Tyson bound to extra 60 days in maryland

INDIANAPOLIS, Mar 23: No matter when Mike Tyson’s sentence ends in Maryland, he’ll have to stay in jail another 60 days for violating his Indiana probation.

A Maryland judge will hear arguments on Friday that the former heavyweight champion’s one-year sentence for assault in Maryland should be reduced.

However, even if that sentence is reduced to time already served, Tyson still must serve the Indiana sentence, spokeswoman Beverly Phillips of the Marion County prosecutor’s office in Indianapolis said yesterday.

"The bottom line is, even if the Maryland sentence is modified, he will not be released from jail on Friday," Phillips said.

Once the Indiana sentence begins, Tyson could serve as little as 30 days, depending on time off for good behavior and other provisions, she said.

Marion County prosecutor Scott Newman, Tyson lawyer James Voyles and Marion superior court judge Patricia Gifford conferred and also talked to Maryland authorities. They all agreed that the boxer still must serve the extra time for violating probation from his 1992 rape sentence, Phillips said.

Earlier this month, Tyson struck a deal with newman and Maryland authorities in which he agreed to serve his Indiana jail time in Maryland after he finishes his assault sentence.

"If the judge modifies his sentence, at that point his Indiana sentence will begin. There’s no retroactive in any of these calculations," Phillips said.

Voyles did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Tyson has requested that his assault sentence be reduced to eight months, and a hearing is set for Friday at Montgomery County (Maryland) district court. Robert Greenberg, one of Tyson’s two lawyers in the Maryland case, had said last week that such a reduction could free his client from jail by Friday night.

Tyson has been jailed in Maryland since February five on charges he assaulted two motorists after a minor traffic accident in August. (AP)

Greek jeweller supplied Athens bid team: Report

SYDNEY, Mar 23: A greek jeweller has admitted supplying the Athens Olympic bid team with fine jewellery, including a gold necklace owned by the wife of Australian IOC member Phil Coles.

The Sydney morning Herald reported from Athens that Evi Tsimbilis was shown a photograph of the controversial piece and said her company Michalis had made the necklace.

Coles, who was censured for receiving excessive hospitality from Salt Lake city’s bid team, is under investigation after his ex-wife Georgina Coles told the IOC the couple received diamond and gold jewellery from a Greek businessman.

She said the gift of a necklace and cufflinks, later made into earrings, was made in 1990, during Athens’ failed bid for the 1996 games, which went to Atlanta.

"The Athens Bid Committee came to us and asked us to make some jewellery," Tsimbilis was reported as saying.

They wanted us to do some presents and asked us for very fine jewellery. They liked us to choose characteristic things from our history "there were many things."

Australian press reports put the cost of the jewellery owned by Georgina Coles at 10,000 Australian dollars. Tsimbilis said she could not remember the exact cost but said the estimate was fair.

Members of the Athens Bid Committee are believed to have told the IOC that it knew of no unethical behaviour during the bid.

The paper said the jeweller’s comments was the first evidence that Athens had dubious dealings with IOC members in the failed bid. Athens will host the 2004 Summer Games.

United States IOC member Anita Defrantz said previously that she had been offered a bag by a man connected to the Athens bid but had refused it, saying she did not take gifts.

Coles arrived home from the IOC’s extraordinary meeting yesterday, slipping into Australia through brisbane instead of directly to his hometown Sydney.

His greatest ally in Australia, the AOC president John Coates, admitted Coles was feeling the pressure exerted by other Sydney olympic officials wanting him to stand down from the 2000 olympics organising committee.

"It’s difficult and I think he’s understanding that it’s not just a matter of his future," Coates told Australian television.

Socog president Michael Knight has repeatedly called on Coles to quit the Socog Board, saying the IOC member was hurting public perception of the games. (AP)

Pete Sampras reclaims no. 1 ranking from Moya

KEY BISCAYNE (US), Mar 23: American Pete Sampras reclaimed the no. 1 ranking he relinquished last week, winning in the Lipton Championships while Spain’s Carlos Moya lost.

Sampras advanced to the quarterfinals yesterday by beating Spain’s Albert Costa 6-4, 6-4. Hours earlier, the top-ranked Moya succumbed to Fatigue, Nerves and France’s Sebastien Grosjean, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (11-9).

The results ensure that Sampras will return to no. 1 when the new computer rankings are released next Monday. It will be his 263rd week on top, seven shy of Ivan Lendl’s record.

Three other top-15 players also lost no. 4 Alex Corretja of Spain, no. 12 Karol Kucey.

In women’s third-round play, American teen star Serena Williams beat Spain’s Magui Serna 6-1, 6-0. France’s Mary Pierce, Russia’s Anna Kournikova and South Africa’s Amanda Coetzer also won.

Sampras was unhappy about being scheduled to play Costa on the grandstand court, and as it turned out, his complaints were premature. Centre court became available late in the afternoon, so officials moved the match there.

And Sampras looked right at home, dispatching the dangerous Costa in 80 minutes.

At 4-4 in the second set, Sampras delivered the shot of the match a lunging forehand winner from three metres beyond the sideline. That gave him a break point, and he converted with another forehand winner, then served out the match.

Moya, the first spaniard to be ranked no. 1, squandered three match points in his tense tiebreaker against the unseeded Grosjean. Moya was playing his third three-setter in as many days, and his weariness showed in the late stages of the two-hour, 40-minute marathon.

Each player lost his serve three times in the final set, and there were repeated mishits and unforced errors before Grosjean closed out the victory with a running forehand winner. (AP)

Ravinder, Tanvinder declared all-round best
State Gymnastics Champ concludes

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 23: Ravinder Singh was declared all-round best player in boys section, while Tanvinder Kaur in girls in the three-day State Gymnastics Championship which concluded at multi-purpose indoor complex at M A Stadium, here today.

Sakshi Kotwal has emerged as the best Rhythmic Gymnast after winning three gold medals.

Mr Kamal Singh Chib, who have been selected for the forthcoming World Club will be held in Germany could not able to win even a single gold.

The main reason behind his poor performance was foot injury, which never allowed him to perform the way he should have.

On the concluding day, Mr Rangil Singh Gill former Minister and president of J&K Olympic Association, who was the chief guest, also distributed prizes among the winners.

Mr Rafiq Saddiq, president J&K Gymnastics Association, while speaking on the occasion demanded separate hall for the Gymnastics at Jammu and infrastructure at the district level.

Mr Baryam Singh, former Olympian was also present on the occasion, besides the Secretary State Sports Council, Sheikh Fazal Ahmed.

The championship was sponsored by the J&K State Sports Council.

The results:

Mini girls : Floor Exercise: Manpreet Kaur, Ist, Richa, 2nd and Shuchi, 3rd.

Balancing Beam: Bomita, Ist, Richa, 2nd and Manpreet, 3rd.

Mini boys: Floor Exercise: Sahil, Ist, Tabu, 2nd and Sheetal, 3rd.

Vaulting Horse: Tabu, Ist, Jaskaran, 2nd and Sheetal, 3rd.

Sub-junior Boys: Floor Exercise: Manish, Ist, Sudhant, 2nd and Manvinder, 3rd.

Pamelled Horse: Manvinder, Ist, Sushant, 2nd and Manish, 3rd.

Vaulting Horse: Koushal of Kathua, Ist, Manvinder, 2nd and Manish, 3rd.

Parallel Bars: Sushant, Ist, Manish, 2nd and Manvinder, 3rd.

Rhythmic Gymnastic

Junior Girls: Ribbon: Sonal, Ist, Harleen, 2nd and Beeva, 3rd.

Rofa: Beeva, Ist, Harleen, 2nd and Sonal, 3rd.

Ball: Harleen, Ist, Sonal, 2nd and Beeva, 3rd.

Floor Exercise: Baba Singh, Ist, Govendra, 2nd and Zamir Ahmed of Srinagar, 3rd.

Pamolleled Horse: Baba Singh, Ist, Rajesh of Kathua, 2nd and Govendra, 3rd.

Vaulting Horse: Baba Singh, Ist, Rajesh of Kathua, 2nd and Govendra, 3rd.

Parallel Bars: Baba Singh, Ist, Govendra, 2nd and Syed Asim of Srinagar, 3rd.

Sub-junior Girls Floor Exercise: Arushi of Kathua, Ist, Tanu, 2nd and Sakshi, 3rd.

Balancing Beam: Arushi of Kathua, Ist and Tanu, 2nd.

Vaulting Horse: Tanu, Ist and Arushi of Kathua, 2nd.

Players Forum gave special gifts to outstanding players

The Jammu and Kashmir Players Forum has selected the budding Gymnast Sahil son of an IV class employee of the M A Stadium to sponsor his six months fee. A student of May Fair Academy, Sahil had excellent performance during the State Championship.

At the same time, the Forum gave special gifts to the outstanding players. They were Arushi Sumbria of Kathua and Baba Singh. Award of honour were given to Kamal Singh Chib, who has been named in the Indian team for the forthcoming World Cup to be held in Germany. As also Tanvinder Kaur, who gave outstanding performance among girls.

The Forum, which having young reputed sportspersons in his executive committee has a one point programme to promote the budding players with little resources by helping them financially and by other means.

Bali man of the match
KMCC lifts Kuldeep Memorial Cricket trophy

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 23: Khely Mandi Cricket Club (KMCC) lifted the Kuldeep Memorial Cricket trophy beating Lovers Cricket Club(LCC) by 39 runs in the final which held at Samba, 40 Kms from here today.

After winning the toss and opted to bat first, KMCC made 135 runs in the allotted 20 overs for the loss of six wickets.

Bali, who came at number two gave fillip to the KMCC innings after playing a superb inning of 61. His 61 came in just 59 deliveries with the help of two sixes and eight boundaries. Shami and Sangram contributed 15 and 10 runs respectively.

For LCC, Shiv Raj clinched two wickets for 36 in his spell of four overs, whereas, Ravinder took equal number of wickets for 28 runs.

Pursuing the target, the whole LCC team was bowled out at 96 after playing 18.3 overs. Shiv Pal’s spectacular inning of 44 runs in his 34 balls was of no use as the coming batsmen lost easy wickets. Tarun was another highest scorer with 18 runs.

For KMCC, Goldi bowled a fine spell and took four wickets, while Rakesh clinched three.

Bali was declared man of the match for his superb batting.

Messrs Dinesh and Joginder were the umpires during the final.

Sonia gets best Gymnast of the year award

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 23: United Colors of Benetton-a fashion garment house has honoured Miss Sonia Sharma with best Gymnast of the year 1998-99 award in a function held, here yesterday.

The Minister for Sports, Mr Ajatshatru Singh, who was the chief guest in the function gave away Benetton trophy and a cheque of Rs 2500 sponsored by the Benetton to Sonia.

It may be recalled that Sonia has won two gold medals and two silver medals in the Senior National Gymnastics Championship which held at Rajasthan.

Not only in the national, Sonia has also represented India at the International level. The promising gymnast of the state, Sonia was looking happly. While talking to EXCELSIOR, she said, " I am very happy to receive the Benetton trophy and all credit goes to my parents and coach".

It was for the first time in the State of Jammu and Kashmir that any business house has honoured the best players. This act of honouring will further boost the morale of other players too, said Mr Satish Gupta, Table Tennis coach.

It may be recalled that earlier, Benetton has sponsored two Roller skating players for the nationals.

Tendulkar confident of India’s World Cup chances

NEW DELHI, Mar 23: Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar today expressed confidence that the Indian team will live up to people’s expectations and win the World Cup in England the coming summer.

Speaking to reporters after receiving the Padma Shri award from President K R Narayanan at Rashtrapati Bhavan, he said well we are going to try our level best. I am sure prayers of all the people in India won’t go waste at all.

And we will try and live up to their expectations. And we can only do that by getting the cup back home to India, He said.

About his recent back problem, which forced him to visit London to get treatment, Tendulkar said medical experts feel that there was some stiffness in the back and the muscles have to become stronger.

So all I have to do is to work on my back and keep my fingers crossed. Hopefully things will be right.

About the award he said it was very important as appreciation has come his way. It’s a very encouraging factor and especially when the President of India is presenting the award personally that becomes very special thing for me. So I am very happy about it. (PTI)

Santosh Trophy
K’taka wallops Himachal

CHENNAI, Mar 23: Champions for four times as erstwhile Mysore state, Karnataka walloped Himachal Pradesh 8-0, up 4-0 at halftime to open their preliminary league engagement in style in the Bharat Petroleum Santosh Trophy 55th National Football Championship here today.

Favorites in cluster D of group II in the three team field Karnataka opened the floodgates in the very first minute through Anto Vinod. Then R C Prakash (38th and 39th), Dayanad (45th) scored for a 4-0 lead in the first half.

Nine minutes into the second session defender Rishikapoor Latche on to a lose ball to make it 5-0. Prakash (79th), Murali (84th) and Sunil Kumar (90th) completed the 8-0 tally.

There was no stopping the young Karnataka who had the ball all to themselves almost throughout the first session.

Their storming the hapless Himachal goal area began right from the kick off. Anto Vinod opened the floodgates with a left footer. Irretrievable by rival goal keeper Pankaj Sharma.

However, after managing to hold the marauding Karnataka forwards at bay for some time, Himachal forced a chance in the 12th minute. But Pradeep Mankobia’s left footer 25 yards from the rival goal saw the ball thudding against the post and rolling away. (UNI)

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