Young Hero enters final in style

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 5: Three goals by Rajesh today guided Young Hero to enter final of the Ist Banarsi Dass memorial football tournament in style. Young Hero blanked Jammu Sports-A 5-0 in the second semi-final today.

Young Hero made a good start with first goal coming in the 8th minute. They maintained their domination throughout adding goals after regular intervals.

Rajesh, who made solo efforts to score first goal for Young Hero, added second goal in the 32nd minute after receiving a corner pass from Rajinder Abrol.

In the second half, Rajinder himself netted the fifth goal for Young Hero in the 54th minute on a pass from Shahbaz Khan. Later, in the 68th minute, Rohit made solo effort to further increase the lead to 4-0.

Fifth goal was again scored by Rajesh converting a penalty kick awarded in their favour in the 88th minute. For foul play, two red cards were shown to Prince (Jammu Sports-A) and Ankush (Young Hero) by chief referee, Nissar Hussain. Nissar also punished two more players with yellow cards. They were Rohit (Young Hero) and Neeraj (Jammu Sports-A). Now, Young Hero will take on Young Star in the final to be played on November 7.

Ravi bags first place in U-17 3000 mts race

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

KATHUA, Nov 5: Ravi Kumar of Government HS Lakhanpur bagged first place in 3000 meters race in boys under-17 age group in inter-school athletics meet of district Kathua at sports stadium here today.

Second place went to Vijay Kumar of High School, Sherpur while Kulbir of HS Chhan Rorian finished third.

Other results

Shot Put: U-17 girls: Rajidha, HS Kharota, Ist; Usha Rani, HSS Kathua, 2nd and Reena Rani, HS Thein, third. U-14 boys: Liyaquat Ali, MS Qadial, Ist; Shumman Ali, MS Mandyal, 2nd and Mohd Yakoob, MS Kathua, third.

Long Jump U-14 boys: Shammi Kumar, MS Parngoli, Ist; Shumman Ali, MS Mandyal, 2nd and Pawan Singh, MS Khokhyal, third.

600 mts girls U-14 race: Rashmi, MS Parnjali, Ist; Anu, MS Hattli, 2nd and Anju, MS Bhallar, third.

Shot Put: Radhana Rani, MS Kattli, Ist; Veena Devi, MS Rajpura, 2nd and Shanti Devi, MS Hattli, third.

J&K holdsHaryana to a draw in U-19 Cricket

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 5: Jammu and Kashmir held Haryana to a draw in the Cooch Behar under-19 cricket tournament played at Bharmala, Panchkula in Haryana.

Earlier, starting their day from overnight score of 184 for five, J&K bowled out for 220 runs allowing Haryana to take 77 runs first innings lead. Haryana, in turn made 131 more runs for the loss of four wickets to declare their innings.

With a 208 runs target infront of them, J&K batsmen played patient innings and made 146 runs for five when umpired called it a day. Mayank Goswami made unbeaten 42 while Abid contributed 50 runs.

Beware! Australia can cause more trouble ahead

By Ravi Shastri

Half-way through the tournament, Australia are pretty much in the driver’s seat in the tri-series. After the setback against India in the first match, they have come storming back to win all the other matches in a canter, which is how champion sides should play.

It can’t be very gratifying for India and New Zealand to note that the Big Three in Australia’s line-up - Gilchrist, Hayden and Ponting - have not yet come up with a truly significant knock. It is impossible to keep players of such quality quiet for too long, which means that there is more trouble ahead for the other teams.

What has impressed me most about this Australian side is how well the second string bowlers have done, despite their relative inexperience and very little time to acclimatize to Indian conditions. But for the unusually high number of extras conceded - which has surprised me actually - Australia’s performances have been exemplary.

New Zealand are not yet out of this tournament, but need a win or two to restore self-belief and garner some much-needed points. In a way, New Zealand appear to have lost the momentum they had got during the Test series, but they have also been a trifle unlucky in at least two closely fought games.

It is important for them to have their key players fit and hungry for success. The runs scored by Jacob Oram and McCallum in the previous game will have encouraged Fleming even if New Zealand lost the match, because runs from the lower order can often determine the outcome of a match.

More importantly, Chris Cairns needs to be match-fit. He is their best-known match0-winner, and has a formidable record against India. If he is firing on all cylinders, New Zealand would fancy their chances in this tournament still.

India need to get their act right. I think they are a bowler short, and losing Kumble before a crucial match will not help their cause. He has been India’s best bowler at home in any type of cricket and the opposition will heave a sigh of relief if he is not around.

The wicket-keeping department is another area of concern. Much as I am favourably disposed towards Parthiv Patel, I would save him for the tests because he is obviously under pressure. He is a class act, but still very young and perhaps needs to be groomed over a period of time. I know this is not in line with my earlier position, but winning this tournament should be of paramount concern now.

I would instead have Dravid go back to keeping, and India include a bowler who can bat, for as I have said earlier, runs low down the order can make a huge difference to the outcome of a match.

India’s batting otherwise looks solid and in form, though Sehwag has been out cheaply a couple of times and Mohammed Kaif has not yet clicked. But I don’t think lack of runs is the issue where India is concerned. It is how to bowl the other side out, or restrict them to a gettable total.(TCM)

Composing a state Ranji team

By Rajesh Dhar

Before the beginning of every season of Ranji Trophy, the cricket community of the state always wished to see some new faces in the state squad to represent it at this big league of cricket in the country. But, the desires of cricket faces of the state have hardly been fulfilled by the selectors in the past. It is hoped the present quorum of Jammu and Kashmir cricket Association (JKCA) may fulfil their desires.

Raising questions in selections on selection processes has always been a cup of tea for critics but to be a good selection is atleast not the job of theirs. Whenever the state team fails to perform at the higher levels, the wisdom of the selector is usually doubted, but on better performances nobody cares to appreciate the credibility of the selectors. It is not always fair to blame selectors for debacle of the team but it is also not always equitable on the part of the selectors to sacrifice talented youngsters to accommodate the players of their choice.

Though, the JKCA (Jammu wing) began the season with a right note by coming the prize money tourney at Faridkot (Panjab), Yet coming Faridkot Tropy did not set Ganges on fire.

For achieving heights in cricketing field, the state selectors ought to try some youngsters every season like gambhirs,patel chopras and pathans etc.

Now the question arises whether the state possesses the talented youngsters to replace seniors. Certainly, there are few. Shammi Slaria and Hardeep Singh lead from the front in this race, though they have already been provided an appurtunity to represent the state, yet Sanjay Sharma, a scalp hunter hungry for success and Inderjeet Singh , an ambidextrous allrounder deserve a break. Moreover, there is a young brigade of Ian, obaid , Abid. N.Aina Silwal and Kaw waiting in the wings, who if produce notable performances at lower levels be straightway given expose at Ranji Level. Ran in particular fits the bill.

Again the question is- who among the seniors should be omitted to accommodate youngsters As far as the gutsy seniors and better performers of the state like Gupta, Sharma, Singh, Kanth and Bagrl is concerned, one can't omit them as long as they perform, because fitness is not the problem for them as they are as fit as anybody. But there are some seniors, who though team lented enough have not been achieve even in local cricket from last three seasons, hoping for there place in the team which is simply unjustified.

I am of the firm opinion that separated squads should be picked in both forms of cricket as there are some outstanding players in the short vision of the game who prove to be failures in other forms. The composition of the Ranji Team demands twelve players from this regard and four from the other.

If it would not be harsh to express that Abdul Qayoom, the all time bowling great of the state should willingly say good-bye to the game now because of the age factor as it is very difficult for a fast bowler to perform at that age. Vikrant Taggar and Vivek Singh can fill wicket keepers slot in both the forms, while Arshad Bhat on the other hand (though filled in the last season) should be taken as second keeper in the test. Pradeep Bali can prove to be explosive opener in shorter version of the game and Rakesh Koul can fill the allrounders slot in both the forms. Druv Mahajan though have not performed up to the expectations at Ranji level, is a player to watch, Shashi Kumar, is a class act when in form. Ajay Bhatti is at his best in the trial matches, with Rajesh Gill calling the shots as well Rohit Mattoo and Guru Pratap Singh also have the range of shots to amuse one. Among spinners, Sameer Khajuria, Jagtar Singh, Manzoor, Sanjay Sharma senior, Anoop Mangotra are the quality turners. Jagtar in particular is always a fabulous act. While Sanullah at times bowls with a nagging line and teasing length, Ashok and Abid Salaam with their left arm swing and seam bowling prove to be wreckers in the local cricket. Ashok has the capability of running some bog shots also afraid. Rajit Bali and Pranav deency and discipline is worth appreciation. Now it is upto the JKCA selectors who have done every thing right so far in the season, almost they cannot please everybody to pick the team.

If they apply the same mesmerizing policy of the selectors, who forced some talented youngsters to leave the state, the system. I would befit the saying-"old wine in new bottle". Though two big wines against form already sides like Punjab and Haryana in trophy speaks of the present system.

Salgaocar, Mahindra grab Durand Cup semis berth

NEW DELHI, Nov 5: Veteran striker I M Vijayan played one of his last matches at the Ambedkar Stadium as his team JCT drew goalless with Mahindra United to bow out of the Durand Cup Football Tournament here today.

Earlier in the day, Salgaocar Sports Club defeated crowd favourite Mohammedan Sporting 2-0 to advance to the semifinal as Group C winners.

Mahindra edged out the Punjab team, on better goal average, winning group a for a place in the last four. They will now take on Salgaocar in the first semi-final on Friday.

Going into today’s match with a 1-1 draw against TFA XI in their first match, Mohammedan’s had to win to advance but in the end faded away after holding the goans goalless almost till the hour mark. The goans advanced with goals from Dharamjit Singh (59th minute) and Nigerian Felix Ibrebru in the 73rd minute.

Mahindra proved the better team against JCT today though 36-year-old Vijayan, who announced his retirement from national team after winning the Afro-Asian Games silver medal in Hyderabad last week, went close to scoring more than once. But the lanky striker was not in his best form and was closely marked by Peter Siddiqui.

Unable to do much in the first half, Vijayan, however, had a better second session.

Immediately after coach Sukhwinder Singh changed Vijayan’s striking partner in the 58th minute, replacing Harbinder Singh with Charanjeet Singh, Vijayan put the substitute through with a deft back heel but Charanjeet managed only a week shot from inside the box.

A visibly upset Vijayan said after the match it was very disappointing to end up like this. "I am rather upset the way we played today. The forwards did not get many chances even as we took control of the midfield in the later stages of the match," he noted.

For Mahindra, S Venkatesh moved well in the midfield and created a few chances for Mahindras, who looked a little sharper than their opponent for the better part of the match.

JCT’s skipper Jo Paul Ancheri was not at his best and attempted some mistimed summersaults only to be hooted by the partisan gallery.

"We did not play to our potential. It was very disappointing not to reach the semis," Ancheri said after the match.

But JCT’s Goalie Mansuru Mohd was the man of the match who warded off a series of Mahindra attacks.

In the earlier match, Md Sporting muffed up a few chances that came their way. Their skipper Dipendu Biswas missed an open goal chance after Nigerian recruit Chidi Edeh dribbled past two defenders and gave a nice pass to him.

Dipendu said the entire team was not well and was suffering from food poisoning. "We still played a decent game considering the state we are in," he noted. (UNI)

Capriati grows up and speaks up

LOS ANGELES, Nov 5: The Jennifer Capriati who enters the WTA tour championship today is a mature 27-year-old woman, comfortable in the spotlight and far removed from the confused and unhappy youngster who went into self-imposed exile in the 1990s.

"There was a time when I just came back that I couldn’t even concentrate on playing because there was a lot going on in my mind, a lack of self-confidence," Capriati told in a telephone interview.

"Forget about tennis, I was scared to open my mouth. I didn’t even feel worthy of saying something and not sounding stupid."

"I was an emotional basket case," said Capriati, who spent more than two years away from tennis after a demoralising first-round defeat in the 1993 U S Open and was detained by police for shoplifting and drug possession.

"Now a lot has changed and i can separate a lot of things. And if I can’t, I make the decision not to even try to play tennis."

Tournament promoters are counting on Capriati’s popularity to sell tickets this week as she and Chanda Rubin are the only Americans in the eight-woman field at Los Angeles’ staples center.

Southern Californian natives Serena and Venus Williams and Lindsay Davenport have pulled out with injuries, leaving Capriati as the big attraction.

She begins the round-robin phase of the event against Japan’s Ai Sugiyama.

Three-times Grand Slam winner Capriati still dislikes making public appearances but is always willing to take a stand on issues she believes in.

In 2002, Capriati got into a public spat with the United States Fed Cup coach Billie Jean king about whether private coaches should be allowed at team practices. She stuck to her point of view despite the negative publicity that ensued.

"I trust myself more," Capriati said. "It’s also because of the feedback I got. People want to hear what I have to say and respect what I say. But mainly it comes from myself."

While the fifth-ranked Capriati does not start as the favourite this week, she is regarded as one of the few players to have a serious chance of beating defending champion Kim Clijsters or French and US Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne. Last year in Los Angeles, Capriati lost a three-set heartbreaker to Serena Williams.

Six weeks ago, Capriati suffered another bad defeat, when she fell to Henin-Hardenne in the semi-finals of the US Open, surrendering big leads in both the second and third sets. After the match, she admitted to choking and called it the worse defeat of her career.

After that match, Capriati said, she went from being angry to feeling drained. Now the former world number one knows she must turn herself around mentally if she is to have a chance of reaching the top again.

"I came as close as you come to winning," she said of the semi-final. "It wasn’t my tennis that made me lose, it was a lot of different things going on, high drama, high emotion."

"It was also because the Williamses weren’t there and (people were saying) I should win. But there were other good players there. For whatever reason, I didn’t (win) and I can’t look at it like it was my only chance. That’s not very positive."

When Capriati returned to the tour full time in 1999 after battling burnout and the fallout from her arrests, few analysts believed she would ever get into the top five again.

Capriati is delighted to have proved them wrong by winning two Australian Open titles and the French Open, as well as making the world number one spot for several spells in 2001 and 2002.

"Coming back after the layoff, I wasn’t really sure what to expect," she said. "Maybe there were times I counted myself out. I’m just happy to be playing and to have the results I’ve had. If nothing ever happened from here on, I still feel I’ve had a noteworthy career."

While Capriati’s peers such as Monica Seles and Davenport are out of action with injuries and could soon retire, Capriati sees herself playing into her 30s.

She recently read the autobiography of five-times tour of France winner lance armstrong and said she was inspired by how he approached the struggle of getting to the top and staying there.

Capriati has won nearly 7 million in prize money but says she has no plans to relax for the rest of her career.

"Tennis is what I do and is part of who I am," she said. "It doesn’t mean I’m going to be nonchalant from here on out. I’m happy with what I’ve done but it’s a challenge to try to win more." (AGENCIES)

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