Small World

In the other semi-final, Australia took an invincible 3-1 lead over Russia, after Lleyton Hewitt’s 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 win over Yevgeny Kafelnikov today. Kafelnikov and Andrei Olhovskiy had defeated Aussies Mark Woodforde and Sandon Stolle 6-1, 6-4, 4-6, 4-6, 8-6 earlier in doubles.

In qualifying-round best-of-5 series, with the winners advancing to the World Group for next year’s competition, it was Czech Republic 3, Uzbekistan 0; Finland 2, Italy 1; Zimbabwe 2, Chile 1;Britain 2, South Africa 1; Spain 3, New Zealand 0; and Germany 2, Romania 1.

Korean archers target world mark

SYDNEY: South Korea produced a world record score on its way to winning the men’s team event at the Olympic archery test event today. Jang Yong-Ho, Hong Sung-Chil and Kim Bo-Ram started today’s competition with a rush against the Australian Paralympic team by shooting 18 bulls eyes from their 27 arrows for a world-record score of 260 points from a maximum 270. They beat Italy in the gold medal match by 246 to 241, reversing the outcome at last month’s World Championship final in France. Turkey took the bronze with a 244-224 win over Sweden.

The Koreans’ score broke the old world mark of 259 set in 1994 by another team of South Koreans at Hiroshima, Japan. The South Korean women won the team event yesterday.

Rain ruins Lanka-Australia Test

GALLE, SRI LANKA: Heavy rains forced the second cricket Test between Australia and Sri Lanka to be abandoned after 19 minutes of play for adraw on the fifth and final day here today. The umpires and captains agreed to call off the match after rain flooded the Galle International Cricket Stadium. The third and final Test commences at the Sinhalese Sports Club grounds in Colombo from Thursday.

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka (1st innings): 296.

Australia (1st innings): 228

Sri Lanka (2nd innings): S Jayasuriya not out 21, M Atapattu not out 28; Extras: (lb3, nb3) 6. Total: (for no loss, 17.2 overs) 55

Bowling: McGrath 7-2-23-0, Fleming 4-0-15-0, Miller 3-1-9-0, Warne 3.2-1-5-0.

Result: Match Drawn.

Spirited Dempo hold Salgaocar

MARGAO: Spirited Dempo rallied mid-way into the second session to hold title aspirant Salgaocar to a one-all draw in the second edition of the Director’s Special Professional Football League, here today.

Salgaocar, who dominated the first half, shot into the lead in the 52nd minute through medio Habib Adekunle after a barren first half. Mid-way through the second session, aresurgent Dempo found the equaliser through medio Mathew D’Costa.

Despite the draw, Salgaocar head the table with 11 points from five matches. Today’s result also helped Churchill Bros, who are two points behind Salgaocar, to remain in the hunt for the title. Dempo now have six points and are placed third.

Dhaval shocks top seed Shenesh

PUNE: Twelth seeded Dhaval Adhav created the biggest upset on the opening day of the 10th State Mini Chess Tournament as he toppled the top seed Shenesh Aher in the second round of the boys under-7 section at the Manohar Mangal Karyalaya, here today.

Pune’s Adhav, who took up chess only six months back, played Sicilian Defence with white pieces. In the middle-game, Adhav won black’s rook to finish the game in 26th move.

IMPORTANT 2ND ROUND RESULTS

Boys (under-9): Subodh Lakhe 2 (Nag) bt Chinmay Duvedi 1 (Pun); Konde Gaurav 2 bt B Aditya 1 (Nag); Bhat Nitesh 2 (Mum) bt Anuj Tiwari 1 (Mum); Ajinkya Petane 1 (A’bad) lost to Mohan Gupte 2 (Mum); ChinmayKulkarni 2 (Pun) bt Abhishekh Sane 1 (Pun); Vivitesh Agwan 1.5 (Mum) drew with Tarun Yadav 1.5 (Mum). Under-7: Abhishek Kelkar 2 (Pun) bt P Nagare 1 (Mum); Apurva Nilida 2 (Mum) bt Vishal Gujrathi 1 (Nagar); Archit Mokashi 2 (Pun) bt Kushal Gupta 1 (Nag); Vishal Thakre 2 (A’bad) bt Sudarshan Lamture 1 (Mum); Dhaval Adhav 2 (Pun) bt Shenesh Aher 1 (Pun).

Girls (u-9): Mohita Agarwal 2 (Pun) bt Parkhi Sheyasi 1 (Nag); M Gayatri 2 (Mum) bt Girija Kadlaskar 1 (Pun); Mitali Patil 1.5 (A’bad) bt Shivali Dandekar 1.5 (A’bad); Shruti Ratnakar 1 lost to Saba Mhate 2. Under-7: Devangi Patankar 2 (Pun) bt Anuja Borkar 1 (Pun); Siddhali Shetey 2 (Mum) bt Chaitra Vable 1 (Pun); Gauri Chavan 2 (Sol) bt Tanvi Wable 1 (Pun).

Mistry heads Pune’s dominance

PUNE: Pune’s Noshirvan Mistry bounced from last to first to win the Maharashtra State Triathlon championship held at Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi, today. Faltering in the pool, Mistry came back strongly with cycling, his forte, winning thecompetition with a timing of 3.01:40 seconds. The display, however, failed to enthuse the 26-year-old tri-athlete who admitted he didn’t push hard enough. Following Mistry were Mumbai’s Manoj Belekar who clocked 3.13:02 and Ajit Sawant with 3.16:18.

Mistry’s triumph highlighted Pune’s dominance at the event. In all, Pune claimed eight medal positions in the event — a forerunner to the National championships scheduled to be held in Kochi in October.

RESULTS

Men (senior): 1. Noshirvan Mistry (Pun) 3.01:40; 2. Manoj Belekar (Mum) 3.13:02; 3. Ajit Sawant (Mum) 3.16:18. Boys (juniors): 1. Vilas Rathod (Pun) 1.21:39; Swapnil Jadhav (Pun) 1.21:42; 3. Milind Zondge (Pun) 1.23:04. Sub-junior: 1. Kunal Dhanwant (Nsk) 29.03:84seconds; 2. Arjun Nimblekar (Pun) 30.39:18; Vikas Shelise (Pun) 31.18:09

Girls (junior): 1. Sonali Patil (Pune) 1.34:29; 2. Rupali Repale (Mum Sub) 1.36:46; 3. Yogita Wani (Pun) 1.39:25. Sub-junior:: 1. Amruta Karkhanis (Mum Sub) 35.10:91; 2. Julie Shetye (Mum City) 35.47:84; SwapnaPatil (Mum Sub) 39.03:85.