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

Challenger Trophy:
A challenge for
some cricketers

CHENNAI, Sept 30: With more colour added to the event by christening the teams as India Blue, Red and Green, the Challenger Series for the N K P Salve Trophy beginning here tomorrow will provide a platform for a few cricketers, including the deposed .......more

UP thrash Sialkot to lift
Mohd Nissar Trophy

DHARAMSHALA, Sept 30: Fast bowler Rudra Pratap Singh underlined his potential with a four-wicket haul as Ranji champions Uttar Pradesh lifted the inaugural Mohammed Nissar Trophy with a huge 316-run win over Pakistan’s national cricket .........more

Inzamam keen to put ball-tampering affair behind him

ISLAMABAD, Sept 30: Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq says his team have been vindicated for their stance on the ball-tampering row but now wants to put the ...more

Toofan Club beat
Junior Rahul Club in cricket

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Sept 30: Toofan Cricket Club today defeated Junior Rahul Cricket Club by three wickets in the ongoing 6th Major Ajay Singh Jasrotia Memorial Day and Night Cricket Tournament being played at Vikas Nagar..........more

Gurdev lifts Indo-Pak
Wrestling Championship

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Sept 30 : Indian wrestler Gurdev Singh of Malikpura (Punjab) lifted the Second Indo-Pak Wrestling Championship by defeating Pakistani wrestler, Hamid Mohammad of .......more

NZ Inter-State Badminton
Championship Shuttlers
of Delhi bag 3 titles

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Sept 30: Shuttlers of Delhi bagged three titles in the North Zone Inter-State Badminton ......more

Challenger Trophy: A challenge for some cricketers

The four-day day-night event does not have much at stake as the Indian team has already been selected for the next month’s Champions Trophy.

However, it would be crucial for players like Saurav, V V S Laxman and left arm medium pacer Zaheer Khan for whom the tournament would provide an ideal chance to impress the new selection committee headed by Dilip Vengsarkar and entertain their hopes of making it to the national side for the quadrennial event at West Indies in February next year.

As a parting gift, outgoing selector Kiran More renewed the hopes of a few cricketers who have been left out in the cold.

The focus would be on Sourav Ganguly. But it was a pleasant surprise for Wasim Jaffer, basically considered a test player and was named in the Rahul Dravid-led team to give him a chance to prepare himself for the South African series.

"We do not want to put a stamp on him saying he is a test player only. Our season is starting now and he also needs to get some practice against the best in the country".

"Before he goes to south africa this will be good chance for him," More said, justifying Jaffer’s inclusion. For battle-scarred veterans like Saurav and Laxman, who has been put in a tight-rope walk situation to prove his mettle, their combeack stint would be under Kaif.

For local hero Laxmipathy Balaji this would be the come back match after a long lay off and the strappy medium pacer was brimming with confidence to get back into the team for the South African tour and the World Cup.

The "challenger" would help the Indian Blues, containing more or less the entire Champions Trophy team, to rectify the mistakes after their poor show in the DLF Series in Kuala Lumpur.

Considering the depth both in batting and bowling, the India Blues, keen to come out of the ‘Malaysian Blues’, start as firm favourites.

However, Sachin, who had completely recovered from his shoulder surgery, would be missing the first match against India Reds and will play against India Greens and in the final if the Blues qualified.

Dashing opener Virender Sehwag who had a forgettable tournament in Kuala Lumpur, would be keen to get back his form, while skipper Rahul Dravid will use the tournament to fine tune his own skills. (UNI)

UP thrash Sialkot to lift Mohd Nissar Trophy

After setting a mammoth target of 429, UP dismissed the visitors for 112 in 35.5 overs to wrap up an early win at the HPCA stadium.

The result seemed to be a foregone conclusion as the injury-battered Sialkot team was without two of its main batsmen — Captain Imran Nazir and wicketkeeper Khalid Hafeez — and speedster Mohammed Asif who left for Pakistan due to fitness worries.

After declaring their second innings at 373 for 7 in the morning, it was only matter of time for the home bowlers to pack off the demoralised visiting side.

Sialkot captain Imran Nazir said the unavailability of some key players cost them the match.

"Rana Naved-ul-Hasan could not come. Mohammed Asif, myself and some others picked freak injuries during the match. So that posed a problem for us," he said.

UP’s stand-in skipper Suresh Raina was pleased that the team did not allow the absence of Mohammed Kaif to affect its morale.

"The boys played like a closed knit unit," he said.

UP coach Rajinder Singh Hans praised the effort of the seamers.

"I had faith in my seamers. They have done a good job and I am sure they will continue to perfom well," he said. (UNI)

Inzamam keen to put ball-tampering affair behind him

ISLAMABAD, Sept 30: Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq says his team have been vindicated for their stance on the ball-tampering row but now wants to put the whole episode behind him.

Inzamam was cleared of ball-tampering charges but banned for four one-dayers for bringing the game into disrepute at a two-day ICC hearing in London.

"It is not easy for me because the last few weeks have been a big burden. I have felt the pressure more than anytime on the field. I am trying to forget everything and look ahead," he told Reuters today.

Inzamam was charged on two counts of violating the ICC code of conduct during the fourth test against England at the Oval last month.

His team refused to take the field following the tea interval after umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove changed the ball and penalised them five runs.

"I am normally a very calm person but when the umpires basically said we were tampering with the ball we were all very upset ... Because we had done nothing wrong," said Inzamam.

"I am satisfied now and I have nothing in my heart. But I knew a ban was on once we didn’t go on the field."

He said his relationship with Australian umpire Hair was tense during the entire episode but he held no grudge against him.

"We have been vindicated in our stand on ball-tampering. I have no intentions now of taking any legal action against hair or anyone else," he said.

"Although obviously I am disappointed at having to miss a major tournament like the Champions Trophy."

‘Raring to go’

Younis Khan will lead Pakistan in next month’s tournament and Inzamam said he was confident he would do a good job of leading the team.

"I am sure after being cleared of ball-tampering charges the team would be raring to do well in the Champions Trophy and make amends for the disappointments in England," Inzamam said.

Inzamam, 36, said he felt sorry for the fans who had come to the Oval on the fourth day.

"But at that time we felt we had to take a stand because our prestige and the country’s respect appeared bigger than the game or result itself."

The Pakistan captain also said he accepted the ICC decision and knew they could not allow the forfeited result to go unpunished.

"The ICC has done what is necessary for the game. I would advise everyone to let this matter rest and move on." (AGENCIES)

Toofan Club beat Junior Rahul Club in cricket

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

Junior Rahul Club won the toss and elected to bat first. They made 92 runs in 12 overs by losing seven wickets. Sony contributed 24 runs while Rishi scored 20 runs.

Raju of Toofan Club clinched three wickets in three overs at the cost of 15 runs. Neeraj and Sanjay took two wickets each.

Toofan Club chased the intended target in 10 over by losing seven wickets. Varun scored 40 runs in just 18 balls while Pummy and Jai contributed 15 and 10 runs respectively.

For Junior Rahul Club, Sony and Neelu took two wickets each.

Varun of Toofan Club was declared man of the match for his brilliant batting.

Rohit and Rahul were the umpires while Sanjeev was the scorer.

Gurdev lifts Indo-Pak Wrestling Championship

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Sept 30 : Indian wrestler Gurdev Singh of Malikpura (Punjab) lifted the Second Indo-Pak Wrestling Championship by defeating Pakistani wrestler, Hamid Mohammad of Multan in 100 Kg category.

Mr. Gurdev Singh was awarded with Silver Gurj and Rs.31,000 in cash.

The second bout was clinched by Satish Alamgir of Punjab who defeated Pakistani wrestler Taj Mohammad of Lahore in 85 Kg category while Indian wrestler Padarth Singh of Amritsar was declared third by beating his Pakistani Counter part, Mohd. Imran of Lahore.

The Indian wrestlers won four matches losing only one match to Pakistan where in Mohd.. Javed of Lahore defeated Ravel Singh of Amritsar.

The Minister of State for Youth Services and Sports, Babu Singh who was the chief guest on the occasion described the Indo-Pak wrestling championship a historic event and added that such type of occasion between two neighbouring countries provide a common platform to interact and understand the sentiments of each other which further help in strengthening the bonds of mutual trust.

President, Indian Style Wrestling Association, J&K, Shiv Kumar Sharma said that the championship was organized to promote and propagate the message of friendship and brotherhood between the two countries.

MLA from Delhi, Rajesh Lalothia, MLA Nagrota, Jugal Kishore, DIG Udhampur-Doda Range, L. Mohinti, Additional SP Katra, M.L. Mehra, SDPO Katra, Anil Magotra, Sardari Lal Dubey, General Secretary, Indian Style Wrestling Association India, Roshan Lal, Councilor Ambrish Magotra, Rakesh Wazir and Sewa Singh (retired SP) were also present to witness the match.

NZ Inter-State Badminton Championship
Shuttlers of Delhi bag 3 titles

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Sept 30: Shuttlers of Delhi bagged three titles in the North Zone Inter-State Badminton Championship concluded today at Indoor Sports Complex of MA Stadium, here.

In the Narang Cup final, Haryana defeated Delhi. Sourav of Haryana beat Rohit Ranaut of Delhi by 21-16, 21-14 in the singles while in the doubles, Sourav and Vikas of Haryana beat Nitin and Abhishek of Delhi by 21-16, 21-17.

In the Shafi Qureshi Cup final, Delhi beat Haryana 2-0. Chitralekha of Delhi beat Kannupriya Aggarwal of Haryana by 21-11, 21-17 in the singles while Mohita and Meenakshi of Delhi beat Kannupriya and Pallavi of Haryana by 21-17 and 21-7 in the doubles.

To lift second title, Delhi beat Haryana by 3-0 in the Rahmatullah Cup final. Tanvir Gill of Delhi beat Sumit Dahiya of Haryana by 21-10 and 21-9; Rajeev Bajaj of Delhi beat Sourav of Haryana by 21-19, 16-21 and 21-18. In the doubles, sumit and Sourav of Haryana beat Parveen and Devinder of Delhi by 24-22, 18-21, 21-17. Rohit of Delhi beat Aggarwal of Haryana by 21-15, 21-17.

Delhi again defeated Haryana in the Chaddha Cup final to lift third title of the Championship. Chiterlekha of Delhi beat Kannupriya of Haryana by 21-17, 27-21, 21-16.

The shuttlers of Haryana Pallavi and Kannupriya defeated Meenakshi and Gouri of Delhi by 23-21, 19-21 and 21-25. But in the third game, Mohita of Delhi beat Pallavi of Haryana by 21-14, 21-9 to lift the title.

Minister for Youth Services and Sports Babu Singh was the chief guest on the occasion and he gave away prizes to the winners and runners-up of the Championship.

Secretary J&K State Sports Council Ravinder Gupta presided over the function. President of J&K Badminton Association Sudershan Singh Wazir Singh and general secretary Dr O D Sharma were also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister stressed the need of having more sports activities in the State and assured that all necessary infrastructure will be provided for the promotion of sports in the State.