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| India crush Kiwis to set up title clash with Aussies HYDERABAD, Nov 15: Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag slammed superb centuries as India handed a massive 145-run defeat to New Zealand in the last league contest of the TVS Cup.........more Sportsmaster By Sanjeev Sharma If you have strong desire to do something exceptional in your life, you can do it with dedication and sheer hardwork. The family background, the State you belong to least matters when..............more Indians
have class KOLKATA, Nov 15: Australian spinner Brad Hogg today paid tributes to the Indian batsmen’s traditional finesse against spin, saying the bowling stints.......more KARACHI, Nov 15: Pakistan could pull out from December’s tour of New Zealand if the Kiwis decide against travelling to Pakistan for the one-day series.............more |
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Inter-college competitions MAM College bags Kabaddi trophy Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 15: Government MAM College today lifted the Kabaddi trophy in the inter-college tournament the final of which was played today at University grounds, here....more Basant-Romesh
pair Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 15: Basant Singh Saini and Vipul Saini won the final of the Ist Babu Ram memorial badminton tournament played........more 13th State Billiards, Snooker championships today Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 15: The month long 13th State Junior and Senior Billiards and Snooker Championships, organised by the....more Tendulkar
reaches HYDERABAD, Nov 15: Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar completed 1,000 runs in one-day......more |
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Cricket tourney in memory of Rajiv Gandhi....... Windies on brink of Test victory despite two collapses..... |
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India crush Kiwis to set up title clash with Aussies HYDERABAD, Nov 15: Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag slammed superb centuries as India handed a massive 145-run defeat to New Zealand in the last league contest of the TVS Cup triangular series to win a ticket for the Kolkata final against world champions Australia on November 18. The duo of Tendulkar and man of the match Sehwag struck an opening partnership of 182 in even time while the usually calm Rahul Dravid produced an unbeaten, explosive 50 off just 22 balls to enable India pile up 353 for five and shut the door on the New Zealanders. India’s last 50 runs came off a mere 23 balls as Dravid struck five fours and three sixes. Seamer Ajit Agarkar dealt two quick blows in his first and third overs, as the Kiwis caved in meekly, losing wickets at regular intervals. Burly all-rounder Scott Styris (54 in 49 balls, 9x4) and Craig McMillan added 62 runs for the fourth-wicket but once the partnership was broken by Anil Kumble, who joined the team late last night, the visitors crumbled under mounting pressure to be all out for 208. Kumble, left-arm spinner Murali Kartik, besides Agarkar, took two wickets each while Zaheer, who went wicket-less in his opening spell mopped the tail to bag three in the second, including two in the last over. Earlier, master blaster Tendulkar essayed a classic exhibition of breathtaking strokeplay to notch up his 36th hundred in just 87 balls with 12 fours and a massive six of Chris Harris, in one-day internationals and his second in the TVS Cup following the one against Australia. Sehwag’s innings, on the other hand, began on a sedate note by his standards and was aided by a dropped catch by Lou Vincent. The dashing Delhi star was on 26 when Vincent floored a skier after the batsman miscued a lofted drive. He then clung on and went on to butcher the Kiwis in the latter part of the innings to compile the three-figure mark. It was, in fact, Sehwag, who started the run blitz, flicking Darryl Tuffey in the first over before slashing the other speedster Kyle Mills in his trademark style. Two overs later, Tuffey was met with stiffer punishment as Sehwag unleashed a flurry of strokes to take three consecutive boundaries. A spanking cut was followed by a classic straight drive and another slash over the slip cordon. Tendulkar took a while for his boundary but once he hammered Cairns past the point there was no looking back. Runs flowed from the bat of the master blaster as he clobbered five fours in three overs from Oram and Cairns, cutting, pulling and driving them with utter disdain. Cairns, running short of ideas, introduced Styris as the fifth bowler in an effort to break the opening partnership but Tendulkar, welcomed him with a stupendous six over mid-on and then sent him over the in-field to the cover fence. The genial batsman fell to the same stroke, caught on the cover fence but by then he had crossed the 100-run mark, intentionally edging cairns for a four. Tendulkar’s exit brought no respite for the bewildered Kiwis as Sehwag took over the dominant role in a 74-run partnership for the second wicket with skipper sourav ganguly. He cut and glanced for fours, stepped out to send tuffey into the stands, sending a packed crowd into raptures. Sehwag notched up his sixth hundred in one-day internationals forcing Cairns off the back-foot into covers. Once past the landmark, he went after the New Zealanders with gay abandon, slashing over the keeper, lofting left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori over midwicket before holing out to Vincent on the long off boundary, trying for another six. By then he smashed 130 off 134 balls with 15 fours and two sixes. Ganguly chipped in with a quickfire 33 off 31 balls with four fours. With New Zealand needing to score a little over seven runs an over and break the world record for a win, Chris Nevin stepped out to Agarkar in the second over only to miss the line and was bowled comprehensively. Agarkar, back in the team in place of Asish Nehra, generated good amount of pace on a pitch that offered considerable bounce to the pace bowlers and beat the bat on quite a few occasions with bounce and late movement. When he removed Chris Harris with one that cut back into the left-hander, it dashed the hopes of the Kiwis putting up a good fight at least. Both India and New Zealand had change of leadership today, from the last match they played, with Chris Cairns standing in for an injured Stephen Fleming and Sourav Ganguly taking the reins back from Dravid. (AGENCIES) |
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Sportsmaster By Sanjeev Sharma If you have strong desire to do something exceptional in your life, you can do it with dedication and sheer hardwork. The family background, the State you belong to least matters when you are talented and hell bent to achieve something different. These were the words of a footballer who started his journey from a state, backward in sports, to play at the highest level. This young graduate with a permanent job with Jammu and Kashmir Bank, took the risk of quitting the job in search of his goal amidst criticism from and within the family and relations. However, the journey, which began in the year 2000, finally reached its destination two years later in 2002 when this young man was selected in the Indian football team. The man we are talking about is none else than Arun Malhotra of Mohalla Paharian in Jammu, who has become the second person, after Abdul Majid Kakroo, from Jammu and Kashmir to play for India. Arun, who has a gold in LG Cup (international event) to his credit, recently secured a silver medal in the Ist Afro-Asian Games held in India losing to Uzbekistan in the final. The low profile gentleman who has got a low profile position in the team as a defender is a self made man. He started from Vijay Club and Young Hero of Jammu to join the Air India team at Bombay in 2001. After one year’s of stay there, he attracted the attention of country’s top football club, East Bengal of Kolkata, who enrolled Arun into its fold. Playing for East Bengal, Arun’s team won all the top national tournaments including National League, IFA Shield, Durand Cup and Governors Gold Cup. After completing a successful one-year contract with East Bengal, Arun shifted to another Bombay based club, Mahindra United. This time Arun proved lucky for Mahindra United which soon after enrolling Arun won the Federation Club that too for the first time. In a chat with EXCELSIOR on his short visit to Jammu, Arun said, "right from the beginning, I had a strong desire to play for India. But I never told anybody at any point of time about my aim because I knew that people would laugh at me. And, when I left the bank job to join Air India, my parents too were not happy." He further said that to achieve something big you have to think big and when you are thinking big you have to take big risks. "Suppose I had not left the bank, I would have been playing the same level of football. But, my urge to play at the higher level took me to the Indian team, which other bankmen could not do despite their busy calendar of activities", said Arun in a lighter vein. When asked about the two top state teams viz Jammu and Kashmir Police and J&K Bank, Arun said, "in police team most of the players are aging while the J&K Bank still has tough men like Deepak Sangral. Had Deepak went outside the state he would have definitely played for India. He is an intelligent footballer, who has the capability to take quick and right decisions at right time". A shy and polite Arun was of the opinion that no doubt Kashmiris play more football, still Jammu has good stuff. "This year alone, two players from Jammu have joined the professional clubs in Kolkata and more others can do provided they have capacity to work hard". When asked what he can do for the young and upcoming footballers of J&K after having such a good position at the national scene, Arun replied, "at least I can introduce them to the reputed clubs where they can learn and transform themselves into good players". |
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Indians have class batsmen: Hogg KOLKATA, Nov 15: Australian spinner Brad Hogg today paid tributes to the Indian batsmen’s traditional finesse against spin, saying the bowling stints against them have been a great learning experience for him. "Bowling on Indian surfaces is always tough. The Indians have class batsmen who are quite adept with the conditions and play spinners very well. I have enjoyed the trip... It has been a great learning experience for me," said Hogg. "I’m happy at the way things have gone. I’m now looking forward to playing at the Eden, where the atmosphere will be great," said Hogg. Hogg, whose first victim in test was Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly, said he was relishing at the prospect of bowling to the dashing southpaw again. "It will provide me a great opportunity of bowling to a quality batsman who tackles spinners so nicely". Hogg said that he had benefited a lot from his interactions with Indian spin legends Bishen Singh Bedi and E A S Prasanna. The Aussie spinner said he has also got valuable tips from the great Shane Warne, who had earlier said that Hogg was learning the tricks of the trade well. "In fact, myself, Warne and Stewart (McGill) always help each other. The world would have seen a lot of stewart had he not been born in the warnie era". Asked whether he liked his role of basically containing the batsmen, hogg said "basically, I bowl according to the situation. If you bowl tight from one end, chances are there that the guy from the other end will get wickets. The basic aim is to put pressure on the rival willowers". (PTI) |
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KARACHI, Nov 15: Pakistan could pull out from December’s tour of New Zealand if the Kiwis decide against travelling to Pakistan for the one-day series starting next week, an official said. "We will not play the two tests and five one-day internationals in New Zealand if they don’t keep their commitment (here)," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Tauqir Zia said. New Zealand Cricket Board (NZCB)) said it would decide by Monday if its players would go to Pakistan for the five one-day internationals after receiving an e-mail threat from unknown sources. Four New Zealand players — Craig McMillan, Scott Styris, Lou Vincent and Ian Butler — pulled out of the tour on Thursday. NZCB said it was looking into concerns about security and safety of its players in Pakistan. Zia said that pakistan had given all assurances of security and safety to new zealand. "Bangladesh and South Africa have completed successful tours of Pakistan without any problems. So we are not ready to accept any New Zealand cancellation," he said. "Pakistan cricket can’t be expected to survive like this. We can’t have teams refusing to tour Pakistan because of perceived threats to them". "We are not prepared to accept that a tour is canceled because of a unnamed e-mail threat. But we are also seriously investigating the threat through our sources." Pakistan are scheduled to visit New Zealand in December-January. New Zealand are due to arrive in Islamabad on November 20 to play one-dayers in Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and Karachi. (AGENCIES) |
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Inter-college
competitions Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 15: Government MAM College today lifted the Kabaddi trophy in the inter-college tournament the final of which was played today at University grounds, here today. In the title clash, MAM outplayed Degree College, Kathua making it a one-sided contest 52-17. Tanpreet Singh, Harpreet Singh and Dinesh Kala were played excellent game for MAM College while Gulab Din fought well from Kathua. PG enters final of Lawn Tennis JAMMU: In the ongoing inter-college Lawn Tennis tournament, Post Graduate Departments today won their semi-final played against Government SPMR College of Commerce 2-1 at University grounds, here today. In the first singles, Gaurav Arora defeated Mohit Gupta 6-4, 6-3 to take lead for PG Departments. However, Vikram Gupta of Commerce equalised the score beating Kulbushan in second singles 4-6, 6-2, 6-4. In deciding doubles, Kulbushan and Gaurav Arora defeated Vikram Gupta and Mohit Gupta in tie-breaker. Sharon Public School wins boys U-14 Badminton trophy Excelsior Sports Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Nov 15: Sharon Public School won the under-14 boys Badminton final beating AO Convent in the inter-school Badminton tournament of district Udhampur being organised by the Department of Youth Services and Sports, here today. The girls under-14 title went to Bharati Vidya Mandir, who again beat AO Convent in the final. In under-17 final, Sharon Public School emerged winner beating Happy Model HSS. Girls under-17 title went to Bharati Vidya Mandir, who beat NITL HS. HSS Reasi won the under-17 boys final beating Happy Model HSS. In under-19 girls the winners trophy was claimed by GHSS Udhampur beating Happy Model School. In Table Tennis under-14 boys, A O Convent beat National Academy to bag winners trophy. Boys under-17 final was won by AO Convent beating Happy Model HSS. In under-17 girls final, National Academy beat AO Convent. The under-19 boys TT final was won by Happy Model School who beat HSS Boys. Girls under-19 trophy was claimed by Girls HSS beating Happy Model School. Minister of State for Agriculture, Ajaz Ahmed was chief guest in the finals. He distributed prizes among the winners of various age groups in Table Tennis and Badminton. |
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Basant-Romesh pair wins
final in Babu Ram Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 15: Basant Singh Saini and Vipul Saini won the final of the Ist Babu Ram memorial badminton tournament played at Arnia in Bishnah. They beat the pair of Romesh Gupta and Dr Bharat Bhushan in straight sets 15-5, 15-10. In the final, Dushyant Sharma, DySP, R S Pura was chief guest who gave away prizes to the winners and runners-up of the tournament. Speaking on the occasion, Dushyant appreciated the organisers for holding Badminton tournament in the village village. |
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13th State Billiards, Snooker championships today Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 15: The month long 13th State Junior and Senior Billiards and Snooker Championships, organised by the J&K Billiards and Snooker Association (JKBSA), will start tomorrow at Billiards Hall, M A Stadium, here. These championships, wherein around 200 participants,including near 20 from Srinagar are taking part, will be declared open by Siddharth Sharma, president, JKBSA and member State Sports Council at 10 am. The inaugural event in this meet will be Junior Snooker of which knock-out round start tomorrow upto last eight position. Later, quarterfinalists will undergo league round to clear the semi-finalists, informed Sheetal Gandotra, organising secretary of the championships. |
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Tendulkar reaches 1000 runs in 2003 HYDERABAD, Nov 15: Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar completed 1,000 runs in one-day international cricket in the calendar year 2003 when he reached his sixth run against New Zealand at the Lal Bahadur Stadium here today. Playing in his 20th match of the year, and 320th overall, Tendulkar started on a cautious note and reached the milestone when he took a single of Kyle Mills. He became the fifth batsmen in the world this year to cross the four-figure mark. Australian one-day skipper Ricky Ponting leads the pack with 1,118 runs from 33 matches, followed by his teammates Matthew Hayden (1,018 in 31 matches), Adam Gilchrist (1,091 in 30 matches) and Pakistan’s Yousuf Youhana (1,051 in 28 matches). Tendulkar has scored a whopping 12,538 runs in 319 matches, with 35 centuries and 64 fifties, prior to this match. (UNI) Cricket tourney in memory of Rajiv Gandhi Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 15: Jammu Sports Peaceful Association in a meeting held here today decided hold Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Cricket tournament at different venues here in the end of this month. The meeting also formed a body comprising of Randhir Singh Bali, Zaffar-ullah Khan, Sunil Kumar, Latif Choudhary and Kamal Kant Choudhary for smooth conduct of the tournament. Interested teams can send their entries to Ajay Sharma at STD/PCO at Rajiv Nagar, Narwal Bala on phone Nos. 2473013, 2474175. Windies on brink of Test victory despite two collapses BULAWAYO, Nov 15: The West Indies emerged from the wreckage of 18 fallen wickets on the fourth day of the second Test against Zimbabwe today to be on the brink of winning it and the series. After collapsing to 128 all out in the second innings, the West Indies’ lead of 232 began to look impossible to reach as Zimbabwe batsmen were routed with stunning regularity. The home side reached stumps 90 for nine, and virtually certain of a fourth defeat in six Tests against the visitors. Heath Streak and Blessing Mahwire will resume on 19 and four for the token conclusion Sunday. It was a reversal of dominance by batsmen to bowlers rarely equaled in Test cricket. From totals of 481 and 377 during the first three days, day four produced little more than 200 runs from two innings. It was party day for bowlers of both sides. First Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak, Ray Price and Andy Blignaut reveled in their successes. But then the celebrations centered on the West Indies’ Wavell Hinds, Omari Banks and Corey Collymore. The day began in unusual fashion when West Indies skipper Brian Lara was stung by a bee and was then yorked by streak for only one. The West Indies was stunned. And then they were destroyed. Apart from opener Hinds, who made a cautious 28, the biggest score of the entire day, the other six top and middle order batsmen made only 43 runs between them. Banks and Mervyn Dillon put on 45 for the eighth wicket and it was believed at the time that this might prove decisive. (PTI) Roddick reaches final four with win over Coria HOUSTON, Nov 15: World number one Andy Roddick battled past feisty Argentine Guillermo Coria 6-3 6-7 6-3 to book the last semi-final berth at the ATP Masters Cup after four days of round-robin play at the eight-man event. Having clinched the year-end world number one honours earlier in the 3.65 million dollar tournament, Roddick is closing in on his seventh title of the season and winner’s purse of 1.4 million dollar. Roddick’s win yesterday set up an intriguing semi-final showdown with Roger Federer, the raw, brute power of the US Open champion against the finesse and all-round game of the Swiss Wimbledon champion. The other semi-final will also feature a Grand Slam winner, Australian Open champion Andre Agassi taking on the surprise player of the tournament, rainer Schuettler of Germany. (AGENCIES) Akgul Amanamuradova is ITF champion PUNE, Nov 15: Second seed Uzbekistan star Akgul Amanamuradova won her second tournament in a row when she outplayed sixth seed Megha Vakharia in the final of USD 10,000 NECC-ITF women’s tennis tournament at the Deccan Gymkhana courts here today. Amanmuradova put out a fighting Wakharia 7-5 6-3 in a one-hour-38-minute clash to lift the top prize and six WTA points besides raising her prize money from the two successful titles in Mumbai and Pune to USD 4,600 and earning a total of 12 points which may help her ranking to go into around 300. The diminutive 17-year-old Megha, started on a negative note with a double fault. She, however, pulled up her socks by hitting some good forehand returns down both the flanks to race to a 4-1 lead. The powerful serving Akgul came back to hold her serve in the sixth and eighth games and break Megha’s serve in the seventh game to level the score at 4-4. Akgul again broke Megha in the 11th game and held her serve in the 12th to win the first set. The second set followed the same pattern with Megha racing to a 3-0 lead. Two good breaks in the fifth and seventh game saw the tall Uzbek take lead for the first time at 4-3. Akgul held on to her serve in the eighth game for a 5-3 lead. In the 9th game both players matched each other stroke for stroke but some clever change of speed in the rallies saw Megha holding on to her service to narrow down the score to 5-4. In the tenth game the powerful Uzbek serve was no match for Megha as she hit two aces to win the match and the title. In the post match conference Agkul attributed her steep rise in WTA rankings from the middle of this year to her coach Shamil Chebotarev and the support extended to her by the Tennis Federation of Republic of Uzbekistan. Megha, who played the fifth final of the year, had to be content with four WTA points and USD 1000. Pune Mayor Deepti Choudhari, who was the chief guest at the function, assured full support to the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association for setting up a tennis centre in Pune. The results of women’s singles final: Akul Amanmuradov (Uzb) beat Megha Vakharia (Ind) 7-5, 6-3. (PTI) |
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