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

Sachin to undergo
fitness test on Sunday

SYDNEY, Oct 19: Struggling with a tennis elbow, batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar will undergo a fitness test on Sunday to ascertain whether he can play in India’s third Test against the visiting Australia side at Nagpur from October 26..............more

Yuvraj, Mongia,
Harbhajan among
Punjab Ranji probables

CHANDIGARH, Oct 19: The Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) today selected 22 players for a coaching camp in preparation for Punjab’s opening elite group Ranji Trophy match against Uttar Pradesh to be played at the PCA Stadium from November seven to ten............more

Pakistan in disarray,
Shoaib throws pranks

LAHORE, Oct 19: Despite coach Bob Woolmer trying to paint a rosy picture, Pakistan cricket team is in complete disarray with stumper Moin Khan leaving for home and speedster Shoaib Akhtar throwing tantrums before the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.........more

Ponting likely to
play in fourth Test

SYDNEY, Oct 19: Australian captain Ricky Ponting is likely to play in the fourth cricket Test against India starting on November 3 in Mumbai after medical tests confirmed that his fractured thumb had improved significantly. Ponting, who broke his thumb during the ICC Champions Trophy last month, was likely to join the squad in India this weekend before the third.........more

Manjit, Vandana share two
gold each in U-14 athletics

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

KATHUA, Oct 19: Manjit Kumar of Middle School Jarai and Vandana Devi of Middle School Katli bagged two gold each in under-14 age group in the inter-school district level competitions underway at sports stadium, here today.............more

State open sport climbing
meet from October 30

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 19: Moutaineering Association of Jammu and Kashmir in collaboration with MNDP School, R S Pura is organising 3rd J&K State open sport climbing championship from October 30 at the Happy Climbing wall at the school premises..........more

Army School Ratnuchak
organises educational
tour for students

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 19: To apprise the younger generation about rich Indian culture and to imbibe patriotism among students, Army School, Ratnuchak organised an education tour for two days........more

Sumesh, Kuldeep again
face to face in snooker final

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 19: Defending champion, Sumesh Turki and last year’s runner-up, Kuldeep Sharma have once again made it into the final of junior snooker.....more

Karnataka, Punjab score big on way to QFs......

Sania on her way to play in Australian Open.....

Chennai Test high on my favourites list.....
By Ian Healy

Gutsy Ashraful spares Bangladesh’s blushes......

Sachin to undergo fitness test on Sunday

Earlier yesterday, Sachin was named in the 15-member squad picked for the penultimate Test of the series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Though he was not playing in the first two Test matches in Bangalore and Chennai, Sachin was greeted whenever he entered the field with batting gloves or drinks for his teammates and he seemed enjoying the 12th man’s duties.

According to local media reports, Sachin’s fitness test on October 24 would decide whether he can enter the field as part of the playing xi.

"It is very, very frustrating to wait on the sidelines. I am tired of waiting," Sachin rued earlier this week.

"I really want to play. You would not know how sad I feel sitting in the dressing-room."

Meanwhile, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) appointed Dr Anant Joshi said,"I checked Sachin. He has improved, so much so ... It is up to him to decide his return. It is a question of him feeling comfortable about playing again."

Physiotherapist Andrew Luipus, in a statement, said,"with this type of injury, it is not easy to predict when he will be functional enough to return to cricket."

"Contrary to reports he is definitely not out of the series. Most tendon injuries do not heal very well and often the initial attempt to return to sport is met with recurrence. We do not expect Sachin to be feeling 100 per cent fit in the near future but rather, we expect him to fulfil two criteria before playing for India again.

"He must be comfortable, in that his symptoms should be stiffness and not pain, and he must have full function of the elbow or wrist, meaning that he is not limited in his shot selection."

Sachin has been spotted practising indoors with a lightweight bat and tennis balls.

Tendulkar practices in the morning

MUMBAI: Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar practiced for about two hours in the morning today giving boost to hopes that he may be fit on time for the third cricket test against Australia starting at Nagpur on October 26.

Tendulkar, who missed the first two Tests due to an elbow injury, came to the MIG ground in sub-urban Bandra near his residence at about 0600 hrs and had some batting practice.

Though the ace batsman declined to comment anything, sources close to him said "he is doing quite well."

Tendulkar was yesterday named in the 15-member squad for the third Test and cricket board secretary S K Nair said the player could make it to the side for the Nagpur match as he was well on the road to recovery.

Captain Sourav Ganguly was also optimistic about Tendulkar’s chances of taking the field in the Nagpur match. (PTI)

Yuvraj, Mongia, Harbhajan among Punjab Ranji probables

The probables were identified by the PCA selection committee, consisting of former Pakistan captain and manager-cum-coach of Punjab Ranji team Intikhab Alam, Chaman Lal Malhotra (chairman), Desh Prem Azad and Bhupinder Singh and other selectors.

Among the probables are star Indian players Dinesh Mongia, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh and a number of talented junior internationals, including Ravneet Rickey, VRV Singh, Amit Uniyal and Gaurav Gupta.

Announcing the probables, PCA secretary M P Pandove said that the selected probables would undergo a coaching camp-cum-practice from October 21 under the supervision of Intikhab Alam at the PCA stadium.

Those invited to the camp are: Ravneet Ricky, Munish Sharma, Binwant Singh, Dinesh Mongia, Gaurav Gupta, Reetinder Singh Sodhi, Pankaj Dharmani, Yuvraj Singh, Ankur Kakar, Gagandeep Singh, VRV Singh, Vineet Sharma, Amit Uniyal, Love Ablish, Navdeep Singh, Vipul Sharma, Harbhajan Singh, Rajesh Sharma, Sandeep Sawal, Ashish Sehgal, Sarabjeet Ladha and Chandan Madaan.

Punjab’s elite group matches in Punjab:

Punjab vs UPCA 7-10 Nov.,2004 PCA Stadium, Mohali

Punjab vs Assam 16-19 Nov.,2004 Gandhi Grounds, Amritsar

Punjab vs Baroda 25-28 Nov.,2004 Burlton Park, Jalandhar

Punjab vs Maharashtra 4-7 December,2004 PCA Stadium, Mohali. (UNI)

Pakistan in disarray, Shoaib throws pranks

While Inzamam-ul Haq’s side toiled it in the training session here before leaving last evening for the first Test at Faisalabad, Moin did not attend the training and reportedly left for home deciding to skip the series.

The veteran wicketkeeper is said to be reluctant to court the test match stress.

Pakistan will probably blood under-19 wicket-keeper Zulkarnain Haider in such a case.

Meanwhile, temperamental Shoaib Akhtar is in his elements again and team sources alleged the "Rawalpindi Express" showed no seriousness during the training session.

Shoaib is sulking after the former spearhead was asked to come as first change bowler which hurt his ego.

Skipper Inzamam, however, made it clear that everybody has to play the role assigned to them and Shoaib coming as first change bowler was serving the team’s interest well.

Shoaib was nowhere at his best during the Paktel Cup tri-series claiming injury.

Coach Woolmer asked the players to avenge their Paktel Cup final defeat by beating Sri Lanka in the Test series.

"It was very disappointing to see the team lose despite having the potential to turning the tide. In fact they should have won the tri-series. Now we would try our best to win the test series to leave behind the tri-series memories." (UNI)

Ponting likely to play in fourth Test

Ponting, who broke his thumb during the ICC Champions Trophy last month, was likely to join the squad in India this weekend before the third Test beginning in Nagpur on October 26.

"Ricky’s thumb has improved considerably since his last examination," said cricket Australia medical adviser Dr Trefor James.

"His grip is a lot stronger than what it was, and whilst he will fall a few days short of being right for the third test, we are hopeful that he will be fit for the final Test of the series," he said adding his progress would be monitored in the lead-up to the fourth Test before a final decision is taken.

Ponting has missed the first two Tests of the ongoing series which Australia lead 1-0 and now plans to fly to India on Friday as he said he was encouraged with the progress.

"Everything has progressed quickly as the surgeon suggested it might. I’ve got a lot more strength in it (thumb) so all going to plan I should be hitting balls by the end of this week and with a bit of luck I’ll be able to fly out of here probably Friday morning," the skipper said.

"Obviously I’m not certain to play, but I have a lot more strength and movement in my hand, and I’m certainly hopeful to be right for the fourth Test in Mumbai." (PTI)

Manjit, Vandana share two gold each in U-14 athletics

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

Manjit clinched two gold in high jump and long jump while Vandana was first in shot put and high jump.

Other results

Boys: 200 mts: Arjun Kumar, MS Harsath, Ist; Pinku Kumar, MS Logate, 2nd and Tarsem Lal, MS Pandori, third. 400 mts: Devinder Kumar, MS Nounchack, Ist; Arjun Kumar, MS Harsath, 2nd and Pawan Kumar, MS Bagial, third. 600 mts: Ravi Kumar, MS Londi, Ist; Mohinder Paul, MS Bandhore, 2nd and Sushil Sharma, MS Pathwal, third. High Jump: Manjit Kumar, MS Jarai, Ist; Hardeep Singh, MS Lacchipur, 2nd and Natish Singh, MS Nounchack, third. Long Jump: Manjit Kumar, MS Jarai, Ist; Dalvir Kumar, MS Airwan, 2nd and Sanjeev Koushal, HS Koota, third.

Girls: 100 mts: Ekta Rani, HS Plakh, Ist; Neeru Devi, MS Sangwali, 2nd and Jyothi Devi, HS Nichla and Menu Kumari, MS Bagial, joint third. 400 mts: Rekha Devi, MS Paranjali, Ist; Sharifa Bibi, MS Lachipur, 2nd and Shoffan Begum, MS Barnoti, third. 600 mts: Rashmi Padwal, MS Paranjali, Ist; Rajni Devi, MS Hote, 2nd and Rekha Rani, MS Galak, third. Long Jump: Shiffan Begum, MS Barnoti, Ist; Manisha Sharma, Chhan Rorian, 2nd and Ekta, HS Palakh, third. High Jump: Vandana Devi, MS Katli, Ist; Bindu Devi, MS Khokhyal, 2nd and Champa Devi, MS Galak, third. Shot Put: Vandana Devi, M S Katli, Ist; Sushma Devi, GMS Chhan Rorian, 2nd and Pinky Devi, MS Chack Chhabba.

State open sport climbing meet from October 30

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

About 300 climbers from throughout the state are likely to compete in this championship.

According to generals secretary of the Association, Ram Khajuria, the purpose of open competition is to offer maximum opportunities to young climbers to participate in the game and thus spread the game to every nook and corner of the state.

The competition shall also provide an opportunity to the state climbers selected in the North Zone team for the national climbing competition to fine tune their muscles and test their skill and stamina, he further said.

Competition shall be held on 40 ft high and 12 ft wide wall in MNDP school, as per international rules. However, participants in the sub-junior and junior categories shall climb with top rope in the first round and ‘lead climb’ in the subsequent rounds.

Open to climbers of J&K, competition shall be held in ‘On Sight Difficulty’ as well as ‘Speed Climbing’ in sub-junior, junior, senior and veteran categories of boys and girls.

Entry fee for the two day competition is Rs 50 which include lunch and refreshment on both the days. State climbers selected for the national competition are, however, exempted from entry fee.

Interested climbers may contact for registration to Ram Khajuria on Mobile No. 9419196378 and 01912580404 or to Anil Chowdhary, Principal of the host school 9419184750 and 01923251012.

Army School Ratnuchak organises educational
tour for students

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 19: To apprise the younger generation about rich Indian culture and to imbibe patriotism among students, Army School, Ratnuchak organised an education tour for two days.

Principal of the School, Harish Rawal flagged off the group of 60 students and teachers.

During the trip the students visited places such as Madhopur (Corals), Golden Temple Amritsar, Jallianwalla Bagh, Durgiana Mandir and Wagha Border.

The aim of organising this tour was to apprise the students of rich Indian culture and to give them wisdom about the places of historical importance. The tour was a goodwill gesture by the school management.

Students of the school were delighted after visiting these places of historical importance. They expressed their gratitude towards school management for organising such a tour.

Sumesh, Kuldeep again face to face in snooker final

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 19: Defending champion, Sumesh Turki and last year’s runner-up, Kuldeep Sharma have once again made it into the final of junior snooker in the 15th Jammu district billiards and snooker championships being played at Billiards Hall, M A Stadium, here today.

Final will be played later on for which the date is yet to be decided by the organising committee of the championship.

Earlier, in the semi-finals, Sumesh outplayed Sahil Arora in straight frames 57-19, 60-38, 70-58 while Kuldeep beat Nikhil Kapahi 3-0 (64-41, 66-48, 60-8.

Meanwhile, according to Sheetal Gandotra, organising secretary, the first round of junior billiards competitions shall start tomorrow afternoon.

Karnataka, Punjab score big on way to QFs

NEW DELHI, Oct 19: Karnataka humbled Rajasthan 7-0 and Punjab outlasted Meghalaya 3-0 to record their third successive wins as they qualified for the quarterfinal league of the 59th senior national football championship here today.

In another match Gujarat piped Madhya Pradesh by a solitary second half goal to complete their cluster II league assignment with two wins and a defeat. The all-important goal for Gujarat was scored by Harvinder Chauhan in 69th minute.

Playing to a plan Karnataka demolished Rajasthan after leading 3-0 at half time to top four-team cluster VI with all win record.

Karnataka players dominated the proceedings forcing their rivals to be on defensive most of the time.

Despite crowding their defence Rajasthan could not avoid thrashing as Karnataka strikers scored at will. S K Dayanand and M Satish Kumar, J Murli scored two goals each while Xavier Vijay Kumar chipped in one goal.

It was Dayanand who put Karnataka ahead in the 20th minute and eleven minutes later Satish Kumar made it 2-0.

In the second session, J Murli found the target twice in a space of five minutes to give his side an impressive 5-0 lead. Murli struck in the 55th and 60th minute to leave Rajasthan defenders bewildered. Vijay Kumar further demoralised the rivals as he scored the sixth goal in the 66th minute and then Satish Kumar completed the tally as he scored the seventh goal.

For the third successive time, Punjab came alive in the second half to overpower their rivals and like in the previous two matches it was again Gurjit Singh Atwal who scored first goal for the winners.

The Punjab-Meghalaya match failed to provide any exciting football but the domination of the former was evident throughout.

After playing a goalless first half, Punjab struck through Gurjit Singh in the 47th minute (1-0) and three minutes later Gurpreet made it 2-0.

Punjab sealed the match when Manjit Singh fired the third goal in the 80th minute. Punjab topped the cluster V with three wins.

In the quartefinal league Karnataka is group-B, along with defending champion Manipur while Punjab is placed in group-D with runners up Goa. (UNI)

Sania on her way to play in Australian Open

New Delhi, Oct 19: Sania Mirza, who has broken into the top 200 in world rankings, is all set for an even bigger achievement in her fledgling career as the tennis sensation is almost certain to make it to the Australian Open Grand Slam next year.

The Hyderabad girl won back to back challenger titles in Nigeria last week that will push her from 233 to 195 on the WTA tour when the list in updated over this week.

If that in itself is a rare feat in Indian women’s tennis, an even bigger achievement will be credited to her when she plays at the Australian Open next year.

Sania’s entry into the singles main draw will be via wildcard after she reached the final of the Asian tennis championships in Uzbekistan last month.

Although it is the men’s and women’s champion of the Asia’s premier tennis event that get the courtesy from tennis Australia, Sania should get the jackpot as Na Li of China, who beat her in the final, has gained direct acceptance due to her improved rankings.

Tennis Australia is yet to officially intimate Sania of her wild card. But with Li, currently ranked 92, unlikely to fall below the cut-off mark for the open, it remains only a formality. "It (the intimation) should come in a couple of weeks. Somebody should make sure that the Chinese girl does not fall from her rankings," Sania told PTI today. (PTI)

Chennai Test high on my favourites list

By Ian Healy

I love contests that continually confuse an Indian crowd and the second test was high on my favourites list. Going on by crowd noise and response, the Chennai crowd gave up on the match regularly but thankfully their team are so much better than that.

They displayed their resilience from the first afternoon on a wicket which looked as if it would break them not to mention the rampaging Australian openers. In India the pattern has been that the Australians dominate the first Test but then that is it for either side. It is struggle, scratch and scrape your way through every session, trying to sleep at night. A mouth-watering proposition for us as spectators but I would be surprised if there are not some player’s mouths drier than a lime burner’s boot.

In such incredible heat with so much difficult cricket to play on deteriorating pitches someone is again performing magnificently when all others are struggling. The dominant match-saving performances in this match belied just how tough it must have been in the middle. Kumble, Sehwag, Warne and Martyn all unfortunately did not get the chance to see what effect they had on a test match result. To repeat such magnificence is the toughest part.

I hope both Sehwag and Martyn do it all again because they are so good to watch. Judging from Heresay, they have similar personalities. Low key, laidback but not lacking in desire. Smooth movers on the pitch, crashing strokeplayers of simplicity and grace. Both men have had their form questioned this year and I believe unfairly. There is a real impatience in the game today which demands higher performances more often than in the past and what a shame it would be to rest match-winners because of hiccups.

Martyn put my mind to rest during the tour to Sri Lanka this year. He was in a slump all last Australian summer, had a perceived difficulty with spin having grown up on the bounce of Perth and yet was the mainstay time and time again, against the might of Murali.

Australia fought back three times in three Tests from serious trouble, Damien Martyn had made it, so Chennai did not surprise me at all. It merely impressed me again and when he was ready to set a proper total for India’s second innings, having played catch up for hours, he was gone. How quickly it happens in India which should remind everyone watching just how carefully each ball has to be treated.

Bowlers like Warne and Kumble can and do turn these matches upside down at times. Other than statistically where they share remarkable tales of performance and longevity, I see these two men as opposites. Both are truly respected globally, Kumble probably loved and everyone takes delight in his 13-wicket performance.

He is one who stays under the radar wherever he plays and yet always competes. Publicly he is seen as humble, courteous and under-stated. His real ability may well be controlling the tough, irritable and sometimes cranky demeanour we have heard about but rarely witnessed. Warney in contrast displays the combative, chatty nature and hides his softer side. He too is polite, charitable and fun but does not tell anyone. Both men were tireless in Chennai reaping rewards and I still think you will see more from Shane.

Saurav Ganguly as a captain held things together quite well when India were on the back foot. He is impossible to fluster, outwardly anyway and he is confident in his players ability to get out of trouble. He has some world-class strikers now but he better get through some of the workload himself very soon, before he wears them out. Laxman and Yuvraj also look heavy on their feet and bogged down in thought. ‘The power of positive doing’ is what it is all about, not thinking. (PTI)

Gutsy Ashraful spares Bangladesh’s blushes

DHAKA, Oct 19: Mohammad Ashraful saved Bangladesh’s blushes with a fighting half-century against New Zealand on the opening day of the first cricket Test here today.

Ashraful scored an impressive 67 under pressure as Bangladesh recovered from 5-3 to reach 165 for six at stumps after choosing to bat on a slow, turning wicket at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Khaled Mashud, leading in the absence of injured captain Habibul Bashar, was on 12 with Manjural Rana on 16.

Bangladesh lost three wickets in the opening seven overs against a disciplined New Zealand pace attack before Ashraful steadied the innings with a 115-run stand for the fourth wicket with Rajen Saleh (41).

Fast bowler Jacob Oram did the early damage, claiming two quick wickets in his lively opening spell to put the hosts in trouble. Left-arm seamer James Franklin also chipped in one wicket to finish the day with two for 23. (AFP)