SA series will be of little
consequence during WC: Harbhajan

NEW DELHI, Jan 30: Senior off-spinner Harbhajan Singh believes that the team's impressive performance in South Africa will be of little consequence when India embark on their World Cup journey against Bangladesh next month.

"From my personal experience, I can tell you that our good show in South Africa may give us a bit of confidence but that's about it. Doing well in bouncy pitches in South Africa and playing in the World Cup is a different ball game altogether," Harbhajan said in an exclusive interview.

To elaborate his view, he gave example of India's tour to New Zealand in 2002 before the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

"If you remember, we had a disastrous tour of New Zealand where we lost in both Test and ODI series. But when we played in the World Cup, it was a different story. In fact, we completely dominated while we beat New Zealand and played in the finals. That's why I feel that a bilateral series can never be an indicator to a team's performance in a big event," the feisty off-spinner said.

Talking about World Cups and Harbhajan, who will be playing in his third, still fondly recollects the memories of the 2003 edition when the team reached the finals under Sourav Ganguly's captaincy.

"I sincerely hope that we can emulate our 2003 feat and even do one better by winning the Cup. It will be a great gift for millions of fans. On our part, we can assure our supporters that we will give more than 100 percent when we get out there," he said.

When asked what was special about that `Class of 2003', who looked unstoppable till Ricky Ponting singlehandedly took the final away from them, he said, "Have a look at the squad of 2003, you will find guys like myself, Zak (Zaheer Khan), Ashish (Nehra) and Viru (Sehwag) were all young having only played couple of seasons in international cricket.

"We were fearless and never believed that we would cow down under any sort of pressure. If you enjoy playing in pressure situations, you tend to give your best. That's what happened. Also we had seniors like Sachin (Tendulkar), Sourav (Ganguly) guiding us."

A veteran of 93 Tests and 217 ODIs, Harbhajan, who is now second in the list of seniormost cricketers after Sachin Tendulkar, feels like 2003, this time also India's World Cup campaign will depend a lot on how the likes of Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and Yusuf Pathan handle pressure situations.

"As a senior player, I have loads of expectations from guys like Virat, Yusuf and Raina. Just like we (Sehwag, Nehra, Zaheer, Kaif) were the youngest lot in 2003. These youngsters will be eager to show how well they can manage to hold their nerves on big stage.

"They have had enough exposure in international cricket and I am really hopeful that they would come up trumps."

On personal front, Harbhajan, nicknamed `Turbonator', is happy that he is in a good frame of mind going into the big event.

"If you are an Indian cricketer, then you become adept at handling pressure. I have played long enough to not let pressure affect my game in crunch situations. It has come with years of experience at the international level," said the offie from Jalandhar, who has 393 Test and 246 ODI wickets to his name.

His batting has been a revelation of late and one gets a feeling that his perspective towards batting has changed.

"My mantra is simple. If the ball is in my area, I will hit it. Earlier, the approach used to be a slam bang one and I would try to hit any delivery out of sight. Now I try to get my eye in first and then go for attack. Also, if I am batting with the batsman, I try to rotate and give the specialist as much strike as possible," Harbhajan said.

On various captains that he has played under in international cricket, Harbhajan terms Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Ganguly as the two who always back their bowlers.(PTI)

Final matches of State Carom Championship today

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Jan 30: The final matches and prize distribution of the State Carrom Championship will be held tomorrow at Sher-e-Kashmir Indoor Sports Complex, here.

Former Mayor of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Salman Sagar will be the chief guest.

On the penultimate day of the Championship, Hashmatullah (Budgam) beat Towseef Farooq from Srinagar, Moin Mehraj (Srinagar) defeated Ilhan Bin Bilal from Srinagar and Saad (Srinagar) trounced Tahir Subhan (Budgam) in the Boys Sub Junior event.

Sabreena (Budgam) beat Bashee Hanief from Awantipura, Iyman (Kupwara) defeated Bisma (Anantnag) and Mehfooza (Budgam) beat Shugufta from Baramula in Girls Sub Junior event.

Numan Feroz (Srinagar) beats Junaid from Kupwara, Danish Majeed (Srinagar) beat Basit Farooq (Budgam), Arib Majeed (Srinagar) beat Ruaani Baba from Poonch, Umar Teli (Budgam) beat Tabish from Srinagar in Junior Boys event.

Insha Afzal (Pulwama) beat Iqra (Srinagar), Lubna Ahad (Srinagar) beat Rehana from Budgam in Junior Girls event.

Owais Dar (Srinagar) beat Showkat (Kupwara), Mohd Yaqoob (Srinagar) beat Ishfaq from Anantnag, Arif Sultan (Srinagar) beat John Mohammad from Kupwara in Senior Boys event.

Adfar (Srinagar) beat Irshada from Poonch, Abida (Srinagar) beat Rushi from Udhampur in Senior girls event.

State team for Ntl Cycling Championship announced

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 30: Jammu and Kashmir Cycling Association today announced 11 member team for 63rd Senior, 46th Junior, 26th Sub-Junior National Track Cycling Championship being held at Patiala from February 1, 2011.

The team comprises Rahul Kumar, Feroz Ahmad Khan, Feroz Ahmad and Mudasir Ahmed (senior group), Hilal Ahmad Sofi, Rajnish Sharma (Under-19 junior), Munish Sharma, Ajay Kumar, Akhil Jamwal (Under-17 junior) and Ahsen Majid Khan and Umer Aziz (Under-15 sub-junior).

Om Parkash is accompanying the team as Manager while as Riyaz Ahmad as Coach.

J&K shooting team selected for National Games

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 30: Jammu and Kashmir Rifle Association (JKRA) has selected seven member team for participation in the 34th National Games to be held at Ranchi in Jharkhand from February 12 to 26.

According to Senior Vice president, JKRA, KS Jamwal both boys and girls shooters from Jammu and Kashmir will participate in .177 air Pistol and .177 air Rifle, .22 Rifle in 10 mtrs events in National Games.

He said that J&K marksmen have been selected on the basis of their performance in the National championships held at New Delhi and Jalandhar by the National Rifle Association of India.

He thanked that Director General of Police, Kuldeep Khoda and ADGP K Rajindera for extending all facilities including shooting range to the J&K shooters. "It is due to joint efforts of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifle Association and Jammu and Kashmir Police, we are able to produce good shooters in the state", he said.

The opening ceremony of the National Games will be held at Ranchi on February 12. The J&K shooters will leave for Ranchi on February 8 and the Chief minister Omar Abdullah may flag off the contingent on February 7.

Meanwhile, President, PS Gill and Working president JKRA IGP Dilbag Singh hoped that shooters will show their excellent performance in the Games. They announced that shooters, who will bring medal for the state, will be rewarded in a special function organised by the JKRA.

The team: .177 Air Pistol: Ajay Singh, Harshdeep Singh. .177 Air Rifle: Matish Kumar Singh. .22 Rifle boy: Digvijay Singh, Abdul Gani. .22 Air Rifle girls: Shewali Sagar and Sumita Devi. Rajesh Virdhy will be accompanying the team as coach, while Sharat Chander will be manager of the team.

Anti Drugs Cricket Tourney begins

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 30: The Anti-Drugs Cricket Tournament today began at Red-Rose Cricket Stadium, Arnia.

The Tournament was inaugurated by Advocate Aslam Goni, Chairman of J&K Cricket Association. The first match was played between Eleven Star (R S Pura) and Eleven Star (Smailpur).

Eleven Star (Smailpur) won the match by six wickets.

Karate Championship conducted

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 30: Two days Karate Championship organized by Kofukan Shito-Ryu Karate School was held at Rotary Club.

In the Championship, about 200 students from different schools and clubs participated.

The winners of gold medals in boys event are Abhayjeet Singh, Nityam Sharma, Tanush, Crystal Raj Badyal, Sarath Dogra, Ramanshu Gorkha, Imtiyaz Ahmed, Aasim Nawaz, Mohit Raina, Rohit Singh, Rishab, Sumit Kumar, Abhijeet Singh, Sanjay Raikwar, Yograj Bhagat, Rohit Saini, Kamal Yadav and Amit Kumar.

The winners of silver medals in boys event are Avanish Sharma, Samarath Katayal, Jas Karan, Kritin Gupta, Ayush Badyal, Gourav Choudhary, Deepak Singh, Taufeeq Raiz Wani, Tarun Butyal, Ajay Bakshi, Danish, Gagandeep Singh, Hemraj Bhagat, Vikram Singh, Sunil Kumar, Nitin Singh, Rajkumar Gupta and Ashwani Kumar.

The winners of gold medals in girls event are Ananyadeep Kaur, Samridhi Singh, Manpreet Kaur, Badhbag Kaur, Mavish Lone, Gazanfar, Saranjeet Kaur, Sajida Akhtar Malik, Priya Sharma and Tamana while as silver medal winners are Smaira Jamwal, Bhumi, Dhanishta, Isha Rana, Janvi Gupta, Sanober Ali, Sarika, Simranjeet Kaur, Palvi Rajput and Salooni.

Harminder Mahajan, MD Shaurya Motors was the chief guest and Naresh, Chairman of String Institute was guest of honour and they distributed medals to the winners.

The Championship was conducted under the supervision of Manoj Mehra (Technical Director Kofukan Shito-Ryu Karate School, J&K), Pavitranandan (senior vice-president) and Umesh Rekhi (senior vice-president) and Deepak (joint secretary).

Anand survives Giri scare; remains in 2nd spot

WIJK AAN ZEE (THE NETHERLANDS), Jan 30: World champion Viswanathan Anand survived a scare against young Anish Giri of Holland before salvaging a draw in the 12th and penultimate round of the 73rd Tata Steel Chess Tournament here.

In Group `A', the Nepalese-Russian Giri came close to defeating the world champion with black pieces but Anand somehow managed to pose enough problems in his opponent's path, which is typical when the Indian ace is defending.

The drawn result, however, find Anand half a point behind leader Hikaru Nakamura of the United States, who also split points against former world champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia in his 12th round encounter.

With just one round remaining in the category-20 super tournament,

Nakamura tops the leader-board on 8.5 points while Anand is close behind on eight points.

In other matches, Magnus Carlsen defeated Wang Hao of China to share the third place with Levon Aronian of Armenia on 7.5 points while Kramnik slipped to fifth spot with seven points.

In the final round, Anand will have black against Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia while Nakamura will play with the same colour against Wang Hao.

Giri went for a Semi Slav against Anand that left the Indian in real problems.

The opening saw young Giri, 16, coming up with a Novelty early in the game and Anand with his nonchalant play, got an optical advantage with routine manoeuvres.

It was clear from the moves in the middle game that Giri understood what he was up to. Anand ran a little short of time comparatively and had to find some really fine defence after the first time control.(PTI)

State Jujitsu team selected

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 30: A 12 member State Jujitsu team, has been selected for the forthcoming 7th National Jujitsu and Belt Wrestling Championship slated to be held at Sports Authority of India (SAI) Kandivali East Mumbai from February 3 to 6, 2011.

The team was finalized after selection trials, which were conducted under the supervision of Tarsem Sharma, Tech Director/ General Secretary of the Association.

The team comprises Akshit Ghai, Apoorav Mehta, Danish Sharma, Akshat Mehta, Rajat Gupta, Mohit Angral, Ayush Sharma, Javeel Ahmed, Aman Singh Langeh, Akash Batra, Swarn Lal, Deepa Sharma and Rishika Sharma.

Pietersen slams World Cup schedule

LONDON, Jan 30: England batsman Kevin Pietersen has blasted the Cricket World Cup schedule, saying that the six-week fixture is too long and playing matches with six-day intervals is "ridiculous".

"It's far too long. How can the England team play once and then in six days' time play again, and then in six days' time play again?" Pietersen asked.

"It's ridiculous but there's nothing we can do about the schedules," he added.

The outspoken cricketer also slammed England's hectic schedule leading up to the World Cup, starting on February 19 in the sub-continent.

England fly out for the showpiece tournament just three days after arriving back from the current tour of Australia, which began back in October last year.

"Our schedule is ridiculous going into this World Cup. It has been for England teams for a very long time and that's probably why England have not done well in World Cups," Pietersen told `Sky Sports'.

"I wouldn't say we're going to be knackered because it's going to be the World Cup and we all want to win this World Cup. I know what I'll be doing (in the three-day break) - lying on my couch."

Pietersen, however, would not skip the Indian Premier League which begins immediately after World Cup. Should England reach the April 2 final in Mumbai, the players would have been away from home for all but three days in five and a half months.

"I don't know about second thoughts about IPL. When you are in a good thing, you know it's a good thing and you enjoy it, I was always going to be putting my name in the hat for it. It's such a relaxed environment as much as the intensity is electric, the intensity is 100 per cent on the field," said Pietersen, who was bought for USD 650,000 by Deccan Chargers.

"Away from the field it's so relaxing, you get to meet and mix with different players and this is an opportunity to go to another team with different players.

"But it's going to be tough. The hardest part is not going to be able to see my family. I'm not going to take Dylan to India. I will be definitely going home after the World Cup and before the IPL, 100 per cent, even if it's only 24 hours," said Pietersen.

Pietersen's price dropped this year after he was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for a then record USD 1.55 million two years ago. Still, Pietersen said he felt "fortunate" to be paid such a sum to play cricket.

"It's not a mere USD 650,000. I've always said whatever you get in the IPL is an absolute bonus. We're fortunate enough to have six or five weeks, and who earns that kind of money in five weeks?

"Nobody, unless you're Rooney or Lampard or Ronaldo or John Terry. You look at it and just go, we're very fortunate and in a very fortunate position, so if I got 200, 300, 400, you do whatever it is you need to do, and enjoy the five weeks. It's relaxed, fun cricket." (PTI)

India's WC squad has maximum
number of match-winners: Kirmani

NEW DELHI, Jan 30: The Indian team for the 2011 World Cup is one of the most well-balanced units comprising maximum number of match-winners, according to 1983 World Cup winning team member Syed Kirmani, who feels it is the best chance for the Men In Blue to bag the coveted title.

"All the players from top to bottom are match-winners. Anyone from the group is capable of winning the match for the country. Starting from captain (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni to iconic batsman (Sachin) Tendulkar

to devastating (Virender) Sehwag to (Gautam) Gambhir, Yuvraj (Singh),

Suresh Raina or Yusuf Pathan ... It could be just anyone.

"We have an extremely well-balanced team and the best part is

everyone seems to be in form," Kirmani said.

Asked if a second wicket-keeper could have been a good option in case of an injury to regular Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the former stumper said it was not at all a worrying factor.

"We are playing in the sub-continent and in our own environment so it would not be too difficult to bring in a replacement wicket-keeper immediately in case of a casualty. So, probably taking this fact into consideration, the selection committee did not go in for a second wicket-keeper," he said.

Stating that the current Indian squad is one of the favourites to lift the Cup, the 61-year-old said he has been hoping and praying for the last 28 years for the country to bring back the glory.

"We have a very good chance this time as our side is a very competent one. They are equally competent, if not more, than some of the other teams. We have been hoping and praying for the last 28 years for India to lift the Cup again and it seems that this team has it in them to fulfil the wish," said the former India Test cricketer.

Kirmani admitted that the four-time World champions Australia will be a weaker side as compared to India, South Africa and England in the upcoming mega-event but cautioned that the Kangaroos can never be taken for granted.

"You never know, Australia can come back any time. You can never count them out. Obviously, the experienced players, who won the Cup

thrice for the country are not there anymore but Aussies are in a process of re-establishing themselves.

"The youngsters will certainly take some time to reach that level. So, as a team they definitely look a little weaker at the moment as compared to some of the stronger sides like India, South Africa, England," he opined.

"But again if you look at the ongoing ODI series between England and Australia, the latter are doing well and the English, who thought it would be a cake-walk for them after their 3-1 Ashes victory, are finding it tough," added Kirmani.

Kirmani, who played 88 Tests, predicted that India, South Africa, England and Sri Lanka would make it to the semi-finals of the mega-event, starting February 19 in Dhaka but warned that there could be a few

surprises as well.

"The New Zealanders, Pakistanis and Australians could never be underestimated. Just like Australia, Pakistan also have some talented young players who can spring up surprises," Kirmani said.

Asked to compare the current Indian side with that of the 1983 World Cup winning team, he said, "Unlike ours, which was a weaker unit and were given a tag of the underdogs, this team is very strong."

"We never thought we would lift the Cup. We were the most inexperienced team in the competition. We just aimed at qualifying for the knockout stage. That was the only thing on our minds. In fact, no body even expected us to reach the knock-out round also," recollected Kirmani,

who was awarded the best wicket-keeper in the 1983 World Cup.

"But we gained confidence when we won our opening match against

then reigning world champions West Indies by 34 runs. After that game, we thought if we could beat the Windies in the very first encounter, why should we look back?"

Attributing Indian team's success in the 83' World Cup to their positive approach, consistency and complacency of other teams, he said, "Whosoever we played they thought that we were a very weak side and took us lightly. But they were under a wrong impression. They failed to realise that on a particular day we were the better players." (PTI)

Revealed: The human side of cricketing God

MUMBAI, Jan 29: Sachin Tendulkar is not known for showing his temper or angry reactions on the cricket field, but at home he is a different person.

Many a time his mother and wife are at the receiving end of his occasional outbursts, the batting maestro himself revealed at a function here this evening.

Speaking after releasing a collection of poems penned by his brother Nitin and a CD containing Marathi poems written by his father late Ramesh Tendulkar, the champion batsman said sometimes he does get angry on the field.

"But you have to control your temper on the ground as you are representing India. Sometimes I take out frustration in the dressing room. Many times there are situations when decisions go against you and the match is lost. It has happened many times, but I don't need to take the name of umpires," the 37-year-old veteran of 177 Tests said.

Asked whether he fears his mother or wife's temper, the master blaster said actually they fear his anger. "I don't react on the ground. But I give vent to my feeling at home."

Tendulkar, who at times became emotional, recalled his formative years in Shardasram School at Dadar and thanked his aunt and uncle with whom he stayed for a few years.

"I would stay with my aunt and uncle at Shivaji Park when I was in VIII standard as otherwise I had to change two buses in the morning to reach the school from my residence at Bandra. Going to school and practising cricket was tiring.

"I used to get exhausted sometimes and sleep without taking food. I will never forget what they did for me. They fed me while I felt sleepy and also massaged my feet. I take this opportunity to thank them," he said in an emotionally-choked voice.

Responding to reports about his proposed sortie in Sukhoi as mooted by Indian Air Force, the little champion said it would be a great

honour to sit in the fighter jet.

"I have a passion for speed. In 1996, I sat in a fighter plane in South Africa. I will definitely fly in Sukhoi. It would be an honour."

Asked whether he felt like writing poem while watching stylish batsmen V V S Laxman and Brian Lara in action, Tendulkar said, "I think their batting is poetry in motion itself. You just sit back and enjoy. But the most important thing I want to say is that I am son of a poet and also brother of a poet." (PTI)