Sports India

Riding on an eagle on the ninth hole, Arjun Atwal fired a near-perfect opening round of 68 to finish, along with close pal Daniel Chopra, tied 14th in the 300,000 dollar BC Open at the Atunyote Golf Course in New York.

Atwal, who has had a poor year so far in the PGA Tour, finally showed signs of his form and the lone setback in an otherwise sparkling round came in the 15th hole where he dropped a shot.

Atwal’s flawless front nine saw him beginning with a birdie and finishing even better, with an eagle on the par-four ninth hole to complete his halfway journey at three-under.

Resuming his journey, the Orlando-based Indian picked up a shot each on the 12th and 14th before the bogey in the next hole impeded his progress.

Atwal parred the next three holes to complete a highly satisfying and morale boosting round. His putting, however, was far from satisfactory and Atwal would have to address the issue for a decent finish.

Indian-born Swede Daniel Chopra dropped a shot in each nine but a birdie binge, including five on the trot from 11-15th, saw him soaring for a round of 68.

Former USPGA Champion Mark Brooks fired seven-under 65, including eight birdies, to take a one-shot lead over defending champion Jason Bohn.

Joey Sindelar’s quest for a third B.C. Open title didn’t get off to a good start.

Sindelar, of Horseheads, had three birdies and two bogeys in an opening-round 1-under 71 Thursday at Atunyote Golf Club, leaving him tied for 54th and six shots behind leader Mark Brooks after the first round of the B.C. Open presented by Turning Stone.

“I was pretty stinky today,” said Sindelar, the 1985 and 1987 champion. “I was out of synch a little bit in the beginning. The last several holes I got it going better. I guess I should be darn happy with 71.

“I’m not out of winning, but I would like to have been in the 60s today.”

Sindelar’s round was hindered by troubles off the tee, as he hit only seven of 14 fairways.

“On this course, if you drive it well you’re on offense, and if you’re not you’re scratching your head a little bit.”

TATAURANGI PULLS STRIPTEASE

Phil Tataurangi provided a moment of levity on the par-5 12th hole.

After hitting his second shot into the water, Tataurangi discovered his ball resting close to the edge of the pond.

So instead of taking a drop, Tataurangi decided to play the ball from the pond. However, before doing so, he took off his shirt before hitting the ball so it wouldn’t get wet.

Tataurangi managed to hit the ball onto the green, where he two-putted for par.

“I told him that shot’s not in my bag,” said a laughing Sindelar, who was playing with Tataurangi in a group that also included defending champion Jason Bohn. “I’ll ruin 15 shirts before (trying that).

“It was fun, I haven’t seen shirt-off in all my years, he’s probably very happy he works out and takes care of himself. That’s golf, just when you think you’ve seen it all, you haven’t.”

BUMP STRUGGLES

It appears J.B. Bump’s first PGA Tour appearance may be a short one.

Bump, a Windsor High graduate who received a sponsor’s exemption, struggled to a 4-over 76. He’ll likely need at worst a 68 today to have any chance of making the 36-hole cut.

“I didn’t drive it all that well, but I hit way too many loose iron shots,” Bump said. “A couple of times I had no chance to get up and down for par, and that was frustrating.”

Bump did manage birdies on the par-4 14th and par-5 18th, the birdie on 18 coming via a 12-foot left-to-right downhill putt.

But that was not enough to overcome four bogeys and a double-bogey 6 on the 17th hole.

“There were some nerves, but it wasn’t too bad,” Bump said. “To be honest I was quite relaxed. It was disappointing the number of bad shots I hit.”

At least Bump fared better than Mike Deuel.

Deuel, En-Joie Golf Club’s director of golf, opened double bogey-bogey-bogey en route to an opening-round 80.

ODDS AND ENDS

Elmira’s Mike Hulbert, the 1989 champion, opened with a 4-under 68. Hulbert also opened last year’s B.C. Open at En-Joie with a 68 before finishing tied for 69th. … There were 18 eagles in the first round, including 10 on the par-5 12th hole. Remarkably, there were five eagles on par-4s, with Arjun Atwal, Mike Standly and Larry Rinker posting 2s on No. 9, Jon Mills making eagle on No. 10 and Briny Baird doing the trick on No. 15.

Daniel Chopra and Arjun Atwal both fired four-under 68 to be tied 14th at the end of the first round of the PGA Tour’s $ 300,000 BC Open at the par-72 Atunyote Golf Course.

Atwal’s round was studded with an eagle four on the par-4 ninth hole and he had three other birdies and one bogey.

The round ought to give Atwal, who is struggling with his putting this season, some confidence. Though the score was fine, he still needed 30 putts for his round on the 7,315-yard layout.

Chopra, who has been starting very well last few weeks but fading away on the weekend to finish much lower than expected, went on a birdie spree from the 11th to the 15th for five on the trot.

He also had one fifth and bogeyed twice on ninth and 16th for his 68. Chopra needed 26 putts.

Former USPGA Champion Mark Brooks took the lead with a seven-under 65 that gave him a one-shot lead over defending champion Jason Bohn.

The course for this year’s event has event has been shifted to Turning Stone Resort’s Atunyote Course, from En-Joie Golf Club in Endicott, New York which had hosted the BC Open for 35 years.

Heavy rains caused flooding in the area and left the course unplayable. Last season Bohn set a record of 24-under-par at En-Joie.

Harrison Frazar had seven birdies and a bogey and also was one shot back. There were 10 players at 67 and another nine at 68.

Seconds after 3.15 pm today, an email from distant Northamptonshire in England landed in a Kolkata inbox. Barely an hour later, the mail—sent from sourav87@hotmail.com to a ‘‘friend’s account’’—had snowballed into another cricket controversy.

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For, it had Sourav Ganguly denouncing Jagmohan Dalmiya, the former BCCI boss who had played a key role in shaping the Bengal star’s rise to the pinnacle of Indian cricket.

On the face of it, the email expresses the Bengal star’s support for Kolkata Police Commissioner Prasun Mukherjee, who is contesting the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) elections next week against Dalmiya. But the text and tone of Ganguly’s email signals the end of a partnership that dominated Indian cricket for over five years since 2000.

Ironically, Ganguly has drawn his ammunition from coach Greg Chappell’s email of last September that virtually consigned him to the dustbin a month after he was removed as captain. Ganguly now hints at Chappell’s email, which had accused him of “deceit and rumour-mongering”, having been leaked to the media by Dalmiya’s men in the CAB.

‘‘People who leak emails and sacrifice players’ careers should be heavily punished. There are people in CAB who are playing with players’ careers to suit them. They should not be left scot-free as it takes years of hard work to reach a certain level in sport,” says the email that was sent to Sanjoy87@hotmail.com, an account operated by Sourav’s brother Snehashish Ganguly. Snehashish, who read out from a hard copy of the mail at the Police Club at the maidan in Kolkata, has already expressed his support for the anti-Dalmiya camp.

“I am happy that the chief minister and the people concerned are addressing the issues and working in the right path,” said the email.

Obviously, Dalmiya is a disappointed man, fighting his final battle in Indian cricket with his back to the wall by ignoring West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s advice and filing his nominations papers for the post of CAB president today.

‘‘Let me make this clear, Sourav is a very fine player. But I don’t expect loyalties from anyone, because I am no longer with the BCCI. And I really have nothing to expect,’’ said Dalmiya.

But he did display the composure that has seen him come up trumps in various cricket boardroom battles. ‘‘What? Again email? My God! We are yet to overcome the previous email (sent by Greg Chappell) and you are talking about another one now,” he said.

According to sources, Sourav’s rift with Dalmiya started last year when the 32-year-old felt that that the Kolkata businessman had not stood by him when he was sacked after the Zimbabwe tour in August. There’s also this simmering hope of a recall with the backing of one section of the current Board, which wants him to ‘‘retire gracefully’’ after one more Test series.

However, any possible chances of Ganguly’s return remains a long shot. For, the men who decide the way the ball rolls in the team are against his return.

In fact, a top member of the Indian contingent had told this paper that there was a fear that the former captain was still in touch with some of his supporters in the team, even suggesting to them that he may return soon.

But he saw no scope for the Bengal star’s return, as does the majority of the Board. In fact, one senior BCCI official told this newspaper today: ‘‘The coach doesn’t want him, the team-members are happy without him and the selectors aren’t convinced either. That apart, his performances don’t speak for him either. What else is to be considered? The last time we took a call to give him one last opportunity was when he was sent to Pakistan. Now, there’s no looking back. His career is over as far as playing for India is concerned.’’

Northants have made any number of shrewd overseas signings, many from the subcontinent, including Mushtaq Mohammad, Sarfraz Nawaz, Bishen Bedi and Kapil Dev, but Sourav Ganguly is unlikely to be included in that company.
The former captain of India signed a lucrative five-week contract, replacing the Australian Chris Rogers, and his first five first-class innings have produced 0, 2, 6, 2 and, yesterday, 5. He did not bat against Pakistan in Northants’ first innings and faced only 18 balls yesterday, the last of which, from Shahid Nazir, struck him on the chin as he pulled out of a hook stroke.

Pakistan must have felt that their lunchtime visit to a local mosque had paid immediate dividends for, after declaring at 250 for nine, 19 runs behind, they soon had Northants in desperate trouble at 43 for five before David Sales and Ben Phillips pulled matters round.
The lunchtime interval was extended to one hour to give the tourists time for Friday prayers, with the 20 minutes added at the end of the day. In truth, though, no one seemed to care much. There are places, such as airport transit lounges and train waiting rooms, where people seem anxious to move on and the old County Ground felt a little like that yesterday. Northants have their trip to Nottingham for Monday’s Twenty20 quarter-final at the front of their minds; Pakistan are focusing on next week’s Old Trafford Test.

Even Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan coach, shuffled off early - though in his case it was to Edgbaston to check on the fitness of Shoaib Akhtar. The word yesterday was that Shoaib would not play in Manchester but had an outside chance of making the third Test at Headingley.

Pakistan resumed yesterday on 97 for three. Younis Khan had added only eight runs to his overnight 50 when he gave a simple return catch to David Wigley, who finished with figures of five for 77.

Wigley, 24, has had spells at Yorkshire and Worcestershire and joined Northants this summer, but his opportunities have been limited on pitches which have offered more encouragement to the spinners. After the first five-wicket return of his career he said last night: “This was the best I’ve bowled for Northants. It was specially pleasing because it was on a flat wicket and against top opposition.

“I came here to have more opportunity of first-team cricket. I knew it was a bit of a fast bowlers’ graveyard when I came here. But these days you have to be able to be able to bowl people out on flat wickets. I’m just happy to be playing.

“I’ve been playing well for the seconds and with Monty [Panesar] playing for England and a few injuries about it’s given me an opportunity. Younis Khan was my biggest wicket. I was thrilled when he pushed it back at me but I had tied him down with a lot of dot balls.”

After Younis Khan the best batting came from Kamran Akmal, who hit seven fours in a belligerent 38 before Ganguly the bowler enjoyed some success.

When Northants batted again they lost early wickets. Stephen Peters, the centurion hero on the first day, made a two-ball duck, lbw to Iftikhar Anjum, and his opening partner Bilal Shafayat survived only two more deliveries before he was caught at third slip. Phillips (39) and Charl Pietersen (20) were the top scorers as the county made 140 in the second innings, setting Pakistan 160 for victory. At the close the tourists were 24 without loss.

(Ali is a veteran Ranji player who has represented Railways as captain for over a decade is also former national selector (juniors) and former member technical committee BCCI.)

How good is Twenty 20 cricket

This new format of cricket will perhaps bring more enthusiasm to the game and also help players in improving fitness. However, the real cricket will be a loser as the charm of 5-day cricket will fade away gradually.

What are India’s chances of winning World Cup?

Cricket is an unpredictable game so nothing can be said firmly. As regards our potential, we need a bit consistency in bowling areas to make ourselves eligible for the prestigious title.

Ganguly: Is comeback possible?

It would not be easy for Sourav Ganguly to make a come back in Team India as he was thrown out when he was in form. However, he should not hang his boots but continue playing for teams that require him. May be, he may turn lucky some day.

Mohammed Kaif: Is he Test match material?

The star from Allahabad is doing fine. With his century against West Indies he has proved his mettle in Test cricket too. He has a bright future ahead.

Is junior level talent promising enough?

There is no dearth of talent in India when it comes to cricket. Thankfully, BCCI is doing enough and the future of cricket is safe.

In a candid chat with After Hours, Yuvraj Singh talks about his hopes for an Arjuna Award, masti in Mumbai and his Bollywood aspirations.

Yuvraj Singh is on a roll and that big smile on his face is saying it all — he’s currently the top ODI batsman in the world and has been nominated for an Arjuna Award. “It’s an honour because it’s such a big award. And you get to meet the President,” he says earnestly. “I was nominated for the last two years, but I didn’t get it. Hopefully, this year it’ll become a feather in my cap.”

In town for just a day to shoot for the Autumn-Winter catalogue of Westside, a fashion label he endorses, he takes to the cameras like a pro with Muzammil Ibrahim and Sheetal Mallar. With time, he’s loosened up considerably, and now he even keeps the momentum going with some gags thrown in for good measure. But his only complaint is that he’ll hardly have time catch up with his friends in the city.

“Usually when I come to Mumbai, it’s for shoots. Earlier, whenever I got the time, I used to head to Fire and Ice, but it’s been closed down now. Olive is another nice place to spend the evening. When Zaheer is here, I usually hang out with him, but I’ve been coming here for a long time so I’ve also got some other friends whom I go out with,” he says.

Ahem! So who is he catching up with this time around? Unfortunately, anything to do with Kim Sharma — marriage plans, her alleged showdown with lensman Vikram Bawa — is strictly off limits. So is anything to do with cricketer pals like Zaheer and Irfan with similar ‘Bollywood connections’. “No controversies boss,” he begs off.

But has he ever thought of having a shot at films himself? “Well I’m not interested in Bollywood at the moment because I’m concentrating on my game. When I finish my career, maybe then…but that’s all in the future,” he shrugs.

So is he leaving it to destiny, just like his career? After all, cricket wasn’t the only sport he loved — he’d dreamt of making it big in football, tennis and even skating.

“I’m not fatalistic but yes, as far as astrological traits go, jaisa Sagittarian hota hai vaisa main hoon — very straight forward. What I’m on the inside is what I am on the outside. I don’t hide anything.”

But then is he also the flirt most Sagittarians are held to be? He shakes his head emphatically: “That’s something I don’t agree with.” We hope that answers somebody somewhere.

The nervousness was obvious. It had to be. After all, it was a rendezvous with someone going by the name of Prakash Padukone.

“Let’s sit outside,” were his first words, pointing towards a place outside the badminton courts at the Cricket Club of India. “No, I’ll take my own chair,” was the next soundbyte. The introduction had a soothing effect. Almost immediately, awe replaced nervousness.

India’s latest badminton sensation, Saina Nehwal, had to be the first topic. “She’s perhaps the brightest prospect from the country in years,” is Padukone’s first observation. “She has it all, strength, technique… Though she is short, she compensates for it with her power.”

But aren’t her losses after her victory in the Philippines Open disheartening? “Not really. One can’t expect her to win every tournament. It’s a feat in itself that she won a grade 4 tournament. Even I hadn’t won a major tournament when I was 16,” the 51-year-old says.

“Players like Saina have an advantage in the new 21-point system. The seeded players are just not as consistent as they were in the 15-point system, which provides more chances to the underdogs to script an upset,” the 1980 All England Open champion reasons.

It would be criminal if he’s not asked about the current Indian badminton scenario as compared to that in other countries. “They (countries like Denmark, China and Indonesia) have a system in place and that has been so for years together. They have a large pool of players to choose from, so their results are not surprising,” he explains.

What’s stopping India from having a system in place? “We are gradually moving towards having a system. Academies are coming up in different parts of the country. Till then, it is pretty normal to have such odd winners,” he says.

He is also optimistic of a couple of players to leave a mark. “Chetan Anand has been doing well, and I am confident about others like Anup Sridhar, Anand Pawar, Ajay Jairam to do well at the international level. Players like Sridhar have age on their side as well,” he says.

But isn’t the women’s game going nowhere, apart from Aparna Popat? “Aparna is strong technically and she has done well, though she could have done better. I believe that had she been physically stronger, she would have done a world of good to her career,” he says.

Will it help if we had more tournaments in the country? “Without doubt. Those playing for India get sufficient number of tournaments to play but others need more. At a senior level, we need at least eight tournaments more. As far as juniors are concerned, they are getting a fair share,” he says.

Players like Pullela Gopichand (also the current national coach) and Popat emerged during his stint as executive president of the Badminton Association of India (BAI). Perhaps, a longer association could have helped.

“But I feel I have done what I could in the four years I was there. I want to stay away from any kind of politics. Moreover, it is a full-time job and I don’t think I can devote so much time especially with my academy on as well,” he explains.

So when do we see another All England title coming to India?

“I only hope it doesn’t take 21 years (Gopichand won the title in 2001, 21 years after Padukone’s 1980 triumph). We have players who have the potential. It is difficult but not impossible,” he says.

We’ll go by your words.

A dozen drivers keep their fingers crossed to be one of the four for the 2006 JK Tyre National championship. India’s Formula One driver Narain Karthikeyan prefers to keep the final pick under the wraps for the next couple of days.

“I had a close look at each one of them and I feel they all did fairly well. But, pardon me, they may have to wait for the next few days because the job isn’t that easy,” says Narain.

Sole authority

He says he is the sole decision maker and that there is no question of external influence when it comes to picking the top four. “The lucky bunch need not necessarily be the best timers of the day. I am also looking at their skills and consistency. I have seen most of them perform before, and that may well decide their fate. But, believe me, nobody can influence my decision because I am doing it from my heart.”

The drivers have great faith in Narain. “He is the fastest and the most experienced driver in India. Naturally, the selection will be fair,” says Kartik Shanker of Delhi. The others were quick to back him.

Narain affirms that he will devote more time for training the youngsters this year. “I may be available for at least four of the National championship rounds, and that surely is sufficient time for me to guide them.”

He says, besides support from Amaron, Speed (BPCL) and JK Tyre, he will also be spending a substantial sum on these youngsters.

For the love of the game

What drove you into this dream project? “I know what it takes to be a champion driver. I have driven in almost every category, and I am sure my vast experience will play a vital role in moulding talent. Also, I am concerned about the future of the sport,” says Narain.

Of the 14 candidates picked by Narain, only 12 showed up for the `Young Guns Shootout.’

Narain Karthikeyan will go down in history as the first Indian to be part of Formula One racing. Though he did not make the desired impact driving for the Jordan F1 team in 2005, he is keen to ensure that Indians take the formula racing world by storm, sooner rather than later.

Keeping this in mind, the Coimbatore-based Narain is set to launch an academy that will hone the skills of young Indian drivers. Amaron batteries, Speed Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and JK Tyre have joined hands with Narain to create two racing teams - ‘Amaron NK Racing’ and ‘Speed NK Racing’. The teams will provide an opportunity for youngsters who can make their dreams come true in the world of motorsport.

Speaking at a press conference here yesterday, Narain said, ‘it is the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Indian motorsport’.

About 200 applications were received and 14 exceptionally talented drivers (under the age of 21) were selected to be tested at the Kari Motor Speedway, Chettipalayam. Their racing skills, physical fitness and team co-operation would be put to test, Narain said.

The four drivers selected would take part in all the six rounds of the ‘JK Tyre National Racing Championship’ which is scheduled to commence 20 August at Chettipalayam, Narain said adding that he did not have the opportunity to prove himself during his early days and thus for today’s talented youngsters, this would be a stepping stone to prove themselves in motorsport.

In response to a query on what would be the road map for the four youngsters after competing in the national championship, Narain said, ‘right now the focus is on the selection of the people and I would decide it at that time (after the completion of championship during the month of December 2006)’.

The shortlisted drivers are — Aditya Akkineni (Hyderabad), Aditya Patel (Chennai), Akhil Kushlani (Hyderabad), Saahil Shelar (Mumbai), Deepak Chinnappa (Bangalore), Ajay Kini (Chennai), Saran Vikram (Chennai), Sharan Parekh, Kartik Shanker (both from New Delhi), Ashwin Sunder (Chennai), Charen Chandran, Sudharshan Rao, Vignesh Devarajan and Kunal Shah.

Sanjay Sharma, head-motorsport, JK Tyre, M V Shet, senior manager, Speed-Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd and G Indeevar of Amaron Batteries also spoke