Shooters shot more golds for India

Published>Fri, Oct 08 10 08:47 PM

New Delhi, October 08 (ANI): Indian shooter Vijay Kumar gave India its 17th CWG gold when he won gold medal in the 125m rapid fire pistol event on Friday. Gold rush continued for India on the fifth day of the Games as shooters Gagan Narang and Imram Hasan Khan bagged yet another gold medal for India, at the Dr Karni Singh shooting range. Narang and Khan won the gold in 50 m rifle 3-position pair event, thus, raising India's medal tally to a total of 16 gold.

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''Baby'' archer guides recurve team to first Gold

Fri, Oct 08 10 08:37 PM

Tapan Mohanta New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) Daughter of an autorickshaw driver in Ranchi, ''baby'' Deepika Kumari took a giant leap when she guided the women''s recurve team to bag the first Commonwealth Games gold in archery. The 17-year-old shot 70, one point higher than double Olympian Dola Banerjee (69) and Bombayala Devi Laishram (68) as the trio pipped English opponents by one point for the top finish in a pressure-filled match. Women''s coach Poornima Mahato looks after Deepika as she is treated like a ''baby''. For instance, she is not allowed to use a mobile phone and shares a room in the Games Vilage with the team''s senior most member Dola. "But I am growing, I don''t need a mobile now, maybe I will get it after getting a job," Deepika told PTI, showing off her nails painted in the colours of the Indian Tri-colour. Currently world-ranked fifth, Deepika shot into limelight winning the Cadet Youth Championships in Kundu-Antalya, Turkey in October 2008 while recently she made the cut for the coveted World Finals in Edinburgh. "Playing in the World Finals was really huge for me. All the top archers were there. I could not get a podium finish but the experience is helping me. I am learning day by day," said Deepika. Studying in class 11th in Jamshedpur, Deepika targets making a cut for the London Olympics 2012. "Next year will be a huge for me. I hope to continue with this form and qualify for Olympics. That will be really a proud moment for my parents and coaches who are behind my success," she said. In-form Deepika is only one among the women''s team to have won an individual medal at the World Cup this year when she got a silver at the World Cup stage 4 in Shanghai recently. Eldest among three children, Deepika''s father Shiv Narayan Mahato drives an autorickshaw, while mother Geeta Mahato works as a nurse in Ranchi Government Hospital. "I got my first recurve bow when I made the academy. All my expenses of food and boarding was taken care of since then," Deepika, who got into the Tata Archery Academy in 2008, said. It was her cousin who noticed the talent in Deepika. "She was an archer and it was through her I got into archery. Then I trained at Saraikela before being picked by TAA," Deepika recalled. The teenage Deepika considers senior pro Dola as her archery inspiration. "I really look up to her. Dola didi always helps me out when I go wrong. I am really thankful to her," she says. Incidentally, both Dola and Deepika will play recurve individual quarterfinals in the Commonwealth Games archery competition on October 10.

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Mamata Banerjee announces awards for Railway players winning CWG medals

Published>Fri, Oct 08 10 08:27 PM

New Delhi, Oct 8 (ANI): Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced special 'Minister's Awards' for Railway players winning medals at the XIXth Commonwealth Games.

"The Railway family and the nation is very proud of them," said Banerjee sending her congratulations for the outstanding performance of Railway players in the Indian contingent in the 2010 Games.

The awards will be Rs ten lakh for a gold medal winner, Rs six lakh for a silver medal winner and Rs four lakh for those winning the bronze.

The Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) announced Rs. five lakh for gold medal winner, Rs three lakh for silver, Rs. two lakh for bronze and a promotion/increment in the railway service.

Railway players have so far won nine medals for India, which include seven gold medals and two bronze medals.

Dola Banerjee (Eastern Railway) and L. Bombayla Devi (Eastern Railway) won gold in Recurve Women Team Event on Friday.

Ashish Kumar (North Central Railway) won the bronze medal for India in Gymnastics (Floor Exercise) event on Thursday.

Dharmendra Dalal (Northern Railway) won bronze medal in 120 Kg. of Greco Roman Style wrestling category on Wednesday.

Over 90 sportspersons from Indian Railways are participating in the 2010 Games, which is the biggest contingent from a single organization in the country. (ANI)

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'Fit-again' Ferdinand still facing England selection battle

Published>Fri, Oct 08 10 08:07 PM

London, Oct 8(ANI): England defender Rio Ferdinand may start the Three Lions' Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro on Tuesday on the bench.

According to the Sun, England manager Fabio Capello may continue with Phil Jagielka following his impressive performance against Bulgaria and Switzerland.

Jagielka was the only defender to play both the 90 minutes in the 4-0 win over Bulgaria and the 3-1 success against Switzerland.

Ferdinand has already lost captaincy of the team after Capello handed it to midfielder Steven Gerrard in his absence.

The 31-year-old had traveled to the World Cup in South Africa as skipper, but saw his tournament ended by a knee injury sustained in the very first training session.

After his return to Manchester United last month, he has played two Premier League games without conceding a goal. (ANI)

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We will take a call on Laxman in the evening or before the game: Dhoni

Published>Fri, Oct 08 10 07:57 PM

Bangalore, Oct.8 (ANI): Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said on Friday that he would take a call on injured VVS Laxman later this evening or before the second Test match commences against Australia from October 9.

"Laxman is much better right now, but we will take a call in the evening or tomorrow before the game, how he shapes up in the morning," said Dhoni.

Dhoni also said that there were many areas the team needed to improve like not dropping catches or ensuring better running between the wickets.

"We need to improve in quite a few areas, because you can't give too many runs with the new ball. Once you are close to the opposition target, we should not lose too many wickets, try to get as much lead as possible, not dropping catches, it's an old mantra and still going strong, and you trying to stop the singles that the Aussie team takes," said Dhoni.

"It is important not to let them rotate the strike easily, So, apart from that, running between the wickets, we have seen that run outs can change the course of a game," he added.

When asked about the verbal duel between Zaheer Khan and Ricky Ponting, Dhoni said that the players would only focus on the game and not on controversy.

"We always try to play cricket in the best possible manner but you know, heat of the moment, when you are putting a lot of effort, at time bowlers or batsmen, they tend to respond to the opposition's wordings and all, but we try to not get it too personal, because it does happen, a bit of chit chat is fine till it doesn't get too personal to the bowler and the batsman at the same time," said Dhoni.

"So, I think you know the last Test went off quite well apart from that one incident that happened, and we are hoping that, you know, we will close the series without any further controversy, if you are thinking the last one was part of it," he added.

India won the first Test in Mohali, to take a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.

VVS Laxman, Gautam Gambhir and Ishant Sharma, are likely to miss the second Test because of injury.

After the two Test series, the two teams will face off in a One-Day International (ODI) series starting from October 17. By Sweta (ANI)

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Wrestler Alka Tomar wins 18th gold for India at Delhi CWG

Published>Fri, Oct 08 10 07:51 PM

New Delhi, Oct 8 (ANI): Wrestler Alka Tomar bagged a gold medal in the 59-kg freestyle event on the fifth day of the XIXth Commonwealth Games here today, thereby taking India's gold medal tally to 18.

Alka Tomar defeated Canadian wrestler Tonya Verbeek 3-2.

Nigerian Tega Tosin Richard won the bronze in the same event, defeating England's Louisa Bernadette Salmon 5-0.

Earlier today, ace shooter Vijay Kumar won gold in 25m Rapid Fire Pistol shooting.

Kumar shot 787.5, while India's Gurpreet Singh claimed bronze in the same event shooting 758.7. (ANI)

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Delhi cheers for Saina Mirza

Published>Fri, Oct 08 10 07:27 PM

New Delhi, Oct 8 (IANS) The centre court at the R.K. Khanna Tennis Stadium reverberated with the cries of 'Go Sania!' and 'C'mon Sania' as the Indian struggled to find her rhythm in her semi-final match against the sixth-seeded Olivia Rogowska of Australia before hurtling to a win which ensured India at least a silver in the women's singles.

Even second-seeded Sania was surprised by the vociferous support from the nearly-packed stands.

'I have played a lot in Delhi and I know how the crowd here is like. But today the turnout was very unlike the usual. I was trailing in the match and for the first time I heard someone saying, 'Let's cheer her up!' This is the first time I have heard anyone saying that. It was exceptional,' Sania said after making a place in the final.

'Maybe it is because of Commonwealth Game, everyone is patriotic and excited. It was not a complete tennis crowd, they were not aware that they are not supposed to cheer when the points are being played. But they were behind me and that's what matters.'

The 23-year-old Indian felt for her Australian opponent, who put up a brave face against a heavily partisan crowd.

'I am it sure was tough for her. It is hard not to be distracted. But she never showed that she was affected. I don't know whether she was just pretending to be calm but she actually came fighting whenever she was down.'

It was a forgettable outing for Sania, who struggled with her game. But she hoped to get her act together for the final.

'I definitely did not play my best tennis. But there are days when you struggle and it is important to come through such matches. She (Rogowska) also played very well. She was seeing everything which I was not. If she plays like this consistently, she could be in top-50. But taking no credit from her, even I allowed her to play like this,' Sania said.

Sania, watched by husband, former Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik, parents Imran and Nasima and sister Anam, feels she has matured as a player and the manner in which she clawed her way back into the match reflects that.

'Earlier, I would be stubborn and insist on attacking with my forehand even when I am trailing in the match. But today I was thinking to shift gears and first putting the ball in court. Today I knew I have to get the ball into court whatever the speed may be. This is where the experience counts,' she said.

Sania was elated that India's No.1 men's singles player Somdev Devvarman has also made it to the final of the competition and hoped they will win gold for India.

'It is an exciting time for Indian tennis and a great achievement. A few years ago, no one would have expected India to be in the final of men's and women's singles. Somdev is in great form, he loves wearing down his opponents. He is the top seed and expected to win. Hope we can win the gold for India,' she said.

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