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Rafter rolls over Chang MASON, OHIO, Aug 14: Holder Pat Rafter....more Mohun Bagan Club CALCUTTA, Aug 14: Mohun Bagan Club.....more Nisipeanu eliminates Shirov in World Chess quarterfinals LAS VEGAS, Aug 14: Liviu Nisipeanu of.....more Morocco makes case for first African World Cup CASABLANCA, Aug 14: Morocco should.....more Maj Ajay Jasrotia Memorial
Day-night Cricket Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Aug 14: Host Chib Cricket Club....more |
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Taekwon-Do belt grading test held Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Aug 14: About thirty boys and girls were promoted to the next ranks on the basis of their performance in the grading.....more Two J&K women footballers Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Aug 14: Two young women footballers of Jammu and Kashmir State have been selected for the India coaching camp being held for the forthcoming international events. They are Miss Rajni Sharma and Shallu Gupta.....more Entries invited for Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Aug 14: The Ram Nagar Badminton Club has invited entries from the interest players for the J&K Open Badminton Tournament in both men and women categories to be held at Ramnagar from August 27 to 29....more Indian juniors swamped BERLIN, Aug 14: The Indian juniors got off to a disastrous European campaign as they were thrashed 5-0 by Holland in the first hockey test at Amstelveen, near the Dutch capital of Amsterdam yesterday.....more |
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Rafter rolls over Chang to set up all-star SFs MASON, OHIO, Aug 14: Holder Pat Rafter crushed Michael Chang 6-2, 6-1 in the quarter-finals of the 2.45-million-dollar ATP Championships to complete the most powerful lineup at a men’s tennis event in six years. Not since wimbledon, 1993 - the first title there for Pete Sampras - have the top four men in the world played in the semifinals. Rafter’s victory yesterday insured a repeat of that rare scenario. Six years ago, the elite were: Sampras, Jim Courier, Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker. Double U.S. Open winner Rafter’s win over the unseeded world number 58 Chang moved the second-seeded Australian into a shoot-out today with Russian Yevgeny Kafelnikov. Kafelnikov, the world number 4 earlier dispatched Briton Tim Henman 7-5, 7-5. "It can’t get any better," said Rafter, who now stands 28-6 since turning around his year in May on clay. "I’m ready for a good summer. It was a matter of timing, a lot of tennis in Europe, the Davis Cup. It all came together." "If I can serve like I did today and hit my groundies this well, I’m ready for anyone," Rafter said of his match with Kafelnikov. "This is good form to take into the open." Rafter lost just four points on serve during his rout in 66 minutes, which improves his record against the American to four wins, six defeats. "I was on serve today I couldn’t ask for more." Sampras and Agassi created most of the fireworks on the day at the Mercedes Super 9, moving ahead into their third meeting in six weeks. Sampras won the last two, the final at wimbledon and a title match at Los Angeles. Sampras, the world number 1 who needs to win today to stay on the top spot, overcame a long-time personal demon as he beat Richard Krajicek 6-4, 6-2. Third seed Agassi knocked out Brazil’s Gustavo Kuerten, seeded sixth, 6-2, 7-6 (12-10). Sampras and Agassi have played 25 times, with Sampras holding a 15-10 edge. "There are no surprises in any of our games," said Agassi. "We both know what we count on in big situations. It’s a question of who’s going to do it better." Agassi is under no illusions in the job he faces against Sampras. "Pete’s got a serve that can hit all four corners with spin and pace. The guy is an explosive mover. He can cover the forehand and run better than anybody in the game." Sampras, who lost the finale last year to Rafter on a disputed point, was impressive in victory over Krajicek. "It’s a big hurdle to get past," said Sampras. "We all know he’s beaten me the last four times. When he gets his game going he feels very confident against me." The American added: "today was big for me. He’s always given me problems, I feel like I’ve been playing well all week, it gives me confidence for the next time I play him." Kafelnikov still has an outside chance to take over the top ranking spot depending on the results obtained this weekend by Sampras and Agassi. Kafelnikov’s win moved him into his second consecutive semi-final at the event. "The more matches I play on this surface, the better I get," said the Australian Open champion. "My confidence is growing with each match that I play, no question about it. I’m just trying to focus on the important tournaments." (DPA) |
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Bagan Club to organise CALCUTTA, Aug 14: Mohun Bagan Club has stepped in to organise the first leg tie of its opening round Asian Club Championship exchange against Muktijoddha Sangshad of Bangladesh at the Salt Lake Stadium here on August 21 following the IFA’s refusal to bear the expenses of the visiting team. Mohun Bagan general secretary Anjan Mitra told newspersons last night that McDowell, the sponsor of the Club’s football team, would sponsor the tie. This was decided at a Club Board meeting attended by United Breweries Group Chairman Vijay Mallya, he said. The IFA, which generally bears the expenses of visiting teams for such championships, had cited financial constraints for not being able to pay the bill and asked Mohun Began to bear the expenses. The second leg match between the two teams would be held in Dhaka on September 11, Mitra said quoting letters from Asian Football Confederation, All India Football Federation and Indian Football Association. Mitra said the AFC had appointed Lok Bahadur Shahi of Nepal as the match commissioner for the first leg match, while Sri Lanka’s Crysantha Pereira would do duty in the second leg. The referee, linesmen and fourth official for the first leg would all be from Tajikistan while those for the second leg would come from Nepal, he said. (PTI) |
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Nisipeanu eliminates Shirov in World Chess quarterfinals LAS VEGAS, Aug 14: Liviu Nisipeanu of Romania scored the shocker of the World Chess Championship when he eliminated the second seed, Alexei Shirov of Spain. Nisipeanu, the 46th seed that no one thought would get past the second round, won yesterday with the black pieces to qualify for the semifinals which begin Sunday at Caesars Palace. The last woman in the field, Judit Polgar of Hungary, also was knocked out of the tournament when she had to settle for a draw against Russia’s Alexander Khalifman. The Michael Adams-Vladimir Kramnik and Sergei Movsesian-Vladimir Akopian games ended in draws for the second straight day. These matches will be decided by two-game sets of playoff matches tonight. This seven-round knockout style tournament which started with 100 entrants will then be down to its final four. The event is being sponsored by the Federation Internationale Des Echecs (FIDE). The winner will receive 660,000 (Rs 2.84 crore) of the 3 million (about Rs 12.9 crore) prize fund and be crowned world champion. Shirov attained an extraordinarily complex position where he seemed to have the only winning chances. Shirov is famed for his ability to convert such positions into victory. Nisipeanu, who is little known outside of Eastern Europe, defended expertly and managed to generate some threats of his own. As both players became short of time, the Spaniard made some inaccurate moves and Nisipeanu’s counterattack came crashing through, makin it the closest any Romanian player has ever come to the world championship. Khalifman played a solid game and never seemed to be in danger while securing the draw that eliminated Polgar. He will play Nisipeanu in the semifinals. In exiting the tournament in the quarterfinals, the Hungarian set a new standard for women. None has ever come nearly this close to the men’s title. Kramnik, the top seed and Russia’s other hope, played a 17-move draw against England’s Adams, the fifth seed. Movsesian, the 20-year-old Czech, had a small advantage against Akopian of Armenia, but the players agreed to a draw after 21 moves. Three of the top players in the world are not competing here. Garry Kasparov, generally recognised as the best player in world, and Anatoly Karpov, the current fide world champion, both have disputed the validity of this championship. Kasparov, who split from fide as its champion in 1993, claims that he is still the real title holder. Karpov contends that he has the right to defend his title against the winner of the current tournament. India’s Viswanathan Anand could not play here because he is scheduled to play a match this autumn against Kasparov for his version of the title. (AP) |
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Morocco makes case for first African World Cup CASABLANCA, Aug 14: Morocco should be the first African country to host the 2006 World Cup finals due to its geographic location, expertise, infrastructure and soccer history, a senior official has said after presenting the country’s bid to FIFA. "Morocco is the African country with the best soccer record," Driss Benhima, head of Morocco’s 2006 Bid Committee told a news conference on Thursday. "A FIFA decision in our favour will take the World Cup back to the heart of the football planet and give a concrete expression of a continent," he added. Morocco lost out to the United States in 1994 and to France in 1998 and is again the outsider alongside South Africa, England, Germany and Brazil. Benhima’s conference was held in the financial centre of Casablanca after his return from Switzerland, where he presented Morocco’s official bid document to FIFA chief Joseph Blatter, who has said he would like to see an African World Cup. The file contains technical and financial details, including a 5.6 billion dirhams (560 million dollar) investment to meet the FIFA soccer requirements. "Progress, both in terms of sport results and organisation of international events such as the gatt conference, African nations cup, mediterranean games and Pan-Arab games has been acknowledged by the FIFA experts," he said. With its 30 million inhabitants, Morocco is located just 14km from Europe and at the crossroads of Africa and the Arab World, he said. Morocco’s ongoing developments in sectors such as transport, telecommunications and sport infrastructures "should put our country on the top list of competitors for this cup," Benhima said. He said it would be an honour to host the tournament and that a Moroccan World Cup would enable football to advance not go backwards. (REUTERS) |
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Two J&K women footballers selected for India camp Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Aug 14: Two young women footballers of Jammu and Kashmir State have been selected for the India coaching camp being held for the forthcoming international events. They are Miss Rajni Sharma and Shallu Gupta. The camp which is being organised by the Women Football Federation of India at Bhudhua in Bihar from August 15 to 30 will be attended by over 35 players from all over the country. Another honour for the state is the selection of Dr Brij Baloria, University football coach, who has been named at chief coach in the camp. Two other assistant coaches, who will assist Dr Baloria are Jeevan Singh of Manipur and Anita Sarkar of Bengal. Dr Baloria is a national coach of the Women’s Football Federation of India and have already coached the Indian team several times. He had also accompanied as chief coach with the Indian team to Denmark for the Dana Cup Championship in 1990. |
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Entries invited for Badminton Tourney at Ramnagar Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Aug 14: The Ram Nagar Badminton Club has invited entries from the interest players for the J&K Open Badminton Tournament in both men and women categories to be held at Ramnagar from August 27 to 29. The tournament which is an annual feature of the Club, being organised under the auspices of J&K State Badminton Association. The competitions will be held in the categories of men’s/women’s singles, men’s doubles, sub-junior boys singles and master’s doubles (Above 35 years) at Ramnagar. Entries can be deposited with Mr Sat Pal Sharma, Badminton coach, Indoor Complex, MA Stadium and Mr Ravi Purba at Ramnagar till August 25. According to a handout of the Club, boarding and lodging shall be made by the organisers itself. |
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Indian juniors swamped by Dutch juggernaut BERLIN, Aug 14: The Indian juniors got off to a disastrous European campaign as they were thrashed 5-0 by Holland in the first hockey test at Amstelveen, near the Dutch capital of Amsterdam yesterday. In an absorbing encounter, Holland maintained supremacy throughout the encounter and raced to a 3-0 halftime lead before completing the rout. Taeke Taekma and Karel Keller helped themselves to two goals each. While Taekma converted penalty corners, Keller came up with superb field goals. The margin of defeat could have been lower had custodian Devesh Chauhan not let in the first two attempts, which should have been saved. India failed to convert three penalty corners and came close to scoring only once when centre-forward Prabhjot Singh missed the target on the rebound. The team, in preparation for the 2001 junior World Cup to be held in Sydney, comprises mostly under-19 and under-20 players. India, who arrived for their tour in the Netherlands two days behind schedule, will play only two more matches with the host team apart from a tie against England. Initially the Indian squad was supposed to play five tests followed by warm-up matches before proceeding to Poznan, Poland for an eight-nation event starting on August 23. (PTI) |
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