Federation wants quality stamp for all stadiums

Published>Tue, Aug 03 10 12:23 PM

Alarmed by reports of substandard material being used to construct stadiums, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has sought quality assurances before it takes over venues.

It has written to Organising Committee (OC) chairman Suresh Kalmadi, asking him to seek mandatory guarantees of quality from government agencies.

CGF chief executive Mike Hooper told Mail Today on Monday that the world body was concerned over the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) report which highlighted the use of poor quality material for building the stadiums.

"The CGF has written to the OC about the reports that have been coming in on the quality of material used for the venues," Hooper said, adding, "The OC must ensure that the government agencies provide a guarantee that the venues are safe and fit for the purpose."

Last week, Sam Ramsamy, the vice-president of the International Swimming Federation (FINA) - who was in the Capital for a test event - had also raised concerns over the "shoddy and inferior quality of work" at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee swimming complex.

Hooper pointed out that the delay in completion of venues had held up work in many operational areas.

He said he had no knowledge about the financial transactions made by the OC, but admitted that the CVC report had come at a very wrong time.

On Friday, a CVC report revealed that there were large scale procedural violations and almost all organisations executing infrastructure work for the Games had flouted rules in tenders and increased their prices, suggesting that contractors were paid excess amounts.

Stung by the charges of corruption and mounting pressure around him, Kalmadi has convened an executive board meeting of the OC on Thursday.

A little-known UK firm was alleged to have been paid lakhs of pounds for its services during the London leg of the Queen's Baton Relay, which pointed out to various financial irregularities on the part of the OC.

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) secretary general Randhir Singh wrote a letter to Kalmadi on Monday, asking him to call an emergency meeting to discuss the 'grave' issue with all the executive board members.

"The success of the Games should be a bigger concern for us at the moment. Let the Games begin and it will be the athletes and other officials who come here who will decide about the success," Hooper stressed.

He said the CGF's board members will meet in the Capital on August 18 and federation president Mike Fennell will also be present.

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) vice-president and BJP leader VK Malhotra came down heavily on the Delhi government for the corruption and inordinate delays that have marred the buildup to the Games, saying none of the newly-built stadiums seemed ready to host the event.

"It was shocking that despite spending huge amounts of money, most of the stadiums are not ready," Malhotra, who heads the General Association of National Sports Federations and the Archery Association of India, said.

The Delhi BJP held a protest in the city on the issue, demanding a judicial probe into the financial bungling. Hundreds of BJP workers staged a demonstration near Parliament House and shouted anti-government slogans.

Reproduced From Mail Today. Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.

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Full-bore shooters cry out for relief

Tue, Aug 03 10 12:17 PM

Chandigarh, Aug. 3 -- It's just 60 days to the Commonwealth Games but Indian shooters don't have the rifles to train for the full-bore event, which is a medal sport in the Games. The absence of rifles has ruled out the possibility of holding coaching camps, which not only translates into distant medal hopes, the hosts' participation too is uncertain. The current mess is despite the country having spent around Rs 40 crore towards constructing a full-bore range at Kadarpur village in Gurgaon. Incidentally, the range suffered damage in the recent showers. "What's the point in spending crores on a full-bore range when we don't even have rifles," asked one of the eight core-group shooters for the event. Their plight can be gauged from the fact that rifles had to be borrowed from foreign competitors during the Commonwealth Shooting Championship. "The government has placed an order for the rifles and we'll be getting them soon. What we are concerned about is training, as the shooters will have to compete in the Games with their rifles," a Sports Ministry official had told HT during the Commonwealth Championship. More than three months have lapsed and the rifles haven't arrived. A source in the Ministry confirmed that an order for the rifles was yet to be placed. "We haven't got the rifles, so forget about training," said Avtar Singh Sethi, working president, National Rifle Association of India (NRAI). "There are two medals at stake in the Commonwealth Games and God only knows if we will get to compete. Being the hosts, it is shameful," said another NRAI official.

To make matters worse, Beret Browden, the Australian coach for big and full-bore, is yet to arrive.

Source: Published>

OC officials call for executive board meeting

Tue, Aug 03 10 11:51 AM

India, Aug. 3 -- In the wake of the Central Vigilance Commission and the Commonwelath Games Federation's call for obtaining quality assurance certificates for all Games' venues, key members of the Delhi 2010 Organising Committee have called for an emergency meeting of the OC's executive, putting pressure on OC chairman, Suresh Kalmadi.

Randhir reportedly has the backing of OC treasurer, Anil Khanna, and IOA vice-president, V K Malhotra. There were also unconfirmed reports that Kalmadi has agreed to the demand, and the meeting will be held on August 5.

Source: Published>

I have been living a dream: Tendulkar

Tue, Aug 03 10 11:21 AM

Colombo, Aug. 3 -- Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, who holds almost all batting records, is usually so superstitious that he does not talk about an approaching milestone. But after facing a few throwdowns from coach Gary Kirsten at the P Saravanamuttu Oval on Monday, Tendulkar spoke at length about an impending feat - surpassing Steve Waugh's record of 168 Test appearances. The little master recounted his journey from his first Test in Pakistan in 1989 to this record-breaking encounter. On becoming the most capped player in Test cricket. It's been a long journey. I still remember the first Test I played in Pakistan in 1989. It was a completely different feeling compared to any cricket I had played. And since then it has worked out pretty well. I'm very happy that I have had the privilege of such a long journey at the international level. This was my dream - to play for India. And getting to play 169 Tests is fantastic. On what it takes to last long enough to play 169 Test matches The journey has gone by very quickly, quicker than I expected. Time flies. You just need to enjoy it, it's a circle. You are not always on the top, sometimes there are rough patches, but the simple formula that I have followed is whenever I have gone through phases, I have found a reason to work harder. And, you know, try and spend all my energy at something I have been wanting to get better at. I have done that. I have tried to keep things simple. If you keep things simple, they are pretty simple to manage. I have used the huge support that I have had around the world as a factor to motivate myself. I try and live up to the expectations I have of myself, and also make sure that I am always top of my game, or at least my preparations are such that I am out there to deliver and do my best at all times. On whether he thinks this record will be broken Records are meant to be broken. All I can say is whoever breaks my records should be an Indian. On the importance of this record in comparison to other records he holds The rest of things can be achieved, but for this you need an X number of years, an X number of tours, that's when this thing happens. It has taken me 20-plus years to get here. It's wonderful that we have been able to play so much Test cricket. In the last few years we have played a reasonable amount of Test cricket. At one stage, in the early nineties, I hardly got any Tests. On a couple of occasions there were just two or three Tests in a year. It was disappointing. That is not the case now. On whether his passion for the game was the main thing that keeps him going Over the years the love for cricket has remained the same. If at all, it has only increased with time. Passion also has kept increasing. Whether it is match or practice, I still enjoy it. On how difficult the journey has been over the last two decades Had it been less than 20 years, it would have still been difficult. I don't take this as a burden. It is god's gift that my life's passion is also my work. So I enjoy every moment. I got the chance 20 years ago, and since then I have been living a dream. On his advice to youngsters who want to become Sachin Tendulkar

Source: Published>

Tendulkar becomes most-capped Test player

Tue, Aug 03 10 10:51 AM

Colombo, Aug 3 (PTI) Milestone man Sachin Tendulkar today became the most-capped Test cricketer in the world after taking field for his 169th match, the third and final of the ongoing series against Sri Lanka, here. The 37-year-old champion batsman, who holds almost every batting record, overtook retired former Australian captain Steve Waugh with whom he was tied at 168 matches after the second Test at SSC here. Tendulkar, who has been around for two decades now, has also played 442 one-day internationals, just a couple of matches less than Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuriya''s record of 444. Tendulkar has scored 13,742 runs in 168 Tests at an average of 56.08, notching up 48 hundreds and 55 half-centuries in the process. He has 17,598 runs, including 46 centuries, in his 442 one-dayers. The Mumbaikar also holds the distinction of being the first batsman to score a double hundred in ODIs. But despite these astonishing feats, Tendulkar remains hungry for more runs and after getting his fifth Test double hundred in the second Test against Sri Lanka, the diminutive batsman urged critics to stop talking about his age. Most capped Test players after Sachin Tendulkar: 168 - Steve Waugh (AUS) - retired 156 - Allan Border (AUS) - retired 146 - Ricky Ponting (AUS) 145 - Shane Warne (AUS) - retired 141 - Rahul Dravid (IND) 140 - Jacques Kallis (RSA) 134 - Mark Boucher (RSA).

Source: Published>

Sri Lanka opt to bat against India

Published>Tue, Aug 03 10 10:37 AM

Colombo, Aug 3 (IANS) Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and elected to bat against India in the third and final cricket Test at the P.Sara Oval here Tuesday.

India have left out batsmen Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh due to injuries.

Team:

Sri Lanka: Tillekratne Dilshan, Tharanga Paranavitana, Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Prasanna Jayawardene (wicketkeeper), Suraj Randiv, Lasith Malinga, Chanaka Welegedara and Ajantha Mendis

India: Virender Sehwag, Murali Vijay, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, V.V.S. Laxman, Suresh Raina, Mahendra Dhoni (captain/wicketkeeper), Amit Mishra, Abhimanyu Mithun, Ishant Sharma and Pragyan Ojha

Umpires: Daryl Harper (Australia) and Simon Taufel (Australia)

TV umpire: Kumar Dharmasena

Match referee: Andy Pycroft (Zimbabwe)

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Sangakkara choose to bat against India in 3rd Test

Tue, Aug 03 10 10:27 AM

Colombo, Aug 3 (PTI) Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and elected to bat against India in the third and final cricket Test at P Sara Oval here today. India replaced injured spinner Harbhajan Singh with Amit Mishra. India also chose to retain Suresh Raina in the team which means that Yuvraj Singh will have to miss out. Sri Lanka have made two changes to their side, bringing back fit again Lasith Malinga in place of Dilhara Fernando and Chanaka Welegedara for Dammika Prasad. Teams: India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (C), Virender Sehwag, Murali Vijay, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Suresh Raina, Amit Mishra, Abhimanyu Mithun, Ishant Sharma and Pragyan Ojha. Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (C), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Tharanga Paranavitana, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Prasanna Jayawardene, Suraj Randiv, Lasith Malinga, Chanaka Welegedara, Ajantha Mendis.

Source: Published>

'Gentleman' Kumble to coach Team India in off-field behaviour

Published>Tue, Aug 03 10 10:17 AM

Retirement seems to have brought Anil Kumble no rest. First came a coffee-table book of selected pictures clicked by him in his playing days. Then he got cracking on plans to start a spin academy with Muttiah Muralitharan. And now India's highest wicket-taker wants to take charge of players' off-field personalities.

The BCCI is ready to play - Kumble's new educational programme will be part of its curriculum for players, who will undergo a personality development programme under the former captain's guidance.

"Kumble's programme will cover several topics that will help our cricketers, from handling money to interacting with other players in the dressing room," Board vice-president Rajeev Shukla told The Indian Express.

Kumble made a presentation to BCCI chief Shashank Manohar and other top officials in Mumbai a few months ago, and the project was discussed at the Board working committee meeting last week. A final go-ahead is likely to come after Kumble makes another presentation.

It is learnt, meanwhile, that BCCI will pay Rs 2.9 lakh per player for the programme, which will be conducted by Tenwic, a division of Anil Kumble Sports Pvt. Ltd, with each session being monitored by Kumble.

Among the topics the programme will address are handling 'instant success', self-sufficiency, anti-doping advice and management of finances. The programme will also make sure that cricketers learn how to speak English, handle the media during press conferences, and conduct themselves in public.

"The BCCI doesn't want players to get carried away by what their agents tell them. We want them to be educated about their finances, and to be able to keep track of their endorsements and deals. It is important for our cricketers to enlist in this programme as they haven't been at the best behaviour lately," said a top BCCI official.

It is learnt Kumble had wanted to put all international, first-class and Indian Premier League players through the programme, but the BCCI is for now planning to draft only its contracted players.

The decision to conduct such a programme was taken after a series of ugly off-field incidents such as the infamous slapping involving S Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh during IPL I, and the alleged drunken brawl in the West Indies earlier this year.

"The BCCI is taking this step to make sure players learn to carry themselves better, on and off the field. And for that, there cannot be a better mentor than Anil Kumble," said a source.

Source: Web Search

War of the walking wounded

Published>Tue, Aug 03 10 09:51 AM

Team news from the Indian camp on this tour has largely been about niggles, flu, wobbly knees, side strains, muscle pulls and sore groins. A Mahendra Singh Dhoni media interaction doesn't go by without questions regarding the fitness of players; some of them are regarding recuperating players, those who have suffered injuries during the match and others about those who haven't turned up for training.

Dhoni knows what the question 'team news' means nowadays. When asked about what information he can share on the eve of the third Test at the P Sara Oval, Dhoni, by now used to giving regular briefings about the fitness of his teammates, asked: "You mean the injury list."

The three-Test series against Sri Lanka was accommodated to allow the team a better chance of defending their No.1 ranking. Measures were also taken to ensure players got enough rest ahead of the Asia Cup and the Test series; one of them being fielding a second-string side for the tri-series in Zimbabwe. But things haven't gone according to script.

From the time it was certain that left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan would miss the Test series due to a shoulder injury, the injury list has been revised and then updated again. S Sreesanth managed just half a dozen balls in the nets before hurting his knee and flying back home.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh's participation in the third Test is still uncertain. It is learnt that Harbhajan sprained his calf while running on Sunday evening after opting out of the training session in the morning. Harbhajan was down with a bout of flu and missed the tour game. He is not the only player who has been laid low.

Gautam Gambhir is certain to miss his second consecutive Test after a fitness drill on Monday left much to be desired with regard to his knee. Yuvraj Singh didn't play at No.6 in the second Test following a bout of flu, while Sachin Tendulkar strained his groin during his knock of 203 but has recovered to play in the third Test.

Playing minus a full-strength squad is something India has done against South Africa at home and before that during the Test series against Bangladesh, but fielding a team without many first choice players against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka makes for a stiffer challenge. India's No.1 ranking is not under threat anymore but they are trailing 0-1 in the series and a defeat in the last game will not reflect well on the visitors.

In Sri Lanka, the flat wicket at the Sinhalese Sports Club only further highlighted India's thin bowling resources. In a year leading up to the World Cup, injuries - especially to fast bowlers - is a concern, chief national selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth told this paper on the eve of the Test tour.

"There is less than a year for the World Cup and in such a scenario the injuries to our fast bowlers are becoming a concern. But there is nothing much we can do about it with so much cricket being played. It is up to the players to take care of themselves and maintain their fitness levels. They need to be extra careful because an important event like the World Cup is around the corner," Srikkanth had told The Indian Express.

During this series the injury concerns have only mounted and it is not just restricted to the fast bowlers. If Dhoni's side pull off a win in the third Test and level the series, it will be a face-saver for a team which has always been playing 'catch up' in Sri Lanka after losing the toss and being asked to field. Injuries are part and parcel of a cricketer's life cycle. Still, not being able to field a full-strength team since taking over as the No.1 side in the world has only made Dhoni's life more difficult. At P Sara, it will once again be up to the replacements to stake their claim and try and fill the void.

Live on Ten Sports, 10 am

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SGGS College win waterpolo title

Published>Tue, Aug 03 10 06:07 AM

With thumping wins over GGD SD College, Sector 32, Chandigarh and Panjab University Campus Chandigarh, Sri Guru Gobing Singh College, Sector 26, Chandigarh made a winning start to their campaign when they won the Panjab University Waterpolo Inter-College Championship for men held on Monday. It was a cakewalk for Sri Guru Gobing Singh College, Sector 26, who outplayed GGD SD College, Sector 32. Then they rallied to beat PU Campus 10-4 in the final match to lay their hands on the championship title .

Meanwhile, Panjab University Campus, Chandigarh and GGD SD College, Sector 32, Chandigarh claimed the second and third place, respectively.

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Capital briefs

Published>Tue, Aug 03 10 05:53 AM

Jaggi snares sixAn inspired spell of bowling by Rahul Jaggi (6/10) propelled Ramjas school No-2 to an 8 wicket victory over Ramjas School No 4 in the final of the of Jr. Inter Ramjas u-16 20/20 cricket tournament held at the Ramjas Sports Complex. Chasing a decidedly below par total of 70 set by the batsmen of Ramjas No 4 who crawled to that mark in 16 overs, Ramjas No 2 coasted to victory with 9 overs and 8 wickets to spare.

Brief scores: Ramjas school No 4 70 all out in 16 overs (Aman Kumar 33, Rahul Jaggi 6/10); Ramjas school No2 74 for 2 in 11 overs (Vikas Rana 39 n.o, Narinder 21 n.o)

Surya shines for Bal BhartiSurya Sharma took a fiver (5/32) while Dhruv Mathur (74) and Karteke Dhaka (45) made valuable contributions with the bat as Bal Bharti School Dwarka beat Madhav Sports by 29 runs in the MCL 20/20 u-12 cricket Tournament at the MCL Ground, Hari Nagar. Himanshu's 81 went in vain for the losers.

Brief scores: Bal Bharti Dwarka 201 for 6 in 20 overs (Dhruv Mathur 74, Karteke Dhaka 45, Sachin Chorasia 4/19); Madhav Sports 172 all out in 19 overs.(Himanshu Joshi 81, Nakul Dalal 56, Surya Sharma 5/32)

Anish slams tonA pair of match winning performances including a century by Haryana u-16 player Anish Jain (105 n.o) and a five wicket haul Rahul Saini (5/18) took Samrat Academy to a 7 wicket triumph over Gush Club in the 1st P.L. Vargish Memorial u-19 cricket tournament at Bahadurgarh ground.

Brief scores: Gush Club 148 all out in 37 overs (Dinesh Dabas 30, Rahul Saini 5/18, Dev Sagar 2/32); Samrat Academy 149 for 3 in 32 overs (Anish Jain 105 n.o)

Narrow win for Bal BhawanPowered by Rajat Gour's four wicket haul (4/21) and an all round performance by Himanshu Rana (34 and 2/19) Bal Bhawan Dwarka scraped through by 10 runs against Delhi Club to enter the final of the NSC u-12 cricket tournament at Najafgarh sports ground.

Brief scores: Bal Bhawan Dwarka 120 all out in 18 overs (Himanshu Rana 34, Mohit Kumar 3/21); Delhi Club 110 all out in 19 overs (Prateek Dhoundiyal 43 n.o, Rajat Gour 4/21, Himanshu Rana 2/19)

Najafgarh win nail biterIn a tense match, Najafgarh Sports overwhelmed GM Academy by 5 wickets in the NSC u-12 cricket tournament at Najafgarh sports ground. Bowling first GM Academy were restricted to 156 runs int the alloted 20 overs as Vikas Lochab (325), Rinku Chikkara (2/23) applied the brakes. Pawan Mishra then stroked a 40 as Najafgarh reached the target with one ball to go.

Brief scores: GM Academy 156 for 8 in 20 overs (Ajay Kumar 35, Anurag Solanki 30, Vikas Lochab 3/25, Rinku Chikkara 2/23);Najafgarh Sports 157 for 5 in 19.5 overs (Sandeep Saini 35, Pawan Mishra 40, Rahul Lakra 3/31, Virath Gondane 2/20)

Ravindra chug alongA vital all round display by Vinod Chug (45 and 3/33) along with useful contributions with the ball by Chander Thapa (3/28) and with the bat by Prashant Khichi(35) did the trick for Ravindra Academy as they beat Young Association by 4 wickets in the 1st Laurent u-19 Cricket tournament at D Force ground.

Brief scores: Young Association 199 for 8 in 40 overs( Deepak Sharma 69, Ajit Singh 31, Chander Thapa 3/28, Vinod Chugh 3/33); Ravindra Academy 200 for 6 in 35 overs (Vinod Chugh 45, Prashant Khichi 35, Deepak Sharma 2/39, Ravi Khurana 2/39)

Baba Haridass Academy champs A matchwinning all round performance by Nitesh Shaukeen (30 and 3/17) and decent bowling by Vision Panchal (3/16) enabled Baba Haridass Academy to trump Niz Sports by 4 wickets and become the winners of the 2nd Baba Haridass Cricket tournament title at Ved Solanki Academy ground. Chasing a paltry sum of 98 , Baba Haridass Academy struggled losing six wickets, but the score was never threatening enough to trouble them.

Brief scores: Niz Sports 98 for 8 in 20 overs (Rajat Paliwal 47, Vision Panchal 3/16, Nitesh Shaukeen 3/17, Himanshu Sangwan 2/20); Baba Haridass Academy: 99 for 6 in 18 overs (Naveen Gehlot 31, Nitesh Shaukeen 30, Kapil Yadav 2/14)

GRM trample TaurasMiserly bowling figures from Rohan Rai Rahane (4/6) and Ratan Singh (3/7) helped GRM Academy thump Tauras Academy by 107 runs in the league match of the 5th Sharma Sports KP Trophy u-19 cricket tournament at Ashok Vihar ground. GRM batted well with contributions coming from Satender Tanwar (43) and Raghav (41) and the total of 195 for victory was always beyond the reach of Tauras who crashed to 87 all out with less than 3 overs to go

Brief scores: GRM Academy 194 for 8 in 30 overs (Satender Tanwar 43, Agam Raghav 41, Rohan Rai Rahane 21, Manish Chikara 4/29, Ripu Daman Singh 3/27); Tauras Academy 87 all out in 27.4 overs (Ripu Daman Singh 39, Rohan Rai Rahane 4/6, Ratan Singh 3/7, Ajay Kumar 3/14)

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Ferrari 'team orders' hearing set for Sept. 8

Tue, Aug 03 10 02:37 AM

Ferrari will discover in September if they will face further sanctions for the use of illegal "team orders" in last month's German Formula One Grand Prix after the case was referred to the World Motor Sport Council.

"Following the receipt of a report sent by the (race) stewards to the (governing International Automobile Federation) FIA, the FIA President has decided... to submit the case to the judging body of the World Motor Sport Council," the FIA said in a statement on Monday.

"The disciplinary hearing of the World Council... will take place in Paris on Sept. 8 2010."

Ferrari triggered a furore at Hockenheim when Brazilian Felipe Massa, leading the race, responded to a radio message by allowing Spanish team mate Fernando Alonso to overtake him and secure the victory.

The Italian team was fined $100,000 and referred to the FIA.

FIA president Jean Todt will not be present at the hearing due to his former role as team principal at Ferrari.

Source: Published>

Baggio to return as Italy technical director

Mon, Aug 02 10 11:57 PM

Former Italy striker Roberto Baggio is poised to make a shock return to soccer as technical director at the Italian federation.

The shy 43-year-old, who shone at the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, has shunned the limelight since retiring in 2004 and has only just started his coaching badges.

"I have a great willingness to undertake the role," the ex-Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan striker told reporters on Monday after meeting federation officials.

His appointment to the role, which includes advising coaches and nurturing young Italian talent, will be rubber-stamped on Wednesday.

Italy's recent World Cup flop has prompted the federation to choose the inspirational Baggio to head its technical division despite his lack of coaching experience.

New Italy boss Cesare Prandelli will soon name his first squad for next week's friendly with Ivory Coast but has limited youngsters to pick from, an issue Baggio will be forced to address.

Source: Published>

Santosh Trophy: Bengal crush Mizoram 7-1, Delhi draw 1-1

Published>Mon, Aug 02 10 11:07 PM

Kolkata, Aug 2 (IANS) Delhi conceded a late goal to draw 1-1 with Tamil Nadu while 29-time winners Bengal spanked Mizoram 7-1 in quarterfinal group B outings of the 64th Santosh Trophy soccer competition here Monday.

Bengal opened up a 4-0 lead by the breather and pumped in three more in the second session to move atop the group after the Salt Lake stadium game.

For the winners, Gouranga Dutta and Shankar Oraon got double strikes each, while Tarif Ahmed, Jayanta Sen and Nilendra Oraon scored one apiece in the completely one-sided encounter. F. Lalmuanpuia pulled one back for the northeastern state in the 67th minute.

Delhi, on the other hand, took the lead in the 81st minute through David Ngaihte, who slammed home a right footer off a measured through.

Tamil Nadu restored parity two minutes from the final whistle with M. Ramesh making the most of a loose ball near the ribal rival box by letting loose a curling shot that went in.

Tamil Nadu played a well-coordinated game and created the more number of chances, but P.C. Riju, otherwise the fulcrum of the moves, wasted two openings in the opening half.

In the first instance, his solo ended fruitless as he took a weak shot that was thwarted by Delhi custodian Pronoy Roy.

Seconds before the breather, T.H. Parthiban addressed a fine cross but again Riju took a venomless shot which did not pose any problems for Roy.

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Govt issues show-cause to HI, asks it clarify its position

Mon, Aug 02 10 10:37 PM

New Delhi, Aug 2 (PTI) Sports Ministry today issued a show-cause notice to Hockey India, asking it to explain before Thursday''s election as to why the government should not de-recognise it in the wake of the federation''s declaration before Delhi High Court that it is a private body. In the notice issued to HI president Vidya Stokes and secretary general Narinder Batra, Joint Secretary in the Ministry Injeti Srinivas said if the national federation fails to provide a satisfactory answer before its polls, the government''s provisional recognition to HI will be automatically withdrawn. "The Ministry of Sports (MoYAS) has carefully studied the orders passed by the Delhi High Courts and the Supreme Court of India and has noted that HI is holding its elections as a private body on the basis of its own set of rules and bye-laws," Srinivas said in the notice. "In view of the private body status of the HI being accepted by the Honourable Supreme Court, you are hereby called upon to explain before the date of elections as to why the provisional recognition granted to HI by the MoYAS, shall not be withdrawn with immediate effect," the notice said. "Failure to furnish a satisfactory reply within the time limit stated above will automatically result in withdrawal of recognition to HI as a National Sports Federation for hockey in India," it added. .

Source: Published>

Kalmadi row: Indian high comm to release new information

Mon, Aug 02 10 10:21 PM

Prasun Sonwalkar London, Aug 2 (PTI) The Indian High Commission here today said it was ''actively'' looking into controversy over the hiring of a London-Queen''s Baton Relay ceremony, and said it would release ''further information'' in due course. At a press conference in New Delhi, Congress MP Suresh Kalmadi had provided emails to substantiate his claim that the controversial AK Films was hired on the basis of recommendation made by Raju Sebastian, a junior ranking official in the High Commission. In a statement, the High Commission said: "With reference to a press release issued on 1 August 2010, by Organising Committee of CWG 2010, regarding hire of vehicles from M/s. AM Car and Vans, purportedly at the recommendation of HCI, London, the matter is being actively looked into and further information would be released in due course". Raveesh Kumar, acting spokesman for the High Commission earlier told PTI that all aspects of the issue were being "actively" examined. Kalmadi had refuted the High Commission''s earlier claim that it had not made any recommendations, and asserted that the recommendation came from Raju Sebastian. Kalmadi had said: "The Organising Committee would like to clarify that we had written to Mr Vikrant Ratan, the first secretary (Protocol) of the Indian High Commission, to provide us the list of agencies for transportation, accommodation and other services and their approved rates. In response, Mr Raju Sebastian of the Protocol Division of the Indian High Commission, giving reference to our mail to the First Secretary Vikrant Ratan, informed that the approved vendors for transport are AM Car and Van and the Chauffeur Company," Kalmadi stated. Kalmadi, also the Indian Olympic Association President, said the rates were also approved by the High Commission. "He (Sebastian) also indicated the approved rates of the High Commission for accommodation and transportation. In view of the clarification which clearly indicates that the Indian High Commission had recommended AM Car and Vans to the Organising Committee for QBR Launch Function at London, it is requested that the factual position in projected," Kalmadi said.

Source: Published>

Gambhir, Harbhajan ruled out of third Test

Published>Mon, Aug 02 10 09:27 PM

Colombo, Aug 2 (IANS) India's hopes of levelling the Test series against Sri Lanka received a set-back after opener Gautam Gambhir and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh were ruled out with injuries for the third and the final cricket Test here starting Tuesday.

Gambhir, who missed the second Test with a knee injury, is still recovering while Harbhajan is down with a side strain and calf injury.

'Gautam is out of the match and Harbhajan is also very doubtful,' said India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni after the training session at the P. Sara Oval.

Murali Vijay, who replaced Gambhir in the second Test, will once again open the batting with Virender Sehwag and leg-spinner Amit Mishra is likely to replace Harbhajan, who has two wickets in the first two Tests.

But Dhoni declined to reveal, who would bat at number six -- Suresh Raina or Yuvraj Singh. Raina scored a century on debut in the last Test match.

'We will announce the team before the toss,' Dhoni said.

Dhoni also made it clear that Vijay will open the innings and it would be unjustified to play either Raina or the fit-again Yuvraj as opener just for accommodating the two left-handed batsmen.

'Neither Yuvraj or Raina have opened, so it will be unjustified to place them there. We will go in with two specialist openers,' he said.

With a 1-0 lead, Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara is happy that his lethal fast bowler Lasith Malinga has recovered from the knee injury after missing the second Test.

'Malinga is back and strong and he had a good bowl at the nets,' said Sangakkara.

On the pitch, Sangakkara said: 'A lot will depend on how you play on it because looks can some times be deceptive. But I think there will be a result.'

'Our focus is on playing good cricket over the five days and put enough pressure on the Indians to take their 20 wickets, which is not easy to do on any surface,' he said.

Source: Web Search

I don''t know about 2019 Asiad bid: Gill

Mon, Aug 02 10 09:17 PM

New Delhi, Aug 3 (PTI) Sports Minister M S Gill today said he was unaware of any bid for the 2019 Asian Games by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) since his ministry has not yet been approached by the apex sports body. Media reports had claimed that Indian Olympic Association (IOA) quietly bid for the 2019 Asiad informing the sports ministry only after the expiry of the June 30 bidding deadline to seek the mandatory government approval. However, Gill said bidding is a lengthy process and so far nothing has happened. "I don''t know about any bid yet. The Sports Ministry can only have a view if things are done in a system properly. If you want to bid for anything, you have to prepare a lot of documents and you have to have your own council meeting, financial documents, planning documents and have to submit those to the ministry. "The ministry has to consult and get the view of finance ministry to see how much money is being spent. You start at a tiny thing and then it gets unlimited because the burden is on state," Gill told reporters outside the Parliament. The Minister said presenting a bid was a long and well-thought process and things can not be done in a hurry. "After that we also have to consult the Home Ministry, security, tourism, planning commission. After that we have to think about our own view and then go to cabinet once or twice. So nothing has happened yet and nothing is before us," he said. Twice in the past -- for 2006 and 2014 Games -- Delhi has unsuccessfully bid for the Asian Games.

Source: Published>

Tendulkar gears up for 2011 WC in Indian subcontinent

Mon, Aug 02 10 09:07 PM

Colombo, Aug 2 (PTI) Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar is looking forward to next year''s ICC cricket World Cup which will be staged in the Indian sub-continent after a span of one and a half decades. "The Cricket World Cup is the ultimate limited overs competition for a cricketer as it happens only once in four years. The entire cricketing fraternity eagerly waits for this event and when it starts, everyone gets deeply involved," said Tendulkar, who will become the most capped Test batsman when he plays against Sri Lanka in his 169th match tomorrow. "It''s a completely different feeling to be part of a Cricket World Cup where the atmosphere and the buzz is very special and to be staged in the sub-continent for the first time in 15 years is a magnificent feeling," added the Indian batting maestro. With the World Cup to be co-hosted by India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said winning the the show-piece event on home soil is his biggest dream. "It can''t get any bigger than the ICC Cricket World Cup in which the best of the best enter with just one objective to take home the Cup that counts," the Indian skipper said. "It''s not only my dream to be a Cricket World Cup winner but it''s the wish of every member of Team India to put his hand on the Cricket World Cup trophy. We''ll work as hard as possible to turn our dreams into reality," Dhoni said. "This trophy has been eluding us for the past 27 years and I think we have a very good chance at home to break the drought," he added. With 200 days to go before the first ball is bowled in the World Cup, the ICC today announced the event mascot''s name as ''Stumpy'' at the P Sara stadium here ahead of the third Test between India and Sri Lanka starting tomorrow. The mascot, an elephant, has been named ''Stumpy'' after an online selection process that drew proposals from thousands of cricket fans around the world. The lucky winner will receive a cricket bat signed by the all-star quartet of Dhoni, Tendulkar, Sri Lanka'' captain Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena. "This is another milestone in the build-up to our flagship event and it''s great to see the game''s best players like Mahendra, Kumar, Sachin and Mahela looking forward to the ICC Cricket World Cup with such enthusiasm," ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said in a statement. "As the excitement builds over the coming 200 days, we will see Stumpy throughout the cricket world, promoting the event and generating enthusiasm," he said.

Source: Published>

TN deny Delhi three points, remain sole-leader

Mon, Aug 02 10 08:51 PM

Kolkata, Aug 2 (PTI) Group leaders Tamil Nadu scored through M Ramesh in the dying minutes to hold Delhi 1-1 and remain on top of the table after their second quarterfinal league match in the 64th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy at Yuba Bharati Krirangan here today. Following a drab first 45 minutes of play in which both the teams failed to score, Delhi went ahead in the 81st minute through substitute David Ngaihte. But Delhi looked complacent and their fragile defence failed to retain their lead as Tamil Nadu took seven minutes to equalise and end on a high. Delhi had a similar fate in their first Group B league match against hosts Bengal who struck late in the second half to deny them three points. In Group B, Tamil Nadu remain on lead with four points, while Delhi is on the second spot with two points. Bengal (1) and Mizoram (0) lie on the third, fourth spots respectively. Having beaten Mizoram 2-0 in their first outing, Tamil Nadu looked to score in the 23rd minute when PC Riju''s shot was saved by Delhi goalkeeper Pronoy Roy. Tamil Nadu had another chance to go up two minutes later but TH Pathiban hit the horizontal crosspiece as both teams took a cautious approach to see a goalless first-half. After the changeover, Delhi came close to scoring in the 57th minute when Mohender Singh''s right footer from inside the box was saved by Tamil Nadu goalkeeper A Arun Pradeep. Ngaihte was brought in place of Mohinder in the 71st minute and he went on to give Delhi the lead 10 minutes after coming into the ground. Following a shot pass from the right, Ngaihte beat an off-side trap to give Delhi the lead. But Delhi -- like in their last match against Bengal -- failed to retain the lead with Tamil Nadu stepping on the gas towards the later half. Ramesh, who was brought in place of CS Sabeeth in the 70th minute, scored with a curling right-footer to deny Delhi the win as both the teams settle for one each. The winners and runners-up of the group will battle it out with the top two teams from Group A in the knockout semifinals to be held on August 6.

Source: Published>

Chinese businessman eyes Liverpool deal

Published>Mon, Aug 02 10 08:47 PM

Chinese businessman Kenny Huang has launched a bid to acquire control of Premier League club Liverpool from its unpopular American owners, a source close to the deal said on Monday.

Huang, a Guangdong-born U.S. citizen who already has interests in Chinese baseball and U.S. basketball, has approached Liverpool's major creditor the Royal Bank of Scotland as a first step to clinching a deal for the 18-times English champions.

He has offered to buy Liverpool's 237 million pound ($374.7 million) debt with RBS as part of a purchase deal for the club, who were put up for sale by U.S. owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett in April, the source told Reuters.

Huang, chairman of the Hong Kong-based QSL Sports Group, has not commented on the deal but has appointed a British media relations firm to represent his interest in the five-times European champions.

Liverpool's owners instructed Barclays Capital to find a buyer for the club in April and appointed British Airways chief Martin Broughton as chairman to oversee the sale.

The American duo have faced intense criticism and hostility from Liverpool fans, with frequent demands for their removal, after ladening the club with huge debts.

Huang issued a statement in March denying comments attributed to him in the British media about the future of then Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez but declining comment on his interest in purchasing the club.

He has also bought a minority share in Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team.

Media reports have linked Syrian businessman and former international footballer Yahya Kirdi with a deal for the club, who suffered a dismal campaign last season, finishing in seventh place and missing out on a lucrative Champions League spot.

Source: Web Search

India hit by injuries as they seek to level series

Mon, Aug 02 10 08:27 PM

T V Sriram Colombo, Aug 2 (PTI) India grapple with injury worries and selection dilemmas as they go into the third and final cricket Test against Sri Lanka here tomorrow with opener Gautam Gambhir ruled out and ace spinner Harbhajan Singh being a doubtful starter. Trailing 0-1, India cannot settle for anything but an outright victory to square the series but the spate of injuries will make their task a trifle difficult at the P Sara Oval stadium. Gambhir, who missed out of the second Test because of a knee injury, has not recovered completely while Harbhajan is still uncertain because of a niggle. "Gautam (Gambhir) is injured. He wont be playing tomorrow. Right now Harbhajan is also doubtful for the match," Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said, "There is bit of niggle in his (Harbhajan''s) calf. Not sure how serious it is, so we will take a call on him before the game," he said. Gambhir''s absence means that Tamil Nadu opener Murali Vijay, who scored a half-century in the first innings of the second Test, will yet again open the batting with Virender Sehwag as Dhoni has rejected the possibility of fielding a makeshift opener in the crucial match. He also made it clear that either Suresh Raina, who scored a century in his debut in the second Test, or Yuvraj Singh will have to sit out of the final Test. "You know the choice between Suresh Raina and Yuvraj is a difficult one. I will just protect the decision till tomorrow morning. Whatever the team decides, we will go by it," Dhoni said. Although they don''t have to worry about their top position in the ICC rankings, the Indians do have a few selection dilemmas to deal with on the eve of the match at the P Sara Oval. The focus will be on veteran Sachin Tendulkar, who is set to surpass Steve Waugh''s record of being the most capped player in Test cricket when he takes the field tomorrow.. The 37-year-old iconic right-hander, who scored a fifth career double hundred in the second Test, also practised in the nets yesterday, an indication that he would be padding in his record 169th Test having recovered from the groin injury. Apart from these injury concerns, batting form is hardly an issue for the Indians, who piled up a whopping 707 runs in the first innings of the second Test in reply to Sri Lanka''s 642. More PTI TVS MRM

Source: Published>

Raina or Yuvraj? Dhoni says wait till tomorrow morning

Mon, Aug 02 10 08:17 PM

T V Sriram Colombo, Aug 3 (PTI) India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni today refused to reveal whether Suresh Raina will retain his place in team for the third Test, starting tomorrow, or will make way for fit-again Yuvraj Singh. Raina made a sensational debut in the second Test by scoring a century and the kind of form he is in, the team management would not like to drop the diminutive southpaw. But Raina earned his first Test cap because of an indisposed Yuvraj, who is now fit to play. Asked who will get the nod tomorrow, Dhoni chose to keep the cards close to his chest. "That''s a difficult one. You (reporters) have a half-an-hour serial to run today and tomorrow. So I will protect the decision till tomorrow morning," he said at the pre-match press conference. India are in a must-win situation in the third Test having lost the first match and Dhoni said they will have to play out of their skin to salvage the series. "We are 1-0 down so the best we can do is level this series. It will be a big challenge. We have to maintain whatever momentum we got from the second Test. We have to see that the result of the Test is in our favour," Dhoni said. "We will have to be the team that takes the extra initiative because even if the third Test ends in a draw Sri Lanka win the series. We have to be careful about how aggressive we can get but at the same time you have to see what''s the best you can do in this Test match," he added. Talking about the P Sara Oval wicket, the India stumper said the pitch would favour the pacers early on and will also help the spinners as the match progresses. "There is a bit of grass on the wicket but it''s not green. It looked very different yesterday from what it is now. There may be bit of bounce. We thought the same about the pitch at SSC, but there was nothing for the fast bowlers. "We are hoping because the stands are a bit low, there will be a bit of breeze blowing, which may be in the favor of the fast bowlers. But I think that as the game progresses, the spinners might get some bounce with turn," he said. More PTI TVS ATK AT

Source: Published>

Gambhir ruled out of third Test, Harbhajan doubtful

Mon, Aug 02 10 08:07 PM

TV Sriram Colombo, Aug 2 (PTI) Indian opener Gautam Gambhir was today ruled out of the third and final cricket Test against Sri Lanka after failing to recover from a knee injury, while off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is also a doubtful starter for the match beginning here tomorrow. Announcing the developments, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said Gambhir has recovered from the injury which had forced him to sit out of the drawn second match while Harbhajan is still uncertain for the final match of the three-Test series, which the visitors are trailing 0-1. "Gautam (Gambhir) is injured. He wont be playing tomorrow. Right now Harbhajan is also doubtful for the match," Dhoni told reporters on the eve of the third Test which starts at the P Sara Oval here. "There is bit of niggle in his (Harbhajan''s) calf. Not sure how serious it is, so we will take a call on him before the game," he said. The development means that Tamil Nadu batsman Murali Vijay, who scored a half-century in the first innings of the second Test, will yet again open the batting with Virender Sehwag as Dhoni has rejected the possibility of fielding a makeshift opener in the crucial match. He also made it clear that either Suresh Raina, who scored a century in his debut in the second Test, or Yuvraj Singh will have to sit out of the final Test. "You know the choice between Suresh Raina and Yuvraj is a difficult one. I will just protect the decision till tomorrow morning. Whatever the team decides, we will go by it," Dhoni said. "I don''t think any one of them (either Raina or Yuvraj) can open the innings. It will be unjustified. It will not really solve our problem. So we will be going with a specialist opener and one of them will be playing this game," he said. .

Source: Published>

Get safety certificate before moving into stadiums, CGOC told

Published>Mon, Aug 02 10 06:37 PM

New Delhi, Aug 2 (IANS) Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) chief executive officer Mike Hooper Monday sought clarification from the 2010 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CGOC) on the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) report on the safety of the venues and also asked it to get a safety certificate from the venue owners before taking over the stadiums.

Talking to IANS, Hooper said: 'The CGF is concerned with the CVC report and the organising committee has been asked to clarify on the CVC report. Basically, we need assurances as does the organising committee. We need assurances from the venue owners which are basically government agencies that all venues fully comply with the government of India laws, and all sanctions and sign offs on it are appropriately obtained.'

'It is an alarming situation and we will take all necessary steps to ensure a safe Games. But the onus is on the organising committee to make sure that all venues are safe for athletes and the spectators.'

Last week the CVC had put 16 Games projects under the scanner including the Games Village swimming pool, training hall, and athletic track, among others, which are the responsibility of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the renovation of Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium and SPM swimming pool - Central Public Works Department (CPWD), the upgrade of Talkatora Stadium under New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and a few other projects undertaken by the Public Works Department (PWD) and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

Hooper said that the CVC report was extremely disappointing for the CGF with just two months left for the Oct 3-14 Games.

'We have read reports of forged certificates, leaking roofs, broken tiles and seepages in the venues and CGF is upset with all such reports. With two months left, the Commonwealth Games can all but afford such negative publicity,' he said.

Hooper said the CGF board will meet here Aug 18 to sort out the issues.

'We have to look forward. The organising committee led by Suresh Kalmadi also shares our concerns and at the board meeting we will be discussing all these issues. We have to make sure that all the protocols are strictly followed,' he said.

Source: Web Search

England unchanged for second Pakistan test

Mon, Aug 02 10 06:17 PM

England named an unchanged 12-man squad on Monday for the second test against Pakistan following their emphatic 354-run victory in the series opener that concluded on Sunday.

Seamer Tim Bresnan is again included having been called up for the first test to replace Yorkshire team mate Ajmal Shahzad after he suffered an ankle injury but the same 11 are likely to play at Edgbaston in the match starting on Friday.

Both men bowled eight overs for their County in Sunday's 40-over match against Netherlands but Bresnan retained his place.

"Clearly we were delighted with the performance in the first test but the key to consistency is building on that success throughout the rest of the series," national selector Geoff Miller said in a statement.

"We saw a number of outstanding performances at Trent Bridge not only with bat and ball but also in the field and the challenge is to maintain those standards over the next three test matches."

Source: Published>

Kolkata did a Sourav Ganguly in 1911!

Published>Mon, Aug 02 10 05:53 PM

When Sourav Ganguly took off his shirt and waved it at the Lords after winning the Natwest Trophy in 2002, he probably did not know that people of his city had done the same thing a century ago -- to celebrate a historic football victory in 1911.

On July 29, 1911, a barefoot bunch of 11 Indians, representing Mohun Bagan, defeated fancied East Yorkshire Regiment team to lay their hands for the first time on the then coveted IFA Shield.

An report on that day said, "When it was known that East Yorkshire regiment had been beaten by two goals to one, the scene beggared description, the Bengalees tearing off their shirts and waving them."

The report, which was reproduced from an anthology of news articles published by Press Club, Kolkata, says, "The vast majority saw nothing of the game and was informed of the progress by flying kites."

There was also no racial overtone. "The European spectators were good humoured and the Bengalees cheered the losing team," said the report.

A newspaper, The Mussalman, said: "It was a sense of universal joy, which pervaded the feelings of the Hindus, the Mohammedans and the Christians alike. The members of the Muslim sporting club were almost mad and rolling on the ground with joyous excitement on the victory of their Hindu brethren."

Even a pro-British newspaper, The Empire, wrote two days after the victory, "Those eleven players are not only a glory to themselves and to their club and to the great nation to which they belong; they are a glory to the game itself."

Though established on August 15, 1889, Bagan had first participated in the IFA Shield tournament in 1909 as all teams were not allowed to avail the opportunity.

To reach the final, Bagan had defeated St Xavier's 3-0 in the first round, Rangers in the second by the same score, Rifle Brigade in the third by 1-0 and went on to defeat Middlesex Regiment 3-0 in the semifinal, according to the club's website.

After a barren first half in the final, East York captain Sergeant Jackson drew first blood. But Bagan skipper Shibdas Bhaduri equalised within five minutes.

Finally, just two minutes before the long whistle, Abhilash Ghosh netted the ball following a Bhaduri pass and history was scripted.

To commemorate the historic event, Mohun Bagan has planned a year-long programme which began on July 29 here.

Before 1911, Bagan had won the Trades Cup three times in a row from 1906 to 1908. At that time, Trades Cup was the next prestigious tournament after IFA Shield. In 1905, Mohun Bagan had defeated Dalhousie, winner of that year's IFA Shield, by 6-1, the club site said.

Source: Web Search

Expectations are god''s gift, not burden: Tendulkar

Mon, Aug 02 10 05:47 PM

T V Sriram Colombo, Aug 2 (PTI) All set to become the most-capped Test player, Indian batting stalwart Sachin Tendulkar today said the sky-high expectations of his cricket-mad nation are not a burden as he considers them a "god''s gift". "It is not a burden. It is god''s gift ... the passion which I had (to play cricket) I got to work on it for 20 years. I enjoy every moment. I don''t think it as a burden. It was my desire in life that has happened," Tendulkar said. Tendulkar will play his 169th Test when he takes the field against Sri Lanka in the third game of a three-match series here tomorrow, surpassing the 168 played by former Australian captain Steve Waugh. The 37-year-old said touching the milestone is like a dream realised sooner than expected in his two-decade-old cricket career. "It has been a long journey. I still remember the first Test match that I played in Pakistan. The 1989 was completely different feeling altogether compared to the other form of cricket that I played," he told reporters. "I am very happy that I have had the privilege of having had such a long journey at international level and this was my dream. To play for India was my dream and getting to play 169 Test matches is fantastic. Really pleased with that. "The journey has gone by very quickly. Quicker than I expected. The time flies and you just need to enjoy it. It is a circle," he added. The champion batsman said he has had his rough times but has managed to cope with them by working hard. "Sometimes there are rough patches. But the simple formula that I have followed is that whenever I have gone through such phases, I have found the reason to work hard. "I have tried and spent all my energy at what I have been trying to get better at and trying to keep things simple. If you keep things simple they are simple to manage. "Cricket is simple but everything around it ... if you keep it simple then it becomes relatively easy. And then the huge support that whatever I have had over the years motivated me to go out and live upto expectations," he added. Tendulkar said he still prepares hard for matches and that has helped him evolve with the changing times. MORE PTI TVS PM MRM

Source: Published>

CWG sans stars means India team without Sachin: Ghosal

Mon, Aug 02 10 05:37 PM

New Delhi, Aug 2 (PTI) Upcoming Commonwealth Games will be like ''Indian cricket team without Sachin Tendulkar'' if star athletes continue to withdraw from the sporting extravaganza, ace squash player Saurav Ghosal said today. Jamaica''s Olympic champions Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser, Scotland''s top cyclist Chris Hoy, who is a multiple Olympic gold medallist, and top tennis players like Samantha Stosur and Lleyton Hewitt have already pulled out of the October Games. Ghosal said he was extremely disappointed with the star pull outs. "I am a huge fan of Usain Bolt. He is just superb. I am very much disappointed that he is not coming to India. He is absolutely unbelievable and people of Delhi will miss him. Same is with Hoy and recently I came to know that another England swimmer is not coming. "With pull outs, the event will be like Indian cricket team without Sachin Tendulkar. Bolt is the greatest sprinter of all time and watching him for 10 seconds is absolutely thrilling. People of India must be saddened that he is not coming," Ghosal said. The world number 26 Ghosal, who was in the capital today to announce Punj Llyod Squash Masters 2010, the biggest prize money championship to be held in the country ever, said that delay in the completion of the venues will rob the medal prospect like him of the vital home advantage. "To be fair, yes, we will miss the home advantage. It would be much better if the Squash courts at the Siri Fort Sports Complex were ready by March this year. "In an ideal world, I would have loved to play on it couple of times earlier but that did not happen. I have came to know from our federation that we will be playing on it only in September that too from 23rd which is not a long time before the CWG starts. "It''s not ideal and could have been better. Getting hang of your venue when event is taking place at home always brighten your chances to win medals," he said. Ghosal would be playing in a couple of international tournaments before heading back to India for the Games in September. On India''s medal prospects in the Games, the 24-year-old Kolkata born said, "in the singles event, I need to pull out couple of upsets in order to advance to the later stages." "May be I would be playing world number 12 or world number one in the pre-quarters. I think draw will make a lot of difference. In mixed-doubles and doubles categories, Indians can give a good shot. I would be playing with Dipika in the mixed and we have done pretty well in recent past. "Harinder Pal Sandhu will line-up with Joshna Chinappa in another mixed doubles pairing. They have also done great. So we have bright chances in that category," he said.

Source: Published>

Expectations are god''s gift, not burden: Tendulkar

Mon, Aug 02 10 05:27 PM

T V Sriram Colombo, Aug 2 (PTI) All set to become the most-capped Test player, Indian batting stalwart Sachin Tendulkar today said the sky-high expectations of his cricket-mad nation are not a burden as he considers them a "god''s gift". "It is not a burden. It is god''s gift ... the passion which I had (to play cricket) I got to work on it for 20 years. I enjoy every moment. I don''t think it as a burden. It was my desire in life that has happened," Tendulkar said. Tendulkar will play his 169th Test when he takes the field against Sri Lanka in the third game of a three-match series here tomorrow, surpassing the 168 played by former Australian captain Steve Waugh. The 37-year-old said touching the milestone is like a dream realised sooner than expected in his two-decade-old cricket career. "It has been a long journey. I still remember the first Test match that I played in Pakistan. The 1989 was completely different feeling altogether compared to the other form of cricket that I played," he told reporters. "I am very happy that I have had the privilege of having had such a long journey at international level and this was my dream. To play for India was my dream and getting to play 169 Test matches is fantastic. Really pleased with that. "The journey has gone by very quickly. Quicker than I expected. The time flies and you just need to enjoy it. It is a circle," he added. The champion batsman said he has had his rough times but has managed to cope with them by working hard. "Sometimes there are rough patches. But the simple formula that I have followed is that whenever I have gone through such phases, I have found the reason to work hard. "I have tried and spent all my energy at what I have been trying to get better at and trying to keep things simple. If you keep things simple they are simple to manage. "Cricket is simple but everything around it ... if you keep it simple then it becomes relatively easy. And then the huge support that whatever I have had over the years motivated me to go out and live upto expectations," he added. Tendulkar said he still prepares hard for matches and that has helped him evolve with the changing times. MORE PTI TVS PM MRM

Source: Published>

Bhutia to leave for Portugal on Wednesday

Mon, Aug 02 10 05:21 PM

Kolkata, Aug 2 (PTI) India captain Bhaichung Bhutia will leave for Portugal on Wednesday where his teammates are preparing for next year''s Asian Cup. Bhutia, who has recovered from a thyroid-related illness said today, "I am absolutely fine now and have recovered fully. I am looking forward to the camp in Portugal." Striker Sunil Chhetri, who has returned from the US after he was released for national duty by his Major League club Kansas City Wizards, would also leave on the same day, giving a boost to coach Bob Houghton. Bhutia and Chhetri would be available for India''s international friendlies scheduled in September. India has so far two wins under their belt -- against Desportivo das Caldas and Desportivo Monsanto -- in their preparatory practice matches.

Source: Published>

ICC receives Alan Isaac's nomination for vice president

Published>Mon, Aug 02 10 05:17 PM

Dubai, Aug 2 (IANS) The International Cricket Council (ICC) Monday confirmed that it has received the joint nomination of Alan Isaac from New Zealand Cricket (NZC) and Cricket Australia (CA) for the position of vice president from 2010-2012.

CA and NZC nominated Isaac after their earlier nomination of former Australian prime minister John Howard did not receive support within the ICC board. As such, both members were invited to re-nominate a candidate by Aug 31.

Isaac, an ICC director, succeeded John Anderson as chairman of NZC in 2008. A left-handed batsman from Wellington, who also captained Wellington's second team for three years, Isaac is an eminent businessman and corporate governance practitioner.

His nomination will now go to the ICC's executive board for approval.

'It has been a lengthy process and I am grateful to both Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket for their joint nomination of Mr. Isaac as the ICC vice president,' ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said in a statement.

'The process now requires Isaac's nomination to be formally approved by the ICC board and council which will be done as quickly as possible through a circular resolution so that he immediately assumes responsibility as ICC vice president for two years before taking over as the ICC president (from India's Sharad Pawar) in 2012,' Lorgat said.

Source: Web Search

Gambhir to miss third Test, Harbhajan also doubtful

Mon, Aug 02 10 05:07 PM

Colombo, Aug 2 (PTI) Indian opener Gautam Gambhir was today ruled out of the third and final cricket Test against Sri Lanka after failing to recover from a knee injury which had forced him out of the drawn second match. The development means that Tamil Nadu batsman Murali Vijay will yet again open with Virender Sehwag in the match, starting tomorrow at the P Sara Oval here. Vijay had scored a half-century in the first innings of the second Test. In further bad news for India, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who missed yesterday''s practice session, is also a doubtful starter, sources in the Indian team management said. The team management insisted that the Punjab spinner is not injured and has a minor side strain. Although he has hardly impressed in the Test series, his absence will compound India''s problems as they strive to win the Test to draw the series. Both Gambhir and Harbhajan have also been rested for the tri-series in Sri Lanka also featuring New Zealand.

Source: Published>

Somdev enters top-100 in singles rankings

Published>Mon, Aug 02 10 04:57 PM

New Delhi, Aug 2 (IANS) India's Somdev Devvarman broke into the top-100 of the tennis rankings in singles, jumping seven spots to 96 in the Association of Tennis Professional (ATP) chart Monday.

Somdev is only the second Indian after Leander Paes to be ranked in the top 100. Paes' career high singles ranking was 73 in 1998.

The Indian benefited from his second round appearance at ATP Farmers Classic tournament in Los Angeles last week. Somdev lost to Serbian Janko Tipsarevic who had beaten the Indian at the Chennai Open in January 2010. It fetched Somdev 32 ATP points, including 12 points he earned in the qualifiers. He now has 540 ATP points.

His career-best rankings will be a shot in the arm for him before the US Open later this month.

Somdev was ranked 126 at the start of the year, but his ranking plummeted to 162 by the third week of January. He picked up with some good performance in the circuit.

Somdev reached the ATP Tour quarterfinal of the SA Open in Johannesburg and the second round of the ATP World Tour 500 series in Dubai Tennis Championships where he lost to Marcos Baghdatis.

Somdev, who leads India's singles challenge in Davis Cup, also qualified for the French Open and went down to Switzerland's Marco Chiudinelli in the first round.

He reached his maiden ATP Tour event finals in Chennai Open last year.

Source: Web Search

Even referees' brains have their limits

Published>Mon, Aug 02 10 04:47 PM

It was the World Cup goal seen around the world but missed by the eyes that mattered most: England midfielder Frank Lampard's shot that dropped cleanly past the German goal line but was not given by the referee.

The avalanche of complaints about that missed call and others during the largest soccer tournament in the world raised the philosophical question of whether instant-replay technology improves games or turns them into soulless events run by a bank of blinking lights.

Scientists who study the human brain say it is surprising that bad calls do not happen more often.

Despite all of the apparent surprise that the referees would be blowing calls, especially at crucial points, from a psychological standpoint this is what we would expect, said David Meyer, director of the University of Michigan's Brain, Cognition and Action Laboratory.

It's like every once in a while you draw the ace of spades, the psychology professor added. It's going to happen.

Questions about the capacity of the human brain to judge action on the sports field are not limited to conversations at the local bar, but are examined by neurobiologists and psychologists using such measures as relay latency, perceptual fluency and speed-accuracy trade-off curve.

While it is easy for fans to throw up their hands in disgust at a missed call and curse the referee, they need to realise that officials are weighing up actions which happen in fractions of a second, experts say.

Human beings are never going to be perfect at making calls, said Gary Marcus, a professor of psychology at New York University. Our memories just aren't cut out to allow us to be perfect referees.

Our eyes work a lot like cameras but our memories don't work anything like an SD (secure digital) card, Marcus, author of the book Kluge: the Haphazard Construction of the Human Mind, said, referring to memory cards used in digital cameras. We can't literally play back what we just saw.

PAST EXPERIENCES

Making it tougher was the fleeting nature of moves in sport, said Emilio Salinas, an assistant professor of neurobiology at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center who helped to write a paper entitled Perceptual decision making in less than 30 milliseconds.

Salinas and fellow authors found that as little as 30 milliseconds of extra viewing time was the difference between a correct and an incorrect judgment about whether a flashed light had turned red or green.

Thirty milliseconds is sort of an upper bound on how fast you can do that kind of discrimination, he said.

Then there is the fact that referees simply cannot see everything.

University of Michigan's Meyer said the maximum number of players any one person could carefully track was four, meaning something would be missed even with multiple referees watching.

When referees do miss a crucial piece of evidence, their brain will fill in the gaps using past experiences to help them make the call.

Filling in is really a deeply embedded part of human consciousness, New York University's Marcus said.

Just as a driver's brain would tell him a car was in his blind spot even though he could not see it, referees' brains would fill in what was missing, he said.

TECHNOLOGY CRITICS

Obstructed views or bad angles are supplemented by the official's past experiences, something that may have happened when a botched call in early June cost Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga a perfect game in Major League Baseball (MLB).

Scientists and even referees understand that the accuracy of calls increases with experience. However, additional practice does not always make perfect.

You can train your eyes all day long to see as quick as possible, but we're talking about 300 milliseconds to see a 95-mile-an-hour fastball coming from a professional pitcher's rubber to home plate, said Kevin Gee, director of the Sports Vision Performance Center at the University of Houston College of Optometry.

Given the challenges for the human brain, even some staunch critics of technology to aid referees have changed their minds.

I don't know if we can get any better at doing what we do, said retired MLB umpire Don Denkinger, who is remembered for an incorrect call in the 1985 World Series. There's no super umpire sitting out there.

You have plays that are going to pop up that are called wrong and if you don't want to use instant replay, you just have to accept them, added Denkinger, who no longer opposes the use of instant replays.

After Lampard's no-goal in June, FIFA president Sepp Blatter apologised for refereeing mistakes at the World Cup and said soccer's governing body would reopen the debate on goalline technology.

Even the scientists, however, recognise the appeal of the drama offered by human error.

In real life, most of the time we do not have the possibility of engaging in instant replay in order to correct mistakes, Meyer said. By keeping the technology out of play, we make the sport more traditionally lifelike and in some ways that can enhance the drama.

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Poor construction of CWG stadiums worries sports federations

Published>Mon, Aug 02 10 04:37 PM

New Delhi, Aug 2 (IANS) Vijay Kumar Malhotra, president of the General Association of National Sports Federations (GANSF) Monday expressed serious concern over the reported poor construction of stadiums for the Commonwealth Games being held here Oct 3-14.

Malhotra, a senior vice-president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), said during the general assembly of GANSF that he was shocked to see that despite spending huge amount of money, most of the stadiums were not ready to host the Games.

'There is a general sense of antipathy, cynicism, concern, worry about the Games. The common man on the street is worried not only about the massive corruption but also about the image of the country,' said Malhotra, who is also the leader of opposition in the Delhi legislative assembly.

Malhotra, who is also the president of the Archery Association of India (AAI), said the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has confirmed the worst fears of the sports federations.

'The CVC has finally confirmed our worst fears which we had been expressing for last three years that there had been inordinate delay, corruption and compromise with quality (in preparation of CWG infrastructure). CVC has clearly pointed out large scale corruption, forging of records of testing, jacking up of prices of imported material, tampering of tender documents and involvement of bogus agencies in the construction work,' he said.

Malhotra demanded that Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit and her cabinet colleagues and central ministers involved in the preparations for the Games should be black-listed for their criminal negligence.

'Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit and Group of Ministers keep on making unnecessary statements that these games would be best ever. If everything is under control and infrastructure would be ready in time, then why is there total panic in the Delhi and central governments,' he said.

'I had urged them to start working on the projects at least 30 times in the last four years in Lok Sabha, Delhi Vidhan Sabha and outside. I had cautioned them that delay appears to be deliberate as the more the delay, the more the corruption and more the cost and more compromise with quality,' he said.

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Pak will bounce back against England in Edgbaston Test: Salman Butt

Published>Mon, Aug 02 10 04:21 PM

London, Aug 2(ANI): Pakistan skipper Salman Butt is confident that his team will learn from their mistakes made in Trent Bridge Test against England to bounce back in the second Test match, starting at Edgbaston from Friday.

Pakistan lost the match by 354 runs after they slumped to their lowest total of 80 against England.

"I admit that we have not played the best cricket here. We will go back to the drawing board and see what we can do better to bounce back in the series. I think we would be able to overcome our flaws before the second Test at Edgbaston," The News quoted Butt, as saying.

"Even against Australia we did that. After suffering a heavy defeat against them at Lord's, we fought back brilliantly to win the second Test and I think we can stage a fightback. It is the same team which managed to defeat Australia," he added.

The 25-year-old also defended wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, who had another nightmare Test behind the stumps, where he dropped a couple of sitters to strengthen claims that he is no way near his best form.

He had the opportunities to execute the early dismissals of Andrew Strauss, Eoin Morgan and Paul Collingwood, who guided England to 354 in the first innings.

"I think he is a good player and has the ability to bounce back in the series. Even he knows what to do and how to get out of this lean period. All I could say at this time is he would probably make a comeback in style in the second Test at Edgbaston," Butt said.

"He has got all the potential to improve his performance," he added. (ANI)

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'If Bolt is missing, the next best will come'

Published>Mon, Aug 02 10 04:07 PM

Suresh Kalmadi, chairman of the Organising Committee of Commonwealth Games, 2010, dreams of hosting the 2024 Olympics. He also wants to take a shot at the Asian Games 2018. Whether or not he can realise these goals, at the moment, he is found defending the lacklustre preparations for the Games, just 70 days away.

On Big Stars not Showing up for the Games: It is no big deal. New stars will emerge from the Games. Even if Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt is not coming, the ones who are next best to him will be there. Countries like Australia, Canada, New Zealand and England are sending their biggest teams. There will be a lot to look forward to.

On the Overrunning Cost of the Ceremonies: The budget has gone up from Rs 100 crore to about Rs 375 crore now. Several things like the expenditure on special effects, props, make-up and costumes had not been factored in. Music composer A.R. Rahman is not charging anything but we have to pay Rs 5 crore to others who will perform with him.

On the Catering Controversy: The problem would be sorted out in the next three weeks. There is enough time to find a caterer for the stadiums and venues. They are all quoting high prices which we can't afford. The Village was our main concern, which has been taken care of.

On the Performance of Indian Sportspersons: The prime minister has given us Rs 650 crore for training our athletes and sportspersons. We have used the money to provide them with scientific training and also to send them abroad. We hope it translates into more medals.

Reproduced From India Today. ? 2010. LMIL. All rights reserved.

Source: Web Search

The Con Games

Published>Mon, Aug 02 10 03:47 PM

By Bhavna Vij-Aurora

There's a popular Indian word, jugaad. Loosely translated, it means improvisations and band-aid solutions that show native inventiveness born out a culture of scarcity and survival. Scarcity and survival may belong to the past but jugaad is still very much an Indian obsession, as the frantic, embarrassing, shameful last-minute rush to salvage the 2010 Commonwealth Games from disaster gets underway.

With just 70 days to go for the prestigious event to kick off on October 3, Delhi, the host city, meant to welcome 15,000 people, including 11,000 sportspersons and officials from 72 countries, looks like a war zone. Deadlines have long past, schedules are haywire and budgets keep expanding-it has shot up ten-fold from the estimated Rs 1,200 crore given in the Delhi bid document.

The city is under siege from multiple agencies, 21 in total, all working at cross purposes and stepping on each other's toes while the mad scramble to give the Capital a face-lift clashes with the frantic construction to get the stadia and other Games-related venues ready on time. The monsoon downpours have only made matters worse, leading to flooded venues, blocked drainage, leaking ceilings, burst waterpipes and seepage everywhere. Here's a reality check.

1. The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, which is to host all key events including athletics and weight-lifting, and the opening and closing ceremonies, is struggling to meet its July 31 deadline. Ten days before the scheduled handover to the Organising Committee (OC), the stadium resembles a dustbowl, with open drains and piles of rubble all around and the approach roads still in the early stages of construction. As things stand, only the main arena would be ready by the deadline, with the peripheral work to continue till mid-September, barely two weeks before the opening ceremony.

2. The shooting range at Kadarpur in Gurgaon, an official Games venue, has "collapsed". Inaugurated barely two months ago by Sports Minister M.S. Gill, the range had even hosted a test event for the Games but has now self-destructed after the rains. On July 8, dig and Manager (Sports), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), M.C. Panwar (the Range is built on CRPF land) wrote a desperate letter to top sports ministry officials. "Due to the incessant rains on the night of July 4 and 7, the various embankments on the range have collapsed and extensive damages (sic) have been caused. The grassy expanse of lawn overhead the first box culvert has been washed away along with the side foot-tracks."

3. At the Yamuna Sports Complex, where the table tennis events will be staged, the false ceiling collapsed and the wooden flooring has been badly damaged because of waterlogging. Both will need to be replaced. The new deadline for completion is now first week of September, one month later than the original deadline of August 1.

4. The Siri Fort badminton complex, where World Number 2 Saina Nehwal will be India's biggest medal hope, faces the same problem with the wooden floor having buckled due to seepage. The entire floor will have to be relaid.

5. The "new" Dr S.P. Mukherjee Swimming Complex built at a cost of Rs 377 crore, was inaugurated last week with parts of the complex still to be completed. During the inauguration, a waterpipe malfunction sprayed water on the people present there. The walls are already marked by seepage.

6. The rains have led to flooding the newly constructed Velodrome at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, a fully air-conditioned indoor timber track, built at a cost of Rs 150 crore.

7. The Talkatora Boxing Stadium has major problems with flooding inside because of leakage, while there was more than a foot of water all around outside.

8. The vital timing, scoring, result (TSR) equipment will only be commissioned 10 days before the start of the Games, a ridiculous state of affairs since glitches and settings take time to be tested and ironed out.

9. Every approach road to the venues is dug up, waterlogged, minus pavements and dividers, and the construction debris has entered the drainage system leading to flooding each time it rains, even for a brief spell.

10. The Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, venue for hockey, was inaugurated on January 24, after missing the original deadline by four months. Costing Rs 262 crore, 50 crore more than was budgeted, the peripheral work is still on.

11. The catering contracts for the Games venues was cancelled last week, meaning fresh bids will have to be submitted and approved, leaving no time for the eventual caterers to prepare and set up operations.

12. As if that wasn't enough, some of the world's best athletes, including Olympic and world champion sprinter Usain Bolt, have pulled out of the Games robbing it of much of its lustre and led to an unseemly and very public war of words between Gill and Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi.

In the face of all this, the optimism is eerie and almost surreal. Kalmadi, a politician and businessman, struts around declaring that "this will be the best games ever." Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has hit the panic button but insists that Delhi will be a world-class city. Other officials in charge of various events and organisation run around like headless chickens, hoping that a miracle will happen. It won't.

On July 19, Chairman of Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Michael Fennell sent a frantic email to Kalmadi seeking details of corrective actions taken following reports of monsoon showers damaging the newly built shooting range and the false ceiling at another Games venue. Kalmadi is still waiting for the Sports Ministry to revert about the extent of the damage to the stadia. When he does get the details, it is highly unlikely he would want to share it with the watching world.

The question anyone will ask looking at the chaos and organisational mess is: Does India actually plan to host the mega sporting event in the country? The anticipation has been quickly replaced by cynicism and concern. In fact, within the Government and the Congress party, questions are being raised whether such exorbitant expenditure and effort on the event worth it.

Stadiums: 17 venues, 5 incomplete. 4 damaged. Deadline: July 31.

Overlays: The timing, scoring, result equipment will be in place only by September-end. No time to test.

Flyovers and Roads: 9 major projects. All incomplete. Deadline: August 31.

Accommodation: Games Village and Vasant Kunj flats for officials not ready. Renovation of hotels incomplete.

Catering: No caterer finalised till date

Sponsorship: Rs 342 crore from 10 sponsors. Target: Rs 1,800 crore.

According to the latest estimates from the Sports Ministry, the Games, including the stadia, infrastructure, logistics and security, will cost the country around Rs 12,000 crore.

This does not include the money being spent by the Delhi Government on beautification and infrastructure projects. It also excludes the money spent by civic authorities such as the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the New Delhi Municipal Corporation, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), Airports Authority of India and Ministry of Tourism on upgrade of hotels and accommodation.

An independent study says that by the end of the Games, the country would have spent anywhere between Rs 40,000 and Rs 50,000 crore. The first budget for the Games, approved by the Cabinet in April 2007 was Rs 3,566 crore. The initial estimates for the event have gone terribly awry and the OC is now scouring for funds and sponsors. The entire proposed expenditure for sports infrastructure was to be Rs 150 crore. An expenditure of at least Rs 4,500 crore has already been incurred on construction and repairs of stadia, and much of it is incomplete.

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium

Events: Athletics and weightlifting

Deadline: March 2009, revised to December 2009. Now July 31.

Estimated cost: Rs 580 crore

Final cost: Rs 890 crore

The stadia is not the only worry. The Games Village is not ready either. Built at a cost of nearly Rs 1,100 crore, the first deadline was December 2009, later shifted to March 2010 and finally to July 31. The work in the Village slowed down in December 2008 when Emaar MGF claimed that it had no money due to the global meltdown.

The DDA, its PPP partner, had to cough up Rs 766 crore as a bailout package. The eviction of 3,000 students from their hostels indicates that the Village will not be ready and last minute alternate arrangements are being made.

In fact, there is not a single aspect, which the OC or the Sports Ministry can claim has been completed to satisfaction. The OC is still not sure how it will feed the sportspersons, athletes, officials and referees outside the Games Village. With more than 30 lakh meals expected to be cooked during the fortnight of the Games, it's one of the most important functional areas of the event.

Yamuna Sports Complex

Events: Archery and table tennis

Deadline: March 2009, revised to December 2009. Now August 31. Inaugurated Partially in March 2010. Roof caved in, damaging the floor.

Estimated cost: Rs 200 crore

Final cost: Rs 300 crore

An estimated 2,500 meals need to be served every hour. Thanks to the mismanagement and dilly-dallying over finalising the caterers by the OC, most of them are now unwilling to step in as they say that there is too little time, extremely ambitious expectations and meagre returns. The OC has no money left under the catering head since it frittered away its finances on inexplicable cancellation and re-tendering of the contract for the Village.

It is the same story of mismanagement and delays for many of the other crucial aspects related to the conduct of the Games. They have asked the Sports Ministry to provide them with at least Rs 720 crore due to unavoidable cost overruns in various areas. The functional area of communication, image and look has also witnessed a huge overrun of over Rs 105 crore. The budget for ceremonies also shot up from estimated Rs 106 crore to Rs 375 crore, sending the entire OC finances in a tizzy.

The sports minister said that they were considering the proposal for the extra Rs 720 crore. It needed to be cleared by the Group of Ministers (GoM), headed by Union Urban Affairs Minister Jaipal Reddy, for the final approval. However, Gill said that the finance minister had made it clear that no more funds would be forthcoming.

Talkatora Stadium

Event: Boxing

Deadline: March 2009, revised to October 2009 Inaugurated on February 2010

Estimated cost: Rs 85 crore

Final cost: Rs 150 crore

In the meantime, the OC is knocking at the doors of the cash-rich Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and NHAI for funds. They have asked the BCCI for Rs 100 crore and the NHAI for sponsorship packages ranging between Rs 10 crore and Rs 100 crore. With the OC struggling to get sponsorships, the Government has asked the PSUs to bail them out as part of corporate social responsibility.

The OC, on its own, got very few sponsors, far below the target of Rs 1,800 crore. It only managed Rs 342 crore from 10 sponsors, of which Indian Railways is shelling out Rs 100 crore. Air India and National Thermal Power Corporation have promised Rs 50 crore each. Central Bank has committed Rs 51 crore.

The only two private sponsors, Hero Honda and Coca-Cola are chipping in with Rs 38 crore and Rs 16 crore, respectively. Unabashed about seeking sponsors, Kalmadi said that he had sent some 500 letters to various agencies and companies for sponsorship.

"We have one big sponsor in Indian Railways, we need another big one," he says. About asking the BCCI for funds, Kalmadi said that it was an opportunity for the Board to do something for sports other than cricket.

One of OC's big blunders has been appointing Australian firm Sports Marketing and Management (SMAM) for arranging sponsorships.

According to the agreement between SMAM and the OC, signed on July 25, 2007, SMAM is the "sole and exclusive negotiator and procurer of sponsorship for licensing contracts."

The company stands to gain a commission of 15 to 20 per cent on each sponsorship that comes for the Games, even if it has nothing to do with it. So, while the PSUs chip in, SMAM cheers. Questions were raised within the OC about the win-win deal in favour of SMAM.

In fact, in an internal memo signed by then Additional Director General (Revenue) V.K. Saksena on February 12, says "SMAM's contribution in major deals signed so far has been zero even though they are entitled to the same commission from these deals as they are from deals which are negotiated by them."

The Sports Ministry is also quite irked by the arbitrary decisions taken by the OC on several matters. In fact, according to sources, the OC was having a free run before Gill took over as the sports minister on April 6, 2008, with no system of checks and balances.

With complaints about financial irregularities and mismanagement, an audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) was undertaken in July 2009. Its report pointed out several lacunae and delays in various projects.

A committee of secretaries on finance was also set up to clear demands for funds and also to monitor the OC spending. The GoM under Reddy was set up in 2008 to monitor the progress and clear proposals. Gill proudly claimed that before he came into the scene, hardly any progress had been made in the work on stadia.

"I personally monitored the progress, especially in the venues for swimming, shooting and cycling,'' says the sports minister. Moreover, only after July 31, when all the venues are scheduled to be handed over to the OC, the work on overlays and securing them will start. Security agencies needed at least 45 days to secure the venues, which seems highly unlikely now.

Last October, when the one year countdown for the 19th Commonwealth Games began, Gill compared the event to the great Indian wedding. "We keep preparing till the last minute, then the baraat arrives and everything passes off wonderfully."

Right now, however, the debris that is visible all across the city is fast becoming a metaphor for the possible fate of the Games and the national shame that will follow in its wake if Kalmadi and his cohorts don't wake up to the reality staring them in the face.

Missing in Action

Jessica Ennis, England, Heptathlon champion

Cate Campbell, Australia, Swimmer, Olympic bronze medallist

Veronica Campbell-Brown Jamaica Sprinter, Olympic gold medalist

Usain Bolt, Jamaica Sprinter, World and Olympic champion

Victoria Pendleton, England, Cyclist, Olympic and world champion

Chris Hoy, Scotland, Cyclist, Olympic Gold medalist

Commonwealth Games: The Big Mess

2003: India makes the bid in May and is awarded the Games in November. It had lost two earlier bids for 1990 and 1994 Games. It defeats Hamilton (Canada) by 46 votes to 22.

2005: The Organising Committee, chaired by Indian Olympic Association Chief Suresh Kalmadi was formeda year later than scheduled under the host city contract of the Games.

2006: The closing Ceremony of the Melbourne Games in May sees an 11-minute performance showcasing India as a nation of diverse cultures, landscapes and a rich heritage. The highlight is performances by Aishwarya Rai, Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukherjee. It ends with the message, "Namaste! See you in Delhi 2010! Swagatam!"

2007: The first budget for the Games is approved by the Cabinet at Rs 3,566 crore. After much delay, the DDA finalises Emaar MGF as PPP partner for construction of 1,168 residential flats in Games Village.

2008: M.S. Gill took over as sports minister and got things to move. Till then virtually no progress was made in any of the major staiums. A Group of Ministers was constituted under Union Urban Affairs Minister Jaipal Reddy to coordinate among the plethora of agencies.

2009: Chairman of the Games Federation Michael Fennell visits Delhi to see the progress of Games work. He expresses concern over several issues, including security and delays.

2010: As deadline approaches, work goes on at a frantic pace. Corners are cut and the shoddiness is revealed as roofs of venues fall and water floods them. Deadline for stadiums is July 31, and for roads and civic infrastructure it is August 31. The total expenditure of the Games is now estimated to be Rs 40,000 crore.

Reproduced From India Today. ? 2010. LMIL. All rights reserved.

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