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| Championships Trophy India off to a disastrous start LAHORE, Dec 4: India got off to a worst possible start, crashing 0-4 against Spain in their opening match of the Champions Trophy hockey tournament here today...............more ‘Gazza’
reveals more DURBAN, Dec 4: Startling revelations on former South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje’s "greed for money" and how he tried to involve the whole team in match fixing has been brought out in a book written by former opening batsman Gary Kirsten................more Advani
crashes out NEW DELHI, Dec 4: Defending champion Pankaj Advani crashed out of the IBSF World snooker championship in Veldhovan, Holland losing to former champion Steve Mifsud of Australia in the quarterfinal....................more Some
cricketers are NEW DELHI, Dec 4: Opining that swing bowler Irfan Pathan is the fittest member of the Indian cricket squad, team physiotherapist Andrew Leipus said some members are not eager to work on their fitness...................more |
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Jammu, Kathua share overall trophies Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 4: Districts of Jammu and Kathua clinched the overall trophies after both topped the medals tally in three different age groups of under-19, under-17 and under-14 year girls inter-district divisional level competitions......more Excelsior Sports Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Dec 4: Roshini Cricket Academy (RCA) XI registered a two wicket win over Yuva Cricket Club (YCC) in the 4th qualifying round cricket tournament being played at Sports Stadium, here today...............more Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 4: Vishal Cricket Club (VCC) defeated Shastri Cricket Club (SCC) by five runs to enter the final of 2nd qualifying round cricket tournament at GGM Science College, here today...............more Seeded
cueists’ easy Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 4: Seeded cueists today had easy sailing into the third round of pre-quarterfinals of senior snooker in the ongoing 14th state billiards and snooker championships being organised by J&K Billiards and Snooker Association......more |
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aims to play Tests for another three years...... Don’t write the team off as yet, pleads Tirkey...... |
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Championships Trophy LAHORE, Dec 4: India got off to a worst possible start, crashing 0-4 against Spain in their opening match of the Champions Trophy hockey tournament here today. Intense preparations for this elite six-nation event came a cropper as the hapless Indians were pounded by the Olympic semifinalists who scored through Alex Fabregas (42nd), Eduard Arbos (60th), Santiago Freixa (63rd) and Juan Escarre (65th). In fact, India hardly put up a fight in the contest which saw the European team play cautiously in the first half only to step on the gas after the half time break. Spain opened up after the initial 35 minutes during which they hardly took any risk. Both the teams were on even terms in the first half but as soon as the game resumed after the break, the Spaniards made their intentions clear. India, on the other hand, hardly displayed any aggression and failed to repeat the performance that they had put up against spain while drawing the recent two-match Test series at home. Fabregas drew first blood for the Spaniards by smartly deflecting in a fine cross from the left by Francesco Fabregas. There was no looking back for the Spanish who intensified the pressure under which the Indian defence crackled. To compound India’s miseries, Sandeep Singh was temporarily ejected from the ground for pulling down Arbos from behind in the 47th minute as the team plunged into desperation to level the score. But the Indians had no answer to the Spanish onslaught in the last quarter of the game as they conceded three more goals in a span of just four minutes. Arbos scored an opportunistic goal after receiving a free ball inside the circle from the half line before Freixa scored from a penalty stroke to add to the tally three minutes later. Stunned by the Spanish blizzard, India tried to fight back but with their opposition defence holding ground, they failed to get a breakthrough. Captain Escarre drove the last nail in India’s coffin by scoring a minute later to seal the fate of the match. India, who made it to this prestigious event by default after Australia pulled out on security grounds, play their next match against defending champions the Netherlands tomorrow. It was a disappointing start to India’s campaign in the elite tournament as they had come to the tournament to redeem some pride which was badly dented after the seventh place finish in the Olympics. India, which seems to the be the crowd’s favourite after hosts Pakistan, got good support from the stands. Earlier, defending champions Holland started their title defence in style trouncing New Zealand 5-2 in the tournament lung opener. Holland, seeking to win their third Champions Trophy title in a row, romped home with the comprehensive win riding on Taeke Taekema’s double strike and a goal each by Ronald Brouwer, Rob Reckers and Karel Claver. After a lull for 26 minutes, Holland burst onto the lead with Taekama converting from a penalty corner. But the Dutch joy was short-lived as New Zealand equalized just three minutes later through Bevan Hari. Brouwer struck in the 31st minute to give put his side back in advantageous position as the team went to the half time with a 2-1 lead. Bevan came to New Zealand’s rescue with another goal in the 42nd minute to restore parity, Holland surged ahead with reckers goal in the 44th minute. Goals by Taekema and Claver in the 50th and 60th minute of the match ensured that the Dutch collected full points from the match. (PTI) |
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‘Gazza’ reveals more on Cronje’s perfect fix DURBAN, Dec 4: Startling revelations on former South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje’s "greed for money" and how he tried to involve the whole team in match fixing has been brought out in a book written by former opening batsman Gary Kirsten. In his autobiography "Gazza", co-authored by South Africa-based journalist Neil Manthorp, Kirsten says he was tipped off about the enormity of the scandal during the team’s cricket tour of Dubai in 1999. Kirsten says in the book — excerpted by Brisbane-based ‘Courier Mail’ — that it was a simple conversation about a burger with Cronje that made him realise that "something had gone very wrong" with the game. It was in 1996-97 that he first came across Cronje’s gambling issues. He reveals how Cronje tried to orchestrate cricket’s "perfect fix" in a one-day match against India in Mumbai in 1996-97 by calling the full squad to his room — without coach Bob Woolmer — to discuss an offer from a local bookmaker. "‘We have been offered a lot of money to throw a game’, he said. I swear you could have heard a pin drop at that moment," Kirsten wrote. "Nobody moved a muscle. In retrospect I think I had gone into instant shock. Even if I had wanted to speak I would have been unable to. Hansie carried on talking slowly but clearly." Kirsten listened intently but only because he was fascinated with what Cronje was saying and had no intention to carry out the instructions. "I knew within a few seconds I could not be involved ... He had been asked to create the perfect fix. He spelt out the details of how the match had to pan out, with a spread of scores we needed to be within every five overs. "I started sweating. It was a bad dream. I kept thinking, `how do batsmen get out deliberately?’ it was ridiculous. After eight overs we needed to be one wicket down - me - and we needed to have under 25 runs on the board." To Kirsten, the very idea of getting out deliberately sounded absurd. "He mentioned a couple of times it would be worth 60 or 70 thousand Rand [about $15,000] each." Kirsten also says that he increasingly became uncomfortable with the repeated references to match-fixing that Cronje kept making. "There was just a bit too much banter about the subject around the team. The captain of six years’ standing was talking about match-fixing a lot and joking to his players about being involved. It wasn’t really possible to know whether he was being serious or not." In retrospect, Kirsten is clear that Cronje was handing out invitations all the time "in the form of silly little comments like, `if you make nought today someone will get very rich.’" (PTI) |
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Advani crashes out of world snooker championship NEW DELHI, Dec 4: Defending champion Pankaj Advani crashed out of the IBSF World snooker championship in Veldhovan, Holland losing to former champion Steve Mifsud of Australia in the quarterfinal. Advani lost 3/6 in the best of 11 frames knock-out match. The 19-year-old Advani was off to a great start running away with the first two frames 99-5, 87-43 but the Aussie, who won the title in Egypt in 2002, came back in style winning six of the remaining seven frames 77-1, 88-37, 73-38, 94-0, 1-118, 62-51, 79-40, according to information received here today. Debutant Anuja Thakur, the lone Indian woman to reach the semifinal, also went out losing to Reanne Evans of England 0-4. Other Indians Asian champion Ashok Kumar and national champion Manan Chandra had already made their exit while Asian Games gold medallist Rafath Habib failed to even make it to the knock-out stage. Former World billiards champion Geet Sethi, who reached the quarterfinals in the senior category failed to advance further while B V S Murthy, after a good run in the senior’s league, went out in the pre-quarterfinal. In the women’s section, Meenal Thakur and Revanna Uma Devi failed to progress beyond the preliminary round. (PTI) |
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Some cricketers are reluctant to work on fitness: Leipus NEW DELHI, Dec 4: Opining that swing bowler Irfan Pathan is the fittest member of the Indian cricket squad, team physiotherapist Andrew Leipus said some members are not eager to work on their fitness. Talking about Irfan, Leipus said,"he is the overall fittest member in the side. In fact, sometimes he overdoes things and me or (trainer) Gregory King have to hold him back." "Kaifi (Mohammed Kaif) comes a close second and is equally energetic about fitness," he said. "He, however, is the quickest off the mark, always." Leipus, however, was careful not to name anyone when asked who was the laggard in the side when it came to fitness. However, hinting that he was not satisfied with some teammembers, Leipus said, "while Irfan is over enthusiastic, there are guys who need to be pushed to work on their fitness." Clarifying his remark, Leipus said,’’everybody has some strength and weaknesses when it comes to fitness. Nobody is an exception and everyone needs to work on those areas. I tried to introduce a scientific health regime when I took over in 1999 and had immense support from Adrian Le Roux and Gregory King that made it possible,’’ he said. Leipus also admitted that it was difficult to keep the Indian cricketers away from sweets and desserts. Revealing what goes inside the dressing room, the Australian said said, "of course the Indian players go ga ga over sweets and desserts. But we have to ensure that they don’t succumb to the lure at the cost of their fitness. We try to make sure they don’t get those things and instead keep fresh fruits around." (UNI) |
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Jammu, Kathua share overall trophies Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 4: Districts of Jammu and Kathua clinched the overall trophies after both topped the medals tally in three different age groups of under-19, under-17 and under-14 year girls inter-district divisional level competitions which were organised by the Department of Youth Services and Sports at University ground, here. Jammu girls were declared overall winners in under-19 and under-17 year groups while overall trophy for under-14 year category went to Kathua girls. Prizes to the winners of two-day competitions were given away by the Divisional Youth Services and Sports Officer, Madan Lal who was chief guest of the valedictory function. Others who were present alongside Divisional Officer included Mohd-din (Doda), Geeta Sharma, Jai Raj (Poonch), Mangat Ram Sharma (Rajouri), all district officers. The results Under-14: 200 mts: Seema Rani, Kathua, Ist; Shivani Sagotra, Jammu, 2nd and Kavita Sharma, Poonch, third. 400 mts: Rekha Devi, Kathua, Ist; Shagufta, Poonch, 2nd and Rekha Devi, Jammu, third. Discuss: Kanta Devi, Jammu, Ist; Neeru Devi, Kathua, 2nd and Manjoo Kumari, Rajouri, third. 100 mts: Manpreet Kour, Jammu, Ist; Neeru Devi, Kathua, 2nd and Rita Devi, Doda, third. Under-17: 200 mts: Kulwanti Kumari, Rajouri, Ist; Anuradha, Kathua, 2nd and Davinder Kour, Poonch, third. Discus: Samita Rana, Doda, Ist; Sonu Devi, Jammu, 2nd and Preeti, Kathua, third. Long Jump: Monika Chalotra, Jammu, Ist; Anuradha, Kathua, 2nd and Mamta Sharma, Jammu, third. 100 mts: Monika Chalotra, Jammu, Ist; Sunita Devi, Jammu, 2nd and Sheetal Shan, Doda, third. 400 mts: Kulwanti Kumari, Rajouri, Ist; Shaida Bee, Poonch, 2nd and Nisha Devi, Rajouri, third. 800 mts: Shamim Akhtar, Poonch, Ist; Sonu Devi, Kathua, 2nd and Nahiem Akhtar, Poonch, third. Triple Jump: Radha Manhas, Udhampur, Ist; Monika, Jammu, 2nd and Mamta Sharma, Jammu, third. Under-19: Long Jump: Anjali Gupta, Ist, Doda, Ist; Asha Rani, Rajouri, 2nd and Manju Sharma, Rajouri, third. 100 mts: Vandhana Devi, Jammu, Ist; Nazia Kousar, Poonch, 2nd and Anita Devi, Kathua, third. 3000 mts: Heena Khan, Jammu, Ist; Shabnam, Kathua, 2nd and Asha Rani, Udhampur, third. 400 mts: Vandhana Devi, Jammu, Ist; Asha Devi, Rajouri, 2nd and Asha Rani, Udhampur, third. 1500 mts: Heena Khan, Jammu, Ist; Darshana Devi, Jammu, 2nd and Shabnam, Kathua, third. |
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Excelsior Sports Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Dec 4: Roshini Cricket Academy (RCA) XI registered a two wicket win over Yuva Cricket Club (YCC) in the 4th qualifying round cricket tournament being played at Sports Stadium, here today. Batting first after winning the toss, YCC made a bad start losing their first two wickets with just two runs on the scoreboard. However, a responsible innings played by Siddhant and Ranbir, who for the third wicket partnership added 85 runs to the score. Soon after the dismissal of duo in a span of four runs, the remaining wickets fell like nine pins thus making an end to the innings at 107 in 18.2 overs of the 25 overs match. Ranbir made 20 ball 34 runs studded with five boundaries while Siddhant contributed 30 including two fours. From RCA, Munish emerged as most successful bowler with five wickets for 11 runs while Deepak took two. It was not that easy for the RCA XI to reach the required target and they too underwent difficult moments and could attain their goal of 108 only after losing their eight wickets in 19.1 overs. Deepak and Kulwant were only batsmen who reached the double figure with 29 and 12 runs in their respective accounts. Risheb took four wickets for YCC. Inder Batra bagged two, followed by Ravi and Sahil one each. Munish was adjudged man of the match for his five-wicket haul. Nipun and Sourav were umpires in today’s match while Puneet Khajuria was scorer. Next match: Lakshmi Cricket Club to take on Star Cricket Club. |
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Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 4: Vishal Cricket Club (VCC) defeated Shastri Cricket Club (SCC) by five runs to enter the final of 2nd qualifying round cricket tournament at GGM Science College, here today. Batting first, VCC made 155 runs for the loss of nine wickets in 30 overs, which, in reply, SCC could not chase and completed their allotted 30 overs at a score of 150 for nine. Ravi was top scorer from VCC with unbeaten 38 while Rohit Mattoo and Shamsher contributed 25 and 12 runs respectively. From SCC, Ashok Singh and Ashish shared two wickets each while Sanjay, Raman Dutta and Sumit Mahajan shared one each. In reply, SCC could make only 150 runs in reply to a target of 156 playing complete 30 overs. Ashok was highest scorer with 42 runs including one six and three fours. Anshuman made 37 and Raman Dutta 19. Mukesh was most successful bowler from VCC with four for 29 in six overs. He was later adjudged as man of the match. It may be recalled that the this semi-final was part of the 2nd qualifying round tournament played at Science College hostel ground and was postponed due to certain reasons by the organisers, Roshini Cricket Academy. |
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Seeded cueists’ easy sailing to pre-quarters Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 4: Seeded cueists today had easy sailing into the third round of pre-quarterfinals of senior snooker in the ongoing 14th state billiards and snooker championships being organised by J&K Billiards and Snooker Association at Billiards Hall, M A Stadium, here. Both Kamal Rohmetra and Jaideep Manocha won their respective matches in straight frames. Boy from valley, Nadeem Malik, Vishal Abrol, Sumesh Turki, Neeraj Gupta and Ishuk Chowdhary had to play full five frames before clearing their way for the last 16 position. Kamal defeated Rakesh Gupta convincingly and Jaideep trounced Ankush Langer without facing much of difficulty. Today’s matches were officiated by Surjeet Singh, Rakesh Sharma and Shanker Dass, all markers. The detailed results: Nadeem Malik bt Jyoti Anand 63-23, 31-62, 37-42, 52-30, 66-56; Sunny Arora got walkover Rashu Gupta; Jaideep Manocha bt Ankush Langer 51-24, 58-9, 69-26; Gurvinder bt Vishal Kohli 77-24, 59-31, 63-28; Ishan Sharma bt Arjun 47-17, 60-20, 56-29; Vishal Abrol bt Sameer Abbas 52-33, 54-13, 31-51, 33-61, 62-42; Sumesh Turki bt Umar Hamyoon 67-34, 73-27, 60-21; Ishan Chowdhary bt Viraj Malhotra 51-42, 69-19, 48-29; Ishuk Chowdhary bt Ankush Gupta 75-39, 35-46, 58-12, 52-53, 50-29; Kamal Rohmetra bt Rakesh Gupta 52-17, 63-35, 56-15; Neeraj Gupta bt Hasmeet Wani 30-42, 51-30, 38-22, 19-52, 57-42. Warne aims to play Tests for another three years MELBOURNE, Dec 4: Shane Warne today ruled out a return to one-day internationals, saying he hoped the decision would prolong his Test career for another three years. "If people didn’t believe me for the last 18 months or two years that I’ve retired, hopefully they do now," Warne told reporters. "Of course I’d love to keep playing one-day cricket," the 35-year-old Australia leg spinner added. "But I’m smart enough to realise if I continue to play both forms of the game, then I don’t think I can play for another three years of test cricket, as I’d like to do." Warne, who holds the world record for Test wickets of 552 just ahead of Sri Lankan rival Muttiah Muralitharan, announced on the eve of the 2003 World Cup that he would quit one-dayers after the tournament. He missed the event, however, for failing a drugs Test and was banned for 12 months up to February 2004. One of Wisden’s five cricketers of the 20th century, Warne formalised his departure from one-day international cricket today by presenting batsman Michael Clarke with his number 23 one-day shirt. "It’s a tradition that hasn’t really happened in cricket and I wanted to be the first guy," Warne said. "It’s pretty simple. I love the way he plays the game. He entertains the crowd." "There’s nothing he has to live up to. I don’t believe in that stuff. It’s just a tradition I wanted to start." Clarke made a century on his Test debut in India earlier this year and another in his first Test on Australian soil. He said he was honoured by the gesture. World champions Australia host New Zealand for a three-match one-day series starting in Melbourne tomorrow, followed by a three-Test series against Pakistan. Warne is Australia’s leading one-day wicket-taker with 291 wickets at an average of 25.82 in 193 matches. He is eighth on the all-time list. (AGENCIES) Don’t write the team off as yet, pleads Tirkey LAHORE, Dec 4: Indian captain Dilip Tirkey promised to fight back into contention in the Champions Trophy hockey tournament after a 0-4 morale-shattering loss against Spain in their opening tie here today. Spain pumped in all the goals in the second half to win the match quite comprehensively at the National Stadium, but Tirkey said it was too early to write his team off. "This is a young team which has shown its skill in the Test series against Pakistan and Spain. Yes, we have lost the first match, but it would be too early to dismiss us. We have still several matches to go and I am sure my boys will fight back," Tirkey told reporters after the match. Tirkey said his side lost its lung opener because it goofed up the chances that came its way and also committed defensive blunders. "Missing chances has been an old problem with us. We paid the price for the lapses," he said. India’s chief coach Gerhard Rach agreed with the captain when he said that India should have scored in the first half itself which could have put some pressure on the Spaniards. "We should have scored in the first half. But they managed to hold us. Spain is such a side that it plays its best in the second half and they did exactly the same here," Rach said. The coach, however, was not ready to blame the umpires who disallowed an Indian goal when Spain was leading 2-0 and then awarded a penalty stroke to the Europeans which was converted by Santiago Freixa. "Had our goal been allowed, the scoreline would have been 2-1. Or it could have been different. But we are not going to blame the umpire as we conceded as many as four goals." In an obvious reference to Dilip Tirkey, Rach said even the "best defender" in the side had an ordinary outing today. Rach declined to comment when asked whether India were missing the services of prolific scorer Gagan Ajit Singh in this elite six-nation tournament. Spanish coach Maurits Hendriks said he could not have asked for a better start to the competition. "We were not playing in a rhythm in the first half but found our feet on the turf after the break. A couple of young players, who are playing a major tournament for the first time, showed fine skills and I am quite happy about their performance." Spanish captain Juan Escarre said "we are more confident after the win. But we have a long way to go as the teams in fray are quite strong". (PTI) Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 4: Regional Research Laboratory (RRL) School today organised sports meet wherein students in different age groups participated in field and track events besides other entertaining competitions at the school premises, here. Sports Minister, Yogesh Sawhney was chief guest who later distributed prizes among first three positions holders. Director, RRL, Dr Qazi also spoke. Students also participated in umbrella drill, dumble drill, yoga, aerobics, marshal arts, gymnastics and folk dance. Athletics results: Long Jump: Rajat, Ist; Mayank, 2nd and Shivam, third. High Jump: Rajat, Ist; Raman, 2nd and Nishu, third. 200 mts race: Vijayant Joshi, Ist; Varun, 2nd and Dheeraj, third. 200 mts girls race: Mitali, Ist; Bhanu Priya, 2nd and Ekta, third. 100 mts race: Rettesh, Ist; Rahul, 2nd and Hetan, third. 100 mts girls race: Monika, Ist; Ankansha, 2nd and Rishi, third. Relay Race: Gandhi House, Ist. Others: Hurdling: Dhruv, Ist; Surjit, 2nd and Chirag, third. Banana race: Anshul, Ist; Rajnandni, 2nd and Khushi, third. Frog Race: Jaskaran, Ist; Lovneet, 2nd and Rashiv, third. Balloon race: Ankita, Ist; Roopam, 2nd and Vanshita, third. Coventry Scholars Cup final tomorrow Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 4: Ferrari XI (Chinore) and Vinashkari XI (Chib Mohalla) have reached the final of Coventry Scholars Cup cricket tournament and will be face to face on December 6 at Chinore Chib Mohalla, Bantalab, near here. The limited overs final shall start at 1 pm, followed by the prize distribution function, said Sham Singh Chib. This tournament is being sponsored by Coventry Scholars and Refreshing Traders. A big crowd local cricket lovers is expected in the final. |
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