Hayden regrets remark on Harbhajan

MELBOURNE, Mar 16: Regretting his "obnoxious weed" remark on Harbhajan Singh, Australian opener Matthew Hayden said he made a mistake and was keen to patch up with the Indian off-spinner.

Hayden was sad that his poor choice of words added "fuel to the fire" as India’s tour Down Under this summer was already packed with controversies.

"I don’t know how Harbhajan is feeling but he made it clear how he feels about our team. To put closure on my indiscretion (calling Harbhajan an "obnoxious little weed"), I could have used a different choice of words. In 15 years of cricket, I had a slip. It wasn’t to disgrace or denigrate Harbhajan," Hayden said.

"I could have gone for a different turn of phrase. In the end all I did was put fuel on a fire that already existed. It wasn’t necessary. It was a mistake," the burly Aussie opener told ‘The Courier Mail.’

On Harbhajan calling him a "big lair," Hayden said he would like to talk to the offie and try to improve their relation.

"What I’d like to is have a chat to Harbhajan when we get to India. I want to sit down with him and see if there is any way we can move forward with our relationship because it hasn’t been great. I’d like to see where he’s at and see if we can patch up our differences. Frankly, everyone is sick of it."

Hayden, however, claimed that despite all the rows, the relationship between Indian and Australian cricketers had not hit rock bottom.

"No I don’t think so. Look, there’s definite tension, but if I was a spectator, that’s what I’d want to see. Rodney Hogg said it best during the summer when he said it’s not tiddlywinks.

"If I was a fan and I went to a game that was far from contrived but didn’t have a competitive edge, I’d be unimpressed straight away. There can be a sense of hypocrisy there. You know, I cross myself when I get 100, then I’m at first slip giving it to the Indians. At what point do you cross the line?"

Hayden said the Indians were "reasonably pleasant" but very competitive throughout the series.

"They were reasonably pleasant. At the end of the day, two alpha dogs are never going to sit in a cage and not look at each other. It is what it is. The way I see my cricket, if you’re the other alpha dog, you better not blink. I feel I’d be letting down my country if I was to blink.

"In terms of general human relations, I wouldn’t say there was ill-feeling. India had four months out here. We rarely saw them other than at the ground. It’s play and get back into the cage."

Looking forward to play in the Indian Premier League, Hayden said apart from the cash, the IPL would provide him valuable match practice before the tour of the West Indies.

"Yeah, I do want to go and there are some key reasons why I want to go. Firstly, it’s only going to be for about two weeks, so that takes away a lot of the revenue we could earn. But right or wrong, I want to use it as a top-up before we go into the West Indian tour. We will still have time to come back from the IPL for a pre-tour camp, which I think is a great thing.

"If anything, the IPL will help us. I’ve told Chennai I will be playing. I’m committed to going, if Cricket Australia allows me to go," he said. (PTI)

Key players to miss Windies’ home series

BRIDGETOWN (Barbados), Mar 16: West Indies suffered twin blows when bowler Pedro Collins pulled out of the home series against Sri Lanka and the news that a trio of key players may be competing in the lucrative Indian Premier League rather than the May series with Australia.

Left arm medium fast bowler Collins had been selected in the 15-member squad to represent West Indies in the first Test with Sri Lanka at the Guyana National Stadium starting next Saturday. (AGENCIES)

Sania through to doubles quarters

NEW DELHI, Mar 16: Sania Mirza and her American partner Bethanie Mattek survived a tough test before securing their passage to the quarterfinals of the USD 2,100,000 Pacific Life Open at Indian Wells, California, in the United States.

Sania and Mattek, seeded seventh in the draw, defeated Tatiana Poutchek of Belarus and Russian Anastasia Rodionova 6-2 4-6 10-7 to advance to the last eight.

The Indo-US pair started well and dominated the first set, but their opponents levelled the match by claiming the second. The encounter was, thus, pushed to a super tiebreaker, which was also close but Sania and Mattek held their nerve to seal the win.

Meanwhile, Sania will face her former doubles partner Shahar Peer in the third round of the singles competition after the ninth seeded Israeli prevailed over Uzbekistan’s Akgul Amanmuradova 6-1 6-4. Sania is seeded 21 in singles in the tier I event.

In the USD 3,589,000 men’s masters series event being held at the same venue, Leander Paes and Australian Paul Hanley, seeded eighth, will take on the Argentine combination of David Nalbandian and Gullermo Canas in the second round. (PTI)

HEM celebrates silver jubilee

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Mar 16: Himalayan Education Mission (HEM) under the aegis of Himalayan Education Society today held a colourful function in connection with Silver Jubilee celebrations.

Minister of State for School Education G. M. Saroori was chief guest at the function, which among others was also attended by Vice Chairman Pahari Advisory Board Shabir Ahmad Khan, MLA Poonch and Deputy Commissioner Rajouri Rafiq Ahmad Sheikh.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said institutions like HEM were greatly needed in the state to groom human resources for speedier progress of Jammu and Kashmir.

"As the job markets are increasingly becoming competitive it is necessary to build a strong base of premier educational institutions to equip youth to face global challenges", Mr Saroori said.

Earlier, founder of the Mission Farooq Muzatar, giving resume of the activities informed that HEM has established a network of schools including a degree college and B.Ed college in the district to cater to varied educational needs of students.

IIIM holds Annual Flower Show

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 16: Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu organised the 43rd Annual Flower Show with great gaiety and fervor, here today.

Gulchain Singh Charak, Minister for Higher Education was the chief guest on the occasion. The show has been the regular event conducted by IIIM to entertain and attract large section of people from Jammu.

In the event, there were 18 different categories and winners awarded in best garden, flagstaff house, best rose garden, best educational/religious institutional garden, best terrace garden, best garden, etc. Prizes were also given to best potted plant, foliage plant, cut flowers, roses, floral display, floral painting and many others.

The Rajinder Park, Canal Road maintained by J&K Bank stood first in the category of "Public Parks and Gardens". Among the other awardees were Principal BSF School Paloura, Col (Retd) S S Chib, Maj Gen Sanjeev Loomba, CO 22 Amn Coy Nagrota, Principal Army School Domana Renu Gupta, M C Mehta of Aggrawal Industries, Renu Parvez, Director Floriculture, Alankar Bhardwaj from BD Bari Cantt and S Kotwal.

A committee of experts selected by Dr G N Qazi, Director, IIIM judged the winners of flower show. Dr Ashok Ahuja, secretary flower show said that there were 116 entries in the said competition and about 175 prizes were awarded to winners in different categories.

The prestigious trophies awarded on the occasion included Gen K V Krishana Rao Running trophy, Singer Rolling trophy, Hamida Qazi Memorial Running trophy, Dewanini Vidyawati Badrinath Running trophy and WWF Rolling trophy.

Tawi Trekkers give warm send off to Ram Singh

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 16: Ace State climber Ram Singh who has been selected in the Indian Mount Everest Expedition (from China side) was given a warm send off by Tawi Trekkers, J&K today.

Anil Goswami, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and also the Chairman of Tawi Trekkers presented an ice axe to Ram Singh who would leave for the expedition on March 19.

Speaking on the occasion, Goswami said it was a red letter day in the history of Tawi Trekkers, J&K as one of its members was going to scale the highest mountain peak on the earth.

He also wished him (Ram) all success in the prestigious venture.

Ravinder Gupta, Secretary, J&K State Sports Council, Prof Lalit Magotra, President, Dogri Sanstha, Sumant Singh Jawmal, President of Tawi Trekkers, Dr C K Khajuria, General Secretary, Mountaineering Association of J&K alongwith office bearers of various local adventure clubs were also pressed who also wished good luck to Ram.

Earlier, Ram Khajuria, General Secretary of the club in his welcome address described Ram Singh as a great asset of the club by achieving magnificent feats in the mountaineering field.

Sajad Haider, another climber selected in the said expedition could not attend the function.

State Football Championship
Vijay Club trounces DFA Poonch

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 16: DFA Poonch frittered away early advantage to suffer a 5-1 drubbing against Vijay Club today in the ongoing State Football Championship being played at Jammu University Football Field.

Tarlok Singh provided DFA Poonch early lead in the 9th minute.

Vijay Club gave a befitted reply not only by scoring an equaliser but went 2-1 up at close of first half.

The goal scorers were Danish Khanna (25) and Raman Kumar. The second witnessed a complete domination by Vijay Club who had maximum possession of the ball.

In the 48th minute, Vinay Sotra produced a beauty to score third goal followed by Gorav Bhatti who struck in the 49th minute.

Raman Kumar scored the fifth and final goal to dug final nail in the coffin.

In another match, Jammu Sports (A) cruised past Jammu United by 2-1 goals.

Jammu Sports (A) took early lead in the 8th minute through Vivian.

At half time, Jammu Sports (A) was leading by 1-0 and was further stretched to 2-0 lead after Davian scored the second goal in the 45th minute.

Meanwhile, Jammu United finally managed to pull one back in the 55th minute through Shashi but it was too late.

Earlier, the matches played in the morning session resulted in walkovers with New Bharat got walkover DFA Kupwara and DFA got walkover NGR.

The matches were officiated by Nazir Ahmed, Suresh Kumar Gupta, Suresh Kumar Dimple, Nisar Ahmed and Maqbool Ahmed.

TCCS organises "Jammu Daude-Gaa"

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 16: Trikuta College of Computer Sciences (TCCS), today organised "Jammu Daude-Gaa" Marathon-2008-Run For Peace.

Narender Singh, Ex Mayor and Deputy Commissioner, Jammu flagged off the marathon from Ambphalla which was finally culminated at Bahu Plaza.

Hundreds of Jammuites included students, teachers, senior citizens and people from all walks of life participated in the marathon organised to inculcate a sense of belonging among the new generation and also to spread the message of peace.

Prominent among others who participated included Dr Roop Lal Sharma, Ravish Sharma, Shabir Ahmed Khan, Principals and other dignitaries.

Night is right, say Fisichella, Sutil

MELBOURNE, Mar 16: Melbourne maybe bristling at Formula One ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone’s insistence to have night race from next year but both Giancarlo Fisichella and his Force India teammate Adrian Sutil are clearly enthused by the radical idea.

Fisichella reckons it would be altogether a different experience to burn rubbers under lights, while Sutil, his younger German teammate, can’t wait for the moment.

"Surely it’s going to be very interesting when we get to Singapore (in September) for the first (Formula One) night race. It’s a new idea and I believe it’s god for the sport," Fisichella said.

"I’m happy that it’s finally happening and I want to race under the lights as early as possible," said the three-time winner Italian.

Sutil echoed his view and felt it would mark a watershed in the history of Formula One racing.

"It’s a completely new event and I can’t wait to see it happen. Though I myself have not raced under lights, I have seen some other night races and it looked good," said the lanky youngster.

"The entire atmosphere would be different and it would be interesting to race," he said.

Sutil also reckons Singapore needs to succeed in order to leave behind a legacy.

"If everything works out well and the event proves a success, I think we would get to see a few more night races," he said.

Singapore has already installed a state-of-the-art illuminating system to ensure optimum visibility and spokesman of the Singapore Grand Prix and eminent F1 commentator Stephen Slater said every care has been taken to ensure that the breakthrough event, also Asia’s first street race, proves a huge success.

Besides reaching to the european TV viewers, night race is also perfect for the Asian communities preferring to watch such events in the evening, he said.

Meanwhile, no end is in sight to the ongoing Tug-of-War between Ecclestone and the Australian Grand Prix organisers, who refuse to fall in line with the F1 boss’ diktat.

Ecclestone has asked the authorities here to embrace the idea of a night race next year, failing which he has threatened not to renew Melbourne’s race contract which expires in 2010.

Seeking to sooth Ecclestone’s anger and striking a middle path, Chairman of the Australian Gran Prix Corporation Ron Walker has announced a 5 P.M start (local time) for next year’s race, even though he made it clear that the Victoria State Government, financial backer of the race, could not afford the 38 million Australian dollar required to install the lights.

"Let’s clear the air and say that compromise is the art of good business, and we have made a huge compromise in terms of what Mr Ecclestone wants," Walker told reporters here.

Though Walker and his colleagues in the corporation are putting up a brave face, cracks have already started appearing on their wall of defiance, evident from the fact that today’s race was shifted from its traditional 2 pm start to 3.30 pm local time.

The F1 supremo is expected to meet Victoria premier John Brumby sometimes next week to discuss the vexed issue. (PTI)

New Zealand allrounder Oram fined for dissent

WELLINGTON, Mar 16: New Zealand allrounder Jacob Oram has been fined for showing dissent during the second cricket Test against England at the Basin Reserve.

He will lose 20 percent of his match fee after being found guilty of breaching the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) code of conduct.

Oram was cited by on-field umpires Rudi Koertzen and Steve Davis oram after being adjudged leg before wicket to fast bowler Ryan Sidebottom.

The ICC said in a statement today that after Davis raised his finger, Oram "openly showed dissent at the decision by looking at the bat first and then followed it up by a punch on the bat".

Top seeds steer steady course

INDIAN WELLS, Mar 16: Rafael Nadal launched his defense of the Indian Wells ATP Masters series title with a victory while last year’s runner-up, Novak Djokovic, also made a triumphant debut.

Nadal, the second seed, defeated Colombian qualifier Santiago Giraldo 6-3, 6-3, and said he was lucky to escape with relative ease in the difficult, windy conditions.

"Today I win. That’s it. I can’t do too much," said Nadal, and his opinion was echoed throughout the day as the blustery desert winds made life difficult for all.

Ana Ivanovic, the top seed in the WTA tier one event that is the other half of the Pacific Life Open, admitted she allowed herself to get distracted by the testing conditions.

But she pulled herself together to emerge with a 6-1, 5-7, 6-0 second-round victory over Romanian Ioana Raluca Olaru.

"I was really upset when she broke me back on 3-2 in the second set, and I just struggled to find my game little bit," Ivanovic said. "I wasn’t moving enough and when it’s windy day we really have to focus on footwork and moving the feet, and going around the ball, and I didn’t do that well.

"So it was really frustrating."

Third-seeded compatriot Jelena Jankovic, meanwhile, advanced with ease, downing us wild card Ahsha Rolle 6-0, 6-2.

Australian Open champion Djokovic, the men’s third seed, posted a scrappy 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) victory over Italian Andreas Seppi.

Djokovic’s run to the final here last year helped launch a career year for the Serbian. He broke into the top 10 and won five tournaments in 2007, climbing to number three in the world, and claimed his first Grand Slam crown at the Australian Open in January.

Battling the wind as much as Seppi, Djokovic struggled at times, missing his first opportunities to close out both the first set and the match.

He had a match point against Seppi’s serve in the ninth game of the second set, but the Italian held for 5-4 then broke to level at 5-5. They traded breaks in the final two games to send the set to a tiebreaker, in which Djokovic took control early.

"I won. That’s all that matters," Djokovic said, although he admitted he would have preferred to avoid some of his late mistakes.

"Suddenly in the end of the second set, match point, since that match point, I started making a lot of mistakes," he said. "It was a very ugly match to watch, a lot of unforced errors ... It was so windy that you couldn’t get the rhythm, so that probably caused a lot of unforced errors."

The second-round outings marked the opening matches for the seeded players, who all had first-round byes.

Men’s number one Roger Federer wasn’t due to open his campaign until today, when he faced a second-round clash with Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain.

Fifth-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer advanced, downing Belgian Olivier Rochus 6-2, 6-2. Ferrer next faces South Korean Lee Hyung-Taik, who rallied for a 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 victory over Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen.

Eighth-seeded Richard Gasquet of France advanced with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Sweden’s Robin Soderling. Gasquet took less than an hour to subdue Soderling, who had reached the finals at Rotterdam and Memphis in recent weeks. (AGENCIES)

Tiwary treasures tips from Tendulkar

KOLKATA, Mar 16: Pepped up by tips from master batsman Sachin Tendulkar in Australia, promising bat Manoj Tiwary has taken his forthcoming assignment with Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League as a ‘challenge’.

Tiwary, bought by the Virender Sehwag-led side for a whopping Rs 2.7 crore in the players’ auction, cannot wait to play side by side superstars like Aussie fast bowler Glenn McGrath and New Zealand spinner Daniel Vettori.

"I’m looking forward to playing with them. I’ve not played much Twenty20 cricket. It’ll be a great opportunity, a new challenge," Tiwary told in an interview.

The dashing willower felt Delhi Daredevils had a ‘very good chance’ of winning the league as they had quality allrounders.

"We have a great side. We have good bowlers. There are players who have done excellently in international cricket. We have a good combination boasting of several all-rounders. And in Twenty20 allrounders do play a very vital role," he said.

Tiwary, who debuted for India against Australia in the recent tri-series, said long chats with Tendulkar was his biggest gain from the tournament.

"I had several long chats with Sachin. He has given me a number of tips on my game. This is my biggest gain from the tour," said the youngster, who could score two in his lone appearance in Brisbane.

Tiwary still seemed dazed by the interactions he had with Tendulkar. "Could I have even dreamt of a better guide? He is the God of cricket. And I’m now working on his suggestions". Recounting his Aussie sojourn, Tiwary said "compared to India, conditions are different. But Sachin and (ODI skipper M S) Dhoni’s showings were lessons on how to adapt to the conditions there".

He might have returned from Down Under without many runs, but the experience has made him form a clear idea about the vast differences between domestic and international cricket.

"In domestic cricket, you get four balls in two overs to hit. At international level, you get two balls to hit in four overs. You’ve to be mentally very strong and alert. Because you have to wait for the rare loose balls from the good bowlers," the 22-year-old said.

Asked how it felt representing Delhi and not Bengal, the young gun disclosed that prior to the bidding he had hoped to find a berth in the Kolkata team — named Kolkata Knightriders.

"I had initially expected to be in the Kolkata team because I play for and stay in Bengal. At the same time I learnt from a source that two-three franchises will bid for me. So I was prepared to play for other sides also".

"Playing for Delhi Daredevils will be a new experience, a learning experience, as I will be based away from my state. And I have to gel with a new set of players from India and abroad," he said.

Tiwary described as an ‘exciting new experience’ the prospect of taking on the bowlers of his home state during the league.

"The players from Bengal are my friends. I know their games inside out," he said. (PTI)