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

Shafaq secures first position in debate competition .............

RCC enter final of President Cup ...........

Shobha Model HSS celebrates Annual Day.........

India set to discard 5 bowler theory

ADELAIDE, Feb 18: With their campaign for a berth in the cricket tri-series final thrown into jeopardy, India may discard their five-bowler theory and recall Virender Sehwag when they take on Sri Lanka in a crucial game here tomorrow.

Stung by yesterday’s debacle when the young batsmen failed to chase down a meagre target of 204 runs against Australia, India is likely to revert to its seven-batsmen format as they seek to put is across the islanders to revive their hopes of making it to the final.

It brightens up the chance of Sehwag returning to the line-up as the dashing opener, more than his fitness, was removed for tactical reason in the game against Australia on Sunday.

With hosts Australia virtually assuring a place in the final having bagged 17 points from five matches, much will depend on India’s performance against the Sri Lankans in the day-night encounter. The Indians were in the second position on the points table with 8 points from five games while Sri Lanka had six points from four matches.

Sehwag has a bruise near his right shoulder but that alone was not the reason to keep him out of the playing eleven.

Faced with a choice of dropping a batsman, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni showed trust on out-of-form Yuvraj Singh and Robin Uthappa but the plan came unstuck as the duo failed.

India are likely to once again seek deliverance from the senior pros and it puts Sehwag firmly in the picture.

Sehwag has not been in the best of nick in this one-day series but his association with Sachin Tendulkar is key to India’s plans.

All the three teams have struggled to come to terms with the new white ball and bowlers of all the teams have had a field day.

India needs its batsmen to fire big tomorrow if it has to hold back the charge of the Lankans.

The Lankans have won only one game but the equation is slightly in their favour going into tomorrow’s match.

Both sides need at least two wins under their belt but whereas India has just three games left of their lined up games, Sri Lanka has four matches to go for their desired wins.

India is likely to add an extra batsman to the squad as the Adelaide Oval pitch is likely to get slower because of the persistent heat.

The bounce, evident in yesterday’s game, may not be as pronounced tomorrow on the worn-out pitch.

India is banking on Sri Lanka’s batting to once again misfire tomorrow as it has done all through the summer.

But for Kumar Sangakkara, who has 132 runs from four games at average of 44, none of the other Lankan batsmen have scored even 100 runs from the competition so far.

Skipper Mahela Jayawardene has 63 runs from four games while Sanath Jayasuriya has 43 from equal number of matches.

Sri Lanka’s bowling, though economical, hasn’t been as destructive as well.

Lead bowlers Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas have only six wickets between them and their averages of 58.66 and 60.00 also does not make it a pretty reading.

Lasith Malinga, with seven wickets at 29 apiece, has been their stand-out bowler though against the Indians he went for 56 and 45 runs from 10 and six overs.

The conditions at the Adelaide Oval are expected to be blistering in terms of heat. The scorching sun of the last few days is unlikely to yield tomorrow.

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni sure would be looking to win the toss and post a big total to keep themselves in hunt for a place in the final. (PTI)

Nielsen plays down Ponting-Bhajji spat

ADELAIDE, Feb 18: Australia coach Tim Nielsen today played down the brief exchange of words between Harbhajan Singh and Ricky Ponting in yesterday’s match and admitted the home captain’s poor form has become a worry for the team.

Ponting, who has been Harbhajan’s bunny in the test series against India, could not hide his glee after his nemesis was out in yesterday’s match which the hosts won by 50 runs.

Ponting appeared to say something to Harbhajan as the Indian left the crease but his coach felt there was not much to make out of it.

"It’s been a long summer and there is a bit of feeling between the sides. But it’s not different to what has always happened in the 100 years of the game.

"Only because it’s between India and Australia, Harbhajan and Ponting and those sort of things and people notice it more," he said.

"I don’t think it isn’t there in the games against Sri Lanka but they are not noticed as much," Nielsen added.

He, however, was candid enough to admit that the top order was not firing on all cylinders and the captain has not been at his best, to say the least.

"Ricky has set such high standards over the last four or five years that everyone wants to see a bit more on the screen," he said.

"Our top order has missed out. It’s not been easy to force the pace," Nielsen added. (PTI)

Australia not to tour Pakistan

MELBOURNE, Feb 18: Despite Pakistan Cricket Board’s repeated assurances of players’ safety, Australia are unlikely to go ahead with their scheduled tour of the troubled nation, a media report claimed here today.

The ‘Sydney Morning Herald’ claimed CA was almost certain to scrap the tour regardless of the situation in Pakistan after today’s election.

The daily said CA would go by the advice of its security, which has advised the board not to send the players to Pakistan.

Of late, situation has become even worse in Pakistan and a suicide bombing at an election rally killed 46 and left more than 100 injured in the north-west town of Parachinar on Saturday. (PTI)

Jayawardene advises his batsmen
to play patience game

ADELAIDE, Feb 18: Mahela Jayawardene seems to have learnt the lesson as the Sri Lanka captain asked his batsmen to banish all negative thoughts and play the patience game in the crucial tri-series match against India here tomorrow.

The Lankan batsmen may not have set alight the tournament but Jayawardene said there was no need to be bogged down by any negative thought and runs would flow only if they just hang around.

"Guys who have scored runs haven’t gone for big shots. They have relied on the patience game, Michael (Clarke) did so the other night, (Gautam) Gambhir in Brisbane, Sanga (Kumar Sangakkara) in Perth," Jayawardene said. (PTI)

J&K Wushu team win medals in nationals

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 18: J&K Wushu team bagged five medals including one gold, one silver and three bronze medals in the recently concluded 16th Senior National Wushu Championship held at Meerut.

SI Vivek Basan won gold while Bhanu Partap fetched silver medal. Arun Singh, Lalit Singh and Sanjeev Sharma of J&K Police Telecom had to content with bronze medals.

With this performance, the team has qualified for the 34th National Games slated to be held in Ranchi (Jharkhand).

SI Vivek Basan, Lalit Singh and Arun Singh have also been selected for the coaching camp of the Indian team to prepare for the forthcoming 7th Asian Wushu Championship scheduled to be held in Macau (China) in May.

Inspector Kuldeep Handoo has been selected as India Coach.

The coaching camp would be organise by Sports Authority of India (SAI) at Manipur from March 1.

Dhruv propels SSC to thumping win

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 18:Dhruv Mahajan struck a breezy ton to propel Simula Sports Club (SSC) to win over ICICI by 80 runs today in a lop sided contest in the ongoing 2nd Anand Rathi Corporate Twenty20 Cricket Tournament being played at Jammu University Ground.

Dhruv slammed a 46 ball 101 to pulverise ICICI bowlers who had no answer to his brutal onslaught.

His scintillating knock contained 10 boundaries and five sixes. Vikram also played well for his knock of 35 runs.

SSC made 195 runs in the allotted overs. In reply, ICICI perished for 115 runs.

Balwan Singh top scored with 51 runs. For SSC, Hilal Rather, Dhruv Mahajan, Sameer and Rohit took two wickets each whereas Vivek and Chotu grabbed one wicket apiece.

Dhruv Mahajan was adjudged man of the match.

Vikrant, Abhishek seal easy wins

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 18: Vikrant Sehgal and Abhishek registered emphatic wins in Snooker category on the second day of the ongoing Triangular Snooker/Billiards Tournament being played at Rehari Colony.

Vikrant Sehgal overcame Vidit by 3-0 frames 56-37, 28-54 and 49-28 in Snooker category whereas Abhishek Goswami trounced Geetu by identical margin.

The frame score was 48-13, 33-44 and 53-33. In other matches, Ajay Singh Jamwal beat Ankur Gupta by 2-1 frames 34-61, 58-41 and 51-15 and Sudhir Gupta defeated Vishal Bogal by 2-0 frames 46-41 and 66-29.

The match was officiated by Mohit Mahajan.

In pool category, Vidit Gouri beat Ramit Kumar Thakur by 2-0 and Kuldeep Khajuria beat Ansh Bali by same margin.

Anshul Gupta officiated the matches.

In 9 ball games, Vikram Sharma beat Arjun Choudhary and Anshul Mahajan beat Kuldeep Khajuria.

Rural, women sports competitions begin

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Feb 18: The two-day long District Level Rural Sports (boys) and women sports competitions in the disciplines of Kabaddi, Volleyball, Kho-Kho and Athletics commenced here today.

Total 140 boys and girls drawn from blocks Udhampur, Majalta and Ramnagar are competing in the said sporting event being organised by Department of Youth Services and Sports in collaboration with J&K State Sports Council under the supervision of District Sports Advisory Board.

Earlier, B N Bhat, District Youth Services and Sports Officer, Udhampur declared open the tournament.

In Volleyball final, Udhampur got the better of Majalta by 3-0 sets to clinch the boys title. The set score was 25-22, 23-25 and 25-20.

In Kabaddi (girls), Udhampur prevailed over Majalta by 19-12 in their opening tie whereas in boys section, Udhampur edged out Majalta by 23-13 to claim the title.

In Kho-Kho (girls), Ramnagar beat Majalta by 8-4 while Majalta overwhelmed Ramnagar by 11-9.

The matches were officiated by Ashwani Sharma, Sanjay Sharma, Kuldeep Kumar, Raj Kumar, Surinder Gupta, Sanjay Manotra and Devinder Sharma.

NMCC cruises into final

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

REASI, Feb 18: NMCC edged out NCC by 38 runs to enter into the final of the ongoing Mashkoor Memorial Cricket tournament played at Sports Stadium today.

NMCC won the toss and elected to bat first. They piled up challenging 183 runs in the allotted 25 overs.

Raman Dutta played an excellent knock of 73 runs (58 balls) studded with 10 hits to the fence.

Azhar and Viney also chipped in with 14 runs each. For NCC, Kanwal Jeet Singh grabbed two wickets whereas followed by Pramar, Parveen and Ajeet Paul who shared a wicket each.

In reply, NCC bundled out for 147 runs in the 22nd over. Manisi was the only batsman who played with some resistance.

He made 61 off 45 balls. For NMCC, Parvez fetched three wickets while Ashu and Amit snared two wickets each.

Raman Dutta was adjudged man of the match.

Shafaq secures first position in debate competition

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

REASI, Feb 18: Shafaq, a class 7th student of Lawrence Higher Secondary School secured first position in debate competition organised by the Department of Information and Public Relations today.

Vasundhra and Heena of class 9th finished second and third respectively while Waheeda bagged consolation prize.

Sohan Lal, Principal, Mata Vaishno Devi B Ed College, Reasi was the chief guest on the occasion while Principal, Lawrence Higher Secondary School presided over the function.

In all 10 students took part in the competition who spoke both in favour and against on the topic " role of media in society".

Later, the department awarded shields and consolation prizes to the participants.

RCC enter final of President Cup

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 18: Rehari Cricket Club (RCC) scripted a thumping nine wicket win over Shastri Cricket Club (SCC) today to enter into the final of the ongoing President Cup Knock Out Cricket Tournament being played at GGM Science College Hostel Ground.

SCC won the toss and opted to bat first. They accumulated 120 runs in 39.4 overs with Ankur and Sanjay Sharma were the top scorers with 28 and 26 runs respectively.

For RCC, Hardeep Singh, Dilbagh Singh, Anoop Mangotra and Shafqat Baba grabbed two wickets each.

RCC cruised past the target in 22.4 overs losing just one wicket in the process.

Ram Dayal played an impressive knock of 40 runs containing two spanky drives to the fence and as many hits for maximum.

Abhishek Jamwal and Anoop Mangotra contributed 28 and 38 runs respectively.

For SCC, Varun took the only wicket. RCC will cross swords with KCCC in the final.

Shobha Model HSS celebrates Annual Day

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 18: Shobha Model Higher Secondary School, Laxmipuram (Bantalab) celebrated its 20th Annual Day-cum-prize distribution function here today.

Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats was the chief guest on the occasion.

The function begun with traditional lightening of lamp by chief guest followed by an impressive colourful cultural programme presented by the students.

Bharat Bhushan Goel, Principal of the school delivered the welcome address.

Later, the Minister distributed prizes among meritorious students.

Shobha Goel presented the vote of thanks.

Shiv Dev Singh, Subhash Chander Bhagat, Kamal Gupta besides other dignitaries were also present.