From the publishers of THE HINDU
VOL.27 :: NO.35 :: Aug. 28 - Sept. 03, 2004
Published Weekly
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From the publishers of THE HINDU VOL.27 :: NO.35 :: Aug. 28 - Sept. 03, 2004 |
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The Sportstar Published Weekly |
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IT had the trappings of a Greek tragedy with a touch of Hitchcockian mystery thrown in. It effectively ruined the opening show for the Greeks.
Rathore had a good run-up to the Olympics. With some great thinking and judicious planning he shot down a silver, writes KAMESH SRINIVASAN.
IT was as good as you can imagine. The manner in which Major Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore fought for the Olympic medal, and eventually shot the silver down at the magnificent Markopulo range, it was clear that Indian sports, the Olympic disciplines in particular, was in safe hands. Failing to meet the expectations Konstantinos Kenteris and Ekaterini Thanou, both medallists at the last Olympiad came into focus for wrong reasons. 
A dark chapterWOMEN weightlifters Sanamacha Chanu and Pratima Kumari found themselves in the hall of shame after they failed the dope test, making it one of the darkest chapters in the country's sports history. India's Deputy Chef-de-Mission Harish Sharma ...
Greek sprinters withdrawGREECE'S Konstantinos Kenteris, the 200 metres champion in the Sydney Olympics and the focus of an Olympic doping scandal, withdrew from the Athens Games "out of a sense of responsibility."
Rising above pettiness, embracing it, tooARE these the cuddling Olympics, the touchy-feely Games? Everywhere you looked in the swimming, testosterone-charged men with muscles where we believed none could exist were hugging and embracing and making a nonsense of machismo.
Justine Henin-HardenneSHE's just a tennis player, like Pete Sampras was just a tennis player. Not an entertainer, a trendsetter, or even much of a star. Henin-Hardenne's game is her statement and, as with Sampras, who would have guessed from looking at her that it ... 2004 U.S. OPEN 
Roger FedererEVERY move a great player makes is expressive, right down to what he does between points. Bjorn Borg, the quiet killer, blew on his fingertips; John McEnroe always twitchy tugged at his shirt; Andy Roddick drums the ball into the court, Roger ... 2004 U.S. OPEN 
Maria SharapovaTHE early comparisons, naturally, have been to another famous Russian blonde, but doesn't Maria Sharapova remind you of someone else, someone just a little, well, better? Hints: Sharapova is close to her father. Her family fled ... 2004 U.S. OPEN 
Marat SafinTHE game's drama king doesn't play tennis matches as much as stage on-court operas. They're tragedies, of course, with himself in the leading role. You know the pose: the shrug, the mouth open to the sky, the palms up — Why is this ... 2004 U.S. OPEN 
Venus WilliamsREMEMBER the Venus Williams, all legs and full of beads, who walked into Irina Spirlea on a changeover in the semifinals of the U.S. Open way back when? Tennis had never seen a more focused competitor. Now it's hard to imagine a more ambivalent ... 2004 U.S. OPEN 
Andre AgassiNO second acts in show-biz? Andre Agassi is deep into his third at Flushing Meadows. The first two were colourful — the pink spandex, the peroxide mullet, Barbra, Brooke — but ultimately unsatisfying. They ended, in 1990 and '95, with ... 2004 U.S. OPEN 
Amelie MauresmoMAURESMO is always on the verge. No one has a more complete game; all she needs is that first big win at a Slam, but the first is always the hardest. One player she won't have to worry about is the injured Kim Clijsters, who crushed her in the ... 2004 U.S. OPEN 
David NalbandianTHE tour's workhorse was a point away from the final at Flushing against Andy Roddick in 2003. Nalbandian got to that brink by putting on a clinic in percentage tennis, and his serve has since improved. He tore an abdominal muscle in June, but if ... 2004 U.S. OPEN 
THE GREAT WIDE OPENSome say today's game lacks variety, but we beg to differ — tennis in 2004 is nothing but variety. The pros now come from every corner of the globe, and their styles don't come from anybody's textbook. So it's fitting that they ... 2004 U.S. OPEN 
Andy RoddickAS a kid, Andy Roddick chose tennis over baseball, but he wonders sometimes how far he could have gone on the diamond. If his style on court is any indication, he would have held his own; in fact, sometimes it looks like he never made a choice at ... 2004 U.S. OPEN 
Serena WilliamsA HIGH-FLYING celebrity away from the court, Serena Williams plays the most down-to-earth game of any top pro. The notecards she reads on changeovers provide rudimentary advice — such as "bend your knees" — and she follows it. Nobody ... 2004 U.S. OPEN 
Guillermo CoriaWE know the pro season is long, but sometimes it can be cruel, too. Take the case of Guillermo Coria. After scratching and scrambling his way to 37 wins in 38 matches on clay, this 145-pounder found himself in the final of the French Open, up two ... 2004 U.S. OPEN 
Jennifer CapriatiSHE has a history here. Actually, Jennifer Capriati has already had two careers at this tournament. So far, they've both ended the same way, in tearful defeat just points from the final. The first, to Monica Seles in 1991, sent Capriati away from ... 2004 U.S. OPEN 
Lleyton HewittIT wasn't that long ago — June of last year, in fact — that this snarling, wild-eyed Aussie was the face of Gen X tennis, on a mission to teach fans how to scream Australian. But he got a little too angry for his own good in 2003, ... 2004 U.S. OPEN 
Carlos MoyaBACKPEDALLING furiously. That's the image of Carlos Moya that comes to mind before any other. Few players have gone to the lengths the Spaniard does to hit a forehand. And when he connects, it's another picture fans know well: his big, ... 2004 U.S. OPEN 
Lindsay DavenportJUST as she's wrapping up her career, Lindsay Davenport finally seems to be making some waves. Not with her low-key personality, of course, but with her game. With the evolution of Anastasia Myskina and Maria Sharapova into Grand Slam champions, ... 2004 U.S. OPEN 
Juan Carlos FerreroLAST year's runner-up fell off the map when he contracted chicken pox early in 2004. But the layoff may leave him stronger than his hard-working opponents by the time the Open rolls around. And he's learned how to make his style — he has a ... 2004 U.S. OPEN 
Anastasia MyskinaSHE made it to the quarterfinals here last year, and beating Venus Williams and Jennifer Capriati on her way to winning the French Open this spring was a big step up. But she'll have to take another if she plays Justine Henin-Hardenne, Serena ... 2004 U.S. OPEN 
Tim HenmanTHE 30-year-old has had a resurgent 2004, reaching the final in Indian Wells and the semifinals at the French Open. Theoretically, his serve-and-volley game should help him on the fast DecoTurf at Flushing Meadows, but he hasn't been past the ... 2004 U.S. OPEN 
Elena DementievaTHE perennially improving Russian reached new heights by making the 2004 French Open final. The altitude must have gotten to her, though, because she lost dismally to her friend Myskina. Of course, her old nemesis, her always-shaky serve, didn't ...
England beats the rain by half an hourLESS than half an hour after England won the Old Trafford Test and thus wrapped up the series, the rain fell so heavily that reporters were soaked running the 75 yards from the pavilion back to the Press Box. That storm was proof that when ...
Full of fun, whatever the occasionTHE ovation of the crowd was still ringing in Andrew Flintoff's ears when he stepped through the doors of the Lord's pavilion and made his way across the floor of the Long Room.
20-20 cricket: full of actionThe ECB must get their formula right on the 20-20 competition, or some big businessman will snatch the idea, put it on at small league grounds with recently retired and very young players and make a small fortune.
Professionalism needed in selection process THE selection of the Indian team is a topic of constant discussion, both before and after the selection committee meeting. COLOMBO TEST 
Historic win for the hostTHE victory Sri Lanka secured in the second Test match against South Africa at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground will certainly remain vivid in the memories of cricket fans in the island for several reasons.
A team which is falling backSOUTH AFRICA is a fading force in international cricket. Graeme Smith's team can bat but cannot take wickets and will be hard pressed to retain its position in the rankings.
Odumbe banned for five yearsFORMER Kenya captain Maurice Odumbe was banned from the game for five years after being found guilty of inappropriate contact with a bookmaker. The Kenya Cricket Association (KCA) imposed the suspension after its executive board met to decide ... 
Dutch captaincy goes to DavidsMIDFIELDER Edgar Davids's leadership qualities and never-say-die attitude have earned him the captaincy of the Netherlands under new coach Marco van Basten. ``In my opinion, Edgar is ready for a new phase in his career,'' Van Basten told ...
Playoff pays off for Vijay SinghHE didn't navigate uncharted waters, but Vijay Singh surely offered his own twist to an old story on that Sunday at Wisconsin. Winning a major championship without a birdie in the final round of regulation?
Ferrari puts pretenders out of misery THE Formula One constructor's world championship is no longer a contest. A fortnight from now, the drivers' championship won't be, either.
It's five in a row for AnandVISWANATHAN ANAND's skills in rapid chess were on display as he scored a well-controlled 5-3 victory over Alexei Shirov of Spain to claim the Chess Classic title for the seventh time in his career. It was also the fifth in a row at Mainz for Anand.
EL-HADJI DIOUF has signed for Bolton on a year-long loan deal. The Liverpool striker was expected to leave Anfield after new boss Rafael Benitez did not give him a squad number for the season. Portsmouth and Spanish side Malaga were reported to ... 
Michael Owen moving over to RealREAL MADRID has signed Michael Owen. Sources close to the Spanish giants revealed that Real has agreed to give Liverpool Euro 12-million (£ 8-million) and midfielder Carlos Nunez for the 24-year-old England striker. Owen has been linked with a ... 
Luis Enrique retiresFORMER Barcelona and Real Madrid midfielder Luis Enrique, one of the most respected figures in the Spanish game, has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 34. "I don't see myself being able to compete," the player ... Rooney ready to sign contract with Everton EVERTON manager David Moyes has revealed Wayne Rooney is ready to sign a new contract at Goodison Park. Moyes said: "I am sure something will be concluded shortly. We've had some very good conversations with Wayne and I think he'll sign." It is ...
He transcends the line between good and great AS a young Algerian immigrant growing up in the French port city of Marseilles, Zinedine Zidane might have hoped his skills with the football would make him moderately famous some day.
Soccer mysteries THE European season is still very young, yet surprises, even mysteries, already abound.
Johal, Rout finish on top CLOUDY skies proved auspicious for the National Laser sailing championships at the Hussain Sagar Lake, Hyderabad. The unquestioned king WATER is a great reviver. Each time the cyclone hits coastal Orissa, farmers find their year-long toil ruined. At Jirakandi village in Puri district, B. K. Rout grew up in such a household. Calamity and tragedy forged in him a will to brave the ...
Castelino, Meenakshi bag titlesTHE open events of the 52nd all-India inter-Railway championship conducted in Bangalore from July 23 to 29, did not offer big prize-money. Nevertheless, it had a significant impact on two players, Rohan Castelino of Karnataka and B. R. Meenakshi ... JAMSHEDPUR 
Mukesh Yadav's maiden triumphWINNING a title always feels great. More so, when one relegates the defending champion to second place. Mukesh Kumar Yadav of Uttar Pradesh did just that en route to triumphing in the fourth all-India J. R. D. Tata invitational half marathon ...
QUIZ CORNER1. Fill in the blanks with the name of the sportsperson whose new autobiography is -----------: Life In The Fast Lane. 2. For which NBA team is Shaquille O'Neal (in pic) going to play this season? 3. Why is the date May 13, 1950 ...
Gary Wilson romps homeIN a remarkable display of firepower and consistency, 18-year-old Gary Wilson won the recent IBSF World Under-21 Snooker Championship at Carlow in the Republic of Ireland.
Lance ArmstrongAFTER recovering from the rigours of his sixth-straight Tour de France victory, Lance Armstrong still plans to race for the yellow jersey again. "I'll definitely be back to the Tour,'' Armstrong said, shortly before participating in a parade ... 
Lennox LewisLENNOX LEWIS |
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