SPORTS LOCAL XAVIER NETS WINNER FOR POSTAL
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ostal pipped Southern Blues 1-0 in the BDFA Super Division league at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Monday. Nesline Xavier scored the winner in the 75th minute. In the ‘A’ Division league at National College grounds, National Football Club drew 2-2 with Government Press. National FC got the lead in the 26th minute through Vikram, but Nirmal Kumar equalised four minutes later. Vikram struck again in the 65th to give Government Press the lead, but Hariharan stole a late equaliser in the 84th.
Bangalore, Tuesday, March 3, 2009
JHA STANDS ATOP LG MERIT LIST
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angalore lad Abhishek Jha’s LG All-India Amateur event might have come to a disappointing end but a runner-up finish ensured his ascent to the top of the LG Order of Merit list. With three titles this season, Jha has a slender six point lead over his nearest contenderGagan Verma. Manav Das is in third spot with a total 241 points with Vikram Rana close behind him. Jha, who endured a rough patch in the middle of the season after winning the season-opener, got back to winning ways in Pune, where he registered a comfortable win. Another
TODAY IN BANGALORE :
Yet another draw for Anand Indian champ in fifth spot; Grischuk remains on top
Linares (Spain): World Champion Viswanathan Anand played out a draw with Levon Aronian of Armenia and slipped to fifth spot in the ninth round of Magistral Ciudad De Linares Chess tournament here. Having lost to Aronian from a position of strength with white pieces, Anand could do little as black and the game petered out to a draw. Grandmaster Alexander Grischuk remained a full point clear of nearest rivals after settling for a quick draw with Wang Yue of China. The Russian took his tally to a very impressive six points out Levon Aronian of a possible nine. The second spot is now shared by Magnus Carlsen of Norway, Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine and Aronian who all have 5 points each while Anand is a half point adrift of this lot. Sharing the sixth spot now are the remaining three players, Lenier Dominguez of Cuba, Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan and Wang Yue. Barring Grischuk’s quick draw, it turned out to be a pretty exciting day as Carlsen bounced back in the event with a fine victory over Dominguez. In the other game of the day, Ivanchuk played out a draw with Radjabov. For Anand, playing simple was the key as the Indian ace did not give many chances. Aronian stuck to his Catalan opening and it was routine theory wherein Anand sacrificed a pawn temporarily to maintain the balance. The pieces got traded in a heap and all the queen side pawns had changed hands in quick time. The game lasted 30 moves. Ivanchuk faced the Schielmann system from Radjabov in the Ruy Lopez and could not do much with his white pieces. The Ukrainian stood a little better in the middle game but his advantage was neutralised once Radjabov got the typical central breakthrough. The peace was signed in 30 moves. Results round 9: Levon Aronian (Arm, 5) drew with V Anand (Ind, 4.5); Lenier Dominguez (Cub, 3.5) lost to Magnus Carlsen (Nor, 5); Wang Yue (Chn, 3.5) drew with Alexander Grischuk (Rus, 6); Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukr, 5) drew with Teimour Radjabov (Aze, 3.5). –PTI
win in Noida and a second place finish at the All-India have helped him overtake Gagan Verma. Gagan clinched his maiden title at the LG Southern India Amateur Championship in Bangalore but is yet to find his way back into the winner’s circle after that. Both Gagan and Vikram Rana have been selected to represent India this week at the South Africa Amateur Championship. LG Order of Merit List (Top-5): 1. Abhishek Jha: 266 2. Gagan Verma: 260 3. Manav Das: 241 4. Vikram Rana: 234.5 5. Rashid Khan: 226
MERITORIOUS: Bangalore’s Abhishek Jha has excelled this season
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ndia’s basketball coach Alexander Bucan on Monday acknowledged the considerable improvement shown by the national team in the last one year and said a national league needs to be put in place. “There has been some improvement compared to one-and-a-half-years ago when I took over as the coach. The Indian under17 team created history by winning the Asian FIBA 33 championship,” the Serbian said. Advocating the importance of the national league, Bucan said all the top basketball-playing countries had it. “India is a very big country and this type of competition is needed.”
CHAMPIONS: Panchkesari, winners of the inter-corporate Floodlight SuperSixes tennis ball cricket tournament at Malleswaram Grounds
Making her way, quietly RAVINDRA JOSHI.DNA
Sayali Gokhale won the national badminton title, but can she withstand the pressure from now on?
but Sayali ambushed her in a three-setter, and then went on to dismantle PC Thulasi in the final. Through the tournament she demonstrated her best abilities: fluid movement, excellent length, good courtcraft, and the willingness to stay in long rallies. Dev S Sukumar.BANGALORE Sayali still retains some of the flavour of her junior days. Her striking characHaving unexpectedly won the top prize in teristic on court is her feminine style – a the national circuit a fortnight ago, Ban- graceful, stroke-filled game that looks out galore-based shuttler Sayali Gokhale of sync with modern, hard-hitting badfinds herself in unfamiliar territory. With minton. Her game on court is an extenthe women’s singles title at the National sion of her off-court personality, for she Championships under her belt, she will is a quiet, reserved character who never now be under the microscope, the one raises her voice and gets along with everyeverybody will want to beat. How she han- body. dles this new-found status will probably She ‘keeps the house’ at the Bangalore define where her career is headed. flat she shares with fellow Padukone But Sayali, 22, is not perturbed. “My Academy trainees Aditi Mutatkar and game won’t get affected,” she says, “but Neha Pandit – she’s obsessive about tidyit’s an additional responsibility. I have to ing the place, and she loves to cook. “She’s maintain this level.” a nice, homely girl,” says world no.38 MuEver since (now world No.10) Saina Ne- tatkar, who, like Sayali, is from Pune. “If hwal burst on to the junthe cook doesn’t come, ior scene some seven she’s the one who feeds years ago as a world- Her game on court is all of us.” class prospect, most of But it’s also these an extension of her the other women’s sintraits that make people gles players have stayed off-court personality, wonder if she’s too in the shadows. With for she is a quiet, “soft” to become a Saina, Aditi Mutatkar top-level player. and Trupti Murgunde reserved character “She’s not agwinning the few prizes who never raises her gressive and on offer in the national that shows circuit, Sayali, and oth- voice and gets along in trainers like her, have had to with everybody ing. She keep working without doesn’t expectation of a big cross turnaround. her limits, and that’s The defunct national circuit of 2008 something she will have gave them no opportunities to tilt at the to do if she has to progress at the interbig guns, and thus no opportunity to stake national level,” says Mutatkar. “She’s very a claim in the national squad. “We had hardworking and sincere, but she always second thoughts about our career because stops at 100 percent, when you need to do there were few national-level tourna- 110 percent.” ments in 2008,” Sayali says. “We wondered The lack of aggression is something what we were training for. But I kept that even her childhood coach in Pune, training for myself because I understood Anil Modak, points out. She has a few that in the end, only performance counts.” more deficiencies to iron. Most believe The recently-held national champi- that, with improved strength and enonships were a great opportunity for all durance, she could at least be a world topthe second-rung players. Both Saina Ne- 30 player. The national title might just be hwal and Aditi Mutatkar withdrew to re- the fillip that her international career cover from injuries. In their absence, needed – and as such, it couldn’t have Trupti Murgunde was expected to win, come at a better time, or to a nicer person.
ALL FINESSE: Bangalore-based national champion Sayali Gokhale is known as a strokeful player who can do well on the international circuit
Country over league for Geetu Mumbai: India’s best-known woman basketballer Geetu Anna Jose is not to ply her ware in the Australian professional league this year to represent the country in the Asian Basketball Championship in Chinese Taipei in June. “I will be in the camp prior to the ABC in June in Chinese Taipei and will not be playing in the Australian League,” said Geetu, who is playing here for Southern Railways in the Silver Jubilee Ramu Memorial Basketball Champioship at the Indian Gymkhana. The Australian league begins in March. The 6-ft 2-in Geetu is the only Asian player to figure in the Australian League and has played the full season last year after being seen in action for five or six games in the earlier two years. “I play at Melbourne for Ringwood Hawks and I’m the tallest player in my team, said the 23-year-old Kerala-born player who caught the attention of Australian basketball coaches during the Commonwealth Games in 2006 in which she was the Most Valuable Player of India. Playing in India is a breeze as compared to the tough pro circuit in which she parades her skills in Australia, Geetu said. “Here it’s very easy but there it’s a bit hard to play as those players don’t give any leeway. The main difference there is the height of the players and their speed around the court. They are very, very fast,” she said. Looking ahead to the ABC competition, Geetu felt it would be a tough ask for the Indian team. Geetu’s highest points tally in an Australian pro-league game has been 32 points. –PTI
Makwana takes title; Udupa runner-up After upsetting the top seed in the eighth round, Makwana assured himself of the trophy
VICTOR: Ashwin Makwana holds the National Open chess title that he won at the end of nine rounds
yourzone
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COACH BUCAN IN FAVOUR OF NATIONAL LEAGUE
he Karnataka Swimming Association (KSA) will conduct a free awareness programme on aquatic safety standards for public and semi-public pools, hotels, apartments, resorts and clubs which have swimming pools. It will be held on March 11 at 10am in Basavangudi swimming pool. For details contact: H Nagesh Rao: 9243073405.
■ BDFA Super Division league, BEML versus CIL, Bangalore Football Stadium, 4pm ■ ‘A’ Division league: ISRO versus AGORC, National College grounds, 1.30pm
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hief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Monday admitted that some projects of the 2010 Commonwealth Games were running behind schedule but said there was no need to be skeptical or cynical about the preparations. “There are some projects which are behind schedule, while some are before time and some are on time. There is no need to be skeptical or cynical about it,” Dikshit said. Dikshit also scotched apprehensions that there was no co-ordination among different committees of the Games. “There are two group of ministers who are looking at the preparation of the Games and there is enough time, so I am confident,” she said.
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GOLD HAUL FOR ITBP IN NATIONAL JUDO C’SHIPS
CWG PROJECTS ON TRACK, SAYS SHIELA DIXIT
epaper.dnaindia.com
KSA TO HOLD AWARENESS PROGRAMME
nationwatch ndo-Tibetan Border Police won five medals, including a gold, in the Senior National Judo Championships at Lucknow. Virender Singh won the gold (81 kg) and bronze in open weight category, while Santosh Mane won silver in under-66 kg weight category. In 90kg weight category, Virender Singh bagged the bronze, while Madan Lal also won bronze in the 56 kg weight category. Among the women judoka of ITBP, Kalpna Devi won gold in the 52kg weight category and bronze in open weight category.
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q&awith...
Ashwin Makwana of Gujarat won the National Open Chess tournament for the Blind which concluded at Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Monday. In the ninth round, Makwana was forced to accept a draw against 12-year-old Sai Krishna from Tamil Nadu, but he had done enough to ensure a title win. Top seed Krishna Udupa of Karnataka was also forced to accept a draw against Athul Kakade of Maharashtra at the end of 23rd move and won second prize. Madhan Bagayatkar of Mumbai came third. Bagayatkar, an Indian international, was two points down but finished victorious against T Saibu
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He was not allowed to play for a charity match in New Zealand because of the presence of the players from a rival league. He sat frustrated at the corner of a ground when we caught up with him.
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Disappointed at not being allowed to play? I am furious, not disappointed. How can they stop me from playing?
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Yeah, how could they…
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So are you planning to talk to the board Prez?
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Anyways, the focus is the ODI now…
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Have you given them any advice?
If I decide to stop playing for them, they’ll be in trouble.
Yesterday’s answer: Those who gave the right answer: Jayant & Sheela Samarth, Rupesh Shah, Shailesh Sharma, Anuraag Dandekar
What will he do? He is sitting in his AC office while we slog out in freezing temperature here. Ridiculous! Hmm… I hope these kids play with some purpose. They want to hit each ball out of the park. I just told them to win. I want to win here at least once in my career. *Disclaimer: All characters are real but the interviews are fictional
Gautam Gambhir
of Kerala. Susheela Y of Karnataka was declared best woman player. The five-day tournament was organised by Samarthanam Trust for the disabled, and supported by KPMG India. The top 12 (points denote ELO rating): Ashwin Makwana (Guj, 1000); Sri Krishna Udupa (Kar, 2000); Madan Bagayatkar (Mah, 1,880); Sai Krishna (TN, 985); Atul Kakade (Mah, 975); Noushad EP (Ker, 980); Mohd Salih (Ker, 1601); Sanjay Kakade (Goa, 1876); Swapnil Shah (Mah, 1987); Raajhesh Raajput (Guj, 990); Ajaya Kumar (Ker, 935); Nagendran (TN, 950).
kakuro The task is to fill all of the empty squares, using numbers 1 to 9, so the sum of each horizontal block equals the number to its left, and the sum of each vertical block equals the number on its top.
RUNNER-UP: Top seed Sri Krishna Udupa (left) was upset in the eighth round and ended second-best
webwrap Cautious captain
Rewriting history
Ponting is a cautious captain, all the more so now he is under scrutiny after losing two recent series to India and South Africa. He would have probably looked for a lead of 500 in the ongoing Test against South Africa, but the decision was taken out his hands. It is still a beautiful day here but the rain has a habit of drifting in during the late afternoon. In nearby Pretoria, the capital, they are known as civil servants’ showers. The civil servants, traditionally, go home at four and that is when the rain so often arrives. At lunch Australia, having resumed on 51-1, were 174-9. That gave them a lead of 420, which was probably more than enough on a pitch doing plenty even though, rather timidly, they came into this game with only three proper bowlers. When Australia lost three wickets in four balls, and four in 13 balls, the crowd went crazy. And the wickets kept tumbling throughout the session.
Sir Alex Ferguson bristled and unleashed his best “turn to stone” glare at the mere hint that history might be about to wrap Manchester United in its warm embrace once more. Ferguson was on familiar territory after United claimed the Carling Cup against unfortunate Spurs at Wembley after a final that was intriguing without ever fulfilling its early promise. The question was justified, the answer a perfect example of expectation management from a man who has mastered the art in a silver-lined Old Trafford career. United have added the Carling Cup to the Club World Cup, have strengthened their grip on the League even after a day off from that particular domestic combat, are in the last eight of the FA Cup and nicely placed to reach the Champions League quarter-final.
Paul Weaver at the Sport blog
Phil McNulty on the BBC Sports blog