Paes advances in hall of fame championships

NEWPORT (RHODE ISLAND), July 9: Defending champion Leander Paes of India beat top-seeded Wayne Ferreira of South Africa 6-2, 6-2 in the second round of the Hall of Fame Championships here.

Paes was able to extend the streak with the help of the wind and Ferreira’s increasing level of frustration.

Wayne’s a fantastic player, but he had a rough day, said Paes, a doubles specialist. The elements are difficult here, and whoever handles them better is going to win.

The elements were most apparent on serves. Paes, who uses a low toss, lost only 11 points on his serve and wasn’t broken. Ferreira’s high tosses got caught in the wind, leading to unpredictable results.

The South African had no aces and five double faults. When the ball was in play, he dumped his drop shots into the net and flailed at overhand volleys.

Moreover, the only player in this tournament ranked in the top 50 threw his racket three times and received a code violation for slamming a ball into the stands. He also injured a ball girl when he accidentally struck a shot into her neck.

Paes, the Wimbledon Doubles and Mixed Doubles Champion, played the same solid game he used to win last year, converting delicate drop shots, firm volleys and compact ground strokes.

In a fitting conclusion, Ferreira double faulted on match point. (AP)

Speed and power key to success: Bhupathi

BANGALORE, July 9: Indian tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi today said the combination of Leander Paes’ speed and his own power-serves helped them win Wimbledon men’s doubles title on the famous lawns of the All England Club.

Its the combination of speed and power that scripted our success.

Leander has a lot of speed (quick reflex action and ability to move around the court) and I have power, and that put together we make such a good doubles pair, Bhupathi said at a function to felicitate him here.

Bhupathi, who returned home skipping his European Tournaments following minor hamstring trouble, said they were emotionally drained after the French Open success - Paes and Bhupathi’s first Grand Slam title together - and had little preparation going into Wimbledon Championships.

We had no preparation to the big Wimbledon event and we were pretty emotionally drained after the French Open. Thanks, to the few good rounds in the initial stages which helped us to rebuild our confidence, he said.

Bhupathi said playing doubles on the gruelling ATP tour week after week was not easy.

We go through a lot of physical, emotional and mental stress but we pep each other up and recharge ourselves and keep going, India number two Bhupathi said.

The Karnataka youngster, who won his first grand slam - a French Open mixed doubles with Japan’s Rika Hiraki two years ago - said he foresaw another six years of tennis for himself and his partner Paes.

We will try to win the remaining two Grand Slams (US Open and Australian Open), He said to a question whether they would be able to complete Grand Slam of men’s doubles.

He said in the first week at Wimbledon their rhythm was quite right and ball also bounced well.

We returned the shots too at the same pace but in the second week (following rain) ball kept low and bounced awkwardly making it tough for any team to return shots, Bhupathi said.

Our trump cards were serves and volleys. We waited for chances and played a neat game to wind up in flying colours.

Bhupathi said their quarterfinal tie (against ninth seeds Sebastien Lareau and Alex O’brien) was the toughest match. The duo, after being two sets to love down, rallied to beat the American pair.

In the semifinals, we played against the French guys (Olivier Delaitre and Fabrice Santoro) and they dominated the entire match, but as luck would have it, we emerged the winners.

To his low singles ranking, Bhupathi said he has been neglecting singles play lately but with Grand Slam success in doubles, it was worth it.

My stomach pain aggravated during qualifying rounds of singles, it got better slowly but playing long matches hurt me more badly and I am taking rest for one week before going to Stutgart (Germany), he said.

Unfortunately this is the best time to play singles but I have to rest and recover from injury, he said. (PTI)

Day-night cricket tourney in memory of Maj. Ajay Singh

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, July 9: In memory of Maj. Ajay Singh Jasrotia, a day-night cricket tournament is being organsied at GGM Science College grounds, here at the end of this month.

The organisers have invited entries from the interested teams/clubs. Same may be submitted to Mr Avinash Gupta of Ashu Book House, opposite GGM Science College, here.

The tournament will be played with leather ball.

Leander Paes career graph

CALCUTTA, July 9: Following is the career graph of Leander Paes: 1. Wins doubles rubber (with Zeeshan Ali) vs Japan at Chandigarh on

Davis Cup debut at 15 years, 9 months, March ’90

2. Wins junior wimbledon singles, july ’90

3. Wins national grasscourt title beating his then coach Enrico

Piperno at Digboi, Dec. ’90

4. Wins junior US Open singles, Sept. ’91

5. Beats Jeremy bates, world no. 80, in Davis Cup vs Britain at Delhi, Sept. ’92

6. Beats Jakob Hlasek, world no. 30, in Davis Cup vs Switzerland at Calcutta, March ’93

7. Wins both singles rubbers against Frenchmen Arnaud Boetsch world no. 25) and Henri Leconte (world no. 61) on the claycourts

of Frejus to guide India to Davis Cup semis, July ’93

8. Reaches US Open doubles semi-final with Canadian Sebastien Lareau, Sept. ’93

9. Beats world no. 11 Wayne Ferreira in Davis Cup tie vs South Africa at Jaipur, Sept. ’93

10. Wins singles against world no. 9 Goran Ivanisevic and doubles (with Mahesh Bhupathi) against Ivanisevic and Sasa Hirszon at Delhi to propel India to Davis Cup world group, Sept. ’95

11. Wins bronze medal at Atlanta Olympics beating Brazilian Fernando

Meligeni, Sept, ’95

12. Wins singles against world no. 35 Jiri Novak and doubles (with

Bhupathi) on Claycourts of Pribram, Czech Republic, Feb. ’97

13. Wins first atop tour doubles title with Bhupathi at Gold Flake

Open, Chennai, April ’97

14. Reaches maiden Grand Slam final with Bhupathi at US Open,

Sept. ’97

15. Reaches final on maiden appearance of World Doubles Championship

(with Bhupathi) at Hartford, Nov. ’97

16. Topples Pete Sampras en route to quarter finals of the Pilot Pen

International, New Haven, to reach a career-high 73 in singles

rankings, Aug. ’98

17. Reaches first Grand Slam final with Bhupathi at Australian Open,

Jan. ’99

18. Wins French Open with Bhupathi, beating Goran Ivanisevic and

Jeff Tarango, June ’99

19. Takes over as world no. 1 in individual doubles rankings from

his partner after reaching the final of the Heineken Trophy with

Jan Siemerink, June ’99

20. Wins Wimbledon men’s doubles (with Bhupathi) and mixed doubles

(with Lisa Raymond) on the same day, July 4, ’99 (UNI)

Krishan Kant, Vajpayee
laud Paes-Bhupathi

NEW DELHI, July 4 : India today erupted with joy in hailing the glorious win of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi in the Wimbledon men’s doubles event with Vice-President Krishan Kant and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee joining the nation to shower encomiums on the world’s number one pair.

The Vice-President conveyed his best wishes to the triumphant duo and congratulated them for their splendid victory over Dutch-American pair of Paul Haarhuis and Jared Palmer in the final.

You have done the country proud, said Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Lauding Paes and Bhupathi, he said: Your victory will inspire millions of young Indians to strive to become world champions.

You have once again proved you are the best doubles pair in the world. I’m glad that you’ve maintained your winning spree after your grand victory in the French Open (last month), Vajpayee said in his congratulatory message.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Pramod Mahajan said the entire country would celebrate this historic win.

Leander and Mahesh are symbols of a young, dynamic and vibrant India marching confidently into the 21st century, he said applauding Paes and Bhupathi for their second back-to-back grand slam triumphs. (PTI)

Its a big win for the boys: Vece Paes

CALCUTTA, July 4: An elated Dr Vece Paes today described his son Leander and Mahesh Bhupathi’s men’s doubles title triumph in the Wimbledon as a "big win" and hoped that the crack doubles pair would be able to win more grand slam titles.

I am obviously excited and elated for them. It’s a big win. They worked hard and the results have shown in the last month or so, Paes told PTI here minutes after the Indian pair defeated Dutchman Paul Haarhuis and his American partner Jared Palmer in the final.

They have the ability to win more grand slam titles. They have been in good form of late, Paes said while attending numerous congratulatory telephone calls at his Central Calcutta residence.

The Paes-Bhupathi duo became India’s first ever Wimbledon title holders and had reached the final of all three grand slam meets this year.

The pair won the French Open doubles title last month by prevailing over Goran Ivanisevic and Jeff Tarango for maiden grand slam breakthrough.

Asked whether he was expecting an Indian triumph at the hallowed Wimbledon turf, Dr Paes said I was a little apprehensive whether luck would favour my son after our pet dog Cuddles died last night. We buried it today and we were all quite tired. (PTI)

Bhupathi’s mother thrilled by son’s victory

BANGALORE, July 4: Mahesh Bhupathi’s mother, Meera Bhupathi, tonight said she was thrilled by her son and Leander Paes’ title triumph in the men’s doubles at Wimbledon.

I am very, very happy and proud to be mother of Mahesh, she said.

She said she was feeling great and that a lot of peoples’ prayers had been answered.

Meera Bhupathi said she was following the game on the internet and her friends were regularly giving her the running commentary.

Meera said she was expecting a call from Mahesh or her husband who is in London now. (PTI)

HOCKEY Gold Cup
Mumbai edge out Air India in a thriller

CHENNAI, July 9: Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) seniors XI and Mumbai XI will fight it out for the 77th All India MCC Murugappa Gold Cup Hockey Tournament title at the astro turf stadium here, to be played tomorrow.

While the IHF lads edged out a fighting Tamil Nadu XI 2-1, Mumbai XI, helped by a brilliant tenth minute golden goal in the second extra time by Deepak Sharma, overcame Air India XI. The Mumbai- Air India match score at the end of regulation time was 3-3.

Despite a poor defence and 1-3 down 44 minutes into the game, Air India equalised through two splendid penalty corner conversions by the talented Coorgi Len Aiyappa (53rd) and international Rajesh Chawhan (63rd).

The Airmen muffed an easy chance in the first extra time when captain Krishnakumar, with an open goal in front, failed to trap a cross from Edward Aranha.

Mumbai XI, spearheaded by skipper Sabu Varkey and Deepak Sharma up front, snatched a vital 1-0 lead five minutes into the match with M K Prakash making no mistake on the rebound off the first penalty corner. Darryl D’souza’s opportunistic deflection in the eighth minute however restored parity for Air India, whose lose defence almost throughout the pulsating contest was evident.

In the first semifinal, the IHF seniors snatched the lead through a mercurial effort by former India captain and Centre forward Dhanraj Pillai in the 32nd minute(1-0) of the first half.

But in the 50th minute captain Radhakrishnan, striking from the top of the circle, restored parity for the state team. But IHF lad Baljit Chandi converted a penalty corner to put his team through. Air India’s thin defence and failure to mark the Mumbai frontliners yielded fruit for the latter in the shape of a second goal in the 24th minute.

International Sabu Varkey brilliantly reverse flicked the ball over the Air India goalkeeper P U Bopanna, who was already under pressure.

Deepak Sharma increased the lead(3-1) for Mumbai XI, gliding the ball in an another splendid effort by a Mumbai forward. Even as the Air India defence hastily tried to regroup, Sabu trapped the ball diving and sliding along the turf.

Both the IHF seniors and Tamil Nadu managed to stave off some clear chances with the defence holding out.

The South Africa-bound Indians could however have increased their tally by a third goal. Dhanraj Pillai managed to find the target again with six minutes remaining in the match. But umpire Veer Bhadra Singh disallowed the goal for dangerous play, although he had at first allowed the goal.

He awarded a penalty corner after consultation with the other umpire Satinder Sharma, which the IHF seniors XI failed to convert. (UNI)

Filmstars, cricketers to pitch in for Army effort

NEW DELHI, July 9: Teams of the stars of the tinsel screen and the cricket field are to pitch in to collect funds to help the defence effort in Kargil. But they will not be using their talents for the vocations they are involved in.

Cricketers and filmstars are to play a game of soccer at a benefit match for the Army Central Welfare Fund to be held at one of the country’s largest stadia, the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in the Capital, on the evening of July 11. And the event will be telecast live on Doordarshan’s primary, metro, sports and international channels.

The match will begin at 1830 hrs and the whole programme will continue till about 2230 hrs. During the break in the match, singers including Sapna Mukherjee, Remo Fernandes and Kavita Krishnamurthy will also perform on stage.

The whole programme will be telecast without interruption on DD Sports and the international channel, DD India. DD one will telecast the match from 1830 hrs to 1900 hrs, 1930 hrs to 2030 hrs, and then show it deferred live from 2130 hrs till conclusion. DD two (metro) will telecast it live from 1900 hrs to 1930 hrs and 2030 hrs to 2130 hrs. (UNI)

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