|
|
Kumble will play big NEW DELHI, Dec 3: Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar has come out in support of a struggling Anil Kumble, saying the leg-spinner’s experience could play a big role in shaping India’s World Cup fortunes next year. . ....more Airlines suffer another defeat NEW DELHI, Dec 3: Air India struck thrice in the second half to beat formidable Indian Airlines 3-1 in the final of the Lal..........more Six
countries in fray CHENNAI, Dec 3: Even as the Saurav Ganguly-led Indian cricket team has embarked on a preparatory tour to New Zealand for the February. ..........more MUMBAI, Dec 3: Rajesh Oza was the lone Indian to win in the ninth and final round as IM Mourel Jounusof of Kazhakistan emerged the champion in the tenth individual World Chess Championship for the visually impaired at . . .......more |
|
J&K need 114 runs to Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 3: In another poor show by Jammu and Kashmir in the ongoing Vijay.....more Udhampur
wins; Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 3: Even after taking first lead, the tough side of Degree College...more International Club beats Jammu Sports ‘A’ in Football League Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 3: After a long gap, the spectators witnessed a match deciding on ......more Powerlifting
trials for Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 3: All J&K Powerlifting Association is conducting trials to select State .....more |
 |
| Sarabjeet
invited as technical official in National Games.... Harbhajan bogged by fever, shoe incident .... |
|
|
|
NEW DELHI, Dec 3: Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar has come out in support of a struggling Anil Kumble, saying the leg-spinner’s experience could play a big role in shaping India’s World Cup fortunes next year. "I think he will play a very big role, because he has played the 1996 and 1999 World Cups. So he is an experienced guy who has played for 10 years now. And of course he carries a big name and so many wickets under his belt," said Tendulkar in star sport’s "India vs..." Programme to be telecast tonight. Tendulkar said that during his captaincy, he always looked upto Kumble when the team needed breakthroughs. "He has always delivered in big games, and in pressure situations. Anil is a key guy and important member of the side - very important". Kumble, who had a disappointing one-day series against the West Indies, opted out of the test series in New Zealand citing personal reasons. But he said he was keen to join the team for the seven one-day internationals which follows the Test Series. Talking about India’s match against Pakistan in the coming World Cup, Tendulkar said it would be a big game and he was sure the team will do well. "Pakistan is a top team and they have been playing wonderful cricket in the recent past. Nobody would like to take things for granted. It’s going to a big, big game." He said there was always an added pressure on players while they take on Pakistan as the expectations were always very high. "I am sure the expectations are very high and people want to know the result. So probably there is an added pressure on the players. We just try as hard. But the results really matter." Tendulkar also downplayed the changes made in the team in the last two-three years saying that India’s performance in the recent past highlights the young players’ talent. "From 1999 to 2000, you see seven names missing from the team - thats a huge change. And from a team to just get into World Cup with so many changes, it is going to be difficult. But we have done well in the recent past - that’s because we have some promising talent". He said during the 1999 World cup, India were in a positive frame of mind as they had beaten Pakistan twice in the earlier editions of the event in 1992 and 1996. Wright praises Indians for providing "exciting cricket" CHRISTCHURCH: Terming the brand of cricket Indians play as "exciting", coach John Wright today said such style was absolutely vital for world cricket. "It is important for world cricket that India keep playing its brand of cricket which is so exciting," he said at the national bank sponsors launch of the international summer here this morning. Wright, who has been the coach of the Indian team for the past two years, expressed his gratitude for the support extended by the fans in India and said his association with the team was "extremely fruitful." "The love and affection our players carry from people back home is surprising. It has to be one of the best loved teams in the world of sport," he said. Pointing out that New Zealand have produced great cricketers in the past, Indian team manager N R Choudhary said that Wright would have a tough task during the series. "Our boys have been very busy over the past few months and John (Wright) has a tough task here," he said. New Zealand cricket’s chief executive Martin Snedden expressed happiness that the pay dispute was solved and cricket was finally on the cards. The Indian tour of New Zealand was threatened following a pay dispute between the New Zealand cricket officials and top players. Snedden recounted the exploits of batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar during his first tour of the country in 1990, while welcoming the Indian team. Tendulkar, who was 16-year-old then, could have become the youngest cricketer to score a test century, but was caught by the current Indian coach of paceman Danny Morrison on 88. "He (Tendulkar) is now one of the world’s best and with possibly another 10 years ahead of him was set to break all sorts of records," Snedden said. Indians open the tour with a Super Max game against a home team tomorrow evening. (PTI) |
|
Airlines suffer another defeat NEW DELHI, Dec 3: Air India struck thrice in the second half to beat formidable Indian Airlines 3-1 in the final of the Lal Bahadur Shatri Hockey Tournament here today. Captain Vikram Pillay, Pundalik Bellary and Sandeep Michael scored the goals for Air India while the losers reduced the margin through skipper Dilip Tirkey. The star-studded Airlines were to be blamed for their defeat as their forwards squandered many chances to score goals and the defenders committed blunders inside the circle, which Air India exploited well to emerge victorious. This was Airlines’ second defeat in the final of an important tournament within a week. They were pipped 2-3 by Punjab Police in the summit clash of the Nehru Hockey Tournament last Monday. After a goalless first-half, which saw many opportunities go a begging, Air India took the lead in the 37th minute when Vikram Pillay converted a penalty corner. (PTI) |
|
Six countries in fray for World Cup for Blind CHENNAI, Dec 3: Even as the Saurav Ganguly-led Indian cricket team has embarked on a preparatory tour to New Zealand for the February World Cup in South Africa, back home a differently abled Indian squad is confident about winning the second petro World Cup for the blind to be held here from tomorrow to December 14. Sponsored by Hong Kong Bank, Shanghai Banking Corporation and Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the competition is being conducted under the auspices of the World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC), Association for the Cricket for Blind in India (ACBI) and Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It is being dedicated to late Congress leader and Indian cricket board president Madhavrao Scindia, who was instrumental in making the idea of World Cup cricket for blind a reality. The teams in fray for this World Cup, which was first played in New Delhi in 1998, included the defending champions South Africa, India, England, runners up Pakistan, Australia and Sri Lanka. They will contest the round robin league first, from which the top four teams will qualify for the knock out semi finals. Cricket for the blind is played with a white ball made of hard plastic and filled with tiny ball bearings. A batsman picks up the ball from the rattling sound it makes after a bowler bowls underarm unlike in normal cricket. The bowler gives an audeo clue before bowling. The ball has to pitch once before the middle of the pitch before a batsman can connect his shot. The wickets are made of metal and screwed together to align them. The boundary lines are also shorter, set at a distance of 45 to 55 yards from the pitch. Apart from a few modifications like these, all the other normal rules of cricket apply for this game played by the blind, according to ACBI chairman and WBCC secretary general George Abraham. The popular cricket dotcom "crickinfo" is the official website for this competition. Mr Abraham said cricket for the blind was meant to provide the visually impaired and partially blind an opportunity to demonstrate their talents and make them feel very much a normal part of the society. (UNI) |
|
|
MUMBAI, Dec 3: Rajesh Oza was the lone Indian to win in the ninth and final round as IM Mourel Jounusof of Kazhakistan emerged the champion in the tenth individual World Chess Championship for the visually impaired at Istanbul (Turkey) yesterday. According to information received here today, Oza beat Ismail of Turkey, to finish the tournament on 4.5 points while Shirish Patil lost to Altinok of Turkey to end with 3.5 points. The other two Indians in the fray —Madan Bagayatkar and Darshan Patel—who played each other in the last round, drew their match to finish on 3.5 points each. In the final placings, where 94 players from 37 countries took part in the event, Jounusof, who won the world title for the second time, was closely followed by Sergey Krylov of Russia, Rasim Nizam of Kazakistan and Kai Bjerring of Denmark in the second, third and fourth places respectively. (PTI) |
|
J&K need 114 runs to save innings defeat Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 3: In another poor show by Jammu and Kashmir in the ongoing Vijay Marchant Trophy under-17 Cricket Tournament, the hosts were today placed in a troublesome situation when they were in need of 114 runs to save the State from humiliating innings defeat from Himachal Pradesh with a day’s play left tomorrow. The match would have been finished today itself had debutant, Imran Shafi, not stayed put on the wicket with unbeaten 56 coming of 110 deliveries with the help of nine hits to the fence. In the first innings, this wicket-keeper cum batsman handled the Himachal bowlers single handedly, contributing 52 runs, facing 87 balls including eight boundaries. At the end of the day second play, J&K, after making 136 runs in their first innings ended 60 minutes after the lunch, were playing at 120 for the loss of four wickets at the end of 39 overs play when the stumps were drawn. The main cause behind hosts early dismissal in the first innings and later unsatisfactory show in the second innings was lack of patience and match temperament among the batsmen. It was evident from the fact that confidently playing Rahul Rai suddenly shifted to big hits instead of continuing cautious batting at a time when he and Imran Shafi, at the other end, had well settled themselves against the mix of slow and pace bowling attack of Himachal. Even after surviving twice on high hits, Rahul continued playing in similar fashion, resulting into loss of his wicket at a score of 33 coming off 47 balls with the help of six fours. Now, in tomorrow’s third and final day’s play, J&K has only option to strict to the wicket and first reach the required 114 runs target to level the score to save themselves from innings defeat and later, if possible, make some runs to force Himachal to bat again. SCOREBOARD Himachal Pradesh first innings 370 Jammu and Kashmir first innings Rahul Rai c Varun Sood b Rakesh Roy 2 Showkat Ahmed c Sobers Joban b Rakesh 17 Aanis Mir c Varun Sood b Rakesh 0 Karan Kochar c Tarwinder Singh b Kapoor Singh 24 Hansit Singh c&b Vikrant Bhardwaj 20 Imran Shafi b Vikrant Thakur 52 Zahoor Ahmed c Deepak Soni b Vikrant Bhardwaj 2 Sumit Silwal c Kapoor Singh b Vikrant Bhardwaj 0 Abid Nabi b Kapoor Singh 1 Manish Raghvanshi c Deepak Soni b Vikrant Thakur 0 Mudassir Mushtaq not out 1 Extras: (nb-5, w-2, b-10) 17 Total (all out in 52.3 overs) 136 Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-9, 3-22, 4-65, 5-102, 6-110, 7-118, 8-121, 9-122, 10-136. Bowling Analysis: Rakesh Roy 10-3-17-3; Barun Sharma 6-2-16-0; Kapoor Singh 12-2-42-2; Vikrant Bhardwaj 15-4-48-3; Vikrant Thakur 9.3-7-2-2. Jammu and Kashmir second innings Imran Shafi not out 56 Showkat Ahmed c Varun b Barun Sharma 1 Rahl Rai c Rakesh Roy b Vikram Thakur 33 Karan Kochar lbw Vikrant Bhardwaj 7 Aanis Mir c Deepak Soni b Vikrant Bhardwaj 3 Hansit Sigh not out 10 Extras 10 Total (for four in 39 overs) 120 Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-75, 3-88, 4-106. Bowling Analysis: Rakesh Roy 4-0-26-0; Barun Sharma 2-2-2-1; Kapoor Singh 7-4-11-0; Vikrant Bhardwaj 15-3-46-2; Vikrant Thakur 10-4-25-1. |
|
Udhampur wins; walkover for Bhargwa College Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 3: Even after taking first lead, the tough side of Degree College, Kathua lost to Degree College, Udhampur 1-2 in the first round match of the Inter-College Football Tournament being organised by the Directorate of Physical Education, University of Jammu, here today. Getting exhausted after putting in extra efforts in the first half’s play and later in the first 25 minutes of the game in the second half, Kathua boys allowed Udhampur to enter their goal area, especially after taking one goal lead in the 55th minute. It was an easy goal when Vijay Kumar, finding goal-keeper quite away from the ball line, just directed the ball into the right corner of the net. Five minutes later, Udhampur forward line brought the ball upto the goal area and pushed it towards already waiting Pardeep, who committed no mistake in making a direct hit into the centre of the net injuring a cameraman of a local English daily who was busy capturing the move in his camera. Making it 1-1, both sides initiated a couple of changes to their sides which could prove beneficial only for the Udhampur boys who seemed more energetic than Kathua in the last ten minute of the 90 minutes game. Getting encouragement and feed-back from their teacher incharge, Udhampur College succeeded in netting the wining goal in the 85th minute after missing two chances. On a well calculated and intelligent move launched from the right flank, Kamal kicked the ball into the goal giving Udhampur College a 2-1 lead which guided them to the next round of the tournament. Meanwhile, in the second scheduled match of the day, Bhargwa College, Samba got walkover Degree College, Bhaderwah after later did not report the venue. Today’s match was officiated by R C Vaid, Dr G P Showkat, Dr Daljit Singh and Dr Brij Baloria. Tomorrow’s fixture: Degree College, Poonch V/s PG Arts at 12.30 pm and MAM College V/s PG Law and Science. |
|
International Club beats Jammu Sports ‘A’ in Football League Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 3: After a long gap, the spectators witnessed a match deciding on the field after International Club defeated Jammu Sports ‘A’ in the Senior Division Football League Tournament of Jammu Division being organised by the J&K Football Association at Mini-Stadium Parade, here. One of the top clubs of Jammu, International Club, got cheers from the crowd when they scored the first blood in the very seventh minute of the match through Krishan (Kala) on a pass from Shashi. The early lead resulted into a good fight because both sides were in need of a goal to consolidate their position, but the superior side of International Club showing their complete domination on the opponents added another goal within a gap of three minute in the 10th minute of the match. This time Rinku made solo effort hitting the well judged kick taken from 25 yards away from the net. After taking early two goals lead, International Club concentrated on defence with occasional attacks. They succeeded in the game plan of not allowing Jammu Sport to their goal area by keeping the ball busy through small passes. In another match of the day, New Bharat drew with NGR Club 1-1. New Bharat had taken first lead when Rajesh after getting a pass from Rajinder struck the goal in the 25th minute. However, the lead taken in the first half by New Bharat was leveled by NGR in the 17th minute after the breather. Harvinder had struck the goal on a pass from Rajinder Singh. |
|
Powerlifting trials for Junior Nationals Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 3: All J&K Powerlifting Association is conducting trials to select State team for the 24th Junior National Powerlifting Championship to be held at Jamshedpur from December 18 to December 20. According to a handout, the trials shall start at 11 am at Multi-purpose hall of the MA Stadium, here on December 14 under the supervision of association general secretary, Rajeev Charak and coach, Ajay Sharma. |
|
Sarabjeet invited as technical official in National Games Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 3: Sarabjeet Singh, alongwith two others, has been invited by the Amateur Athletic Federation of India from Jammu and Kashmir as technical officials for the forthcoming National Games going to be held at Hyderabad from December 13. Sarabjeet, a PET at the SRML Higher Secondary School, Jammu, is serving with the Department of Youth Services and Sports. Other two officials from J&K are Ramesh Sharma and Sheikh Tulal Ahmed. Harbhajan bogged by fever, shoe incident CHRISTCHURCH, Dec 3: Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh will not be in the starting line-up for Indians’ tour opener against a home team in a Super Max game tomorrow because of fever. Harbhajan, the lynchpin of Indian attack now that leg-spinner Anil Kumble has opted out of the Test Series, apparently has had fever on and off in the last few days and was being provided medical attention this evening. "It is nothing to get worried about and I should be well in a matter of a day," said Harbhajan, who nevertheless, will be on bench in tomorrow’s game as a precautionary measure. As if the fever was not enough, Harbhajan has been having a torrid time receiving calls on the shoe incident which is denying him any rest. That his family back home too has faced a barrage of calls in the last one day did not help matters. According to New Zealand’s custom rules, any used pair of shoes in a baggage must be declared correctly. (PTI) Bond gears up to unsettle the Indians CHRISTCHURCH, Dec 3: Besides the alien conditions, the Indian cricket team will be tested down-under by a fierce Shane Bond, who backed himself to knock over the strong batting line-up of the visitors in the forthcoming test and one-day series. "I think the first test is our big chance to hit them when they’re not used to the colder weather and the wickets," said the sensational New Zealand fast bowler Bond, who is in terrific form clocking the fifth fastest delivery in the history at 151.3 km per hour this season. "They have some truly great batsmen and there is much less margin of error for us - but if they are mentally strong, I can be stronger," said Bond. India will play two test matches besides seven one-day internationals during their 47-tour of New Zealand. Bond, a policeman, burst on to the international scene in the VB Series in Australia last season, taking 21 wickets from nine games to be adjudged the player of the series. His five for 25 against Australia was the best figures by a New Zealander and he snaffled Australia’s best one-day batsman Ricky Ponting in every match. After a foot injury, he rolled over the West Indies on dull pitches, picking up two five-wicket hauls as New Zealand recorded their first ever series win in the Caribbean earlier this year. "After Australia, I think India is the next best batting line-up, some would even debate that if you lined the two up against each other." Bond said his team was fully prepared to face the visitors and added he was confident to scalp the "key" Indians. "We started doing homework on the Indians when they were in Sri Laapes coming in from England from their series there for our video analyst as well," said the bowler. "To get those key wickets, you have to be patient even if it means not going for the wicket every ball but just wearing them down’’. "It may take 10 overs rather than three to get to them but I’ll back myself to get those important wickets," said the Tearaway Bond, who features in the line-up for tomorrow’s `Super Max’ game against the tourists. Even though bond will have only four overs to bowl, he would look to establish an early dominance against Sachin Tendulkar and company with his blistering pace. "My role is to bowl fast...I need to generate speed to knock them over. It’s all about putting the ball in the right area to try and get right up there’’. "They look like they’ve come from pretty flat tracks in India so if our wickets do a bit and bounce, we can beat them." Bond was adamant the foot fracture that took him out of last summer’s home series with England just after he had become a headline act in Australia was a blessing in disguise. "In all fairness, when I went to Aussies for the test series, my preparations were not ideal. I wasn’t as strong and as fit as I could have been, having to work as a policeman around cricket’’. "In hindsight, that break after the injury was probably something I needed. I got on a diet, lost a bit of weight, worked on my action and assessed what I needed to do to be a pro athlete’’. "When I came back, it all added up to some good performances in the Windies. I’ve had another two months training now - I’m leaner and stronger." The importance of having bond in the side prompted the New Zealand cricket to place a restriction on the fast bowler not bowling more than 40 overs in a four-day match or 25 overs in an innings for Warwickshire next season. Bond replaced South African captain Shaun Pollock as the overseas player for the English County side Warwickshire. Named player of the year, Bond is among the 20 offered contract by the NZC and is absolutely amazed at how the year has panned out. "It is amazing and I keep telling my family I have gone through from a nobody to a hero in a matter of a year." The tearaway fast bowler was confident that success against the Indians will only add to his growing stature. (PTI) Four Indian players in second round CHENNAI, Dec 3: Four Indian players - Siddarth Suchde, Saurav Ghosal, Gaurav Nandrajog and Sahil Vora, comprising the first string national squash team, have made it to the second round of the 12th World Junior Squash (Men) Championship, which got underway here today. This is the first time in the history of Indian Squash that players have progressed to the second round in the World Junior Championship. India, who have been regularly participating in the event since 1992, have fielded 11 players, including a seven member second string team for the present championship. Supreet Singh, who was just pipped to the first string team by Vora and Yashvardhan Singh also won their first round ties. Supreet Singh of Mumbai displayed great fighting qualities to overcome Ali Alramezi of Kuwait in a keenly contested match. Ghoshal and Yashvardhan got walk overs from their Kuwaiti rivals, as the latter could not turn up due to late arrival of their flights. Suchde, who is the the top seeded Indian, Nandrajog and Vora did not face much opposition in their three-game wins. Suchde is the best bet to progress further when he takes on Salem Faiz Mohammad of Kuwait tomorrow, while Ghosal, Vora and Nandrajog are considered underdogs against their respective rivals in the second round. The Supreet-Ali Alramezi match saw the Indian win the first game 9-5. Alramezi rallied to claim the next two (9-7 and 9-5) after trailing 4-0 in both games. Supreet had to wriggle out of tight situations before eventually tilting the balance in his favour. (PTI) |
| home | state | national | business | editorial | advertisement | sports |
