HARARE, August 1: A goal three minutes from time by Sandeep Kaur following a penalty- corner brought India a 1-0 win over Ireland in their opening pool game in the women's World Cup qualifying tournament, here today.In a first half punctuated with penalty-corners, the best chance fell to Julie Stewart, whose powerful shot following Ireland's sixth penalty-corner was well saved by a diving 20-year-old Helen Mary Innocent in the Indian goal.The Indians, with their quick passing game, caused the Irish plenty of problems and brought the best out of Caroline Craig who was forced into a string of timely interceptions.After Kaur's 77th minute strike Ireland poured forward, but failed to score.Aldrin loses AwardMUMBAI: The Chhatrapatti Shivaji Award for excellence in sports to hockey Olympian Anil Aldrin, was withdrawn by the Government of Maharashtra, according to a press release issued by the Mantralaya, today.The honour was withdrawn, the release stated, because, Aldrin, a sturdy defender, failed to satisfy the 15-year Maharashtra domicile condition, necessary to qualify for the 1994-95 State Award.Mallika for campNEW DELHI: Eight boys and girls, including talented junior player Mallika Parekh of Maharashtra, have been selected as probables for the Asian Junior Table Tennis Championship to be held in Goa from September 1 to 6.The players, to be coached by eight-time national champion Kamlesh Mehta, will attend a 20-day training camp at Patiala starting from August 1.The probables: Boys : Subhajit Saha, Amit Mukherjee, Dipankar Adhikari (WB), Shivaji Dutta, V Chandrachud, Soumya Deep Roy (PSCB), Indeebar Chaterjee (WB), Nilesh Vaid (MP).Girls: Poulami Ghatak, Kasturi Chakraborty, Mouma Das (WB), Ekta Bhambri (Delhi), Lavanya Ratnam (TN), Mallika Parekh (Maharashtra), Ishani Barua, Vishaka Vijay (PSCB). Chief coach: Jo Nam Phung. Coach: Kamlesh Mehta and Jugal Kishore.Golfers bannedNEW DELHI: The Indian Golf Union (IGU) has suspended four players for six months for misconduct during the Western India Junior at Mumbai. Nakal Talwar, Sangeet Kumar, Rakesh Kumar and Niraj Sarin were suspended for six months, according to the IGU Council.Indian secondNEW DELHI: Smriti Mehra, the first Indian lady professional golfer has claimed the second position in the Tour long driving averages at the end of the Rochester Classic, US with an average driving distance of 262.5 yards. Leading the average is Jane Geddes with 265 yards.
