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

Pakistan ride on Sohail
brace to beat India

NEW DELHI, Oct 4: Sohail Abbas equalled the world record for the highest number of goals with two brilliant strikes as Pakistan scored a fluent 3-1 victory against India to widen their lead in the eight-match hockey series here today....................more

RS Pura XI sails
into final

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 4: The R S Pura XI today reached the final of cricket tournament beating Science College XI by seven wickets in the semi-final which was played at GGM Science College hostel ground, here..........more

India has psychological
edge over Australia: Sourav

NEW DELHI, Oct 4: Despite the team’s poor show in the shorter version of the game in recent times, team India skipper Sourav Ganguly says his squad will begin the much-awaited Test series against World champions Australia with a certain..............more

Oltmans says
pressure
now on India

NEW DELHI, Oct 4: Pakistan chief coach Roelant Oltmans today said his team played its best hockey of the series so far in beating the Indians 3-1 in the opening match of the Indian leg at National Stadium here...............more

Inter-state hockey tourney
at Hiranagar from October 27

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

KATHUA, Oct 4: Kathua District Hockey Association Hiranagar, a unit of the J&K Hockey Association is holding 5th Youth Heros memorial inter-state hockey tournament at Mini Stadium, Hiranagar from October 27..................more

Inter-wing sports meet of
Auxiliary Police starts

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 4: A three-day inter-wing sports meet of Auxiliary Police started at battalion headquarters here today. Deputy Inspector General of J&K Police, Headquarters, CD and Auxiliary, Sheikh Owais Ahmed was chief guest........more

Jammu division
wins State school
hockey tourney

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 4: Jammu division clinched the state (girls under-17) school hockey tournament beating Kashmir division.............more

Sangarsh Club wins
Summer Cup

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 4: Sangarsh Cricket Club (SCC) won the Summer Cup cricket tournament beating Shri Ram Cricket Club (SRCC) by nine wicket in the which was........more

Lanka learning to win without Muralitharan: Coach.....

I am still learning, says Sohail Abbas.....

Aussies seek to deprive Waugh of final ‘what if?’.....

Doordarshan cricket telecast schedule......

Pakistan ride on Sohail brace to beat India

Pakistan, who were leading 2-1 after four matches in the first leg at home, extended their lead to 3-1 as India failed to keep up their good work.

Ace drag flicker Sohail equalled Dutchman Paul Litjens’ tally of 267 with goals from a penalty corner and a stroke to give the visitors an easy win in the eventful match before a small crowd of 7,000 at the National Stadium.

India suffered a blow when captain Dilip Tirkey was rendered doubtful for the remaining matches of the series after he was felled by a Sohail hit that struck the defender on the face in the 64th minute. Tirkey had to leave the field and is now undergoing treatment in the hospital.

India’s chief coach Gerhard Rach also had to seek first aid during the match after suffering dehydration. The German was administered sugar treatment during half-time by team doctor Joginder Singh.

On the field, it was a below par showing by the Indians as they failed to take advantage of the home conditions.

They were far from impressive for most part of the match and paid the penalty for missing numerous chances.

Pakistan took a 2-0 lead by half time, Kashif Jawaad scoring in the sixth minute and Sohail Abbas slamming home from the third penalty corner that the side earned in the 29th minute.

India raised hopes of a comeback when Sandeep Michael deflected in from a free-hit taken by Dilip Tirkey in the 50th minute.

But the hosts failed to capitalise on the chances that came their way. They perhaps missed Gagan Ajit Singh, who is out of the series due to a hamstring injury, as the forward is one such player who has the ability to score from sudden moves.

India’s golden chance for equalising was wasted when Hari Prasad failed to collect a fine cross from the left from Vikram Pillay in the first half. Soon after Hari created a similar move but no Indian was at hand to deflect it in.

"The results could have been different had we scored from those chances," assistant coach Jagbir Singh said.

"You can’t win matches by missing easy scoring opportunities. When the score was 2-1, a goal from us could have given an entire different result."

Pakistan, on the other hand, took time to settle down before stepping on the gas. They made repeated attacks on the Indian post which resulted in one field goal early on and five penalty corners and a stroke.

Some smart work by Indian goalkeeper Adrian D’souza stopped Sohail from scoring more than two goals in the match, thus making the crack penalty corner expert wait till Chandigarh, the venue of the next test, to break Litjens’ record.

"I am ready to wait. It’s very important for us to win and I am happy that I scored two goals. I don’t mind that I could not break the record today. As long as it comes against India in this series, it’s okay," Sohail said.

The win must have eased a lot of pressure on the Pakistanis, who are now sitting pretty although three more matches are still to go in the series.

A win in Chandigarh would ensure Pakistan’s continued domination of the bilateral series that was first played in 1978.

Of the eight series played by the two sides so far, Pakistan have won five and India just two with one ending in draw.

"We are happy to start the Indian leg on a winning note. Now we would be under less pressure as a win in one of the three matches is enough to see us through," Pakistan captain Waseem Ahmed said.

Pakistan could not have asked for a better start in India as their team regained its rhythm, lacking somewhat in Pakistan, and played as a unit.

They used both the flanks to perfection to unsettle the Indians and tested the opposition defence with some fine moves.

The humid conditions and partisan crowd failed to deter the visitors from taking a firm control of the match in the first half itself.

As for the Indian supporters, it turned out to be a big disappointment since they had hoped to see their favourite team triumph at the national capital which was hosting the arch-rivals for the first time in five years. (PTI)

RS Pura XI sails into final

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

Earlier, batting first after winning the toss, Science College lot all their wickets for 130 runs in 25 overs, which, in reply, R S Pura chased in 17.4 overs with seven wicket in hand.

Rakesh Singh was highest scorer from Science College with 36 (off 29 balls, 2x4, 2x6) runs while Gourav and Mudasar contributed 15 runs each. From R S Pura, Ashwani took three wickets, followed by Narinder Singh and Pranav Mahajan, who bagged two each.

Later, R S Pura made a good start with first wicket adding 52 runs to the score helping the side to chase the target for the loss of three wickets in 17.4 overs. Ashwani made unbeaten 32 (off 27 balls, 2x6, 2x4). Micky played a sensible knock of 45 runs studded with two sixes and one four. From Science College, Zaheer claimed two wickets.

Ashwani Kumar was adjudged as man of the match for his all-round performance.

The second semi-final will be played tomorrow between NCC and Rehari Cricket Club.

Meanwhile, the third leg of the qualifying tournament for Jammu Gold Cup shall start from October 12 at the front ground of the GGM Science College. Entries are invited from the interested club on or before October 8.

India has psychological edge over Australia: Sourav

"The Aussies know that we are the only side that comes hard at them. I am certain they are worried about playing us, and that will be a huge psychological advantage for us," BBC sports quoted the Indian skipper as saying.

"We are always formidable at home and they know it. I am not saying we will win the series, you can’t predict that, but it will be a very close contest," he added.

"The Aussies bring out the best in us. And I am confident the same will happen again despite a very ordinary start to the season where we played poor cricket," said Sourav.

He also said that he had never shied away from responsibilities and would lead from the front whenever required. "May be you are only as good as the team you lead, but I have never shirked away from the responsibility given to me."

"It’s my job to lead from the front. There will always be a lot said when we are not doing well but in the end what matters is that the captain and the team are willing to stand up and be counted," he said.

Tendulkar virtually out of first Test

BANGALORE: Sachin Tendulkar was today virtually ruled out of the first cricket Test against Australia starting here on Wednesday.

Tendulkar, who arrived here this morning, had a session with team physiotherapist Andrew Leipus, who declared later that the batting genius was "very doubtful".

"He is very doubtful for the first Test," Leipus told reporters.

Tendulkar was named in the 15-member Indian squad for the first two tests on Friday but cricket board secretary S K Nair said his featuring in the playing eleven would be subject to match fitness.

When captain Sourav Ganguly was asked whether he was hopeful of Tendulkar making it to the team, he said "you, me and all of us are hopeful — that’s what I can say."

India ready with spin trap for Aussies

BANGALORE: India have laid out a spin trap for the mighty Australians with old fox Anil Kumble hinting today that a three-pronged spin attack would be unleashed in the first Test here to exploit a "dry" track.

After a close look at the wicket at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Kumble declared that it would "definitely" spin as the match progressed.

"It is pretty dry — it is going to be a good wicket. Definitely it is going to spin although it depends when and how," the veteran leg spinner said.

"So I think, John Wright, Sourav and the team management are probably leaning towards three spinners."

Asked specifically if India would go into the match, starting Wednesday, with three spinners, he said, "I don’t know (but) that’s probably the intention, it all depends..."

However, Kumble did not think that the track would give India an edge over the Aussies, "it (advantage) would be even for both. Definitely, home advantage is with us. We have done very well at home and we would like to take that confidence into the game." (AGENCIES)

Oltmans says pressure now on India

Pakistan went into the match with a a 2-1 lead after the four Tests back home, and Oltmans said he was satisfied the way the team played under testing conditions to put themselves just a game away from taking the eight-match series.

"This has so far been the best showing by the boys. They played an attacking game which was evident from the fact that we created three moves in the first five minutes and scored a field goal in the sixth minute," Oltmans told reporters after the match.

Oltmans said with some "fine hockey" Pakistan ensured that India would have to play really well in the remaining matches to save the series.

"Now we are just a win away. They are in a spot but still we would be taking them in all seriousness in the remaining matches and would not relax before the series is over," Oltmans said.

He declined to comment anything on the way the Indians played in the match saying he was busy watching his players.

"It’s not my business. I was too busy watching my players. So I did not notice what mistakes the Indians made." India’s assistant coach Jagbir Singh admitted that his players would be under tremendous pressure when they play the next Test in Chandigarh.

"We should have won the match. We failed as we did not utilise the opportunities that came our way. Had we levelled the score 2-2, we could have levelled the series," Jagbir said.

"The team will be under pressure and there is no doubt about that. But I have full faith in the players and I am sure that they will overcome the disappointment and give their best in Chandigarh."

Pakistan captain Waseem Ahmed said he was happy to see his team settling into a rhythm after showing indifferent form throughout the first leg.

"There is a lot of improvement in the team. It looked completely different today as the players settled into a rhythm. Their effort and spirit was evident from the way they played today," Waseem said.

Waseem said his side was looking to win the Chandigarh tie to clinch the series.

"Winning the match in Chandigarh to clinch the series 4-1 would be the best thing for us at the moment. We would be going for that. We can’t afford to relax a bit as India is a very good team and they can bounce back hard."

After the Chandigarh match on Wednesday, the action shifts to Amritsar (Oct 8) and Hyderabad (Oct 10). (PTI)

Inter-state hockey tourney at Hiranagar from October 27

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

Kathua unit every year organises the tournament to pay homage to hockey heros of the district, Padam Dev Singh, Sehdev Singh and Shekher Sharma with an aim to inculcate the values of games and sports among the young generation.

In this tournament, teams from neighbouring state of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and J&K will be the competitors, a handout issued here today said.

It was decided in the meeting that winners will be awarded with a cash prize of Rs 5,000 while the runners-up will be presented with Rs 3,000 in addition to the trophies.

Participating teams will be provided with boarding and lodging besides one time to and fro expenses. Entry fee has been fixed at Rs 300.

The meeting besides others was attended by Rajinder Singh (Manju), Vinod Kumar, Narinder Sharma, Kuldeep Raj, Romesh Singh, Rajesh Sharma, Jawant Singh, Pawan Kumar, Sunil Dutt, Avinesh Sharma and Kranti Khajuria.

Inter-wing sports meet of Auxiliary Police starts

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

The wings of Civil Defence, Home Guards and Auxiliary Police II Bn shall complete in the events of volleyball, football, kabaddi and cross country.

Others officers who attended the function were Chirag-ud-Din, Commandant Auxiliary Police, T R Rana, DySP, P N Raina, DySP and R K Bhat, DySP, Manjit Kour, Deputy Controller Civil Defence.

Events are being managed by S M Khalotra, SSP, Divisional Commandant Homequards, Jammu commended the contingents of all three sports.

Jammu division wins State school hockey tourney

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 4: Jammu division clinched the state (girls under-17) school hockey tournament beating Kashmir division by four goals to nil in a match played for the title at K K Hakhu Stadium, here today.

Jammu division was represented by the girls of Government High School, Bakshi Nagar while their counterparts from Kashmir were from Government High School, Singh Pora.

Now, the winner team of Jammu division will represented J&K in the Nehru Cup hockey tournament starting from October 6 at New Delhi.

Earlier, leading by one goal at the end of first half, Jammu girl added three more goals to their score without giving any chance to the opponent to even reduce the margin. Renu Singh scored first two goals while Jyoti and Lovely added one goal each.

Sangarsh Club wins Summer Cup

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 4: Sangarsh Cricket Club (SCC) won the Summer Cup cricket tournament beating Shri Ram Cricket Club (SRCC) by nine wicket in the which was played at Nagrota, near here.

Batting first, SRCC set a target of 45 runs losing all their wickets in 12.1 overs, which, in reply, SCC chased losing just one wicket.

Skipper Vikas contributed highest 30 runs to SCC score with the help of three sixes while Dimple added 16 runs.

Ajay Tiger of SCC was declared man of the match for taking five wickets. Tournament was organised by Nagrota Cricket Club.

Lanka learning to win without Muralitharan: Coach

KARACHI (Pakistan), Oct 4: Sri Lanka are learning to win without Muttiah Muralitharan, according to coach John Dyson.

"There is no doubt he is a world-class bowler," Dyson told a news conference in Karachi today before his side took part in a one-day triangular event followed by a test series against Pakistan.

"But we have played without him in the last few months and we beat South Africa comprehensively at home."

"I think we have found some good all round players in the last few months to add value to the side."

Sri Lanka, accused in the past of being a one-man team, beat the South Africans 1-0 in a two-Test series in August before whitewashing them 5-0 in a one-day series.

Muralitharan, the world’s leading Test wicket-taker, has not played since the first Test against South Africa after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder.

Sri Lanka play their first match in a triangular one-day tournament against Pakistan in Karachi on Wednesday. The hosts won the opening two games of the event against Zimbabwe in Multan and Peshawar.

Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu said Pakistan were the favourites for both the one-day event and the Test series after improving in the last few months under new coach Bob Woolmer.

"Beating them at home is going to be a challenge in the one-dayers and the two Tests. But we will give it our best shot and we have a good all round side for the one-dayers and Tests. We come prepared," he said.

Sri Lanka lost to england in the Champions Trophy last month but had won 18 out of 22 one-day matches in the previous 12 months, while drawing four and winning four Test matches.

"We had one bad day in england and were out of the tournament. We can’t afford to have that bad day on this tour," Dyson added.

Sri Lanka squad:

Marvan Atapattu (capt), Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Saman Jayantha, Avishka Gunawardene, Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Upul Chandana, Nuwan Zoysa, Dilhara Fernando, Thilina Kandamby, Rangana Herath, Kaushal Lokuarachchi. (AGENCIES)

I am still learning, says Sohail Abbas

NEW DELHI, Oct 4: He may have equalled Paul Litjens as the leading goal scorer in hockey, but Sohail Abbas is not ready to accept that he is in the same league as the Dutch penalty corner expert.

Sohail scored two goals in Pakistan’s 3-1 win over India here today to take his tally to 267 and with three more matches to go in the series, the Pakistani is all set to surge ahead.

"It’s a big honour to reach the mark. It’s a great feeling to equal Litjens. But I am still learning and when comparison with Litjens comes, I still consider myself a kid," Sohail told reporters after the match.

The stage was perfect, so was the opposition and the venue. And the ace drag-flicker said he could not have asked for anything more to equal the record.

"It’s great to equal Litjens in the friendship series against India and in India. It’s nice to achieve the feat over here where the crowd was just fantastic."

"I enjoyed every bit of the match, although it was a bit humid and we took some time to settle down," the 29-year-old player said.

Sohail, who has the distinction of scoring the highest number of goals in a calender year with 60 strikes, is also the fastest player to reach both 100 and 200 goals.

But more than setting any target for himself, Sohail, who made his international debut in 1998, is happy playing for Pakistan. (PTI)

Aussies seek to deprive Waugh of final ‘what if?’

LONDON, Oct 4: Even men of the stature of Steve Waugh should be permitted regrets, just small ones, minor "what ifs?" to chew over during those quieter moments.

Even men like Waugh surely need some counterweight to the boredom that accompanies unmitigated success.

When the former Australia captain retired at the start of the year, he did so with a fraying kitbag stuffed full with honours and accolades.

No man had ever played more tests. No man had ever led a side to more consecutive victories. Only one man had scored more Test runs and two had made more centuries.

If there was one "what if", then it was India.

Victory in India.

"The ultimate goal", he had called it a couple of years before, after a routine eighth successive Ashes win. But his legs gave out 12 months too soon and he hobbled away from the game with the score unsettled.

It will be up to other men to settle it for him over the next five weeks, in arguably the most eagerly anticipated contest in cricket’s calendar.

Once, the Ashes series held pride of place, but Australian dominance has devalued its currency. In the 1970s and 80s, West Indies versus A.N.Other team was the entry ticket to cherish.

Today, however, it’s Australia versus India and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Their titanic clash in 2001, followed by another fine series in 2003/4, saw to that.

Waugh led his world champions confidently to the subcontinent three years ago and strolled to a 10-wicket victory in Bombay to record an unprecedented 16th Test win in a row.

A 17th — and Australia’s first series win in India since 1969/70 — beckoned soon after in Calcutta, when the home side, forced to follow on, were reduced to 232 for four, still 42 runs in the red.

Waugh, who made a first-innings century, must have been yawning with the ease of it all as he prepared to become the first Australian captain since Bill Lawry in 1969/70 to triumph in India.

What transpired has since been carved deep into sporting history. Vangipurappu Laxman, an unreliable, flash-in-the-pan sort of fellow, was joined by Rahul Dravid and the pair refused to be parted for another 376 runs.

Laxman made an extraordinary 281, 176 of them in boundaries, to Dravid’s 180, Harbhajan Singh added six wickets to the seven he took in the first innings and India had won by a mind-boggling 171 runs to become only the third side to win a Test after following on.

Calcutta was followed by another "I was there" sort of match in Madras, Harbhajan taking another 15 wickets, and Waugh’s troops, for many the greatest side ever assembled, returned home shell-shocked.

India have realistic hopes of repeating the feat against the world champions this time.

Waugh is not there, Glenn McGrath is slowing, Shane Warne ageing and Ricky Ponting cursing a broken thumb.

Warne, in any case, has never worried the fleet-footed Indians unduly. Four years ago he took 10 wickets at more than 50 runs apiece. Missing home and his baked beans, he had done no better when visiting in 1997/8.

Ponting, one of the world’s premier batsmen and who may recover from his injury for the second half of the series, also has something to prove on India’s slow, dusty tracks.

He may have averaged more than 100 against them on home turf during the 2003/4 series, with two big double centuries, but his last visit to India was less conclusive, offering scores of 0, 6, 0, 0 and 11. Each time he fell to Harbhajan.

For most of the cricketing world, jaded by long years of Australian dominance, a second consecutive Indian home victory — and perhaps another double century for Dravid after four in his last 15 matches — would be applauded with gusto.

Waugh, however, would find solace in the opposite result.

"I had some good success against India but I think you can’t win everything and you can’t achieve everything you want to do," he said.

"Some things are left for others to achieve."

"And if they do win, I’ll feel as I have played my part in that success anyway." (AGENCIES)

Doordarshan cricket telecast schedule

NEW DELHI, Oct 4: Doordarshan will telecast live the India-Australia, India-South Africa Test series and the India-Pakistan BCCI platinum jubilee match on the national network on DD1 and DD-Sports channels.

Schedule: India vs Australia:

First Test at Bangalore (Oct 6-10): from 09.00 a.m. To 04.45 p.m.

Second Test at Chennai (Oct 14-18): from 09.00 a.m. To 04.45 p.m.

Third Test at Nagpur (Oct 26-30) : from 09.00 a.m. To 04.45 p.m.

Fourth Test at Mumbai (Nov 3-7) : from 09.00 a.m. To 04.45 p.m.

India vs South Africa:

First Test at Kanpur (Nov 20-24) : from 09.00 a.m. To 04.45 p.m.

Second Test at Kolkata (Nov 28-Dec 2): from 09.00 a.m. To 04.45 p.m. (UNI)