CWG procurement: Treading in murky waters

Sun, Aug 08 10 12:07 PM

Patiala, Aug. 8 -- The Commonwealth Games Organising Committee is having a tough time explaining its decision to rent AlterG treadmills ahead of the globally used Technogym treadmills. While the supposedly NASA-recommended treadmills cost $65,000 (Rs 30 lakh) each, the Technogym treadmills are a much cheaper Rs 6-8 lakh. If the OC's idea was to bring in cutting-edge equipment, the question of why they chose to do so for the two-week event as opposed to installing these machines at training centres, is a pertinent one. And, interestingly, India's elite athletes are as confused about the value of the new-fangled treadmills as anyone else. Interestingly, the country's premier training facility, the National Institute of Sport in Patiala, uses Technogym treadmills. Athletes there told the Hindustan Times that they had never seen, or even heard of, the AlterG treadmills, in all their travels abroad representing India in competitions. In fact, the Athens and Beijing Olympics both had Technogym as equipment partners. What's most mystifying is the OC's claim that the AlterG treadmills, which have an anti-gravity system that make you feel 20% lighter, will somehow help athletes. "If these treadmills improve the efficiency of players why not have them at the National Institute of Sport?" asked an Olympian, who did not want to be named. Another player, who hoped the controversy would die down, said: "We are happy with our equipment here at NIS. The treadmills are world class and these are the same treadmills that were used in the Beijing Olympics." India's elite athletes, drawn from disciplines as varied as boxing, wrestling, athletics, cycling and weightlifting, currently training on Technogym treadmills at NIS, Patiala, just can't understand why the OC is so keen on AlterG. The controversy over the high cost of renting treadmills forced the OC to clarify that they would be buying some treadmills, for the athletes to use, while renting others at Games venues. "We have not ordered treadmills worth Rs 9 lakhs. The picture shown in reports is a household treadmill," A K Saxena, who is the joint director for overlays, clarified on August 4. "The professional treadmill that we were shown costs around $60,000. A high-end treadmill with add-ons will cost $75,000." The fact remains, however, that even the Rs 10.5 lakh that the Chandigarh Sports Department paid for high-end treadmills, is under the scanner.

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'The team showed character'

Sun, Aug 08 10 11:51 AM

Colombo, Aug. 7 -- India's Test squad, barring Harbhajan Singh and Gautam Gambhir, who have already returned home, and all eight replacements for the coming tri-series celebrated their Very Very Special victory for two hours before the senior pros left for the airport. After all, their series-levelling win gave them one of their rare victories on foreign soil. The victory was even sweeter considering that India went into the match without three of their key players - Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan and Gambhir. "Very satisfied with the effort we put in the last Test and the fightback again shows the character of this team," coach Gary Kirsten said. "This is what the team is all about and what we can do in pressure situations. It was particularly satisfying with the way the Test panned out. The end result was special." After conceding the first Test in Galle, India clawed their way back to draw the second and then turned the tables around with an all-round show at the P Sara Oval to level the series. Chasing 257, India were reduced to 62 for 4 early on Saturday. However, centurion VVS Laxman's associations with Sachin Tendulkar (109) and Suresh Raina (unbeaten 87) turned the tide and helped avoid a series defeat in Sri Lanka for the first time in 17 years. "If we would have lost the series it would have been because of the batsmen, a draw means both the batsmen and bowlers did decently well and to win the series it would mean that our bowlers have performed really well over the series," skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said.

Whether Sangakkara agrees or not, the smiles on the seven Indian cricketers - Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Amit Mishra, Murali Vijay, Munaf Patel and Wriddhiman Saha - as they checked out of the hotel to return home, showed that they had earned more than just a moral victory.

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Punjab & Bengal to play for pride

Sun, Aug 08 10 11:47 AM

Kolkata, Aug. 8 -- On the threshold of redeeming pride, Bengal are a drained lot. Injuries and the wear and tear of four games in eight days have taken a big toll on Shabbir Ali's boys. But only one game away from regaining what Bengal once rightfully considered theirs, they will want to throw everything at Punjab in Sunday's Santosh Trophy final. "This is my fourth Santosh Trophy and my third final," said skipper Snehasish Chakraborty. "It's time I get the taste of winning it. As captain I will try my best," said the Mohun Bagan midfielder, adding that beating Goa in Friday's thriller was one of the best moments of his life. That experience will boost hopes of winning their 30th trophy after 11 years but Bengal need to get past a spirited and disciplined Punjab, who barring their 0-3 defeat to Goa, have mowed down opponents at will. They have a potent attack which is backed by coach Jagir Singh's experience of having won the trophy twice - 2006 and 2008. "It's about who is better at their game on the day itself. There is no point comparing two teams," said Jagir. "Bengal would be raring to win it after beating Goa but we are no pushovers." The eight-time winners will be missing influential midfielder Gurpreet Singh due to a double booking but the rest of the squad is available. The Punjab strikers have hit the right notes all along, having scored 25 goals in eight matches here and Jagir will be again hoping Balwant Singh and Parveen Kumar exploit what he feels is 'a weak Bengal defence.' "The defence definitely looks suspect and there is no reason why we won't be able to get past them if we play the way we have been doing," said Jagir. Ali, however, refused to admit the backline has been inconsistent. "There are bound to be some mistakes but what do you expect against a champion side like Goa," he retorted. Having Abhra Mondal as the last man will give Bengal some confidence. Ali indicated that he wouldn't want to tinker with the goalkeeper's position after his heroics on Friday.

With third striker Shankar Oraon ruled out with a muscle tear, TFA recruit Robin Singh remains Bengal's best hope. The 20-year-old might be fielded as single striker but chances are Souvik Chakraborty might be asked to partner him.

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Mumbai lad breaks record in track event at Patiala

Sun, Aug 08 10 11:17 AM

Patiala, Aug. 8 -- Beginner's luck, third time lucky, all rolled in one? Yes, if you take the case of hurdler Siddhanth T from Mumbai. Not only did he win gold, he also broke the national record in the 110m hurdles in his third senior meet at the National Inter State Athletics championships here on Saturday. He clocked 13.81s to beat the previous record of 13.96s. Siddhanth's romance with the track made him change from high jump to sprint. Starting his career as a jumper, he felt his natural ability to explode and run. It was natural that he transformed himself into a hurdler where he needs speed as well as the ability to clear the obstacles. Ever since he started running, four years ago, he only improved his timings and flourished on the senior circuit. At the Junior Asian Championships in Hannoi he clocked 13.96s and equalled the previous senior national record set by Krishan Mohan K. The 19-year-old also said he had expected a good show here. "I was expecting to run under 14sec, but then the national record happened," he said. "I am very happy that I have achieved this mark at this age. And my target is the London Olympics." His coach Ajit Kulkarni believes he is made for better things and since age is on his side, he can run below 13.50s. Though he missed the Commonwealth Games mark of 13.80s, he felt he might be considered by the selection panel for the Delhi Games.

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Dikshit''s ''final'' Games deadline: Delhi to miss date again?

Sun, Aug 08 10 11:07 AM

New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit''s promise of completing all Commonwealth Games projects being implemented by her government by the extended deadline of August 31 is appearing to fall flat. Top officials in Delhi government admitted that key projects like Barapullah Nallah elevated road and renovation of the Yamuna Sports Complex, apart from street-scaping around the Games venues are unlikely to finished by August-end. Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta said although a carriageway of the Barapulla Nallah elevated road will be completed by August 25, the construction activities on second carriageway could be finished by first week of September only. The four-km-long elevated road between Sarai Kale Khan and the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the main venue of the event, is being built to provide uninterrupted traffic flow from Games Village near Akshardham temple to the stadium. The over Rs 550-crore project has already missed several deadlines. Similarly, renovation of Yamuna Sports Complex, where archery and table tennis events will take place, is not likely to be completed by August-end. Peripheral works in and around Talkatora Stadium and Karni Singh Shooting Range are also not expected to be over by the deadline. Finance Minister A K Walia has publicly stated that work in Yamuna Sports Complex will not be over by the month-end. Delhi government had undertaken projects worth over Rs 10,000 crore to improve infrastructure in the city ahead of the Games that start on October 3. Works related to plantation and greenery are also lagging far behind. Although plantation works have been allowed to run through September, several agencies planning to put up potted plants are a bit confused as police have objected to placing the pots near the gates of the venues. Facing severe criticism for delay in finishing Games- related projects, Dikshit had last month directed all agencies concerned to complete pending work within the final deadline. Top PWD officials, overseeing street-scaping projects across the city, have also admitted that the works will only be over by mid-September. The department has deployed an additional workforce of 700 labourers to wrap up the street-scaping projects. "Nine agencies are working on various projects to improve various infrastructure in the city. Some of the projects are getting delayed because of lack of coordination among the agencies," said Chief Secretary Mehta. Questions are also being raised over whether the 2,000 flats being renovated by the DDA in Vasant Kunj for stay of technical staff of the Games will be completed ahead of the mega sporting event. DDA engineers, earlier in the week, had said that they will not be able to complete the flats before the Games.

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Punjab & Bengal to play for pride

Sun, Aug 08 10 10:47 AM

Kolkata, Aug. 8 -- On the threshold of redeeming pride, Bengal are a drained lot. Injuries and the wear and tear of four games in eight days have taken a big toll on Shabbir Ali's boys. But only one game away from regaining what Bengal once rightfully considered theirs, they will want to throw everything at Punjab in Sunday's Santosh Trophy final. "This is my fourth Santosh Trophy and my third final," said skipper Snehasish Chakraborty. "It's time I get the taste of winning it. As captain I will try my best," said the Mohun Bagan midfielder, adding that beating Goa in Friday's thriller was one of the best moments of his life. That experience will boost hopes of winning their 30th trophy after 11 years but Bengal need to get past a spirited and disciplined Punjab, who barring their 0-3 defeat to Goa, have mowed down opponents at will. They have a potent attack which is backed by coach Jagir Singh's experience of having won the trophy twice - 2006 and 2008. "It's about who is better at their game on the day itself. There is no point comparing two teams," said Jagir. "Bengal would be raring to win it after beating Goa but we are no pushovers." The eight-time winners will be missing influential midfielder Gurpreet Singh due to a double booking but the rest of the squad is available. The Punjab strikers have hit the right notes all along, having scored 25 goals in eight matches here and Jagir will be again hoping Balwant Singh and Parveen Kumar exploit what he feels is 'a weak Bengal defence.' "The defence definitely looks suspect and there is no reason why we won't be able to get past them if we play the way we have been doing," said Jagir. Ali, however, refused to admit the backline has been inconsistent. "There are bound to be some mistakes but what do you expect against a champion side like Goa," he retorted. Having Abhra Mondal as the last man will give Bengal some confidence. Ali indicated that he wouldn't want to tinker with the goalkeeper's position after his heroics on Friday.

With third striker Shankar Oraon ruled out with a muscle tear, TFA recruit Robin Singh remains Bengal's best hope. The 20-year-old might be fielded as single striker but chances are Souvik Chakraborty might be asked to partner him.

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Leander's ace: Lead role in two Bollywood movies

Sun, Aug 08 10 10:17 AM

Mumbai, Aug. 7 -- Leander Paes' fiery volleys and lionhearted performances have stamped him as the action man of Indian tennis for close to two decades. Now, he is looking to transplant the same adrenaline-inducing antics to the silver screen. "I have signed two Hindi films. Both have me in the lead role as an action hero. Shooting begins this December," Paes told HT. Why movies? "For I love watching them. The ability of a film to transport one to another world for the extent of two-odd hours is exhilarating." Sure, tennis requires creativity but a sports pedigree may not be the best ladder to celluloid brilliance. "Bengali poet and dramatist Michael Madhusudan Dutt is my ancestor from my mother's side. That takes care of the pedigree. As far as I am concerned I have played out some of my most intimate personal moments in front of stadiums full of people, that surely has taken care of stage fright of any kind!" What's the movie about? "I am not at liberty to discuss the first one. The second one with the working title of Rajdhani is a common man's story that urges you to be the change that you want to see in the world."

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