Saina Nehwal: Indian star of the year

Peel off that external and the participant comes to the surface. The soft and the severe blend nicely in her, and with world class performances to add to the glow, this 20-year-old shuttler was the face of Indian sport in 2010. This, despite some sterling shows by Indians during the year.Having created record at the Indonesian Open on June 21 2009 by becoming the first Indian to lay claim to a Super Series crown, Saina's success graph hit a new high.Three more Super Series triumphs and the Common wealth Games gold has given 'Super' Saina a more permanent membership of the elite club in world badminton. The Asian Games failure is a mere blip.

As the TOI sports team delved deep to dissect performances of Indian sporting heroes in 2010, Saina faced a strong test from Sachin Tendulkar, who raised the bar by accomplishing the never-heard-of before feat of a half-century of Test centuries.Then there was Somdev Devvarman, gold winner in both CWG and the Asian Games, as well as chess king Viswanathan Anand. World wrestling and CWG champion Sushil Kumar, Arjun Atwal (first Indian to win an USPGA Tour event) and Pankaj Advani make it a real tough competition.It is a measure of her achievements that Saina still manages to stand out. As the votes were counted, it became a two-horse race between Saina and Sachin.

In a country where cricket relegates every other sport to mere footnotes, and Sachin straddles the collective awareness like no other, Saina emerging as the choice for the 'TOI Sportsperson of the Year' is nothing short of stunning.But, then, no one is surprised anymore that she now commands Rs 1 crore per endorsement, behind only Sachin and MS Dhoni in the sports famous person market. That absence of astonishment is a declaration in itself.Badminton's Super Series is an examination of one's skills and stamina at the highest level of competition across 12 countries, and Saina showed striking consistency. She lifted four titles in five attempts including back-to-back crowns (Indian Open and Singapore Open) - making her the most successful achiever on the circuit.

A mixed bag for tourism sector in 2010

Notwithstanding its failure to woo one lakh overseas tourists during the Common wealth Games as targeted, 'Incredible India' involved close to five million outstation visitors this year as the tourism ministry had its share of glory and missed opportunities. With a double-digit growth in the foreign tourist arrivals, 2010 was otherwise a good year for the ministry.Incredible India movement attracted 4.93 million foreign tourists till November as compared to 4.46 million during the same period last year, registering a growth of 10.4 per cent. Despite the massive campaign launched by the ministry to promote India for the Common wealth Games, tourist arrivals did not touch the one lakh mark target during the sporting show.

The year began on a promising note with visa on arrival (VoA) scheme introduced for tourists from Singapore, Finland, New Zealand, Luxembourg and Japan.A total number of 5,644 VoAs were issued under this system during January-November. Maximum tourists from Singapore (1623) followed by New Zealand (1604), Japan (1241), Finland (1123) and Luxembourg (53) availed the scheme.Encouraged by the response, the VoA scheme is being extended for five more countries Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Philippines with effect from January 1, 2011.The tourism ministry issued licences to 450 fully trained tourist guides to cater to the growing number of foreign tourists in India.

Foreign exchange earnings from tourism were Rs 57,850 crore as compared to Rs 47,918 crore during the same period of 2009, registering a growth rate of 20.7 per cent.A massive movement was carried out to endorse India as a host country for the Common wealth Games. While radio spots and road shows were launched in the abroad market, TV commercials, billboards ads were unleashed in domestic market for the Games. Though not many hotels could come up as expected before the Common wealth Games, there was no shortage of hotel rooms during the occasion.The ministry of Tourism provided central assistance for training of service providers like tourist taxi drivers, auto drivers and immigration personnel in Delhi, NCR region and Agra for making them tourist friendly and hospitable. A total of 2,200 taxi, coach drivers were trained in Haryana Institute of Public Administration.

Kipsiro, Nambawa stand out in good spell

Moses Kipsiro was the best athlete in 2010 by a mile. With the two gold medals he won at the Common wealth Games in October and the World Cross-country bronze, Kipsiro should simply walk away with the Athlete of the Year award for the fourth straight time.The awards ceremony, usually organised by Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF), is due early next year. Only Sarah Nambawa succeeded in making Kipsiro look second-rate for once.Triple jumper Nambawa won Uganda’s first ever continental medal in horizontal jumps at the Africa Senior Athletics Championships held July 28- August 1 in Nairobi, Kenya.

At the same event, Kipsiro won 10,000m silver and finished fourth over 5,000m in Nairobi but his spirited performances were overshadowed by Nambawa’s 13.95-metre national record jump that helped her prevail over fancied Nigerians Donike Nkiruka (13.71m) and Otonye Iworina (13.65m).Nambawa had up till now been overlooked by UAF officials. Oblivious of her steady improvement that had earned her the year’s best jump in Africa (13.54m) prior to Nairobi, UAF were actually reluctant to contain Nambawa on the team and later alone meet her travel costs from America where she is based.

The determined 26-year-old former sprinter paid her air ticket. After Kipsiro failed to win gold, almost every Ugandan in the Kenyan capital believed that the 27-man team would return home without any.Nambawa served them with a pleasant surprise on the final day of the championship, leaping to gold on only her second attempt. “I knew I would make it,” Nambawa said of her presentation, which earned her a place on the African team for the IAAF Continental Cup held September in Split, Croatia.She travelled to Croatia alongside Kipsiro and steeplechaser Benjamin Kiplagat, who had completed fifth in Nairobi. Kipsiro turned out to be the best of the three Ugandans in Split, finishing second behind American Bernad Lagat over 5,000m.

Golden year for Sports: 2010

Individual brilliance shine from beginning to end in record-breaking medal hauls at Common wealth and Asian Games while the iconic Sachin Tendulkar raised the bar further on the cricket field in what twisted out to be a golden year for Indian sports.There were moments of pure ecstasy when the country's athletes notched up 101 medals (including 38 gold) in the Common wealth Games here and 64 (14 gold) in the Asian Games in Guangzhou.It was the best ever medal haul in both events for a nation which hardly looks beyond cricket on its sporting calendar.

Speaking of India's unofficial national sport, cricket, there were cherishable moments all through 2010 and Tendulkar provided two of the biggest ones by correctly becoming the first batsman to pull off a double century in one-dayers at the beginning of the year before signing off with another first of recording 50 Test hundreds.But for a change, cricket and Tendulkar did not matter for at least 14 days in October as India hosted its largest sporting event after the 1982 Asian Games.

The 19th Common wealth Games were supposed to showcase India as the next big sporting destination but left fans with mixed feelings after a botched build-up but a historic medal haul.The athletes were without a doubt on an unparalleled high at the event in front of home fans but the administrators touched a nadir when they made the country a subject of international mockery with preparations so careless that it seemed that top participating nations would give the Games a miss.

CBI questions Kalmadi's aides

The Central Bureau of Investigation today grilled close aides of Common wealth Games Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi in relation with the current investigate into the supposed financial irregularities in the Games.The CBI sources said Mr Kalmadi's personal secretary Manoj Bhore and OC General Secretary Lalit Bhanot were questioned. The CBI had conducted raids at the premises of Mr Kalmadi and Mr Bhore on December 24.

The premier investigation agency yesterday questioned three close aides of Mr Kalmadi into the case. The official added that questioning into the case would be done on regular basis.The CBI sources added that Mr Kalmadi is likely to be questioned. The agency has been investigating the hard disc and supposed threat letter, improved from the premises of the Congress MP. The Central agency had also recovered several 'important documents' after raids were conducted at his premises in Delhi, Mumbai and Pune.

The case was registered by the CBI into the alleged financial irregularities in the mega sports event on November 15 under the Section 120b r/w 420 IPC and Section 13(2) r/w 13(1)(d) of Prevention of Corruption Act against several OC officials and a London-based private firm dealing in audio-visual equipments. It was supposed that the accused OC officials, in conspiracy with a London-based private firm, awarded the work of fixing of video screens at the venue of the Queen's Baton Relay, at inflated rates. The work was awarded to the firm purportedly on the basis of fake quotations and without following the normal method.

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Haryana marks many firsts in 2010

The first full year of second term of the Bhupinder Singh Hooda Government, was noticeable by many firsts, second look at some of its people-centric policies to fine-tune them to reply the growing aspirations of the people, and sportspersons of the state.An official spokes persons said Wednesday thet the year that is sliding into history, saw Haryana past many ahistory-making milestone in several fields under the leadership of Hooda. Counting first things first, a central university started performance in the back-of-beyond district of Mahendergarh on January 4, 2010.

Also, the prestigious Indian Institute of Management (IIM) descended on the soil of Haryana. The first session of IIM commenced on the campus of Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, as the structure work on its building began in the Garnavathi village. What’s more, Haryana got approval for setting up a Defence University in Gurgaon.It is again for the first time in 2010 that Haryana sportspersons put up a sterling presentation both at the Common wealth Games held in New Delhi, and in the Asian Games held in China, taking Haryana’s tally of medals to a new high.

Tick-marking great success against the result-oriented sports policy of the state government, the sportspersons of Haryana bagged one-third of the total medals won by India in the Common wealth Games. No less impressive was their showing in the Asian Games. The winners of medals, participants and their coaches in CWG and the Asian Games have been honoured by the State Government at separate functions. Important players of the state have also been offered government jobs.

Ten years that changed Indian sports

The decade started with the unlucky tagline none in a billion.India hadn't yet won an person Olympic gold after eight decades of contest at the world's greatest sporting spectacle and had a bronze medal each to show for at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games.Hopes of becoming a multi-discipline sporting nation was a delusion and the national ritual of castigating the system, the administrators and finally athletes and coaches after each Olympics had become second habit.

The first decade of the 21st century has changed all that. India will now go to London in July-August 2012 with a realistic chance of seven-eight Olympic medals. We have a number of world champions in shooting, serious medal aspirants in boxing and wrestling, a budding world champion in badminton, ageless performers in tennis and an outside chance of a medal in athletics, archery and swimming.

Indian Olympic sport has undergone a fundamental transformation in the years 2001-2010 . Ranked second in the Common wealth Games and an unparalleled medal haul at Guangzhou where India won medals in a enormous 14 disciplines demonstrates a simple truth Indians aren't overawed by the world stage anymore.If Olympic sport was the surprise package, Indian cricket consolidated its hold at the top on expected lines. Off the field the shift of world cricket's nerve centre to the sub-continent is now complete.

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Kalmadi claims he has nothing to hide after raid on homes

Suresh Kalmadi, the chairman of the Delhi 2010 Common wealth Games Organising Committee, has claimed that he does not fear what investigators might have found when they raided his homes last week because he has nothing to hide.A team of seven policeman from the Central Bureau of Investigation raided homes of Kalmadi in New Delhi and the western city of Pune as part of the on-going inquiry surrounding supposed corruption at the Common wealth Games.

"I'm not angry, nor hurt," said Kalmadi."I'm happy that they came and collected all the documents."It has been supposed that some documents connecting are missing but Kalmadi claimed that they were with another investigating agency."I had guests from early morning," said Kalmadi."CBI teams also went to my house in Pune and my brother's house in Mumbai. "We cooperated with the agency fully."I am responsible for only my budget...which was only three to four per cent of the total Common wealth Games budget."We have nothing to hide."

Following the raid CBI questioned three personal staff members of Kalmadi for five hours in connection with the recovery of a "broken CD" and a letter allegedly trying to blackmail him.The broken CD is to be sent to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory for a forensic test to retrieve information from it, the CBI revealed."We have found a badly damaged CD broken into three pieces," said a CBI spokesman. "Efforts are on to recover saved data. "It would be sent for forensic examination."The CD allegedly claims responsive information about Kalmadi and the sender of the letter threatened to make it public unless they received a payment to keep quiet.

Bowls prodigy teams with star

A Common wealth Games lawn bowls silver medallist and a 12-year-old genius from Bomaderry will team up in the Summerland Pairs contest at the Ballina Bowling Club opening today.Brett Wilkie, 36, is fresh from his 2010 Commonwealth Games success and 12-year-old Dylan Skinner arrives in Ballina with the tribute of being the youngest player to be named in the NSW Under-18 squad.Both have their sights set on a win in the pairs now that other bowls commitments have ruled them out of the Summerland Singles at Ballina next weekend.

Wilkie is excited about pairing up for the first time with a lad 24 years his junior.“I have high expectations. We have met once before and spoken a few times over the phone,” Wilkie said.“We have the same support and he asked me if I would pair up with Dylan.“It was an offer too good to refuse.“When I was his age I valued playing with older players.“The experience and skills that I picked up along the way have been invaluable.“We haven’t played together before so we’ll meet up and work out a bit of a game plan before play.”

Dylan is also fired-up and ready to go.“I can’t wait to get out there and have a roll,” Dylan said.“I started bowling when I was six.“I am very devoted – I try to practise every day.”Dylan took out his club singles and pairs titles as well as the zone championship and was selected in the NSW original open team this year.He and Wilkie expect plenty of competition on the green today with more than 200 bowlers coming from across Australia for a slice of the $20,000 prizemoney.Sydney bowlers Ray Pearse and Ben McCall will be among Wilkie and Dylan’s biggest rivals.

Ghosal's Asiad bronze highlight of Indian squash

In a year that witnessed two sporting spectacles in the Common wealth Games and Asian Games, Indian squash had some hits as well as misses with the country's highest-ranked performer Saurav Ghosal winning the second Asiad bronze medal of his career in Guangzhou.The 2006 Doha Asian Games bronze medallist waged a grim battle against top-seed Mohammad Azlan Iskandar of Malaysia in the semifinals of the men's singles squash occasion before losing the match in four games and settling for bronze.Indian men's and women's teams also settled for bronze medals in the team event of the quadrennial event after losing to Pakistan and Malaysia correspondingly in the semifinals.

The Indian men's team comprising Ghosal, Siddharth Suchde and Harinder Pal Sandhu lost 0-2 to top-seed and arch-rivals Pakistan while the trio of Joshna Chinappa, Anaka Alankamony and Dipika Pallikal went down to imaginary Malaysia with an identical scoreline in the women's event. India could not win a medal in the women's singles event as Chennai girls Pallikal and Chinappa fought their hearts out but eventually ran out of steam against top-ranked Malaysians in the quarterfinals to bow out of the individual contest. In the Common wealth Games here in October, Indian racqueters once again failed to break the jinx of not having won any medal ever since the opening of the sport in the quadrennial event in 1998.

The notable omission of former India number one Ritwik Bhattacharya from the final squad made the task a lot harder for the Indian contingent in both singles and doubles event where the field comprised of England, Malaysia and Australia, considered to be conventional powerhouses in the sport.India's hopes of winning its first medal also received a severe blow when country's top female player Pallikal pulled out of the women's and mixed doubles events due to mild fever which she had developed before the start of the October 3-14 occasion.Pallikal, world ranked 29th, was to partner her Chennai team-mate Chinappa in the women's doubles and Ghosal in the mixed doubles event.

Crucial CWG documents go missing

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), inquiring Common wealth Games-related irregularities and corruption cases, has not been able to get hold of crucial files which seem to have simply gone lost from the Organizing Committee office. Files linking to two cases registered by CBI with regard to the Queen's Baton Relay and the timing, scoring results (TSR) contract have gone missing and despite the agency's repeated requests, papers linking to contractual obligations and authorizations have not been made available.

The issue cropped up at a meeting called by OC chairperson Suresh Kalmadi this week which was ostensibly aimed at countering the impression that he or secretary general Lalit Bhanot were obstructing CBI. CBI chief A P Singh had written to cabinet secretary K M Chandrasekhar requesting that Kalmadi and Bhanot be removed from the Organizing Committee.Kalmadi has also issued a circular directing senior officials to fully help with investigating agencies.

But if Kalmadi's intention was to clear the air, a senior official pointed out that files relating to QBR were simply unavailable and it had not been possible to agree to CBI's requests in this regard. He is understood to have sharp out that the matter was dealt with by arrested former OC officials T S Darbari and Sanjay Mohindroo.A discussion on the subject was brushed aside but the hint the official dropped was clear enough. Both the former OC officials arrested by the CBI were seen to be close to Kalmadi and it is felt that some in the OC had a clue about how exactly the controversial firm of AM Cars and AM Films was contracted or had details of the authorisation.

Rehan&Sardar the only Asians named in All-Stars team

Pakistani forward Rehan Butt and Indian defender Sardar Singh are the only two Asian players named in the 2010 World All-Stars team last Saturday. It was on the same day that the 30-year-old Rehan made his debut in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) for Sapura in a Premier Division match in opposition to Armed Forces Airod at the Tun Razak Stadium here.Rehan, who did not score in match, which Sapura won 7-2, said that it was an honour to be named a part of the World All-Stars side.“It is a big inspiration for my hockey career,” said Rehan, who hails from Lahore.“It has been a great year for me as I scored one of the goals in Pakistan’s 2-0 win over Malaysia in the final of the Guangzhou Asian Games (last month).

The win also gave us automatic qualification for the 2012 London Olympics, which could be my last task for Pakistan.”Rehan has played in two World Cups (2006, 2010) and two Olympics (2004, 2008), three Asian Games (2002, 2006, 2010) as well as three Common wealth Games (2002, 2006, 2010). He has a scored a total of 149 goals in 357 international outings.And the mean scoring machine will be out to fire on all cylinders to help Sapura win honours in the MHL.Rehan added that playing in the Malaysian league had been on his mind for quite some time and he was happy that it had become a reality

“I did not score in the first match and I hope to start scoring from the next match against (defending league champions) KLHC (Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club) on Dec 31,” he said.“It will be a tough match as KLHC have seven internationals and they will certainly go all out for a win after having lost in the Charity Shield match (0-2) to Tenaga Nasional (the defending overall champions) last week.”Rehan said that he has fond recollections of Malaysia as he scored nine goals in seven matches to claim the best player award in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh in 2008.The MHL is the second foreign stint for Rehan, who played for Laren HC in the Dutch League in 2008.

Thrilling Silver Ferns gold recognized

The New Zealand Olympic Committee has awarded the Silver Ferns the Lonsdale Cup for 2010.The Lonsdale Cup is the New Zealand Olympic Committee's most important award and goes to the sportsperson or team that has made the most wonderful contribution to an Olympic or Commonwealth Sport each year.The Silver Ferns were named this year's recipient after their double extra time win in opposition to arch-rivals Australia in the final occasion of the 2010 Common wealth Games.New Zealand Olympic Committee President Mike Stanley was delighted to make the announcement today.

"The Silver Ferns performance at Delhi brought to life all that is good about sport," he said."Their composure under pressure, their teamwork, their sheer joy and their ability to unite our nation was outstanding. The team went from a series loss against Australia earlier in the year to putting on one of the most unforgettable performances in New Zealand sporting history. It really struck a chord. "Netball New Zealand Chief Executive Raelene Castle said the Silver Ferns were honoured to be awarded the honored Lonsdale Cup.

"We are really proud of the team's gold medal winning performance and for the Ferns to have their names etched alongside the earlier winners of the Lonsdale Cup certainly caps off a great year for Netball New Zealand" she said.The Silver Ferns are now preparing for a three Test series in early January against England in the United Kingdom.The Silver Ferns protected their gold award title at Delhi 2010 and have had consecutive podium finishes at the Common wealth Games since netball first featured on the programme in 1998.Murray Halberg was the first recipient of the Lonsdale Cup in 1961.

Year of Scams:2010

Corruption has become the word of the year for Indians in 2010 as the country witnessed a series of huge scams that made headlines nearly throughout the year. It is the time of the year when pundits look for a theme that unites the year and, as far as India is concerned, 2010 was, more than anything else, a year of scams.The previous year, 2009, was overshadowed by the elections and 2008 by the terror attacks in Mumbai.But this year, which will end in two weeks, has been marked by disclosures of corruption in, among other things, the organizing of the Common wealth Games; the allotment in Mumbai of flats in an apartment building meant for war heroes and war widows to politicians and senior defence officers

There have been other scams indeed, Mint’s political bureau insists there is or has been one in every state in the country and a large one for almost every month of the year as well, ensuring that newspapers, magazines, and television channels were never at a loss for a amazing subject through the year. Ironically, one of these, linking indirectly to the allotment of telecom licences, came back to bite the media late in the year, when it was revealed that several worthies from the profession had been indiscreet at best and dishonest at worst in conversations with a powerful lobbyist. There used to be a time when frauds related to companies, banks and stock markets used to come to light in April, May or June, the first quarter of the financial year for most Indian companies.

The assumption was that any financial sleight of hand in the previous year was bound to show up when the numbers were being checked before the results were announced.There is no clear reason why 2010 turned out the way it was, although there is a cynical point of view that things have always been the same. It is only that judicial and media activism and an internecine political battle between two parties have served to emphasize these scams, goes this hypothesis. Mint’s Capital Calculus column has a more possible theory and also believes that this year could mark the beginning of the change everyone wants to see. That may well be the case.

Saina makes 2010 a year to memorize for Indian badminton

Saina Nehwal nonstop her giant strides, breaking through the 'Great Wall of China' with five international titles to become the world number two as Indian badminton rode on her success to rise in outline in a highly successful 2010. After a highly promising last year during which she won the Indonesian title, Saina proved once again why she is the brightest star in Indian badminton as she went several steps ahead this year.The Hyderabadi became the first female Indian shuttler to win three back-to-back titles when she clinched the Indian Open Grand Prix Gold, Singapore Super Series and defended the Indonesian Open in June. But the icing on the cake came in October when the 20-year-old won the Common wealth Games gold medal at the Sri Fort Complex.

She didn't stop there and her insatiable hunger for success guided her to a third Super Series title when she won the Hong Kong Open last month to wipe out the dissatisfaction of losing in the quarterfinals of the Asian Games. Twin honours at the national level added to her aura as she was conferred with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Padma Shri awards."It has been nothing less than a dream year for me because even though I played in just five super series events out of 12 Super Series, I won three of them and it is a great feeling.Common wealth Games and Asian Games were main this year and I won the gold in Delhi, which was also a memorable moment. I also received the Padma Shri and Khel Ratna award.

What else can a player wish for," said Saina. National coach and her mentor Pullela Gopichand also said that it has been a remarkable year for Saina. "I has been a remarkable year for Saina. She has been playing like a winner and won back-to-back tournaments. She missed many Super Series events or else she could have been number one by this year end but that is not the priority, winning more tournaments is. Saina has been managing pressure pretty well," Gopichand said. If Saina nonstop her giant strides, this year had a new star in men's singles.Even as established names such as Chetan Anand and Arvind Bhat struggled with injuries and poor form, P Kashyap increased his fan base when he won the Common wealth Games bronze medal.

Sardara, Rani in hockey All Star squads

Only two Indians, defender Sardara Singh and forward Rani Rampal, figure in the International Hockey Federation's (FIH) All Star men and women's teams for 2010. Sardara Singh, who began his profession as a forward and then shifted to the midfield before converting to a sweeper back, has had an wonderful career and is among the 18 players in the men's All-Star team.Rani Rampal made her mark at the 2010 Women's World Cup where she emerged as the top field goal scorer. Her eye-catching performances have put her alongside legends such as Luciana Aymar of Argentina, the ace striker.

Rampal was adjudged Player of the Tournament at the World Cup held in Argentina.The two groups feature a digit of famous icons such as five-time nominees Luciana Aymar, Australian skipper Jamie Dwyer and Dutch drag flick specialist Teun de Nooijer. These three players have also together a staggering 14 FIH Player of the Year titles over the past decade. Argentina's Carlos Retegui and Danny Kerry of England have been named coaches of the women's All Stars list while Kookaburra's boss Ric Charlesworth and Markus Weise of Germany have made the men's list.

Retegui had a near flawless 12 months, guiding Argentina's women team to success at the World Cup and Champions Trophy, while Kerry's England team took great strides forward by winning a trio of bronze medals at the Champions Trophy, World Cup and Common wealth Games tournaments. Charlesworth's addition is no surprise considering his amazing training achievements this year, overseeing Australian triumphs at the Champions Trophy, World Cup and the Common wealth Games.

Matthew caps off year in style

Nick Matthew is thinking new career targets after becoming the first Englishman to pick up the World Open title in Saudi Arabia.The Sheffield squash superstar created history in the desert last Friday by defeating fellow Yorkshireman James Willstrop in a pulsating final.After 74 minutes of thrilling action, Matthew edged it 8-11, 11-6, 11-2, 11-3.It capped a dazzling 2010 for Matthew, who landed double gold at the Common wealth Games in Delhi two months ago. The 30-year-old also went on a remarkable 35-match, six-month unbeaten run.

He will now come again to the top of the world rankings for the second time after Egypt’s Ramy Ashour was forced to retire in the second round in the World Open.“It is beyond my wildest dreams,” said Matthew. “I set three targets for the start of the year: world champion, world No 1 and Commonwealth champion.“I thought one out of three would be satisfying, two I would be delighted. But three? I think I will now have to sit down and set some new goals.”Matthew, who dropped just one game en way to the title, heaped praise on Willstrop, who was seeded sixth for the tournament.

The right-hander, who secured his 16th win in 24 matches over Willstrop and his eighth in a row, said: “He came out with a dissimilar game plan and played fantastically well for a game and a half.“But I managed to match him squash wise after that. To do that against the likes of James and Amr Shabana is hard to do so that was one of the most pleasing aspects.”Leeds-based Willstrop had entered the final on the back of two hard-fought victories against fellow Englishmen Darly Selby and Peter Barker.

Pickett delivers second Aussie silver

Gold Coast youngster Leiston Pickett has completed off her first year of international competition in style, winning silver in the women’s 50m breaststroke on night two of finals at the 2010 FINA World Short Course Championships in Dubai.Pickett, who won silver at the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine and gold at the Common wealth Games in Delhi, has made a habit of standing on the podium in 2010 and has gained in confidence in what has been a breakout year for the 18-year-old.

Trailing the field at the 25m turn, the tyro came home powerfully over the last 25m to finish just 0.01 of a second behind the USA’s Rebecca Soni (29.83) in a new personal best time of 29.84, to take the silver medal with Sarah Katsoulis finishing 8th in 30.34.“I finished school last year and just missed out on the worlds team, and I came into this year not really expecting much just really looking at 2012, but I’m really happy with the small steps that I’m making along the way,” said Pickett.

“I thought I was doing the 100m here but actually wasn’t, but I have ramped up my 100m breaststroke training and I definitely want to make that team for London in the 100”,“It has been a great experience doing a lot of international racing this year and confidently I can carry that through to the World Championship trials next year.”In the women’s 50m butterfly semi finals Felicity Galvez swam an all-time personal best of 25.20 to set a new championship record only to see Therese Alshammar from Sweden better it by 0.01 of a second in the second semi.

Bayelsa captures Timipre’s crown

Bayelsa State has again emerged the overall champions of the 2nd edition of the Governor Timipre Sylva Annual Wrestling Classics which finished at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State Capital.Bayelsa posted a total of 91 points in the men’s free_style, 86 points in women category and 70 points in Greco Roman Class to emerge tops in all the three categories of the sport.Ondo State came second in the Greco Roman with 58 points, while Delta State completed third with 52 points.

For free style, it was Delta second with 47 points and Edeze Club, third with 35 points, while Imo State and Ondo State came second and third in the women category with 65 points and 54 points respectively.Declaring the week-long tournament closed, the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State,Timipre Sylva who was ably represented by the state Commissioner for Sports, Okpukiri Jones_Ere, urged other State Governors to support Wrestling Sport which he said has always been Nigeria’s medal hope in all international events like the Olympics,Common wealth Games, all Africa Games and even world championships.

He recalled Nigeria’s exploit through wrestling at the just finished Common wealth Games in New Delhi, India.The governor however commended the event co_ordinator, Dr. Daniel Igah, (MON), Olympic and Common wealth Games Gold Medallist and World Champion for organizing a hitch free championship which ran from December 10 – 15, 2010 and promised that the third version would be bigger and better.

Lowe looking to get back on track

Jemma Lowe is strong-minded to get back on course for the London Olympics as she starts her competition today at the World Short-Course Championships as one of only two British swimmers in Dubai.The 20-year-old has been joined by European and Commonwealth 400 metres individual medley champion Hannah Miley after the late finish to the season following the Common wealth Games meant there was effectively no short-course campaign for the senior GB team.Lowe is competing in the 100m and 200m butterfly in Dubai and commences her meet today with the heats of the latter but it is the long term she is looking to.

The Hartlepool-born swimmer was sixth in the 100m fly at the 2008 Olympics but the times she recorded in Beijing remain her best.During that time five-time 2010 European medallist Fran Halsall has eclipsed Lowe while Ellen Gandy has become double British record holder.After a testing two-and-a-half years, Lowe is strong-minded to reassert herself, especially given London is less than two years away.She told Press Association Sport: "It is very frustrating because every day you put so much hard work in, you just want to know it is going to pay off.

"I went in 2008 and I know what it's like and I definitely want to go again."It was an amazing experience and London is going to be absolutely brilliant so I just have to keep working hard and confidently perform well enough to qualify."The Common wealth Games in Delhi represented a breakthrough for the Wales swimmer as she secured her first individual international long-course medal when she was third in the 100m butterfly.It came after she suffered dissatisfaction at the European Championships in Budapest and Lowe admits it was of some significance.

Miley: Pressure off for Dubai

Hannah Miley has insisted the pressure is off at this week’s World Short Course Championships but that will not stop the Scot employing her normal scattergun approach in Dubai. Having topped the 400m individual combination platform at both the European Championships and Common wealth Games in 2010, it’s that event where Miley’s best hopes for gold lie.As is habitually the case however, Miley certainly will not be putting all her eggs in one basket and will take part in numerous other races including the 200m medley and the 400m freestyle to name but a few.

Indeed Miley has developed a reputation as the Duracell Bunny of the British squad – and it is a good job with only Jemma Lowe joining her in a two-strong Great Britain team in the Middle East.Miley has form when it comes to short course and secured European 400m medley gold last year in Istanbul, while in 2008 she picked up world silver in home waters at the Manchester Aquatics Centre.Largely due to the timing of the Common wealth Games, Great Britain have placed this week’s occasion low down their list of priorities with the next summer’s World Long Course Championships in Shanghai taking precedence.

That means that, while she only has one compatriot to share the burden of expectation with in Dubai, Miley will not be pushing the panic button if she does not add to her bulging 2010 medal haul.“Being the favourite does come with an added pressure and it’s something I’m not fully used to,” said Miley.“But then it does help you to thrive in the moment and getting a medal of any colour is a fantastic achievement.“There’s not really any added pressure just because there are two of us going. I think this is just an opportunity for me to see where I’m at.

Saina's magic year

Saina Nehwal has caught the imagination of the masses, classes, and the media of cricket-crazy India. Her phenomenal rise to superstardom over the past year is a result of meticulous planning, methodical training, and great spirit. Her gold-winning match in the Common wealth Games capped India's finest show in the multi-discipline event. The brilliant fightback in the final, cheered on by an unparalleled audience, not only improved her stock; it raised the profile of badminton across the country. On that day, the nation discovered a young, inspiring performer in a sport so familiar to its growing middle-class.

The title helped defeat the disappointment of her unexpected quarterfinal-defeat in the Asian Games last month. The golden week in Hong Kong helped Saina settle a few scores: she avenged the loss in the Asian Games to Hong Kong's Yip Pui Yin and went on to get the measure of Wang Shixian, the Chinese woman who won the Asiad gold, and also handed out the Indian star her worst defeat of the year in the World championship quarterfinals in Paris in August 2010. Strangely, on her way to taking five major titles, including three in the prestigious Super Series this year, Saina was not required to beat a single higher-ranked player.

The year 2010, which witnessed Saina's rise to the second spot in world rankings before slipping a few rungs, has established her as a serious contender for the country's first-ever Olympic or World challenge medal in badminton. Although the 20-year-old needs to improve her head-to-head record against the leading Chinese player, her growing self-belief indicates that she is ready to realise her ambition of being the world's best. Saina is now showing on court the world-beating qualities that Prakash Padukone revealed in the 1981 World Cup final against Han Jian. She and her coach, Gopi Chand, know only too well that in the coming year, they will have to contend with a better-prepared Chinese brigade.

Golden comeback

As a teenager, Leon Baptiste was a productive runner before a succession of injuries halted his rapid his rise but now, seven years since his first international crown, he is back on top of the winners' podium. The 25-year-old 200m specialist underwent knee surgery in 2005 and had failed to return to the limelight of which he had become accustomed to following a series of promising years in his youth.The Enfield and Haringey sprinter - who is also a former semi-professional footballer - has an impressive athletic CV. He was a four-time national 200m champion and two-time 100m winner during his time in the Under-20 and Under-23 ranks, as well as highlighting his European junior 100m and 4x100m relay victories in 2003 - his finest year until now.

However it wasn't until this year that Baptiste - who is based in Loughborough - finally fulfilled his bright potential with his first senior international championship medal when enormously claiming the Common wealth Games 200m title in Delhi back in October.Indeed, his first major crown since his continental victory seven years previous was all the more sweet, for Baptiste managed to bounce back from the disappointment of missing Team GB selection for this summer's European Championships in Barcelona to register his three fastest times of the year in India.

Speeding to a 20.43 lifetime-best in the semi-final, he moved to 16th on the British all-time lists and third on the national rankings for the season - an achievement which was rewarded with the promotion to 'podium-level' funding by UK Athletics, meaning Baptiste could begin life as a full-time athlete this winter."My season finished on a high, setting a new personal best on my way to winning the Common wealth Games 200m title," Baptiste explained."This did not come without struggle, most obviously not being chosen for a place in the individual 200m at the European Championships in July."

Lassila named AIS Athlete of the Year

Minister for Sport Mark Arbib tonight announced Olympic aerial skiing champion Lydia Lassila as the 2010 Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Athlete of the Year at a gala presentation in Canberra.Lassila was selected from an impressive list of finalists for the prize, including Australian Common wealth Games stars Alicia Coutts (swimming), Matthew Cowdrey (Paralympic swimming), Jamie Dwyer (hockey), Anna Meares (cycling) and world No.1 Laser sailor Tom Slingsby.Lassila’s award caps off an outstanding year which saw her make a memorable presentation for Australia to win gold at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada.

Senator Arbib said Lassila’s performance was inspiring for other sportspeople and the wider Australian community.“Lydia has proven herself to be a world class champion both on and off the ski slopes,” Senator Arbib said.“Her gold medal presentation in Vancouver captured the hearts of all Australians and stands as one of the truly great moments in Australian sport.“The AIS continues to be an international leader, working with sports to develop elite talent like Lydia who shine on some of the world’s toughest sporting stages.”

Lassila becomes the 27th winner of the Institute’s top award, joining some of Australia’s best athletes.Previous winners contain walker Kerry Saxby-Junna (1986-89), swimming greats Michael Klim (1998 and 1999) and Petria Thomas (2001 and 2002) and gymnast Philippe Rizzo (2001 and 2006).The AIS Junior Athlete of the Year was awarded to outstanding 19-year-old gymnast Lauren Mitchell.In October Mitchell collected four gold medals at the Common wealth Games in Delhi and created history by becoming the first Australian female gymnast to win a world title, claiming gold on floor in Rotterdam, Netherlands afterward that month.

Win for Mitchell

World champion Lauren Mitchell signed off her breakthrough 2010 gymnastics season fittingly with a gold medal at the important Toyota Cup event in Japan.In a high quality beam contest featuring four finalists from the world championships, the 19-year-old from Perth nailed her routine to score 15.200 and edge out out world championship all-around gold medallist Aliya Mustafina of Russia. Skipping the floor event in which she won the world title in Rotterdam in November, Mitchell focussed on beam, the apparatus on which she completed an unsuccessful fourth at the worlds.

After finishing fourth on the horizontal bars on Saturday behind China's world championships all-around silver medallist Jiang Yuyuan, Mitchell determined to give it everything in the final routine of what has quickly become the most successful year for any Australian gymnast in history."I'm relieved that I was able to perform well and that I completed the year really well," Mitchell said from Tokyo."Today was like a worlds final so I went into the routine with the mind set to put it all out there and see what result that would bring.

It is very fulfilling to end the year with a win."Since her Common wealth Games gold medal haul in Delhi, Mitchell has criss-crossed the globe, travelling to Europe and back to Australia before finish her season in Japan.The previous year consisted of a frustrating run of injuries including a broken hand, sprained ankle and an adductor strain.In other results in Tokyo, world championships bronze medallist Prashanth Sellathurai of NSW fell during his pommel horse routine to finish in 6th place (13.750).

Opua School pedals to first prize

Children at a Bay of Islands school have won a nationwide competition for inventing a new sport combining their two favourite pastimes - playing hockey and riding unicycles. The new sport of unicycle hockey was made-up by the kids of Opua School's Room 4 for a Newspapers in Education video challenge. The competition called on children nationwide to make a news clip reporting on a new sport for the 2010 Common wealth Games held in India.The entries were judged on the sport - including its flow, originality, appeal and teamwork - and the quality of the videography.Tom Heapy, 10, who starred as the news anchor, said the win had stunned him.

"I was very surprised, and quite thrilled." Inventing the sport had been simple. "We like unicycling and hockey - so we determined to combine them."Classmate Rebecca Gmuer Hornell, 10, listed some of the reasons for Opua's victory. "We had a really good camera guy and Mrs Shortland is a really good director - and we practised our script for a whole weekend."The prizes of a video camera and Commonwealth Games bags and clothing were offered by Danyon Loader, an ambassador for the New Zealand Olympic Committee and one of the greatest swimmers New Zealand has produced.

His medal haul includes two golds from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.In a speech to the children before announcing they had won the top prize, Loader said he had been "useless" when he started swimming. It was a training camp at the age of 12, then dedicating part of every day to swimming for 10 years that had made him a champion.Becky Hare, of Newspapers in Education, said Opua's sport stood out for being "completely outside the box" and for its teamwork and participation. Those who could not ride a unicycle, for example, were still required as "pole people" to help teammates up on to their wheels.The video was also interesting, well written and well thought out, she said.

Ten-medal target for 2012 Games

The Sports Ministry has set an determined target of 10 medals for India at the 2012 London Olympics. The push for more comes after inspiring performances by India at the New Delhi Common wealth Games followed by the Guangzhou Asian Games. India pocketed three medals at the 2008 Beijing Games - one gold medal and two bronze medals - which was a breakthrough after winning just one medal apiece in the previous three Olympics.

The plan is called Project 2012. Although the medal projection is based more on calculations and statistics, Injeti Srinivas, joint secretary in the Sports Ministry feels it is not beyond reach. "The target of ten medals is not too over ambitious. It's within the reach of the Indian players. All we need is to carry good work of Delhi and Guangzhou competitions forward," he told.Under the plan, as many as 28 National Sports Federations whose disciplines feature in the London games have been directed to choose medal scenario, and furnish details to the ministry by January 31. The focus is on individual medal prospects.says Srinivas.

The ministry also wants to spot medal prospects from nine other disciplines which are not in its priority list. It has also been encouraged by the surprising Asian Games medals in swimming and gymnastics through Virdhawal Khade and Ashish Kumar respectively. "Our main focus for the London games are individual events. However, hockey will be an exception," says Srinivas. India achieving their best-ever medal tally at both Delhi and Guangzhou has unbreakable the feeling in the sports ministry that time has come to broadbase beyond hockey and shooting. The ministry believes Olympic medals are within reach in archery, boxing, shooting, wrestling and athletics.

Court dismisses bail request of former CWG officials

A Delhi court today dismissed the bail applications of two former Common wealth Games Organising Committee officials and extended their judicial custody by 14 days.Special CBI judge A S Yadav declined to release the accused T S Darbari and M Jayachandran, close aides of OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi, while allowing the CBI’s plea that the charges against them were serious and the probe was still at the initial stage.The court meanwhile, sent Darbari, Jayachandran and one more accused Sanjay Mahendroo till judicial custody Decemeber 24.

Darbari and Mahendroo were arrested on November 15.Jaychandran is in custody since November 21. Mahendroo has so far not filed the bail application.During the arguments CBI had opposed their bail request opposing that the matter was at an initial stage of investigation and the probe agency was yet to record the statements of witnesses. “We are against the bail plea of the accused in view of the fact that the probe is still at the initial stage and considering the gravity of the offences. We are yet to record the statement of witnesses, including oral testimony,” the CBI prosecutor had told Special Judge A S Yadav.

The prosecutor was replying to the bail arguments of the counsel of Darbari and Jayachandran, who are facing charges of causing losses to the state exchequer in award of agreement to the tune of Rs 1.55 crore with regard to Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) in London before the mega event.Both the accused had sought their release on bail stating that they were no longer necessary for investigation. They claimed innocence in the case contending that they on their own had not finalised any contract and it was the decision of a high-powered committee.

Hall of fame selects 2010 inductees

The first black woman athlete to represent Canada in international contest has been chosen to be inducted into the Burnaby Sports Hall of Fame.Barbara Howard, 90-years young, represented Canada at the 1938 British Empire and Common wealth Games in Sydney, Australia as a 17-year-old sprinter and although not coming home with a medal in the 100 yards, she did return with two relay medals, a silver and a bronze.

She had entered the Games as the fastest woman runner in the Empire after recording an 11.2 second time in the 100 at the Western BEG trials. She finished fifth in the BEG final. The voyage to reach Sydney took one month aboard a ship.Joining Howard in the athlete category is hockey player Karl Alzner and boxer Des Archer.The Burnaby Sport's Hall of Fame induction dinner is being held Thursday, Feb. 17, at the Burnaby Firefighters Hall at Metrotown.

Alzner, now playing in the NHL with the Washington Capitals, won two World Junior hockey championship gold medals with Team Canada, the last as team captain. He was also named the Western Hockey League's top player and Canadian Hockey League top defenceman in 2008.Alzner was drafted in the first round, fifth overall, by the Capitals in 2007.Archer was one of the finest boxers ever formed in Canada.

Dewsbury’s Sarah Holt is prepared to take on the world

SARAH HOLT brought down the curtain on her 2010 season in imposing style by rubbing shoulders with the likes of Dai Greene and Jenny Meadows at UKA Awards Dinner in Loughborough.Dewsbury hammer thrower Holt was a guest at the season finale dinner as part of the UKA Heroes Project, sponsored by Original basis, where she received a final cheque of £500 from Meadows. The 23-year-old endured a puzzled season,winning selection for the Common wealth Games and the European Team Championships, but injury and illness meant she failed to do herself justice on the international stage.

However, after sharing supper with the cream of UK Athletics and her injury nightmare seemingly on the wane, Holt believes she has all the ingredients needed to do the GB vest proud at next year’s World Championships.“The awards night is good fun and it’s nice to see all the different athletes and the big names,” said Holt.“I am getting more used to seeing the GB stars because I have been on teams with them now but it is still a really good night.“Last year was a dissatisfaction for me because I had a few different injury problems and it was really frustrating.

I am still rehabbing now and trying to get back to full fitness, which is frustrating, but it is going well and I’m feeling confident about next year.“Most important to me is to stay fit for next period and then try and get myself to the World Championships in South Korea.”And world 800m bronze medallist Meadows – who added European Championships bronze to her rapidly growing trophy cabinet in 2010 – believes Holt will be a revelation in 2011.“All the guys on the scheme seem to be massively improving each year now and I am sure they will have a great year in 2011,” said Meadows, an ambassador for the UKA Heroes initiative.

Sportsperson of the Year: Alison Shanks

New Zealand's track cyclists came away from the Commonwealth Games in Delhi happy but also slightly dissatisfied.They had equalled their best Games medal haul of nine, from Auckland 20 years ago, but they'd have liked a more golden hue to their collection.The solitary gold medal - to go with five silver and three bronze - came after five days of racing, from Alison Shanks.New Zealand's recent history in the women's 3000m individual pursuit is a proud one.Sarah Ulmer won back-to-back Common wealth Games golds in 1998 and 2002 before her ultimate victory in the Olympic final in Athens in 2004, during which she broke her own world record.Shanks is her successor in the gut-busting 12-lap sprint.

At the Melbourne Games four years ago, she finished a tick off the bronze and repeated that at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Winning the world title last year pointed to good things for the 2012 Games in London. However her event was subsequently scrubbed from the programme by the International Cycling Union, so Shanks, who turns 28 on Monday, will now turn to the team pursuit to chase her Olympic ambitions.Blessed with a range of sporting gifts, Shanks represented Otago in netball and basketball. She also attained two degrees from that city's university.

But her focus is cycling. In Delhi Shanks beat Northern Ireland's Wendy Houvenaghel to win the gold.Shanks began slowly - trailing Houvenaghel by .7s one-third through the final - but turned on the heat in the second kilometre and won impressively, in 3:30.875, fractionally outside the Games record and 1.26s faster than Houvenaghel.It seemed a repeat of the world final last year in Poland when Shanks again had Houvenaghel's measure.Australia won 12 golds in 14 events in Delhi. Shanks and Malaysia's Josiah Ng were the only riders to break the green and gold grip.

Agala eager for top award at gala

For six years volleyball has played second fiddle to track and field during the Safaricom Sports Personality of the Year Awards gala.The script may still be the same and only the characters may have changed, but this time round it is Prackcides Agala who stands out as the lone wolf in a pack of coronated athletes as they fight on who will be named the 2010 Female Safaricom Sports Personality of the Year.Track and field have reigned supreme in all the previous contests and the panel of judges’ decision to have the four runners in the top five finalists attest to the dominance of athletics during the 2010 season.

The only exception is Kenya Prisons and national women’s volleyball team captain, Agala. Her role as the captain of the two most successful teams in Kenya and Africa is unmatched.“She is unique. She represents a team sport while the other four are from individual sports. As a leader, she has a lot on her shoulders and that is a bonus for her. But it is an open contest and the judges will do their best to name the best of the season,” said Simon Chebon, the Soya panel of judges secretary.Agala will next week captain Prisons to the World Club Championships in Doha and that performance will be viewed in the 2011 awards.

In May this year, she led the wardresses to victory in the African Volleyball Club Championships in Mauritius which capable them for the World Club Championship in Qatar from December 15 to 22.“That is quite an enviable credit capable of giving the globe-trotting athletes a run for their money in their quest to wrest the women’s award,” said Chebon.Agala must be alive to the hazard she faces as she comes up against a star-studded field that includes Olympic 1,500m champion Nancy Jebet Lagat, World 5,000m champion Vivian Cheruiyot, Milka Chemos and Irene Cherotich Kosgei, the Common wealth Games marathon champion.

Top Kiwi athletes to battle in Christchurch

Leading Kiwi 1500m runners Nick Willis and Nikki Hamblin, medalists at the Delhi Commonwealth Games this year, will look to the international track meet in Christchurch on February 26 to kick-start their 2011 campaigns.Willis, second in the feature 800m here in 2010, will headline the men's 1500m in an attempt to secure the 3min 35sec world championships qualifying time early in the season.Willis said he had had a great deal of interest from international runners looking to battle in the race.

Hamblin emerged on the national scene in 2009, winning the 800m at the International Track Meet before going on to represent New Zealand at the world championships in Berlin. She then burst to importance in 2010 with a national record in the 1500m and her pair of silver medals in the 800m and 1500m in Delhi.She will race the imperial equivalent of the distance, the mile, in an attempt on the 23-year-old New Zealand record of 4min 30.5sec held by Aucklander Christine Pfitzinger.

Hamblin said she planned to race sparsely over the coming New Zealand domestic season.World junior representative Hannah Newbould, of Canterbury, has also confirmed she will be attempting the 27-year old New Zealand under-19 national record held by Sue Bruce.Newbould ran her best 1500m of 4.14:54 last July at the Victoria track standard in Canada and was the first Kiwi home at the 2010 international track meet 1500m in third place.

Somdev eager to train northeast players

India's tennis sensation Somdev Devvarman, who won two gold medals at Asian Games last month, is eager to train promising players from the northeast, his parents say."As he belongs to Tripura, he would be very happy if he gets the scope to teach budding and young players from the northeastern states, where there is no lack of talented and skilled players," Somdev's father Pravanjan Kishore Devvarman, accompanied by his family members, said."Efforts are on to build sufficient infrastructure in Tripura for the coaching and practice of the tennis players. If a good tennis court can be built, it would be of big help for Somdev to give training to the youngsters."

The Tripura government, Tripura Tennis Association and other sports bodies are now busy trying to give Somdev, 25, a hero's welcome when he returns home on Dec 26."Somdev is now in Texas in the US for a month's practice with another world tennis star, Andy Roddick, as his practice partner. He will come to India later this month to participate in the Chennai Open Tennis beginning Jan 3," Devvarman, a retired income tax official, said.Somdev was born in Assam capital Guwahati on Feb 13, 1985, when his father was posted there."When I was posted in Chennai, Somdev was a student of Class 3 and was playing almost all major sports. Cricket was his favourite game.

Coach Abbas Ali and Gopal Rao turned him to tennis," said Devvarman, accompanied by his wife Ranjana and brother Mukut.Tripura Tennis Association secretary Sujit Roy said: "The All India Tennis Association is also eager to develop a tennis court in Agartala for Somdev and other northeast tennis players."He won the men's single gold in the 2010 Common wealth Games, becoming the first to do so as tennis made its debut in this edition.Replying to Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and Industry minister Jitendra Chowdhury's congratulatory messages, Somdev said: "I am proud of being an Indian and a Tripuri. I am thrilled by the love and support of the people of Tripura."

Elite runners in marathon

A UNIQUE showdown is on the cards in both the men's and women's Full Marathon categories of the opening Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore (SCMS) 2010 on Sunday.This comes after race organiser Singapore Sports Council (SSC), announced the finalised entry list of world-class elite athletes which includes the likes of recent race winners and up-and-coming runners who will be competing in the event for the first time.

Fresh from becoming the first Kenyan woman to win the gold medal in the women's marathon at the recent Common wealth Games in New Delhi in 2:34:32, Irene Jerotich Kosgei is the favourite to lead the charge in the women's open group, said SSC in a press statement.A two-time winner of the Nairobi Marathon (2006 and 2009), Kosgei enjoyed a stunning season in 2009 where she reached the podium in every marathon she competed in.

She will however, face strong opposition from Russian veteran Lyubov Morgunova, the 2008 Rotterdam Marathon winner who was placed second in the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2009. Morgunova represented her native country in the marathon at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Compatriot Margarita Plaksina, who claimed the 2010 Russian Marathon title and finished second at the 2010 Houston Marathon, is also a prospect for the women's title.

Pollution levels moderate during CWG

The air pollution level was within the allowable limits most of the time during the Common wealth Games (CWG) but levels of particulate matter fluctuated during peak traffic hours, says a study of the ministry of earth sciences released Thursday. Preliminary scientific evaluation of data generated from air forecasting model as well as from the dense network of pollution monitoring stations in Delhi by a team of scientists found that the air quality levels were not as bad as speculated by some quarters prior to the Games period.

The scientists studied the air pollution levels during the months September-October. The Games were held Oct 3-14.'It is seen that the air quality in Delhi from the month of September until now has hardly touched the 'very poor' category,' said Gufran Beig, scientist from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, who led the team.'The overall assessment of air quality during September-October 2010 revealed that majority of gaseous pollutants were mainly in good range, sometime crossing moderate ranges in some venues during peak traffic hours,' Beig told IANS.

The air quality related to particulate matters (PM-2.5 and PM-10) was variable between moderate to poor range at all the 11 monitoring sites in the capital.After the Games, the overall air quality slightly deteriorated, especially for particulate matters (in particular PM10) but mainly remained in the poor category.Beig attributed the poor levels of particulate matter to windblown dust from paved and unpaved roads and production activities.

Diamond and Vella shoot for Australia Cup finishing glory

The 2010 Australian shooting term will come to a conclusion this weekend (Friday 3 December-Sunday 5 December) as the Australia Cup Shotgun Final is contested in Melbourne.Australia’s 2012 London Olympic hopefuls will be in action across all categories as they aim to end the year on a high note ahead of 2011.Olympic quotas will be offered throughout the World Cup events in 2011, as well as the 2011 World Shotgun Championships in September and the Oceania Championships in November.

Michael Diamond (NSW) and Adam Vella (VIC) will enter the men’s single trap as the favourites this weekend, with both shooters comfortably ranked as first and second in Australia. Rising junior stars Michael McNabb (NSW) and Russell McCloy (NSW) will be keen to test themselves against Vella and Diamond however, while Nico Pedulla (VIC) will look to repeat his victory from the Australia Cup event in Darwin.

Laetisha Scanlan (VIC), who set a new Australian record in the women’s trap at the same Australia Cup event, before partnering Stacy Roiall (VIC) to win gold in the women’s trap pairs at the Common wealth Games 2010, will face a tough challenge against Roiall and 2004 Athens Olympic gold medallist Suzy Balogh (NSW).20-year-old Scanlan will also face stiff contest from 2010 World Junior Championships silver medallist Catherine Skinner (VIC).

CWG owes millions to Australian companies

In a major embarrassment for the government, fourteen Australian companies have claimed that they have still not been paid for their services rendered in the Commonwealth games 2010. These companies include contractors, equipment suppliers, vendors and consultants. The Australian contractors have claimed that they are yet to get payments between 10-20 million dollars for the different services performed during the opening and closing ceremonies. Intervening in the matter, The Australian government has asked the Govt of India to ensure that the companies are paid their dues.

The Australian Government has raised with the Indian Government and the Organizing Committee the situation of a number of Australian companies which have not been paid for different services performed for the games. We have asked for early finalization of these accounts in accordance with the relevant contracts,” an Australian High Commission Spokesperson said.The Australian contractors have also complained that 100 goods containers of equipments are still stuck in New Delhi, including audio, lighting and staging equipments because the OC hasn’t been able to complete the paperwork regarding these equipments.

Delhi court today dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of TS Darbari, a former official of the Common wealth Games organizing committee, in an another corruption case relating to procurement of video screens from a London-based firm last year.“The matter involves crores of rupees and in view of the serious allegations made against the accused, I do not find it suitable to grant him preventative bail. His application is dismissed,” special CBI judge AS Yadav said.Darbari, who was arrested by the CBI in one of the two cases registered against him and other two OC officials Sanjay Mahendroo and M Jayachandran, has moved the anticipatory bail application to thwart his possible re-arrest in another case.

Ashwini given warm welcome at Udupi

Golden girl Ashwini Chidananda Akkunje Shetty of Kundapura, who won gold medals for India in the recently finished Asian Games in China and Commonwealth Games in Delhi earlier, was given a warm welcome at Udupi on Tuesday, November 30.She was warmly welcomed at the Kinnimulki tower by District Administration and sport fans including various organizations. As she arrived, people gathered in huge numbers and such scene was the first time in the history of Udupi.

Deputy Commissioiner Hemalatha P. welcomed Ashwini with flower garlands. Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat, President of Nagara Sabhe Kiran Kumar, Bharathi Chandrashekar, Jilla Panchayath President Gladis Almeida and many other dignitaries and huge crowd of sports fans were present.Ashwini was taken in a procession in a special vehicle up to the service bust station area and sent off to her home village. Fans eagerly took autographs from her. With the gathering of enormous crowd the traffic movement was blocked for some time.

Her parents Chidananda Shetty and Yashoda Shetty were also with her. Golden girl Ashwini who participated in Common wealth Games and Asian Games recently and won gold medals in 400 mts hurdles as well as 4x400 mts relay events.Speaking to media persons after her arrival to the home town after almost a year, Ashwini said that her success was the result of her sacrifice. “These results are a product of my sacrifices. I will now practice harder and look to present well in the Olympics”, Ashwini revealed.

CBI expected to register more cases against CWG OC officials

Already booked in two different cases relating to Common wealth Games , the Suresh Kalmadi- headed Organising Committee is expected to face more heat from the CBI which may file another FIR in connection with the multi-crore overlays contracts.The CBI, which booked Kalmadi's two top aides Lalit Bhanot and V K Verma for criminal conspiracy and cheating in link with alleged irregularities in a Rs 107 crore contract with a Swiss time-keeping company yesterday, is looking into more complaints of alleged corruption in the run up to the Games, official sources said today.

The complaints include those sent by the Central Vigilance Commission(CVC), the sources said.The next FIR in connection with the Games, which will be the fourth, could be in the multi-crore overlays contracts awarded by the OC at allegedly very high rates, they said.The overlays contracts are already under the scanner of both the Income Tax department and the Enforcement Directorate . The total value of the overlays contracts is estimated to be about Rs 800 crore.The IT department has since conducted two rounds of national level searches in connection with the overlays contracts.

The CBI earlier had registered two FIRs in connection with the Queen's Baton Relay held in London last year and had arrested three CWG officials. Earler, in reply to an RTI query, the CVC had said it had found supposed irregularities in the sale of VIP passes, installation of fitness equipment and appointment of placement broker and manipulation of tenders floated by different government, civic and construction agencies here.Bhanot, OC Secretary General, and Verma, Director General, were charged under sections 120B IPC (criminal conspiracy), 420 IPC (cheating) and various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act besides Swizerland based firm Swiss Timing Ltd and other unknown persons, a CBI spokesperson said.