OID ‰‰ ‰ † K OID ‰‰ ‰ † OID ‰‰ ‰ † M OID ‰‰ ‰ † C

The Times of India, New Delhi, Saturday,August 30, 2003

Glam gals of athletics Schumi’s warning Up above the bar Move away tennis babes, athletics’ Don’t write us off yet, says Michael Goalkeepers make news mostly for their glam gals are here. Yipsi Moreno of Schumacher. The Ferrari ace in- blunders. But Gianluigi Buffon has Cuba and Russian Debbie Harry, gold tends to fight it out to the final done it by winning the European and silver winners in hammer at bend. With two points separating Player of Year award ahead of Paris, have proved that athletes can the top three, he needs to do just Carlos (best defender), Nedved be good and can look good too that in the 3 remaining races (midfielder) and Nistelrooy (striker)

Anju Bobby George reaches long-jump final at World Athletics

We worry about break points and pulled ham- strings and here he is with the possibility of dying This Mahabharata has a happy ending within a short time. Sanjay Sekhri TIMES NEWS NETWORK —Martina Navratilova Hall, hockey star Gagan Ajit Singh re- ceived the loudest cheers when he rose on Leander Paes New Delhi: The rancour and misgiv- to receive his Arjuna. His electrifying ings of the past few weeks gave way to goals against Pakistan in the recently- SPORTS DIGEST bonhomie, pride and joy as the coun- held Champions Trophy must have try’s highest sports awards, the Arjuna AFP been fresh in everybody’s memories. Awards, were given away here on Fri- Among the awardees were several day by President APJ Abdul Kalam. veterans but it were the babes who stole The feeling was epitomised beautifu- ly by runner K.M. Beenamol and shoot- the limelight. Gagan, who at 22 is al- er Anjali Bhagwat. The two ladies, who ready a DSP with Punjab Police, was at were seen hugging each other during his linguistic best as he was made to an- the dress rehearsal on Thursday, stood swer media queries in Hindi, English proudly side by side to receive the first and Punjabi. Young golfer Shiv Kapur and most prestigious award of the day: landed for the awards on Friday morn- the Khel Ratna. ing itself, coming all the way from US. The entire episode had erupted into a And he was scheduled to leave for Giuseppe Gibilinsco of Italy cele- controversy when the awards commitee Cairns in Australia the same night to brates after winning gold in the recommended two names for the Khel join the Indian contingent for the No- men’s pole vault final on Thursday Ratna and 21 for the Arjuna. The gov- mura Cup. Mamta Kharab, the elfin during the 9th IAAF World Athlet- ernment initially refused to cross the hockey striker, was another youngster ics Championships at the Stade de stipulated numbers but eventually who seemed to be enjoying it all with France near Paris. agreed to make an exception. her family. The Rohtak lass was happy Beenamol and Anjali, however,had to that she got the honour so young. Footballer discharged: Bengal share the Rs 5 lakh award. Later in the day,Beenamol and Anjali footballer Somnath Das who was in- The President then handed over the alongwith Arjuna awardee IM Vijayan jured during the U-16 National Foot- Dronacharya (for best coaches), Arjuna were felicitated at a function by Malay- ball Championship semifinal was dis- (best sports persons), Dhyan Chand ala Manorama. charged from the Aizwal Civil Hospi- (lifetime achievement)and Maulana Well, curtains have come down on an- tal on Friday morning, hospital Abul Kalam Azad (university for best other year’s awards. The controversies sources said. Das was unconscious achivement in sport) awards. are seemingly behind us. But there’s no after he banged his head against the While cricketer Virender Sehwag was Khel Ratna winners K M Beenamol (R) and Anjali Bhagwat (C), Arjuna awardees Shiv Kapur (2nd L) and IM Vijayan (2nd R) and guarantee that they won’t come back to barpost during their semifinal against the obvious favourite at the Durbar Dronacharya awardee Renu Kohli (L) at the the awards function on Friday. taunt us again. Meghalaya. PTI Satdium to be renovated: The Do you really know them? List of awardees historic Karni Singh Stadium will be Straight from the heart developed as a heritage site and the Ram Mehar Singh: The 31- Thandava M Muthu: Muthu, athletics. He won in the handi- Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (Rs 5 lakh, scroll, Rajasthan Sports Council would year-old kabaddi 28, reaped a rich re- capped category. medal): K M Beenamol (athletics), Anjali spend certain percentage of its an- stalwart captained ward of two silver Bhagwat (shooting). Anjali Bhagwat (shooting): I never criticised nual grant on its renovation, secre- the Indian team and a bronze at the Inder Pal Singh: Inder was Dronacharya (Rs 3 lakh each, statuette, any selection. I’ve high regard for Beenamol. I tary Harsh Vardhan Bhatnagar said which won the gold Manchester Com- part of the coxless scroll): Renu Kohli (athletics), Jaswant Singh was only putting forth my case as a genuine on Friday. “Out of the total Rs one at the 2002 Busan monwealth Games fours squad which (athletics), M K Kaushik (hockey), E. Prasad one. Good performance has to be recognised crore, which we receive as grant Asiad. The tall and handsome last year to earn his spurs. The garnered a bronze at Rao (kabaddi), H D Motivala (yatching). the same year. from the state government, a certain Singh was also a member Railwayman, who finished 10th Busan. The rower Arjuna (Rs 3 lakh each, statuette, scroll): percentage would be spent on de- of the team which won the gold in the 2001 World Champi- also had a silver and Anju B George (athletics), Virender Sehwag velopment of the Stadium,” he in- Alok Kumar (billiards and snooker): It means the world for a at the 1998 Bangkok Asiad and onship, has been the national a bronze at the Asian Champi- (), Gagan Ajit Singh (hockey), Mamta small town man like me to have reached thus far.A cherished formed. PTI onships in 1999 and 2001 Kharab (hockey), I M Vijayan (football), the 2001 Asian weightlifting champion in 1995, dream has been fulfilled. The atmosphere here is majestic Championship. 1999 and 2002. respectively. He has numerous Ravikant Reddy (volleyball), T M Muthu BETTING METER successes at the domestic (weightlifting), Nitin Mongia (sailing), Suma and it imbues a sense of responsibility in you. Ravikant Reddy: An interna- Ramesh Tikaram: Ramesh is level. Shirur (shooting), Anwar Sultan (shooting), Gagan Ajit Singh (hockey): I’m happy that I’ve ATHLETICS tional veteran of too gifted a sports- Alok Kumar (billiards & snooker), Md Ali Qa- World Championships Sujeet Mann: The 24-year-old mar (boxing), K Sasikiran (chess), Shiv Kapur got this award at a young age. It’s a huge mo- Men’s 200m (event winner) more than a decade, man to be deterred Ravi was the skipper by physical adversi- wrestler from Delhi (golf), Ram Mehar Singh (kabaddi), Mantu tivation. It’s good that the govt decided to award D Patton 7/4 showed his promise S Buckland 2/1 of the volleyball ty. The Bangalorean Ghosh (table tennis), Palwinder Cheema all 21 names. Since the award gives a lot of en- early while landing J Capel 9/4 team which finished has excelled in bad- (wrestling), Sujeet Mann (wrestling), couragement, more and more should get it. S Suegetsu 10/1 a bronze at the Asian Saraswati Saha (athletics), Inder Pal Singh D Campbell 12/1 a creditable fifth at the Busan minton and athletics at interna- Championship in Mamta Kharab (hockey): The phone at my home in Rohtak JJ Johnson 33/1 (rowing), Ramesh Tikaram (disabled athlete). Asiad. The Andhraite also cap- tional level. However, nationally, 1999. He repeated the feat in has been kept busy ever since the news broke out. Congrat- F Fredericks 50/1 tained the side which won the he has been quite successful in Dhyan Chand (Rs 1.50 lakh each, plaque, U Emedolu 80/1 2000. While he placed 6th scroll): Ram Kumar (basketball), Dharma ulations have been thick and fast. I thank my parents and my Sivanthi Gold Cup international sports like cricket and carrom (as per ladbrokes.com) at Busan, he has been the Singh Mann (hockey), Charles Cornelius team for making it possible. Now, I aim to do even better. tournament in 2002. While hav- too. Ramesh won gold and sil- National champion from 1996 (hockey), Om Prakash (volleyball), Smita Shi- LIVE ON TV ing shone as a allrounder, it’s as ver at the world disabled bad- to 2001. role Yadav (rowing). Virender Sehwag (cricket):The award is an in- ESPN: 1925 hrs: English Premier Football League. a setter that the 28-year-old has minton in 2002 and 3 gold in an Abul Kalam trophy (Rs 2 lakh, trophy): Guru spiration to perform better in the future. It will Star Sports: 2030 hrs: US Open tennis. made a mark. international paralympic meet in —Compiled by Shashank Shekhar Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. motivate me to score more and moreruns.I’m thnkful to cricket which has given me so much fame and recognition. CRICKET UPDATE Shiv Kapur (golf): I landed here just a few hours back, all the way from US, for the awards. The toil was well worth it. The Shoaib can return atmosphere is pretty cool. The award is an incentive to do Every batsman is my enemy number one: Salvi well. I’ll now strive for the Khel Ratna. to Durham: PCB By Nitin Naik experience. ‘‘Sachin, Sourav, Zaheer, Ajit were 39-run last partnership with Irfan K Sasikiran (chess): Numbers should not be a TIMES NEWS NETWORK all extremely helpful.’’ Skipper Ganguly said Pathan to win a nail-biting one-day game Peshawar: Pakistan will allow Shoaib consideration while selecting Arjuna awardees. in the camp that two slots in the Test team were against Lancashire. ‘‘That was very exciting,’’ Those deserving should be given the honour Akhtar torejoin English county Durham Mumbai: The walls of the simple dwelling of open, and they could go to a quickie and an says Avishkar puffing his cheeks. ‘‘But I knew after the second Test against Bangladesh Avishkar Madhav Salvi room are adorned with even if it means exceeding the limit set by the opener.Avishkar can lay claim to the fast bowl- sitting in the dressing room that I would government. after all. Earlier, the Pakistan Cricket life size posters of a certain Sachin Tendulkar. ing slot especially if Javagal Srinath decides to help the team win. I normally play well under Board had second thoughts about releas- ‘‘Oh I am a huge fan of Sachin, probably his hang his boots. ‘‘I don’t really think about all pressure.’’ ing him after Mohammed Sami was ruled biggest,’’ gushes the 21-year-old Mumbai speed- Ramesh Tikaram (disabled athlete): Of course, it’s the that,’’ is his matter-of-fact riposte. Talk about Avishkar modelling himself on greatest honour of my life. The awards ceremony was fan- out of the ongoing Test against ster, who is just back from the 13-day fitness The first-year engineering drop out from the great Glenn McGrath and he quips, ‘‘I just Bangladesh with a hairline fracture of camp at Bangalore. ‘‘I like his approach to Sriram Polytechnic, Airoli is certainly in the like his action. I haven’t copied him. I admire tastic. It was a privilege to receive the award from the Pres- the ankle. But PCB chairman Lt. General cricket and life and his humility,’’he adds. selector’s good books after his impressive per- his accuracy, temperament and aggression. I ident and to interact with so many sporting stars. It was a Tauqir Zia told reporters on Friday: The lanky fast bowler, who made an impres- formances for India ‘A’on the tours to West In- have trained under Frank Sir (Tyson). He too golden moment. “Akhtar will join Durham soon after the sive start to his international campaign in the dies and England. ‘‘I bowled really well in doesn’t think that I copy McGrath. So I don’t second Test.” He said the bowlers’ en- tri-series in Dhaka earlier this year says the fit- West Indies pikcing up 29 in five know what this fuss is all about.’’ Nitin Mongia (sailing): My family is probably the only one in forced absence would allow the selectors ness camp was ‘‘hectic but lots of fun.’’ ‘‘Greg matches. In England I split the webbing on my Avishkar is really upbeat about the new sea- the country to boast of three Arjuna awardees. My father S K to try out new bowlers in the third Test (Gregory Allen King), our new trainer was bowling hand and could play only in the latter son. ‘‘I am eager to play in the Challenger, the Mongia got it in early 80s while brother Ashim won it in late and One-day Internationals. Durham had brilliant. He gave everyone a fitness regimen half of the tour.’’ Irani Trophy and the India ‘A’ game against 90s. I’m glad to have completed the trio. released Shoaib under the understanding and by the 13th day the results were awesome.’’ And play he certainly did picking up four New Zealand. Irani Trophy will be great. that he would return to them after the Avishkar also says that rubbing shoulders wickets in the match against South Africa. He After a long time all the top players would be I M Vijayan: I’m happy and relieved. I’ve got the award at the second Test, which ends on Sunday. Reuters with the senior cricketers was a great learning also contributed with the willow stringing a in action.’’ fag end of my career. If I hadn’t got it this year, probably I wouldn’t have got it ever. Nasser’s loss could Reuters Pak fight back after Damp Derby be Thorpe’s gain forces no play London: Graham Thorpe will find out on Kapali claims hat-trick Derby (England): Rain pre- Agassi sets up Friday if he will get an England recall this Peshawar: Leg-spinner Alok were the other men out and vented any play on the first season when the squad for next week’s fi- Kapali recorded at stumps Bangladesh were day of South Africa’s three- nal Test against South Africa at The Oval Bangladesh’s first hat-trick 52 for four with a lead of 118 day tour game against Der- Kafelnikov clash is announced. Thorpe, 34, could be back in in an exciting runs. Razin Saleh was un- byshire here onThursday in on international duty at his Surrey home third day’s play against Pak- beaten on 7 and Kapali on 4 what was the tourists’ last New York: World number ground after former Nasser Hus- istan in the second Test at Pe- after a day full of fluctuating match before next week’s one Andre Agassi dispatched sain broke a toe in South Africa’s over- shawar on Friday. fortunes. fifth Test against England at stubborn Swedish southpaw whelming 191 run fourth Test win at Kapali wrapped up Pak- Earlier in the day, Rafique The Oval. Andreas Vinciguerra 7-6 Headingley. Thorpe has not played inter- istan’s innings for 295 with bowled a probing line and South Africa lead England (7/1), 6-1, 6-4 here on Thurs- national cricket in over a year since mak- three wickets off successive length and bowled all but one 2-1 in the five-Test series. The day to book a third-round US valiant effort in his first Proteas are due to rest sever- ing the last of his 77 Test appearances balls to give Bangladesh an over from one end in the first Open date against a familiar match against the two-time against India at Lord’s last season. After al key players for the Der- important lead of 66 runs. two sessions to halt Pak- foe — Yevgeny Kafelnikov. Slam winner. that match he took a break from all crick- byshire game with batsman But Pakistan hit back istan’s progress after they re- Vinciguerra, ranked 92nd, On the women’s side, et in a bid to resolve personal problems Gary Kirsten — who scored was playing only his second through express pacer sumed at 134-2. French Open champion Jus- caused by the end of his marriage. AFP 190 runs in total at Heading- hardcourt match since Feb- Shoaib Akhtar who dis- Rafique finished with his tine Henin-Hardenne, the ley — and fast bowler ruary.But he tested Agassi in missed first innings century second five wicket haul, 5- second seed from Belgium, Makhaya Ntini among those the first set and dueled him maker Javed Omar for 118, to help Bangladesh take beat Croatia’s Silvija Talaja Queensland want expected to sit out this through seven deuces in the nought and Hanan Sarkar for a 66-run lead for the first time 6-1, 6-2 in 51 minutes, while match. AFP seventh game of the final set 7 in the second innings. in 23 Tests they have played sixth seed Jennifer Capriati Law in their order (28) and since gaining Test status in before giving up a service Bangladesh players gather around Alok Kapali break. took 63 to down Slovakian (7) 2000. AFP Stewart retires Brisbane: Australian Stuart Law may be after the first ever hat-trick for Bangladesh dur- French Open champion Martina Sucha 6-1, 6-1. in the runs for Lancashire but Queens- ing the second Test in Peshawar. SCORE BOARD Durban: Former South Juan Carlos Ferrero, the Capriati, a three-time Slam land desperately want him to continue Africa wicketkeeper Errol third seed from Spain, beat champion, faces France’s Bangladesh (1st innings): 361 Emilie Loit next. that form into the next domestic season. Shabaash Bangladesh: Zia Pakistan (1st innings, overnight 134/2): T Umar c Mashud b Rafique 75, Inzamam Stewart announced his re- Austria’s Jurgen Melzer 1-6, The 34-year-old has been enjoying a pur- b Rafique 43, Y Youhana not out 64, R Latif st Mashud b Rafique 40, S Malik lbw b tirement from cricket on Fri- 7-6 (7/2), 6-2, 6-4 and Argenti- Thai 11th seed Paradorn ple patch with Lancashire, scoring 1,400 Islamabad: Praising the touring Bangladesh Rafique 0, S Akhtar b Mahmud 15, S Ahmed c Mortaza b Kapali 8, D Kaneria lbw Ka- day at the age of 34. na’s fifth-seeded Guillermo Srichaphan advanced by runs at 82.35 but for Queensland last sum- team for their gutsy show in the on-going Test se- pali 0, U Gul lbw Kapali 0 Stewart was due to be ousting Slovakia’s Dominik Extras: (lb-1, nb-5) 6 Coria, a French Open semifi- mer injury-riddled Law struggled making ries against Pakistan, PCB chairman Lt Gen Total: (All out, in 108.1 overs) 295; Fall of wickets: 3-159, 4-178, 5-242, 6-250, named as Mark Boucher's nalist, bounced Czech Bo- Hrbaty 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. Todd Mar- only 169 runs at 14.08. With Matthew Hay- Tauqir Zia said he had firmly opposed an ICC 7-265, 8-289, 9-289 understudy for this year's hdan Ulihrach 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 tin won his 400th ATP match, den, Jimmy Maher, Martin Love and An- move to withdraw the minnows’ Test status. Bowling: Mortaza 18-6-48-0, Kabir 13-3-61-0, Mahmud 21-6-42-2, Rafique 45-13- World Cup until he withdrew Australian sixth seed Lley- ousting Dutch 16th seed Mar- 118-5, Saleh 7-2-13-0, Ashraful 2-0-9-0, Kapali 2.1-1-3-3 drew Symonds set to be unavailable at dif- “I made them (ICC members) realise in the Bangladesh (2nd innings): H Sarkar c Umar b Akhtar 7, J Omar c Latif b Akhtar 0, from a South Africa A tour to ton Hewitt rallied to oust tin Verkerk 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), ferent times with the Australian Test and meeting, held in Monte Carlo, that withdrawal H Bashar lbw b Gul 28, M Ashraful c Umar b Kaneria 7, Rajin Saleh 5, A Ka- Zimbabwe in January. He South Korea’s Lee Hyung- 7-6 (11/9). One-day teams next summer,coach Terry of Bangladesh’s Test status would not help pali batting 4; Extras: (lb-1) 1 played six One-day Interna- Taik 5-7, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4. Lee lost Friday matches feature Total: (For 4 wkts, in 18.4 overs) 52; Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-20, 3-43, 4-43. tionals and 98 first-class Oliver says Law’s experience is vital to anyone,” he told reporters in Karachi on Bowling: Akhtar 6.4-1-25-2, Shabbir 5-2-14-0, Gul 3-1-3-1, Kaneria 4-1-9-1. nine matches in a row enter- Andy Roddick, against Croa- his side’s success. AFP Thursday. PTI matches with Natal. Reuters ing the Open but made a tia’s Ivan Ljubicic. AFP

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