Over 30 companies for the Merchants' cup golf

KOLKATA, July 13 (UNI): The seventh edition of Merchants' Cup golf has seen an unprecedented swell with 30 companies participating, making it the hottest mercantile competition as it tees off from July 17 to 20 at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club.

Jaidip Chitlangia, Chairman of this year's Merchants' cup, said, "This year has seen an unprecedented numer of entries which speaks highly of India's booming economy and defending champions Madhya Bharat Papars Ltd will be hard pressed to stave off the challenge of Williamson Magor Group which have been the winner nine times in a row till they were usurped last year.

"Stiff competition can also be expected from previous champions like Tata Steel, McLeod and Co, Tata Tea, J Thomas & Company Ltd.

New entrants in 'The Telegraph Cup' to be watched out for are Manpasand Manpower Pvt Ltd, The Moran Tea Co (India) Ltd, Usha Martin Limited and Rediffusion Dyr Pvt Ltd," he said.

Former national champions Laxman Singh, Alan Singh and Vandana Agarwal have become a regular feature of the event and having participants from Bhubaneshwar, Jamshedpur, Jamalpur, Digboi is truly giving this event an Eastern flavour.

The scoring format of the Telegraph Cup will be a scratch stroke-play competition with players in different handicap categories being permittted to discard their poorest holes.

Each will have four players, but not less than three and the best of three strokes will count towards the team aggregate.

'The ultimate challenge' for spinner versus Indians, says 'Baby' Monty LONDON, July 13 (UNI): Although 'Baby' Monty Panesar's most treasured possession is the ball which dismissed his idol Sachin Tendulkar, the player says he always wanted to play for England inspite of his desire to play in the same side as the Master Blaster.

"I asked Sachin to sign that ball and it's so precious I keepit in my bedroom.

That's one of my most treasured moments, and always will be," Monty said.

The ball was signed by the Sachin himself with the inscription "Once in a blue moon!" The 25-year-old, who claimed his first 10-wicket haul during the third Test victory over the West Indies recently, concedes it willbe "the ultimate challenge" for a spin bowler to bowl to theIndians, who he regards as the best players of spin in the world.

Inspite of being ranked sixth in the world, the 'Sikh of Tweak'thinks he has a long way to go before he can be considered one ofthe best bowlers in the world.

"They (Indians) are the best players of spin bowling in the world and we have a tough series ahead.

It was hard in India where the ball turns a lot.

However, it will be even tougher here, whereit doesn't turn so much.

"I see it as the ultimate challenge for a spinner, breakingthrough the India batting in English conditions," he adds.

"I am told I am among the top 10 bowlers in Test cricket, but I still have a lot to learn," a humble Panesar said.

"I just feel lucky to be where I am and a lot of people havehelped me along the way.

But, to be honest, I feel more like a babythan a top 10 bowler, with so much still to learn," he said.

The Northamptonshire player, who was back in his home town ofLuton for an Npower promotion admitted, "Yes, it would have beennice to play in the same side as my hero, Sachin Tendulkar, but Ialways wanted to play for England." About his maiden wicket of Tendulkar in Test cricket, Panesarsaid, "It was my childhood dream to play for England.

When I playedin Nagpur and captured the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar I couldn'tbelieve it." "But I don't know whether I will be in awe of them as much as I was when I made my England debut last year: in Nagpur it was astrange feeling to be bowling at these guys I had followed on TVfrom a young age.

"To get Sachin as my first Test wicket...

let's say I was justlucky the ball hit his pad before his bat, but it was a great feeling to get your childhood hero out, start jumping around and running off towards third man in a state of excitement," herecalled.

Even as he is yet to be convinced he belongs on the same stageas India's vaunted top six and his spin counterpart Anil Kumble,Monty who has 65 wickets to his name says,"It's going to be exciting, and at the same time frightening, to play against India again because they are the world's best players of spin - and Istill feel like a baby in terms of other spin About us | Advertise | Other Publications | Subscriptions | Weather | Letters | Send Mail Disclaimer: Information is being made available at this site purely as a measure of public facilitation.

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