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| India’s biggest strength is their spirit: Manjrekar NEW DELHI, Jan 31: It’s not the master blaster Virendra Sehwag nor the cutting edge Sachin Tendulkar, not even captain.............more World
Cup Update AUCKLAND, Jan 31: The New Zealand cricket team has defied the International Cricket Council and will not play a scheduled World Cup match in Kenya next.......more International
level BATHINDA, Jan 31: Non-resident Indian (NRI) Kabaddi players, settled in the US, Canada and Germany will participate in the first international-level Kabaddi Tournament to be held here from February seven..............more Laxman
to lead MUMBAI, Jan 31: Stylish middle order batsman V V S Laxman of Hyderabad will lead a 15-member India "A" squad...........more |
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Army School Jammu Cantt organizes Art
festival Excelsior Corresponden Jammu, Jan 31: The Army School Jammu Cantt today organized one day Art festival to promote skills among the students. About 1700 students from primary section to higher secondary classes participated in the Festival with great enthusiasm and gaiety.........more INDORE, Jan 31: The Border Security Force’s Jammu Frontier, with 79 points in its kitty, took the lead today in the BSF’s 33rd Inter-frontier Platoon Weapon Shooting competition..........more Inter-College
Competitions Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 31: Government MAM College lifted the Inter-college Handball trophy beating the reigning champions, SPMR College of Commerce 26-12 (ht 11-6) in the final which was played at University grounds...........more |
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Karnataka register wins; J&K lose.... Tougher task now, says New Zealand captain Fleming.. Indians going about their task with "quiet determination".... |
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India’s biggest strength is their spirit: Manjrekar NEW DELHI, Jan 31: It’s not the master blaster Virendra Sehwag nor the cutting edge Sachin Tendulkar, not even captain courageous Sourav Ganguly or the old workhorse Javagal Srinath who will spell the death knell for the opponents. It’ll be the spirit of the Indians that will be the team’s biggest asset at the 2003 World Cup. "India always lacked the spirit to win matches. If the team had their backs to the wall, they would give in. But not any more. Look at the kind of victories we’ve achieved against all odds in the last two years. That spirit is the biggest strength of this World Cup side," former test player Sanjay Manjrekar told reporters last night here. Asked about India’s prospects on the fast and bouncy pitches in South Africa, Manjrekar said "we did pretty well in the last series we played there. Also, the pitches will definitely not be as inconsistent as the ones in New Zealand. The pitches might be fast, but the bounce will be even and the ball will come on to the bat allowing some nice strokeplay." "And the Indian team is blessed with the likes of Ganguly, Tendulkar, Dravid and Yuvraj, who have performed so well in South Africa." "Sehwag will, however, be the key batsman. If he gets going, the match can easily tilt in India’s favour," he said. "The bowling will need some improvement. The spinners in particular will have to raise their game. Also, Ashish Nehra will have to be more consistent," he opined. Asked if there was any slip-up in the squad, the former test star said Delhi skipper and wicketkeeper Vijay Dahiya should have been in the team. "Parthiv is a young talent and a very bright prospect in the future, but if Dravid has a couple of bad matches behind the stumps, it’s always good to have an experienced pair of hands to take over," he observed. Asked who were the other players he was particularly looking at in the World Cup, Manjrekar marked out Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar and Australia captain Ricky Ponting. "This World Cup will be a real test for ponting. He has a good team, but the World Cup is a different ball game altogether." Zeroing in on the probable winners, Manjrekar, once described by Imran Khan as "the best player of fast bowling", said Australia, hosts South Africa, India and Pakistan had it in them to hold aloft the coveted Cup. Manjrekar was in the capital as part of the announcement of BBC’s cricket World Cup week. The series of programmes on BBC world will run from February 3 to February 9. Captain’s call will be broadcast on February 3 at 2200 hrs and will feature skippers of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The following day will see Manjrekar chatting with Virender Sehwag, Kumar Sangakkara and Shahid Afridi in young Turks. Other World Cup specials on the bbc include India calling on February 5 featuring the mood in India in the build up to the Cup, Africa calling on February 6 where the episode travels to South Africa to find out how the host country is gearing up for the tournament and then question time India: cricket special on February 7 where a panel debates on the eternal question — can India win the Cup this year? Other programmes also featuring the World Cup are face to face, where Karan Thapar interviews Rahul Dravid on Febrauray 8 and Navjot Singh Sidhu on February 15 and India business report that looks into the business of cricket on Febraury 9 and 16. (UNI) |
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World
Cup Update AUCKLAND, Jan 31: The New Zealand cricket team has defied the International Cricket Council and will not play a scheduled World Cup match in Kenya next month because of security fears. The decision, announced today after a day-long meeting of the New Zealand cricket board in the Southern city of Christchurch, follows an ICC ruling yesterday that two Cup matches planned for Nairobi should proceed. "The New Zealand cricket team will not be playing in Kenya," chief executive Martin Snedden said in a statement. "This decision was made by the New Zealand Cricket Board after reviewing all the evidence regarding safety and security of playing the World Cup match scheduled for February 21. "As part of that process the board has received additional safety and security reports which have come to hand since Tuesday and have taken further advice from (an) independent security consultant. "The board has concluded that on the basis of the information currently available the safety and security risk for our players is too high." "The New Zealand Cricket Board will give notice to the ICC that it does not believe that the decision taken by the ICC last night was reasonable. This is a matter which will now be resolved through legal processes." New Zealand now faces censure and possible financial penalty for its rejection of the ICC directive. It has heeded, instead, advice from its own Government and from private security advisers that the safety of its players in Kenya cannot be guaranteed. ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed announced in London yesterday that his organisation was satisfied with security arrangements surrounding the New Zealand match in Nairobi and another between Kenya and Sri Lanka on February 24. New Zealand had made a lengthy submission to the ICC of security issues, including a report from its own security consultant, Reg Dickason, which cast doubt on the ability of Kenyan police to meet any terrorist threat. Earlier today, New Zealand Foreign Minister Phil Goff said his Government had provided information to help the New Zealand Cricket Board reach its decision. "The board itself has taken quite extraordinary measures to find out about the situation," Goff said. "Naturally, its paramount consideration is the safety of its people." In November, 14 people including three Israelis were killed in a carrot of Mombassa. Tougher task now CENTURION (South Africa): New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming accepts his side face a tougher task after forfeiting their World Cup match against Kenya in Nairobi. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced today that their team would not travel to Kenya to honour the February 21 fixture because of concerns over security. New Zealand have been widely tipped to progress to the semi-finals, but by forfeiting the match against Kenya, who they were expected to beat easily, the pressure to win their first three matches has increased. By forfeiting the game they have lost the opportunity to earn four points for a win. "It changes the landscape of the cup quite a bit," Fleming said. "It all comes down to our first three games now." They play Sri Lanka on February 10, West Indies on February 13 and South Africa on February 16. "The results in those games will dictate our progress in the tournament," Fleming said. But there were no regrets about making the decision not to go to Kenya, according to coach Jeff Crowe. "We took the team interests to heart and the interests of the players are paramount," Crowe said. "Last year in Karachi was too close for comfort." A terrorist bomb outside the team hotel during their tour to Pakistan, prompted the cancellation of the rest of the itinerary. Meanwhile, New Zealand received a boost with the news that all rounder Chris Cairns is nearing full fitness after a knee injury. "I’m nearly there and it’s been a real physical battle to get ready for the World Cup," he said. "It has been more frustrating than anything else, but there are 10 days to go to the first game and I’m getting closer to full fitness all the time." Nostalgic trip for Indian team DURBAN: In a unique welcome to the Indian and Bangladeshi cricket teams, the World Cup organisers have arranged for their travel in the Gandhi Memorial steam train to take them to Pietermaritzburg for their matches. India, who have a warm-up game against Kwa-Zulu Natal and a league match against Namibia scheduled in Pietermaritzburg — where Mahatma Gandhi was thrown off a train on a cold night in June 1893 — will travel to their venue along the Gandhi route and disembark at the historic station amid fanfare and international media coverage. A new brochure entitled ‘Gandhi in Pietermaritzburg’ is being published for the event to highlight the city’s relationship with the Mahatma, the daily news reported. India’s warm-up game against Kwa-Zulu Natal is scheduled for February 4 while the league match against Namibia will be played on February 23. The Indians will have a development clinic at Protea Park on February 21 and will attend a music festival at the golden Horse Casino the next day before playing against Namibia. Bangladesh play their league match against Sri Lanka on February 14 at Pietermaritzburg. During their visit, the Bangladesh cricket team will also conduct a clinic for young players at Imbali. Fans get liquid relief JOHANNESBURG: Spectators will be allowed to take half a litre of water into World Cup matches after organisers relaxed a ban on all forms of liquid refreshment. "The restriction is now relaxed to allow water in half litre soft plastic unbranded bottles," said tournament organisers in a statement. "In addition the ban on deck chairs has been revised to allow spectators to use small camper chairs". "Restrictions remain on hard cooler-boxes, portable braais (Barbecues), deck chairs and beach umbrellas." the change has been made following pilot projects earlier in the South African season when World Cup regulations were tested. Earlier this year, many spectators at a one-day international match in centurion between South Africa and Sri Lanka left the ground early as temperatures soared into the mid-30s celsius. As well as the restriction on liquids, supporters had been prevented from taking beach umbrellas into the stadium, which has open grass banks on two thirds of the ground. The World Cup starts in Cape Town on February 9 with a match between the hosts South Africa and West Indies. (AGENCIES) |
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International
level Kabaddi tournament BATHINDA, Jan 31: Non-resident Indian (NRI) Kabaddi players, settled in the US, Canada and Germany will participate in the first international-level Kabaddi Tournament to be held here from February seven under the auspices of newly constituted Indo-Canadian Friend’s Sports and Cultural Club. Kulvir Singh Sidhu and Surinder Singh Canadian, patron and president of the club stating this at a press conference here today, said teams from different parts of the country would also participate in the tournament. They further said the winning team would get cash prize of Rs one lakh and the runner-up Rs 75,000 while the best adjudged players will be honoured with gold medals. Seven veteran Indian Kabaddi players will also be honoured on this occasion. Mr Canadian said this tournament and cultural programme would be an annual feature. (UNI) |
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Laxman to lead India-A in West Indies MUMBAI, Jan 31: Stylish middle order batsman V V S Laxman of Hyderabad will lead a 15-member India "A" squad that will participate in the Carib Beer Cricket Series (formerly known as Busta Cup) in the West Indies from February eight to March 17. The cricket board (BCCI) secretary S K Nair told PTI here today that cricketer Ashok Malhotra will be the coach on the tour where the "A" team will be playing six four-day matches against Barbados (Feb 8-11), Leeward Islands (Feb 14-17), Trinidad (Feb 21-24), Windward Islands (Feb 28-March 3), Guyana (March 7-10) and Jamaica (March 14-17). "We had requested the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to defer the India "A" team’s outing by a few days as the players would be busy playing in the four crucial elite Ranji Trophy group matches scheduled from February 1-4 and the WICB agreed to it", Nair added. When asked what he thought about the tour as it was clashing with the forthcoming World Cup in South Africa, Nair said "I personally think that the tour will be a good exposure for the youngsters and a chance for many to return to senior squad". The team: V V S Laxman (capt), Akash Chopra, Connor Williams, Gautam Gambhir, A T Rayudu, Abhijit Kale, Hemang Badani, Rakesh Patel, Avishkar Salvi, L Balaji, Tinu Yohannan, Ajay Ratra, Murali Kartik, Amit Mishra and J P Yadav. Coach: Ashok Malhotra. (PTI) |
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Army School Jammu Cantt organizes Art festival Excelsior Corresponden Jammu, Jan 31: The Army School Jammu Cantt today organized one day Art festival to promote skills among the students. About 1700 students from primary section to higher secondary classes participated in the Festival with great enthusiasm and gaiety. The objective of such competitions at various levels is to imbibe in children manifold values through creative art with a sense of competition. The junior most wing of the school exhibited their talent by moulding clay into beautiful shapes of various hues and colours to highlight their world of fancy and imagination. With their tender fingers they crafted Lord Ganesha, fruits, vegetables and flowers and their favorite cartons and animals. The middle school boys were entrusted with themes like marine like flora and fauna with scenic splendor around them which they were made to reproduce through collage, while girls made colourful flowers with different material like tissue paper cloth velvet etc. Soaring high to reach to sky was the theme behind kite making competition for the senior boys. Colourful kite fluttered in the air as they were tied on string for display. Senior girls were involved in promoting traditions of mehndi. They made different designs with Mehandi. The Chairman of the School, Brigadier S. Tiwari accompanied by Col. C. V. Ramaniah visited the school and interacted with the participating students. He was immensely impressed by mass participation of students in exhibiting there aesthetic ability. He conveyed his appreciation to participating groups of children and said that it was essential to imbibe in the young minds a spirit of healthy competition and camaraderie to achieve excellence in all fields. The Principal of the School, Mrs. Anu Jandial said when children draw and make thing with their own hands, they not only learn, but also derive the joy of satisfaction in these activities. They also develop an aesthetic sense. |
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INDORE, Jan 31: The Border Security Force’s Jammu Frontier, with 79 points in its kitty, took the lead today in the BSF’s 33rd Inter-frontier Platoon Weapon Shooting competition. Punjab, having a score of 59, and Delhi with 44 were at second and third spots respectively. At the Reoti range of the BSF’s Central School of Weapons and Tactics, head constable Rajesh Kumar of the Tripura-Cachar-Mizoram Frontier’s 27th battalion bagged the gold with 119 out of 150 points while head constable Swarn Singh of the Jammu Frontier’s 121st battalion notched up 118 points to earn the silver in the machine carbine event. With 115 points, the Rajasthan-Gujarat Frontier’s Sub-Inspector S K Joshi won the bronze. In the section match, Delhi’s Assistant Commandant J P Dhabai and his team stood first. The silver went to Asst Commandant Avnish Kumar and his men from the Punjab Frontier. The Tripura-Cachar-Mizoram Frontier’s team led by Asst Commandant N Gopinath took third place. Until now, the Rajasthan-Gujarat Frontier has 43, Tripura-Cachar-Mizoram 41, South Bengal 19, North Bengal 18 and Kashmir 5. (UNI) |
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Inter-College
Competitions Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 31: Government MAM College lifted the Inter-college Handball trophy beating the reigning champions, SPMR College of Commerce 26-12 (ht 11-6) in the final which was played at University grounds, here this afternoon. Losing the final last year to Commerce College narrowly, MAM College made a brilliant start this time and never allowed their opponents to level their score. At the end of the first half, MAM was leading by five goals and were not in a mood to spare any chance of recovery for Commerce College. "Though we had good team last year, yet we lost to Commerce College in the final. This time we decided to lift the trophy so that we can make all out effort to first take unbeatable lead and then not to allow them (Commerce College) to recover", said MAM captain, Anshumali. In the second half, Commerce College had a trail by five points and to overcame that, they played good game. Their sharp moves helped them in making rooms into the strong defence build-up by MAM, but only to miss while taking the final throw. Most of the shots either landed straightway in the hands of MAM’s alert goal-keeper, Aman Kumar or went out of the net. Vijay Mankotia, who remained top scorer from Commerce College with five goals, made lot of efforts but remained unsuccessful most of the time. Yashwinder Bali, Tanpreet and Siddharth Sanyal contributed two goals each to the score. From winners, MAM College, Kapil Sagotra was maximum scorer with 16 goals, while Rakesh Kumar followed him with six. Anshumali (two), Nakul Verma and Dheeraj Dogra (one each) were other scorers. Sudesh Kumar and Dev Raj officiated the match. P D Singh and Jai Bharat were scorer and time keeper respectively. The tournament was played under the overall supervision of M M Sharma. |
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WB, Karnataka register wins; J&K lose GULBARGA, Jan 31: Champions West Bengal and Karnataka scored facile victories in the team events in the table tennis team events on the opening day of the 48th National School Games here today. West Bengal girls under-19 team, defeated Punjab 3-2 while West Bengal under-14 boys scored over Rajasthan by an identical margin. Karnataka’s Deepa came back from behind to give her team an early lead in the under-17 category, beating Punjab’s Ritika 9-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-6, enabling her side register a 3-1 win. In the other matches, Maharashtra trounced Jammu and Kashmir and Andhra beat Chattisgarh by an identical 3-0 margin in the under-14 boys category.(PTI) Tougher task now, says New Zealand captain Fleming CENTURION (South Africa), Jan 31: New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming accepts his side face a tougher task after forfeiting their World Cup match against Kenya in Nairobi. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced today that their team would not travel to Kenya to honour the February 21 fixture because of concerns over security. New Zealand have been widely tipped to progress to the semi-finals, but by forfeiting the match against Kenya, who they were expected to beat easily, the pressure to win their first three matches has increased. By forfeiting the game they have lost the opportunity to earn four points for a win. "It changes the landscape of the cup quite a bit," Fleming said. "It all comes down to our first three games now." They play Sri Lanka on February 10, West Indies on February 13 and South Africa on February 16. "The results in those games will dictate our progress in the tournament," Fleming said. But there were no regrets about making the decision not to go to Kenya, according to coach Jeff Crowe. "We took the team interests to heart and the interests of the players are paramount," Crowe said. "Last year in Karachi was too close for comfort." A terrorist bomb outside the team hotel during their tour to Pakistan, prompted the cancellation of the rest of the itinerary. Meanwhile, New Zealand received a boost with the news that all rounder Chris Cairns is nearing full fitness after a knee injury. "I’m nearly there and it’s been a real physical battle to get ready for the World Cup," he said. "It has been more frustrating than anything else, but there are 10 days to go to the first game and I’m getting closer to full fitness all the time." (AGENCIES) |
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Indians going about their task with "quiet determination" DURBAN, Jan 31: The Indian team is going about the task of capturing World Cup glory with "quiet determination", coach John Wright said today, even as he put to rest all speculation about Sachin Tendulkar’s injury worries. "There’s a bit of quiet determination in the squad, even the new players are talking of being successful, which is a very good sign," he said here. Admitting that Tendulkar’s ankle injury in New Zealand was a "nasty blow" for the team, Wright said the master batsman was now fully fit and raring to go. "It was a nasty blow for us, but we’ve had to manage Sachin during the time of his injury and he has fully recovered to make his place in the team," he said. "It’s exciting times and we’ve been working towards this tournament for over a year and things seem to be coming together," the former New Zealand opener said. "We are in a difficult group, and if we come through that, then we could be a dangerous proposition for the remainder of the tournament," he added. "I’m looking forward to this tournament as are the players - they have done well over the year especially in the Caribbean, England and Sri Lanka. Now the time has come to do well in South Africa," he said. The Indians will play two warm-up matches in Durban and Pietermaritzburg before heading off to Cape Town for the official opening ceremony on February 8. (PTI) Kenya extend new invitation to New Zealand cricket team NAIROBI, Jan 31: Kenya today urged the New Zealand cricket team to honour their World Cup match in Nairobi next month, dismissing Kiwis’ security concerns as "misconceived". New Zealand announced today they would not play their World Cup match in Kenya on February 21 due to fears for the safety and security of players. "Concerns about insecurity are misconceived," Kenya Cricket association chairman Jimmy Rayani told a news conference. "They have no valid reasons for the matches to be taken away... Every country can start acting the same way as New Zealand. I still hope they will change their decision," added Rayani. Yesterday the International Cricket Council’s executive board voted 10 to two in favour of going ahead with the two World Cup matches in Kenya despite New Zealand’s security fears. Kenya’s Sports Minister Najib Balala also invited New Zealand to Nairobi. "I wish to reassure the world community that contrary to fears expressed by our sister Commonwealth country, New Zealand, ours is a country that continues to enjoy peace and tranquillity and does not have "terrorist cells" as alleged," said Balala. (AFP) |
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