 |
|
Agassi eyes early millennium party in season’s finale HANOVER, GERMANY, Nov 22: A win in the millennium’s ...more
Aussies score historic win over Pakistan HOBART (AUSTRALIA), Nov 22: Adam Gilchrist and Justin ...more
Australia compared with 1948 invincibles HOBART, Nov 22: Steve Waugh’s Australians ....more Kanitkar to replace Jadeja, Kotak to go to West Indies MUMBAI, Nov 22: Maharashtra all-rounder Hrishikesh ...more |
 |
Open Squash
championship Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 22: Arshad Khan and Krishan Kumar joined others in the last four stage of the ongoing Open Squash Championship winning their ...more Young Heros lift Senior League Football trophy Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 22: Young Heros lifted the Senior League Football Trophy by securing highest 19 points from six wins and ..more 12th Junior National Tug of
Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 22: JAMMU, Nov 22: Host Jammu and Kashmir boys made a winning start when they beat Kerala in the first league tie in the 12th Junior National Tug ..more Inter-house tourney Excelsior Sports Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Nov 22: Nehru House will take on Vivekanand House in the...more Inter-college
competitions Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 22: Degree College Poonch piled up highest ever total against ...more India go down fighting to UAE in Asian Cup DUBAI, Nov 22: India frittered away a hardfought half-time lead of 1-0 to go down to fancied United Arab Emirates 1-3 on the opening day of the Asian Cup Group three qualifiers at Abu Dhabi last night. ... more |
|
Agassi eyes early millennium party in season’s finale HANOVER, GERMANY, Nov 22: A win in the millennium’s last major tennis tournament would provide a fitting conclusion to Andre Agassi’s bubbly year. The world number one, already assured of finishing 1999 in top spot, enters the lucrative ATP Tour World Championship starting tomorrow as the overwhelming favourite. Agassi won the season-ending event nine years ago when it was held in Germany for the first time. He is perhaps even stronger now and he promised after taking the Paris Open earlier this month that he would stay focused for the grand finale, which offers 3.6 million in prize money. "I’m definitely going to recharge and try to get ready for it," he said as he prepared to make the trip to the native country of his new love, Steffi Graf. "I don’t want to lose sight of the fact that we have a 52-week schedule. You’ve got to be the best in the world every week," Agassi said. The former enfant terrible of world tennis was only 141st in the rankings early last year but he has been remarkably consistent this season, winning five titles including the French and the U.S. Opens. Injury hampers Sampras. By contrast, the year has been a nightmare for Pete Sampras —the only player appearing in the World Championship for the 10th consecutive year. It remains to be seen whether the wimbledon champion, who has slumped to fifth in the rankings, has fully recovered from the back injury which forced him out of the U.S. Open. "With all I’ve been through this year it’s nice still to qualify for Hanover," said Sampras, who will be chasing a fifth triumph in the tournament for the world’s top eight players, formerly known as the masters. "Getting in every year this decade is an achievement I’ll be able to look back on when my career’s over." When injuries left him alone, Sampras was in a class of his own. Between losing in the second round of the French Open and retiring from the Indianapolis tournament with back pain, he did not lose a match for more than three months, winning four back-to-back titles, including wimbledon. "I’ve got good memories of the previous world championships and I’d like to be able to end the year on a positive note," he said. Two other men in this year’s line-up, Russian Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Swede Thomas Enqvist, have been there before. Kafelnikov bounces back. The other four — Brazil’s Gustavo Kuerten, Nicolas Kiefer of Germany, American Todd Martin and Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador — are debutants. World number two Kafelnikov started the year in style by winning the Australian Open but struggled afterwards. But he bounced back last week by claiming his third Kremlin Cup title. Enqvist is on a roll after winning the Stockholm Open last Sunday to reach a career-high number four ranking. Kuerten won in Rome and Monte Carlo this year and proved his versatility by advancing to the quarter-finals at the French Open, wimbledon and the U.S. Open. U.S Open finalist Martin’s powerful game could do damage on the quick Hanover surface and Lapentti, whose fine indoor season has seen him win in Lyon and reach the semifinals of the Paris Open, should not be ruled out either. All eyes will be on local boy Kiefer, who has enjoyed his best year on the circuit with wins in Tokyo, Halle and Tashkent to become the first German to qualify for Hanover since 1996 — the year Boris Becker lost to Sampras in the final. The tournament will be staged for the final year in the Northern German city. The 2000 World Championship will be held in Lisbon, Portugal, before the event moves to Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 2001. (REUTERS) |
|
Aussies score historic win over Pakistan HOBART (AUSTRALIA), Nov 22: Adam Gilchrist and Justin Langer batted Australia to an extraordinary four-wicket victory over Pakistan to defy history and win the second cricket test and the series at Bellerive Oval here today. The two West Australian left-handers demoralised the Pakistanis with centuries and a record partnership to achieve the third highest winning target in test cricket — and confirm Australia’s status as the unofficial world champions in the test arena. Given little hope of reaching the 369-run target after limping to 126 for five at stumps on Saturday, Gilchrist and Langer batted together for 265 minutes to steer Australia to a remarkable win. Pakistan, trailing by 26-run on first innings, made 392 in their second essay. They scored 222 in the first. Gilchrist, playing in his second test as wicketkeeping successor to Ian Healy, was in commanding form cracking his debut test century supported by the indomitable Langer. Gilchrist fittingly hit the winning run. He remained unbeaten on 149 off 163 balls with Langer dismissed just five runs before the target for 127 in 421 minutes. The pair put on 238 runs for sixth wicket, bettering the 35-year-old record against Pakistan, eclipsing Bob Cowper-Tom Veivers’ 139-run stand at the Melbourne cricket ground. Only twice before have teams scored higher to win a test match. India scored 406 for four when set 403 by the West Indies at Port-Of-Spain in 1975-76 and Don Bradman’s Australians hit 404 for three to beat England at Leeds in 1948. Gilchrist reached his 100 off 110 balls and Langer, so much the foundation of the Australian comeback, brought up his fourth test hundred 40 minutes after lunch. It took him 384 minutes to raise the century off 269 balls. But the Pakistanis will be bitter over a controversial incident when they believed they had dismissed Langer. Langer, on 76 and Australia at 237 for five, prodded at a Wasim Akram seamer and wicketkeeper Moin Khan celebrated an apparent catch. All the fieldsmen went up in appeal and Akram raced down the pitch in celebration, but Australian umpire Peter Parker was unmoved, much to Akram’s chagrin. Television replays showed no deviation as the ball passed Langer’s bat, but the Pakistanis were adamant that the Australian No.3 had made contact with his bat. In today’s press it was reported that Parker had apologised to Langer for mistakenly giving him out for 59 to a catch off his pad off the bowling of Saqlain Mushtaq. Langer’s heart was racing when on Akram’s next delivery he edged past Mohammad Wasim in the slips for a single. Akram was fuming after the over and left Ijaz Ahmed to get his jumper off Parker. More worrying for Akram would have been the way his team failed to defend such a mammoth lead and the way his bowlers rarely troubled and failed to break the match-winning partnership. The third test begins at Perth’s Waca ground on Friday. (REUTERS) |
|
Australia compared with 1948 invincibles HOBART, Nov 22: Steve Waugh’s Australians earned compari-sons with Don Bradman’s mighty 1948 invincibles after their astonishing four-wicket win over Pakistan in the second cricket test today. Chasing an improbable 369 for victory, Australia reached their target with four wickets to spare after Adam Gilchrist (149 not out) and man of the match Justin Langer (127) shared a record sixth-wicket partnership of 238. Their victory earned the home side a winning 2-0 lead in the three-match series. The only other teams to have scored more to win a test in the fourth innings were India, who made 406-4 to beat West Indies in 1975-76, and Don Bradman’s 1948 invincibles, who made 404-3 to beat England at Leeds. That celebrated touring side won four of five tests, drawing the fifth and dismissing England for 52 at the Oval, still the lowest home score against the Australians. Waugh said today’s chase was the best he had ever seen in test match cricket. "To win it so convincingly against such a good bowling team in the fourth innings was really a credit to the players for the way they played today." Official one-day world champions, Australia are also widely recognised as the world’s best test team even though they have had trouble chasing small totals in recent seasons. They collapsed to be all out for 111 chasing 117 for victory against South Africa four years ago and lost to England at the Oval in 1997 when only 124 was required. They also slumped to a 12-run loss to England in last year’s fourth ashes test in Melbourne when only 175 was needed. Waugh said today’s win at Bellerive Oval had proven his team could score runs under pressure. Tremendous team effort. "This is the sort of win we’ve been looking for for quite a while," Waugh said. "To come from behind and do the really hard work on the last day was a tremendous team effort. Pakistan captain Wasim Akram said Australia had batted magnificently. "We tried our best, every bowler just worked very hard, but it was definitely their day," Akram said. Pakistan, who lost the first test in Brisbane by 10 wickets, looked set to level the series ahead of the final match in Perth starting on Friday when they staged a magnificent fightback with a second innings of 392. Australia were in deep trouble at 126-5 on the fourth day before Gilchrist and Langer began their epic partnership. The two left-handers complemented each other as they smashed Bob Cowper and Tom Veivers’ 35-year-old record for the highest sixth-wicket stand against Pakistan by 99 runs. Langer had scored just 96 runs in his previous five tests and was content to play the anchorman role. "We never took it for granted, we just played it one ball at a time," Langer said. The swashbuckling Gilchrist brought up his first test hundred before lunch when he drove Waqar Younis straight down the ground for four. His 149 came off 163 balls in four-and-a-half hours and featured 13 boundaries and a massive six off Saqlain. "I just tried to survive initially but my natural instincts to survive are to play aggressively," Gilchrist said. "We’ve had four of the invincibles with us this week...Supporting us and that’s just been magic," he said. Bill Brown, Arthur Morris, Doug Ring, Bill Johnston of the 1948 squad watched the 1999 triumph. Waugh said his team still had something to prove in the third test before they could be compared with Bradman’s invincibles. "We’ve had dead rubbers in the past where we haven’t played so well but there’s no such thing as dead rubber," he said. "We play to win and want to win the series 3-0." The third test starts in Perth on Friday. (REUTERS) |
|
Kanitkar to replace Jadeja, Kotak to go to West Indies MUMBAI, Nov 22: Maharashtra all-rounder Hrishikesh Kanitkar will replace the injured Ajay Jadeja in the Indian cricket team for the tour of Australia. Selection Committee Chairman Chandu Borde said here today it was a collective decision of the four selectors, team coach Kapil Dev and skipper Sachin Tendulkar. Kanitkar, who is leading the India-A side in the West Indies, will replace Jadeja, who will be flying to South Africa for treatment tomorrow. "We discussed the names of former Indian skipper Mohammed Azharuddin, former stumper Nayan Mongia and Baroda batsman Jacob Martin but decided to go in for youngster Kanitkar as the young Indian side’s performance against the New Zealanders was satisfactory", he told reporters. Borde said Saurashtra batsman Sitanshu Kotak, who scored a hundred for the rest of India against Ranji champions Karnataka at Bangalore recently, would be joining the Indian-A team in the West Indies as Kanitkar’s replacement. Board Secretary Jaywant Lele, who was also present, said the report from Johannesburg-based specialist Dr Mark Ferguson said Jadeja had a rotator cuff tear in his right shoulder which would take atleast three to four weeks to heal. Elaborating on Kadeja’s injury, Lele said, "the Haryana star injured his soulder a day before the Gwalior one-dayer (November 11). After treatment the swelling on his shoulder subsided and he played both the Gwalior as well as the Guawhati one-dayers". "However, the Board was informed about the injury only in Delhi when the pain and swelling on the shoulder reccured and tests by Mumbai-based sports medicine specialist Dr Anant Joshi revealed that the injury was quite serious", he added. "He will be treated by Dr Ferguson and will join the team for the triangular one-day series involving India, Australia and Pakistan to commence on January 9, 2000", Lele said. Praising Jadeja "as a very good one-day player", Borde said he is a very valuable player for the team and we want him to be hundred per cent fit for the triangular series and added that Kanitkar might fly directly to Australia to join the team, which would be leaving in the early hours tomorrow, depending on the availability of flights. Asked wether the selectors had ruled out Azharuddin from being considered for future selections, Borde, replied in the negative. (PTI) |
|
|
|
12th Junior National Tug of
War Champ Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 22: Host Jammu and Kashmir boys made a winning start when they beat Kerala in the first league tie in the 12th Junior National Tug of War Championship for boys and girls which began at MA Stadium, here today. J&K boys have gained six points out of their first league tie in their pool. Earlier, the Championship was inaugurated by Ms Sakina Itto, Minister of State for Social Welfare in the morning. On the first day only boys matches were played while competitions in the girls section will commence tomorrow. Out of the 20 states confirmed their entries for the participation, 18 have reported so far, while the remaining two are reaching tomorrow on the second day of the league round. These 20 teams have been further divided into two pools. After the completion of the League round, four teams from each pool will be selected for the quarter-finals round on the basis of points gathered in the League round. It is for the first time that Jammu and Kashmir is hosting National level championship in Tug of War. The Championship will be concluded on November 25. Other results: Boys: Rajasthan beat Andhra Pradesh 3-0, Uttar Pradesh beat Delhi 3-0, Tamil Nadu beat Karnataka 3-0, Punjab beat Rajasthan 3-0. Girls: Rajasthan beat Andhra Pradesh 3-0. |
|
Inter-house tourney Excelsior Sports Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Nov 22: Nehru House will take on Vivekanand House in the final of the Inter-house Cricket Tournament organised by the Government Degree College (Boys), here tomorrow. Earlier, in the semi-finals, Nehru house defeated Shastri house by 18 runs. Batting first Nehru house set a target of 184 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 28 overs. Skipper Bhupinder Singh scored highest 66 off 68 balls, while, Amit Dubey, Pawan Abrol and Sunil contributed 56, 21 and 10 runs respectively. From Shastri house, Abhishek and Pardeep took three wickets each, while Rohin bagged one. In reply, Shastri house lost all their wickets at a total of 165 in 27 overs. Ujjwal Malhotra and Pankaj Dubey scored 37 runs each, while Abhishek contributed 17. Bhupinder Singh took highest three wickets from Nehru house, while Sunil, Amit and Rakesh Singh shared two each, besides one by Balwan. In second semi-finals, Vivekanand house defeated Subash house by seven wickets. Earlier, batting first Subash house scored 136 when all their wickets fell in 26.4 overs in the 40 overs match. Sanjeev was maximum scorer with 35, whereas, Abhinav and Yashpal were other main scores who contributed 24 and 21 runs respectively. From Vivekanand house, Deepak claimed three wicekts, while Ashok and Sanjay shared two each. Ajay and Alok also bagged one wicket each. Chasing the target, Vivekanand house thrashed the Subash bowlers and reached their target of 137 runs in the 16.3 overs losing only three wickets. Sanjeet Gupta hit fine half century in facing just 37 balls. While Ajay Sharma, Deepak and Pawan Abrol contributed 35, 23 and 14 runs respectively. Yashdev and Umesh were the only successful bowlers with two and one wickets respectively. The inter-house competitions which are organised by the Principal are being held under the supervision of Mr Prem Pal, Physical Director of the college. |
|
Inter-college
competitions Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 22: Degree College Poonch piled up highest ever total against Degree College Doda, which later failed to chase and lost the tie in the ongoing Inter-College Cricket tournament organised by the Director, Physical Education, University of Jammu, here today. Earlier, after winning the toss, Doda asked Poonch to bat first. Poonch, batting first, set a huge target of 331 runs for six in 40 overs which according to the organisers is the highest ever total in the Inter-college competitions. In reply, Doda started well, but could not maintained the pace and lost all their wickets for 118 runs in 30 overs. Beginning the innings, Poonch lost their first wicket at 20, but a fine second wicket partnership of 101 runs between Pritpal Singh and Gurcharan Singh brought the total to 121. Gurcharan Singh hit a fine knock of 79 (13x4, 1x6), while Pritpal scored 32 (5x4). It was followed by another brilliant partnership of 60 runs between Gurcharn Singh and Javed Iqbal (48 off 50 balls 6x4). For the sixth wicket Mousim Sofi (unbeaten 46 off 38, 6x4) and Imran Goldi ( 48 off 25 balls, 8x4, 1x6) gathered 84 runs bringing the total to 331. Imran was run out in the last ball when attempted a risky single. From Doda, Muzaffar and Vijay Bali claimed two wickets each. In reply, Doda College lost all the wickets in 30 overs at 118. Shadav and Vijay Bali were the highest scorers with 31 and 34 runs respectively. No other batsmen could reach the double digit mark. Sandeep was the most successful bowler with six wickets. In yesterday’s tie, Degree College Kathua registered their second win over SPMR College of Commerce by two wickets. Batting first, Commerce College lost all wickets at 194 in 39.2 overs in 40 overs match (Gourav 46 and Ankit 59, Suraj four for 50 and Naresh two for 21). In reply, Kathua scored 197 in 39.5 overs for the loss of eight wickets (Kapil 55, Vinod n.o 37, Amrit Pal Singh four for 33 and Shailender three for 30). Ashwani and Suresh were umpires during the matches, while Bhagwan Dass was scorer. MAM, PG Arts win in Hockey JAMMU: The MAM College and Post Graduate Arts won their respective matches in the Inter-college Hockey competitions being held at University grounds, here today. In the first tie, MAM defeated Poonch 4-1. Surinder Pal Singh scored first goal in the 15th minute. While, Karanjit Singh scored the second and third goals. Fourth goal for MAM College came through Ravinder Singh, who sounded the board through plenty stroke. From Poonch, Sumesh Raina reduced the margin in the 25th minute making it 4-1. In the second match of the day, Post Graduate (PG) Arts outplayed Degree College, Kathua 5-4. From PG Arts, Inderdeep Singh and Karanjit Singh scored first two goals in the 15th and 20th minute of the match respectively. Remaining three goals were also scored by Inderdeep Singh in the second half. From Kathua, Amit Sharma scored first goal in the 22nd minute, while Amar Singh added second goal in the 25th minute. Two goals were scored in the second half by Manvir Singh. Messrs Padam Dev Singh, MS Reen, R S Bitta and Ravinder Singh officiated the matches. MAM, Science College win inaugural Basketball ties JAMMU: The MAM College and GGM Science College won their respective matches on the inaugural day of the Inter-College Basketball competitions which began at University of Jammu courts, here today. In the first tie, MAM College thrashed Degree College, Udhampur in a one sided affair 49-14. MAM College had taken early lead, finishing the first half at 23-12. They emerged more stronger in the second half and gave away only two points to the opponents. Nishant was the highest scorer with 26 points, while Vineet and Vikas contributed 10 and six points respectively. From losers, Udhampur, Vikrant alone scored 10 points. In the second match of the day, GGM Science College defeated Degree College, Kathua 32-13. In the first half, Kathua was leading by 9-7, but due to lack of practice and coaching they got tired and never seen in fighting position in the remaining half. From Science College, Bhanu Partap and Vishal were maximum scorers with 12 and eight points respectively. Whereas, from Kathua, Rajinder scored five points. Winner Science College played without proper kit Winner Science College, who played a fine game and won the tie were not in proper kits, required for the Basketball competitions. When asked why so, the team incharge made lame excuses saying that they were not regular players. ======= |
|
India go down fighting to UAE in Asian Cup DUBAI, Nov 22: India frittered away a hardfought half-time lead of 1-0 to go down to fancied United Arab Emirates 1-3 on the opening day of the Asian Cup Group three qualifiers at Abu Dhabi last night. Uzbekistan, helped by a second half brace by Maksim Shatskikh, thrashed SAF Games champions Bangladesh 6-0 in the second match of the day at the Al Ain stadium. The Indians came up with a creditable show as mercurial skipper I M Vijayan scored the first goal in the 20th minute with a beautiful curling freekick stunning the hosts. But UAE fought back into the game with three goals in the second half to confirm their superiority. India was found wanting in defence as Saeed Al Kas equalised 15 minutes into the second half converting one of captain Mohammed Ali’s many swerving corner kicks. Indian keeper Virender Singh was left stranded and the UAE fans heaved a sigh of relief. However Virender Singh guarded his post well with at least three beautiful saves to frustrate the homeside but two crucial miscalculations from him later on in the match cost dearly for India, playing without their ace striker Baichung Bhutia. Kas, who is known for his skills in the air, scored again as he headed a lob which eluded the Indian keeper once again as he rushed out in the 85th minute. The Indians who were playing a defensive game now tried to change the strategy but to no avail. The third UAE goal came from a penalty awarded after Mohammed Ibrahim was pulled down by K V Dhanesh on the edge of the box and Abdul Salam Juma easily converted the spotkick. The margin could have been higher had UAE capitalised the opportunities that came their way. Juma, who had come in place of Hassan Saaed, had a heave at the goal in the 73rd minute but the shot flew over the crossbar. Earlier, they had come close to increasing their tally when Adelmattar’s header hit the post and went out while another good try from Gharib Harib also went astray. Uzbekistan dominated throughout in the match in which midfielders Mirdzalal Kasimov and Otabek Pirmatov excelled. But the outstanding performance came from Shatskikh who scored in the 52nd and 75th minutes. Kasimov (38th), Primatov (38th), Fevzi Davletov (46th) and Abdikohor Marifaliey (86th minute) scored the other goals. Uzbek coach Rahimo described the game as a practice session’ as his highly superior team demolished the SAF Games champions without much fuss. Teams: India: Virendra Singh, I M Vijayan, K V Dhanesh, R Fernandez, Debashish Mandal, D Singh, J Alberto, Basudeb Mondal, R Singh, Bijon Singh, Jo Paul Anchery. UAE: M Abdulla, H Saed, G Harib, A R Juma, F Ali, M Omar, S Alkas, B Saeed, A Eissa, A S Jumaa, M Ali. (PTI) |
|
|
|
| home | state | national | business | editorial | advertisement | sports | |
