China, Cuba to contest Atlanta II

Osaka, Japan: Olympic silver medallists China smashed Russia in three straight sets today to set up a title clash with defending champions Cuba in the final of the women's World Volleyball Championships.

The Chinese, seeking to win back the title they took in 1982 and 1986, coasted to a surprisingly easy 15-4 15-4 15-9 win.Tomorrow's final against Cuba will be a rematch of the Atlanta Olympics battle for gold. The Cubans, who are also World Cup holders,had to work hard to beat Olympic bronze medallists Brazil 15-10 4-15 15-11 15-10 in the other semi-final.

Non-flying Dutchman in therapy

London: Dutch star Dennis Bergkamp is being counselled by a hypnotherapist to overcome his chronic fear of flying and may travel by air to Greece for Arsenal's crucial last Champions League group tie.The 29-year-old striker has already had four sessions with a consultant in a bid to help him make the December 9 tie against Panathinaikos. Bergkamp missed Arsenal's 3-1 defeat in Kiev last week increasing the club's anxiety for him to play in the Athens match, which could decide whether they qualify for the quarter-finals next March.

Indonesia to appeal ban on player

Jakarta: Indonesia plans to appeal to football's world governing body against a life ban on a player who scored a deliberate own goal in an international tournament.Mursyid Effendi was banned after scoring the own goal during a Tiger Cup match against Thailand in August. Indonesia weredesperate to lose the match to avoid meeting Vietnam in the semi-final. ``AFC has put an end to our player's career, this is not human and we hope, therefore they review their decision,'' Indonesian Association chairman Agum Gumelar said.

Ioc may okay some narcotics

Sydney: Medical commission member Dr Ken Fitch has tipped a `radical' overhaul of the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) drug policy at a meeting next month, including the removal of some narcotics from the banned list.Dr Fitch is on the medical commissions for both the IOC and Sydney Olympics Games. Mainly drugs like morphine, pethidine needed to be dropped from the banned list, he said. He added heroin would remain on the list. Dr Fitch argued unsuccessfully for the reintroduction of pre-Games testing at the Atlanta Olympics but he believes the IOC might have a change of heart for Sydney. ``The IOC has been saying we don't take precedence over these athletes until the Games start, but in actual fact we do, once the village opensthey have to comply with village rules and it makes no sense to me that we can't test,'' said Dr Fitch.-- Agencies

MCA probables for Vijay Merchant cricket

Mumbai Cricket Association has selected the following probables for its team for the Vijay Merchant Trophy conducted by BCCI for the season 1998-99:

Omkar Khanvilkar (captain), Rubesh Kumar (wk), Paul Valhaty, Sangram Bagul, Vinit Indulkar, Rohit Salunkhe, Harshad Rawle, Rohan Saldanha, Samy Salaria, Siddharth Bhatkar, Shakti Prasad, Aditya Kulkarni, Suresh Jadhav, Parag Madkaikar, Sanchit Pandey, Neil Daftary (wk), Nikhil Kulkarni, Darshan Bhoir, Amit Siddeshwar, Kuldip Chaudhari. Coach: Dinesh Nanavaty.

West Indies A to play President's XI

The visiting West Indies A team will play a three-day cricket match against Board President XI from November 18-20 at the Brabourne Stadium. Tickets for the North Stand only are priced at Rs 10 per day. Entry to the ground will be from Veer Nariman Road.Collegiate badminton doubles meetnBADMINTON For You will conduct the BFY Open Collegiate badminton tournament on December 5-6 at the Sachivalaya Gymkhana. The event is open to all students from junior and senior colleges in city. Only doubles events will feature in the tournament. The pairs have to be in the same year of college but not necessarily in the same college.For more details, contact Rajeev Goenka at 9622-325810, 2080097 (fax), goenka@bom5.vsnl.net.in (email). Last date for entries is November 25.

State-level athletics from Nov 28

The Bombay YMCA Department of Physical Education will conduct its Open State-level athletic meet on November 28-29 at University Pavilion.Forms are available at all YMCA centres and at the Pavilion. Last date for submitting forms is November 14.For further details, contact 3098274, 3070601/02/03, 3091191, 3091262.Cricket coaching at Juhun PA Mhatre Sports Academy, Juhu North, will conduct cricket coaching for age group 5-15 years from November 15. For details, contact Juhu Sports Association at6203388.

CK Nayudu cricket tournament

All teams participating in the CK Nayudu (under-19) cricket tournament organised by the District Sports Office, GOM, should report at Sachivalay Gymkhana grounds, Oval Maidan on November 13 at 8 a.m. The event is being pre-poned as the state championship are to be held from November 23-27. For more information, contact Wagh at 2882124.State roller skating championshipsn Maharashtra state roller skating championship, 1998 will be conducted by the Bombay Roller Skating Association from November 20 to 23 in Mumbai. For details contact Harnish Zaveri, organising secretary at 3691796.

Trials for cricket coaching

Trials for cricket coaching at VNSA, Nerul, Navi Mumbai will be held on November 14 and 15. The coaching will be conducted between 7-9 a.m. and 3-5 p.m. at Rs 175 per month. Complete kit will be provided.For details, contact SM Bandiwdekar at 7631466, Sachin Ranadive at 7825657 (res) and 7826630 (office), and Jaideep Vazirani at 5240093, 7619813.