Short Corner — Chandigarh

Stars still up against oddsGreg Norman was within two holes of bringing the beast of Carnoustie to its knees here on Friday but Scotland'...

Stars still up against odds
Greg Norman was within two holes of bringing the beast of Carnoustie to its knees here on Friday but Scotland’s most feared links fought back with a vengeance. As Norman approached the 17th tee he was four under par and heading for a stunning 67 after going on a birdie blitz on the homeward nine. Ten minutes later the Australian walked off the 17th green after running up a triple bogey. The damage was caused by a wayward drive that buried itself in the thick rough down the right side of the fairway.

Cricket betting
Vice-captain Ajay Jadeja admits there is betting in cricket. "If somebody says it does not exist then he is telling a lie. Betting definitely takes place," Jadeja told Star TV for the programme Janata Ki Adalat’ to be aired on Sunday. Asked if he had ever been approached by anyone, Jadeja replied "Har tarah ke log milte hain, aise bhi log mile hai jo …" he didn’t complete the sentence.

Sob story
Sri Lanka’s sacked skipper Arjuna Ranatunga suffered another blow today when the cricket board disowned his first public engagement after his World Cup debacle. Newly-appointed captain Sanath Jayasuriya stayed away from his predecessor Ranatunga’s widely-publicised roundtable last night because the Sri Lankan Board of Control for Cricket told him to do so.

Hopes dashed
Indian challenge in both boys’ and girls’ event in the Asian Junior badminton championship ended today when four pairs lost their doubles events, close on the heels of defeat in the singles in Yangoon, Myanmar.

Davis Cup
Pete Sampras, the world’s top singles player for the past six years, will play only doubles for the United States in their Davis Cup quarter-final tie against Australia.

Hockey probables
The Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) today released a list of 31 probables for the senior team’s coaching camp in preparation of their African tour commencing from August 12.