be hit if the event were called off. The Winter and Summer Olympics, which are both held every four years, have only ever been cancelled because of the two world wars. Rogge has made it clear that he wants the Salt Lake games from February 8-24 to go ahead, saying he believes they provide an answer to the violence and should not be a victim of it. Security issues are, nevertheless, likely to dominate the build-up to the games. Local organisers plan a substantial increase in the security budget. The U S Federal Government has appropriated 200 million dollars for security, more than double the amount spent on safety at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics, the last time the games were held in the United States. The Winter games are much smaller than the summer games, with fewer competitors and nations represented. Around 2,500 competitors take part compared to 10,000 at the summer games. Rogge has said he regards the Olympic village where the competitors stay as one of the safest places because of all the security. He will break with tradition in Salt Lake and sleep there with the competitors instead of in a luxury hotel. Security has been a top priority for the IOC since the 1972 Munich games when 11 Israelis died after an attack on the athletes’ village by guerrillas and a shoot-out at the airport. A bomb blast also upset the 1996 Atlanta games. Safety is also likely to be a major issue when the next Summer games are held in Athens in 2004. The November 17 group has killed 23 greeks and foreigners since emerging in 1975, while several self-styled anarchist groups regularly launch small fire-bomb attacks in Athens. (REUTERS) |
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Ashok Singh made BCCI’s tech committee member Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 15: The outgoing joint secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), Jammu wing, Ashok Singh has been made one of the six-member technical committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), recently. The six-member committee is being headed by veteran cricketer Sunil Gawaskar, who is chairman of the said committee. Other members included five representatives from as many zones and convenor of the senior selection committee of the BCCI. Ashok Singh, who is representing the whole North-zone, has become first cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to find place in one of the three policy making bodies of BCCI. Talking to EXCELSIOR, Ashok Singh, who refused to contest for any post in the recently held JKCA elections showing his inability to shoulder two responsibilities, said, "I will learn a lot during meeting of technical commitee headed by cricket stalwart Sunil Gavasker". Young and energetic Ashok when asked about his views with regard to the newly elected body of the JKCA, said that under the leadership of the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, the two wings of Kashmir and Jammu will work unitedly for the cause of cricket in the State. "I am sure that the present body will work for reducing the gap between the two wings, which has spoiled cricket in Jammu and Kashmir", he commented. |
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Inter-district
Volleyball Tourney Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 15: District Rajouri outplayed host Jammu 25-15, 25-13 in a league encounter in the ongoing Divisional level Inter-district Volleyball Tournament underway at Youth Hostel, Nagrota, near here today. However, in the girls under-19 category, Jammu down Doda 25-5, 25-27, 25-18. Jammu girls also won their match against Poonch in the under-17 group beating later in easy straight sets 25-3, 25-6. In other match played in the girls under-19 group, Kathua beat district Udhampur 25-15, 25-13; Poonch beat Udhampur 25-20, 25-12 and Doda beat Rajouri in easy equal straight sets 25-6, 25-6. In under-17 year group, Rajouri won its both the matches played today. In the first match they beat Udhampur 25-22, 25-19 and later defeated Poonch 21-25, 25-20, 18-16. The penal of experts officiating the matches included Ramesh Singh Jasrotia, Bushan Sethi, Mohinder Kumar Sharma, Ashok Kumar, Swarn Singh, Surinder Singh, Madan Lal, Wali Mohd, Mohd Tariq, Zakir Hussain, Champa Devi, Virangna Devi, Manorma Devi, Kuldeep Kour, Suraj Singh, Nisar Ahmed, Naveen Sharma and Sanjay Sharma. |
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State Athletic
Championship Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 15: Sameena of Jammu and Naseeb Ahmed of Kathua bagged 100 meters gold in 18 and 16 years groups respectively on the opening day of the State Athletic Championship which began at M A stadium here today. In the 18 years group, Nifisa of Srinagar clinched the second place, while Vishvinder Kour of Badgam finished third. In boys 16 years group, 100 meters silver went to Parshotam Kumar of Jammu, while Shah Nawaj secured third place for Udhampur. Earlier, the championship was declared open by Sports Officer, Jammu, Ajit Singh Wazir. The chief guest was accompanied by Manager, M A Stadium, Krishan Lal Sharma and Manager, Kathua stadium. Other final results 1500 meters Men: Vikram Singh of J&K Police, Ist; Rifat Abdullah of Srinagar, 2nd and Sajad Haider of J&K Police finished third. 1500 meters U-18 boys: Bharat Bhushan of Jammu, Ist; Showakat Ahmed of Srinagar and Baljeet Singh of Udhampur, third. 1500 meters U-18 girls: Karishma Mani of Jammu, Ist; Saima Farooq of Srinagar, 2nd and Rincham Dolma of Jammu, third. High Jump Men section: Kulbushan Singh of Kathua, Ist; Jaspal Singh of J&K Police, 2nd and Balbir Kumar of Jammu, third. High Jump U-18 boys: Sunil Kumar of Jammu, Ist; Sowkat Ahmed of Srinagar, 2nd and Yogesh Goswami of Kathua, third. High Jump U-16 boys: Shah Nawaz of Udhampur, Ist; M Rajesh of Jammu, 2nd and Jyoti Soodan of Jammu, third. 100 meters U-18 years girls: Sameena of Jammu, Ist; Nifisa of Srinagar, 2nd and Vishvinder Kour of Badgam, third. Shot-Put Men: Mohinder Pal Singh of Jammu, Ist; Daljeet Singh of J&K Police and Rajinder Kumar of J&K Police. Shot-Put U-18 boys: Thakur Kumar of Jammu, Ist; Ravinder Singh of Jammu, 2nd and Mohd Yaseen of Srinagar, third. Shot-Put U-16 boys: Naresh Kumar of Udhampur, Ist; Sajjad of Baramulla, 2nd and Balram Sharma of Jammu, third. Shot-Put U-18 girls: Neenu Naraina of Jammu, Ist; Suman Sharma of Kathua, 2nd and Santosh of Jammu, third. Shot-Put U-16 girls: Neeru Devi of Jammu, Ist; Parveen of Srinagar, 2nd and Bhavneet Kaur of Jammu, third. Discuss Men: Mohinder Pal Singh of Jammu, Ist; Rajinder Kumar of J&K Police, 2nd and Daljeet Singh of J&K Police, third. 400 meters Men: Sanjeev Kumar of Kathua, Ist; Nirmal Singh of Jammu, 2nd and Rajinder Singh of J&K Police, third. 400 meters U-18 boys: Adil Shafi of Srinagar, Ist; Neeraj Sharma of Jammu, 2nd and Pankaj Kumar of Jammu, third. 400 meters U-16 boys: Talib Hussain of Jammu, Ist; Vinay of Jammu, 2nd and Zahoor Ahmed of Srinagar, third. 400 meters U-18 girls: Simmi Sharma of Jammu, Ist; Nifisa of Srinagar, 2nd and Shumayla of Srinagar, third. 400 meters U-16 girls: Heena of Jammu, Ist; Deepika of Jammu, 2nd and Mehnaz of Srinagar, third. 2000 meters U-16 boys: Pawan Kumar of Jammu, Ist; Ashok Kumar of Udhampur, 2nd and Mohd Ashraf of Srinagar, third. 3000 meters U-18 girls: Karishma Mani of Jammu, Ist; Saima Farooq of Srinagar, 2nd and Rinchen Dolma of Jammu, third. 2000 meters U-16 girls: Heena of Jammu, Ist; Rohi of Srinagar, 2nd and Shuker Bibi of Jammu, third. 1000 meters Men: Bikram Singh of J&K Police, Ist; Shallu Ram of J&K Police, 2nd and Subash Chander of Jammu, third. Discus Throw U-18 girls: Simmi Sharma of Jammu, Ist; Neenu Narainia of Jammu, 2nd and Santosh of Jammu, third. Discus Throw U-18 boys: Ravinder Singh of Jammu, Ist; Jhankar Kumar of Jammu, 2nd and Mohd Yasin of Srinagar, third. 100 meters U-16 boys: Naseeb Ahmed of Kathua, Ist; Parshotam Kumar of Jammu, 2nd and Shah Nawaz of Udhampur, third. |
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Trials for North-Zone U-14, U-19 Tourney Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 15: The Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association, Jammu wing has asked the cricketers interested in taking part in the North-Zone Cooch Behar U-19 and under-14 Cricket Tournaments to report at MA Stadium tomorrow at 4 pm. Cricketers eligible for these two tournaments can contact coach Randhir Singh at M A Stadium alongwith their certificates for attending nets and trials, said the newly elected vice-chairman of Jammu wing, Shyam Saroop. |
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