Sports India

Kuala Lumpur: It’s not a tale that needs to be told with a touch of anguish. India’s 0-1 reverse against the former World and Olympic champion, the Netherlands in the semifinals of the Azlan Shah hockey tournament provided a few positives.

Important among them were the consistency of effort in the defence and a good level of goalkeeping by Adrian D’Souza. On the negative side was the lacklustre work by the frontline.

In the other semifinal, Olympic champion Australia walloped New Zealand 7-1 after leading 3-0 at half-time.

Australia meets the Netherlands in the final on Sunday, while India and New Zealand are set to fight for the third place.

That India courted defeat seven minutes before the hooter, off a penalty corner shot by Roderick Weusthof, mirrors the closeness of the contest. The Dutch coach, Roelant Oltmans, referred to the outcome as being reflective of the strategy planned — not to engage in full scale attack but keep control of the match against the unpredictable Indian attack.

Solid defence

A close scrutiny of tie clearly reveals that the Indian defence was solid throughout, giving little space for the usually ebullient Dutch attack headed by Teun Di Nooijer.

The emphasis to keep the rival frontline at bay even went to the point of chief coach Baskaran fielding all the three deep defenders, Tirkey, Kanwalpreet and Sandeep, to support the tiring mid-field.

Vinay and Vikram Pillay stood out in the mid-field as did Viren Resquinha. Halappa worked hard as the linkman. A word of praise to D’Souza cannot be termed an exaggeration. Both the saves he effected — the first from Robert Horst and then from di Nooijer — bore a stamp of class.

It was in fashioning a consistent attack that India came a cropper. Tejbir Singh, on whom the frontline had revolved so far, was bottled up by Floris Evers. Hari Prasad, Shivendra and Tushar flashed only in patches. Even the seasoned Gagan Ajit Singh was wayward.

A tight midfield, led commendably by Jerome Delmee, with Derickx as an able ally ensured the Dutch never slackened a wee bit and allow the Indian attack gain any advantage.

In the frontline again it was the experience of di Nooijer that was quite transparent. In fact, it was his run that ended in the match-winning penalty corner. The Dutch had three penalty corners as against the one by India.

It was Australia all the way in the other semifinal. Underscoring its stature as Olympic champion, the Aussies puzzled the Kiwis from the start. After Grant Schubert scored off a cross from Travis Brookes, the Aussies enlarged the margin with two penalty corner goals by Luke Doerner and lead 3-0 at half-time. Thereafter, it was just marking the names of the Aussie scorers as the hapless Kiwi defence was left in a trance.

The results (semifinals): Netherlands 1 (Roderick Weusthof) bt India 0; Australia 7 (Grant Schubert 2, Luke Doerner 2, Matt Nylor, Travis Brookes, Dean Butler) bt New Zealand 1 (Richard Patherick) HT 3-0.

Saturday’s matches: 7-8 positions: Argentina v Malaysia (5 a.m.); 5-6: Pakistan v Korea (7 a.m.)

KUALA LUMPUR: A late penalty corner goal gave the Netherlands a 1-0 victory over India Friday and set them up for a showdown against Australia in the finals of the 15th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.

The Australians, ranked number one in the world, played one of their best matches in the tournament to defeat New Zealand 6-0 in the other semi-finals at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil here. Sunday’s finals will be the first time the Dutch and the Australians have met since the 2005 Champions trophy in Chennai when the Olympic Champions walked off with a 3-1 win.

The India-Netherlands match was a cautious affair as both teams defended well and the attacks were few and far between. India had the better chances at goal in the first half but forwards Gagan Ajit Singh, Shivender Singh and Rqajpal Singh missed some good opportunities to score. And in the second half Nhari Prasad and Tushar Khandjar missed their opportunities in front of the goal.

In contrast the Dutch had trouble getting good chances and it was their ability to win three penalty corners later in the match that did the trick. The goal came in the 64th minute off their second penalty corner. It was taken by Roderick Weusthof and his direct flick had goalkeeper Adrian De Souza well beaten. The Dutch had another penalty corner a minute later but that went wide. The Indians despite having better control of the match failed to capitalise on it and in the end were bundled out of the final.

Netherlands coach Roelant Altmans said they had no choice but to play defensively since they had played a game the day before and were a little tired. “We knew that India will be a handful and they are playing much better in this tournament. For me the objective was to see that my players played to the structure and improved with each game. “I am extremely pleased that we finally managed to score a goal from the penalty corner after three matches. It did not come from our top flicker (Taeke Taekema) but the second striker. That was good and it was a well taken flick.

“So the win is a pleasant surprise considering we started off badly in the tournament,” he said. India coach V Bhaskaran lamented the missed chances. “I think I have said it many times that teams who dominate a match must translate that in to a win. That was our story yesterday. We have good chances and in the second half control of the match. But one silly mistake gave away the goal and that was the end.

“We must learn from it and improve. These are not new things but the players must know when to attack and when to hold back. These are crucial aspects of a game.”

In the second semi-finals the Australians were in no mood to be charitable as they whipped the Kiwis with some well taken goals. In the first half they raced to a 3-0 lead by the 22nd minute. Grant Schubert scored in the seventh minute and Luke Doerner scored from the penalty corner set piece move in the 21st and 22nd minutes. Two minutes into the second half Matt Naylor was on target with a field goal and Schubert added his second in the 49th minute.

KUALA LUMPUR: Reigning Olympic champions Australia set up a final showdown tomorrow with Holland in the 15th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup with a slim win over India yesterday.

The Dutch had to slog for their 1-0 win while defending champions Australia whipped New Zealand 7-1 in the semi-finals at the National Hockey Stadium yesterday.

Tomorrow’s final will be a repeat of their final encounter in the 2005 Champions Trophy in Chennai in December. Then, the Aussies won 3-1.

Going by yesterday’s performance, Australia will start as favourites to win their third consecutive title.

New Zealand, the only unbeaten team before yesterday’s semi-final, was a pale shadow of the form they had showed earlier.

Given their lacklustre display, it was no surprise to see the Aussies take a 3-0 lead by the 22nd minute. Grant Schubert started the scoring in the seventh minute followed by Luke Doerner’s goals in the 21st and 22nd minutes.

Mat Naylor made it 4-0 for the Aussies just two minutes into the second half with a field goal.

Schubert, Travis Brooks and Dean Butler were on target in the 49th, 56th and 60th minutes respectively to make it 6-0 before the Kiwis reduced the deficit in the 69th minute through a penalty corner goal by Richard Petherick.

New Zealand team manager Peter Miskimmin said the absence of their skipper Ryan Archibald affected their midfield drastically.

“It is always difficult to play when your world class players is injured. We also had another player (Brad Shaw) out due to flu. So there was a bit of reshuffle which affected us badly. Australia played well and were much better than us. We have learned a lot from this outing,” said Miskimmin.

The Holland-India match saw both sides exercising caution with play confined to midfield.

India had more goal scoring opportunities but Gagan Ajit Singh, Tushar Khandhar, Shivender Singh and Rajpal Singh muffed their finishings.

India had only one penalty corner while Holland had two and they converted the second in the 64th minute when Roderick Weusthof flicked directly into goal.

The Dutch coach Roelant Altmans was happy with the win and was especially elated at having scored their first penalty corner in the tournament.

“That goal was our first from a penalty corner. We had to be defensive in our approach as the Indians were playing well in the tournament.

“We were wary of playing an open game.

“We are now looking to the final against Australia which we hope to win to cap a fine run in this tournament,” said Altmans.

KUALA LUMPUR: Reigning Olympic champions Australia set up a final showdown tomorrow with Holland in the 15th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup with a slim win over India yesterday.

The Dutch had to slog for their 1-0 win while defending champions Australia whipped New Zealand 7-1 in the semi-finals at the National Hockey Stadium yesterday.

Tomorrow’s final will be a repeat of their final encounter in the 2005 Champions Trophy in Chennai in December. Then, the Aussies won 3-1.

Going by yesterday’s performance, Australia will start as favourites to win their third consecutive title.

New Zealand, the only unbeaten team before yesterday’s semi-final, was a pale shadow of the form they had showed earlier.

Given their lacklustre display, it was no surprise to see the Aussies take a 3-0 lead by the 22nd minute. Grant Schubert started the scoring in the seventh minute followed by Luke Doerner’s goals in the 21st and 22nd minutes.

Mat Naylor made it 4-0 for the Aussies just two minutes into the second half with a field goal.

Schubert, Travis Brooks and Dean Butler were on target in the 49th, 56th and 60th minutes respectively to make it 6-0 before the Kiwis reduced the deficit in the 69th minute through a penalty corner goal by Richard Petherick.

New Zealand team manager Peter Miskimmin said the absence of their skipper Ryan Archibald affected their midfield drastically.

“It is always difficult to play when your world class players is injured. We also had another player (Brad Shaw) out due to flu. So there was a bit of reshuffle which affected us badly. Australia played well and were much better than us. We have learned a lot from this outing,” said Miskimmin.

The Holland-India match saw both sides exercising caution with play confined to midfield.

India had more goal scoring opportunities but Gagan Ajit Singh, Tushar Khandhar, Shivender Singh and Rajpal Singh muffed their finishings.

India had only one penalty corner while Holland had two and they converted the second in the 64th minute when Roderick Weusthof flicked directly into goal.

The Dutch coach Roelant Altmans was happy with the win and was especially elated at having scored their first penalty corner in the tournament.

“That goal was our first from a penalty corner. We had to be defensive in our approach as the Indians were playing well in the tournament.

“We were wary of playing an open game.

“We are now looking to the final against Australia which we hope to win to cap a fine run in this tournament,” said Altmans.

KUALA LUMPUR: Reigning Olympic champions Australia set up a final showdown tomorrow with Holland in the 15th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup with a slim win over India yesterday.

The Dutch had to slog for their 1-0 win while defending champions Australia whipped New Zealand 7-1 in the semi-finals at the National Hockey Stadium yesterday.

Tomorrow’s final will be a repeat of their final encounter in the 2005 Champions Trophy in Chennai in December. Then, the Aussies won 3-1.

Going by yesterday’s performance, Australia will start as favourites to win their third consecutive title.

New Zealand, the only unbeaten team before yesterday’s semi-final, was a pale shadow of the form they had showed earlier.

Given their lacklustre display, it was no surprise to see the Aussies take a 3-0 lead by the 22nd minute. Grant Schubert started the scoring in the seventh minute followed by Luke Doerner’s goals in the 21st and 22nd minutes.

Mat Naylor made it 4-0 for the Aussies just two minutes into the second half with a field goal.

Schubert, Travis Brooks and Dean Butler were on target in the 49th, 56th and 60th minutes respectively to make it 6-0 before the Kiwis reduced the deficit in the 69th minute through a penalty corner goal by Richard Petherick.

New Zealand team manager Peter Miskimmin said the absence of their skipper Ryan Archibald affected their midfield drastically.

“It is always difficult to play when your world class players is injured. We also had another player (Brad Shaw) out due to flu. So there was a bit of reshuffle which affected us badly. Australia played well and were much better than us. We have learned a lot from this outing,” said Miskimmin.

The Holland-India match saw both sides exercising caution with play confined to midfield.

India had more goal scoring opportunities but Gagan Ajit Singh, Tushar Khandhar, Shivender Singh and Rajpal Singh muffed their finishings.

India had only one penalty corner while Holland had two and they converted the second in the 64th minute when Roderick Weusthof flicked directly into goal.

The Dutch coach Roelant Altmans was happy with the win and was especially elated at having scored their first penalty corner in the tournament.

“That goal was our first from a penalty corner. We had to be defensive in our approach as the Indians were playing well in the tournament.

“We were wary of playing an open game.

“We are now looking to the final against Australia which we hope to win to cap a fine run in this tournament,” said Altmans.

West Indies will monitor the condition of all rounder Dwayne Bravo, who has a virus, before naming their team for the third test against India, which starts on Thursday.
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The teams meet at Warner Park, test cricket’s newest venue, with the four-match series at 0-0.

Bravo, who did not train on Wednesday, has enjoyed success with bat and ball on the tour.

He followed up a haul of four wickets for 40 with a polished half century in the first test in Antigua and then helped rescue West Indies in St Lucia with a patient 47, ably supporting captain Brian Lara (120) as the home side pulled off a draw.

In both the tests India piled up totals in excess of 500, only for the West Indies to avoid defeat.

“India has been accused by their press of not being able to take 20 wickets, we have the same problem,” Lara told reporters on Wednesday.

“We seem to be putting ourselves under pressure whenever India get a big total.”

“But we showed a lot of character, and if the tables can turn a bit in our favour things can be a lot more beneficial for us.”

India are expected to bring in off spinner Harbhajan Singh for the first time in the series, leaving Irfan Pathan, Munaf Patel, VRV Singh and Shantha Sreesanth vying for two fast bowling places.

Even though his team outplayed the West Indies for much of the first two tests Indian captain Rahul Dravid was wary of writing off the opposition.

“Though we have played well in the first two tests we cannot turn up in St Kitts and think it’s going to be the same,” India captain Rahul Dravid said.

Teams: West Indies: Brian Lara (captain), Chris Gayle, Daren Ganga, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dwayne Bravo, Runako Morton, Marlon Samuels, Denesh Ramdin, Ian Bradshaw, Jerome Taylor, Pedro Collins, Corey Collymore.

India: Rahul Dravid (captain), Virender Sehwag, Wasim Jaffer, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, MS Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, Anil Kumble, VRV Singh, Munaf Patel, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Ramesh Powar, Dinesh Karthik, Shantha Sreesanth.

He’s truly batted out the competition! After facing a cutthroat battle from the best in business (Dr Vijay Mallya), science (President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam), television (Navjot Singh Sidhu), music (Abhijeet Sawant) and films (John Abraham), master cricketer Mahindra Singh Dhoni has been voted as the new Pepsi & MTV Youth Icon 2006. With that, Dhoni enters the pantheon of earlier Youth Icon heavyweights such as Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Dravid and Anil Ambani.

“When I heard that I’d been voted the new MTV Youth Icon, I was both surprised as well as overwhelmed. It’s a great feeling as well as a huge responsibility to live up to the expectations. It’s a great honour to join the league of other Youth Icons like Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Dravid and Anil Ambani – I can’t help but feel like a man among giants,” says Dhoni, speaking from the West Indies.

The final six nominees were arrived at after a comprehensive ten-city study by IMRB, with the sample size being youngsters aged between 15 to 24, post which India’s youth voted for their favourite via SMS and online voting.

So, what’s Dhoni’s key message for the Indian youth? “My message to all the youth out there is that irrespective of the hurdles in your way, you can achieve anything you want as long as you set your mind to it and work hard. To all the youth of India, thanks for your support!” he adds. Go ahead – Dhoni macha le, macha le!

Youth Speak

Pratap Manohar, 22: “More than being just a player, Dhoni has now become a brand – just like Sachin Tendulkar. He has positioned himself in such a way that most of the young audiences relate to him.”

Rashmi Roy, 18: “I find him very inspiring. His never-say-die attitude is precisely the reason he is so successful and popular. Youngsters love to watch him play or even in advertisements because they can relate to his temperament. I think he is the perfect youth icon.”

Shagun Khosla, 21: “The best part about Dhoni is the fact that he has the ability to take risks and that’s what appeals to youngsters

BASSETERRE • International Cricket Council pitch consultant Andy Atkinson has a reputation for producing result-oriented surfaces, and West Indies and India would love nothing better when they face each other in the third Test, starting today at Warner Park.

Ricky Skerritt, the St Kitts and Nevis Sports Minister and former West Indies manager, flew Atkinson into the island last week to ensure that the surface for the crucial match would be up to standard.

Atkinson has supervised the preparation of pitches at 18 venues worldwide, and his arrival came against the backdrop of a strong request from West Indies captain Brian Lara for livelier pitches for the last two Tests at Warner Park and Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, to suit the home team’s fast bowlers.

The four-Test series is level at 0-0, after two tension-filled draws at St John’s Antigua Recreation Ground and Gros Islet’s Beausejour Cricket Ground in which the Indian batsmen have had their fill on easy-paced pitches, much to Lara’s annoyance.

Our strength is in our fast bowling, and our batsmen are well equipped to handle the Indian fast bowlers, so make the pitch fair,” he said.

“Make it so the fast bowlers can enjoy the first two or three days, and if it deteriorates and the spinners come into their own, so be it. We are buoyant that we are still level in this series, and so we are looking forward to the next 10 days of cricket.”

Lara had appealed to the West Indies selection panel for a fast bowler of genuine pace to keep the Indian batsmen on the back foot. His plea however, fell on deaf ears, and he has been left to find a way of shutting the opposition with a brood of medium-fast bowlers.

The selectors took the joke even further when they excluded unorthodox left-arm spin bowler Dave Mohammed from the squad of 13 chosen for the match.

He would have at least added some variety to the attack. Instead, they have brought back Marlon Samuels to fortify the batting, and force Lara to rely on him, Chris Gayle, and possibly Ramnaresh Sarwan to add the slow bowling element to the attack, if West Indies find themselves in a tight spot.

India, similarly, have some hard, tough decisions to make, but skipper Rahul Dravid was confident that the good time would continue to roll for his side.

The Indians spent the last few days oddly enough mixing light training with relaxation, rather than being engaged in a tour match.

Reflecting on the first two Tests, Dravid was satisfied with the way his side has performed, although they have not been able to seal a victory.

“We have played really well, and this is something about which we can be very happy,” he said. “What we have done well, we will try to carry on with it in this Test match.

“The way we played on the last three days in Antigua and the four days in St. Lucia, so we have to come to St. Kitts and we will prepare well and hope to play good cricket.

“West Indies are still a very good team and still play very good cricket. Though we have played well in the first two Tests, we cannot turn up in St. Kitts and it’s going to be the same. We still have to bat well, we still have to bowl well, and we still have to field well.

“If we can continue to do the small things right, somewhere along the line we will get the result we want.”

Though they have little reason to be concerned about their batting, the Indians would be concerned that Venkatsai Laxman and Yuvraj Singh have failed to post a significant score so far in the series.

Openers Virender Sehwag and Wasim Jaffer, along with Dravid, Mohammed Kaif, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni have all had a satisfactory hand in the two previous Tests, but Laxman and Yuvraj have looked way below their best.

India’s big worry, however, is their bowling. The weight of the runs that they scored in the first two Tests has not resulted in victories, and finding the right combination to their bowling attack will be the key to drawing first blood. Leg-spin bowler Anil Kumble and fast bowler Munaf Patel pick themselves, but the other two places in the attack are open to question, with many believing that off-spin bowler Harbhajan Singh should occupy one of them.

Fast bowler Shantha Sreesanth should came back into the reckoning once he has recovered from his heel injury. Irfan Pathan’s experience, if not his current form would count in his favour, and Vikram Singh has been steady, if not spectacular.

Squads: West Indies (from): Brian Lara (captain), Ian Bradshaw, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Pedro Collins, Corey Collymore, Daren Ganga, Chris Gayle, Runako Morton, Denesh Ramdin, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Jerome Taylor.

India (from): Rahul Dravid (captain), Mahendra Dhoni, Wasim Jaffer, Mohammed Kaif, Dinesh Karthik, Anil Kumble, Venkatasai Laxman, Munaf Patel, Irfan Pathan, Ramesh Powar, Suresh Raina, Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Vikram Singh, Yuvraj Singh,

St Kitts, June 22. (UNI): From a greenhorn to Team India leader, Rahul Dravid has come a long way since his 1996 debut in the Lord’s and though it was not exactly a perfect 10 for him, the stylish right-hander said he thoroughly enjoyed the game over the period.

‘You rarely find perfect scenarios… there are no perfect 10s. You have keep improving with each match and handle pressure,” Dravid said in an exclusive, freewheeling interview to Channel7 on his completion of a decade in Test cricket.

Dravid, who made his debut at the Lords in June 1996, said he felt time went past like anything.

“Sometimes I wonder.. oh God, it’s 10 years. But I have enjoyed every moment of it because I have never played under pressure. In fact, I have enjoyed my game, I have enjoyed cricket. I still vividly remember the first Test at Lords,” he said.

The Indian skipper said he was happy that the team, after a disastrous one day series, got back into shape in the ongoing Test series against the West Indies.

“But we still need to win those last moments to convert draws into wins. That should happen now…the boys are confident they will pull it through in the next two games.

“I personally did a lot of talking to the boys and told them that they need to win those last overs… just those last moments. We are there, very much there in the win. It has to be pulled through,” he said.

Dravid, who has scored 8810 runs in 102 Tests with an average of 58, refused to identify any single player who did admirably well on the Caribbean series.

“I refuse to do that.. we have done well as a team and my bowlers have done well. I know the pressure is on the new bowlers to deliver, but they need to be given some more time… they are raw talent. VRV Singh, Munaf Patel and (S) Sreesanth have tremendous potentials, which needs to be harnessed. Premature criticism would not do them good.”

The Indian skipper, who would complete a year in captaincy next month, said he enjoyed his role, ostensibly because he played under no pressure.

“I am enjoying my game and have full confidence in the boys… it’s a role I cherish.”

On India’s plans for the West Indies and whether the team management wanted to retain the current selection, Dravid remained evasive and said it was too early to comment.

“We have to pick up a good team…just a good team that can prove its worth in the tournament. The World Cup will have some very, very good teams and we need to have our best talent showcased here,” Dravid added.

WIMBLEDON: Three-time defending champion Roger Federer faces a grass-court rematch against Richard Gasquet in the first round on Monday at Wimbledon.

And four-time Wimbledon semifinalist Tim Henman looms as a potential second-round opponent.

The draw held on Friday at the All England Club pitted Henman against Robin Soderling in the opening round. Henman is unseeded for the first time in 10 years because his ranking has fallen to 62nd.

No. 2-seeded Rafael Nadal faces a potential third-round match against No. 25 Andre Agassi, playing at Wimbledon for the first time in three years. Agassi, who has played only one match since mid-March because of a back injury, drew as a first-round opponent Boris Pashanski, ranked 69th and making his Wimbledon debut.

Defending women’s champion Venus Williams, seeded sixth, will open against fellow American Bethanie Mattek. No. 12-seeded Martina Hingis, who won the tournament at 16 in 1997, will play her first match at Wimbledon since 2001 when she faces Olga Savchuk.

Tough for Sania

Sania Mirza was handed a tough Wimbledon draw that pits the Hyderabadi teenager against seventh seeded Russian Elena Dementieva in the first round of the singles event.

The Indian, who has been struggling to defend her points in her second full WTA season, has had an average outing this year and reaching the third round in the DFS Classic in Birmingham has been the best show so far.

Sania partners Michaella Krajicek in women’s doubles and the Indo-Dutch duo faces Stephanie Foretz of France and Antonella Serra Zanetti of Italy in the first round.

In men’s doubles, seventh seeds Leander Paes and his Czech comrade-in-arms Martin Damm face the seeded Serbian-Russian pair of Janko Tipsarevic and Mikhail Youzhny.

Compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi and his German team mate Alexander Waske, seeded 13th, meet unseeded pair of Frederic Niemeyer (Canada) and Glenn Weiner (USA) in another first round match. — AP, UNI