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

Pakistan beat India
4-2 to top Pool ‘B’

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24: Amidst mounting tension, two penalty corner conversions by Waseem Ahmed and Sohail Abbas in a space of eight minute of the last quarter did India in as Pakistan................more

30 days to go for
Afro-Asian Games

NEW DELHI, Sept 24: The countdown for the first-ever Afro-Asian Games, to be held in Hyderabad from October 24 to Novermber 1, began today with a display of glitter............more

Wright asks cricketers to
put country above self

BANGALORE, Sept 24: Coach John Wright has asked members of the Indian cricket team to put the country above self-interest as the side prepares to start a packed new season, commencing with a Test series against New Zealand at home from October eight.............more

BCCI registers deficit
of Rs 2.36 cr in 2002-03

KOLKATA, Sept 24: The Board of Control for Cricket in India has registered a deficit of Rs 2.36 crore during 2002-03 compared to a surplus of Rs 29.71 crore achieved during the previous year........more

Distt Billiards and Snooker
Championship from Oct 1

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Sept 24: Thirteenth Jammu District open junior and senior Billiards and Snooker Championship will be held at Billiards......more

Bhartiya Vidya Mandir
Kishtwar lifts
Champions Trophy

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Sept 24: Bhartiya Vidya Mandir High School, Kishtwar lifted the overall champions trophy in the three-day provincial........more

J&K Bank beats
Hyderabad 2-0, enters QFs

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Sept 24: Jammu and Kashmir Bank today sailed into the quarter-finals of the.........more

JKCA (Jammu Wing)
XI wins prize money
tourney in Punjab

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Sept 24: Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (Jammu Wing) XI won the Rs 40,000 prize money Baba Farid.......more

Pakistan beat India 4-2 to top Pool ‘B’

India now faces defending champion South Korea in the semis, while Pakistan has an easy semifinal outing against Japan.

Though India and Pakistan had qualified for the semifinals, both desperately wanted to win so as to avoid meeting South Korea in the last four stage.

In other Pool, South Korea routed Japan 6-0 to emerge leader.

In this bid Pakistan succeeded as India was left licking its wounds.

The teams were levelled 2-2 at the lemon break. For Pakistan Kashif Jawad (11th), Shakeel Abbasi (21st), Waseem Ahmed (60th) and Sohail Abbas (68th) scored a goal each. For the losers, Deepak Thakur (26th) and Sandeep Micheal (34th) reduced the margin.

It was an absorbing 104th encounter between the two arch rivals, but the man who will like to forget this match will be Devesh Chauhan.

The hero of many a battle for India, Devesh let the team down this evening with some costly errors. The first three goals were the result of defensive lapses and a lack of concentration by Chauhan did not help the Indian cause.

Pakistan were on the offensive from the very start and their forwards led by Rehan Butt looked dangerous as they tested the Indian defence several times.

The trio of skipper Nadeem Ahmed, Rehan Butt and Kashif Jawaad kept the pressure on their rivals who took time to settle down.

The Indian goal had a few narrow escapes. Once Mohd Saqlain delayed near the circle and then Rehan Butt from the right fumbled inside before being cleared by Baljit Singh Saini.

The three time champions not only generated moves from both the flanks they also effectively checked the Indian counter moves. Dhanraj Pillay led Indian forwards just could not get going as their defence came under pressure and in the 11th minute it collapsed.

Mohd Saqlain made a super solo run down the right flank and relayed the ball to Kashif Jawwad whose stunning first timer from just inside the circle beat goalkeeper Devesh Chauhan all ends up with the ball hitting the inside corner of the goal board (1-0).

Rattled by the goal, the Indians countered with Baljit Saini setting up Deepak Thakur but he just could not get past Maqsood.

Soon afterwards, Deepak Thakur created an opening for Prabhjot Singh who, however, could not get past goal keeper Ahmed Alam.

Despite these attacks the Indians were not able to dominate the game as the Pakistanis soon regained the initiative and in the 21st minute they went up 2-0.

Mohd Nadeem moved up beating a host of rival players and squared the ball to Shakeel Abbasi. Devesh Chauhan charged out but could not cover Abbasi properly as the Pakistani’s shot went into the cage (2-0).

The Indians rallied quickly and got their act together as they made a couple of incisive counter moves which fetched them dividend in the 26th minute when Gagan Ajit created an opening and Deepak Thakur put the ball behind goalkeeper Ahmed Alam after bit of hesitation to reduce the margin (1-2).

The Indians then launched several sorties into the rival defence and forced three quick penalty corners. The first penalty corner shot of Deepak Tirkey went into the goal but was disallowed by the umpire as according to him it was a rising, dangerous shot. The next two penalty corners were muffed.

However, when it looked that the Indians will go into the second half trailing by a goal, Sandeep Micheal produced the equaliser.

It was sheer case of brilliant opportunism. Micheal was standing near the goal as Dhillon moved up in tandem with Deepak Thakur and the ball came to micheal who pushed the ball home leaving Ahmed Alam bewildred. In the second session, both the teams started cautiously as their forwards probed each other’s defence.

Indians tended to be on the defensive thus allowing their rivals more space to operate. Rehan Butt was the Pakistani spearhead and was ably supported by Nadeem and Khalid.

Waseem Ahmed controlled the midfield well as he distributed the ball and fed his forwards with some intelligent passes.

The Indian defence manned by Dilip Tirkey and Kanwalpreet and supported by Baljit Saini, Vikram Pillay and Ignace Tirkey foiled all the rival attempts.

The Pakistanis were looking for the penaly corners which were not forthcoming as the Indians did not fall into their rival’s trap inside the circle.

But the Indian forwards lacked spar. Gagan Ajit Singh seemed going through the motions while Tejbir Singh kept on running without making any impact on the rival defence.

Veterans Dhillon and Saini tried to keep up the tempo but Dhanraj was not his usual self. Coach Rajinder Singh did not play Didar Singh or defender Dinesh Nayak even though the Indians had failed to convert three penalty corners in the first half.

The Pakistanis played to a plan. After building up the tempo they slowed down the game which enabled them to have more possession of the ball.

The Indians in desperation tried solo efforts, which were aborted by the defenders. The counter attacks by Pakistanis created panic in the Indian defence which after repeated assaults conceded the first penalty corner in the 60th minute.

It was a weak push and not a very hard shot by Waseem Ahmed but the ball just rolled past a confused Devesh Chauhan (3-2) much to the surprise of everybody, including the Pakistanis.

The Indians did get a chance to equalise within two mintes but Prabhjot Singh missed a virtual sitter.

Indians had another chance to equalise when they forced their fourth penalty corner, but they made a mess of it with Gagan Ajit Singh’s push not being stopped properly.

The Indian challenge was finally snuffed out when the Pakistanis forced their second penalty corner two minutes before the final hooter.

This time Sohail Abbas with his dreaded drag flick sent the ball into the net and it was all over for the Indians.

For the records this was Pakistan’s fifth successive win over India in the Asia Cup tournaments. India has yet to beat them in this competition.

The semifinals are slated for Friday with tomorrow being the rest day.

In the last edition played here, India had lost to South Korea in the semifinal.

Earlier in an inconsequental league match, host Malaysia made heavy weather of their win as they beat lowly Hong Kong 2-1. (UNI)

30 days to go for Afro-Asian Games

NEW DELHI, Sept 24: The countdown for the first-ever Afro-Asian Games, to be held in Hyderabad from October 24 to Novermber 1, began today with a display of glitter and glamour at functions held simultaneously here and Hyderabad.

The best athletes are yet to confirm their participation but the organisers thought it fit to launch the "30 days to go" for the games with a laser show that celebrated the theme of "two continents - one spirit" followed by an inspired children’s performance to the background score of "Khelo, Ye Bharat Ka Aahwaan Hai" by Shankar Mahadevan.

Games’ Mascot Sheroo was unveiled and there was film actress and former miss world Priyanka Chopra — who would compare the opening ceremony at Hyderabad — as well to issue a charming invite, "I will be there, and make sure you too are there."

Nevertheless, there was a sense of emptiness since the Indian Olympic Association was yet to reveal any big names who would take part in the event.

"African countries will name their teams after the all Africa Games at Abuja (in Nigeria) that end on Oct 18, and the Asian teams will be finalised by Oct 10. I am sure that the best athletes will come," Suresh Kalmadi, president of IOA and chairman of organising committee, said.

He also made an open plea to the media "this is the first time the games are being conducted, and in a short time. As such, there is bound to be some glitches which I hope you would appreciate."

The IOA had also invited the IOC members of both the continents as well as the executive council members of the Commonwealth Games Federation for the opening ceremony.

The CGF members would visit Delhi before flying to Jamaica, where they will vote to decide on the host city of 2010 Commonwealth Games, Kalmadi said.

Sports Minister Vikram Verma said the games presented a very good opportunity for the Indian athletes to confirm their deeds at Manchester and Busan last year at an international event before the Athen Olympics next year.

In Hyderabad, a similar spectacular show at Raj Bhavan served as a prelude to the October 24 opening ceremony.

Andhra Pradesh Governor Surjeet Singh Barnala said, "sports has always been the harbinger of peace and brought people of world together to spread the message of universal brotherhood."

The first ever inter-continental sports meets would be held in eight disciplines— athletics, football, shooting, weightlifting, swimming, hockey, tennis and boxing. (PTI)

Wright asks cricketers to put country above self

"Fans and people of India deserve a team that fights. Winning and losing is part of the game. It’s how you win and how you lose. Team must always play as a team and fight". Wright said at a function here last night.

India are set to play two Tests at home against New Zealand, followed by a Tri-nation series also involving World Champions Australia as the third team.

They will then tour Australia, where the team will play four Tests and also participate in a Triangular one-day tournament.

"We are trying to establish that. First everyone understands that the team is the important thing. Team is more important than you. Team comes first. You yourself is not important", he said after releasing a CD titled "stretching for a splendid spine" by noted Yoga exponent Dr S N Omkar, who had conducted daily Yoga classes for Indian cricket team probables during the recent camp here.

Wright, who was responding to a question posed by a member of the audience, said though the Indian team comprised players from different parts of the country and support staff from abroad, every one has a common goal.

"Our role and that of players, particularly senior players, is to make everyone understand and accept that because of the team, they are representing the country. Team is more important then individuals," he said.

" It does not matter where you come from...Your background...What to eat... What your religion is. You should put your efforts totally into the team effort," stressed Wright, a former New Zealand captain.

Physical trainer Gregory Allen King, also present on the occasion, said "Yoga has lot of benefits and it’s great to start physical training with it."

"If one practice it, injuries could be minimised."

Physiotherapist Andrew said "Yoga can contribute in matters of strength, power and agility depending on how one uses it."

Medium pacer Venkatesh Prasad recalled how he could come out of a nagging neck problem after he started practising Yoga. (PTI)

BCCI registers deficit of Rs 2.36 cr in 2002-03

KOLKATA, Sept 24: The Board of Control for Cricket in India has registered a deficit of Rs 2.36 crore during 2002-03 compared to a surplus of Rs 29.71 crore achieved during the previous year.

The deficit occurred due to a 14.23 per cent drop in income and a 35 per cent jump in expenditure during 2002-03 compared to the previous fiscal.

The total earnings of the board declined to Rs 73.15 crore in 2002-03 from an income of Rs 85.30 crore in 2001-02, mainly due to significant fall in surplus from tours and interest income, according to the annual report of the board.

Surplus from tours declined by Rs 13.91 crore while interest income fell by Rs 1.5 crore during the year. The income from sale of TV rights, however, stood at the previous year’s level of Rs 4.6 crore.

The expenditure, on the other hand, shot up by 35 per cent to Rs 75.52 crore over Rs 55.59 crore incurred in the previous year.

Barring the committee meeting expenses, all major components like expenditure on cricketing activities and coaching expenses witnessed a hefty rise along with a new component of Rs 5.8 crore ICC annual subscriptions.

Owing to the deficit incurred during the year, the balance carried forward to general fund decreased to Rs 13.43 crore from last year’s Rs 33.50 crore.

The closing balance for the year - a sum of Rs 101.96 crore closing balance of 2001-2 and Rs 13.43 crore balance carried forward to general fund in 2002-3 - stood at Rs 115.39 crore. (PTI)