Short Corner 8212; Chandigarh

Rains hamper Indian preparations
With barely 17 days to go for the World Cup, the Indian cricketers, who reached here three weeks in advance to get acclimatised to the conditions, have had little practice thus far with England8217;s notoriously fickle weather throwing a spanner in their preparations. Unseasonal rains have forced indoors the former champions, hoping to reclaim the coveted title as the World Cup returns to the land of their greatest triumph in 1983, with only a single outdoor session possible.

Special mission
Hansie Cronje is a man with a mission. When the 1998-99 South African season started his team had three targets 8211; beat West Indies at home, New Zealand away and win the World Cup. With the first two objectives accomplished in both Test and one-day matches, South Africa8217;s captain now seeks to complete a triple triumph that would silence the critics in his own country. Cronje leads a talented all-round side who, for all their success in recent years, are still considered by the country8217;s cricket fans as not having fulfilled their potential.

India face Maldives
India8217;s challenge in tomorrow8217;s SAFF Coca-Cola Cup football semi-final against Maldives may not carry scars, inflicted by bizarre crowd behaviour during the concluding group match against Pakistan on Monday. Coach Sukhwinder Singh said as much. 8220;We are unaffected by crowd behaviour. Such things are part of our life and we take it in our stride.8221; But surely, the shameful display of a section of spectators went against the script. From jeering their own team, home fans, angry with a disappointing Indian display, turned to abuse before cheering the Pakistani side.

Janaki ousts Arthi
It was like two old lionesses battling to reassert supremacy. And the one equipped with better temperament and tactics emerged superior. Those were the lines that ran in the mind of the onlookers at the KSLTA Stadium on Wednesday as Janaki Krishnamoorthy outthought, outmaneouvered and outplayed fourth seed Arthi Venkatraman.