Bjorkman slams Korda, ITF over drugs

PERTH, Jan 7: Swedish player Jonas Bjorkman has called for Petr Korda to be banned and says the International Tennis Federation is scared of confronting the drugs issue.

Korda had his ranking points and prizemoney stripped for testing positive to the banned steroid nandrolone at Wimbledon in July.

The ITF accepted Korda’s argument that he took the drug inadvertently, but Bjorkman said the ITF decision was "totally the worst that could happen for tennis."

Bjorkman, speaking at a news conference at the Hopman Cup Tournament last night, said he believed the world’s leading players should pressure the ITF and men’s ATP tour to ban Korda.

"We’ve heard so many things that guys are positive and they just cover it they are just so scared of putting it out," Bjorkman said. "If you cheat, you should be suspended for two, three, four, five years."

"This is steroids and you take them or not. There is no-one that is just going to put them into you."

Korda beat world number two Marcelo Rios to win last year’s Australian Open, his first grand slam title. He reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon but was later stripped of 199 rankings points and US 94,529 dollars prize money.

"I think this is sick," Bjorkman said. "It is a sick decision to just make him pay back the money and lose the points."

"He played his best tennis all the way up to Wimbledon and then he was gone."

On Monday, former Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek also urged his fellow players to seek an explanation from the ITF about why Korda was not banned.

Korda has raised some doubts about whether he will play this year’s Australian Open but Bjorkman said it was a ploy to generate sympathy.

"He is trying to get people to feel bad for him. I think this is the worst he can do," Bjorkman said. "It is better to be honest and say that, ‘yes I am sorry I did that’ and then that is it." (AP)

Dalmiya to miss ICC meeting

CHRISTCHURCH, Jan 7: International Cricket Council President Jagmohan Dalmiya will miss the important meeting on bribery and match-fixing on Sunday and Monday following the death of his mother.

Dalmiya’s mother died in India and he has remained there in mourning.

New Zealand ICC representative Sir John Anderson the replacement chairman for the meeting is likely to be Dalmiya’s predecessor in the role, Sir Clyde Walcott of the West Indies.

"It’s a bit of a tragedy he cannot be here, but we will try for a video linkup," Anderson said.

Dalmiya was a vocal supporter of action being taken against match-fixing and bribery.

Anderson said New Zealand’s stance on the issue is clear.

"Our board wants the highest moral standards and ethics in the game and will support whatever policy comes out of that," Anderson said.

He said it was likely the ICC would establish the structure and processes for dealing with any cricketer found guilty of being involved in betting or bribery.

Anderson felt it was unlikely that the present dispute between the Pakistani and Australian boards over Shane Warne and Mark Waugh taking money from a bookmaker for pitch and team details could be legislated against retrospectively.

"The matter was dealt with at the time, fines imposed and the ICC informed," Anderson said. "No fresh evidence appears to have come to light to reopen that matter," he said. (AP)

Bengal, Assam notch up 3rd successive
wins in Table Tennis

CHENNAI, Jan 7: Holders Bengal and Assam notched up their third successive wins to maintain supremacy in the women’s group "A" league matches of the Indian Oil Servo 60th Senior Nationals and Inter-State Table Tennis Championship here today.

Bengal, which accounted for Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana 3-0 yesterday, hardly faced any resistance in defeating Kerala by a similar margin. Assam whitewashed Jammu and Kashmir 3-0.

Both Assam and Bengal would meet later today to decide the pool topper.

In group-B the formidable Petroleum Sports Control Board (PSCB) did not drop any game in its 3-0 drubbing of Uttar Pradesh to notch up its second straight win in the league.

It would be a toss up between Tamil Nadu and Delhi in group C as both the teams registered their third straight wins from as many matches. While Tamil Nadu defeated Maharashtra-b 3-0, Delhi had it easy over Pondicherry by a similar margin.

Another strong contender Railways, comprising Kasturi Chakraborty, Anindita Chakraborty and Montu Ghosh, survived a scare before edging out Maharashtra 3-0 for their second win in two matches.

Initially things were not too rosy for Railways as Kasturi Chakraborty lost the opening game to Shalmali Mhatre 17-21. But she dug deep from her resources to win the next two 21-9, 21-11 without much ado.

In the second singles, Anindita lost the opening game to Mallika Parekh 13-21. However, she came back well to win the second game at extra points 23-21 and the decider 21-13. Montu Ghosh’s experience was too much for Jhanavi Deshpande, who succumbed meekly. Montu won 21-12, 21-15. (UNI)

Henman advances to quarterfinals of Qatar Open

DOHA, Jan 7: Top seed Tim Henman advanced to the quarterfinals of the dlrs 1 million Qatar Open on Wednesday by beating Morocco’s Younes El-Aynaoui despite losing the first set.

The Briton was not only too strong, but also too consistent, for the 26-year-old Moroccan and clinched the match 4-6, 6-3, 6-0.

Fourth-seed Goran Ivanisevic also advanced after brushing aside Christophe Van Garsse of Belgium 6-3, 6-0 in 43 minutes.

Henman admitted afterwards that he lost the first set not because he played poorly but because he was unable to win the points that mattered.

"The first set was probably my better tennis," he said. "I created a lot of opportunities, but I couldn’t quite take them."

The Moroccan unleashed a succession of blistering passing shots and took the first of three break points to lead 5-4 before serving out to take the first set.

Henman stepped up the tempo in the second set and repeatedly pulled El-Aynaoui out of position, leaving the Briton large areas of the court exposed to finish his points.

Henman’s confidence grew with every shot and so did the volume of the crowd, which filled the stadium to capacity.

"It’s a good atmosphere," Henman said. "They’re a little noisy at times "and there’s the odd mobile phone that goes off. But apart from that, it’s a good place to play."

He added: "I’ve had a good start here, and I’m happy with the way I’m playing. I’m in the quarters, and I’m playing outside on rebound ace surface which is great preparation for the Australian Open."

American Jeff Tarango also advanced to the next round, defeating Fernando Vicente of Spain 6-3, 7-5. (AP)

Four Sena activists arrested for digging cricket pitch

NEW DELHI, Jan 7: Police today said it was investigating into last night’s digging up of the Feroze Shah Kotla cricket pitch by Shiv Sena activists who claimed they were doing it at the behest of Mr Balasaheb Thackeray to stop the India-Pakistan test match due to begin here on January 28.

Four Shiv Sena activists, who were arrested for causing considerable damage to the pitch, will be produced in court later today, police said this morning.

After carrying out the vandalism at the ground around 2300 hrs, the Shiv Sena Delhi Pradesh proudly owned responsibility for the sordid act and said they had done it on the orders of Mr Bal Thackeray and Mr Madhukar Sarpotdar, Member of Parliament.

The activists, belonging to the youth unit of the party, climbed into the Kotla ground from the adjoining Ambedkar football stadium and with iron rods dug up three pitches—main and supporting—in the darkness.

Even after a posse of policemen from the IP Police Station arrived the activists, from the Chandni Chowk unit of the party, continued to destroy the pitch and threw pamphlets saying that the Shiv Sena would not allow the first test to be played or let the Delhi-Lahore bus operate.

Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) officials said they had held discussions only yesterday with Home Ministry officials following the threat by Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray three days ago that the party will not allow the test match with Pakistan to be held here.

"We did not seek any protection for the ground because we never thought they would take such an extreme step," a DDCA official said.

Since the ground was water logged because of rains today too, the extent of damage to the pitch could not be exactly known, the officials said.

DDCA officials, President Ram Babu Gupta and Sports Secretary Sunil Dev, were however confident that the match will be played come what may. (UNI)

Hingis beats Lindsay in teams event

PERTH (AUSTRALIA), Jan 7: Martina Hingis sent a warning to world no. 1 Lindsay Davenport that she’s ready to regain her top ranking with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 victory in their clash at the Hopman Cup today.

It was the Swiss player’s second-straight win over Davenport since conceding top spot to the American last october. The win gave Switzerland a 1-0 lead over the United States in the mixed teams event.

Both players rallied furiously from the baseline, but there were also plenty of unforced errors. Davenport fired 11 aces and Hingis nine, but Davenport also struck seven double-faults and Hingis eight.

Just one break of serve settled the opening set when Hingis took a 3-1 lead, but after breaking to lead 1-0 in the second set she won only one point in her next three service games.

Davenport also struggled to find any consistency and allowed a 3-1 lead to dissolve, but she broke to level the match as Hingis double-faulted twice at 6-5.

In the deciding set, Hingis jumped to a 3-0 lead before a succession of stunning returns from Davenport pulled the American back into the game. But Hingis was the steadier player and easily held off the threat of a fightback. (AP)

Sports activities stalled in MA Stadium

By Sanjeev Sharma

JAMMU, Jan 7: Despite repeated assurances by the Chief Minister and Minister for Sports that Moulana Azad Stadium will not be misused, it has gone under the complete siege of security forces.

Siege of stadium at the time when sports season is at peak in Jammu is effecting hundreds of sportspersons whose entry has been totally banned inside the stadium.

The players have reacted to the public statements by both of them on different occasions with regard to shifting of venue for Republic Day and Independence Day functions to some other places in Jammu and Srinagar.

Presently State Government celebrate these occasion at M A Stadium in Jammu and at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar.

While talking to EXCELSIOR, the Jammu and Kashmir Players Forum alleged that the highest authorities of the State, the Chief Minister and Minister for Sports are ‘liars’.

Forum president, Mr Chandan Singh Chowhan, while talking to EXCELSIOR questioned the authorities for loss caused to the sports persons due to ban on their entry into the M A Stadium complex.

When the highest authority of the state back-tracks from his promises, then who will care for him, expressing his concern he said.

He added that for a day’s function hundreds of people are being harrassed for no fault of theirs for months together. "Who will be responsible for the loss caused to the players during one and half month period after security persons restricted the entry of regular players in the Stadium", the players asked the Government, while expressing their concern.

He further said that on the one hand, State expects more medals from the players, while on the other hand is providing poor infrastructure, that too being used for political and other functions.

It may be recalled that on October 4 the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah had told the newsmen during the National Korfball Championship’s concluding ceremony that all Republic-Day parades in future will be held at Zorawar Stadium here and in Police Stadium in Srinagar.

Earlier, Sports Minister, Mr Ajatshatru Singh had also made similar statement on September 26, during a sports function held at Jammu University Auditorium.

When contacted, Mr Sheikh Fazal Ahmed, Secretary State Sports Council, said, "I had taken the issue with the Chief Minister during my meeting with later and urged him to atleast keep the indoor complex open so that indoor games not affected due to closure of the stadium".

Fortnight back when main ground was closed and indoor games were doing, the Sports Minister while talking to a section of press has said that he will be taking all measures so that indoor activities in the multipurpose indoor sports complex in the stadium do not suffer as was happening in past years.

"I think no body cares for these ministers, who are victims of disobeyance in the hands of security people", lamented Mr Chowhan. Meanwhile, sports organisations criticised the security staff, who they said are allowing the influential people to Jammu Club till late night. While players who posses cards issued by the Manager stadium denied entry.

A budding Table Tennis player was the strong critic of the security authorities for playing in the hands of rich people, who spend their evenings in the Jammu Club, while the entry of the innocent players in the indoor complex has been banned, which is just 30 yards away from the Jammu Club gate.

Ajatshatru declares open phase-II of School Games

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 7: Mr Ajatshatru Singh, Minister for Sports declared open the second phase of National School Games in a function held at Indoor Complex, M A Stadium, here today.

In phase second of the games, Hockey under-14 years boys and Korfball under 19 years in both boys and girls category will be held at different playing fields, here from tomorrow. Around 13 states of the country are participating in the games.

Earlier, due to unpredictable weather condition the venue of the ceremony was changed from Mini Stadium, Parade Ground to Indoor Sport Complex, M A Stadium, which is otherwise closed for other sports activity.

In his presidential address, Mr S S Ali, Director General Youth Services and Sports said that the matches in Korfball would be played at Mini Stadium. While, Hockey competitions are likely to be held at Jammu University, GGM Science College, Green Field and BSF Paloura grounds, here, he added.

Welcoming the teams from various parts of the country, the minister wished them a happy and joyful stay in city of Temples. He said that the national level games provide a chance to the younger generation to have interaction with the youth from different states.

The students of Lawrence Public School, Vidya Mandir and Shastri Memorial Higher Secondary Schools Jammu presented traditional folk dances in a colourful function which was witnessed by large number of students/youth, officers of Youth Services and Sports, NGOs and prominent citizens of Jammu.

Cultural Academy announces Distt Drama Festival awards

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 7: The J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Jammu has announced the Distt. Udhampur Drama Festival Awards. The drama festival was organised by the Cultural Academy Nov 25 to Nov 29 in which five plays (three Hindi and two in Dogri) were staged.

The play 'Lekha Behi Da' a Dogri production of Sadhna Cultural Society, Garhi, has been declared the best production of the festival and 'Rasta Kante Aur Haath', a Hindi Play presented by Mahavir Youth Kala Kendra, as IInd best production Mr Jagdish Mehra, who is the director of the Dogri play 'Lekha Behi Da' has been awarded the best director and Mr Rajesh Raina as Best Actor of the same play who acted as 'Bedhak'.

The best music and best make-up award has also been bagged by Mr Yash Paul Singh and Mr Pradeep Mehra for the play 'Lekha Behi Da'.

Miss Mona, who acted as 'Adhiapika' in the Hindi play 'Chehre' has been declared as the best actress of the festival best costume award has gone to Mr Vinay Bhatti in the play 'Rasta Kante Aur Haath.'

Consolation and Special Prizes of the festival has gone in favour of Mr Mohan Mistri who is the director of the play 'Rasta Kante Aur Haath', Kumari Arti Sharma for costumes in the play 'Galoor' Mohd Akram Khan for make-up in 'Kala Suraj' a Hindi play presented by Sangam Theatre Group Reasi and Mr Sarman Da for Music in the play 'Galoor' (Dogri) presented by Rachna Kar Kala Sahitya Akademi, Udhampur.

Certificates of Merit have also been awarded by the adjucators in acting both for male and female artists which includes, Mr Suresh Kumar Sharma as 'Roulu' in the play 'Lekha Behi Da' Jasmeel Anjum as 'Mard' in the play 'Kala Suraj' Surinder Chupae Rustam as 'Vinod' in the play 'Chehre' and Dheeraj Gupta as 'Dusra' in the play 'Kala Suraj and among female artists Miss Vashaili as 'Galoor' and Miss Kamlesh as 'Saheli' of the play 'Galoor', Miss Suman Bharti as 'Aurat' in the play 'Kala Suraj' and Miss Arti Sharma as 'Rani' in the play 'Galoor' has been honoured with the certificates of Merit in acting.

The adjucators of this Distt. Drama Festival were Messrs Parvin Kesar, Mohan Singh and Sumit Kumar.

A unique experiment in Art

By Ravinder Kaul

JAMMU, Jan 7: The city of temples was witness to a unique experiment in art, when an exhibition of the paintings of Vijay Saraf Meenaghe, a well known artist of the country, was inaugurated here today at Abhinav Art Gallery by Dr Farooq Abdullah, the Chief Minister of J&K State.

The exhibition of paintings was presented as a audio-visual experiment encompassing poetry recitation, music and dance in its ambit. Poetry of Vijay Saraf was recited by Deepak Kumar with the ‘Aalap’ of Suraj Singh lending it the tonal support. Dance movements of Bindu Jamwal and Shilpa Kotwal, two young disciples of known Kathak teacher Narayan Prasad, attempted to explore the depths of the poetic recitation. It was a moving experience. Deep baritone voice of Deepak Kumar, soulful ‘aalap’ of Suraj Singh and deft dance movements of Shilpa and Bindu, all in the backdrop of the paintings of Vijay Saraf Meenaghe merged together to leave a memorable impression on the minds of the viewers.

It was a unique event as far as Jammu City is concerned. Although such experiments are not a rarity in art centres of the country like Delhi and Bombay or even other art centres of the world.

From times immemorial, artists all over the world have been striving to break the shackles of the known and transcend into the realm of unknown the ‘Amurat.’ Vijay Saraf is a painter of abstractions. Although, in recent times his paintings are strangely moving from total abstraction to somewhat figurative forms where one can chance upon a torso, a bust, a nude, some distorted faces, head of a horse, his main thrust in artistic expression remains his play with colours. He begins his paintings on an empty canvas and starts filling the emptiness with the colours that come naturally to his mind. His paintings are manifestations of his mind. One can guage the state of his mind from the various phases that his creativity has gone through. The paintings that once gave a feeling of serenity and tranquility are today transformed into confusion and chaos. No wonder, we are passing through turbulent times.

The exhibition, which will remain open for public on Friday also, includes nineteen mix media works of Vijay and nine works of his children Neha and Ansh.