JALANDHAR, May 11: Harbhajan Singh today slammed the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the confusion over the legality of his bowling action, claiming that the episode had destroyed his mental peace.................more

Kumble happy for
being in World XI
Test probables

BANGALORE, May 11: Spin ace Anil Kumble, named among the ICC World XI Test probables to take on world champion Australia in the Johnnie Walker Super Series in October, said one had to perform in the coming months for entry in the final team...............more

SAI showing no
improvement in fund
utilisation: Report

NEW DELHI, May 11: The Parliamentary Standing Committee for Sports has observed that despite reminding about the under utilisation of funds the previous year, the Sports Authority of India has not shown any improvement in the year 2004-05.............more

Full-time hockey team
manager should be
appointed: Aslam

BHOPAL, May 11: Advocating formation of an expert committee to appoint coaches, Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) selector and former Union Minister Aslam............more

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, May 11: Department of Economics clinched the inter-departmental volleyball trophy beating fighting Geology Department in a keenly contested final in the inter-departmental sports meet of University of Jammu at the campus here today.......more

HSS Jullaka Mohalla
wins U-17 boys kabaddi

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, May 11: Higher Secondary School Jullaka Mohalla claimed boys under-17 kabaddi trophy beating High School Nowabad 44-35 in the final of inter-school competitions of Jammu zone underway at Girls High School Bakshi Nagar, here today........more

JIM holds painting, debate contest at Sainik School

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 11: To create Environment awareness campaign, Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering (JIM) and Nature Club of Sainik School Nagrota jointly organised an inter-school.............more

Mani performs
ground-breaking ceremony
for ICC’s new base

DUBAI, May 11: International Cricket Council (ICC) president Ehsan Mani performed the ground-breaking ceremony for the........more

ESPN-Star Sports to telecast live Azlan Shah Cup hockey.....

Sharapova reaches last 16 but Kuznetsova bites dust.....

I have lost my mental peace: Harbhajan

JALANDHAR, May 11: Harbhajan Singh today slammed the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the confusion over the legality of his bowling action, claiming that the episode had destroyed his mental peace.

Harbhajan, who was reported for suspect action twice in the space of three months this season, said the saga has distracted him from the game and even affected his performance during the recent Pakistan series.

"You see, it is very frustrating for me as I have lost my mental peace for no fault of mine but just due to mere drama by ICC. Instead of concentrating on the game, I am just passing time to wait for clearance from ICC," the off-spinner told PTI in an interview.

Harbhajan, who underwent a review in 1998, was reported in December on the tour of Bangladesh and again in March during the series against Pakistan.

Under the revamped bowling review process, he has to undergo a test by biomechanics expert within 21 days of reporting but the ICC had delayed the appointment of a panel.

Harbhajan said he could have performed better against Pakistan if he had not been under the spotlight after being reported at the end of second Test.

"My performance during Indo-Pak series was affected due to the allegations (and) I could not fully concentrate on the game due to disturbed mental status," he said.

"It does not matter how much strong you are, but such a controversy always affect your performance," Harbhajan said.

The 24-year-old spinner termed as "unjustified" the provision in the rules for the umpires or referees to call or report a bowler although he was cleared before.

"How many times a bowler will have to undergo the Test, for which he has already been cleared," the Punjab bowler said.

"I am playing international cricket for the last seven years and it is really frustrating that you have to undergo the Test every time, whenever you are pointed out for the same suspect action."

Harbhajan was an agitated man when asked if he found himself lucky that he was not banned as per the ICC regulations for being reported second time within 12 months of the first report.

The ICC had said that the second reporting of his action would be treated as a new case and the first under the revamped system which came into effect from March.

"Reporting a bowler for suspected action does not make him guilty," he said.

"Earlier I was reported for my action but was cleared in the Test conducted on me. Where is the question of mine being lucky, rather it was injustice being done to me by reporting for the same suspicion for which I have already been cleared." Harbhajan said the recent change in the bowling review rules permitting all bowlers to straighten their arm up to 15 degrees at the point of delivery was beneficial for every bowler, "not only for me".

"As per research, most of the fast bowlers bend their arm more than the permissible degree of 15. Why only `doosra’ is being targeted when rule is meant for everyone?"

He said the ICC was witch hunting.

"Earlier the ICC was after (Sri Lankan off-spinner) Muthiah Muralitharan, now they are after me, and later on some other bowler will be their target," he said.

He said the delay in clearance by the ICC also kept him away from playing in the english county championship this summer.

"I wanted to participate in english county championship, but in such a state of mind how will I be able to do justice to the game and the club which I am going to represent."

"Apart from the county, my mental status does not allow me to practice even," he said.

Asked if he sought permission from the ICC to play in the English County, Harbhajan said "why should I ask the ICC and where is the need?"

"It was just because of my mental status that I am not playing County, and if I wanted to play, there was no need to seek permission from the ICC for the same." (PTI)

Kumble happy for being in World XI Test probables

BANGALORE, May 11: Spin ace Anil Kumble, named among the ICC World XI Test probables to take on world champion Australia in the Johnnie Walker Super Series in October, said one had to perform in the coming months for entry in the final team.

"It’s nice to be part of the 30 short-listed cricketers. It’s good to be there," Kumble told reporters on the sidelines of a press conference, where he turned up to support wheelchair tennis player Boniface Prabhu.

"It’s six months away. So, one has to keep performing to get into the final squad," he added. (PTI)

SAI showing no improvement in fund utilisation: Report

NEW DELHI, May 11: The Parliamentary Standing Committee for Sports has observed that despite reminding about the under utilisation of funds the previous year, the Sports Authority of India has not shown any improvement in the year 2004-05.

"The Sports Ministry in its action taken note has informed that sai has been instructed to ensure the optimum utilisation of funds under its various plan schemes. Unfortunately the status of utilisation does not show any improvement in 2004-05 either.

"The committee therefore, reiterates its earlier recommendation and would like the ministry to adopt stringent fiscal measures and guidelines for streamlining its funding pattern. SAI should be asked by the ministry to strictly adhere to those guidelines in utilising allocations appropriately," the committee headed by Rajya Sabha MP Vayalar Ravi said in its 163rd report tabled in the Parliament.

The recommendations came after last year’s Revised Estimate (RE) for SAI came down to Rs 117.75 crore from the Budget Estimate (BE) of Rs 123.83 crore.

The ministry informed that RE was decreased as funds to the tune of Rs 20.92 crore were available with SAI as on April 1, 2004 as unspent balance for the previous years. The progress of the sanctioned/ongoing construction work was behind the schedule and funds given for the purpose were under-utilised.

Meanwhile, SAI attributed the unspent money due to delay in progress of ongoing works, delay in receipt of estimates from the CPWD, NDMC and DDA relating to works executed for 1st Afro-Asian Games and the delay in finalisation of proposals for procurement of sports/scientific equipment.

Appreciating the constraints of SAI in getting projects completed, the committee said "some methodology needs to be evolved to overcome this recurring phenomena of under utilisation of funds."

It also asked the Sports Ministry to expedite a pending proposal for transfer of internal revenue generated by SAI to a corpus fund.

The committee expressed its reservation about selecting more and more Navodaya Vidyalayas under the NSTC scheme.

"Under the scheme a lot of support is provided for creating infrastructure, for training etc. But because the students coming to Navodaya Vidyalayas are selected through open competition who are committed mainly to regular students, sports may not be a priority for them.

"The committee feels, emphasis of the ministry while opening NST Centres, should be to the normal schools particularly in the rural areas where the infrastructure could be used in a better way."

It pulled up the Sports Ministry for the failed take off of the State Sports Academies even after three years of launching the scheme.

"In the fourth year exercise of review/revision of the scheme has started. By the time this exercise is over, another year would pass and tenth plan would also reach its last year.

"The final outcome would be nil. The committee reiterates that a new scheme should be announced only after extensive work study and planning and review of anticipated shortcomings and constraints." (PTI)

Full-time hockey team manager should
be appointed: Aslam

BHOPAL, May 11: Advocating formation of an expert committee to appoint coaches, Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) selector and former Union Minister Aslam Sher Khan today said full-time manager should be appointed to realise potential of Indian team which made tremendous comeback in last four years.

"IHF members/voters are being obliged and offered foreign trips by making them team managers. This trend should stop and full-time managers should be appointed to realise team’s potential," Khan told reporters here.

"Indian hockey has come a long way with money pouring in due to increased media coverage," Khan said adding "though India has jumped places to feature in list of top six teams, organisations managing the show have not been able adapt to the change."

Agreeing that foreign coaches play major role in moulding the team, he advocated formation of a committee of 4-5 experts to set terms and conditions for appointment of coaches on merit.

He also claimed that Indian players could not supersede their European counterparts on grounds of fitness because of different built.

Khan said technique and skills need to be sharpened, instead of attempting to overpower them.

On IHF senior vice-president Narendra Batra’s moving High Court, he said Batra should settle disputes related to the federation out of court as such moves destroy the game as in the case of Bhopal Hockey Association which had nearly ended the game there.

Batra had moved the court against alleged financial irregularities and lapses in following government guidelines on term and function of IHF office-bearers. (PTI)

Economics spikers bag winners trophy

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, May 11: Department of Economics clinched the inter-departmental volleyball trophy beating fighting Geology Department in a keenly contested final in the inter-departmental sports meet of University of Jammu at the campus here today.

The game, which was stretched to five sets, was once controlled by Economics spikers winning first two sets 25-19, 25-17. However, in the third set, Geology raised their game suddenly and clinched the set.

In the fourth set, Economics played a controlled game throughout sparing no chance for the opponents to cash on. Anil and Muddasar Iqbal displayed an excellent coordination in the final stages of the match and hit power-packed spikes getting thunderous applause from supports who turned-up in good numbers to watch the interesting final. The score: 25-19, 25-17, 20-25, 25-22.

Best way to

search talent

Members of the winning team were happy over the University’s initiative to revive the inter-departmental competitions. It, according to the volleyball players, offered them a chance to relax themselves in otherwise busy schedule of Post Graduation courses.

Anil Sharma, who led the Economics Department triumph over Geology, said, " such meets help in searching the hidden talent among the senior players at the college and university level". Anil has already represented University of Jammu in the inter-university competitions four times and once part of the state team in the sub-junior nationals.

However, these spikers were not happy with the department they belong to. They said that they were not provided with sports kit and refreshment during the playing days, whereas Department of Urdu provided their teams fresh kits, including shoes out of department’s sports fund raised at the time of admissions.

Quarterfinals

position cleared

in men’s carrom

JAMMU: Quarterfinals line-up has been drawn in the inter-departmental men’s carrom tournament being played at the campus. Teams qualifying for the quarters were BPEd, Department of Commerce, Geology, Sanskrit, English, Physics and Electronics, Yoga and Chemistry.

Now, in the quarterfinals, BPEd will take on English while Geology will face Commerce and Chemistry to meet Physics and Electronics. In the fourth quarterfinal, Sanskrit Department will be playing against Yoga.

Earlier, in today’s pre-quarterfinals, BPEd defeated Law Department 2-1. Rohit Gupta lost to Karanveer; Raju Sharma bt Nisar; Rohit and Raju bt Karanveer and Nisar. English outplayed Education 2-0. Riaz Ahmed bt Sushil Kumar; Mohd Ayuv Bhat bt Rohit Sharma. Department of Commerce downed Political Science 2-0. Rajan Mahajan bt Harveen Singh and Umang Mam bt Sanjeev Singh. Sanskrit trounced Lal School 2-0. Om Parkash bt Saqab Mohd; Harsh Dev Singh bt Amarvir Singh. Geology Department beat Environmental Sciences 2-0. Mohd Isa bt Rohit Rattan; Raj Kumar bt Naveen Charak.