Laxman won''t be allowed runner this time, says Ponting

Fri, Oct 08 10 07:22 PM

Bangalore, Oct 8 (PTI) Wary of even a half-fit VVS Laxman, Australian captain Ricky Ponting today said that in case the Indian batsman plays the second cricket Test despite back spasm, he will not be allowed a "runner" if his injury begins to bother him during the match starting tomorrow. Laxman struck an unbeaten 73 as India fought back from the brink of defeat to beat Australia by one wicket in a thrilling first Test in Mohali and Ponting, aware of their old nemesis'' potential, does not want to take any chances this time around. "Learnt the lesson last week (Mohali Test). It can happen obviously. He (Laxman) comes to the game and had a runner. I actually look very faintly that it did not seem he was injured looking at the way he was batting. "I am bit surprised that he had not batted today at the net session. He obviously had much recovery time as possible. I expect that in the game in this stadium he would not be having a runner. No, that can''t happen," Ponting said in the pre-match press conference. Talking about the success of his bowlers in Mohali Test but leaving Laxman scot free, the Aussie captain said the team has different plans now even though he had not trained at the net sessions here. "I expect Laxman to play. Look, when you have a batting order like the innings (Mohali) you got, I have to talk about every one of them. Sachin is foremost and first and probably then, Sehwag but we play cricket with total respect for all of these stars. "Laxman batting with the tail-enders was very very sensible and good. So, we need to make sure that we have got our plans up and working when he bats in this game. I am sure things would be slow and different from the other day. I think it will be different this time. Until we got him out this guy is going to shake a bit," the Australian skipper said. Ponting said his team is looking forward to square the series (1-1) and also win a Test match on Indian soil. "We are already geared up towards doing the job well for next five days. Sometimes you do not achieve the result. I had already said that I was proud the way my boys have played cricket in the first game. Unfortunately we did not click at the right time. "For the Test starting here tomorrow, we are focusing and talking about it. Yesterday we had a long training session and we are going to train towards winning the match. It is from our part going to be a very similar game like last week and hope for the result, which would be lot more different," Ponting said. (More) PTI RE SHN

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CWG women's hockey: India's medal hopes diminish

Published>Fri, Oct 08 10 07:17 PM

New Delhi, Oct 8 (IANS) India's medal hopes in women's hockey took a severe beating despite their 7-0 win against Trinidad and Tobago at the Commonwealth Games here Friday.

New Zealand became the first team to qualify for the semi-finals with a game in hand.

Coach Sandeep Somesh admitted as much when he, referring to the chances of India making it to the semi-finals, said: 'It is a difficult task for us. We had a target and we fell short.'

India are currently placed third in pool A behind Australia and South Africa both of whom drew 1-1 earlier in the day to tie on points with seven apiece after three matches.

Australia are to play Scotland Saturday while India face South Africa. The calculators will be put to use at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium should India and Scotland win as it would lead to a four-way tie and the goal difference would come into play.

The South Africans have a goal-difference of 13 to Australia's 12, India's six and Scotland's four. The numbers demand that India and Scotland win by massive margins to progress to the medal rounds.

Surinder Kaur's four-goal blitz featured India's runaway win against the Caribbean champions on Friday while Ritu Rani, Rani Rampal and Jasjeet Kaur knocked in one each, but the team wasted twice as many opportunities due to poor finish.

As for Trinidad and Tobago, their tournament is virtually over save the game for 9-10 positions as they lost all their four league matches.

In pool B, the Kiwis outplayed England 4-1, courtesy a hat-trick by Katie Glynn, for their third consecutive win that took their tally to nine points and confirmed them a berth in the semi-finals.

The result left England placed on six points and they have a tricky game against Malaysia (3 points) Saturday. Their comparatively healthy goal-difference of three should see England through unless Malaysia (minus 5) win by at least an eight-goal margin.

Later, Canada, trailing 0-1 with about two minutes left on the clock, struck twice for a 2-1 victory against Wales who thus finished their league engagements on three points.

Canada too have three points from as many matches and will play New Zealand Saturday.

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CWG Village wears deserted look as Games proceeds

Fri, Oct 08 10 07:07 PM

New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) The Commonwealth Games Village today witnessed fewer activities as majority of athletes and support staff were busy in participating in their respective events on the fifth day of competitions today. Both the training area and international zone wore a deserted look with only a handful of athletes seen milling around. The international zone, which houses recreational facilities like cafe, merchandise stores, bar, restaurant, discotheques, games parlours and hair cut saloon, had some visitors. "I had also gone to see morning events. In case I get time I will go back to watch my friends participating in different games in the evening," said an athlete from Kenya. The Village is spread over an area of 63.5 hectares area and has residential complexes, huge dining hall, swimming pool and training area for athletes including synthetic tracks. A dozen players, mostly para-athletes, could be seen training for their events. A series of cultural programmes, including performance by rock bands and renowned singers, have been organised by the OC in a bid to keep the Village inmates entertained during the Games. Security personnel were also seen to be in a relaxed mood as there were fewer visitors to the Village than on the previous days since the Games opened on October 3.

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Flag row: Gilani accepts Pakistani chef de mission's apology

Published>Fri, Oct 08 10 12:17 PM

Islamabad, Oct 8 (IANS) Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has accepted the unconditional apology tendered by chief of the Pakistani contingent at the Commonwealth Games over his decision to carry the national flag instead of giving it to a weightlifter at the inaugural ceremony.

Dawn quoted sources as saying that while accepting the apology, the prime minister directed the sports ministry to take measures to avoid such incidents in future.

Weightlifter Shujauddin Malik was reportedly supposed to carry the flag and lead the national contingent into the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium Oct 3. But at the last moment, chef de mission Muhammad Ali Shah decided to carry it.

Weightlifting team members felt slighted and they insisted that the national flag must be carried by Malik. This led to a verbal altercation between the weightlifters and Shah.

Malik had won the only gold medal for Pakistan at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

According to the inquiry ordered by Gilani, Shah said he did not know Malik was to carry the national flag.

A meeting was held in New Delhi after the ceremony in the presence of Pakistan Olympic Association president Arif Hasan. During the meeting, Shah apologised to Malik.

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Indian archers win gold in women recurve

Fri, Oct 08 10 11:43 AM

New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) The troika of Deepika Kumari, Dola Banerjee and Bombayala Devi Laishram continued India''s gold rush winning the yellow metal in the women''s recurve event of the Commonwealth Games here today. The women recurve team defeated England 207-206 in a thrilling final at the Yamuna Sport Complex here as India''s gold medal tally swelled to 15. Earlier in the morning, India women team beat Malaysia 213-185 in the semifinals. Yesterday, the Indian compound archers had claimed a silver and a bronze in the men''s and women''s team events respectively.

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Indians off to poor start at Alfred Dunhill Links C''ship

Fri, Oct 08 10 11:23 AM

Fife (Scotland), Oct 8 (PTI) Indian golfers were off to a poor start at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship with Shiv Kapur''s two-over 74, which fetched him the tied 130th spot, being the best among the four in fray here. Kapur''s card was marred by three bogeys and a quadruple bogey against four birdies. A stroke adrift of Kapur was Gaganjeet Bhullar, who occupied the tied 141st position after rollercoaster day. Bhullar stumbled to seven bogeys and a double bogey against three birdies and an eagle, which came on the 14th hole. Jyoti Randhawa was tied 156th after fetching two double bogey, three bogeys against a couple of birdies in his five-over 77 in the opening round. Randhawa shared the position with C Muniyappa and SSP Chowrasia. At the top of the heap, the quartet of Maarten Lafeber, Ricardo Gonzalez, Thomas Bjorn and Martin Laird shared the lead with identical 66s.

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Singapore coach apologises after disqualification blunder

Fri, Oct 08 10 10:57 AM

Singapore's swimming coach Ang Peng Siong apologised to his devastated team after failing to register them on time, resulting in their disqualification from the Commonwealth Games 4x200m freestyle relay.

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