For para-athletes, this service station is vital

Published>Mon, Sep 27 10 06:24 AM

This is where punctured tyres are changed, brakes replaced, ball bearings of wheels oiled at the speed of light and stressed-out prosthetic limbs aligned, re-shaped using hi-tech machines to give para-athletes the best chance of winning.

At the end of a long row of paddock-like rooms heading into the Games Village is the wheelchair centre ? which is awaiting its first paralympic athlete who will walk in with a highly-functional prosthetic limb, one that has replaced a missing body part but needs a bit of tweaking on the eve of the competition.

In all, 45 medals in Para-athletics are at stake in four disciplines; swimming, athletics, powerlifting and table tennis at these Commonwealth Games. The spic-and span main workstation is similar but smaller in size to the tool centre at motor rally service station or in the paddock of a Formula One team. In Para-games, the functionality of the prosthetic limb or the hi-tech wheelchair is vital to the performance of an athlete.

Gurpreet Kaur, a mobility solutions specialist, with the company which has set-up the service station for the para-athletes said that the centre would cater to the needs of all athletes, irrespective of which brand they used or endorse. Two technicians will be backed-up by mobility solutions specialists, like Kaur, in an effort to try and meet the servicing requirements of the hi-tech limbs or wheelchairs.

"This is where para-athletes will be able to quickly replace and repair their prosthetic limbs and their wheelchairs . Para-athletes don't get the same kind of exposure as able-bodied athletes at international Games but they have to train as hard," Kaur said. While able-bodied athletes can sense that they could be carrying an injury or need quick attention to a sprained muscle, para-athletes can't always figure out when a prosthetic limb is going to malfunction or a bearing in a wheel gets stuck or damaged.

This centre is expected to be buzzing once para-athletes start checking in for the CWG.

Source: Web Search

Vijay, Hussey half centuries take Chennai to CLT20 title

Mon, Sep 27 10 01:52 AM

Johannesburg, Sep 26 (PTI) Murali Vijay and Mike Hussey cracked a sparkling half century each as Chennai Super Kings were today crowned the Champions League Twenty20 winners with their eight-wicket victory over Warriors in the grand finale here today. Vijay (58 off 53 balls), who was let off when on 34, cracked his third half century of the tournament while the other opener Hussey played sheet anchor and remained not out on 51 as Chennai chased down the small target of 129 with one over to spare. Earlier, spinners Muttiah Muralitharan (3/16) and Ravichandran Ashwin (2/16) shared five wickets as Chennai restricted Warriors to 128 for seven after the South African champion side elected to bat at the New Wanderers Stadium. Vijay underlined his emergence as a fine Twenty20 batsman by becoming the highest run getter of the tournament with 294 runs from six matches, eight more than Warriors captain Davy Jacobs. Vijay''s 53-ball innings was studded with six fours and two sixes while Hussey hit only three fours from 46 balls in his unbeaten knock. CSK were richer by USD 2.5 millions for winning the second edition of the tournament, their second crown in five months after their IPL triumph in April. Warriors received USD 1.3 million for finishing runners-up The grand finale of the multi-dollar tournament, however, turned out to be a lopsided match with the Warriors bowlers failing to make any impact on the batsmen of the opposition who have beaten them in their last Group A league fixture four days ago. The total of 128 was too small to defend and Chennai was always in control of the run chase though it got a bit tight with Suresh Raina, who was mainly responsible for CSK''s semifinal win against Royal Challengers Bangalore with an aggressive 94, out cheaply for just two. Hussey and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (17 not out), however, held on their nerves to pull off the win with a 25-run partnership for the unbroken third wicket. Dhoni hit the winning runs -- a four off Juan Theron -- as Chennai scored 132 for two in 19 overs to lift the title. Vijay and Hussey did not need to take too much risk as they ran mostly in singles in their 103-run opening wicket stand in front of a capacity crowd. Vijay lived dangerously on a couple of occasions with an edge from his bat flying past wicketkepeer Mark Boucher and Justin Kreusch for a four. He was also lucky to survive in the ninth over with wicketkeeper Mark Boucher missing a simple stumping chance off the bowling of Nicky Boje when on 34. But he made amends of these lapses later as he struck some fine shots, including two sixes off Nicky Boje. Vijay fell to Boje in the 15th over after taking his side to the threshold of victory. .

Source: Published>

Chennai beat Warriors by eight wkts to win CLT20

Mon, Sep 27 10 01:38 AM

Johannesburg, Sep 26 (PTI) Chennai Super Kings were today crowned Champions League Twenty20 winners after beating Warriors by eight wickets in the final here today. CSK, the Indian Premier League winners, got richer by USD 2.5 million for the win while Warriors received USD 1.3 million. Brief Score: Warriors: 128 for seven in 20 overs (Davy Jacobs 34; Muttiah Muralitharan 3/16). Chennai Super Kings: 132 for 2 in 19 overs (Murali Vijay 58, Mike Hussey 51 not out; Nicky Boje 1/29).

Source: Published>

Vijay, Hussey half centuries take Chennai to CLT20 title

Mon, Sep 27 10 01:18 AM

Johannesburg, Sep 26 (PTI) Murali Vijay and Mike Hussey cracked a sparkling half century each as Chennai Super Kings were today crowned the Champions League Twenty20 winners with their eight-wicket victory over Warriors in the grand finale here today. Vijay (58 off 53 balls), who was let off when on 34, cracked his third half century of the tournament while the other opener Hussey played sheet anchor and remained not out on 51 as Chennai chased down the small target of 129 with one over to spare. Earlier, spinners Muttiah Muralitharan (3/16) and Ravichandran Ashwin (2/16) shared five wickets as Chennai restricted Warriors to 128 for seven after the South African champion side elected to bat at the New Wanderers Stadium. Vijay underlined his emergence as a fine Twenty20 batsman by becoming the highest run getter of the tournament with 294 runs from six matches, eight more than Warriors captain Davy Jacobs. Vijay''s 53-ball innings was studded with six fours and two sixes while Hussey hit only three fours from 46 balls in his unbeaten knock. CSK were richer by USD 2.5 millions for winning the second edition of the tournament, their second crown in five months after their IPL triumph in April. Warriors received USD 1.3 million for finishing runners-up The grand finale of the multi-dollar tournament, however, turned out to be a lopsided match with the Warriors bowlers failing to make any impact on the batsmen of the opposition who have beaten them in their last Group A league fixture four days ago. The total of 128 was too small to defend and Chennai was always in control of the run chase though it got a bit tight with Suresh Raina, who was mainly responsible for CSK''s semifinal win against Royal Challengers Bangalore with an aggressive 94, out cheaply for just two. Hussey and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (17 not out), however, held on their nerves to pull off the win with a 25-run partnership for the unbroken third wicket. Dhoni hit the winning runs -- a four off Juan Theron -- as Chennai scored 132 for two in 19 overs to lift the title. Vijay and Hussey did not need to take too much risk as they ran mostly in singles in their 103-run opening wicket stand in front of a capacity crowd. Vijay lived dangerously on a couple of occasions with an edge from his bat flying past wicketkepeer Mark Boucher and Justin Kreusch for a four. He was also lucky to survive in the ninth over with wicketkeeper Mark Boucher missing a simple stumping chance off the bowling of Nicky Boje when on 34. But he made amends of these lapses later as he struck some fine shots, including two sixes off Nicky Boje. Vijay fell to Boje in the 15th over after taking his side to the threshold of victory. .

Source: Published>

Pacers take time to find their rhythm after injury: Sreesanth

Mon, Sep 27 10 12:58 AM

Chandigarh, Sep 26 (PTI) Having made an unimpressive comeback to competitive cricket, temperamental pacer S Sreesanth today said fast bowlers take time to rediscover their rhythm after an injury lay-off. Sreesanth had sustained a knee injury during the Test series against Sri Lanka while warming up for a nets session. The pacer made his way into the squad at the expense of young Karnataka pacer Abhimanyu Mithun. Playing for Board President''s XI, Sreesanth, who is trying to break into the Test squad, had an ordinary day yesterday as he struggled to get his line and length right. Sreesanth gave away 41 runs in his 13 overs without any success. However today, he took two wickets and troubled the Aussie batsmen with his accurate line and length. "I feel no shyness to say that I was struggling (yesterday). I would love to forget that (performance) from my book. It was not easy coming back from an injury, especially for a fast bowler. It takes time," Sreesanth told reporters here after the end of the second day''s play. Sreesanth said his cousin from Australia called him today and told him about some comments doing round there, taking a dig at his performance and shortened run-up. The pacer said he felt "motivated" to prove that he was capable of doing much more than his yesterday''s poor show. Outspoken by nature and accused of being verbal, Sreesanth indicated that he had moulded his nature now. "The same old talking Sree is gone. Now all focus on performance. I don''t do talking now, but (talk) do it with wickets," he said.

Source: Published>

Vijay, Hussey half centuries take Chennai to CLT20 title

Mon, Sep 27 10 12:52 AM

Johannesburg, Sep 26 (PTI) Murali Vijay and Mike Hussey cracked a sparkling half century each as Chennai Super Kings were today crowned the Champions League Twenty20 winners with their eight-wicket victory over Warriors in the grand finale here today. Vijay (58 off 53 balls), who was let off when on 34, cracked his third half century of the tournament while the other opener Hussey played sheet anchor and remained not out on 51 as Chennai chased down the small target of 129 with one over to spare. Earlier, spinners Muttiah Muralitharan (3/16) and Ravichandran Ashwin (2/16) shared five wickets as Chennai restricted Warriors to 128 for seven after the South African champion side elected to bat at the New Wanderers Stadium. Vijay underlined his emergence as a fine Twenty20 batsman by becoming the highest run getter of the tournament with 294 runs from six matches, eight more than Warriors captain Davy Jacobs. Vijay''s 53-ball innings was studded with six fours and two sixes while Hussey hit only three fours from 46 balls in his unbeaten knock. CSK were richer by USD 2.5 millions for winning the second edition of the tournament, their second crown in five months after their IPL triumph in April. Warriors received USD 1.3 million for finishing runners-up The grand finale of the multi-dollar tournament, however, turned out to be a lopsided match with the Warriors bowlers failing to make any impact on the batsmen of the opposition who have beaten them in their last Group A league fixture four days ago. The total of 128 was too small to defend and Chennai was always in control of the run chase though it got a bit tight with Suresh Raina, who was mainly responsible for CSK''s semifinal win against Royal Challengers Bangalore with an aggressive 94, out cheaply for just two. Hussey and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (17 not out), however, held on their nerves to pull off the win with a 25-run partnership for the unbroken third wicket. Dhoni hit the winning runs -- a four off Juan Theron -- as Chennai scored 132 for two in 19 overs to lift the title. Vijay and Hussey did not need to take too much risk as they ran mostly in singles in their 103-run opening wicket stand in front of a capacity crowd. Vijay lived dangerously on a couple of occasions with an edge from his bat flying past wicketkepeer Mark Boucher and Justin Kreusch for a four. He was also lucky to survive in the ninth over with wicketkeeper Mark Boucher missing a simple stumping chance off the bowling of Nicky Boje when on 34. But he made amends of these lapses later as he struck some fine shots, including two sixes off Nicky Boje. Vijay fell to Boje in the 15th over after taking his side to the threshold of victory. .

Source: Published>

Pacers take time to find their rhythm after injury: Sreesanth

Mon, Sep 27 10 12:48 AM

Chandigarh, Sep 26 (PTI) Having made an unimpressive comeback to competitive cricket, temperamental pacer S Sreesanth today said fast bowlers take time to rediscover their rhythm after an injury lay-off. Sreesanth had sustained a knee injury during the Test series against Sri Lanka while warming up for a nets session. The pacer made his way into the squad at the expense of young Karnataka pacer Abhimanyu Mithun. Playing for Board President''s XI, Sreesanth, who is trying to break into the Test squad, had an ordinary day yesterday as he struggled to get his line and length right. Sreesanth gave away 41 runs in his 13 overs without any success. However today, he took two wickets and troubled the Aussie batsmen with his accurate line and length. "I feel no shyness to say that I was struggling (yesterday). I would love to forget that (performance) from my book. It was not easy coming back from an injury, especially for a fast bowler. It takes time," Sreesanth told reporters here after the end of the second day''s play. Sreesanth said his cousin from Australia called him today and told him about some comments doing round there, taking a dig at his performance and shortened run-up. The pacer said he felt "motivated" to prove that he was capable of doing much more than his yesterday''s poor show. Outspoken by nature and accused of being verbal, Sreesanth indicated that he had moulded his nature now. "The same old talking Sree is gone. Now all focus on performance. I don''t do talking now, but (talk) do it with wickets," he said.

Source: Published>

Force India stay ahead of Williams after protests

Mon, Sep 27 10 12:42 AM

Force India stayed ahead of Williams in the Formula One constructors' standings after a post-race protest at the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday.

Force India's Adrian Sutil, who had finished eighth, was first handed a 20-second penalty for having gained an advantage on lap one by going off the track. That dropped the German down to 10th.

His team, as well as protesting against that decision, also complained that Williams' ninth placed Nico Hulkenberg had cut a corner.

Stewards imposed a 20-second penalty on Williams' German, lifting Sutil back to ninth and dropping Hulkenberg to 10th instead.

Ferrari's Brazilian Felipe Massa meanwhile moved up from 10th to eighth after he started on the back row of the grid.

Force India are sixth overall, four points clear of Williams.

Source: Published>

Pacers take time to find their rhythm after injury: Sreesanth

Mon, Sep 27 10 12:28 AM

Chandigarh, Sep 26 (PTI) Having made an unimpressive comeback to competitive cricket, temperamental pacer S Sreesanth today said fast bowlers take time to rediscover their rhythm after an injury lay-off. Sreesanth had sustained a knee injury during the Test series against Sri Lanka while warming up for a nets session. The pacer made his way into the squad at the expense of young Karnataka pacer Abhimanyu Mithun. Playing for Board President''s XI, Sreesanth, who is trying to break into the Test squad, had an ordinary day yesterday as he struggled to get his line and length right. Sreesanth gave away 41 runs in his 13 overs without any success. However today, he took two wickets and troubled the Aussie batsmen with his accurate line and length. "I feel no shyness to say that I was struggling (yesterday). I would love to forget that (performance) from my book. It was not easy coming back from an injury, especially for a fast bowler. It takes time," Sreesanth told reporters here after the end of the second day''s play. Sreesanth said his cousin from Australia called him today and told him about some comments doing round there, taking a dig at his performance and shortened run-up. The pacer said he felt "motivated" to prove that he was capable of doing much more than his yesterday''s poor show. Outspoken by nature and accused of being verbal, Sreesanth indicated that he had moulded his nature now. "The same old talking Sree is gone. Now all focus on performance. I don''t do talking now, but (talk) do it with wickets," he said.

Source: Published>

Queen''s baton gets warm welcome

Mon, Sep 27 10 12:10 AM

Chandigarh, Sep 26 (PTI) Queen''s Baton Relay of the Commonwealth Games was accorded a warm welcome today by the people of Haryana as it reached Chautala village in Sirsa district after entering from Rajasthan. Haryana Olympic Association (HOA) president P V Rathi, flanked by Sirsa MP Ashok Tanwar, received the Baton from Rajasthan Olympic Association president Janardan Singh Gehlot. Large number of people showered flower petals en route to welcome the baton. Various cultural programmes were also held on the occasion. The Baton was accorded traditional as well as ceremonial welcome on its arrival in the state with various artists performing on the occasion.

Source: Published>

CSK restricts Warriors to 128/7

Sun, Sep 26 10 11:52 PM

Johannesburg, Sep 26 (PTI) Muttiah Muralitharan snapped three wickets as Chennai Super Kings restricted Warriors to 128 for seven in the final of Champions League Twenty20 here today. Muralitharan, who took three for 16, got able support from his spin colleague Ravichandran Ashwin (2/16) as CSK restricted the Warriors to a meager total after the South African side elected to bat. Pacers Dough Bollinger and Albie Morkel bagged a wicket each while Laxmipathy Balaji was unsuccessful. Warriors captain and opener Davy Jacobs (34) continued with his terrific form in the tournament with some lusty strokes and his side looked like to post a big total by racing to 39 runs at the end of the fourth over before they lost way later. Jacobs treated CSK opening bowler Dough Bollinger with disdain hitting him for two consecutive fours and another two boundaries in the second over of the same bowler to give their innings to a flier. Jacobs also gave the same treatment to the other bowler Albie Morkel hitting him for three fours. The other opening batsman Ashwell Prince, however, continued his struggling form as he was out to Bollinger for a mere six and Warriors score of 39 for one. CSK captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni''s shrewd move to introduce off-spinner Ashwin also paid dividends as he removed the dangerous-looking Jacobs in the sixth over as the IPL side put brakes on the South African champion team. Jacobs'' aggressive 34 came from 21 balls and was studded with eight fours. Run rate slowed down with the introduction of Balaji, who got a bit of swing from the Wanderers pitch, and spin wizard Muralitharan as Warriors scored just 19 runs from the four overs from seventh to 10th. Colin Ingram (16) fell victim to Morkel in the 11th over while trying to push up the run rate before Muralitharan put the Warriors in trouble by claiming two wickets in the 14th over. Veteran Mark Boucher (5) was deceived by a beautiful Muralitharan delivery which got the turn to beat the batsman''s bat before crashing into the stumps. Four balls later, Justin Kreusch (17) charged out to hit a Muralitharan delivery only to chip it to Suresh Raina at mid-wicket and Warriors were 82 for five then. In the 17th over, Craig Thyssen took 18 runs from Balaji with the help of a six and a four but any threat of death over run riot was cut short with Ashwin snapping Johan Botha''s wicket. Thyssen was the only other Warriors batsman besides Jacobs to give some resistance to the CSK bowlers with a 18-ball 25 which he made with the help of three fours and a a six before being out in the last over.

Source: Published>

Injury scare for Gambhir, Sehwag

Sun, Sep 26 10 11:48 PM

Chandigarh, Sep 26 (PTI) In an injury scare, Indian opener Gautam Gambhir was today rushed to a local hospital here after being hit on his right wrist by a delivery during Board President XI''s game against Australia only to be discharged later without any problem. At nearby PCA Stadium at Mohali, which is to host India''s first Test against Australia from October 1, Gambhir''s opening partner Virender Sehwag was hit on his knee by an Ishant Sharma delivery but he was declared fit after receiving on-field treatment. The two incidents relating to the Indian cricket team members just days before the Mohali Test caused a minor scare, but things ended on a happy note. First one happened inside Sector 16 cricket stadium here, where Australia is playing a three-day warm up game against the Board Presidents XI. Leading the B P XI side, Gambhir, who is making a comeback after an injury, got out to a rising delivery from Australian speedster Ben Hilfenhaus. The ball hit him near the right hand wrist area making him shake his hand for a while before returning to the pavilion. However, soon after there was a commotion of sorts as medical team at the Sector 16 stadium, comprising senior government doctors who were kept standby, rushed after being summoned. A senior orthopedician from Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) here was also summoned and an ambulance was readied. Gambhir was taken to Government Multi Specialty Hospital at Sector 16 here in the car of a senior doctor, his hand wrapped in an ice pack, but returned at the stadium after being given first aid. "We did a MRI of his hand, but luckily there was no injury. We did not want to take any chances," a doctor, who accompanied Gambhir from the stadium to the hospital, told PTI, adding there was nothing to worry about. There was another scare when some Indian Test players, who reached here today, did some practice at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium at Mohali, near here. A delivery bowled by speedster Ishant hit Sehwag on his right knee and he was immediately taken off and given medical assistance. Sehwag later played down the incident. When asked after the net session if he was injured, Sehwag gave a wide smile and said "What knee". The players, including Sachin Tendulkar, had an exhaustive three-hour practice session at the nets at the PCA stadium ahead of the first Test. of the two-match series against Australia starting there from October 1. .

Source: Published>

CSK restricts Warriors to 128/7

Sun, Sep 26 10 11:42 PM

Johannesburg, Sep 26 (PTI) Muttiah Muralitharan snapped three wickets as Chennai Super Kings restricted Warriors to 128 for seven in the final of Champions League Twenty20 here today. Muralitharan, who took three for 16, got able support from his spin colleague Ravichandran Ashwin (2/16) as CSK restricted the Warriors to a meager total after the South African side elected to bat. Pacers Dough Bollinger and Albie Morkel bagged a wicket each while Laxmipathy Balaji was unsuccessful. Warriors captain and opener Davy Jacobs (34) continued with his terrific form in the tournament with some lusty strokes and his side looked like to post a big total by racing to 39 runs at the end of the fourth over before they lost way later. Jacobs treated CSK opening bowler Dough Bollinger with disdain hitting him for two consecutive fours and another two boundaries in the second over of the same bowler to give their innings to a flier. Jacobs also gave the same treatment to the other bowler Albie Morkel hitting him for three fours. The other opening batsman Ashwell Prince, however, continued his struggling form as he was out to Bollinger for a mere six and Warriors score of 39 for one. CSK captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni''s shrewd move to introduce off-spinner Ashwin also paid dividends as he removed the dangerous-looking Jacobs in the sixth over as the IPL side put brakes on the South African champion team. Jacobs'' aggressive 34 came from 21 balls and was studded with eight fours. Run rate slowed down with the introduction of Balaji, who got a bit of swing from the Wanderers pitch, and spin wizard Muralitharan as Warriors scored just 19 runs from the four overs from seventh to 10th. Colin Ingram (16) fell victim to Morkel in the 11th over while trying to push up the run rate before Muralitharan put the Warriors in trouble by claiming two wickets in the 14th over. Veteran Mark Boucher (5) was deceived by a beautiful Muralitharan delivery which got the turn to beat the batsman''s bat before crashing into the stumps. Four balls later, Justin Kreusch (17) charged out to hit a Muralitharan delivery only to chip it to Suresh Raina at mid-wicket and Warriors were 82 for five then. In the 17th over, Craig Thyssen took 18 runs from Balaji with the help of a six and a four but any threat of death over run riot was cut short with Ashwin snapping Johan Botha''s wicket. Thyssen was the only other Warriors batsman besides Jacobs to give some resistance to the CSK bowlers with a 18-ball 25 which he made with the help of three fours and a a six before being out in the last over.

Source: Published>

Injury scare for Gambhir, Sehwag

Sun, Sep 26 10 11:28 PM

Chandigarh, Sep 26 (PTI) In an injury scare, Indian opener Gautam Gambhir was today rushed to a local hospital here after being hit on his right wrist by a delivery during Board President XI''s game against Australia only to be discharged later without any problem. At nearby PCA Stadium at Mohali, which is to host India''s first Test against Australia from October 1, Gambhir''s opening partner Virender Sehwag was hit on his knee by an Ishant Sharma delivery but he was declared fit after receiving on-field treatment. The two incidents relating to the Indian cricket team members just days before the Mohali Test caused a minor scare, but things ended on a happy note. First one happened inside Sector 16 cricket stadium here, where Australia is playing a three-day warm up game against the Board Presidents XI. Leading the B P XI side, Gambhir, who is making a comeback after an injury, got out to a rising delivery from Australian speedster Ben Hilfenhaus. The ball hit him near the right hand wrist area making him shake his hand for a while before returning to the pavilion. However, soon after there was a commotion of sorts as medical team at the Sector 16 stadium, comprising senior government doctors who were kept standby, rushed after being summoned. A senior orthopedician from Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) here was also summoned and an ambulance was readied. Gambhir was taken to Government Multi Specialty Hospital at Sector 16 here in the car of a senior doctor, his hand wrapped in an ice pack, but returned at the stadium after being given first aid. "We did a MRI of his hand, but luckily there was no injury. We did not want to take any chances," a doctor, who accompanied Gambhir from the stadium to the hospital, told PTI, adding there was nothing to worry about. There was another scare when some Indian Test players, who reached here today, did some practice at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium at Mohali, near here. A delivery bowled by speedster Ishant hit Sehwag on his right knee and he was immediately taken off and given medical assistance. Sehwag later played down the incident. When asked after the net session if he was injured, Sehwag gave a wide smile and said "What knee". The players, including Sachin Tendulkar, had an exhaustive three-hour practice session at the nets at the PCA stadium ahead of the first Test. of the two-match series against Australia starting there from October 1. .

Source: Published>

Foreign athletes pour in; African nations frown at CWG Village

Published>Sun, Sep 26 10 11:22 PM

New Delhi, Sep 26 (IANS) The biggest group of foreign athletes and officials arrived here Sunday for the Commonwealth Games but complaints against conditions in the Games Village continued following the presence of a snake and prowling stray dogs in the area - with the African group giving the organisers till Monday evening to get their act together.

There was another hiccup on the organisational front as the security agencies could not complete the lockdown of all the venues and the Village with work still in progress at some of the sites.

The day also saw a flip-flop by Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive Mike Hooper. He criticised the Indian government for the delay in infrastructure projects - only to later take back his words.

There were also pull outs. Australian Cyclist Travis Meyer and table tennis player Stephanie Sang withdrew citing security and health concerns.

On the brighter side, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurated the Rs.700 million ($15 million) sports injuries centre in the Safdarjung Hospital which will cater to sportspersons during the Games, and Swimmers Ashley Callus of Australia and England's Jenna Randall said they will definitely travel to New Delhi and the problems related to the Games have not had a negative impact on them.

Nearly 1,100 athletes and team officials, from Norfolk Islands, Canada, Kenya, Nigeria, Scotland, Canada, Tanzania, Lesotho, Rwanda, Wales, England, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Bermuda, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and the British Virgin Islands arrived here Sunday for the Oct 3-14 games.

The biggest delegations that arrived were from Kenya (112), Nigeria (69) and Scotland (60). The other arrivals were from countries like Canada, Tanzania, Lesotho, Norfolk Island, Rwanda, Wales, England, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Bermuda, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and the British Virgin Islands, a press statement from the Organising Committee said.

Diplomats of several Africa's Commonwealth nations Sunday said there was some improvement in the facilities for their players in the Village, but they will take a final decision on their teams' full-strength arrival only after another inspection Monday evening.

The snake was found Sunday in a room allotted to the South African contingent prompting the country's High Commissioner Harris Mbulelo Mejeke to declare the athletes will not stay in the Village until everything is put in place.

'A snake can be a threat to the lives of our athletes. Very disappointing. Basically, the basement was full of water and the staircase was also damp. If snakes are found we can't ask our athletes to stay in such dangerous situations,' Mejeke told reporters.

Officials from Trinidad and Tobago praised the facilities at the Village though their team would stay in hotels till completion of remaining works.

'The facilities are excellent, but there is still a lot of work to do. That is the reason why we have opted to stay in hotels rather than the Village. This is very much similar to a big Indian wedding. But what bothers us are the mosquitoes. There is a fear of dengue,' said John Melow, a team official.

A Scottish team official said stray dogs continue to pose a danger to the athletes in the Village.

'We have never seen stray dogs in any other Games Village. This is very strange for us and it poses a threat for the athletes as well,' the official said.

Some 7,000 participants and officials from 71 teams are expected to attend the Commonwealth Games, India's biggest sporting event since the 1982 Asian Games.

Source: Web Search

Injury scare for Gambhir, Sehwag

Sun, Sep 26 10 11:12 PM

Chandigarh, Sep 26 (PTI) In an injury scare, Indian opener Gautam Gambhir was today rushed to a local hospital here after being hit on his right wrist by a delivery during Board President XI''s game against Australia only to be discharged later without any problem. At nearby PCA Stadium at Mohali, which is to host India''s first Test against Australia from October 1, Gambhir''s opening partner Virender Sehwag was hit on his knee by an Ishant Sharma delivery but he was declared fit after receiving on-field treatment. The two incidents relating to the Indian cricket team members just days before the Mohali Test caused a minor scare, but things ended on a happy note. First one happened inside Sector 16 cricket stadium here, where Australia is playing a three-day warm up game against the Board Presidents XI. Leading the B P XI side, Gambhir, who is making a comeback after an injury, got out to a rising delivery from Australian speedster Ben Hilfenhaus. The ball hit him near the right hand wrist area making him shake his hand for a while before returning to the pavilion. However, soon after there was a commotion of sorts as medical team at the Sector 16 stadium, comprising senior government doctors who were kept standby, rushed after being summoned. A senior orthopedician from Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) here was also summoned and an ambulance was readied. Gambhir was taken to Government Multi Specialty Hospital at Sector 16 here in the car of a senior doctor, his hand wrapped in an ice pack, but returned at the stadium after being given first aid. "We did a MRI of his hand, but luckily there was no injury. We did not want to take any chances," a doctor, who accompanied Gambhir from the stadium to the hospital, told PTI, adding there was nothing to worry about. There was another scare when some Indian Test players, who reached here today, did some practice at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium at Mohali, near here. A delivery bowled by speedster Ishant hit Sehwag on his right knee and he was immediately taken off and given medical assistance. Sehwag later played down the incident. When asked after the net session if he was injured, Sehwag gave a wide smile and said "What knee". The players, including Sachin Tendulkar, had an exhaustive three-hour practice session at the nets at the PCA stadium ahead of the first Test. of the two-match series against Australia starting there from October 1. .

Source: Published>

ITBP's Kalpana creates history with a bronze medal in Judo World Cup

Published>Sun, Sep 26 10 10:42 PM

New Delhi, Sep.26 (ANI): Kalpana Devi of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has created history by winning bronze medal in the World Cup (women) Judo-2010 by defeating Nazaraova Shokhida of Uzbekistan in Tashkent.

The sporting event was a world ranking and Olympic qualifying event, held between Sept. 25th to 26.

With her win, Kalpana Devi became the first Indian woman judoka to win a medal in World Cup, said an official release of the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) on Sunday.

The latest win is bound to give Kalpana a high jump in her world judo ranking that positioned her on 93rd position on September 15, 2010.

With her win Kalpna has made her strong stake for coming Olympic games in London.

She was the only woman judoka who qualified for this Women Judo World Cup from India.

There were a total of 103 judokas competing in this event. Only 17 countries from all over world could qualify for this championship.

Among the competing countries were sporting heavyweights like USA, Russia, Japan, Israel, South Korea, Spain, Ukraine, Vietnam etc.

She won Gold medal in Commonwealth Judo Championship at Singapore earlier this year.(ANI)

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Ecclestone casts doubt on Korean Grand Prix

Sun, Sep 26 10 10:38 PM

Next month's inaugural South Korean Grand Prix is at risk because the circuit has yet to pass a final inspection less than a month before the race, Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone said on Sunday.

Cancellation would have a major impact on the title outcome, with five drivers currently separated by just 25 points with a maximum 100 to be won -- assuming South Korea remains on schedule.

"It's not good. It should have been inspected maybe six weeks ago," Ecclestone told BBC television at the Singapore Grand Prix.

"It was inspected but it wasn't passed," added the Briton.

"We normally have a 90-day check before a race and now we are sort of putting this off.

"It's quite dangerous what we've done actually but it's a case of do we cancel the race or not? They say it's all going to be ok, so we hope they are right," said Ecclestone.

The South Korean race is due to take place on Oct. 24, with the final inspection repeatedly pushed back by the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA).

FIA race director Charlie Whiting was due to visit the Yeongam circuit last month, but that was postponed, and then on his way to Singapore.

That has now been further delayed with reports suggesting it might not happen until the Japanese Grand Prix, a mere two weeks before the Korean race.

Source: Published>

CWG Village: Dogs, snakes, unfinished work cause concern

Published>Sun, Sep 26 10 10:28 PM

New Delhi, Sep 26 (IANS) Despite frantic efforts by the Commonwealth Games organisers to improve faciliities at the Games Village, stray dogs, last minute work and the discovery of a snake in one of the aprartments Sunday drew howls of protests from the visiting teams.

Some 60 members of the Scotland team and a 50-strong Welsh contingent finally moved into the Games Village, but expressed displeasure at the unfinished facilities.

Scotland's chef de mission Jon Doig, who had arrived here last week, said things should have turned out better as India had seven years to prepare for the Oct 3-14 event.

'We had arrived here earlier and had it not been the case, our athletes would have had a tough time in the Games Village. Since we arrived here earlier, we could identify the problems at the right time. But there are still a few things that are needed to be fixed,' he said.

The Scottish advance team has been in the forefront in criticising the unhygienic conditions at the Village earlier this week.

Another team official said stray dogs continue to pose a danger to the athletes in the Village.

'We have never seen stray dogs in any other Games Village. This is very strange for us and it poses a threat for the athletes as well,' the official said.

A top South African diplomat warned his country's athletes would not put up in the village after a snake was discovered in one of the rooms reserved for them.

An infuriated South African High Commissioner Harris Mbulelo Mejeke said the athletes will not stay in the Village until everything is put in place.

'A snake can be a threat to the lives of our athletes. Very disappointing. Basically, the basement was full of water and the staircase was also damp. If snakes are found we can't ask our athletes to stay in such dangerous situations,' Mejeke told reporters.

In fact, diplomats of Africa's Commonwealth nations Sunday said there was some improvement in the facilities for their players in the Village, but they will take a final decision on their teams' full-strength arrival only after another inspection Monday evening.

Diplomats from all the participating Commonwealth nations were Saturday taken for a visit to the Games Village, but the African countries had complained that accommodation for their players was not clean and up to par, as compared to that of other major nations.

The African diplomats had then gone on another visit to see the living areas for their teams Sunday evening.

Even so, Trinidad and Tobago officials praised the facilities, but said their team would stay in hotels for the time being as a lot of finishing work remained.

'The facilities are excellent, but there is still a lot of work to do. That is the reason why we have opted to stay in hotels rather than the Village. This is very much similar to a big Indian wedding. But what bothers us are the mosquitoes. There is a fear of dengue,' said John Melow, a team official.

Nearly 1,100 athletes and team officials, from Norfolk Islands, Canada, Kenya, Nigeria, Scotland, Canada, Tanzania, Lesotho, Rwanda, Wales, England, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Bermuda, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and the British Virgin Islands arrived here Sunday.

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Injury scare for Gambhir, Sehwag

Sun, Sep 26 10 10:08 PM

Chandigarh, Sep 26 (PTI) In an injury scare, Indian opener Gautam Gambhir was today rushed to a local hospital here after being hit on his right wrist by a delivery during Board President XI''s game against Australia only to be discharged later without any problem. At nearby PCA Stadium at Mohali, which is to host India''s first Test against Australia from October 1, Gambhir''s opening partner Virender Sehwag was hit on his knee by an Ishant Sharma delivery but The two incidents relating to the Indian cricket team members just days before the Mohali Test caused a minor scare, but things ended on a happy note. First one happened inside Sector 16 cricket stadium here, where Australia is playing a three-day warm up game against the Board Presidents XI. Leading the B P XI side, Gambhir, who is making a comeback after an injury, got out to a rising delivery from Australian speedster Ben Hilfenhaus. The ball hit him near the right hand wrist area making him shake his hand for a while before returning to the pavilion. However, soon after there was a commotion of sorts as medical team at the Sector 16 stadium, comprising senior government doctors who were kept standby, rushed after being summoned. A senior orthopedician from Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) here was also summoned and an ambulance was readied. Gambhir was taken to Government Multi Specialty Hospital at Sector 16 here in the car of a senior doctor, his hand wrapped in an ice pack, but returned at the stadium after being given first aid. "We did a MRI of his hand, but luckily there was no injury. We did not want to take any chances," a doctor, who accompanied Gambhir from the stadium to the hospital, told PTI, adding there was nothing to worry about. There was another scare when some Indian Test players, who reached here today, did some practice at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium at Mohali, near here. A delivery bowled by speedster Ishant hit Sehwag on his right knee and he was immediately taken off and given medical assistance. Sehwag later played down the incident. When asked after the net session if he was injured, Sehwag gave a wide smile and said "What knee". The players, including Sachin Tendulkar, had an exhaustive three-hour practice session at the nets at the PCA stadium ahead of the first Test. of the two-match series against Australia starting there from October 1. .

Source: Published>

Alonso holds off Vettel in Singapore

Published>Sun, Sep 26 10 10:02 PM

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso held off Sebastian Vettel's hard-charging Red Bull to win an incident-packed Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday and boost his chances of a third Formula One crown.

Championship leader Mark Webber finished third in the second Red Bull to increase his lead from five to 11 points in the standings with four races remaining.

The Australian again rode his luck, emerging unscathed from a collision with McLaren's Lewis Hamilton that forced his title rival to retire.

Webber has 202 points. Alonso moved up to second overall on 191 after successive wins in Monza and Singapore, and Hamilton lies a further nine points adrift in third place.

Vettel sits one point further back and world champion Jenson Button, who finished fourth, rounds out the top five on 177 points. A mere 25 points, the amount awarded for a victory, separates the top five.

"It really was tough. With the safety car problems and the people we were lapping, especially at the end, it was difficult," Alonso told reporters.

"We know how difficult it is to overtake here so I was just not taking any risks."

Alonso won the scandal-tainted inaugural Singapore race for Renault in 2008 after his Brazilian team mate Nelson Piquet crashed deliberately to bring out the safety car and help the Spaniard win.

The safety car was again deployed this time but Alonso, starting aggressively from pole position, drove a brilliant race to hold off Vettel for 61 laps around the floodlit Marina Bay circuit.

After a gruelling, two-hour street fight and an almighty last-lap tussle, the double champion crossed the line 0.2 seconds ahead of the German who had started alongside him on the front row.

HARDEST RACE

"It was very difficult...we knew that, we knew physically it is the hardest race on the circuit perhaps, driving in this humidity for two hours," Alonso said of a race that finished just before the two-hour maximum time limit.

"This win means a lot...to keep the fight in the championship. It seems we can be competitive on any track. So let's see in the remaining races and Forza Ferrari."

Vettel felt he lost the race at the beginning but was still happy with his night's work.

"In the beginning, I had to let him go a little bit. I tried to push him as far as I could into a mistake; he didn't do one and as he said it is too difficult and too risky to overtake so we settle for second," the German said.

"The good news is the car is quick. In the end it is good to get good points for the team. Everything is still open."

Webber, starting the race in fifth place, was the biggest winner of the day after gambling on an early pit stop during the first safety car period after three laps and working his way through the field for a well-earned podium.

"I got caught up a bit, Lewis got a big run on me. There was contact and it's not something you want to do all the time," Webber said of his collision with Hamilton.

"I am very happy with third place here today...the toughest weekend of the year for me."

Hamilton was the biggest loser, enduring his third retirement in four races.

The Briton thought he had passed Webber on turn seven following the second safety car period but was broadsided by the Australian going into the straight.

"I'm not really sure what happened," he said. "He was in my blind spot so I didn't even know he was still there.

"All I know is I went in, I didn't see anyone alongside me and the next thing I know is my tyre has blown and that's it."

The race ended in bizarre fashion with Heikki Kovalainen, already lapped, steering his flaming Lotus to the side of the finishing straight after he swerved out of the pitlane once he realised his car was on fire.

With smoke and flames billowing out behind him, the Finn jumped out and grabbed an extinguisher handed through the wire mesh to put out the fire himself as cars raced past.

Source: Web Search

India races to ready Games Village in time

Published>Sun, Sep 26 10 09:58 PM

Workers painted walls and mopped rain water at the Commonwealth Games Village as India raced on Sunday to address complaints about dirty and unhygienic facilities one week before the start of the showpiece event.

The Games were supposed to enhance India's image as a rising power, but shoddy construction, dirty accommodation and security fears raised governance and accountability issues in Asia's third largest economy.

Several top athletes, including world champion sprinter Usain Bolt, pulled out, removing some of the shine from the event held every four years for former British colonies.

Two more Australian athletes, cyclist Travis Meyer and table tennis player Stephanie Sang, pulled out on Sunday. This comes a day after Britain's number one tennis player Elena Baltacha withdrew because of concerns about disease and hygiene.

On Sunday, Indian organising committee officials met to review the work at the Games Village where masons plastered walls while workers dried out the basement of the Village which sits on the flooded plains of the Yamuna river.

"All finishing work is going on in full swing," said Dalbir Singh, mayor of the Games Village where the athletes will stay.

"It's a world class facility with some minor issues and work is going on to fix those problems."

Source: Web Search

Simon takes seventh ATP title with Metz win

Sun, Sep 26 10 09:52 PM

Frenchman Gilles Simon won his seventh ATP title when he beat German qualifier Mischa Zverev 6-3 6-2 in the final of the Metz International on Sunday.

The eighth-seeded Simon, ranked 41st in the ATP standings, served perfectly throughout to prevail in 67 minutes.

Former world number six Simon had not won a title since he claimed the Thailand Open almost a year ago.

Source: Published>

Hamilton hopes suffer blow in Singapore

Published>Sun, Sep 26 10 09:38 PM

Lewis Hamilton's Formula One title hopes suffered a major blow on Sunday after the McLaren driver retired from the Singapore Grand Prix following a collision with championship leader Mark Webber.

Hamilton, in fourth place and on fresh tyres after his pitstop, tried to overtake the Australian on lap 36 after the safety car had come in. But as the Briton moved across Webber's Red Bull into turn seven the cars came together.

Hamilton suffered race-ending damage while Webber was able to continue and finished in third place.

"I saw Mark made a mistake and got caught up with a backmarker so I was in a position to slipstream him ... going into turn seven," said Hamilton, who won in Singapore last year.

"I thought I was enough past him, I couldn't see him and turned in and tried to leave enough room on the inside and the next thing I know I got hit.

"I think it's a racing incident. I came out a bit unfortunate but that's racing."

Hamilton, the 2008 world champion, angrily tossed the steering wheel out of his stricken car after his McLaren came to a standstill. Race stewards investigated the incident but decided to take no further action.

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso won the race ahead of Webber's team mate Sebastian Vettel. McLaren's Jenson Button finished fourth.

It was Hamilton's third retirement in four races and leaves him trailing championship leader Webber by 20 points with four races remaining.

"Twenty points is massive and with four races to go that is a big gap, I have to get my head down and hope for something," added Hamilton.

Webber leads the world championship on 202 points while Alonso's win vaults him into second place on 191. Hamilton slips to third place (182) ahead of Vettel (181) and Button (177).

Source: Web Search

'Unofficial Bangladesh team playing against Kolkata Mohammedan Sporting'

Published>Sun, Sep 26 10 09:08 PM

Dhaka, Sep 26 (IANS) The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said Sunday that a team named 'BCB XI' formed to play exhibition matches against the visiting Kolkata Mohammedan Sporting Club is not an official side and threatened legal action against the organisers.

'No official or representative of Kolkata Mohammedan Sporting Club of West Bengal in India, had ever contacted the BCB in relation to this tour. The BCB has no knowledge of the the members playing this team and is not a representative side endorsed by the board,' the BCB said in a statement here Saturday.

The BCB announced a probe and threatened legal action against the organisers.

The BCB said at no point had any local organiser or representative associated with the tour officially sought any assistance from the BCB for hosting the series.

'Two unknown organisers named Moinudin bin Maksud and Magferul Islam posing as the official and the manager of Kolkata Mohammedan Sporting Club cricket team announced that their team would play a number of cricket matches against a BCB XI and also with Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club Friday.

'The hurriedly organised press conference raised a lot of questions as the so-called officials failed to answer many queries about the tour.'

The Kolkata team which left for Bangladesh Sep 22 is scheduled to play four limited over matches and a T20 match.

Source: Web Search

Home secretary reviews CWG security

Published>Sun, Sep 26 10 08:22 PM

New Delhi, Sep 26 (IANS) Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai Sunday met senior Delhi Police officers to review the security preparedness for the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games.

The meeting at the Police Headquarters was attended by Police Commissioner Y.S. Dadwal, Special Commissioners, Joint Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners of Police. The officials discussed the steps needed to finetune the security preparations in the capital that is gearing up to host some 7,000 athletes and officials from 71 countries and territories that will be attending the games.

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Aussie pacers dominate after batsmen pile up 505

Published>Sun, Sep 26 10 08:08 PM

The Australian pace trio of Ben Hilfenhaus (three for 28), Mitchell Johnson (one for 20) and rookie Peter George (two for 15) bowled to a disciplined line and length to reduce Board President's XI to 143 for six at stumps, on the second day of their three-day warm-up tie, at the Sector-16 stadium, in Chandigarh.

The Australians piled up 505, courtesy a brilliant century from Marcus North. North punished all the Board President's XI bowlers as he scored 124 in only 128 deliveries before retiring. His innings was studded with 19 boundaries and two sixes.

When the home team batsmen came out to bat, the Australian pacers put up a better performance than their Indian counterparts. Suddenly the track that was termed "lifeless" by Board President's XI captain Gautam Gambhir looked like having a lot of pace and bounce.

By the 15th over, Board President's XI were reduced to 53 for five. Then it was Piyush Chawla (64 batting) and wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha (14) stemmed the rot with a 37-run sixth wicket partnership. Then Chawla along with S Sreesanth (6 batting) added 53 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket stand. Chawla hit nine fours and two sixes in his 73-ball knock.

Skipper Gautam Gambhir would have liked to get some serious batting practice before the first Test but was out scoring only eight when he edged a short ball from Hilfenhaus to wicketkeeper Tim Paine after scoring only eight.

Mumbai batsman Ajinkya Rahane was dismissed for nought when he was caught by Shane Watson off Hilfenhaus' bowling. Gambhir's Delhi teammate Shikhar Dhawan hit three boundaries in his knock of 17 before he edged a George delivery to Paine behind stumps.

Saurashtra youngster Cheteshwar Pujara (9) who has made it to the national squad for the Test series was cleaned up Johnson as he couldn't handle the pace. Pujara's 42-minute stay at the wicket was sheer struggle as he faced 28-deliveries during this period.

Saurabh Tiwary, who has enjoyed lot of success in the Twenty20 format scored 15 before he became George's second victim handing Paine his third catch of the innings.

Then Wriddhiman and Chawla steadied the ship for some time before Wriddhiman edged one to Paine off Hilfenhaus with the scoreboard reading 90 for six. Then Chawla hit a few lusty blows off spinners Nathan Hauritz and Steven Smith to take the score to 143 for six.

Earlier, resuming at an overnight score of 319/1, Indian bowlers including Sreesanth and Pragyan Ojha bowled well, with skipper Ricky Ponting (42) falling to the left-arm spinner early without any addition to his overnight score.

Ponting was beaten by a quicker deliver from Ojha and he tasted success in the same over when he dismissed Ponting's deputy, Michael Clarke (44).

However, North, who like Simon Katich retired out, along with wicketkeeper Paine batted freely and cut loose weaving a partnership of 150 for the fourth wicket.

Source: Web Search

Kini, Bolisetti consolidate in JK Tyre racing

Published>Sun, Sep 26 10 08:02 PM

Chennai, Sep 26 (IANS) Ajay Kini of Wallace Sports and Sailesh Bolisetti of RAD Racing consolidated their positions at the top of the Formula LGB and Super Saloons class at the end of the fourth round of the JK Tyre National Racing Championship Sunday.

Kini, who finished second in the first race Saturday, came third today behind the experienced Amerya Walavalkar (TVS Girling) and Ravikumar Deepak (Mars Racing) in the second Formula Swift race that was stopped due to rain after six laps.

Bolisetti from Vizag extended his dominance with a double in the Super Saloon class despite handling issues, especially in the second outing this morning in wet conditions.

His car, prepared by veteran and former champion Radha Selvarajan had a set up for wet going, but the race was eventually run on a drying track. Yet, Bolisetti had enough pace to keep his challengers at an arm's length to win comfortably.

The Formula Rolon races witnessed close battles with Saran Vikram (Mars Racing) winning the first time out, but falling away in the next due to mechanical problems.

His nearest competitor, Sarosh Hataria (Meco Racing) had a miserable outing in the first race when he spun after the gear fell into neutral at Turn-4 and he finished down the order. But in the second run, he passed the stricken Vikram's car to win.

With two more rounds to be run, Vikram heads the championship with 33 points followed by Hataria and Vishnu Prasad (Amaron Pro Racing) at 29 points each.

The wet track resulted in pile-up of cars in several races leading to delays in the schedule, but fortunately, none of the drivers involved suffered any injury.

The results:

Formula LGB Swift (Race 2, 6 laps): Ameya Walavalkar (TVS Girling) 1 (13mins, 07.748secs); Ravikumar Deepak (Mars Racing) 2 (13:17.720); Ajay Kini (Wallace Sports) 3 (13:27.203).

Formula Rolon (Race 1, 10 laps): Saran Vikram (Mars Racing) 1 (19:00.479); Nikhil Kashyap (Amaron Pro Racing) 2 (19:18.575); Vishnu Prasad (Amaron Pro Racing) 3 (19:23.072). Race 2 (10 laps): Sarosh Hataria (Meco Racing) 1 (19:09.658); Chittesh Mandody (Mohite's Racing) 2 (19:14.287); Vishnu Prasad (Amaron Racing) 3 (19:51.671).

Polo Cup (Race 1, 12 laps): Sailesh Bolisetti 1 (25:25.172); Vikash Anand (RAD Racing) 2 (25:35.536); Parth Ghorpade (Meco Motorsports) 3 (25:36.609). Race 2 (12 laps): Parth Ghorpade (Meco Motorsports) 1 (25:13.862); Mohd Fahad Kutty (Game Over) 2 (25:18.214); Imran Majid (Game Over) 3 (25:26.826).

Touring Cars - Super Saloons (Race 2, 7 laps): Sailesh Bolisetti (RAD Racing) 1 (15:03.557); Raj Virudhan (Prime Racing) 2 (15:10.440); Mohammad Fahad Kutty (Game Over) 3 (15:20.296).

Touring Cars - Junior Cup: (Race 1, 9 laps): B Balavijay (Moto Rev India) 1 (20:26.907); Dilijit Singh (Meco Motorsports) 2 (20:27.411); Mhir Dharkar (Game Over) 3 (18:41.300, +1 lap). Race 2 (7 laps): B Balavijay 1 (16:47.597); Diljith Singh 2 (16:49.929); Vignesh Devarajan (Pvt) 3 (16:53.427).

--Indo--Asian News Service

aph/bs/vm

Source: Web Search

Aussie pacers dominate after batsmen pile up 505

Published>Sun, Sep 26 10 07:58 PM

The Australian pace trio of Ben Hilfenhaus (three for 28), Mitchell Johnson (one for 20) and rookie Peter George (two for 15) bowled to a disciplined line and length to reduce Board President's XI to 143 for six at stumps, on the second day of their three-day warm-up tie, at the Sector-16 stadium, in Chandigarh.

The Australians piled up 505, courtesy a brilliant century from Marcus North. North punished all the Board President's XI bowlers as he scored 124 in only 128 deliveries before retiring. His innings was studded with 19 boundaries and two sixes.

When the home team batsmen came out to bat, the Australian pacers put up a better performance than their Indian counterparts. Suddenly the track that was termed "lifeless" by Board President's XI captain Gautam Gambhir looked like having a lot of pace and bounce.

By the 15th over, Board President's XI were reduced to 53 for five. Then it was Piyush Chawla (64 batting) and wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha (14) stemmed the rot with a 37-run sixth wicket partnership. Then Chawla along with S Sreesanth (6 batting) added 53 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket stand. Chawla hit nine fours and two sixes in his 73-ball knock.

Skipper Gautam Gambhir would have liked to get some serious batting practice before the first Test but was out scoring only eight when he edged a short ball from Hilfenhaus to wicketkeeper Tim Paine after scoring only eight.

Mumbai batsman Ajinkya Rahane was dismissed for nought when he was caught by Shane Watson off Hilfenhaus' bowling. Gambhir's Delhi teammate Shikhar Dhawan hit three boundaries in his knock of 17 before he edged a George delivery to Paine behind stumps.

Saurashtra youngster Cheteshwar Pujara (9) who has made it to the national squad for the Test series was cleaned up Johnson as he couldn't handle the pace. Pujara's 42-minute stay at the wicket was sheer struggle as he faced 28-deliveries during this period.

Saurabh Tiwary, who has enjoyed lot of success in the Twenty20 format scored 15 before he became George's second victim handing Paine his third catch of the innings.

Then Wriddhiman and Chawla steadied the ship for some time before Wriddhiman edged one to Paine off Hilfenhaus with the scoreboard reading 90 for six. Then Chawla hit a few lusty blows off spinners Nathan Hauritz and Steven Smith to take the score to 143 for six.

Earlier, resuming at an overnight score of 319/1, Indian bowlers including Sreesanth and Pragyan Ojha bowled well, with skipper Ricky Ponting (42) falling to the left-arm spinner early without any addition to his overnight score.

Ponting was beaten by a quicker deliver from Ojha and he tasted success in the same over when he dismissed Ponting's deputy, Michael Clarke (44).

However, North, who like Simon Katich retired out, along with wicketkeeper Paine batted freely and cut loose weaving a partnership of 150 for the fourth wicket.

Source: Web Search

Snake in athlete's room at Games Village

Published>Sun, Sep 26 10 07:48 PM

There seems to be no end to the problems confronting the organisers of the Commonwealth Games with the South African envoy here claiming that a snake was found in an athlete's room in the Village.

A snake was found in a room in the residential tower, earmarked for the South African athletes, who have not arrived yet, High Commissioner Harris Mbulelo Mejeke told reporters.

"We can't go and stay till things are fixed up. We have very grave concerns. If snakes are found we can't ask our teams to stay there. Yesterday we found a snake but I don't know whether it was an Indian snake. But it was there in one of our rooms," Mejeke said before entering the Village.

"That was a threat to the lives of our athletes. Very disappointing. Basically, the basement was full of water and the staircase was also damp," he said.

On being asked if he brought the matter to the notice of the organisers, he said, "We had someone with us. They have promised us, everything will be all right. I will go and check whether the promise has been kept," he said.

However, the South African envoy said there team will not withdraw from the controversy-marred event.

"The teams are coming and we are still part of the Commonwealth Games. When everything will be done we will call our teams," Mjeke said.

The Village has already been sharply criticised for the unhygienic conditions and now the sensational claim would bring more bad publicity to the event.

Source: Web Search

Snake found in Village apartment: South African envoy

Published>Sun, Sep 26 10 07:42 PM

New Delhi, Sep 26 (IANS) A snake was found in a player's apartment in the Commowealth Games Village, the South African envoy said Sunday, adding his country would definitely participate in the Oct 3-14 event.

'Yesterday (Saturday), we found a snake in one of the apartments,' High Commissioner Harris Mbulelo Sithembile Majeke told reporters outside Games Village where he arrived for another look at the residential zones.

'I don't know if it was an Indian snake or not,' he said jokingly, as he entered the Village, armed with a vuvuzela.

'We have serious conditions about the facilities. It is really disappointing,' said Majeke, noting the living facilities were still 'very dirty, with the basement being still full of water'.

But, he said that the teams were 'on the way'. 'We are definitely participating in the Commonwealth Games,' he said.

The African group of Commonwealth nations had complained to the Organising Committee that their residential zones were not completely ready and were still dirty.

Source: Web Search

Snake in athlete's room at Games Village

Published>Sun, Sep 26 10 07:22 PM

There seems to be no end to the problems confronting the organisers of the Commonwealth Games with the South African envoy here claiming that a snake was found in an athlete's room in the Village.

A snake was found in a room in the residential tower, earmarked for the South African athletes, who have not arrived yet, High Commissioner Harris Mbulelo Mejeke told reporters.

"We can't go and stay till things are fixed up. We have very grave concerns. If snakes are found we can't ask our teams to stay there. Yesterday we found a snake but I don't know whether it was an Indian snake. But it was there in one of our rooms," Mejeke said before entering the Village.

"That was a threat to the lives of our athletes. Very disappointing. Basically, the basement was full of water and the staircase was also damp," he said.

On being asked if he brought the matter to the notice of the organisers, he said, "We had someone with us. They have promised us, everything will be all right. I will go and check whether the promise has been kept," he said.

However, the South African envoy said there team will not withdraw from the controversy-marred event.

"The teams are coming and we are still part of the Commonwealth Games. When everything will be done we will call our teams," Mjeke said.

The Village has already been sharply criticised for the unhygienic conditions and now the sensational claim would bring more bad publicity to the event.

Source: Web Search

Two more Aussie athletes pull out of Delhi CWG

Sun, Sep 26 10 12:58 PM

Melbourne, Sep 26 (PTI) Australian cyclist Travis Meyer and table tennis player Stephanie Sang today joined the growing list of athletes pulling out of the troubled Commonwealth Games in Delhi, citing security and health concerns. Withdrawal by Meyer and Sang took the number of Australian pullouts to three. Last week, discus world champion Dani Samuels'' was the first to skip the Games. Australian Commonwealth Games chief Perry Crosswhite dubbed the pullouts as disappointing. "I am disappointed on the basis that these Games will be a good experience particularly for all the athletes who come to it and of course we wouldn''t be here if we didn''t think the security wasn''t being organised well and at the level it should be," Crosswhite was quoted as saying by the ''Australian Associated Press''. Crosswhite said the recently-married Sang pulled out because of security fears, and a replacement for her on the team was being sought. Australia''s athletes will begin arriving in Delhi from Wednesday for the October 3 to 14 event.

Source: Published>

Teary-eyed Amir pleaded innocence; blamed Butt for spot-fixing scandal, say sources

Published>Sun, Sep 26 10 12:52 PM

Karachi, Sep 26 (ANI): Pakistan's fast bowler Mohammad Amir, one of the four players implicated in spot-fixing scandal, reportedly went to the team management just a couple of days after the allegations were levelled against him, and spilled the beans on Test captain Salman Butt.

According to sources, some of Pakistan's senior players saw Amir meeting with the team's One Day International (ODI) captain Shahid Afridi, who later took the teary-eyed youngster to team manager Yawar Saeed, and the trio discussed the issue for some time at the team hotel, The News reported.

"Amir told the team management that he wasn't aware of the gravity of the situation and also claimed that he just followed Butt's instructions," revealed a well-placed source.

He added that the 18-year-old bowler told Afridi and Yawar that he did not even know Mazhar Majeed, and was introduced to him by Salman.

"Amir told Afridi as well as the team manager that he was completely unaware of what was going on. He asked them to help him get out of the mess," claimed the source.

Amir, regarded among the world's best emerging fast bowlers, has received a lot of sympathy from various quarters, after he was suspended by the ICC following allegations that he and Asif had bowled deliberate no-balls during the fourth Test against England at Lord's on the orders of match-fixers.

Former greats like England's Michael Atherton, West Indies' fast bowler Michael Holding, Australia's Geoff Lawson, Pakistan's Ramiz Raja and many others have urged the authorities to show leniency towards the talented young cricketer.

"Whilst I accept, if guilty, there can be no way back for Salman Butt, the captain, or Mohammad Asif, a cricketer who has enjoyed more lives than a cat, I hope the authorities can find a way to give Amir a second chance. He is a victim in this episode," wrote Atherton, in one of his articles earlier this month. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Impressed with facilities at Games village, Canadian team to stay put in it

Published>Sun, Sep 26 10 12:48 PM

New Delhi, Sep 26 (ANI): The 35-person advance Canadian team is planning to get settled at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games village on Sunday.

Forty athletes and coaches who are scheduled to arrive Monday will follow the advance team in the Games village.

"Work has progressed far enough now that we're ready to start moving in to the village. All of the necessary maintenance and cleaning has been done in enough rooms to accommodate (us)," said Scott Stevenson, director of sport for Commonwealth Games Canada.

The Games have been marred by a number of organizational issues and health and safety concerns, The Globe and Mail reports.

The Canadian team said that emergency equipment and safety procedures have all been tested. Pools of water that were potential breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes have also been cleaned up near the athletes' village.

"Things are starting to look really good. Other parts of the village, like the dining hall and the training facilities, are truly exceptional," said Stevenson.

Commonwealth Games Federation president Mike Fennell, who rushed to India to deal with the problems, said on Saturday that significant work had been done in recent days.

The urgency was evident at the athletes' village, where workers went about cleaning the area and painters gave last-minute touches.

Organizers took groups of New Delhi-based ambassadors from more than 50 participating countries and journalists to the village. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Teary-eyed Amir pleaded innocence; blamed Butt for spot-fixing scandal, say sources

Published>Sun, Sep 26 10 12:38 PM

Karachi, Sep 26 (ANI): Pakistan's fast bowler Mohammad Amir, one of the four players implicated in spot-fixing scandal, reportedly went to the team management just a couple of days after the allegations were levelled against him, and spilled the beans on Test captain Salman Butt.

According to sources, some of Pakistan's senior players saw Amir meeting with the team's One Day International (ODI) captain Shahid Afridi, who later took the teary-eyed youngster to team manager Yawar Saeed, and the trio discussed the issue for some time at the team hotel, The News reported.

"Amir told the team management that he wasn't aware of the gravity of the situation and also claimed that he just followed Butt's instructions," revealed a well-placed source.

He added that the 18-year-old bowler told Afridi and Yawar that he did not even know Mazhar Majeed, and was introduced to him by Salman.

"Amir told Afridi as well as the team manager that he was completely unaware of what was going on. He asked them to help him get out of the mess," claimed the source.

Amir, regarded among the world's best emerging fast bowlers, has received a lot of sympathy from various quarters, after he was suspended by the ICC following allegations that he and Asif had bowled deliberate no-balls during the fourth Test against England at Lord's on the orders of match-fixers.

Former greats like England's Michael Atherton, West Indies' fast bowler Michael Holding, Australia's Geoff Lawson, Pakistan's Ramiz Raja and many others have urged the authorities to show leniency towards the talented young cricketer.

"Whilst I accept, if guilty, there can be no way back for Salman Butt, the captain, or Mohammad Asif, a cricketer who has enjoyed more lives than a cat, I hope the authorities can find a way to give Amir a second chance. He is a victim in this episode," wrote Atherton, in one of his articles earlier this month. (ANI)

Source: Web Search