Air Force Inter-Command Hockey Championship
Kispota guides WAC’s to a 3-0 win

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 16: Two goals by Kispota in either half guided Western Air Command’s 3-0 win over Eastern Air Command in the inaugural match of the week-long Air Force Inter-Command Championship started to at K K Hakhu Stadium, here.

Taking lead in the very fourth minute of the match through, Kispota, Western Command dominated the field throughout adding two more goals after the breather.

Kispota sounded the board for the first goal in the 4th minute. Later, Balbir Singh made it a two goal when he netted the ball in the 37th minute.

Finding it difficult to recover from two goal trail, Eastern Air Command forward line resorted to an attacking game without concentrating on the weak defence. They (Eastern Command) suffered another jolt when Western Air Command’s ace striker, Kispota pierced through opponent defence and scored his second and team’s third goal in the 63rd minute thereby making it a big win.

Today’s opening match was officiated by Satbir Singh and P Kanwar.

Earlier, the championship was declared open by Air Commodore R C Baruah, SASO, AOC J&K at the colourful function attended by all the participating teams and distinguished guests including Secretary, State Sports Club, Manoj Pant.

PSPB eves lift National TT team title

MANESAR (Gurgaon), Dec 16: Defending champions PSPB drubbed strong contenders Railways 3-0 to lift the women’s team title at the 65th Senior National and inter State Table Tennis Championship here today.

The holders shot into the lead in the three-match final when Mouma Das beat Sumana Bose in three straight games 11-6, 11-3, 11-3.

Thereafter, the Railway eves put on a much improved show and ensured that their Petroleum rivals had to sweat it out to retain the title.

In the second match, PSPB’s star paddler Poulami Ghatak was upset in the first game by Anindita Chakraborty, but then came back to win the next two. Anindita held on to take the fourth and level the scores, but that game drained her and she just couldn’t hold on in the decider.

Poulami won the match 5-11, 11-8, 11-8, 6-11, 11-6 to give PSPB an unassailable lead.

The Railway eves, however, were not to give up. Knowing full well that the title was out their reach, Mamta Prabhu, who was instrumental in her team reaching the finals, dished out some exciting play to prolong PSPBs wait.

N R Indu eventually beat Mamta 12-10, 9-11, 14-12, 4-11, 11-8 to complete the sweep.

Earlier, PSPB men and women ensured the top two slots in the double’s section as they set up an intra-board title clash in both the categories.

The pair of Arup Basak and S B Roy beat the Maharashtra team of B S Thakur 9-11, 11-7, 10-12, 13-11, 11-8.

They will take on the PSPB pair of S Chowdhary and A Ganguly, who beat Railways’ A Nandi and Amit Das 2-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-9.

In the women’s section, the PSPB duo of Mouma Das and Poulomi Ghatak beat board mates Nandita Saha and Vishaka Bijoy 11-5, 5-11, 11-6, 11-13, 11-9.

The second semifinal also saw the Petroleum eves registering a 3-1 win over Punjab.

The pair of Anandita Chakraborty and Montu Ghosh beat Kachan Basak and Shikha Ghai 12-10, 11-5, 9-11, 11-7 to make it an all PSPB double’s final. (UNI)

Gritty Chanderpaul fails to halt South Africa

JOHANNESBURG, Dec 16: Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s defiant 74 proved in vain as South Africa beat West Indies by 189 runs in the first Test today.

The tourists were dismissed for 188 having been set a victory target of 378.

Chanderpaul held firm for more than two hours, facing 91 balls and hitting 13 fours, but West Indies were on the rack when paceman Shaun Pollock had him caught by Andre Nel at fine leg in the eighth over after lunch.

Pollock took four for 31, while fast bowler Makhaya Ntini claimed four for 53.

West Indies resumed on 31 for three and slipped to 41 for four in the fifth over of the day when Pollock trapped Ramnaresh Sarwan in front for eight.

In his next over Pollock took the key wicket of Brian Lara, who scored 202 in the first innings, when the West Indies captain dragged a wide delivery on to his stumps to be bowled for five.

Chanderpaul and Ridley Jacobs took the visitors to lunch with solid batting. They took few risks and kept the scoreboard ticking over with conservative but industrious strokeplay.

However, they were separated three overs into the second session when fast bowler Nel bowled Jacobs for 25 to end a sixth-wicket stand at 98.

Chanderpaul fell five overs later, and the West Indies dwindled to 176 for eight just eight balls later when Chris Gayle edged a drive to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher off Nel.

Ntini took his fourth by bowling Mervyn Dillon for seven, and the match ended when Pollock had Corey Collymore lbw for a duck. (AGENCIES)

I enjoy playing under pressure, says Dravid

ADELAIDE, Dec 16: Terming his performance in the second Test as "very special", Indian vice captain Rahul Dravid today said he enjoyed playing in pressure situations because they brought the best out of him. "I enjoy playing under pressure as it brings out different facets of my personality. I always love fighting and competing," Dravid, who was named the man of the match for his 233 and 72 not out, said after India won the second Test match here.

"It is great to be a part of the winning team. It is pretty emotional. It was so important for us to come here (in Australia) and win," said Dravid, who had a disastrous series in 1999-2000.

"We all knew that if we were to beat Australia in their own backyard all of us needed to perform and today’s win is an outcome of that great team effort."

Pointing out that the team had not set any target for itself before the start of the series, Dravid said "we knew that we had it in us to do well here."

"We backed ourselves to do well in Australia... We believed in our ability to fight. But yes we did not set any target for ourselves."

The 30-year-old, known as ‘the wall’ in Indian cricket, said the team has shown a lot of character in the last two and a half years which is showing results.

"We have shown a lot of character and steel over the last two and half years. We have the desire to do well under trying conditions which is showing in the performance of the team," he said.

Commenting on his ability to play long innings, Dravid said it was important to be determined and focus on one ball at a time.

"If you can keep doing that for a long time then runs will automatically come.

He admitted that he was a bit drained in the second innings but told himself to concentrate and keep going.

"I did feel tired. But kept reminding myself to concentrate hard and think of the people in the dressing room," he added.

The Indian vice captain said the team had taken a lot of confidence from today’s victory and would keep fighting for the rest of the series. (PTI)

Include cricket in 2010 Commonwealth Games: IOA

NEW DELHI,Dec 16: Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has suggested inclusion of cricket in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the Government informed the Lok Sabha today.

The suggestion has been made in the bid document for the Games, Minister of State (MoS) for Youth Affairs and Sports Vijay Goel said in a written reply.

The proposal is awaiting approval from the international federation and the Commonwealth Games Federation, he said.

The 2010 Games would be held in New Delhi.

In a separate query on cash awards, the Minister said a proposal was under Government consideration for enhancing the amount to be given to the winners of international sports events.

Union Minister of Sports Vikram Verma further informed the House that the Government proposes to open a sports academy in each state with a view to promoting sports in the country.

It has approved a new scheme of State Sports Academy for implementation during the tenth five year plan period.

The main objective of the scheme is to select the best available talent in sports between the age groups of 10-13 years, as well as the top performers in state or national competitions in the age group of 10-18 years and to prepare and groom them over the years for winning medals for the country at the international level.

The scheme will be funded jointly by the Centre, state or union territory administration and a sponsor and would be a sort of cooperative venture. (UNI)

Nation celebrates

NEW DELHI, Dec 16: India’s historic win against Australia in the second cricket Test today sent the cricket-crazy nation into wild celebrations and raised hopes of their first-ever series win on Australian soil.

Political leaders, sports administrators and former cricketers saw the "spectacular victory" as the first step towards achieving greater goals as they congratulated Sourav Ganguand his men for their feat.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee joined former players in lauding the win which gave India 1-0 lead in the four-match Test series.

"I send my hearty congratulations to the Indian cricket team for its spectacular victory in the Adelaide Test. This first win in Australia after 22 years is the result of great team work and inspiring tenacity in the face of a seemingly impossible task," Vajpayee said in a statement here.

Vajpayee was effusive in his praise for vice-captain Rahul Dravid, whose outstanding knocks in both the innings of the match helped the Indians turn the tables on the hosts.

"My special praise for Rahul Dravid for his dependable play in both innings and, especially, his record-breaking double century."

Legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar, who led the team that last beat Australia in their backyard in 1981-82, said today’s win was just the first step towards achieving even greater goals.

"The objective has to be to win the series. India is a good team but it will be called great if the series is also won," Gavaskar, who is in Australia as a commentator, said.

Former captain Kapil Dev congratulated the team and said the moment will be cherished for long.

"Let the boys enjoy the moment, they deserve every bit of the success that has come their way. It was a great game of cricket," said Kapil, under whose leadership India had last won an overseas series in 1986.

Former dashing Indian batsman and junior team coach Sandeep Patil said the win endorsed V V S Laxman’s statement just before the start of the Test series that the "Australians are not unbeatable."

"It is a fantastic performance by the whole team. I am particularly happy that the players believed in themselves especially after Laxman had made a statement to the Aussie media just before the start of the series that Aussies can be beaten," he said.

"Infact it brought back fond memories of the 1981-82 series when we beat Greg Chappell’s aussies. I really wish I was there with the boys to share the moment," said Patil, who had scored an attacking 174 at the same venue — Adelaide —22 years back to fashion an Indian win.

Former selection committee chairman Chandu Borde said that the defeat will force the Australians to be a bit more defensive in the next Test.

Cricket board secretary S K Nair, who called up captain Sourav Ganguly and manager Shivlal Yadav after the match to convey his congratulations to the players, attributed the win to "team-effort."

"It was a fine team effort and one of the finest wins in the history of the game as the Indians chasing a huge Aussie first innings total of 500 plus were reduced to 85 for four at one stage before they managed to turn the table on the world champions", Nair said.

Former Test player Anshuman Gaekwad said that the victory should make every Indian proud.

"We should take pride in the win. Indians excelled in all the departments — batting, bowling and fielding — and that augurs well for the future of the game in the country", he said.

National selector Kiran More said the victory was "badly needed" and added that India should continue in the same vein to win the series.

Former captain and dashing opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth was elated over India’s "increditable win."

"It is an incredible victory. Rahul Dravid and V V S Laxman have once again proved that they could weave together to excel against such opposition," he said.

Former India stumper Sameer Dighe, who was part of the Indian team which beat the Aussies 2-1 in the home series a couple of years ago, said "it was a fantastic team effort by the Indians".

However, he warned the Indians against getting carried away by the win as the Australians would try hard in the next two matches to save the series.

"They should not become over confident as they still have two more matches on fast paced wickets and I only hope that they will keep up the good work so that they come back winning the Test series", he said. (PTI)

PSPB eves lift national TT team title

MANESAR (Gurgaon), Dec 16: Defending champions PSPB drubbed strong contenders Railways 3-0 to lift the women’s team title at the 65th Senior National and inter State Table Tennis Championship here today.

The holders shot into the lead in the three-match final when Mouma Das beat Sumana Bose in three straight games 11-6, 11-3, 11-3.

Thereafter, the Railway eves put on a much improved show and ensured that their Petroleum rivals had to sweat it out to retain the title.

In the second match, PSPB’s star paddler Poulami Ghatak was upset in the first game by Anindita Chakraborty, but then came back to win the next two. Anindita held on to take the fourth and level the scores, but that game drained her and she just couldn’t hold on in the decider.

Poulami won the match 5-11, 11-8, 11-8, 6-11, 11-6 to give PSPB an unassailable lead.

The Railway eves, however, were not to give up. Knowing full well that the title was out their reach, Mamta Prabhu, who was instrumental in her team reaching the finals, dished out some exciting play to prolong PSPBs wait.

N R Indu eventually beat Mamta 12-10, 9-11, 14-12, 4-11, 11-8 to complete the sweep.

Earlier, PSPB men and women ensured the top two slots in the double’s section as they set up an intra-board title clash in both the categories.

The pair of Arup Basak and S B Roy beat the Maharashtra team of B S Thakur 9-11, 11-7, 10-12, 13-11, 11-8.

They will take on the PSPB pair of S Chowdhary and A Ganguly, who beat Railways’ A Nandi and Amit Das 2-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-9.

In the women’s section, the PSPB duo of Mouma Das and Poulomi Ghatak beat board mates Nandita Saha and Vishaka Bijoy 11-5, 5-11, 11-6, 11-13, 11-9.

The second semifinal also saw the Petroleum eves registering a 3-1 win over Punjab.

The pair of Anandita Chakraborty and Montu Ghosh beat Kachan Basak and Shikha Ghai 12-10, 11-5, 9-11, 11-7 to make it an all PSPB double’s final. (UNI)

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