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India eyeing an NAGPUR, Feb 24: Awesome batting performances by Sachin Tendulkar and Sanjay Bangar enabled India pile up a huge total and push for an ....more India
retain same NAGPUR, Feb 24: India today retained their squad for the second cricket test against Zimbabwe starting in Delhi on February 28. The selection committee met here today and decided against making any ..........more Blake reaches first career final with win over Gambill MEMPHIS, U S Feb 24: James Blake triumphed in an all- American semi-final, beating third seed Jan-Michael Gambill 6-4, 7-6 (10-8) to reach .........more Weary India downed in Thomas Cup qualifiers EINDHOVEN, Feb 24: India’s place in the finals in China is hanging in the balance after they lost 0-3 to Germany in the Thomas ....more |
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Distt Handball final ends
in a draw Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 24: In quite surprise to the viewers and players, the organisers of the Ist District Jammu Handball Championship allowed the final to end in a draw in a rare chance at Mini-Stadium, Parade, here today.......more Amar Singh Club distributes prizes among Sub-jr players Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 24: The Amar Singh Club today held prize distribution function for the Sub-junior (under-14 year) players who took part in the ongoing Annual Sports Meet. ..........more India avert disaster, settle for 2-2 draw against Japan KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24: India belied the pre-match hype, averting a near disaster as they came back from 0-2 down to a settle for a 2-2 draw with Japan in their opening Pool B encounter .....more |
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India eyeing an innings victory NAGPUR, Feb 24: Awesome batting performances by Sachin Tendulkar and Sanjay Bangar enabled India pile up a huge total and push for an innings win in the first cricket test against Zimbabwe here today. Bangar joined Tendulkar and Shiv Sunder Das in hitting centuries as India declared their first innings at 570 for seven, 283 runs ahead of Zimbabwe’s score of 287. Tendulkar, who had completed his 28th hundred yesterday, was finally out today for 176. The declaration came as soon as Bangar, playing his second test, reached his maiden hundred. Leg-spinner Anil Kumble then took three important wickets to put Zimbabwe in further trouble. By stumps on the fourth day today, Zimbabwe had lost four wickets for 152 runs and needed 131 more runs to make India bat again. The sole consolation for the visitors, on a day when India took most of the honours, was the defiant batting by opener Trevor Gripper who remained unbeaten on 52. Off-spinner Ray price, who earlier in the day had finished with a five-wicket haul, was giving him company on four runs after his team’s most experienced batsmen - skipper Stuart Carlisle, Alistair Campbell, Andy Flower and Gavin Rennie - had been sent back. India could have been better placed had luck favoured them a bit. Zimbabwe batsmen repeatedly produced edges and snicks when Kumble and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh were operating but they fell short of the close-in fielders. Both Tendulkar and Bangar showed a remarkable sense of urgency when India resumed at their overnight score of 437 for five this morning. The scoring rate, which was around 2.7 yesterday, climbed to more than 6.6 today as both the batsmen went after Zimbabwe bowling. Tendulkar went into the attack mode from the very start and played some attractive shots as he marched towards his third career double century. However, he was out for 176, which was studded with 23 boundaries, when he gave a simple catch to Andy Flower while trying to reverse sweep price. Price picked his fifth wicket and returned a career-best figure of five for 182. The sixth wicket association between Tendulkar and Bangar yielded 171 runs. India lost another wicket, that of Zaheer Khan who was promoted up the order to indulge in some hard hitting, at the same score of 547. Zaheer Khan (0) was clean bowled by Brighton Watambwa on the very second ball he faced. However, the day’s most attractive innings came from Bangar, who was a surprise inclusion in the team, ahead of Virender Sehwag, for the test. Bangar, who had an impressive outing with the ball too though he did not get any wickets, smashed two sixes and 12 fours in his hundred which came off only 155 balls. He batted with a lot of confidence and never looked in any trouble even after Tendulkar’s dismissal. Kumble gave him good support in the eighth wicket association and remained unbeaten on 13. India declared 15 minutes before lunch when Bangar reached his century with a two off Watambwa. In the four overs before lunch, Zimbabwe scored 20 runs with first innings top-scorer Carlisle accounting for 19 of those. But Carlisle could not stay for long and was adjudged leg-before wicket to a Zaheer Khan delivery which came in sharply after pitching slightly outside the leg-stump. Carlisle scored 28 and Zimbabwe lost their first wicket at 32. Gripper and Campbell then carried the innings forward adding 48 for the second wicket before Kumble struck with the penultimate ball before tea. Campbell, who made a fine 30, lunged forward to play a defensive stroke but Kumble’s delivery took the outside edge and flew to V V S Laxman in the slips. Kumble also got rid of the big-hitting Andy Flower who failed for the second time in this match. The former Zimbabwe captain, who has a tremendous record against India, managed only eight runs before edging a delivery that rose sharply to give a simple catch to Rahul Dravid. The Indians could have got more wickets but a lot of chances went begging. Kumble bowled round the wicket to exploit the rough and he was virtually unplayable on many occasions. Despite five close-in fielders, the Zimbabwe batsmen were lucky to have their snicks land in safe places. Kumble provided another breakthrough towards the end of the day when he had Gavin Rennie caught by Sehwag, substituting for Das who had an upset stomach, in the slip. Rennie made 25. Zimbabwe 1st innings 287 India 1st innings S S Das c Campbell b Price 105 D Dasgupta b Price 33 R Dravid b Streak 65 S Tendulkar c A Flower b Price 176 S Ganguly c G Flower b Price 38 V V S Laxman c Rennie b Price 13 S Bangar not out 100 Zaheer Khan b Watambwa 0 A Kumble not out 13 Extras (b-16, lb-2, w-3, nb-6) 27 Total (for 7 wkts decl, 184.5 overs) 570 Fall of wickets: 1-79, 2-209, 3-247, 4-344, 5-376, 6-547, 7-547. Bowling: Streak 34-9-108-1, Watambwa 25.5-6-87-1, Price 68-18-182-5, Friend 22-3-61-0, G Flower 30-8-96-0, Gripper 5-0-18-0. Zimbabwe 2nd innings S Carlisle lbw b Zaheer Khan 28 T Gripper batting 52 A Campbell c Laxman b Kumble 30 A Flower c Dravid b Kumble 8 G Rennie c sub (Sehwag) b Kumble 25 R Price batting 4 Extras (b-1, lb-2, nb-2) 5 Total (for 4 wkts, 67 overs) 152 Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-80, 3-103, 4-147. Bowling: Srinath 6-3-20-0, Kumble 26-11-47-3, Zaheer Khan 8-1-33-1, Harbhajan Singh 21-4-38-0, Tendulkar 6-2-11-0. (PTI) |
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India retain same team for 2nd test NAGPUR, Feb 24: India today retained their squad for the second cricket test against Zimbabwe starting in Delhi on February 28. The selection committee met here today and decided against making any changes to the 14-member squad for the first test currently being played here. Asked about the performance of wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta, selection committee chairman Chandu Borde said he was steadily improving though a lot of progress was still required. Borde said India’s fielding also needed to improve considerably though some progress had been achieved in this department too. Borde said the team for the five-match one-day series would be picked in Delhi during the second test. Team: Sourav Ganguly (captain), Shiv Sunder Das, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, V V S Laxman, Virender Sehwag, Sanjay Bangar, Deep Dasgupta, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Javagal Srinath, Sarandeep Singh, Tinu Yohannan. (PTI) |
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Blake reaches first career final with win over Gambill MEMPHIS, U S Feb 24: James Blake triumphed in an all- American semi-final, beating third seed Jan-Michael Gambill 6-4, 7-6 (10-8) to reach the final of the 920,000-dollar Kroger-St Jude Championships in Memphis. In today’s title match, the one-time Harvard student from New York, seeded eighth, will play either second-seeded American Andy Roddick or Belgian number 4 Xavier Malisse. Blake’s victory in one hours, 36 minutes yesterday put him into the first final of his career. The eighth seed broke Gambill early in the first set and took a 5-3 lead before winning the opener. In the second, Gambill’s resistance stiffened as the set went to a tie-breaker, which Blake also won. The 22-year-old has been on an upward trajectory since late 2001, when he reached the semi-finals in Newport and Tokyo. He has also played for the American Davis Cup team, a vote of confidence from captain Patrick McEnroe. Gambill had been hoping to move into position for a shot at his first title in almost a year. The Jaguar - car and animal - loving 24-year-old has been struggling in recent months with injuries, including to his lower back. In the second semi-final, both the 19-year-old rising star Roddick and Belgium’s malisse are aiming to reach their first final of the season. The pair last met in the final at Atlanta last spring, with Roddick easily winning in straight sets. Malisse is still looking for a first career title while Roddick has three - all from his 2001 break-through year. (DPA) |
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Weary India downed in Thomas Cup qualifiers EINDHOVEN, Feb 24: India’s place in the finals in China is hanging in the balance after they lost 0-3 to Germany in the Thomas Cup qualifying semi-final here. India, who had upset England on Friday night, looked wary against the Germans yesterday and were never in the hunt. Bjorn Joppien had no trouble dismissing Abhinn Shyam Gupta 7-2 7-0 7-2 and Oliver Pongratz put his team 2-0 up with a 7-1 7-0 7-2 win over Chetan Anand. That left Kristof Hopp and Thomas Tesche with the task of wrapping up victory for Germany, and the doubles duo duly obliged by beating Thomas Sanave and V Diju 7-3 7-2 4-7 7-1. The Indians now face a third-place playoff against Sweden today for a ticket to Guangzhou. Meanwhile, top seeds Denmark and Germany booked their places in finals of Thomas Cup as both teams comfortably winning their qualifying semi-final matches. Denmark had too much class for Sweden in a one-sided match, winning 3-0 with something to spare. Kenneth Jonassen brushed aside Rasmus Wengberg 7-3 7-2 4-7 7-1 before doubles duo Jim Laugesen and Jesper Larsen downed Henrik Andersson and Frederik Bergstrom 7-4 7-4 7-4. Anders Boesen secured Denmark’s place in today’s final -and guaranteed them a berth at the May 9-19 finals in China -by outclassing George Rimarcdi 7-4 7-3 7-3. In the women’s Uber Cup, Olympic silver medallist Camilla Martin led the Danes in a 3-1 win over England while Germany upset hosts Netherlands by the same scoreline. The Netherlands and England will now meet in today’s final to determine the third qualifier for the may finals. (AFP) |
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Distt Handball final ends
in a draw Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 24: In quite surprise to the viewers and players, the organisers of the Ist District Jammu Handball Championship allowed the final to end in a draw in a rare chance at Mini-Stadium, Parade, here today. The final became more interesting for the young players when they saw the star-studded sides of Jammu and Kashmir Police and the central team of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) fighting for every move, but had to return in dejection seeing the organisers giving no opportunity to teams to decide the fate of the final through extra time or penalty shoots. The Jammu and Kashmir Handball Association, which has track record of paying little attention towards the domestic activities, somehow came forward to organise the district level tournament in the senior group for the first time, but left the final undecided with the finalists J&K Police held CRPF 33-33 draw. Smelling the flow play in this district championship, the seniors players, who are the main contenders to represent the State in the nationals, alleged that the CRPF team was invited to take part in the district level competitions so that they could become eligible to play for the J&K State in the forthcoming national championship going to be held in Jammu next month. Earlier, the semi-finals could not take place thereby paving the way for the J&K Police and the CRPF to straightway play in the final. Besides this, the State Handball Association created an example for others to follow by getting the prizes sponsored from the Handball Federation of India for a district level competitions. When contacted the president of the J&K Handball Association, S M Bali, for his comments, he said that the CRPF team, which had to leave Delhi, was getting late so, no extra time and free shoots rules were applied to decide the final. It may be recalled that earlier the tournament was pre-poned by two days because of the ‘scheduled departure’ of the CRPF team. Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir Police overpowered the CRPF side having nine international players and ended the first half with two points lead 17-15. However, the absence of Ranjit Singh, who got injured and stayed away, created some difference in the Police attack for some time. But even then the State policemen pierced through the CRPF defence line and remained neck to neck till the final whistle was blown. The J&K Police could have won the final, had their last goal attempt not foiled by the goal-keeper. Secretary, State Sports Council, Sheikh Fazal Ahmed, was the chief guest in this undecided final, who distributed prizes among the winners. |
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Amar Singh Club distributes prizes among Sub-jr players Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 24: The Amar Singh Club today held prize distribution function for the Sub-junior (under-14 year) players who took part in the ongoing Annual Sports Meet. Those given the prizes included the winners of Billiards and Snooker events. In Billiards Deep Karan Anand was the winners, while Jaideep Nayar remained at number two position. The winners trophy in Snooker given to Deep Jyot Anand, who defeated his brother Deep Karan Anand in the final. In this prize distribution function, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Anil Goswami, who is also vice-president of the Club, was the chief guest. Besides giving away trophies to the winners and runners-up, the chief guest also distributed consolation prizes among other participants. Meanwhile, Mr Anil Goswami also inaugurated the newly constructed ‘Waterfall’ within the Club premises and termed it as another feather in the cap of Amar Singh Club. Prominent among others present on the occasion of prize distribution were secretary, Amar Singh Club, Siddharth Sharma and parents of the winners of various events. |
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India avert disaster, settle for 2-2 draw against Japan KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24: India belied the pre-match hype, averting a near disaster as they came back from 0-2 down to a settle for a 2-2 draw with Japan in their opening Pool B encounter in the 10th World Cup Hockey here today. India, who went into the match as strong favourites to overcome Japan, played well below par to trail 0-1 at half time. Japan went into the lead in the 10th minute converting their first penalty corner. Japanese skipper Takahiko Yamobori beat Jude Menezes at the Indian goal with a firm grounder and the keeper was a bit late to react. Japan’s K Ozawa made it 2-0 in the 37th minute. India pulled one back through Dhanraj Pillay in the 41st minute and Deepak Thakur equalised through a field goal in the 47th minute. Nothing went right for India in the first half and could do nothing from the two penalty corners they forced in the half. After changing ends, Japan shocked India again in the beginning of the second half when No.9 Ozawa went into the striking circle unchallenged and unleashed a first time shot which went in through the legs of a baffled Indian ‘keeper. Stung by a double reverse, India went all out into the attack and immediately stretched the Japanese defence forcing four penalty corners in succession between the 38th and 42nd minutes. After Japanese keeper saved the first three corners with brilliant diving efforts, India scored off the fourth with a fine variation. Jugraj relayed the ball to pillay who was closing in to the post from the right and the mercurial striker connected brilliantly with a diving shot to make it 1-2. India continued the wave of attacks and six minutes later Pillay and Thakur moved up through the left and went inside the circle. After beating the rival defence Pillay could have tried from close but the genial striker passed it to Thakur in front of the goal and he just tapped it in as the Indian bench and supporters heaved a sigh of relief. But India’s effort to snatch a win slowly waned as the Japanse defended with all their might to earn a valuable point. India had won their last five encounters with Japan. (PTI) *** Korea, England win openers KUALA LUMPUR: Olympic silver medallists South Korea started on a winning note thrashing Pan-American Champions Cuba 6-2 in the opening match of the 10th World Cup Hockey here today. But at the break, it was Cuba who went off the pitch with a 2-1 advantage, shocking Korea out of their lethargic approach in their Pool B tie. In another Pool B match at the main stadium, England struggled hard to get the better of Poland 1-0. Korea were slow off the starting blocks leaving gaps in the defence which the Cubans gleefully capitalized. It was, however, Korea who took the lead in the 9th minute when Yeo Woon-Kon smashed in a penalty corner. Cuba who were building up pressure in the midfield got the equaliser in the 19th minute when Alexander Abreu moved upfield and connected with a cross from the right-flank. Following the equaliser, the Cubans played their hearts out. Just a minute later, in the 20th minute, Roberto Rodriguez swept into the circle past a slow Korean defence and flicked in a perfect goal to shock the Koreans. Korea must have been given a pep-talk at the break as they came out guns firing. (PTI) **** India strong contender for semis place, says Holland coach KUALA LUMPUR: Joost Bellart, coach of the reigning world and Olympic champions Holland feels that India are strong contenders for a place in the World Cup semifinals. Bellart feels that India are very strong in the defence of their penalty corners. "They play their hearts out when defending penalty corners," he says. The Dutch coach said that with some great results in the Junior World Cup and the Champions Challenger, Indian hockey is on it’s way up. "They went through a difficult period and now they are rebounding back onto the world scene," he added. India are in Pool B clubbed with Olympic silver medallists Korea and Olympic bronze medallists Australia with the other challenges coming from England, Poland, Cuba, Japan and hosts Malaysia. Though giving a lot of points to India, bellart felt that it will be a three-way battle between India, Australia and Korea with Malaysia surprising many with their performance. However, he felt that Korea might be able to sustain their fitness over a period of seven matches in the pool. He believed that Australia might have to put in a greater effort as far as fitness was concerned. Bellart’s earlier prediction that Cuba would be a difficult team came true today in the first match of the tournament when Cuba fought back magnificently to take a 2-1 lead at the break against Korea before the superior skills of the Koreans helped them to notch a 6-2 victory. But it definitely sent out a warning for other teams to be careful against the Cubans. Pakistan, Germany register easy wins KUALA LUMPUR: The two piping hot favourites to win the 10th men’s Hockey World Cup, which commenced here today, Pakistan and Germany, set a gallop that saw them outdistance their rivals while completing sweeping victories in pool a league matches. Pakistan sparkled in the second-half to flatten South Africa 5-0 after leading by a goal at the break, while the Germans, in quest of their maiden World Cup triumph, outplayed an ageing Argentina 5-2. (UNI) |
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