2010 WC will be the best ever: FIH president

NEW DELHI: It’s certainly not the best of times for Indian hockey. Reports of tension between players and the coach and the concerns over Hockey FIH India elections are enough to make the International Hockey Federation (FIH), which is seeking to revive the game in the country, worried.

However, FIH president Leandro Negre is not losing sleep over it. He’s optimistic that every problem facing Indian hockey will be sorted out in due course of time. Of course, he did reiterate on Friday that India would be barred from hosting the World Cup if they fail to have a democratically elected body in place before the tournament.

"India is key for world hockey but we maintain that as per our constitution, there should be an elected body before the World Cup. If they fail, we have to follow FIH constitution... hopefully that will not happen. I’m sure elections will be over before the World Cup," Negre said.

The FIH president was in the Capital to sign a sponsorship deal with Steel Authority of India (SAIL), which he did in the presence of union minister for steel Birbhadra Singh, minister for state A Sai Prathap, steel secretary Atul Chaturvedi, SAIL chairman SK Roongta and Hockey India president AK Mattoo. This is FIH’s second major deal after the one with title sponsor Hero Honda.

Negre spoke to TOI about the World Cup and other matters related to hockey. Excerpts:

Tell us something about this new deal.

We signed an agreement today with SAIL, which will be our Presenting Partner. It’s not possible to give out details about the deal, but this contract, alongwith the one with Hero Honda, is something the types of which FIH had never signed in its history. Now the World Cup will be referred to as the ‘Hero Honda FIH World Cup, presented by SAIL’.

Are you satisfied with the response you are getting from corporates for the World Cup?

It’s hugely satisfying. I can assure you that the event is going to the best ever organised.

Indian hockey is going through some tough times - there are so many issues, ranging from the problem in the team to Hockey India elections. Are FIH bosses worried?

I am an optimistic person. I am sure everything will be solved at the right time. Certain things are not FIH’s concern, like what’s happening with the Indian team. It’s Indian hockey’s internal matter which they have to sort out. As far as the elections are concerned, the decision to postpone them was an unanimous one. India is a huge country with so many state units. We could have had the elections on November 18, but we postponed it to ensure the participation of more states.

And the venue for the World Cup? It’s yet to be handed over with just four months to go for the mega event.

I will be visiting the stadium on Saturday. Only then can I say how much progress has been made. I believe some small things like electricity connection are to be put in place before the test events. There have been delays but I am confident everything will be ready in time.

Will you stick to the new January-end deadline for HI elections or there’s still scope for another extension?

The deadline is end of January and the elections have to be held before the World Cup. I am calling all parties to show responsibility because this is going to be a great opportunity to fix the problems for good. The next assembly of Hockey India will elect the office bearers in a democratic and fair manner.

You always talked about having in place a Plan B as regard to the World Cup in case the Indian authorities did not put things in order. Does it still stand?

There’s no Plan B. Having one would be a negative way to approach the concerns. To be very honest, I must say all of FIH’s demands and wishes have been settled by the Indian authorities.

As of now, FIH seems to be interested in Indian hockey. But will the interest remain even after the elections and the World Cup?

We are here to help the Indian hockey. I believe we are doing just that. India is important for hockey as well as FIH. We are very eager to see India back on the top and we are doing our best to achieve that.

TOI

Gambhir, Tendulkar script India's great escape

Sachin Opener Gautam Gambhir
AHMEDABAD: Gautam Gambhir and Sachin Tendulkar hit opportune centuries as India came up with a spirited batting display to salvage a draw in the Sachin Opener Gautam Gambhir conjured up yet another marathon innings of 114 runs, result of his six-and-half hour vigil, before Sachin Tendulkar (100 not out) took the centrestage to chase down yet another milestone of 30,000 international runs en route to his 43rd Test ton.

With VVS Laxman (51 not out) also chipping in with his 40th Test half-century, India batted their way out of trouble to maintain their impressive home record against the Lankans.

Going into the final day's play needing just eight wickets to snap their 14-match winless streak on Indian soil, the exasperated Sri Lankans could only watch haplessly as the hosts showed the kind of application and determination that had been missing in their shoddy first innings display.

Resuming with 144 runs in the arrear, the Indians finished the day at 412 for four with Gambhir, Tendulkar and Laxman scoring bulk of the runs on a shirtfront of a wicket that simply had nothing for the bowlers.

Both the teams now move to Kanpur for the second Test starting on November 24.

Milestone man Tendulkar reached yet another landmark in his glittering career when he turned swing bowler Chanaka Welegedara backward of square for a single to take his tally of runs in Tests, ODIs and T20 internationals to 30,000.

Overall, it was a poor advertisement for Test cricket as nearly 1600 runs were scored while just 21 wickets fell over the five days' play leading to this stalemate.

The match also saw the highest number of centuries -- seven --- being scored on the sub-continental soil.

Tendulkar's unbeaten 211 ball knock included 11 hits to the fence.

Trailing the visitors by a massive 334 runs in the first innings, India wiped off the deficit in the last over before tea.

The two Indian batsmen out today were Amit Mishra (24), who did an excellent job in the unaccustomed nightwatchman's role, while Gambhir virtually threw his wicket after notching up his seventh Test century.

Earlier, Mishra stuck to his task for over 45 minutes after India started the day 144 runs behind the Lankans at 190 for two.

The leg-spinner was eventually dismissed by Angelo Mathews, caught brilliantly at leg gully by Tillakaratne Dilshan.

Tendulkar straightaway started stroking the ball sweetly as he cover-drove the accurate and miserly Mathews for a four and then hit danger man Muttiah Muralitharan for successive fours in one over.

Gambhir, batting solidly from the other end, also opened out and raced to his hundred by hitting left-arm spinner Rangana Herath for two fours before he glanced Mathews to the rope. It was his first hundred against Sri Lanka.

India lost Gambhir in the sixth over of the second session. He was lured by a well-tossed up ball from left-arm spinner Rangana Herath and, in trying to hit it into the vacant leg side area, got the leading edge to be caught at mid-off by Dammika Prasad.

It was the Delhi left-hander's third hundred this year and in as many Tests since making his marathon match-saving 137 against New Zealand at Napier in March. The ICC Test Player of the Year faced 230 balls and struck 13 fours in his six and a half-hour stay.

Tendulkar was joined by Laxman and the duo ensured that no further wickets were given away to either pace or spin by forging an unbeaten 137-run fifth wicket partnership.

Soruce: TOI

India fightback to save Test

Ahmedabad, Nov 19: India fought back gallantly in their bid to save the first cricket Test but were still not completely out of danger after Sri Lanka piled up the agony on the hosts with a record-breaking run deluge here today.

After being buried by a massive 334-run first innings lead mainly built around a world record sixth wicket partnership between Mahela Jayawardene (275) and Prasanna Jayawardene (154 not out), the Indians reached 190 for two in their second innings at stumps on the penultimate day, still trailing by 144 runs.

The hosts still have a daunting task to prevent the Lankans from recording their first Test triumph on Indian soil as they have to bat out the entire last day on a Motera track which was expected to deteriorate and assist the spinners.

Indian batsmen need to score heavily, says Kirsten

AHMEDABAD, Nov 19: India coach Gary Kirsten has urged his batsmen to come up with “something special” to save the first test against Sri Lanka.

The hosts are faced with an uphill task on the final day on Friday after Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene (275) and Prasanna Jayawardene (154 not out) extended their sixth wicket stand to a world record 351 on Thursday.

The tourists, aiming to win their first test on Indian soil in 27 years, declared their first innings at 760 for seven for a first innings lead of 334.

India closed day four at 190 for two, still 144 runs behind with eight wickets in hand. Opener Gautam Gambhir led India’s fightback with an unbeaten 74.

“To be honest so far it has turned to be a fantastic batting wicket,” the former South Africa opener said.

Indian compound archers win gold in Asian Archery championship

STAFF WRITER 18:32 HRS IST

Kolkata, Nov 20 (PTI) Indian compound archers made history by clinching their first ever gold medal in the Asian archery championship at Bali today.

On the penultimate day of the 16th edition of the championship, India also bagged two silver medals in the men's recurve and women's compound sections, according to the Archery Association of India (AAI).

The Indian trio of C Srither, Kh Ratan Singh and Isiah R Sanam edged past Iran 231-230 in a nerve-wrecking contest to reign supreme in the compound section.

The Indian men's recurve team, comprising Rahul Banerjee, Jayanta Talukdar and Mangal Singh Champia lost to Korea 219-222 in the summit clash to settle for a silver medal.

In the women's compound team final India once again were beaten by Korea as the trio of Jhanu Hansdah, Namita Yadav and Manjudha Soy had to be content with a silver medal. They lost 215-223.

Dammika Prasad doubtful for second Test against India

STAFF WRITER 18:57 HRS IST

Ahmedabad, Nov 20 (PTI) Sri Lankan pacer Dammika Prasad is a doubtful starter for the second cricket Test against India starting in Kanpur from November 24 due to a hamstring injury, captain Kumar Sangakkara said today.

"I don't think he (Dammika) would play as it seems right now he may not be available," Sangakkara said at the post-match press conference after the first Test ended in a draw here.

Prasad bowled just four overs today out of the wicketless 13 overs he sent down in India's second innings before a hamstring problem forced him to leave the field.

The 30-year-old right arm pacer scalped two wickets during India's first innings, giving away 106 runs from his 22 overs.

Prasad has so far represented Sri Lanka in only four Tests and five One-Day Internationals and scalped 13 and five wickets respectively.

Sandeep fit to play in 2010 World Cup: Mattoo

NEW DELHI: Hockey India President A K Mattoo on Friday cleared the air over Sandeep Singh's participation in next month's Chammpions Challenge Sandeep fit to play in 2010 World Cup tournament and 2010 World Cup, saying the ace drag-flicker has recovered from his back injury and is expected to be part of both the events.

"I am 100 per cent certain Sandeep will play in the World Cup. How can you decide about whether a player would be in the World Cup team three months before the tournament," Mattoo told reporters during the Presenting Partner agreement signing function between Steel Authority of India Limited and International Hockey Federation.

"He will be there in the team. He had a back injury but he has come out of that. Sandeep will also play in Champions Challenge," he added.

Sandeep's participation in both the events came under cloud after chief coach Jose Brasa earlier this week said that the back injury, which he sustained during last month's Canada tour, will see the drag-flicker out of both Champions Challenge to be held in Salta, Argentina, from December 6 to 13.

Sandeep was subsequently replaced by Rajpal Singh as the skipper of the national team for Champions Challenge from Dec 6-13 but Mattoo overruled the decision, saying they are yet to finalise the captain.

"Captain was never an issue, the issue was lack of communication between the coach Brasa, players and the support staff", Mattoo said.

"The captain is not yet decided. HI will take a decision on captaincy within a few days," he said.

The HI chief also claimed that the revival of Indian hockey was heading in the right path and assured FIH that the the nation would host one of the best World Cup.

"Indian hockey is moving forward in the right direction. In coming days we will see hockey back on track," Mattoo said during the function which was also attended by FIH President Leandro Negre.

"I assure Mr Negre that we will ensure the best World Cup," he added.

The FIH chief said the mega-event is vital to Indian hockey's development.

"The event is of immense importance to Indian hockey. The World Cup will be a great catalyst in reviving Indian hockey. Let us hope India may rise again in world hockey," Negre said.

Minister of Steel Virbhadra Singh, who was also present on the occassion, urged both public and private sectors to extend their helping hand in the game's revival.

"I am happy that the World Cup is being staged in India. I am happy that SAIL is associated with the event as a Presenting Partner. Once hockey was country's main game but lately it is being pushed back and is struggling to find a place," Singh said.

"I think both public and private sector should come forward and support the game as well as sportspersons." he added.

Sachin Tendulkar mounts peak 30K

NEW DELHI: After completing 17,000 runs in the 50-over format of the game, Sachin Tendulkar achieved another milestone by completing 30,000 runsSachin Tendulkar mounts peak 30K in his international career during the first Test against Sri Lanka at Sardar Patel stadium in Ahmedabad.

Master Blaster Sachin became the first batsman to complete 30,000 international runs when he scored his 35th run in the second innings against Sri Lanka on the fifth and final day of the first Test.

He has so far played 160 Tests, 436 ODIs and a lone Twenty20 scoring 87 international hundreds and 145 fifties in all.

Tendulkar touched the magical 17,000-run mark in One-Day International cricket earlier in this month. Sanath Jayasuriya is second on the list with 13,377 runs followed by Aussie captain Ricky Ponting who has a lot of catching up to do.

Sachin has scored 17178 runs in One-dayers thus far. The Indian batting legend has 45 One-day hundreds and 91 ODI fifties under his belt. The veteran batsman has scored 42 hundreds and 54 half centuries in the Test format of the game.

The diminutive Mumbaikar, who made his ODI debut Pakistan in 1989, is already way ahead of his contemporaries when it comes to accumulating runs.

TOI