Daily Excelsior.........state

Kapil Dev & Courtney Walsh

Walsh will not
overtake me in this
millennium: Kapil

MELBOURNE, Dec 23: Indian coach Kapil Dev is sure Courtney Walsh.....more

Sachin Tendulkar

Tendulkar will revert to
batting at number 4

MELBOURNE, Dec 23: In a determined bid to help his team recover ....more

Nayan Mongia

Mongia to return
via Sydney

MELBOURNE, Dec 23: Wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia will end....more

To contest for double title
Kamal to meet Jyoti
in Snooker, Lakra in
Billiards finals

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 23: With his today’s victory over Sanjeev Khajuria in Billiards semi-finals, Billiards top seed Kamal Rohmetra will now contest for the double title in the Billiards and Snooker Championship being played at Amar Singh Club.......more

Army School Sunjwan holds
Annual Sports meet

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 23: Sunjwan Primary School held its first Annual Sports meet with great....more

Open State Boxing Champ
Five Grenadiers lift seniors trophy, Poonch bags juniors
Rakesh Singh of Jammu is best boxer

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 23: Five-Grenadiers today lifted the Two-day long Open State Boxing....more

Cricket lovers denied
ESPN channel

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 23: Cricket lovers of Jammu have been denied the live telecast of India-Australia....more

Gummat Club wins
X-Mast Cricket Cup

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 23: Gummat Cricket Club won the X-Mas Cricket Cup beating Christian....more

Walsh will not overtake me in this millennium: Kapil

MELBOURNE, Dec 23: Indian coach Kapil Dev is sure Courtney Walsh will not overtake him as the highest wicket-taker in test cricket in this millennium.

We have a pact - courtney and I. He won’t break the record in this millennium, the former India captain joked today when asked about Walsh, fast approaching his record of 434 scalps.

The West Indian paceman now needs nine wickets in the second test against New Zealand starting at Wellington on December 26, after claiming three in the first match at Hamilton, which the Windies lost by nine wickets.

By the looks of it, the 37-year-old Walsh would have to wait for the next year and would hope to break the record when the West Indies tour England in May.

He will be very happy when he gets there, just as I was, said Kapil, who broke New Zealand great Richard Hadlee’s record of 431 against Sri Lanka at Ahmedabad six years ago.

The Indian coach, who underwent an arthoscopic surgery on his right knee yesterday, was not happy with suggestions in local media that the Indians would welcome the forecast of rain during the boxing day second test here.

I am not happy, as suggested by some, with the forecast that it will rain during the Melbourne test. We’re not looking to square the series in Sydney. We must try to win this game, said Kapil, who came to MCG on crutches despite the surgery. (PTI)

Tendulkar will revert to batting at number 4

MELBOURNE, Dec 23: In a determined bid to help his team recover its batting poise, skipper Sachin Tendulkar today announced he will revert to batting at number four for the second cricket test against Australia starting here on December 26.

Yes, I think I would be there at number four, he said after the indian team had nets at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in a breezy morning under a dark cloud cover.

Tendulkar did not disclose whether the opening pair will be changed from the first test at Adelaide which India lost by 285 runs. A change is on the cards, with Debang Gandhi in particular under tremendous pressure after his poor show in Adelaide, and V V S Laxman is widely tipped to pair left hander S Ramesh here.

The Indian skipper dismissed suggestions his players were scared of pace - the mcg pitch is predicted to be very bouncy and is expected to prove a tough proposition for the Indian batsmen against the host pacemen - but exhorted his teammates not to be overawed by the conditions or opponents.

It is a fallacy that we can’t play bouncing deliveries. It is just not true. I know there has been much talk going around about it, but personally I know for a fact that we are not affected, Tendulkar said adding that despite the heavy defeat at Adelaide his players have not lost heart.

On the hype surrounding express paceman Brett Lee’s expected test debut at the MCG, Tendulkar said he did not see the fast bowler as a major threat in the second test.

I did not play him at Sydney (against New South Wales) and only briefly at Canberra. I can’t offer much on his quality, but we are not worrying about individuals. We will play them as they come.

Tendulkar’s return to number four in the batting order will be seen as a positive move. Two dubious decisions he was handed out in the first test hardly helped matters. He batted at number five in adelaide after V V S Laxman came at number three, ahead of Rahul Dravid.

He denied his team was under any pressure. If you are not positive you could complicate things. You would not be helping yourself in such a situation, he said.

The batting maestro said despite the second innings batting collapse and the big defeat, his team had its moments in Adelaide. We started by having them four down for 52 and then on the fourth day, our bowling and fielding gave nothing away, Tendulkar said.

I remember Kapil Paaji telling me our bowling in the two sessions on the fourth day was one of the best by Indian bowlers he could recall in his career, he said.

He defended the move to bowl Saurav Ganguly on the first day afternoon with the hosts reeling at 52 for four. Saurav is a very under-rated bowler. I remember him skittling out two or three top australian batsmen in the Calcutta test last year (India won to clinch the three-test series). When we started after lunch, I thought he would be able to do the same here, he said. (PTI)

Mongia to return via Sydney

MELBOURNE, Dec 23: Wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia will end his brief but agonising stay with the touring Indian cricket team when he leaves here for Sydney tomorrow morning on his way to Mumbai.

The seasoned stumper, in the Centre of a row between the Cricket Board and the team management after being flown in as a replacement to his younger counterpart M S K Prasad, will take a direct qantas flight from Sydney to Mumbai.

Mongia said today he was relieved a decision had at last been taken over his stay.

The Baroda wicketkeeper had been a frustrated man as team coach Kapil Dev and captain Sachin Tendulkar said he was not required as Prasad had recovered after hurting his right knee while the team was travelling to Australia.

Mongia was flown in here ahead of the first test held at Adelaide from December 10 to 14 on a request by the team management after Prasad picked up a knee injury at the Kuala Lumpur airport during the team’s travel to Australia.

But Prasad’s condition improved and he was chosen to play in the Adelaide test. He has now been certified fully fit by team physio Andrew Leipus. (PTI)

To contest for double title
Kamal to meet Jyoti in Snooker, Lakra in Billiards finals

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

To retain the Billiards title, Kamal have to overcome Goutam Lakra, who has entered the finals beating Jaideep Manocha in the other semi-final played this evening.

While, in the Snooker finals, Kamal will take on Junior Jyoti Anand, who sailed into the finals beating Vishal Abrol 4-2 in the second semi-final played in afternoon.

Jyoti Anand had a tough time with Vishal, who never gave up and fought in every frame till he lost the game. Though the first two frames won by Jyoti with narrow margins of four and twelve points respectively. But, Vishal, who put some extra efforts in the coming two frames and leveled the score at 2-2.

Jyoti, who in his earlier rounds defeated the players like defending champion, Sanjeev Gupta, never came under pressure and played his natural game and clinched the last two frames to make it 4-2 win. The score: 46-42, 56-44, 26-51, 46-55, 55-46, 61-35.

Top seed Kamal Rohmetra in the Billiards first semi-final defeated Sanjeev Khajuria 507-308 to make it into the finals. Before reaching the 200 mark, Kamal had managed to take a lead of around 100 points over Sanjeev. He very well maintained that till he clinched the match with a good margin. However, Sanjeev fought well, especially in the last 30 minutes of two hour game. He created problems for Kamal a couple of times, which forced Kamal to appreciate his efforts.

Earlier, in the quarter-finals tie, Kamal defeated Arun Gulati 342-219 points in 1.30 minutes time.

In the Billiards second semi-finals, Gautam Lakra defeated Jaideep Manocha in a easy go match to enter the final position. Gautam made highest break today to overcome his yesterday’s record of 73 points. He struck two breaks of 79 and 56 to down junior Jaideep 647-256 in two hours match.

Gautam in his earlier quarter-finals tie outplayed Vishal Abrol 495-219 with highest break of 73 points. He also struck 53 points unfinished break when chief referee gave time over call.

Tomorrow, there will be Juniors Billiards matches, which would be followed by the finals of all the four categories, the date for which is yet to be announced by the organisers.

Mr Mushtaq Ahmed, joint secretary (Kashmir wing), J&K Billiards and Snooker Association is the chief referee of the championship, while Ravees and Manohar acted as markers. The championship is being sponsored by the J&K State Sports Council.

Army School Sunjwan holds Annual Sports meet

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 23: Sunjwan Primary School held its first Annual Sports meet with great pomp and show at Zorawar Stadium, here today.

The meet was inaugurated by Brig. D S Bartwal, Station Commander, amids magnificent fanfare, followed by march past by the tiny-tots of the school.

During the day-long meet, various colourful mass Pt displays and a number of track events of Athletics marked took place.

The zeal and enthusiasm displayed by the small children during the games overjoyed the parents and the other spectators. Sack race, Jalebi race and the relay race were among the thrilling events of the meet.

Later, the chief guest gave away prizes to the winners and also distributed sweets among the children.

Earlier, the Principal of the school said that ever since the inception of this institution in May, 1997, the school has progressed in leaps and bounds in pursuit of excellence. The sports meet, a trendsetter for the school, holds paramount significance in shaping the personality of the students.

It not only strives for intellectual, moral, physical aesthetic and cultural development of the children but also in inculcates discipline, right attitude, self esteem and spirit of competition thus leading to over all development of the children, the Principal added.

The parents witnessed excellent performances of their children with great pride and excitement.

Open State Boxing Champ
Five Grenadiers lift seniors trophy, Poonch bags juniors
Rakesh Singh of Jammu is best boxer

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 23: Five-Grenadiers today lifted the Two-day long Open State Boxing Championship trophy in Seniors group with 32 points in their favour on the final day of the competitions which played at Boxing Rink, MA Stadium, here today.

While in Juniors, district Poonch despite having lack of facilities at their disposal clinched the overall trophy with highest 16 points to their tally. Poonch also won three medals in senior group.

In seniors heavy weight, Jagdev Singh of 5-Grenadiers won the gold beating Arun Manhas. While, in middle light, Anil Kumar beat Kapil Manchanda to claim gold.

Shashi Kant clinched gold in light weight category defeating Mohd Ali. In the Welter weight group, Dharamveer Singh of 5-Grenadiers defeated Gulam Mustafa of Jammu in a tough contest, which lasted for complete four rounds the final decision was taken on the basis of points.

Bahadur Singh bagged light welter weight gold beating Bahram Patel, while third and fourth positions went to Vinay Gupta and Vikas Basotra respectively.

In light weight category, Rajesh Kumar won gold and Raj of 5-Grenadiers finished second. Vikas Naruwalia and Sanjay Singh of Jammu bagged third and fourth respectively.

Arun secured gold in feather weight beating Man Khan. In the same weight, Shiv Dev Singh of Jammu finished third and Sachin Chalotra, fourth. In Bentam weight, Rakesh Kumar of Jammu won gold defeating Rahul Kachroo in the final. Narinder Manhas and J A Khan of Pooch finished third and fourth respectively.

In fly weight, Raj Kumar emerged winner after he defeated Shoukat Khan of 5-Grenadiers in one of the best fights to claim gold. Shoukat Hussain finished third and Ganga Parsad fourth. In Light fly, Mohd. Hafiz of Poonch beat Sandeep Thapa of Jammu to won gold. While, Swaran Singh of 5-Grenadiers finished third beating M R Sheikh of Srinagar in hardliner.

District Poonch, who got a boxing coach, Mr Anil Kumar Wadhera four years took away over all trophy in Juniors for the first time. They used to practice on the road because there is not Boxing Rink in the district. The team of young players, most of whom are in sub-juniors group urged the Secretary State Sports Council to provide them with basic facilities, so that they can practice well.

However, Mr Wadhera appreciated the Stadium Manager, Poonch for his cooperation in spreading the game in the district.

Juniors final results

E-1: Randeep Singh, Ist; Waheed, IInd; Sunny Mehra, third and Amit Chawla finished third.

E-2: Mohd Kaleem, Ist; Mohd Adil, 2nd; Vikram Kumar, third and Sunil Singh, fourth.

D-1: Rohit Ghai of Poonch, Ist; Rakesh Kumar, 2nd; Ashwani Sharma, third and Sher Singh, fourth.

D-2: Chander Mehra, Ist; Rohit Sharma, 2nd and Juber Khan finished third.

D-3: Gourav Sharma of Poonch, Ist and Sunil Dev Singh of Jammu was runners-up.

D-4: Paramjeet Singh of Poonch, Ist; Varun Sharma, 2nd; Sanjay Sharma, 3rd and Raman Sharma finished fourth.

Two girls demonstration fights were also held for the first time in the history of state. In the first fight, Shaili Kalsi and Barsha Ghai of Ashoka High School shown their performance, while in the second, Kanika Gupta and Shivani Vaid of Delhi Public School also performed on the rink.

Rakesh Singh of Jammu district was declared best players of the championship and was given a special memento.

The Inspector General of Police, Mr R V Raju was chief guest in the finals, but due to some assignments he left the venue and in his absence, Mr M A Anjum, SSP, Jammu gave away medals and championship trophies to the winners.

Later, Mr Ashutosh Sharma, president, Jammu and Kashmir Amateur Boxing Association, the organisers of the championship presented a memento to Mr Anjum.

The matches were officiated by Messrs Rajan Sharma, Satyakam Sharma, Divij Kotwal, Baljit Singh, Kabool Sigh and Mushtaq Ahmed.

The family of Ajay Gupta, Sub-Inspector, J&K Police gave a T-shirt to every position holder as an incentive. It may be recalled that Ajay was a known boxer of the state, who died while fighting the enemy in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir.