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Serena williams sails MANHATTAN BEACH (CALIFORNIA), Aug 11: American teenage....more
Rahul Dravid, Dingko NEW DELHI, Aug 11: Asian games gold.....more All India Open Badminton Tournament BANGALORE, Aug 11: Top seeds and national......more Courier adds to MASON (OHIO), Aug 11: Unseeded former.....more |
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Ajay Jasrotia Memorial Day-night Cricket KNCC beat RCC, enters semis Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Aug 11: Karan Nagar Cricket Club (KNCC) defeated Raju Cricket Club (RCC) by 61 runs to enter the semi-finals of the ongoing Major Ajay Singh Jasrotia Memorial Day-night Cricket Championship being played here, today...more Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Aug 11: The week-long Inter-School Judo Championship in which 16 teams of Srinagar district participated, concluded here today.....more British Chess Championship SCARBOROUGH (UK), Aug 11: Top seed GM Julian Hodgson (7) continues to lead the field with a lucky....more We’re confident, but boys NEW DELHI Aug 11: Chief national coach Vasudevan Baskaran today expressed confidence of....more ATP Championships MASON (OHIO), Aug 11: Pete Sampras took most of a set to get going before finally putting his game...more |
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Serena williams sails at Acura Classic MANHATTAN BEACH (CALIFORNIA), Aug 11: American teenage star Serena Williams scrubbed off the rust but Alexandra Stevenson bit the dust. Sixth-seeded Williams rallied past Russian Elena Likhovtseva 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, while Anke Huber of Germany ousted 1999 Wimbledon semifinalist Stevenson 6-4, 6-4 last night to complete opening-round play of the 520,000 dollar Acura Classic Tennis Tournament. Williams is tickled to be back on the WTA tour following a third round loss at the French Open two months ago and withdrawing from the Wimbledon Championships last month. "It was a little tough because I haven’t played since the French Open," said Williams following the one-hour-58 minute victory. "You forget how it is out there in front of the crowd and the cheers. It feels good to be back out there, playing and competing and trying to do well. I missed that. "Plus, people are passing me in the rankings," said Williams, ranked 11th worldwide. "This is only the ninth tournament I’ve played. Imagine, if I played 20 like everybody else, I’d take the top spot." The way Williams played in the opener, world number one Martina Hingis had nothing to worry about. She muscled shots either long, wide or dumped them into the bottom of the net to drop the opener. But the American began to hit the mark with her punishing ground game to level the match and ran past the Russian in a quick 25-minute third set. "I think I was playing awesome today at practice, you should’ve seen me," she said. "I’m ready to compete on the men’s tour but a match situation especially in a tournament is much different. But when I went up 2-1, I was really feeling better. I was really tight, then I relaxed. Sometimes I get too tight and can’t do anything." Stevenson has had a memorable couple of months since turning pro this summer after graduation. She managed to become the first qualifier to reach the semifinals of the Wimbledon Champions despite a storm of publicity about the identity of her father (basketball great Julius Erving) and charges from mother Samantha of racism and lesbianism on the WTA tour. After that, a bronze medal in the recent Pan-American Games. However, as a wild card entry, she failed to survive against the 24 ranked huber who needed a service break in each set to fashion the 64-minute victory. "I’m disappointed because I wanted to win this match but there’s always next week, that’s the good thing about tennis," said Stevenson, ranked 41 worldwide. "I think I played ok but I’m still learning. I have to learn to step into the court more and not let myself be pushed back behind the baseline. I need to learn not to go for the great shots, go for the good shots, then for the great shots." Huber was able to beat Stevenson with a steady but punishing ground game in their first encounter. "I didn’t play too great," said huber. "It was very difficult to find a rhythm because she played one good shot and three others somewhere else. I didn’t do anything spectacular, I just stayed quiet and tried to keep the ball in play." The German will face top-seeded and defending champion Lindsay Davenport in a second-round match tomorrow. In other first-round matches: Wild-card entry Corina Morariu of the US smacked 23 winners to upset eighth-seeded Sandrine Testud of france, 6-1, 6-3 American qualifier Lisa Raymond eliminated 1999 Wimbledon semifinalist Mirjana Lucic of Crotia, 6-3, 6-1 unseeded Ruxandra Dragomir of Romania outlasted qualifier Anne Kremer of Luxembourg 2-6, 7-6 (6-8) 6-2 in a two-hour, 18-minute battle Patty Schnyder of Switzerland bid "adios" to Spain’s Magui Serna, 6- 3, 6-4 and Natasha Zvereva of Belarus squandered three second-set match points and converted only six of 26 break point chances, including a decisive one in the final game, to edge unseeded Romanian Irina Spirlea 6-4, 6-7( 4-7), 7-5 in a two-hour, 44-minute marathon. Raymond’s reward is a second-round matchup against world number one Martina Hingis of Switzerland tonight. "I’m very much looking forward to it," said Raymond, who has dropped three of four career meetings to the 18-year-old swiss star. "Obviously she’s playing better since (a first-round loss at) wimbledon. I’ve won four matches decisively. I’m hitting the ball and have nothing to lose. I’m just going to go out there with nothing to lose." (REUTERS) |
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Rahul Dravid, Dingko named among Arjuna award winners Golden girl gets Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna NEW DELHI, Aug 11: Asian games gold medallist boxer N.G.Dingko Singh, stylish batsman Rahul Dravid, wicket keeper Nayan Mongia, late hockey captain Surjit Singh, 400m national record holder Paramjit Singh and football striker Bhaichung Bhutia are among the 30 sportspersons selected for the prestigious Arjuna awards for the year 1998. Golden girl Jyotrirmoyec Sikdar, who won two golds in the Bangkok Asian Games will receive the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award. The three coaches- two in athletics and one in boxing-have been chosen for the Dronacharya awards for 1998. They are G.S.Sandhu (boxing), Hargobind Singh and Bahadur Singh. The Arjuna award winners list announced here this evening consists of five athletes, two cricketers, one boxer, one footballer, five men and two women hockey players, two kabbadi players, two shooters, one swimmer, one table tennis player, one weightlifter and two wrestlers. Among the athletes is veteran long distance runner Chand Ram, throwers Neelam Jaswant Singh, S.D. Eshan, runners Rachita Mistry and Paramjit Singh, who last year erased the 38-year-old record of Milkha Singh in 400 m. Bengal’s golden girl Jyotirmoyee Sikdar, who did country proud in the Bangkok Asian Games by winning golds in 800 and 1500m, has been selected for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratan award. This award instituted in 1991-92 carries a cash amount of Rs one lakh besides a scroll of honour and a plaque. The most interesting part in the list is the choice of hockey players. Baljit Singh Dhillion and Mohd. Riaz are members of the current national squad. Full back Surjit Singh also known as "rock of Gibraltar" in his time died way back in 1983 while defender Baldev Singh retired from the game more than decade ago and M.K. Kaushik’s last claim to fame was being coach of the hockey team which won the gold medal in the last year’ Asian Games after a gap of 36 years. Boxer N.G. Dingko Singh richly deserved this award. This young Manipuri pugilist earned the country gold in the event in the Bangkok Asian Games after 16 years. Star striker Baichung Bhutia, who became the first Indian to sign for an professional club in England is the lone soccer player in the list. Rahul Dravid, who with his stylish batting enthralled the crowds in the World Cup along with team mate and wicket keeper Nayan Mongia are the two cricketers figuring in the list. Indian women hockey team captain Versatile Pritam Rani and her team mate S Omana Kumari will also receive the award. Two kabbadi players who were part of the gold medal winning squad at the Bangkok Asiad-Ashan Kumar, Biswajit Patil, Judoka Narender Kumar, shooters Roopa Unnikrishnan, Manavjit Singh, swimmer Bhanu Sachdeva, international table tennis player S Raman, body builder T V Pauly, kho kho player Shoba Narayana, weightlifter Satisha Rai, wrestlers olympian Kaka Pawar and Rohtas Singh Dahiya, and physically handicapped sportspersons Anju Dua and Ranjini Ramanujam complete the list. Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) Amritsar won the prestigious Maulana Abul Kalam Azad for the record 14th time. Punjab University (Chandigarh) is the runners up while Calicut University is third placed. The Arjuna award was instituted in 1961 to honour outstanding sportspersons. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 50,000 and a bronze statuette of Arjuna and a scroll. Dronacharya awards instituted in 1985 honours eminent coaches who have successfully trained sportspersons or teams. The award comprises a cash prize of Rs 75,000, a statuette of Dronacharya and a scroll. The Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy, setup as a running trophy in 1956-57 is awarded annually to the University which has given best all round performance in various sports competitions during the year. The trophy winner gets a cash prize of Rs one lakh, runners up Rs 50,000 and the third placer Rs 25,000. The awards will be given by the President K R Narayanan at a special function at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on September one. (UNI) |
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India Open Badminton Tournament BANGALORE, Aug 11: Top seeds and national champions Gopichand and Aparna Popat retained their titles in style in the men’s and women’s sections respectively in the fifth All India Open Badminton Tournament here today. Both finals proved one-sided. Gopichand (IOC) thrashed Sachin Ratti (Rly) 15/8, 15/1 while Aparna Popat (IOC) crushed former national champion Manjusha Kanwar (IOC) 11/1, 11/3. Ratti showed some signs of a fightback in the first game when gopichand was leading 7-0. He exhibited fine technique, forcing gopichand to commit errors. The game had some thrills to offer the spectators, but Gopichand, who led 13-3, finally broke through with his speed and smashes for a 15-8 win. In the second game, Gopichand toyed with Ratti. The only point Ratti got was through a smash at 1-8. There was another long rally at 13-1 which ended in favour of Gopichand, and when Ratti netted a return, Gopichand sealed the title. Aparna popat looked too good for her opponent Manjusha Kanwar and wrapped up the match 11-1, 11-3. Though serve changed hands several times, Manjusha failed to grab the opportunity and surrendered. "I played a better game today and focussed well. I would like to retain my position of world no.20 and try to beat the best players. I will be playing in the singapore open starting aug 23", said Aparna Popat. Aparna Popat retained the title for the fourth time in succession. She had lost in the semifinals in the first edition of the BPL open championship. Results: Mens singles (final) Gopichand (IOC) bt Sachin Ratti (Rly) 15-8, 15-1. Womens (singles): Aparana Popat (IOC) bt Manjusha Kanwar (IOC) 11-1,11-3. (PTI) |
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Courier adds to misery for Goran with 1st-round win MASON (OHIO), Aug 11: Unseeded former world number 1 Jim Courier continued the 1999 misery for Goran Ivanisevic with a 7-6 (7-1), 6-2 defeat to power ahead into the second round of the 2.45-million-dollar ATP Championships. The loss in 74 minutes yesterday dropped the Croatian’s win-loss record this year to 13-17 and made him six wins, seven defeats on hardcourt. Ivanisevic, a three-time wimbledon finalist, began the year poorly when he had to drop out of the Australian Open with a back injury. That ended a streak of 23 consecutive grand slam appearances. Despite a brief flurry of form with quarterfinals at Doha, Scottsdale and queen’s, Ivanisevic showed the inconsistency that has plagued his game as he went out for the second straight week in a tournament first round. The loss was his ninth of the year in the opening round of an event, a mark which has left his ranking at 30th on the ATP tour. Unless he manages a miracle, Ivanisevic looks to be in danger of snapping his streak of at least one tourmament title every year since 1990. The only others to accomplish that have been Pete Sampras and Michael Chang. Courier took full advantage of the streaky nature of the Croatian’s game. (DPA) |
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British Chess Championship SCARBOROUGH (UK), Aug 11: Top seed GM Julian Hodgson (7) continues to lead the field with a lucky draw against GM Peter Wells (6) of England in the eighth round of the British Chess Championship being played here. IM Zia Ur Rahmaan (6.5) of Bangladesh scored a billiant victory over IM Mathew Turner (5.5) of England to emerge clear second, just half a point behind Hodgson. GM Peter Wells, playing while, was clearly better against the top seed. Wells however came under acute time pressure and allowed Hodgson lot of counterplay to get away with a draw. IM Zia Ur Rahman (6.5) played a brilliant attacking game from white side of English opening to outwit IM M Turner (5.5) of England. IM D Gormally (6) and IM Jonathan Rowson (6) drew their game to occupy third position alongwith GM Peter Wells (6). National Champion IM K Shashikiran and GM Pravin Thipsay (both 5.5) scored smooth victories over GM Aaron Summerscale (4.5) of Eng and IM Garry Lane (4.5) of Eng respectively. Shashikiran adopted King’s Indian defence against smmerscale who launched a dangerous four pawns attack. Shashi defended well and won three pawns and the game in summerscale’s time pressure. National junior champion S Kidambi (4.5) employed caro kan defence against fourth seed GM Stuart Conquest (4.5) of England. Kidambi maintained the balance throughout and drew after a Marathon endgame. IM V Saravanan (5) employed pirc defence to draw with British IM Miroslav Houska (5), GM norm holder Abhijit Kunte (5) scored a smooth victory over teenager Richard Pert (4) of England from black side of torre opening. IWMs Anupama Gokhale (3) and Bhagyashree Thipsay (3) drew with Alan Barton (2.5) and Charles Tipplestone (3) respectively. World under-12 girls champion Koneru Humpy (3.5) scored a nice win over Costas Harris (2.5) of UK. Important results from eighth round:GM p Wells (6) Eng drew GM Jhodgson (7) EngIM D Gormally (6) Eng drew IM J Rowson (6) ScoIM Z Rahman (6.5) Ban beat IM M Turner (5.5) EngGM B Lalic (5.5 Eng drew GM J Emms (5.5) EngGM P Thipsay (5.5) Ind beat IM G Lane (5) EngGM A Summerscale (4.5) Eng lost to IM Shashikiran (5.5) IndIM M Houska (5) Eng drew IM Saravanan (5) IndGM S Conquest (4.5) Eng drew S Kidambi (4.5) IndR Pert (4) Eng lost to IM A Kunte (5) IndTipplestone (3) Eng drew IWM B Thipsay (3) IndIWM A Gokhale (3) Ind drew R Barton (2.5) EngH Costas (2.5) Eng lost to IWM K humpy (3.5) Ind.(UNI) |
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We’re confident, but boys will be cautious: Baskaran NEW DELHI Aug 11: Chief national coach Vasudevan Baskaran today expressed confidence of victory over over South Africa in the coming five-match hockey test series, but said India will be cautious in their approach. They are a good side and we can’t afford to take them lightly. The boys have been told to be cautious. But we should come out successful, the olympian told before the team left Delhi for the final exposure trip before the probables for next year’s Sydney Olympics are shortlisted next month. India play all the five matches in Johannesburg, on August 13, 15, 17, 19 and 21. The two teams last met at the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games in September last year where India won 2-1. But Baskaran said South Africa are gearing up for the all-Africa games to be held in Johannesburg from September 5 to 18. We will be applying our twin system we’re working out for Sydney and they will be keen as they will earn a direct berth for Olympics if they win at the Africa games, Baskaran, who will be in charge of his first international assignment since returning to succeed fellow Moscow games hero M K Kaushik as chief coach, said. South Africa’s world ranking is not very good, but they play European style hockey and also are very fit physically. But we have studied their game on video tapes, he said. The team, named India A, leave for South Africa after a training camp in Amritsar till July end and at the national stadium here for the last one week. (PTI) |
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ATP Championships MASON (OHIO), Aug 11: Pete Sampras took most of a set to get going before finally putting his game in gear for a rain-interrupted 7-6 (11-9), 6-4 second-round win last night over Jan Siemerink at the 2.45-million-dollar ATP Championships. The top seed and world number 1 appeared to be thrown off his stride by a rainstorm, which delayed the contest for an hour in a critical part of the first set. Down a break and trailing 3-4, the American put the Dutchman in a corner and facing two break points. Siemerink, 48th in the world, saved the first one, but rain erupted before the second could be played. Just over an hour later, the match was back on court, with Sampras completing his break for 4-all. Neither man seemed particularly keen to win the opening set, which lasted for 48 minutes of playing time. The American had his first two set point chances in the 10th game, but let them both go. The contest went into a tiebreaker, where the Sampras saved two and needed four more of his own before finally taking the lead in the match as he won from the Dutchman’s return long, 11-9. Sampras broke into a 4-3 lead in the second set and finished his trip to the third round with a trademark leaping overhead winner to beat Siemerink for the fourth time without a loss in the series. Sampras has now won 18 matches in a row. "It’s been a good run over the past few months," said Sampras. "I always enjoy competing here. The first set was certainly tight, it could have gone either way." Sampras’ victory run includes titles at queen’s, wimbledon and Los Angeles. He has not lost since a second-round upset to eventual finalist Andrei Medvedev at the French Open. Sixth seed Gustavo Kuerten began his hardcourt campaign with a win over Spain’s Alberto Martin 6-2, 6-3. The Brazilian winner has been resting for several weeks after coming close to burnout in July after his Davis Cup efforts against France. Unseeded former world number 1 Jim Courier continued the 1999 misery for Goran Ivanisevic with a 7-6 (7-1), 6-2 defeat to power ahead into the second round. The loss in 74 minutes dropped the Croatian’s win-loss record this year to 13-17 and gave him six wins, seven defeats on hardcourt. Ivanisevic, a three-time Wimbledon finalist, began the year poorly when he had to drop out of the Australian Open with a back injury. That ended a streak of 23 consecutive Grand Slam appearances. Despite a brief flurry of form with quarterfinals in Doha, Scottsdale and queen’s, Ivanisevic showed the inconsistency that has plagued his game as he went out for the second straight week in a tournament first round. The loss was his ninth of the year in the opening round of an event, a mark which has left his ranking at 30th on the ATP tour. Unseeded Michael Chang scored a welcome win with his victory over Russian teenager Marat Safin 6-3, 6-4. The success represents another small step for former world number 2 Chang in his long fightback to form from a world 58 ranking. Chang won this event in 1993 and 1994. His ranking is his lowest since coming to the tournament in 1988 at the start of his career ranked 66th. Todd Martin led a trio of minor seeds into the second round, dispatching Ramon Delgado of Paraguay, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. Ninth seed Martin was joined as a winner by number 12 German Nicolas Kiefer, a 7-5, 6-3 winner over Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean, and 14th seed Albert Costa of Spain, who beat Australian Andrew Ilie 6-4, 3-6, 6-2. Swedish 16th seed Thomas Johansson had to quit in the first round against Rainer Schuttler of Germany, exiting 6-4, 3-4 when a Groin Strain which had bothered him on the way to title on Sunday in Montreal flared. Compatriot Jonas Bjorkman won his first hardcourt match of the summer with a victory against Romanian Andrei Pavel 6-4, 7-5. American Jan-Michael Gambill knocked out Sjeng Schalken of 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. American Chris Woodruff beat South African Wayne Ferreira 6-3, 6-4. (DPA) |
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