Pak team leaves with hopes high

ISLAMABAD, Apr 27: We are on song, the morale is high and every player is looking forward to contribute his best in the World Cup, Skipper Wasim Akram said as Pakistan team left without coach Javed Miandad for England today.

Akram, who played a crucial role in Pakistan’s World Cup triumph in 1992 and vindicated the selectors’ faith in him with successes after being given the reins again late last year, vowed to do well in the mega event to regain the cup.

But the crisis-ridden team, which rallied superbly after plumbing the depths with defeats at home and away to win the first-ever Asian Test championship and two recent triangular tournaments in India and Sharjah, will be without the services of the man behind the show, the six World Cup veteran - Miandad.

Miandad resigned controversially last week citing personal reasons amidst reports of a rift between him and the players.

His resignation has yet to be accepted. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Khalid Mahmood said the matter would be placed before the Board’s council meeting on May 1.

Chances of Miandad joining the team later were, however, minimal despite the issue being raised in front of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at a reception hosted for the team.

Admitting that differences between him and the players existed, the former batsman said he would reconsider his decision if PCB got the players to reconcile.(PTI)

Stoltenberg, Chang win first-round matches

DULUTH, (GEORGIA) Apr 27: Michael Chang took a step toward extending his eleven-year streak of winning at least one singles title, the longest currently on the ATP tour and fourth in tour history.

In a first-round match last night in the AT-and-T challenge, the fourth-seeded American beat Gianluca Pozzi of Italy 6-4, 6-2.

"Anytime you’ve had success somewhere, it’s always good to come back," said Chang, who won consecutive AT-and-T titles in 1994-95.

"Atlanta is such a great tennis town, so that makes it even better. The people always come out and give great support."

Second-seeded Jason Stoltenberg of Australia beat American Paul Goldstein 6-4, 6-1 in an afternoon match in the clay-court event at the Atlanta Athletic Club.

Chang’s six-year run of finishing no worse than sixth on the ATP tour ended when he closed 1998 at No. 29. A sprained ligament in his left knee and a left wrist injury plagued chang for most of the year, but he still managed victories in Boston and Shanghai after getting hurt.

This year, despite a No. 43 ranking, chang feels in great shape physically, but has won only eight of 16 matches and has reached the semifinals only once - at San Jose, California, in February.

"The best way for me to get better and regain confidence is to play tennis," Chang said. "Unfortunately for me, I’ve either lost early or haven’t been really happy with the way I’ve played."

Stoltenberg, ranked 32nd, used his big serve to dominate. After a relatively close first set, the 1998 AT-and-T runner-up took a 5-0 lead in the second set before Goldstein won a love game.

Czech Petr Korda continued a frustrating year by losing 7-5, 6-1 to Uraguay’s Marcelo Filippini. Korda, who escaped a suspension from the ITF despite testing positive for steroids at Wimbledon last year, won the first game of the second set, then fell apart.

"I lost the desire to play tennis for a while," Korda said.

"It’s still very important to me - definitely not as important as my family - but something I definitely want to do well."

Filippini won the AT-and-T in 1997 - his only American victory and his fifth worldwide.

In other first-round matches, Sweden’s Magnus Larsson beat Belhium’s Johan Van Herck 6-3, 6-2, and Armenia’s Sargis Sargsian stopped American Chris Woodruff 6-4, 6-4. (AP)

Jeev leapfrogs to 151st spot in world rankings

NEW DELHI, Apr 27: Jeev Milkha Singh, the lone Indian golfer in the European PGA tour, jumped 23 spots from previous week’s 174th place to a career-high ranking of 151 according to the world rankings list released yesterday.

The Chandigarh-based professional, who is sponsored by Hero Honda Motors, finished runner-up on Sunday to Korean Choi Kyoung-Ju in the 100-million-Yen Kirin Open, sanction event of the Japanese PGA tour and the Asian tour, Jeev, who lost in the first hole of playoff, now has an average of 1.21 and 52 points to be among the 27 Asians I the top 200 of the list.

Heading the Asian challenge is Fijian Vijay Singh, a regular on the US PGA tour and the defending US Open Champion. The list has 23 Japanese, with Jumbo Ozaki at 14th place with 6.62 points. Apart from India’s Jeev, the list also has Frankie Minoza of Philippines at 61st place one South Korean, Jong Duck-Kim the Asian PGA tour results are not counted in the world rankings.

In the world money list, Jeev is expected to break into the top 100 when the list is released today. The 62,500 dollars runner-up cheque will take his season’s earning in the European and Japanese PGA tour to 192,381 dollars he was in 128th place last week.

It was a near nuss of Jeev as a win in Thekirin Open would have opened up a lot many avenues for this ace golfer. A first place would have ensured he topped the Asian tour’s order of merit with the winner’s cheque of 125,000 dollars that would have given him automatic entry into the prestigious British Open, one of the four majors inworld golf, as well as the memorial tournament in the US in June. More importantly, he would have gained a two-year exemption on the Japanese PGA tour, which is considered at par with the European PGA tour.

Jeev, who missed the Peugeot Open De Espana, a European PGA tour event, in order to participate in the Kirin Open, has dropped to 21st position in the Volvo order of merit with earnings of 111,279 Euros.

Despite the lost opportunity, the 28-year-old was his optimistic self. "The thought of getting a direct entry into the British Open never crossed my mind. But I was very upset when I lost the playoff, however, I firmly believe that bigger and better things are in store for me," said Jeev whose last title win was way back in 1996 when he won the Philip Morris Asia Cup in Korea.

Jeev is in exceptional form this year, after ending last season at 322nd place in the world rankings, he has finished joint third in the season-opening Alfred Dunhill sought African PGA Championship, and then went one better with a joint second finish at the Mercedes Benz-Vodacom South African Open, his immediate aim is to get a direct entry into the British Open, one of the four majors of world golf, by remaining high enough in the European PGA Tour’s Volvo order of merit.

Jeev leaves for Italy on Wednesday night to participate in the Fiat and Fila Open, and event on the European PGA tour.

World rankings (top 10): L David Duval (US) 13.6:3 Tiger Woods (US) 11.42 2, Davis Love III (US) 10.86 4 Emie Els (SA)9.29 5 Mark o’Meara (US) 9.10 6 Vijay Singh (Fiji) 9.03 7, Lee Westwood (Eng) 8.85 3 Colin Montgomerie (SCO) 8.09 9, Nick Price (Zim) 7.86 10, Jim Furyk (US) 7.78 top three Asians: 14 Jumbo Ozaki (Jap) 6.62 42, Shigeki Maruyama (Jap) 3.43 61. Frankie Minoza (Phi) 2.53 151 Jeev Mikha Singh (Ind) 1.21. (UNI)

Rajinder Memorial Cricket Tourney
Team work powers TCC to beat KHCC by four wkts

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 27: Superb display of team work powered Tiranga Cricket Club(TCC) to register four wickets win over star studded Kulbushan Honda Cricket Club(KHCC) in the ongoing 2nd Rajinder Memorial Cricket Tournament being played at Parade ground, here today.

TCC won their half of the match, when Vickey Sagotra(4-38) got KHCC skipper and Ranji player Ashwani Gupta caught through Sachin on the very first ball of the match.

The wicket in the very first over boosted the morale of TCC bowlers, who bowled tightly in the following overs and also managed wickets after regular intervals. Ajay Parihar, who too bowled excellently clinching four important wickets giving away just 12 runs, sent the whole KHCC team to the pavilion at 117 when 5.1 overs were yet to be bowled.

While batting, it was again TCC, who emerged to be a better side when they hit their winning score in the last ball of the final over.

Earlier, KHCC won the toss and decided to bat. But the dismissal of their star batsman in the very first over collapsed their innings and they were all out at 117 runs playing 24.5 overs.

Ranjeet Singh was the highest scorer with 22 runs, while Akashy Khajuria made 20 runs off 19 deliveries including three boundaries.

Chasing the target, TCC made a good start making 23 runs for the first wicket partnership. But the dismissal of three quick wickets at a score of 43 brings some hopes on the faces of KHCC.

It was fifth wicket partnership of 45 runs between Ajay Parihar(42) and Jugal Kishore (22) which again turned the match in favour of TCC.

Again, KHCC created upper hand, when they bowled Ajay at 88. However, the Pankaj and Munish showed some resistance and managed the winning score on the last ball of the match and won the match by four wickets.

In tomorrow’s fixture, JCC will take on Chowdhary Cricket Club.

Seven wickets win for YSCC in Parmodh
Memorial Tourney

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 27: Unbeaten 45 by Rajesh and four wickets haul by Amarjeet helped YSCC, Ranibagh to beat NSCC, Sure Chak by seven wickets in the ongoing 2nd Parmodh Memorial Trophy Cricket Tournament being played at Mandal, here yestreday.

Rajesh and Chanchal, who opened YSCC innings made quick 30 runs after just three overs play, which further helped them in achieving the target. YSCC accomplished their target of 136 runs when two balls were yet to be bowled by losing three wickets.

Chanchal scored 21 runs with the help of four boundaries. Vijay Kumar was another highest scorer with 29 runs including one six and three fours, whereas, Gurvinder contributed 14 to the total.

For NSCC, Ashok, Sonu and Rahul took one wicket each.

Earlier, after winning the toss and opted to bat, NSCC set a target of 135 in 20 overs for the loss of nine wickets.

Sandeep scored 32 runs with the help of four boundaries. While, Parveen 23 including one six and two boundaries. Rahul and Sonu contributed 16 and 13 runs respectively to their team’s total.

Amarjeet, who took four important wickets for YSCC played a crucial role, when he frustrated the designs of the tale-enders and sent them back to the pavilion.

Rajesh bagged two wickets in his spell of four overs, while Gurvinder and Palla secured one wicket each.

2nd CRPF Inter-Bn Handball Tourney
50 Bn maintains winning spree; dismissal
performance by 83

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 27: The 50 Bn maintained its winning spree, while 83 Bn failed to improve their performance on the second day of the league matches of the 2nd Inter-Bn Handball Tournament being held at Green Fields ground, here today.

The 50 Bn won its second league match today defeating 74 Bn 13-4 in the morning session. Gian Chand played an important role netting five goals followed by Mussa Hari scored three and Ravi Karan and B Kakot two goal each. From the losers side, Sushil Gaur thrown-in two goals, while Subaid Singh and Yadav Mandal made one each.

While on the otherhand, 83 Bn failed to improve in their position in their second league match today and accepted defeat in the hands of 16 Bn by 15-5.

The 83 Bn fought well making various moves but could not convert their throws into goals and lost their second league match. Chandermani made five goals for 16 Bn, while, Ram Kumar and Vikram Singh added three goals each. Whereas, for losers, Chander Mohan made two goals to minimised the gap.

After winning their second match in the evening session, 16 Bn subsidised their defeat in the morning session.

The 136 Bn had defeated 16 Bn 14-10 in the morning session. Bilas Ahmed played pivotal role in 136 Bn’s win making six goals. Abdul Hamid and Shakeel Badami made two goals each. For 16 Bn Chander Mani scored highest seven goals, but lack of support from other team mates, 16 bn lost the match by four gaols. Vikram Singh was another scorer with three goals.

In a one sided match which held in the evening session, 84 Bn thrashed GC BTB 20-2 to make it a one sided affair. Parvir Ghose and Farooq Ahmed, who made highest eight and six goals through their powerful throws and never allowed their opponents to take control of the ball.

S C Patowari and L Bose scored three and two goals, while D S Annod made one.

From losers side, Rohan Singh and Vimal Kumar were the scorers.

Messrs Pawan Khajuria, Gopal and Sanjeev Singh conducted the matches.

Assistant Commandant, Rajesh Kumar was the commentator, while Assistant Commandant, Kailash was scorer.

The matches in the evening session were witnessed by the Assistant Deputy Inspector General of Police(CRPF), Mr Arun Chibber.

Tomorrow’s fixture:

Morning session: 34 Bn V/s 136 Bn and 50 Bn V/s GC BTB.

Evening session: 74 Bn V/s 34 Bn and 83 Bn V/s 136 Bn.

Karate tourney held

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 27: State Karate Do Tournament organised by the All J&K State Karate-Do Association concluded here yesterday.

In all, 50 students from various schools participated in the tournament which was held at Arya Girls School, Kacchi Chowni.

Those got first three positions in Shiai Kurmite included Harjyot, 2nd, Harleen Kaur, 2nd, Adeesh Gupta, Ist, Ram Kumar, 2nd, Vijay Kumar, 2nd, Gagandeep Singh, 2nd, Harshdeep Singh, 2nd, Gurmail Singh, 2nd, Vikrant, 2nd, Samriti Sharma, 2nd, Preeti, 2nd, Narayan, Ist, Sandeep, 2nd, Shanvi, Ist, Taniya, 2nd and Raghav, 2nd, a handout issued here by the Association said.

| home | state | national | business| editorial | advertisement | sports |
| international | weather | mailbag | suggestions | search | subscribe | send mail |