Daily Excelsior.........sports

Warm welcome
to Sania Mirza

HYDERABAD, July 8: Basking in the glory of her maiden Grand Slam title, teen tennis star Sania Mirza arrived here to an emotional welcome as hundreds of her fans, schoolmates, well-wishers.....more

‘Sourav mania’
grips city as
Ganguly turns 31

KOLKATA, July 8: An unprecedented ‘Sourav Mania’ gripped the city today on the 31st birthday of Indian cricket skipper, who promised to raise..........more

Sasikiran in joint lead after
tactical win in fourth round

ESBJERG (Denmark), July 8: Grandmaster Krishnan Sasikiran marched ahead with his tactical brilliance, turning the tables on GM Bruzon Lazaro of Cuba............more

BCCI says arbitrator in
Jadeja’s case was biased

NEW DELHI, July 8: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) today attacked an arbitrator’s award which set aside the five-year ban imposed by BCCI on cricketer Ajay Jadeja’s in wake of the match fixing allegations..........more

Jammu Cup 2003
Amit’s all round show
guides Luxmi Club
to a big win

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, July 8: All-round performance by Amit today powered Luxmi.....more

‘Harsha Unplugged’
on ESPN from today

HYDERABAD, July 8: A new TV sports show titled ‘Harsha Unplugged’ will be telecast on Star Sports channel from tomorrow.......more

16 member squad for
World Yoga Championship

CHANDIGARH, July 8: A 16-member Indian Yoga team led by K C Sharma, Yoga Federation of India president and Chef-de-Mission of Indian contingent, would participate in 12th World Cup of Olympic Yoga sport to be held at Portugal (Europe) from July 18 to 20........more

Pakistan captain Latif
reprimanded for
letter to ICC

KARACHI, July 8: Pakistan authorities have reprimanded captain Rashid Latif for going public with a letter to the.....more

Warm welcome to Sania Mirza

Amidst full throated chanting of "Sania, Sania" by about 60 of her schoolmates, the Wimbledom girls doubles champion entered the arrival lounge to the delight of the waiting fans who greeted her with flowers and best wishes.

The homecoming of the champion hogged the limelight with a battery of camera crew clicking away every movement of Sania who leisurely posed for the impromptu photo session along with her family members, friends and sponsors.

While some jostled for space and surged ahead to get a closer look, others were fighting tears. Some were simply elated to be there at the moment to greet "sweet Sania".

Sania was received by her father Imran Mirza, State Sports Authority officials, representatives from sponsors GVK Group, hockey star Mukesh Kumar and others.

The 16-year-old Sania paired with Alisa Kleybanova of Russia and defeated Katerina Bohmova of the Czech Republic and Michaela Krajicek of the Netherlands 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, in the final to create history by becoming the first Indian woman to win a Grand Slam event.

Sania was then taken in an open jeep to the Raj Bhavan where she was to call on Andhra Pradesh Governor Surjeet Singh Barnala.

Later, she is likely to meet Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu at his residence and attend a programme hosted by her sponsors.

Singles first priority for Sania Mirza at US Open

MUMBAI: Having made history by winning a Grand Slam title, teen tennis sensation Sania Mirza arrived here today with a renewed purpose to do well in the singles as well at the US Open next month.

The 16-year-old Sania became the first Indian girl ever to win a Grand Slam title when she won the juniors doubles girls title partnering Russia’s Alisa Kleybanova at Wimbledon on Sunday.

Sania, however, would not be able to pair up with Alisa at the US Open as the Russian has pulled out of the Grand Slam due to personal reasons.

"I will not be partnering Alisa at the US Open as she has decided not to play for personal reasons," Sania told reporters after her arrival from London here.

"Moreover I want to concentrate on my singles performance though I will be playing in the doubles as well with a new partner," the Hyderabad lass said.

Sania did not rule out partnering an Indian but said she will have to wait and see how things turn out before arriving at a decision.

On her triumph at Wimbledon, Sania said "it is a great feeling to be the first Indian woman to win a Grand Slam title. I am very happy about it though I was not expecting to win it."

"I just decided to play in the doubles after Alisa said she was looking out for a partner and now I am very happy I decided to play with her," Sania added.

The youngster’s hands are full in the short break that she would have before the US Open, the fourth Grand Slam of the season.

"I will just rest in Hyderabad for a week and then would go either to Bhupathi’s Academy in Bangalore or to the US early and start practicing to get the feel of the courts over there," she said.

Sania and Alisa beat Katerina Bohmova of Czech Republic and Michaela Krajicek of Netherlands 2-6 6-3 6-2 and was the second Indian success story in this year’s championship after Leander Paes had won the mixed doubles title alongwith legendary Martina Navratilova.

Sania said she was not even aware that she was the first Indian woman to win a Grand Slam. "Once I came to know of it I was thrilled and I consider this a dream come true though I would love to do well in singles as well in the near future," she said. (AGENCIES)

‘Sourav mania’ grips city as Ganguly turns 31

KOLKATA, July 8: An unprecedented ‘Sourav Mania’ gripped the city today on the 31st birthday of Indian cricket skipper, who promised to raise funds for extension of a children’s hospital and win the away series against Australia.

Showered with gifts, phone calls, messages from various corners of the country, and with corporate houses, media organisations and the hoi polloi outdoing each other to celebrate the occasion on a grandiose scale, Ganguly spent his birthday with friends and family members — the first time he could afford such a luxury in five years.

Ganguly’s wife Dona, accompanied by Indian Cricket Players’ Association vice president Arun Lal, called on Health Secretary Asim Burman and promised to raise funds by auctioning the captain’s cricketing gear and memorabilia to add another block to the state-run B C Roy Hospital for children.

"We need Rupees six crore for setting up a new block. So, we had approached Ganguly through ICPA. If they can raise Rs 50 lakh, it will help us in our endeavour," State Municipal Affairs Minister Ashok Bhattacharjee said.

Meanwhile, numerous congratulatory messages poured in from across the country. Among those who wished the dashing south paw were Indian coach John Wright, BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya as also several members of the national squad.

Though pleasantly surpised at the hype his birthday has generated, Ganguly still remained focussed on the coming cricketing battles. "For me, the best birthday gift would be winning the cricket series in Australia later this year." (AGENCIES)

Sasikiran in joint lead after tactical win in fourth round

ESBJERG (Denmark), July 8: Grandmaster Krishnan Sasikiran marched ahead with his tactical brilliance, turning the tables on GM Bruzon Lazaro of Cuba in the fourth round of the 18th North Sea Cup International Chess Tournament here.

Sasikiran took his tally to 3 points out of a possible 4 and now shares the lead with GM Luke McShane of England who defeated GM Michal Krasenkow of Poland in a keenly contested game.

Half a point adrift of the leaders are top seed GM Alexey Dreev of Russia and Curt Hansen of Denmark. Of the two, Dreev was involved in a nonchalant draw with Lenier Dominiguez of Cuba while Hansen used his positional prowess to outclass former world junior girls champion Koneru Humpy.

Denmark’s Lars Schandorff, Hastings champion Peter Heine Nielsen (Den) and Lazaro share the fifth spot on a 50 percent score while Krasenkow and Lenier were relegated to joint 8th spot having just 1.5 points from the four games played so far.

Humpy’s bad patch continued as she suffered her fourth loss on the trot and was yet to open her account even at the half way stage of this 10-player nine-round tournament.

Sasikiran was lucky as Lazaro blundered away a clearly superior position. The players fought the initial phase in an irregular opening that gave Sasikiran dynamic equilibrium with black pieces.

Lazaro was quick to pounce on a middle game error by the indian stalwart that gave him a firm bind and spatial advantage. Sasikiran worked out his counterplay in the final stages of the first time control when he sacrificed a pawn in the center and caught Lazaro’s king unattended by the supporting force.

On the 42nd move Lazaro resigned when he was unable to cope with irresistible threats.

Humpy seems woefully out-of-form and the recovery for the youngest GM of the country seems highly unlikely in this tournament.

Hansen took his chances in the middle game arising out of an unorthodox queen pawn game and was rewarded as humpy fell in to a positional trap that left her light square bishop crippled.

Hansen Seizei control of the dark squares with his rooks soon after and a tactical sortie netted him a couple of pawns on the 23rd move itself. Soon Humpy’s king also came under firing range and the game ended in just 29 moves.

Krasenkow gave a demonstration of his positional acumen by giving his queen for three minor pieces and a pawn against mcshane who played black.

However in the complex middle game that ensued, the polish missed the thread and subsequent exchanges led to a very loose position for him on both flanks. McShane wrapped up the issue in 42 moves. (PTI)

BCCI says arbitrator in Jadeja’s case was biased

Senior counsel C S Vaidyanathan appearing for the board in Delhi High Court also challenged the January 27 award saying the court appointed arbitrator Justice J K Mehra could not have given an award which allowed Jadeja to play national and international cricket, subject to selection, and at best he could have set aside the findings of the board’s disciplinary committee and ordered inquiry afresh.

Arguing before Justice Manmohan Sarin, Mr Vaidyanathan said that the retired High Court arbitrarily ruled out the use as evidence telephone bills which ‘reflected’ that Jadeja was extensively in touch with ‘bookies’.

The counsel alleged that a portion dealing with reference to certain properties of the player through which he earned rental income was missing from the official record of the arbitrator.

He further claimed that the arbitrator ‘simply’ rejected the BCCI’s request to recall Jadeja for cross-examination, when among other things the board wanted grill him on report that he played in the SUA during the pendency of the ban.

Earlier today, Jadeja’s counsel P P Malhotra produced Taj Palace Hotel record to show that board’s counsel checked in on November 19 last year and checked out on 22nd whereas an adjournment, of the arbitration proceedings going on in the same hotel, was sought on 21st on his behalf on the ground that he was unavailable due to a personal problem.

The judge later posted the matter for July 15 directing the BCCI to file written synopsis of its arguments within a week and Jadeja his counter-arguments within a week thereafter.

The court was hearing BCCI’s appeal against the arbitrator’s award, which was filed just before the 90-day deadline expired on April 27 after which the arbitrator’s award could have become final.

On May 28, paving the way for Jadeja’s comeback into competitive cricket, the High Court had said former India captain was free to play all matches in the country’s domestic circuit, if selected.

Issuing notice to the BCCI on Jadeja’s plea that he may be allowed to play domestic cricket in India and league matches in England, a Division Bench comprising Justices B A Khan and I P Dwivedi allowed Jadeja to play, subject to his selection, all matches in the domestic circuit but directed the board to file its reply by July 21 on the cricketer’s request to play league matches in England.

The judges gave the interim relief saying that the court would be doing injustice by not allowing Jadeja to play as it would be a year or more before a decision came on the objections filed by the BCCI against an arbitrator’s award setting aside the board imposed five-year ban on the cricketer in wake of the match fixing allegations.

The court would not be able to give back Jadeja the years he would have lost in case the ruling was in his favour, they said.

Jadeja had initially sought a stay on the board imposed five-year ban — of which three years had already elapsed — saying in view of the delaying tactics of the BCCI litigations could go on for an ‘uncertain’ period, denying him of the chance to play in his prime.

But the court refused to entertain a plea which would tantamount to enforcing the arbitrator’s award when a suit challenging the same was still pending.

Hence, Mr Malhotra said he would ask for his client to be considered to play international cricket at present and limit his prayer for being allowed to play in domestic cricket in India and league matches in England, as he has had invitations to play in such matches.

Jadeja had appealed to the Division Bench after Justice Sarin had on May 26 rejected Jadeja’s plea to play cricket at the national level and be considered for playing at the international level in the light of an arbitrator’s award in his favour.

The court had contended that the Board of Control for Cricket in India had already filed objections to the arbitrator’s award in the High Court and the matter was pending on which notice had also been issued to Jadeja returnable today.

The immediate provocation for Jadeja to file the application was that he was being debarred from playing a charity match between the Bollywood stars and cricketers organised by the International India Film Academy (IIFA) in Johannesburg.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) rushed a letter to the organisers saying that Jadeja could not be allowed to participate in the match.

Mr Malhotra argued that the BCCI had instigated the ICC to prevent the cricketer from playing the exhibition match in South Africa and pleaded that the BCCI should be prosecuted for not abiding by the order of the arbitrator which directed the BCCI to allow the former opener to play in matches if he was selected.

On April 24, the High Court had said that Jadeja may be considered for playing first class cricket if he was entitled for selection.

In its order, a Division Bench comprising Justices Dalveer Bhandari and R S Sodhi directed the BCCI to file a reply within two weeks to Jadeja’s petition seeking his right to play competitive cricket at all levels in view of court appointed arbitrator Justice J K Mehra’s award dated January 27 in his favour.

In the meantime, the judges said if Jadeja was entitled to be considered for selection, he may be considered for playing in the Ranji Trophy.

Senior counsel Kapil Sibal appearing for the BCCI had also assured that if Jadeja was entitled to be considered for selection, he would be considered for playing by the state cricketing boards.

Jadeja had then filed the petition in anticipation of his selection for the Ranji Trophy semi-final April 25.

Mr Malhotra had said that after the arbitrator’s award Jadeja was very keen to play. The BCCI, however, filed an appeal against the arbitrator’s award just before the 90-day deadline expired on April 27, after which his award could have become final.

On January 30, Jadeja was prevented from playing in a local league match by the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), just three days after a five-year ban on him was quashed by the Delhi High Court appointed arbitrator.

Armed with the court order, Jadeja reached the venue and started playing for the club for which he played earlier. But seven overs into the match, some DDCA officials came and prevented Jadeja from playing the game. They said the board was yet to take a final decision on the issue and as such he could not play. (agencies)

Jammu Cup 2003
Amit’s all round show guides Luxmi Club to a big win

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, July 8: All-round performance by Amit today powered Luxmi Cricket Club (LCC) to fine 79 runs victory in Pool-B (Sapphire pool) match of the ongoing Jammu Cup 2003 Cricket Tournament being played at University grounds, here.

In this first round, Luxmi defeated Guru Nanak Cricket Club (GNCC) to consolidate their position in the pool.

Earlier, batting first after winning the toss, Rajesh and Ashok gave a good start to the innings, making 82 runs for the first wicket partnership. It was followed by confident batting by Amit, who with the help of other incoming batsmen further accelerated the innings thereby guiding LCC in setting a challenging target of 208 runs in the stipulated 25 overs, which, in reply, GNCC could not chase and bowled out for 128 runs in 24.2 overs.

Rajesh, who faced the first ball of the match, made 39 runs off 35 deliveries including four boundaries. Ashok and Amit added quick 41 runs each. Ashok hit two sixes in his 22 balls innings while Amit’s 35 innings included five boundaries. Sunny and Sanjay remained unbeaten with 14 and 16 runs in their respective accounts. Vicky and Nitin contributed 15 and 16 runs respectively. For GNCC, Rinku and Panku claimed two wickets each.

Chasing a target of over eight runs per over, GNCC made a dismal beginning, losing first two wickets without opening their account. Nitin was the bowlers who sent the first two batsmen to the pavilion. Kapil was caught by Sunny while Billa was trapped leg before the wicket by Nitin.

It was followed by slow and steady progress of the GNCC innings but with loss of wickets at regular intervals. Shalender played matured cricket and he remained unbeaten at the end of the day with 63 runs in his account. He faced 49 deliveries and hit one six and seven fours.

Vikram was other batsman who reached the double figure mark with 15 runs while rest of the batsmen could not touch the double figure mark. However, extras added 23 runs to the score of 128. Nitin bagged four wickets for 20 runs in five overs he bowled while Amit took three for 30. Vishal was the other successful bowler who clinched two for 24 in four overs.

Later, Amit was adjudged as man of the match for his all-round performance.