New Zealand's rugby coach wants team to knit together

Published>Sat, Oct 09 10 09:22 PM

New Delhi, Oct.9 (ANI): New Zealand rugby coach Gordon Tietjens said on Saturday that the players are need to knit together as a team in the XIX Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

The New Zealand rugby team is playing its first friendly match against Papa New Guinea later in the day.

Tietjens also stated that the first few games would give him a fair indication of where the team is actually standing in the international circuit.

"So, these games against Welsh and Arabian Gulf and even today against Papua New Guinea are games that are very valuable for us and particularly for them," said Tietjens.

"The first couple of games in the tournament would certainly give me a good indication of where we are at and hopefully I have got a very talented side but is it about knitting together as a team," he added.

Tietjens also said that now they need to adjust and familiarise with the weather conditions in Delhi before gearing up for the pool action.

New Zealand have tough pool contenders like Canada, Guyana and Scotland, as they begin their campaign at the Delhi University Ground from Monday. (ANI)

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CWG women's hockey: India fail to reach medal round

Published>Sat, Oct 09 10 09:17 PM

New Delhi, Oct 9 (IANS) Indian women failed to make it to the medal round of the Commonwealth Games hockey competition as they lost out to South Africa on goal difference, though they beat them 3-1 here Saturday.

The two were tied with seven points each, but the latter advanced to the semifinals on superior goal-difference to set up a meeting with Pool B leaders New Zealand who earlier chalked up their fourth win beating Canada 3-1.

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Sohail appeals to govt to save Pakistan cricket

Sat, Oct 09 10 09:07 PM

New Delhi, Oct 9 (PTI) Former Test captain Aamir Sohail has made a fervent appeal to the Pakistan government to step in and check the deteriorating state of affairs in cricket in the country. In a candid criticism of the government for its failure to check the decline in Pakistan cricket, Sohail said on Geo TV that the chief patron, President Asif Zardari need to seriously take steps to resolve the cricket crisis. An emotionally charged Sohail said that he was surprised that the government had so far not realized the significance and important of cricket as a tool to unify the Pakistani nation. "The government must realise it is not just a sport in Pakistan a country where they are so many religious, political and other divisions. A country where people are facing so many crises and problems. The government must realise cricket has always served as a unifying factor in this country," he said. The former chief selector who has been a vocal critic of the present board set-up and its Chairman, Ijaz Butt for their failure to run cricket affairs properly said that cricket was being damaged beyond repair in the country. "The chief patron must wake up to the reality and the seriousness of the crisis. Good governance is all about recognising the potential of cricket to unify the people and give them so happiness and joy in their lives," he said. "I am really surprised that a seasoned political party like the Pakistan Peoples Party has still not realised that things are not moving forward with this present set up and Chairman," he said. He pointed out that the PCB Chairman was causing untold damage to Pakistan cricket by continuing to be involved in an ego tussle with former captain Younus Khan. "For no rhyme or reason Ijaz Butt refuses to give clearance for Younus to be in the Pakistan team. If Younus has committed a major crime or indiscipline then it is the duty of the board to let the people know so that this Younus Khan chapter is closed once for all," he said. Sohail said that the chief patron needed to take time out of his busy schedule and give importance to cricket affairs. "I think enough is enough I don''t think any former chairman of the board has faced so many criticism and opposition for his manner of running cricket affairs and yet the government appears to be blind to the popular public opinion even though preaches democracy," he said.

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Games Village live up to ''Bolo Ta Ra Ra''

Sat, Oct 09 10 08:58 PM

New Delhi, Oct 9 (PTI) Punjabi pop singer Daler Mehndi today mesmerised the residents of Commonwealth Games Village here by his energetic performance. The programme was a part of cultural events being organised by Delhi Government at the Games Village since the start of Games on October 3, here to rejuvenate and entertain athletes and international delegates living here. The concert at the jam-packed amphitheatre was attended by a number of athletes, who were seen dancing on the tunes of pop star. The concert was started with ''Ek Onkar'' a spiritual song. Later, Daler enthralled the audiences with songs like "Bolo ta Ra Ra, Dardi Rab Rab Kardi, Ho jayegi balle Balle" and Rang De Basanti besides singing other popular numbers. "It is really good to perform here," he said during his rocking performance. Mehndi has given number of performances across the globe and given his voices for different songs in Indian movies. "I really enjoyed the performance. Though I had difficulty in following the lyrics but I could not stop myself from dancing to this beautiful beats," said Muzamiq, Nigerian athlete. The Commonwealth Games Village, spread in over 63.5 hectares area, is home to over 7,000 athletes from 71 nations during the maiden sporting event being hosted by the country. The 12-day-long event will culminate on October 14. PTI AKV SJY

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Harminder Singh wins Commonwealth Games bronze in men's 20-kilometres walk

Published>Sat, Oct 09 10 08:37 PM

New Delhi, Oct.9 (ANI): Indian athlete Harminder Singh won a bronze medal in men's 20-kilometres walk event in the ongoing XIX Commonwealth Games here on Saturday.

The Australian athletes Jarred Tallent and Luke Adams clinched the gold and silver medals respectively.

"I am very happy that my brother has made the country, our state Punjab and our district Patiala proud. He was working hard for it. Earlier he won in the Russian championship and made us happy," said Makhan Singh, cousin of Harminder Singh.

"We reached here yesterday and are watching the race since morning and are very happy that he has won the bronze medal," he added.

Harminder completed the race in 1:23:27, while Australian Jared Tallent clocked 1:22:18 and Luke Adams' finished the race in 1:22:31.

Harminder has become the first Indian to win a medal in this event in the Commonwealth Games.

In the women's event of 20km walk, England's Jo Jackson grabbed the gold medal with Australian Claire Tallent settling for the silver and Kenya's Wanjiru Grace getting the bronze. (ANI)

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CWG shooting: Men get two more gold, women bronze

Published>Sat, Oct 09 10 08:28 PM

New Delhi, Oct 9 (IANS) Indian shooters continued to add to the medal haul on the sixth day of the Commonwealth Games competitions with the men winning two more gold and women picking up a bronze Saturday.

World No.3 Gagan Narang won the gold in the men's 50-metre rifle three position individual event while Vijay Kumar and Harpreet Singh bagged the gold in the men's 25-metre centre fire pistol pairs event at the Karni Singh Stadium

The women's team of Shuma Siddharth Shirur and Kavitha Yadav added a bronze from the 10-metre air rifle pairs' event.

Narang broke his own Games record, set at the 2006 Melbourne Games, both in the qualifying and the final to win his fourth gold medal in the meet.

Narang shot a total of 1166 points in the qualifying and 96.2 in the final for a total of 1262.2 points. In the 2006 Games, Narang had shot 1163 in the qualifying and a final score of 98.4 for a total of 1261.4.

In the final round, Narang started with 9.3, but then shot two excellent shots of 10.1 and 10.6. The only time he faltered in the final was when he shot 7.9 in the seventh shot. In the last three shots, Narang had 10, 9 and 9.6 to seal the gold.

Scotland's Jonathan Hammond shot a total of 1255.3 (1164 qualifying, 91.3 final) for the silver and England's James Huckle got the bronze with a total of 1254.9 (1157, qualifying, 97.9 final).

Imran Hasan Khan, another Indian in the fray, finished fourth with a total of 1252 (1157 qualifying, 95.4 final). Narang and Khan had won the gold medal in the pairs event.

In the men's 25-metre centre fire pistol, Vijay (586) and Harpreet (573) shot a total of 1159 to win the 11th gold from shooting for India ahead of New Zealand and Singapore.

Kiwi shooters Greg Yelavich (574) and Alan Earle (566) won the silver with a total of 1140. Singapore's Bin Gai (576) and Lip Meng Poh (563) got the bronze with a tally of 1139 points.

In the women's 10-metre air rifle event, Malaysian girls Nur Suryani Mohammed Taibi (398) and Nur Ayuni Halim (395) won the gold with a total score of 793.

Singapore bagged the silver with Xiang Wei Jasmine Ser (396) and Jian Huan Cheng (394) shooting a total of 790.

Shirur (397) and Kavitha Yadav (388) settled for the bronze with a total score of 785. Shuma and Anjali Bhagwat are the Games record holders with a score of 795 that was set at the 2002 Games in Manchester.

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Wrestlers clinch two more Gold medals for India at C'wealth Games

Published>Sat, Oct 09 10 08:07 PM

New Delhi, Oct.9 (ANI): Indian wrestlers continued their dominance even on the sixth day of the ongoing XIX Commonwealth Games, as Narsingh Yadav and Yogeshwar Dutt won two more Gold medals in the free style wrestling competition held here on Saturday evening.

As Yogeshwar Dutt won a Gold medal in the 60-kilogram category, fellow Narsingh Yadav followed him winning another Gold in the 74-kilogram category.

Wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt won gold in 60kg Freestyle Wrestling event, defeating Canadian wrestler James Mancini.

The two Gold medals pushed India's medal tally to 55 medals in total with 24 Gold, 16 Silver, and 15 Bronze medals till Saturday evening.

Earlier, ace shooter Gagan Narang bagged gold in the Singles 50 m Rifle 3 Positions (Men) event at the Karni Singh Shooting Range.

Shooters Harpreet Singh and Vijay Kumar had earlier today won gold in the men's 25-metre Centre Fire Pistol Pairs Event.

The Indian duo scored 1159 in the final to clinch gold. (ANI)

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