CALCUTTA, Nov 12: Hosts India played a disciplined game to supress Kuwait 4-7 and take the 11th position in the 15th Asian Basketball Confederation Championship for junior men at the Netaji Indoor Stadium here today.

The Indians, who had finished 13th in the last edition of the championship held in Malaysia in 1996, exploited their height advantage to the hilt to tame the Kuwaitis in a keenly contested 11th-12th placement match.

The home team raced to a 53-43 lead at halftime but seemed to lose their rhythm to some extent in the second session allowing their opponents to reduce the margin.

But the Indian hoopsters tightened up their game towards the end and took control of most of the defensive and offensive rebounds to check the Kuwait upsurge in the second half.

The Indians relied on the sooting skills of Mahipal Singh who showed very good form to secure 27 points, including four three-pointers, while Ranjeet Singh was equally impressive by scoring 24 points for his team.

Captain S Robinson, who had been very consistent right through the championship, was the other notable scorer with 22 points.

Hasan Saqer was the pick of the Kuwaiti players as he garnered 33 points, including one three-pointer. Boftein Taher (16) was the other notable performer for Kuwait taking part in the 15-team championship for the first time.

South Korea, who failed to qualify for the quarter- finals, whipped Hong Kong 103-64 in a rather one-sided contest to take the ninth position in the champion. The Koreans had finished fourth in the last edition of the championship.

Leading by a comfortable 54-27 at the interval, the South Korean hoopsters maintained their dominance in the second session as well to frustrate their opponents in the 9th-10th placement match.

Kim Dong Woo was the highest scorer for the Koreans with 26 points, including as many as five three-pointers, while Jung Sun Kyu was the other notable contributor with 16 points which contained two three-pointers.

For Hong Kong, Yeung Tsz Kwong (15) and Wong Chi Wai (12) were the main scorers.

Lebanon, who caused one of the biggest upsets in the championship by stunning defending champions China in a preliminary group league match, defeated Pakistan 73-45 to take the 13th in the championship. (PTI)

STOCKHOLM, Nov 12: Jason Stoltenberg scored a stunning victory in the first round of the Stockholm Open on Wednesday, upsetting top-ranked Pete Sampras 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-4.

Stoltenberg, an Australian ranked 29th who had lost all four previous matches to Sampras, needed seven match points before wrapping up the victory in 2 hours, 14 minutes yesterday.

"I thought it was at least 15," Stoltenberg said. "I thought it was slipping away at the end. I held on."

Sampras’ early exit could jeopardize his chances of finishing the season as world no. 1 for a record sixth consecutive year. Marcelo Rios, playing a Clay Court Tournament in his native Chile this week, could overtake him.

Earlier, Britain’s Tim Henman advanced to the quarterfinals with a straight-sets victory over Wayne Ferreira of South Africa.

Henman’s countryman, Greg Rusedski, was more convincing with a 52-minute victory over Tommy Haas, 6-1, 6-4.

"I couldn’t be playing much better tennis if I tried," said Rusedski, who defeated Sampras in the finals of the Paris Open last weekend. "It must be my new improved returns."

Henman was much more evenly matched. He started fast, then struggled before breaking Ferreira’s serve to force a tiebreak. He won 7-6 (7-3), 6-4.

In other matches yesterday, American Todd Martin defeated Australia’s hard-serving Wayne Arthurs, 6-4, 6-3, to Join Henman in the quarterfinals.

Arthurs, a 27-year-old doubles specialist, had upset second seed and world no. 7 Karol Kucera of Slovakia on Tuesday. (AP)

NEW DELHI, Nov 12: Gritty Punjab bowled out a strong Delhi batting line-up for less than 200 runs, scoring a 36-run victory over the hosts in the North-zone one-day match at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground here today.

International Harbhajan Singh scalped two wickets in one over and had helped in two run outs on his own bowling to reduce Delhi from 127-3 to 131-5 before the hosts succmed to mounting pressure and were bowled out for 198.

Both Delhi and Punjab have five points from four matches.

Electing to bat, Punjab rode on fine knocks by Sandeep Sharma (69) and Pankaj Dharmani (95) before being bundled out for 234 in the 50th over.

Chasing a challenging total, Delhi received two early blows when opener and skipper Vijay Dahiya (0) was caught behind off Harvinder Singh and new man Rajneesh Chopra also departed without scoring to make it 13-2. Ajay Sharma (5) was trapped plumb by Reetinder Sodhi and Delhi slumped to 20-3.

Opener Ashu Dani (72) and Mithun Manhas (58) steadied the innings with a 107-run fourth wicket stand but both wasted too many overs and the asking rate kept on mounting.

Manhas departed trying for a straight drive off Harbhajan Singh giving a return catch. The remaining batsmen could not handle the pressure and after Dani’s dismissal, the writing was clear on the wall.

Brief scores: Punjab - 234 all out in 49.4 Sharma 69, Dharmani 95 Bhandari 2/30, Sehwag 2/35)

Delhi - 198 all out in 45.5 overs (Dani 72, Manhas 58 Harbhajan 2/23, Sandeep Sharma 2/43). (PTI)

NEW DELHI, Nov 12: Two Adivasi dominated teams-Birsamunda Vidyapitha Rourkela and St Ignatius High School Gumla- set up the title clash with contrasting victories in the 16th Nehru-ONGC Sub Junior Hockey Tournament here today.

In the first semifinal Birsamunda Vidyapitha waged a grim battle to down B A V Inter College, Meerut by a solitary second half goal.

The all important goal came in the 44th minute through Bikas Topno. Bav muffed some good chances as its forwards failed to capitalize the opening near the goalmouth.

In the second semifinal, St Ignatius handed a 8-0 thrashing to D A V Shahbad.

The winners led 2-0 in the first half. St Ignatius dominated the proceedings most of the time but in the first session D A V managed to keep their rivals at bay conceding only two goals but in the second session the Gumla boys team went on Blitzkrig pumping in six more goals to complete the rout.

Rooplal Xalxo (3),Theodar Baa (2) Sebian Jojo,Ignace Aind and Xavier Jojo (one each) scored for the winners.

The final is scheduled for tomorrow.

Meanwhile in the inter club competition for the 35th Senior Nehru Tournament, Vikram Saini scored four goals including a hattrick as Hawaks Club Rupnagar (Punjab) thrashed United Club, Kamptee (Vidhrabha) 13-1.

In a totally one-sided match,the Rupnagar team lead 7-1 at half time.

Other scorers for the winners were Kulbir Singh, Gurpreet (3 each) Sukh Amritpal, Rajesh Kumar, Kanwal Preet (one each).

Fiyaz Khan reduced the margin for the losers. In the second match, Nehru Youth Training Centre (Bhopal) defeated Metro Club Bangalore 4-2 after trailing 1-2 at half time.

Mohd Sameer(2) Mohd Waseem, Farzan Ur Rehman (one each) scored for the Bhopal Club. Naveen Krishnan and Navneesh Waran ascored one goal each for the losers. (UNI)

Poonch link-up Day celebrations

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 12: Poonch like-up Day is jointly celebrated every year by Army and Civil administration to commemorate Poonch becoming a part of Indian democracy which before 1947 was a small principality under Dogra rule in Jammu and Kashmir. This year the celebration is of a great significance being the Golden Jubilee of the historic day falling on approaching 20 November.

The Army and civil administration have jointly planned a score activities and taken other measures in the welfare of the civilians of Poonch.

During 1947 Pakistani raiders combined with Pakistan (Pak) regulars launched raides on Poonch to subjugate Poonch but the Dogra forces stationed at Poonch had fought valiently and kept the Pak assaults at bay. And the Indian Army under command of Brigadier Pritam Singh advancing on Rajouri Poonch axis came to the rescue of beleaguered Poonch garrison moped up the raiders from their defences and sent them across the high features, thus saved Poonch from falling into their hands.

The Army has already launched welfare measures in this regard for the benefit of civilians in the shape of medical and veterinary camps held at a remote village Loran in Poonch.

Various competitions for children have been planned. Band cancert, sound and light show which will depict the happenings of 1947-48 when Poonch was isolated for one full year, will be held.

Multi religions prayer meeting will be organised at a newly constructed well architectured building provisioning the worship and call prayers for all people belonging to the major religion under one roof to usher communal harmony, on November 21.

Thereafter, war veterans of 1947-48 War and War widows will be honoured.

The celebrations will culminate with cultural evening being organised by civilians on the theme of national unity, harmony between Army and civilian to cultivate rich bonds of unity.

Warm farewell accorded to Roopa Padmanabhan

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 12: Mrs Roopa Padmanabhan, president Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA), Northern Command and wife of Lt General S Padmanabhan, GOC-in-C Northern Command, was accorded warm and affectionate farewell by the laides of Hqrs of Nagrota Corps at a function held at Usman Auditorium Nagrota near here, today.

Mrs Padmanabhan, while speaking to the laides, said that the women play a vital role in building a healthy society and happy family life. She advised them that they should take keen interest in educating their children and stressed the need for girl education, which could transform the family as well as the society as a whole.

She told them that they should activate more inorder to strengthen the AWWA organisation were different disciplines are taught to them to make them perfect to meet the economic needs. She also presented a cheque of Rs 20,000 towards AWWA welfare activities to Mrs Meera Chauhan, president of AWWA Nagrota Corps.

While highlighting the contributions of Mrs Padmanabhan, Mrs Meera Chauhan said that the Nagrota AWWA is thankful to her for the interest evinced by her for strengthening the organisation and various measures taken by her for the welfare of troops and the families during the tenure she held.

Mrs Kanta Jamwal, presented a vote of thanks. The function was also attended by wives of divisional commanders and independent brigade commanders.

Inter-distt Athletic Champ concludes
Jagdeep emerged best athlete in Under-14

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 12: Jagdeep Kumar of High School Kotli Shah Doula has emerged as best athlete winning gold medals in 100 mtr, 200 mtr, 4x100 mtr and long jump in the age group of Under-14 years in the Inter- district Athletics Championship, which concluded here at BSF ground.

With this Jammu district has topped in medals tally winning 70 medal (37 gold, 23 silver and 10 bronze), followed by district Kathua 44 (11 gold, 16 silver and 17 bronze). District Poonch has finished third with 20 medals (5 gold, 8 silver and 7 bronze).

Rajouri district has got 11 medal, while Doda finished last with only one medal.

Around 300 boys and girls from all over districts of Jammu division participated in the 45 events in different categories.

In the Under-14 years boys Tejender Singh of Poonch and in Under-19 Raj Singh of Jammu declared as best athletes in the championship. While in girls, Pawandeep Kour of Jammu declared best in Under 17 yrs and Manjeet Kour of Kathua in Under-19 yrs age group.

Jammu bagged over all championship in all the age groups of boys. In girls Kathua declared champion in Under-19 yrs, while Jammu clinched remaining position in Under-14 and Under-17 years groups.

On the final day of the tournament four events were held. In Under-19 yrs boys 100 mtr, Amit Kumar, Kathua, Ist, Vikas Kumar, Jammu, 2nd and Davinder Singh, Jammu 3rd. In 100 mtr, Under-19 girls, Manjeet Kour of Kathua, Ist, Amrit Kour of Jammu, 2nd and Anita Kumari of Rajouri third.

Jaspreet Singh of Poonch won gold in 100 mtr Under-17 boys, while Rajinder Singh of Jammu and Sudesh Kumar of Rajouri got silver and bronze medals respectively.

In 4x100 mtr relay, Jammu, Ist, Kathua, 2nd and Udhampur, 3rd.

Earlier, the concluding function begun with cultural item presented by students from Government Higher Secondary School, Mubarak Mandi, Girls Higher Secondary school, Rehari and S D Tara Puri school, Gandhi Nagar and Shastri Memorial Higher Secondary School. The band was also from Shastri Memorial School.

IG BSF, Mr U C Chabbra was chief guest on the occasion, while Mr S S Ali, Director General Youth Services and Sports presided over the concluding function.

Besides, Mr R S Chawla, DIG BSF, other senior officer of BSF, Youth Services and Sports Department, Education Department and large number of youth, students and teachers witnessed the programme.

Mr Ashok Kumar, District Youth Services and Sports Officer, Jammu delivered vote of thanks, while Mrs Veena Bakshi under whose supervision the meet was organised welcomed the chief guest, dignitaries and the participants.

Snooker Champ enters pre-QFs
Jaideep overcomes Mehta

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 12: Pre-quarter finals of 8th Jammu District Billiards and Snooker Championship will begin from tomorrow after first round was completed here at Billiards hall, M A Stadium this evening.

In an interesting fight, junior Jaideep Manocha outplayed Amit Mehta 3-1 to enter the second round. He won the match 45-52, 61-37, 52-35, 56-42.

Lokesh Sharma got walk over today when Sidharth Sharma failed to arrive at the venue.

Sheetal Gandotra gave a tough fight to Jyoti Anand before losing his match 2-3 in one of the seven matches played today. Jyoti Anand won the match 37-72, 56-47, 35-64, 69-13, 52-45.

In an another match, Vishal Abrol had an easy win over Gagan Gupta in straight sets of 44-24, 50-41, 79-15. Rakesh Sethi lost his match 1-3 to Arun Gulati in four sets 42-52, 47-45, 53-28, 61-30.

Karan Kapoor defeated Gurvinder Singh 34-51, 56-30, 70-21, 57-25, while Salim Bandey beat Inderpaul Singh 26-39, 58-19, 39-19, 39-27.

Matches in juniors snooker will also begin by tomorrow at the same venue.