Contrasting styles
help India get good
starts: Bangar

MUMBAI, Oct 9: Makeshift opening batsman Sanjay Bangar today said he was happy to play second fiddle to the flamboyant Virendra Sehwag and their contrasting styles helped India get off to good starts. ........more

India take on Pak
in head-to-head
clash today

BUSAN, Oct 9: In what is likely to be a connoisseur’s classic, defending champions India will face arch-rivals and seven times Asian gold medallists Pakistan in the second hockey semifinal of the 14th Asian Games at .........more

Cricket likely to be
part of Asiad, 2006

BUSAN, Oct 9: The big money spinner in the Indian subcontinent, cricket, is likely to make its debut in the 15th Asian. . ......more

Sehwag gives early advantage to India

MUMBAI, Oct 9: Virender Sehwag slammed a magnificent hundred to place his team at comfortable 278 for two on the.........more

Sanjeev Suri clinches senior boys Epee individual event
* Under-19 boys Sabre team trophy goes to Friends Club

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 9: Sanjeev Suri claimed the senior boys Epee trophy beating Anthony Mattoo, while Lucky Singh emerged victorious in Foil event in the finals of the Jammu District Fencing Championship which concluded today at Indoor Complex, M A Stadium, here this evening...........more

Arrangements for All India Police meets in Golf, Band finalized

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 9: A meeting of police officers was held here today in connection with the finalization of arrangements for 6th. All India Police Golf Tournament and 4th All India Police Band ........more

Annual Athletic meet ends at Sainik School Nagrota

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 9: The XXVI annual athletic meet at Sainik School, Nagrota concluded with the holding of prize distribution function...........more

JKCA declares U-19, U-15 squads........

Rural sports and women competitions held at Mahanpur ....

District Softball tourney from October 14 ....

Binu sparkles as India bag four more medals ......

Contrasting styles help India get good starts: Bangar

MUMBAI, Oct 9: Makeshift opening batsman Sanjay Bangar today said he was happy to play second fiddle to the flamboyant Virendra Sehwag and their contrasting styles helped India get off to good starts.

"Probably our contrasting styles of batting helps the team get good starts and that is very important from the team’s point," said the Railways star who contributed a patient 55 in the record 201-run opening stand with Virendra Sehwag in the first innings of the opening test against the West Indies here today.

"It is good to be at the other end when Sehwag is batting and it takes the pressure off you," said Bangar who had first opened with Sehwag during the England tour.

Sehwag, who slammed a career best 147 runs, said Bangar and he "wanted to bat throughout the day."

"We knew we had crossed a small milestone but we wanted to continue even though the pitch was a little slow," he told reporters after the day’s play.

"I was well set and I decided to go for my shots but I got a snick," he said when asked about the shot that led to his dismissal, caught behind by Ridley Jacob off Mervyn Dillon.

Asked whether there were instructions from the dressing room before the match, Sehwag said "there were no instructions as such and we just went about building the innings and scoring off loose deliveries."

This was the Sehwag’s third test century and Bangar’s second fifty. Bangar, who celebrates his 30th birthday on Friday, also has a century to his credit. (PTI)

India take on Pak in head-to-head clash today

BUSAN, Oct 9: In what is likely to be a connoisseur’s classic, defending champions India will face arch-rivals and seven times Asian gold medallists Pakistan in the second hockey semifinal of the 14th Asian Games at Gangseo Stadium here tomorrow, a match billed in the sub-continent as the ‘grand finale’.

In the other semifinal, Malaysia will challenge hosts South Korea in the first playoff.

Both India and Pakistan have tested each other’s waters in the recent past and this clash will again have buffs at the edge of their seats, expecting an exciting electric-paced encounter, full of pot-boiler ingredients for an action packed thriller.

However the Asiad records are heavily loaded in favour of Pakistan who annexed their first title in 1958 at Tokyo when this discipline made its debut. India had lost the final by the goal ratio rule, since done away with. Thereafter there were battles for the gold at Jakarta four years hence, twice at Bangkok in the seventies, besides Teheran in 1974, New Delhi in 1982 and in their last meeting at Beijing in 1990.

Interestingly, India had reached the finals of the Asiad hockey competition each time starting from the games in 1958 at Tokyo to 1998 at Bangkok. This will be the second time that the traditional rivals cross swords at the semifinal stage in the Asiad, the last also being in South Korea sixteen years ago. Pakistan were 3-1 victors over the Mohd. Shahid led squad at Seoul.

India’s only triumph against their neighbours at the Asian Games was in the 1966 Bangkok final where the lightening right winger, railwayman Balbir Singh, stormed the Pakistani citadel with a thunderous near zero angle match-winning goal.

The two sides did not play each other in the previous two editions of the games at Hiroshima and Bangkok. On both occasions Pakistan slipped on the podium ladder finishing with the bronze while India reached the final winning silver and gold respectively. (AGENCIES)

Cricket likely to be part of Asiad, 2006

BUSAN, Oct 9: The big money spinner in the Indian subcontinent, cricket, is likely to make its debut in the 15th Asian Games to be held in Doha, Qatar in 2006.

The Doha Asian Games Organising Committee (DAGOC) is making a frantic bid to convince the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to include cricket in the Asiad.

Cricket is perhaps the second most popular game in Asia after football and with the participation of three World Cup winners India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, it will definitely attract a huge migrant crowd and television audience in the sub continent.

"Cricket will bring us so much money that it will offset all other deficits," a senior DAGOC official told UNI here.

Ayman Jada, the DAGOC chief of media and sponsorship, said that his country is planning to stage 33 sports, including cricket. However, its inclusion in the Doha Games needed to be approved by the Olympic Council of Asia.

"There are regional sports such as Sepak Takraw and Kabaddi, and I think cricket should get the same recognition. Every country has the right to propose a sport. It is one of our goals to introduce cricket in the Asian Games."

He said that within a few weeks dagoc would complete its master plan, which includes the selection of sports. "We are definitely going to add cricket in the list of disciplines for Doha asiad. If women hockey, with just four teams, and Kabbadi, with six teams, can be played in the games, surely cricket can also be played".

"There are four Asian recoganised members-India,Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh- by the ICC and even UAE has figured in the World Cup. We will send this proposal to the OCA board for approval by the end of November."

"Cricket will change the face of the Asian Games, and a country like ours will not have to suffer financial losses. After all there are several disciplines in the games which do not attract any audience but member countries insist on their inclusion just to earn medals. Cricket will not only bring the crowds but will have world wide television audience, and that will suffice us financially,"he added. He said that the inclusion of cricket in the Asian Games would make the event financially viable. A major portion of the 670,000 inhabitants of Qatar are Pakistanis and Indians who work in the small Gulf state.

Jada said he did not expect any objections to cricket’s inclusion in the next Asiad by the OCA.

It is not yet known how long the OCA board would take to review the DAGOC proposal for the 15th Asian Games, but it is expected to be completed before the next OCA General Assembly meeting to be held at the end of January in Kuwait.

The executive board of OCA consists of the president with 4 vice-presidents coming from the 4 different zones of the Asian continent (East, South East, South Central and West Asia), and a fifth vice president coming from the host country of the Asian summer games. The sixth vice-president, coming from the host country of the Asian Winter Games, the chairman of the seven OCA standing committees, the secretary general, the treasurer, and the director general, make up the board having a total of 17 persons.

And with cricket being the number one sport in Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka, television viewership of the games can surpass that of the previous editions. During the Nat-West final between India and England there were an estimated 23 million people in India alone watching the match.

Should cricket be included, advertising revenues for the 2006 Asiad can be expected to be astronomical. Television companies in India are believed to have hiked their advertising rates for cricket by at least three times the normal rates.

Pepsi in India spends between 60 and 70 per cent of its advertising budget on cricket advertising and Sony TV has splurged 255 million dollars on the Indian televesion rights for the next two cricket World Cup tournaments in 2003 and 2007. (UNI)

Sehwag gives early advantage to India

MUMBAI, Oct 9: Virender Sehwag slammed a magnificent hundred to place his team at comfortable 278 for two on the opening day as India set the stage for a big total in the first cricket test against West Indies here today.

Sehwag hit a career-best 147 with 24 fours and three sixes and and put on 201 runs for the first wicket with Sanjay Bangar who made a solid 55 after India had elected to bat on a newly-laid pitch at the Wankhede Stadium.

Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar carried forward the good work of the two younsters, adding 65 for their unfinished third wicket after both the openers were dismissed in quick succession in the final session of play.

When stumps were drawn, Dravid was batting on 28 off 71 balls while Tendulkar was on 35 off 82 deliveries.

Sehwag and Bangar, who were discovered as India’s latest opening pair on the tour of England, once again staked a claim for a permanent status as test openers as they complimented each other well on their way to a record partnership.

While Sehwag demolished the West Indian attack in his characteristic flamboyant manner, Bangar played the ideal foil and ensured that India did not lose any early wicket. Together they frustrated the West Indian attack for more than four and half hours before falling within 12 runs of each other.

But that was not before they had registered India’s best opening wicket stand against West Indies, improving upon the 153 by Sunil Gavaskar and Chetan Chauhan in the 1978-79 series against the Alvin Kallicharan-led side at the same venue.

Sehwag and Bangar also posted India’s first double century opening wicket stand after the pair of Gavaskar and Chauhan had done so against Pakistan in 1986-87.

Sehwag, whose earlier two test centuries had come outside the country, did the bulk of the scoring in that partnership, leaving Bangar far behind.

In India’s lunch score of 75 without loss, Sehwag’s contribution was 53. He had already crossed his third test century and was batting on 124 when india took tea at 175 without loss.

Sehwag started a bit shakily but soon took control of the proceedings as he sent the West Indian bowlers on a leatherhunt.

In company of his partner, he completely frustrated the three-pronged West Indian pace attack of which only Mervyn Dillon was impressive. Dillon, who sent down an opening spell of six overs for seven runs, dismissed both Sehwag and Bangar to finish with two for 30 from his 16 overs.

But that was all that West Indian captain Carl Hooper got on the first day of his 100th test. The other bowlers were far from impressive and were tore apart by a rampaging Sehwag who completed his hundred off 138 balls with 19 fours and a six.

Bangar also opened up a bit after lunch and cut Dillon for a four before lofting Ryan Hinds for a six over long-on. He reached his half-century shortly after the tea-break and was let off on 53 once before being caught by Ramnaresh Sarwan off Dillon.

Sehwag, in the meanwhile, hit two more sixes, one each off Mahendra Nagamootoo and Ryan Hinds. He was on 137 when Bangar was dismissed and added 10 more runs before being caught by a diving Ridley Jacobs off Dillon.

The spotlight then shifted to the dravid and tendulkar, who have been India’s highest run-scorers in test cricket this year. Dravid had become the first batsman to cross 1,000 runs this year during the tour of England last month. Today it was Tendulkar’s turn to reach the milestone. He completed 1000 runs when he reached 14.

Tendulkar was lucky to have been dropped by Jacobs who juggled with the ball before grassing it. But just two balls later, he cut ryan hinds to the point boundary. He also played a delectable square drive and an elegant glance off leg-spinner Nagamootoo for boundaries.

At the other end, Dravid, who has scored centuries including a double ton in his last three innings, played an usual sedate knock.

West Indies have so far tried nine bowlers but none have been impressive except Dillon.

Earlier, Hooper and Tendulkar were felicitated by Indian Cricket Board ppresident Jagmohan Dalmiya and Mumbai Cricket Association chief Sharad Pawar for playing 100 tests. Hooper is playing his 100th test here while Tendulkar featured in his 100th in the fourth and final test against England at the Oval last month. (PTI)

SCOREBOARD

India 1st innings

S Bangar c Sarwan b Dillon 55

V Sehwag c Jacobs b Dillon 147

R Dravid batting 28

S Tendulkar batting 35

Extras (lb-5, w-1, nb-7) 13

Total (for 2 wkts, 90 overs) 278

Fall of wickets: 1-201, 2-213.

Bowling: Dillon 16-6-30-2, Collins 15-6-38-0, Cuffy 15-3-42-0, Nagamootoo 21-4-70-0, Hooper 7-2-34-0, W Hinds 4-0-11-0, R Hinds 9-0-39-0, Gayle 2-1-3-0, Sarwan 1-0-6-0. (PTI)

Sanjeev Suri clinches senior boys Epee individual event
* Under-19 boys Sabre team trophy goes to Friends Club

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 9: Sanjeev Suri claimed the senior boys Epee trophy beating Anthony Mattoo, while Lucky Singh emerged victorious in Foil event in the finals of the Jammu District Fencing Championship which concluded today at Indoor Complex, M A Stadium, here this evening.

Second place in senior boys Epee individual went to Anthony Mattoo, while Adarsh finished third. In the boys Foil individual final, Lucky Singh defeated Anthony Mattoo to bag first position. Sanjeev Suri remained at third position.

In boys U-19 Sabre team final, Friends Club (Ranchan, Kapil, Aman and Sahib Gupta) defeated DBN (Shrawan, Kamaljeet, Monty and Ishan Gupta) to remain at the top. Third position went to Shanta Higher Secondary School (Naresh, Jai Kishen, Sunny and Ashwani Sharma).

Girls Sabre individual trophy was bagged by Saniya of DBN beating Kanika of Friends Club in the final. Shina of Stadium team remained at third position.

In under-19 boys Epee individual final, Bhanu Vijay (Stadium) outplayed Ajay (Stadium), whileas Sunny of Stadium ‘A’ finished third.

Girls individual Foil gold went to Richa Dutta (DBN), who defeated Richa Sabherwal (Friends Club) in the final. Shivani of DBN bagged bronze finishing third.

In today’s finals and prize distribution function, Sports Officer of the J&K State Sports Council, Ajit Singh Wazir, was chief guest, who gave away winners and runners-up prizes to individuals and winner teams. President of the J&K Amateur Fencing Association, Mr M J Sharma was also present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, talking to EXCELSIOR, Mr Sharma disclosed that the Association is conducting district Udhampur championship at the end of this month which will be followed by the State Championship by the next month.