Common Wealth Games 2010

How to choose the online sports equipment

2012-01-20T12:29:00.000+05:30

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Apart from using it as an athlete it also benefits us to stay fit so it is a complete need that you acquire for the beat quality equipment. Discus is one such leading game and when it comes to Discus all that matters is the speediness, power and techniques are the chief phases to be enclosed as it engages various course of action which are to be well thought-out a lot than others.

When it comes to sports equipment all that matters is the quality because they stand long way to go also helps us in several ways to make us fit. Tracknfieldgear.com is one such online sporting goods store which will help you find the best greater equipment. When you look out for sporting goods all that you must look is the standard of the product.

The advantage of most sports equipment will be declared by the target market of each product. As the gear planned at the greater part of those taking part in sports will be off-the-rack in order to be able to sell them at an inexpensive price, you will normally find that you have to make some compromises. But in terms of these sports equipment, you will find that the superior the class of equipment you use, the better the development in your performance will be. There may be several online sports equipment store but, the need for your quality centered sporting stuffs will end only when you reach tracknfieldgear.

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Get better your physical strength by using punching bags

2012-01-09T12:34:00.001+05:30

Boxing is one among the toughest game you could ever come across at any given day. It is a very risky sport but quite amazing as well, as it is played with a lot of spirit and dedication.

Canvas Boxing Heavybag

A professional boxer is not ready within a single day. So if you aspire to become a professional boxer, you need to train very hard right from your childhood itself. It takes years of hard work, practice, will power and determination for you to reach the highest of levels, particularly in boxing. You have to get ready yourself both mentally as well as physically. You also need to practice harder with the suitable boxing equipment like boxing gloves, boxing mitts, boxing shoes etc., in order to safeguard your health. Boxing safety accessories are a must at any cost when it comes to boxing. You should never ignore them, and failing to do so could lay severe cost or catastrophes.

Punching bags are a very significant boxing accessory that plays an essential role in a professional boxer’s practice sessions. It is great boxing equipment for fitness strength training. They are not only used in boxer’s training sessions but also in gyms for working out, carrying out physical exercises etc. They are mainly used in boxing sessions for improving the boxer’s agility, stamina, power, punching technique and strength. Typically boxers and other athletes move around these punching bags swiftly, punching them as hard as possible, ducking rebounds etc which allows them to build their physical strength and stamina. How these punching bags develop your strength and technique is further elaborated below.

Hitting the bags stands out to be as one of the best physical exercise anyone could ever get. It helps you to get better your strength, stamina and agility as you move quickly around the bag punching it for several hours.
The same method mentioned above allows you to build your endurance and fitness as you duck, sway, move away and block the swinging bag for several hours to build your reflexes and endurance.
Punching these bags using numerous techniques or methods allows you to work out on different muscles of your body. Maintaining the same for several hours will wear you out and help you develop as an athlete.
The boxing attires used during training enhance your training as they are quite comfortable and suitable. They help you to focus and think well which shapes up your mind.
Training in rounds helps to build your strength and agility better instead of going at it in one shot.
While punching, use your entire body weight and not just your fists. This leads to overall workout of your body.
Using your legs correctly, jumping and moving swiftly warms up your muscles and act quickly as well. This surely adds to your agility and reflective nature.
This bag could be punched using any technique which will help you to work out very different muscles of your body. This helps trainers to teach boxers different combos and punching techniques.

Purchase boxing gears from ambersports.com

2011-12-14T17:28:00.004+05:30

For ages now sports complete us as human beings. It is not just another entertainment factor. It teaches a lot regarding how to lead one's life and battle life itself as it is. It incorporates tremendous character aspects and sportsmanship within us. It also helps us to understand and persist along with groups and strive harder at what we need to achieve for our own self satisfaction. Life as such is pretty complicated as it poses several obstacles in front of us every single day. These obstacles are not that really hard to jump over. However, one needs to face it boldly and give it their best shot and not lose ways just because they attained failure.

Boxing is a tremendous sport in that aspect. It is one among the toughest sport one can pursue. But it is certainly a great sport for the kind of individuals it has developed over the years. Boxing teaches a lot about patience and taking in hard blows. Life has always been the case of survival of the fittest and it lays several punches on everyone's faces. You need to take it, stand up again and fight with your heart. It helps you to mature as a human being. Of course, every time you step into that ring, you are bound to lose and get injured badly. But victories and the way you fought your losing games are the ones that are bound to stick in your memory for years to come.

All said and done, boxing is a very dangerous sport. It requires years of training and patience to perfect or master the art of boxing. You need to dedicate yourself entirely and be determined to make the final cut. Do not ever give up. At the same time, hard work alone isn't enough. You need to do smart work. Being brave and courageous doesn't mean you fight valiantly without protective gears to prove how strong you are. You need to adhere to safety precautions and take good care of yourself while you fight. Train harder on boxing equipments to master the way you move around quickly, block blows and deliver powerful blows as well. In the end, though the sport demands tremendous physical strength, it is a mind game after all. You need to believe in yourself and stay focused and confident.

Protective gear is very essential for you to safeguard yourself. You are bound to get hurt and without these precautionary steps, your injuries might turn out to be career threatening and even death under worst case scenarios. Also you need quality boxing gear in order to fight professionally. The better the sports equipments, the better will your training be and more safeguarded you are while you take blows. If you are planning to buy them online, www.ambersports.com is the way to go. You have high quality boxing gloves, boxing apparels, training equipments, boxing shoes etc. You name it, you've got it. Also you are liable to get special discounts on bulk orders and then again you always have off season sales for your convenience.

Coutts grabs Australian title

2011-04-04T14:55:00.002+05:30

Five-time Common wealth Games gold medallist Alicia Coutts, whose mum lives at Birkdale, has booked her ticket in the Australian swimming team with exciting wins in the 100m butterfly and 200m individual medley at Australian Swimming Championships in Sydney on the weekend.

Coutts, who used to train in Cleveland and was the 2010 Telstra Swimmer of the Year, beat Olympic champion Stephanie Rice (2.10.41) by 0.35 of a second in the final of the 200 entity medley in a time of 2.10.06.With just 0.04 of a second sorting out the pair at the final turn, Coutts, who has never won an Australian title before, said she had to dig deep to steal the win from Rice, last year's Australian title holder and the former world record holder in the event.

"I could see her there and I thought 'you're in front, just hang on, just hang on' and I dug deep," Coutts said."Having won five Common wealth gold medals you have to step up, and I think I've done that."I just really wanted to get my first national title, so I was really happy."Rice said she was dissatisfied in her show, but happy to make the Australian team. Coutts has now booked her ticket to the 14th FINA World Championships in Shanghai next month.

To See World Cup Images at ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 - Photos

Rice shouldering spotlight at Aussie champs

2011-04-02T11:09:00.001+05:30

The 2011 Australian Swimming Championships began this morning, with three-time Olympic gold medalist Stephanie Rice as the main draw. Rice, who has struggled since winning the 200m IM, 400m IM and 4x200m freestyle relay in Beijing, had shoulder surgery last year after chronic pain enforced her out of the 2010 Common wealth Games in August. She arrived at the Sydney Aquatic Center fitter than she has been since the 2008 Olympics, and she is ready to prove it here.

In the first session of beginning heats, Rice competed in the 100m butterfly and the 200m IM, qualifying for tonight's semifinals in both. The finals will be Saturday night in Sydney. Australia’s team for the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai will be selected here, with the top two finishers in each event qualified for a spot on the team. But head coach Leigh Nugent has added a twist: a separate list of qualifying times based on the top 12 world rankings.

Swimmers must beat the qualifying times to be named to the team, regardless of finishing in the top two. Nugent established the harsh selection process to support contest, after a 2010 season where Australia didn't have a single swimmer ranked No. 1 in the world for the first time in 20 years.

The other big story in Australian swimming isn't developing here, but in southern Switzerland, where Ian Thorpe is training. The five-time Olympic gold medalist announced his return in February, but Thorpe can't compete until he has finished nine months on the drug-testing roster. That makes him eligible on Nov. 2, and he's expected to make his debut at the World Cup in Singapore Nov. 4-5.

See World Cup Records at ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 Records

Defense Contests Charges Against Smith

2011-03-28T16:53:00.002+05:30

A judge is currently taking into consideration whether former Harvard student Brittany J. Smith can legally be tried for her involvement in the May 2009 Kirkland shooting, despite the non-prosecution agreement she signed in July 2009.

Smith was indicted on six counts—including accessory after the fact of murder, illegal possession of a firearm, and willfully deceptive a grand jury in March 2010. Prosecutors claimed that she had lied to investigators, thereby violating the terms of the non-prosecution agreement they had made with her in replace for her cooperation against the three other defendants in the case.

However, Smith’s attorney has argued that the state does not have grounds to revoke its agreement, and Smith should not be allowed to stand trial. With Smith’s trial date set to begin in less than a month, the question of whether she can be prosecuted in this case has still not been settled by a judge.

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 news

Saina Nehwal is world No.3

2011-03-25T16:35:00.000+05:30

Riding on her Swiss Open victory, ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal has regain the number three place in the latest world ranking. Saina, who missed a couple of tournaments early in the year because of a nagging ligament injury and then suffered early exits from the Korean Open and the All England Championships, serrated up her first title of the season in Switzerland last week.

The 21-year-old now has 69721.2637 points in her kitty and is currently behind Shixian Wang (83506.4) and Yihan Wang (73988.9106) at one and two respectively. The Swiss Open title was her third Grand Prix Gold title win after Chinese Taipei (2008) and the Indian Open (2010). The girl from Hyderabad also won four Super Series finals in Indonesia (twice), Singapore and Hong Kong over the last two years. In men's singles, Commonwealth Games bronze medallist P Kashyap was at the 21st place with 38415.2559 points, while Ajay Jayaram moved to 28th.

Anand Pawar and Arvind Bhat are at 42nd and 45th spot respectively. Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning women's doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa drop one place to 19th spot, while Jwala and V Diju slipped two spots to 18th in mixed doubles. In men's doubles, Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas jumped seven places to be positioned just outside the top 20 bracket at 21st place.

Hadfield stands in for Bellamy in quarter-final

2011-03-23T16:56:00.000+05:30

TORQUAY United's Barbara Bellamy, who slipped under my radar to play her part in the final match of the England ladies' all-conquering run to the Home International title, misses her club's TLH National Top Club quarter-final on Friday afternoon (1pm).An England regular for six years, Bellamy came off the bench for that final day win over Scotland after the national selectors had earlier dropped skip Sian Gordon's number two, Helen Tuohy.

England had a thrashing good win over the Auld Enemy 160-75 and the TLH Top Club Finals in Torquay (Friday to Sunday) will give England indoor semi-finalist Bellamy the opportunity to catch up again with England team-mates and Common wealth Games medal winners Ellen Faulkner (City of Ely) and Sian Gordon (Swale).Bellamy's unavailability for the match on Friday afternoon has forced the selectors at Plainmoor to bring in Carrie Hadfield, and they have put her at lead in the mixed fours under skip Sam Tolchard.

Torquay's opening match is a mouth-watering replay of their 2010 national final with reigning champions Swale. The local favourites will be out for revenge with the ladies' singles berth this time going to former British Isles fours champion and TLH employee Terri Kennard. Kennard faces Amy Banes while Swale's former Torquay star Gordon she beat Bellamy in the singles twelve months ago will contest the fours and play opposite young Ryan Whitlock.

UNE softball kicks off TCCC play this week

2011-03-22T15:30:00.001+05:30

Spring has returned, and with it the start of the University of New England softball season.The Nor’easters, who have played in Florida for their first 10 games of the season, kick off their TCCC schedule on Wednesday at home in a double-header against Western New England College. Expectations are high with the 2011 Nor’easters (5-5), who were rank third in The Common wealth Coast Conference (TCCC) pre-season poll, and return with a mix of youth and experience.

UNE had a successful season for first-year head coach Dan Letellier last year by finishing 25-14, good enough for second place in TCCC take part before being knocked out in the play-in round of the playoffs. The Nor’easters won 10 of their first 13 games of the season, showing their depth by winning despite key injuries to players such as senior first baseman Angie Damon, who led UNE with a .356 batting average on the year.

“I’ve been preaching to them all year, we’re a 19-man roster,” Letellier said last season. “It was just a matter of getting some people a few rest, getting people at-bats, because you never know when you’ll need them.”Letellier returns for his second season, and will have a new assistant coach in Courtney Wallace. She is aa Bonny Eagle High School graduate who recently completed her softball career at Pine Manor College in Chestnut Hill, Mass. Wallace completed her career as the all-time hits leader for the Gators and was a four-time selection on the Great North Atlantic Conference (GNAC) team as a catcher.

Whitten's winning ways bringing in big bucks

2011-03-21T16:32:00.001+05:30

Which comes first, the elite Olympic athlete or the comprehensive, well-funded program that produces the elite athlete? For the Canadian Cycling Association, the answer is: Tara Whitten. It’s also Zach Bell. Canada heads into this week's UCI World Track Cycling Championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, led by the present male and female World Cup champions in the Omnium, a two day event comprise six track racing disciplines. For the 30-year-old Whitten, 2010 was a breakout year. The Edmonton resident won gold medals in the Omnium and the point’s race at the World Track Cycling Championships in Denmark in March, for starters.

Then she collected four medals, including gold in the women's road time trial, at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, in October. Bell, a world championship silver medallist in 2009, won a Common wealth bronze in the Scratch race. This season, Whitten and Bell, 28, both completed on the stage in the three World Cup competition they entered, with a gold medal by Whitten in her gruelling specialty at the Beijing event. Which was noteworthy, if only as a point of contrast with the state of Canada's track cycling transportation at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, where Canada won no cycling medals.

So strapped was Team Canada at those Olympics, that when Martin Gilbert's bike was damaged, he had to borrow one from the Danish team to compete with Bell in the Madison event. At the Athens Games in 2004, Edmonton's Lori-Ann Muenzer won a gold medal in the women's sprint with wheels rented from the Australian and French teams. But, when you win, Canadian funding flows, particularly when you win medals at the Olympic Games. One year out from the 2012 Summer Games in London, Canada is, pardon the expression, right on track, led by Whitten and Bell, a converted wrestler from Watson Lake, Yukon.

Canary Wharf Squash contenders ready for battle

2011-03-18T15:24:00.001+05:30

Top class squash returns to the East Wintergarden next week when some of the best players in the world battle it out to win the ISS Canary Wharf Squash Classic. This year's tournament promises to be one of the best, with World Champion Nick Matthew hot favourite to retain the title he won in style last year. He faces hard contest, not least from fellow-Yorkshireman James Willstrop, a three-time Wharf winner, as well as former world number one Gregory Gaultier of France.

Tournament co-organizer, and former World Champion, Peter Nicol is excited about the quality of the players on show, particularly the currently domineering Matthew - who also won the Common wealth Games title last year, and is ranked number one in the world. Nicol said: "He's a very impressive young man. Nick's got the physical attributes. He's tall, strong, and he's learned how to play squash better and better. He's a extraordinary guy and a amazing squash player.

"Unless he goes victorious all year, he can't top this year. He'll be looking to do what he's done every year and improve and learn as he goes forward and stay on top."It won't be easy for Matthew, with abundance of other top players out to steal the crown he won for the first time last year. One of those is three-time Wharf winner James Willstrop,"James is hugely talented," said Nicol."On his day he can beat anyone, although he really struggles against Nick Matthew. He'll be looking to get through to play Nick, but there are a few obstacles on the way.

"The guy who's coming back from injury and was world number one for a short time is Greg Gaultier. You can't write him off, and after a long break he's getting back into it. He'll be physically good, spiritually fresh, and he's always difficult to beat. Then there's Peter Barker, who has improved a lot and made a few semi-finals in major events. It's his home venue, although he hasn't always done mainly well here. He made the semis last year, and has a lot of capacity. If he believes in himself he can take the next step to get into finals and then win them.

Old guards miss place for Games

2011-03-17T17:02:00.001+05:30

The national amateur boxing side coach Pimentel Hurtado has named 19 new faces in his 20-man provisional squad for the All-Africa Games planned for Maputo, Mozambique in September. The Cuban coach, now in his second year in charge of the team, has retained only one boxer from the team that competed in the 2010 Common wealth Games in New Delhi, India. For the first time in more than 40 years, Tanzania’s envoys to the Commonwealth Games failed to win a single medal.

It was the country’s most unsatisfactory outing in the Games since boxer Titus Simba won the country's first silver in 1970. Unveiling the team yesterday, Hurtado named Suleiman Kidunda as the only pugilist old guard in his squad. Kidunda is said to have attracted a panel of coaches named by the Boxing Federation of Tanzania (BFT) to assess the pugilists after some impressive performance during the National Championship in Dar es Salaam newly.

Hurtado said indiscipline was a major factor behind the failure of most boxers who represented the country in the 2010 Games to earn a recall to the team."It’s nearly one and a half years since I was unveiled as the national boxing team coach. I have been with the team since September 2009. “A few days before heading to India for the Common wealth Games, I noted that some of my boxers were unmanageable. Thus the BFT I and agreed on picking only the boxers who are disciplined for the All Africa Games and other international competitions,” he disclosed.

Daniel Repacholi named Cessnock City Sportpserson of the Year

2011-03-16T16:54:00.000+05:30

Delhi Common wealth Games bronze medal winner Daniel Repacholi was named Cessnock City Sportsperson of the Year 2010 at the gala presentation night held at Cessnock Supporters Club last Friday night. Daniel, who won his medal for pistol shooting, had received two monthly nominations that led to his win from a hot field of seven senior finalists. Daniel was in Melbourne on Monday morning when The Advertiser contacted him to pass on the good news. He said he was thrilled to take out the award, adding that it was a great honour.

Daniel was in training for the Sydney World Cup shoot that will start this weekend. The event is a qualifier for the 2012 London Olympics. The 28-year-old fitter by trade will be up against some of the best shooters in the world. Cessnock Archery Club member Matthew McDougall was named the junior spot winner after one more planetary year of performances, winning the 3D Archery Association National Championships along with the State title. He had been named shooter of the year for the fifth year in succession.

The all-conquering East Cessnock Bowling Club No.1 Pennant team was a popular winner of the teams section after its second win in three years in the prestigious State event.Cessnock’s Sam Clough was named administrator of the year. He had been named as one of three national lawn bowls selectors. He had been a NSW Chairman of selectors. He had a high profile in deciding on Australia’s team to contest the Common wealth Games in Delhi.

Special recognition awards were made to Kurri Speedway for its efforts in bringing the sport back to the area, Cessnock Netball Association that celebrated 40 years in the city and Weston Bears, one of the highest performing clubs in northern Soccer. A big crowd of 125 nominees, their family and friends attended the function where guest speaker was Australian trampoline champion Ty Swadling.

Court grants bail to a firm's official

2011-03-15T17:09:00.001+05:30

The Delhi High Court Tuesday granted bail to Binu Nanu, an official of a private firm who was held in legal custody for his taking part in the Rs.600-crore overlays agreement for the Common wealth Games last year. Justice Ajit Bharihoke allowed the bail application of Nanu on a personal bond of Rs.50,000 along with two sureties of like amount. He was arrested Jan 18.'Binu Nanu is granted bail as he has finished 57 days in judicial custody,' the judge said. The court asked Nanu to submit his passport to the trial court and to join the investigation whenever the Central Bureau of Investigation called him. It also told him not to try and tamper with evidence.

The court said he was released on bail because CBI officials submitted that they were not filing a charge sheet against him within the stipulated 60 days from the date of his arrest. The CBI officials said they did not require Nanu's custody anymore because they had already investigated into the matter and questioned his employees, said Justice Bharihoke.Nanu, the director of event management company GL Events-Meroform, said in the bail plea that he was remanded to judicial custody by a lower court on the finish of his four-day custodial questioning by the CBI.

The CBI Jan 12 searched the offices and residences of Nanu and many others after it registered a case in the alleged overlays scam.'Nanu's wife Roopana is also one of his links in the business,' the agency said.The case, the fourth in connection with the Games, was registered against former Games Organising Committee director general V.K. Verma. The CBI alleged that Verma and others enter into a 'criminal conspiracy' with managing directors and directors of private companies in the award of contracts for overlays for different venues of the Games at 'exorbitant rates'.

The overlays contracts are also under the scanner of the Income Tax department and the Enforcement Directorate. The overlays incorporated supply of tents, pre-fabricated units, portable toilets, containers, security fences, furniture, public display LED boards, floor finishes, material handling equipment, gensets, cabling, air-conditioners, lighting, civil construction and exercise equipment.

Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games on track

2011-03-14T15:44:00.000+05:30

Director Gordon Arthur has responded to claims that Glasgow 2014 Common wealth Games has missed deadlines by insisting arrangements are "on track."Recent press reports suggested that milestones in the build-up to the event had not been met."We've not missed 50 milestones, we have re-phased," said Arthur."We are from the organising committee's planning point of view and the Games partners' delivery of infrastructure programme, in a very good place."

Arthur insisted the organising committee was keen to ensure that public money was being spent responsibly and at the right time."We've got huge sustain from the media right across Scotland," he told BBC Radio Scotland's Sport Nation programme."One is always going to get the irregular articles where people take a different stance."A year ago, when we put together our business plan, we set out mainly based on the guidance that we get from the knowledge transfer system that's run by the Common wealth Games Federation.

"Remember, we were only about 20 people in the organising committee a year ago. We set out a programme of work, but most of what we've been doing during the year, as well as recruiting people, is understanding better the task that we've got to do and a huge amount of that understanding and knowledge move takes you to re-phasing your work."So we haven't missed milestones, we've re-phased a lot of our work and the reason we do that is to make sure we don't recruit people any earlier than we need to, or spend money any earlier than we need to.

DDA builds giant steel sundial near elevated road

2011-03-11T17:23:00.000+05:30

Months following the Common wealth Games 2010 got over, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is still completing Games projects. The latest is the beautification of the stretch under the Barapullah elevated road. The land agency, which had elaborate plans to build cycle tracks, urban plazas, walking trail entire with wooden street furniture along the 4.6km stretch, is starting off with a sundial. The giant sundial is being constructed in the space where the elevated Barapullah starts with a slip road on the Sarai Kale Khan ISBT side. Scheduled to be completed by next month, the sundial will be the focal point for the entry to the important road.

Said DDA spokesperson Neemo Dhar, "The work has already started. We hope that the construction will be completed by mid-April." The sundial, to be made of steel, has been planned by experts from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi. Added Dhar, "Since the sundial is a giant structure, we needed to bring in experts from outside who would build an instrument similar to that at Jantar Mantar." The steel dial, measuring 40 feet or 12 metres, is to come up on many pillars that will support the structure. DDA officials claim it's the first steel sundial in the country, with others being made of brick and mortar.

The experts from IIT were specially called in to construct the foundation on which such a huge structure would come up, added officials. Interestingly, the decoration of the stretch, along with the sundial, was originally scheduled as a Games project. The land agency had even set aside Rs 25 crore as funds, and had planned to divide the scenery based on the demography of the colonies the elevated road would be going through. The sundial was to come up as a reflection of India's heritage.

Saina geared up for All England Championship

2011-03-08T14:12:00.001+05:30

After making it to the last-four phase in 2010, Saina Nehwal aims to go all the way this year in the All England Badminton Championships. With 5 titles leading up to the first shuttle event, India's brightest badminton star desires to make history by winning the coveted title, a feat no other Indian woman has accomplished..

Prakash Padukone, hailed as the best ever Indian shuttler, has won the World Cup, the Common wealth gold and many more titles. He was even the world No. 1, but the 55-year-old is always remembered for winning the All England title. So is Saina's coach Pullela Gopichand, who is the only other Indian to achieve this amazing honour. Such is the trend for this Super Series premier, which kicks off on Tuesday that sports buffs describe it as the 'Wimbledon of badminton'.

Though she refuses to accept it, Saina has got the best possible draw with Wang Yihan being the only Chinese player in her half. The news that Yihan had injured her knee tendon would only bolster Saina's chances. The cross-border rivals are likely to meet in the quarters. If Wang opts out and with defending champion Tine Baun of Denmark pulling out due to a heel injury, Saina's first big test could come only in the final.

But the world No. 5 says getting past the first two rounds will be quite tough. Saina will open against Seung Hee Bae of Korea and is likely to face Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei in the second round. "Bae is very athletic on court. She picks up everything and makes it tough for the opponents. Ying is a classic player with all kinds of strokes. On paper it may appear easy, but for me both are very strong opponents. I have to produce my best to beat them," Saina said.

Kalmadi says ready to face any probe

2011-03-07T15:39:00.001+05:30

Former Common wealth Games Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi, who is under fire for supposed financial mismanagement in the conduct of the 2010 Common wealth Games, asserting that he had not done anything wrong on Saturday said he is ready to face any investigation."I am ready to face every investigation. I have not done anything wrong and I am not running from anybody. The CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) went through everything in my house, but could find nothing," said Kalmadi.

A team from the Central Bureau of Investigation raided two bank lockers of Kalmadi in Pune on Tuesday as part of the agency's current investigate into the supposed financial irregularities in the 2010 games contracts. The team from Delhi searched the lockers in several Pune banks. The CBI sealed the lockers in December last year. The CBI had visited branches of the ICICI and Saraswat banks in Karvenagar in December 2010, when officials raided Kalmadi's homes and offices in Pune and Delhi.

Kalmadi, who has been in the eye of the storm ever since the conduct of the games, received a fresh blow on February 11, when the CBI arrested Shekhar Mukund Deorukhkar from Pune. Deorukhkar has been accused of hiding facts about transactions and contract papers, which were eventually recovered during the raids conducted by the CBI. Deorukhkar is the fourth person to have been arrested in connection with the CWG scams. The CBI had earlier arrested T S Darbari, Sanjay Mohindroo and M Jayachandran, all of whom are now out on bail.

See all Cricket World Cup 2011 news at Legends of Sports

Devvarman draws India level with Serbia

2011-03-05T14:13:00.001+05:30

Asian and Common wealth Games champion Somdev Devvarman overcome Janko Tipsarevic to pull India back level at 1-1 with defending title holders Serbia on the opening day of their Davis Cup World Group first round tie. Viktor Troicki, who sealed his country's triumph against France in December's 2010 final in Belgrade, put Serbia into the lead in Friday's first singles on the clay at Novi Sad. He raced into a two set lead over Rohan Bopanna, who then clawed his way back into argument to set up a cliffhanger which the Serb finally won 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 3-6, 6-3.

"It was a tough match. I came back after 2-0 and I am disappointed I couldn't manage to win," Bopanna told reporters. Devvarman then levelled the tie with a 3-0 defeat of Tipsarevic, although the Serb player dug deep, leading 4-1 in each of the opening two sets with the Indian winning 7-5, 7-5, 7-6 (7/3)."I feel for Janko because he probably didn’t have enough time to adjust from Delray Beach, where it was a lot warmer and that much easier to serve," Devvarman said."I served well, kept fighting and always believed I could win the match," he added.

Serbia, missing their best player, world number three and Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, will be represented by their strongest pairing of Ilija Bozoljac and Nenad Zimonjic in Saturday's doubles where they come up against Bopanna and Devvarman. India suffered a major blow to their chances after Grand Slam-winning doubles pair Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi were required to withdraw due to injuries. But Devvarman was sure his team still had a chance to defeat the Serbs."We definitely believe now we can win this tie and we will go out there to give it our best shot," he said.

See all Cricket World Cup 2011 news at Legends of Sports

England hockey star nets another bronze

2011-03-02T17:17:00.000+05:30

Medals are always good, but Dunmow’s top hockey player is eager to modify the colour of them as she looks forward to a year with her club and the England squad. Following on from her Common wealth Games and World Cup efforts in 2010 Chloe Rogers scored yet another bronze medal – this time with her club side Leicester in the European Club Champions Trophy. Rogers had a superb three-day tournament in Abbeville, France, and completed as the championship’s top scorer with 11 strikes in five games.

But it was not enough for a much-fancied Leicester team that failed to finish in the top two which ruled them out of promotion for next season. Rogers said: “It was a good weekend and it was nice to win a team medal and also pick up an individual award for top goal scorer which doesn’t happen very often so it was pleasing to have a good contest and managed to put the ball in the net a few times.“At the same time we are slightly disappointed as we were aiming for top two positions to try and get promoted to the top division.

“It would be nice to have a dissimilar colour medal at some point, Bronze seems to be my colour with the three we won last summer with England. But I would rather have a bronze medal than no medal at all.”“Hopefully this will change with the two tournaments we have this summer with England, and Champions Trophy again where we won Bronze in 2010 and the European cup where we hope to challenge Holland and Germany who always seem to make the final.”

Wheel chance to win

2011-03-01T14:19:00.000+05:30

Sporting glory runs through cycling champion Maddison Hammond’s veins. The son of Common wealth Games cycling gold medallist, Gary Hammond was named Whittlesea’s Senior Sports Star of the Year for 2010 after a stellar season on the track. The 18-year-old said that while the 2012 London Olympic Games was not on the cards due to injury, he was looking at events beyond that. He said he felt ready to compete international titles.

“It’s (cycling) been around me all my life,” he said, The 18-year-old aced the Australian Track Championships in Adelaide last March, finishing first in the sprint, 1km time trial, Keirin and team sprint. He made inroads on the international circuit after claiming the Champion of Champions title in Adelaide. He followed that show with silver and two bronze medal-winning rides at the UCI Junior Track World Championships in Italy last August. Hammond rides for the Northcote Cycling Club and plans to focus on endurance events such as the omnium and madison.

But he’ll have to get over a stress crack first.“I had a bulging disc and stress fracture in my back from functioning out in the gym,” he said.“It happened 12 months ago but I only found out what it was four months ago.”Maddison received a medallion and a $500 gift card from Sports Star sponsor Rebel Sports at last week’s award night. The event was held at Etihad Stadium with Stephen Quartermain as MC.Entertainment was provided by break-dance crew Wickid Force.

Jarrod spears Senior Sports Star award

2011-02-28T15:13:00.000+05:30

AN ASCOT Vale athlete who overcame severe back pain to win Common wealth Games gold has been crowned Moonee Valley’s top local athlete. Jarrod Bannister was named the Leader Senior Sports Star last week for his inspiring gold medal win at the Delhi games in October. Bannister threw 81.71m to secure victory in the men’s javelin final, beating New Zealand’s Stuart Farquhar (78.15m).

Despite carrying a back injury, Banister led throughout the entire six rounds of the final, and had the luxury of being able to pass in his finishing throw. He joined James Achurch (1954) and Alf Mitchell (1962) as the only Australians to win the javelin gold since the Common wealth Games (then known as the British Empire Games) began in 1930.

Bannister ousted a number of talented athletes for the senior Sports Star crown, with nominees coming from swimming, netball, athletics, hockey, table tennis, rowing and indoor cricket. The Leader Sports Stars for Melbourne’s northwest were crowned at Etihad Stadium last Wednesday, an event hosted by Stephen Quartermain with Western Bulldog Daniel Giansiracusa as visitor speaker. Winners received a $500 Rebel Sport voucher and a medal.

Olympian Cochrane to battle at CIS swim championships

2011-02-24T10:08:00.000+05:30

It took a while, but Ryan Cochrane is lastly making his entrance with the University of Victoria swim team. Cochrane, who’s been studying at the school for five years, will suit up for the UVic team on Thursday at the CIS national swimming championships in Calgary. Not that the Victoria native hasn’t made good use of his time: He won the bronze medal in 1,500-metre freestyle at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, two medals at the 2009 world championships in Rome and two gold medals at the 2010 Delhi Common wealth Games.

“With all the travel and training due to the international meets, there hasn’t really been the time or opportunity to battle in the CIS,” said Cochrane, a psychology major.“But now the opportunity presented itself and it feels nice to be able to swim for UVic and be part of the Vikes squad.“It’s going to be a different type of thing with a real team environment.”A break in his international preparation schedule Cochrane’s Common wealth Games performance last fall pre-qualified him for the 2011 world championships this July in Shanghai allowed him to make his first Vikes appearance.

It’s improbable he will be able to again next year, when all the focus will be on preparing for the 2012 London Summer Olympics. Cochrane is one of two Beijing Olympians the Vikes have added for the CIS championships, with Stephanie Horner of Beaconsfield, Que., a move from Auburn University in the NCAA ranks. Another international swimmer being added to the Vikes roster for the CIS nationals is Richard Weinberger of Victoria, who won bronze at the 2010 Pan-Pacific championships in Irvine, Calif.

CBI arrests Lalit Bhanot, VK Verma

2011-02-23T18:07:00.001+05:30

Former Common wealth Games Organising Committee general secretary Lalit Bhanot and former director general VK Verma have been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in relation with irregularities in the Rs 107 crore time-keeping contract awarded to Swiss company Omega for the Games.The Organising Committee got request from two companies, Omega and MS Spain and rates offered by the latter were much lower.

But the Organising Committee chose to go with Omega even though the price quoted by the Swiss company was almost double the price from other bidders.Bhanot was sacked from the Common wealth Games Organising Committee on January 24 2011 after three months of inquiry by the CBI into the economic irregularities in link with the Games held in October 2010.

Both Bhanot and Verma were grilled by CBI officials at the investigating agency's headquarters on Wednesday in link with details relating to the agreement given to the Swiss time-keeping company. Bhanot has been claiming that all the decisions related to the Common wealth Games were taken keeping government officials in the loop. Sources say former Common wealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi is likely to be arrested soon.

CWG report likely to be tabled in Parliament

2011-02-22T10:20:00.000+05:30

The report of the government auditor CAG on the Common wealth Games is likely to be tabled during the second leg of the Budget Session, start in New Delhi on Monday. "Auditors are still in the process of finalizing the CWG report and most likely it would be ready for tabling in April," sources said. While the first part of the Budget session will end on March 16, the second part will be from April 4 to April 21.

The Comptroller and Auditor General had in November last year said that it was conducting a broad-based audit of the overlays involved in the Games and a report would be ready by January. The two-week long Common wealth Games held in New Delhi between October 3-14, 2010, cost Rs 70,000 crore. The Organising Committee (OC) of the Games is in the thick of allegations of corruption, ranging from favoritism in award of various contracts to expensive hire of training gear and inflating costs of building contracts.

CAG is vetting the expenditures incurred on different CWG related projects, sources added. During the course of the audit the CAG had send audit memos to the Organising Committee seeking their reply on the findings. In a communication to the OC in December, the CAG had said that some of the items for the Games were procured at prices higher than the market rates. The OC had vulgar rates of the items contracted by allowing some sellers to form a cartel, which then put in costlier bids, according to the memo.

Further, the auditor in another memo had pointed out that former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor had been paid $ 30,000 for presence 12 meetings of the Common wealth Games Organising Committee and for his consultancy services. Tharoor had rendered the consultancy services between September 2008 and January 2009, before he took charge as a minister. Other agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement Directorate and Central Vigilance Commission are investigating the officials of the OC.

Manmohan orders action on Shunglu Committee report

2011-02-19T09:08:00.000+05:30

Signallng his government's hard stand in tackling corruption, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday referred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) the report of the high Level Shunglu Committee on Host Broadcasting issues connected to the Common wealth Games. After consider the Shunglu Committee report and the report on the matter submitted to him by the Cabinet Secretary, the Prime Minister decided to revert the Director-General Doordarshan Aruna Sharma to her parent cadre, official sources in the Prime Minister's Office said.

Taking note of the findings in the report, Dr. Singh heading for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to seek explanations from the suspended Chief Executive Officer of Prasar Bharati B. S. Lalli and Director-General, Doordarshan on the allegations made against them and recommend an suitable course of action within two weeks. It is likely that the CBI, after examining the report, would look into the option of registering cases against the wrongdoers. The CBI may also conduct further investigations into the allegations of irregularities to gather more proof.

The action from the Prime Minister came within two days of his communication with the editors of television news channels where he asserted that his government was “dead serious” in bringing to book all wrongdoers “regardless of the position they may occupy.”Dr. Singh directed the Ministry to review the claims made by M/s SIS LIVE, jointly with Prasar Bharati and in discussion with their financial advisers to ensure that there is no over-payment. In the event of any over-payment having been made, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has been directed to take suitable action for recovery, after looking for due legal advice

Twin success for Jamieson at long course championships

2011-02-18T10:06:00.000+05:30

Common wealth Games silver medallist Michael Jamieson led the way as the University of Bath completed runners-up at the British Universities and Colleges Sport long course championships. The sports performance student, who trains at British Swimming's British Gas Bath Intensive Training Centre (ITC), completed an inspiring 100m and 200m crawl double at Sheffield at weekend.Jamieson's triumph in the 200m breaststroke the event in which he won silver for Scotland at the Delhi 2010 Common wealth Games earned him the top male performance award.

Jess Dickons, also a sports performance student who trains at the Bath ITC, won the 200m butterfly heading at the championships. There were also runners-up places for Bath ITC swimmer Calum Jarvis in the 100m and 200m crawl, and student squad swimmer Charlie Barnes in the 100m and 200m breaststroke, as well as for the women's 4x100m medley relay quartet. University of Bath performance group swimmer Rachel Bennett was third in the 200m freestyle, as was chemical engineering student and Bath ITC swimmer Andrew Willis in the 200m breaststroke.

The university's 4x100m freestyle and 4x100m medley relay quartets both came third as the team took second place in the overall rankings, with the women finishing second and the men third. That was a big improvement on the BUCS short course championships in November when the university were third overall, third in the men's occasion and fifth in the women’s. Head coach Mark Skimming said: "It was a great performance."Everybody pulled together and supported each other marvellously. Everyone stood up and gave a great effort."

Wizcraft promises spectacular World Cup opening

2011-02-17T18:20:00.000+05:30

It will be the most amazing World Cup ceremony ever, promises Sabbas Joseph of the occasion management firm Wizcraft Entertainment, which is riding high on the victory of the grand shows put up during the 2010 Common wealth Games."The entire presentation is going to be very grand. We aim to present a show of passion for cricket in the subcontinent through the opening ceremony, and it will be the biggest opening ceremony for a World Cup ever," Wizcraft director Joseph told IANS on the phone from Dhaka. The ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 opening ceremony is scheduled for Thursday at Dhaka's Bangabandhu National Stadium.

A two-hour, 15 minute-long ceremony, it will see around 3,500 performers putting up a colorful depiction of Indian, Sri Lankan, and Bangladeshi culture, total with song sequences by well-known artists like Canadian rocker Bryan Adams, Indian singer Sonu Nigam and Bangladesh-based Runa Laila, said Joseph. The function will begin with a welcome song by Bangladeshi composer Ibrar Tipu, followed by Sonu Nigam's performance of his self-composed English song "Rise for glory" that will welcome the captains of all the participating teams in the stadium.

"Sonu's song captures the spirit of all sportsmen and inspires them to rise through the stars and perform well," said Joseph. Thereafter, a performance representing the ICC-UN AIDS partnership will be put up by children, who will form the iconic red ribbon. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will then inaugurate the World Cup 2011 around a "very different" cricket-based performance, details of which Joseph refused to divulge. The inaugural ceremony will pave the way for a special presentation around this year's three co-hosts - India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Sport in South Africa

2011-02-16T08:11:00.000+05:30

It was certainly a good year for the guys from KwaZulu-Natal, with the Sharks overcoming the Bulls in a Currie Cup semi-final that stimulated a plethora of bad bee jokes, as the match was late by a swarm of the insects. The men in black and white then overcame Western Province in the final. The Bulls, though, continued to control the local rugby scene, being named Team of the Year by SA Rugby and winning hearts by taking another Super 14 title, this time at the Orlando stadium in Soweto.

The year dished up other sporting surprises. Who would have thought that Kevin Pietersen, after bad-mouthing KZN cricket, would be seen smiling broadly in Dolphins colours? Congrats to the Dolphins administrators for hire bygones be just that and to Kevin Pietersen for creating a good feeling and assisting the youngsters in that team. Congratulations to him for his splendid double-century in the just concluded Ashes Test Match. Undoubtedly, though, centre stage belonged to the FIFA World Cup. The build-up to the event seemed to tournament being played in our coldest month.

Even our notorious criminals seemed to take a break from their nefarious ways, as we went about earning an unparalleled nine out of ten from Sepp Blatter on our FIFA . Our successful staging has apparently inspired FIFA to trust Russia and Qatar with this honour in the future. “We go to new lands,” said Blatter, as conventional countries such as England and the US were passed over. Any review of the 2010 sporting year will obviously be subject by the FIFA experience; the parade, the concert, the opening fixture, Bafana, the Vuvuzelas. But there were, after all, other sporting actions during 2010.

Vuvuzelas set to raise the World Cup din

2011-02-15T11:44:00.000+05:30

As more than 20,000 fans cheered Team India during their 38-run win over present world champions Australia in a practice match in Bangalore on Sunday, Mohali based industrialist Manpreet Singh Walia had his own reasons to be happy. With the major event associated with the game, the World Cup, starting on February 19 and the cricketing fever set to grip the nation, Walia has already dispatched more than 500 vuvuzelas and wristbands for fans in cities where matches are scheduled to be played. Sunday’s match, too, saw a large number of vuvuzelas in battle, all manufactured in the city.“We brought vuvuzelas to the Indian market last year as I was unhappy to see most of the cheering stuff being made by Chinese companies.

A friend suggested manufacturing vuvuzelas and we brought out the Indian version of the instrument that first took the world by storm during the World Cup Football in South Africa. I shipped more than 200 vuvuzelas for the India-Australia practice match and will be sending more for another practice match to be played on February 16. Once the event starts, we are expect to ship 50 vuvuzelas for every match,” says Walia, whose Hi Tech Rubber Industries had supplied more than 10,000 pieces of vuvuzelas during the 2010 Common wealth Games held in New Delhi. With the 2011 Cricket World Cup featuring more than 45 matches in the subcontinent, Walia’s company has also bagged the order to make wristbands, with personalized ones, for the official website of the event.

The Mohali based industrialist, who also manufactured sports goods for Kings XI Punjab in the last edition of the Indian Premier League, believes getting the chance to manufacture merchandise for the official website of the event was one of the unforgettable moments in his four years of entrepreneurship. “We got the order for the official website about a couple of months ago. We have made wristbands of various countries with the option of printing fans’ names on them. Besides this, we have brought a 63-cm long version of the vuvuzela, which cricket fans can personalize on their own,” says Walia.

Herefordshire Sport announces 2010 award-winners

2011-02-15T11:29:00.000+05:30

OB Weale has won the 2010 Herefordshire Sport’s Sportsman of the Year award - but he won’t be about to receive his honour next week. The Hereford-born bowls star will be on the other side of the world competing at the Australian Open in Melbourne. It is the third time that Weale has won the county honour having previously clinched it in 1996 and 2000.Weale enjoyed an exceptional 2010 which protected his invite to the southern hemisphere’s largest bowling event.The Presteigne bowler won a men’s singles gold medal for Wales at the Common wealth Games in Delhi.

In doing so, Hereford based Weale became the most victorious bowler in the history of the Games. He also carried the Welsh flag in the Games’ closing ceremony and was runner-up in the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year competition. The Hereford Times sponsored Herefordshire Sport Awards 2010 are taking place next Thursday (February 17) at the Royal National College for the Blind. Great Britain triathlete Nicola Goodwin will be picking up the Sportswoman of the Year accolade.

Goodwin, from Dinedor, will be stepping on to the platform for the second time after first winning the women’s honour in 1997.The 36-year-old broadcast journalist was an England women’s rugby player when she first accepted off the title. Now, however, Goodwin is a committed member of Hereford Triathlon Club and trains up to 30 hours a week during the season. Last summer, she brought home a silver medal at the European Long Course Age Group Championships in Spain.

Indian Olympic Association backs embattled Suresh Kalmadi

2011-02-14T14:09:00.000+05:30

Sacked as Common wealth Games Organising Committee chief, the embattled Suresh Kalmadi got the full support of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the national apex sports body which he heads, in its common body meeting (GBM) in New Delhi. The IOA GBM, which was attended by representatives of National Sports Federations and state Olympic associations, valued the hard work put in by Kalmadi's team in "successfully" hosting the CWG.

"The GBM unanimously expressed full confidence in its president Suresh Kalmadi, MP. The House appreciate the hard work by the team in not only successfully bidding to get the Games to India for the first time but also conducting it in such a manner the international community, particularly the athletes, went away a fulfilled lot," an IOA statement said.

"The meeting noted there had been international acclaim for the conduct of the Common wealth Games 2010 Delhi and commended the Indian athletes for their performance both in Delhi and in the Asian Games in Guangzhou," it said. The GBM, held in New Delhi yesterday, amended the IOA constitution but closed short of complying fully to the International Olympic committee's directives issued last year as good governance and transparency measures.

"IOA also amended its constitution in keep with the IOC's suggestions to ensure good governance, transparency, and to include athlete commission, arbitration commission and ethics payment in its framework."The IOA also generally decided to form a delegation to meet the new minister for youth affairs and sports, Ajay Maken and have an in depth dialogue with him about the government guidelines," it said.

35 consultants hired by CWG panel

2011-02-14T13:13:00.002+05:30

The CBI has put 35 people hired by the Organising Committee for the Common wealth Games 2010 under scanner. This includes Shashi Tharoor, as consultants/advisors for different Functional Areas in the run- up to the sport event. The investigate agency newly acquired from the OC list on the tenure terms, fees, and performance indicators of these consultants. “We suspect that a common of these consultants were appointed by the OC in an arbitrary manner. A considerable amount, over several crore, was paid to them over a period of between four months to three years.

The list showed that none of them submitted monthly report,” said a CBI source, not authorized to talk to the media. The actions were made by OC’s former chairman Suresh Kalmadi along with Lalit Bhanot as its then secretary general. When contacted, a senior OC executive confirmed, “As demanded by the CBI, and Shunglu committee, the OC gave whole details on the appointment and work particulars to them.”While Bhanot refused to comment on the issue, Kalmadi could not be contacted despite several attempts. Most consultants confirmed their stints with the OC. An advisor, who had been attached with the Security FA, said, “I was concerned in the safety details every day, I did submit a report at the end of games, not monthly reports.

”Tharoor, “consultant for Community Engagement”, however, denied his association with the OC. “My limited paid service was confined to the Common wealth Youth Games (Pune, 2008) and relates to a period when I was an independent consultant living abroad I have neither sought nor received any payment at all for any assistance rendered to the Common wealth Games next my return to India and my election as an MP,” the former MoS said to specific HT queries through email. But according to OC documents, Tharoor on July 6, 2009, had received a payment of “$ 26, 629” after $ 3,371 was deducted as tax from the OC as his “consultancy fee.”

Callum Johnson looks to Burns for motivation

2011-02-11T10:56:00.000+05:30

Common wealth Games gold medallist Callum Johnson has described Ricky Burns as an "inspiration" ahead of his second expert fight. Johnson appears on Burns' undercard at the Braehead Arena, Glasgow; on March 12.And the Naseem Hamed protege says the WBO Worlds Super-Featherweight champion is the perfect role model."It's a real honour to be boxing on the same show as a Ricky again," said Johnson."I'm a eager student of boxing, and I've watched his career right from the start.

"He fight Graham Earl down in London as the missing man, and he got a show against Alex Arthur when he wasn't very experienced."But Ricky has stuck with it, worked as hard as he maybe could, and now he is reaping the rewards."He is a typical example of what you can achieve if you have talent and commitment, and that's an inspiration to me."I know that I have to make the most of my talent and drain every last ounce from it."I don't want winning gold at the Common wealth Games to be a high point of my career.

I want it to be just the start. Johnson got his career off the perfect start last year, when he halted Phillip Townley in two rounds at the Braehead Arena, rotating heads with his exact power-punching. Now the light-heavyweight desires to make swift development in the next 12 months. Hopefully I can contain half a dozen fights between now and Christmas, said Johnson. That’s the plan anyway, and by that stage I should be on the verge of struggle for a title.

Event Knowledge Services demand $500,000 payment

2011-02-11T10:54:00.000+05:30

A company at the centre of a argument over non-payment of fees for services provided at last year's Common wealth Games in New Delhi has discarded claims of non-performance by organisers and has demanded that they are paid more than $500,000.Officials of last year's controversy-ridden Common wealth Games said previous this month partial payment to nine foreign companies have been suspended for "non-performance" without elaborating.

One of the companies, Event Knowledge Services (EKS), dismissed the allegations and needs the money it is claimed that it is owed for work carried out between January 1 and April 1 last year."EKS has never received any official or informal indication, written or verbal, that it was in breach of contract or that it was not performing satisfactorily against the settled scope of work," EKS chief executive Craig McLatchey said.

"EKS strongly refutes allegations of non-performance and openly confirms its rights to all outstanding payments due under its agreement with the Organising Committee."EKS has today written to the chief executive of the Delhi 2010 Organising Committee requiring full payment and retraction of the false and deceptive claims of non-performance."Organising committee chief executive Jarnail Singh could not be reached for comment.

Brown makes big splash in the pool

2011-02-10T18:06:00.000+05:30

Swimmer Adam Brown has represented England in the 2010 Common wealth Games, the 2009 World Championships and the 2008 Olympics, but his newest challenge will be opposing for Southeastern Conference supremacy. The men’s swimming team travels to Gainesville, Fla., for the SEC Championship Feb. 16.This contest is nothing new to the three-time SEC champion and three-time All-American. Brown, a native of Cambridge, England, has been swimming in competitions since he was a boy.

“I started swimming competitively around 10 for local clubs back in England,” Brown said, “and I just kept moving ahead.“Now I am in America, in Auburn, one of the best programs in the world.”Though far from his home, Auburn’s past success in swimming attracted Brown to the school, and he said he is proud to call himself a Tiger.“Auburn has a great custom in sprint freestyle swimming and sprint swimming in general,” Brown said. “Training under coach Hawke here is a big honor for me.

“I love training here, I love everything he has done for me and everything that he is going to continue to do.”Brown said having the chance to represent his home country in a number of international competitions was an honor.“It’s amazing,” Brown said. “It’s hard to describe being there. “The environment is so good and to wear your country’s colors it’s just unbelievable.”Brown said his time competing in higher-level competitions has helped him get better enormously.

Games Company rejects non-performance

2011-02-10T18:03:00.000+05:30

The payment dispute over last year's Common wealth Games rumbles on with a overseas company rejecting claims of non-performance by organisers and demanding their fee is paid immediately. Organisers of last year's controversy-ridden Common wealth Games said earlier this month partial payment to nine foreign companies has been withheld for "non-performance" without elaborating. One of the companies, Event Knowledge Services (EKS), dismissed the allegations.

"EKS has never received any official or unofficial indication, written or verbal, that it was in breach of agreement or that it was not performing acceptably against the agreed scope of work," EKS chief executive Craig McLatchey said in a statement on Wednesday."EKS strongly refutes allegations of non-performance and publicly confirms its rights to all outstanding payments due under its contract with the Organising Committee."

"EKS has today written to the Chief Executive of the Delhi 2010 Organising Committee requiring full payment and retraction of the false and misleading claims of non-performance..."Organising committee chief executive Jarnail Singh could not be reached for comment. The October Games were widely criticised by media and fans for the poor state of services and accommodation, particularly in the days leading up to its opening.Ric Birch, whose Spectak Production organised the opening and closing ceremonies and is one of the nine not paid companies named, told Reuters last week he had taken legal action against the Games organisers.

Last month, organising committee chief Suresh Kalmadi and secretary general Lalit Bhanot were sacked as investigations into alleged corruption continue. The USD 6 billion Games, intended to be a statement of India's growing financial might, ended up being a national embarrassment, salvaged only after a last minute scramble by the government. Memories of chaotic organising were revived last month when Eden Gardens in Kolkata was exposed of the England v India cricket World Cup match scheduled at India's best known venue following a delay in construction work.

Duffy and Williams awarded

2011-02-09T10:54:00.000+05:30

Flora Duffy and Scott Williams walked away from Bermuda Bicycle Association’s annual feast with the Male and Female Rider of the Year awards. The awards ceremony held on Saturday night at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club saw the two cyclists claim the top prizes after their wonderful achievements throughout the 2010 season. Duffy claimed top female honours for her first places in both the road race and time trial at the 2010 Elite Caribbean Cycling Championships in Guadeloupe. She also completed sixth in the road race, fourth in the criterion and fifth in the overall omnium at the 2010 Collegiate Nationals. As a result of this performance she was selected for the Fiber One Collegiate All-Stars team at the Nature Valley Grand Prix.

Williams, who will be leaving the Island in the spring, won the male category after coming second behind Geri Mewett in the national road race Championships, second in the criteria championships and won three of the road race series events last year. The evening’s guest speakers were previous National Cyclocross Champion Tim Johnson and his wife and Multiple Canadian National Champion and Olympian Lynne Bessette.Both riders have visited the Island in the past to race in the Bermuda Grand Prix.BBA president Peter Dunne said: “We had a great evening for our members, allowing them to share in their reflections on a very competitive 2010 racing season and recognise the victors.

“We had as our guests and after feast speakers Tim Johnson and his wife Lyne Bessette, Lynne is a former Canadian national champion in time trial, road race and cyclo-cross, Common wealth Games gold and bronze medallist and twice Olympian.“Tim has been the US national cyclo-cross champion six times and has been a associate of professional US road racing teams Saturn, Jittery Joe’s, Health Net, OUCH and United Healthcare.“Looking at the 2010 season it is clear that Bermuda is currently experiencing a boom in cycling and the numbers of riders who came out to race this past year is maybe the most we’ve ever had in competitive events.

Australian franchises' domination also a curse

2011-02-09T10:33:00.000+05:30

Australian domination of the trans-Tasman netball league since its beginning remains a source of arrogance to make up for the Silver Ferns' stunning defence of their Common wealth Games title in Delhi last year, though the blessing is also a curse. Success, it seems, is fleeting - once crowned the resignation is swift, and dramatic. Inaugural champions the New South Wales Swifts plummeted to ninth in 2009; the Melbourne Vixens decline was almost as disturbing as they drooping to seventh last year.

Now the Adelaide Thunderbirds are challenged to buck the trend, an ominous task which starts this weekend without a basis of their championship-winning roster. The transfer of internationally famous defenders Geva Mentor - to the Vixens and Mo'onia Gerrard (Swifts) are the most significant departures and force coach Jane Woodlands-Thompson to groom the promising, though inexperienced, combination of Sharni Layton and Kara Richards in the goal circle.

Layton, 22, is so highly regarded she has been added to the Thunderbirds leadership group while her former Victorian age-group teammate Richards has effectively traded places with English basis Mentor. Australian shooter Kate Beveridge, another Vixens gaining, might also be missed in the goal circle where Jamaica's Carla Borrego must ensure Natalie von Bertouch's industry in midcourt is rewarded under the hoop.

Naturally Woodlands-Thompson was as hopeful as possible about her side's prospects."It will be good to develop that end we have the culture and style to meld these young players in," she insisted."Kara is an athletic defender with a incredible training background and a high aerobic capacity."Swifts counterpart Julie Fitzgerald also exuded positivity - and not without justification.

Alexander wins in triple jump

2011-02-08T11:08:00.000+05:30

Trinidad and Tobago's Ayanna Alexander won for the third time in as many 2011 outings when she conquered her rivals in the women's triple jump championship occasion, at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational indoor meet, in New York, USA, on the weekend. The 2010 Common wealth Games silver medallist produced a 13.52 metres effort. Louisiana State University (LSU) student Kyron Blaise completed second in the men's triple jump championship (16.21m) and ninth in the long jump (7.35m). Another LSU/T&T athlete, Semoy Hackett clocked 7.25 seconds for third spot in the women's 60m championship. In the 200m, Hackett was fifth in 23.72.

Baylor University's Gavyn Nero bagged men's 1,000m championship bronze in two minutes, 22.39 seconds. His Baylor teammate, Zwede Hewitt completed eighth in the men's 500m championship in 1:03.86. Morgan State University's Emanuel Stewart produced a 16.71m effort to finish 13th in the men's weight throw championship. And his partner Jeanelle Ovid was 16th in the women's high jump college event with a 1.65m clearance. Jarrin Solomon was impressive at the New Mexico Classic, winning the men's 400m in 46.79 seconds. At the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, in Boston, Rondel Sorrillo completed third in the men's 300m in 33.47.

Marc Burns clocked 6.64 seconds to cop fourth spot in the men's 60m dash, at the Russian Winter meet, in Moscow, Russia. At the Varsity Apartments Shocker Quad meet, in Kansas, Wichita State University student Tonya Nero struck gold in the women's mile in 4:46.35. Her sister and partner, Scarla Nero, was second in the women's 3,000m in 10:14.84, while another T&T/Wichita State athlete, Samantha Shukla completed fifth in 10:53.86.Kai Selvon claimed the top spot in the women's 200m B race, at the Great Collegiate Invitational, in Ohio. The Auburn University sprinter clocked 24.08 seconds. In the 60m dash, she was third in 7.57.

Sheila to turn concentrate on social sector

2011-02-08T11:05:00.000+05:30

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit is unfazed by the continuing probes into her government's role in the Common wealth Games. In fact, quite the opposite. At an official function to mark 12 successive years of her government in Delhi, Dikshit said the organizing of the Games was a "cause for celebrations" and that now her government would be charting a different course. Releasing a 'Working Report 2010', and enlisting the achievements of her government, she said the social sector, housing for the poor and regularization and development of unofficial colonies would from now on be accorded top priority.

"I was nervous when I started in 1998. You know how it feels when a child goes to school for the first time. But there is no reason to be nervous now. I am filled with the desire to make Delhi
better," Dikshit said in her opening address at the Delhi Secretariat. Dikshit had been defensive at most media conferences before Common wealth Games but on Monday, she appeared happy to share her views and tolerantly answered queries about the ongoing inquiries by the Shunglu Committee and CAG. "Our officers are providing whatever information the probe panels are asking for," the CM said.

"We were able to provide marvellous infrastructure despite apprehensions and doubts raised by certain quarters. No other city in the country has infrastructure like what we have in Delhi. Those expressing apprehensions have to eat their words," she said on a admiring note to her officers and staff. On her future plans, the CM said that till the Games, the focus was on infrastructure, but now the social sector will be receiving attention. The opening message of the working report talks about the change. "In coming years, the social sector will be a priority of the government. Samajik Suvidha Sangam has been launched to give impetus to the continuing Stree Shakti programme.

Saina eyes return to top

2011-02-07T12:10:00.000+05:30

Saina Nehwal will begin her 2011 spell participating in the All England Badminton Championship in Birmingham next month as she is returning to the courts following an ankle injury.“I need four weeks to make a return so I won’t be participating in any occasion before the All England championships. I am looking forward to the All England and then the Swiss Open to start with,” she said at the sidelines of a coaching clinic that she conducted in the city on Sunday. In the All England Championships that will be held from March 8-13, she will be rutted against the best in the world with top Chinese rivals.

Though Saina’s position curved in from two to five, she still had a great 2010 winning three successive super series and Common wealth Games gold last year. She is raring to go after her dream run was blocked by an ankle injury. “I was not fully fit in the Korean Open. I missed five weeks of training and had just one week to carry out. I will take some more time to be fully fit,” added the 21-year-old Hyderabadi. “2011 is a crucial year for me and my focus will be to win as many tournaments as possible. Another major event I am targeting is the world championship in August,” she added.

Talking about the clinic that she conducted for kids, she said that she started very late, at nine years, and that she feels that kids should be introduced to any sport when they are three or four. “I started when I was nine, but I feel that three otherwise four is the ideal age. Nobody believes that I performed so well in such a short period of time. But I guess I am lucky,” she added.saina roots for india at world cup. With the World Cup fever catching on and the people of the nation just waiting for the mega cricketing show to start, like any Indian, even Saina Nehwal is hoping that the India win the World Cup this time.

CBI recovers key CWG agreement file

2011-02-07T11:50:00.000+05:30

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), probing supposed irregularities in the hiring of Swiss firm Event Knowledge Services as the 2010 Common wealth Games (CWG)'s technical advisor, has recovered the contract's original tender document. The document is likely to help the agency establish the supposed role of Organising Committee (OC) chairman Suresh Kalmadi and its secretary general Lalit Bhanot. The original document, comprising more than a few files, was missing for over three months, since the agency began its probe.

"The EKS contract, worth Rs29 crore, was awarded by the OC's executive board at a time when its former chairman Suresh Kalmadi had headed it and Lalit Bhanot was its secretary general. We suspect the contract was completed in violation of norms and by showing undue favours to the firm," a CBI source told HT.According to the agency source, the CBI is also looking into allegations that the firm was favoured because a former CW Federation official had allegedly "owned stake in EKS."

When contacted by HT over the allegation, an aide of Kalmadi said, "Mr. Suresh Kalmadi was the chairman of the OC's executive board when the contract to EKS was awarded to it but it was first accepted by finance group comprising government officials. Even the executive board that awarded it had government officials as members then." Bhanot, when contacted, however, refused to comment. The CBI collected the tender document on Thursday from the OC, which in turn improved it from one of its former top official, connected with the Project Management Unit. The contract was "returned" by the official on January 31.

Commenee expects improvement

2011-02-05T10:49:00.000+05:30

UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee expects improvements on Great Britain’s recent showing at major indoor events at next month’s European Championships in Paris even though he’ll leave abundance of potential podium climbers at home. Last year van Commenee allegedly informed Great Britain’s track and field athletes that those to struggle at the Common wealth Games in Delhi last October would not crossing the Channel and while there may be one or two exceptions, that appears to be the rule.

After opening his indoor season with 60m victory at the Aviva Glasgow International, 2010 Commonwealth and European silver medallist Mark Lewis-Francis announced he’s still riding high on cloud nine and admitted he’s frantic to compete in Paris. Whether Lewis-Francis lines up in what would be a mouth-watering three-way clash with compatriot Dwain Chambers and France’s European 100m champion Christophe Lemaitre remains to be seen, but a number of recent medallists are certain to be absent from the French capital.

Long jumper Chris Tomlinson, who won world indoor silver in 2008, and European and Common wealth 110m hurdles gold medallist Andy Turner will not make the trip while world triple jump champion Phillips Idowu admits the event never featured in his plans.But van Commenee does have the likes of indoor and outdoor world champion Jessica Ennis and 800m world indoor silver medallist Jenny Meadows to call on and the no-nonsense Dutchman is demanding an development the rather average medal haul of four from the 2009 European Championships in Turin.

Punjab players get cash rewards

2011-02-05T10:21:00.000+05:30

The Punjab government Friday disbursed cash rewards of over Rs.7.48 crore to the state's players, as well as Common wealth Games medalists, and announced that any player winning a gold medal in the next Olympics would get Rs.2.25 crore reward. Over 50 players, including Common wealth Games (CWG) and Asian Games medalists, were honoured at a particular function held here. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal honoured the players with cash prizes.

The players included 17 medalists of the 2010 New Delhi CWG and 17 medalists of the Guangzhou Asian Games (November 2010). The CWG medalists got rewards worth Rs.2.58 crore while the Asian Games' medalists got over Rs.3 crore.'It will be for the first time in the history of the state that such a large total was presented to the medalists of Asian, Common wealth Games and other international events,' Sukhbir Badal, who is also Punjab's sports minister, said.

Shooter Ronjan Sodhi, who won one gold and one bronze medal in Asian Games and two silver medals in the CWG, took home a whopping Rs.95 lakh.Shooter Manavjit Singh Sandhu was richer by Rs.58.66 lakh while guy shooters Abhinav Bindra and Heena Sidhu took home Rs.43 lakh and Rs.48.33 lakh, respectively. Athletes Manjit Kaur and Mandeep Kaur got Rs.48 lakh and Rs.43 lakh, respectively. Badal announced that players who win a gold medal in the next Olympics would get a prize of Rs.2.25 crore while silver and bronze medalists will get Rs.1.01 crore and Rs.51 lakh, respectively.

Purdue eager to be successful in 2011

2011-02-04T10:41:00.000+05:30

Charlotte Purdue made a ridicule of her injury troubles in 2010 and after an inspiring start to this battle; the GB ace has vowed to make this year her best yet. Purdue’s 2010 season her last in the junior position should have been harshly hampered by a knee injury which enforced her to miss the World Junior Championships in Canada in July. But the plucky 20-year-old made sure her year was by no means a write off by concluding fourth and sixth in the 10,000 and 5,000m in that order at October’s Common wealth Games in India.

Purdue coached by Steph Twell’s coach Mick Woods at the creative distance running conveyer belt at Aldershort, Farnham and District also managed to grab the European Junior cross country title to make sure 2010 was anything but an injury-tarnished damp squib.2011 sees Purdue facing up to the disreputably complicated conversion from junior to senior athlete but the 20-year-old is adamant she is up to the task. “I have loved my time as a junior,” said Purdue. “Now I am excited about having more hostility in senior races and trying to convert my success to that level this season. “It was great to cap off 2010 with the European cross title.

“I plan to continue racing 5,000 and 10,000m, although I would like to move up to the marathon at some stage.”And Purdue who is mentored by double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes believes the experience garnered in India will be priceless to her imminent fresh challenges. “The 10,000m was first in the schedule at the Common wealth Games and my first objective, so the 5,000m was a bonus out there,” added Purdue. “Overall I was really happy with the way I performed and I feel I gained valuable experience.”

Weale aims Aussie gold

2011-02-04T10:28:00.000+05:30

ROB Weale will be among the bowls stars captivating part in this month’s Australian Open in Melbourne. The Presteigne bowler returns to the nation for the first time since his singles silver medal in the Melbourne Common wealth Games of 2006.The medal proved to inspire the 47-year-old to greater glory in the 2010 games in Delhi, when he became the most decorated bowler in Commonwealth history by claiming singles gold. Big prize money will be up for grabs with Weale among the favourites to win the trophy and the $125,000 prize money when the contest begins at the Darebin International Sports Centre in Melbourne on Sunday, February 13.

Last time Weale was in Melbourne he tasted Commonwealth singles final defeat to Australian favourite Kelvin Kerkow, who marred the match by infamously ripping off his shirt in jubilation before being flooded on the green by his Australian teammates. While the pair quickly put the incident behind them, Weale returned to the Common wealth Games arena in October and earned the final salvation when he defeated NSW’s Leif Selby in the gold medal play-off, but harbours no ill feelings upon his return to the scene of the scandal.“For me it will bring back recollections of the Common wealth Games final against Kelvin,” Weale said upon accepting a wild card into the 2011 Australian Open.

“A competition anywhere I thinking I played single of the games but was now edged out in a tie-break all credit to Kelvin. “I also think that Melbourne is one of the best cities I've visited and I look ahead to returning.”Weale is connected in flying the Welsh flag by compatriot Jason Greenslade, who will associate Weale in the pairs and triples, the latter with Australian lead Mark Berghofer by their side. Carrying a six figure prize pool, the 2011 Australian Open is a multi-discipline contest which features singles, pairs and triples for both men and women, as well as a carnival of bowls.

Games get in your blood

2011-02-03T08:59:00.000+05:30

I’ve travelled the world to volunteer at Games to Malaysia, England and Australia. This time, there are Games in my backyard. My participation with the 2011 Canada Winter Games began almost 1½ years ago. I was recruited to be part of Mission Services planning by a friend who knows me through Common wealth Games. I’ve volunteered with Team Canada at that event three times, in communications and media relations. This time around, I’m part of a team of volunteers working with the mission staffs that run the 13 local and territorial teams that will struggle here.

Each delegation, led by a chef de mission, has an office in the World Trade and Convention Centre. The athletes’ village is also partly situated in the trade centre, so it will be a hub of Games activity. Our volunteers will be right in the thick of it, answering phone calls and questions from mission staff, booking meeting rooms and doing photocopying, among other tasks. Being involved in Canada Games has given me a possibility to reconnect with volunteers and mission staff I’ve worked with before. I’m also enjoying meeting new people from Halifax, around Nova Scotia and across Canada.

Multi-sport games are a funny thing: they get in your blood and become addictive. There are volunteers who routinely travel around the world to be part of various Games. I’m working with Canada Games volunteers, for instance, who were involved in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Go to Sherbrooke, Que., four years from now for the next Canada Winter Games and you will meet people who were in Halifax this February. The same faces also crop up at big events because the sport community in Canada is a close-knit one, particularly in a small province like Nova Scotia. Many volunteers have been involved in their sport for years and have a ton of experience locally, nationally and globally.

Gambia Olympic committee theft trial postponed

2011-02-03T08:04:00.000+05:30

A court delayed hearings in the case of three prominent members of Gambia's Olympic committee accused of misuse on Wednesday. The prosecution said the investigation of Beatrice Allen, the Olympic body's acting president and an IOC member, treasurer Ousman Wadda and accounts officer Muhammed Janneh was still ongoing. The three deny charges of embezzling $1,300.Allen, 60, said in an affidavit obtained by The Associated Press that the trio were "completely innocent" of the charges and were being targeted because of their intention to report what she called the mismanagement of $100,000 by the Gambia National Olympic Committee.

The money was given to the GNOC by the Common wealth Games Fund (CGF) and was meant to be used to prepare Gambian athletes for the 2010 Common wealth Games in India, according to Allen."The accounts showed that these funds (the $100,000) were mismanaged and a report was due to be sent to the CGF in respect of the mismanagement of this sum," Allen stated in the affidavit that was filed on Jan. 24, three days after her arrest, and sent to the High Court of Gambia."I believe that the conclusion to prosecute us might be linked to these issues. I believe that we are being victimized to prevent the elections and the report being sent."

Gambia's Olympic committee is due to choose a new president on Feb. 12 in the first contested GNOC leadership election. All the previous presidents were elected unrestricted. Allen is standing against former GNOC secretary general Abdoulie Touray and Momodou Dibba, the president of the Gambia Draught Association. The GNOC has been troubled by factions jostling for power since former president Lang Tombong Tamba, who was also Chief of Defense Staff for Gambia's armed forces, was detained and sentenced to death in 2009 for his alleged role in a coup to oust the country's government. In her affidavit, Allen said it had been decided at a conference three days before her arrest to report the missing $100,000.

Indian boxers look forward to contribute in the 34th National Games

2011-02-02T08:39:00.000+05:30

After winning laurels for the country at the Common wealth Games and the Asian Games 2010, Indian Pugilists are all set to hit the national rings at the Kennan Stadium in Jamshedpur. Once again the home crowd will get to witness perfect talents clash it out to win the national crown as they take to the rings at the upcoming 34th National Games to be held in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand from February 12th - 26th, 2011.The multi-sport mega event will showcase sporting talents representing respective Indian states/Boards. The Indian Pugilists are currently engaged in honing their skills for the national arena.

Apart from providing a perfect platform for current champions to prove their mettle again and for rising boxers to display their skills, the 34th edition of the games has more to it. The Games will also serve as a selection ground to shortlist players constituting the core group to be trained for the 2012 London Olympics."It is an chance for the boxers to represent their state and board teams and give something back to the state as well as the nation. It also provides as a talent scouting platform for the national and international tournaments. The Games also make for an ideal ground for emerging boxers", states the national coach GS Sandhu.

The prestigious tournament will have many stars vying for glory. MC Mary Kom, the current five time Women's World Champion (48KG) will be seen in action in the 51 kilogram weight category, owing to her training for the 2012 London Olympics. The boxing legend was not happy with just a bronze medal at the 2010 Asian Games and looks forward to making her mark in the light bantam weight group at the national level. She adds, "I am focusing on the National Games and will take on one bout at a time to improve my performance in this weight group."

Poonia hopes to be back in action

2011-02-02T08:12:00.000+05:30

Ace woman thrower Krishna Poonia is improving from her left-knee injury and hopes to be back in action in the middle of the year. Poonia said she did not want to make a hurried comeback and repent later. “My injury is healed now and I am in the process of regaining strength in my left knee (which takes the maximum impact during the throws). Once I feel that both my knees are equally strengthened, which I hope will happen in 20 days time, I will start training for the throws,” said the Common wealth Games gold medallist on the sidelines of ‘Yuva Meet' here on Monday.

Poonia, who also bagged a bronze medal in the Guangzhou Asian Games, wanted to take it step by step as far as her dream of making a mark in the 2012 London Olympics was concerned. “If things go as per planning, I should be back in competitions in July this year. That gives me around a year's time to qualify for the Olympics,” she said. Poonia said she had to focus on her health in order to get back in top shape.

The 29-year-old, busy attending scores of felicitation functions, was delighted to get attention and recognition for her medal-winning performances. She was also thrilled to spend quality time with her family.“It was complicated for me and my husband (who is also her coach) to stay away from our son for years. It is very relaxing now (to be with him),” she said, while hoping that the break would help her return to the throwing ring with a fresh mind.

Welsh athletes claim the Celtic Cup

2011-02-01T10:29:00.000+05:30

Wales' athletics team has won the Celtic Cup for the first time in the tournament's 10-year history. And Lynn Davies, president of UK Athletics, believes Wales will be well represented at the 2012 Olympics off the back of the win. "The future is looking really promising for Wales' athletes," said famous long-jumper Davies, now 68.Wales beat off challenges from Scotland, Ireland and England to win the coveted Celtic Cup on home soil."All the team did Wales proud - events like this are a really positive experience," said Davies, who thrilled Wales and his home town of Nant-y-moel by claiming gold at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo.

Davies says he believes Wales's most hopeful Olympic medal prospect in 2012 is hurdler Dai Greene. Greene, 24, took gold at the European Championships in Barcelona in 2010, along with gold at the Common wealth Games in Delhi, both in the 400m hurdles."We now have a fine mix of athletes in Wales. Everything is looking good for 2012," said Davies, Common wealth Games shot put finalist Ryan Spencer-Jones, 24, and UK Championships bronze medal hurdler Caryl Granville, 21, together the Celtic Cup on behalf of the Wales team during the event, at the National Indoor Athletics Centre in Cardiff.

Both athletes are said to be among strong contenders for London 2012.Wales manager Mike Delaney is delighted with the overall team presentation and is also looking ahead to the 2012 Olympics with great optimism."We have had a very good day after a unsatisfactory performance at last year's Celtic Cup," said Delaney."But we selected a strong team this time around and our expectations were high."We did very well at the Common wealth Games in Delhi, coming back with five medals and success breeds success," said Delaney, who now hopes to have at least four Welsh athletes named in the GB Olympic team.

Devvarman serves tennis warning

2011-02-01T10:22:00.000+05:30

Common wealth Games and Asian Games tennis champion Somdev Devvarman of India ruined serve three times to defeat local Raven Klaasen 6-4, 6-3 Monday in a South African Open first-round clash. German Simon Greul and South African Rik de Voest were other winners as the 442,500-dollar ATP event began with three expected results at the sprawling Montecasino entertainment centre in a plush northern Johannesburg suburb. All eight seeds had the day off with number one Feliciano Lopez from Spain visiting a rhinoceros and lion park near the South African financial center and number seven Rainer Schuettler of Germany involved in a Soweto coaching clinic.

Devvarman, who struck Commonwealth gold in New Delhi last October and Asian gold in Chinese city Guangzhou the following month, always had the measure of qualifier Klaasen. The first service break gave the 25-year-old Indian the opening set before a humble crowd that watched the action in perfect circumstances on a centre court created in a car park. Another break in the second set set up Devvarman for success and a Klaasen ace when 30-15 behind in the ninth game did not avoid his opponent breaking service again and clinching an 83-minute victory. Ranked 110 in the world, 2010 South African Open quarter-finalist Devvarman is 197 places above Klaasen, who found the advantages of home support and being more used to playing in a city 1,800 metres above sea level were not enough.

A larger repertoire of strokes and greater composure in key moments were key factors for Devvarman, who helped India defeat South Africa in a 2009 Davis Cup tie that dashed the hosts' hopes of endorsement to the top-tier world group. The second round promises a much tougher assignment for the native of Assam in north-east India with number three seed Janko Tipsarevic from Serbia his likely challenger.Tipsarevic will be among seven seeds in action Tuesday when he faces Jesse Huta Galung from the Netherlands and it would be a shock if he failed to reach the last-16 phase of an event offering a 76,500-dollar first prize. Stuttgart-based Greul, who turns 30 this year, is ranked 48 places higher than Brazilian Thiago Alves and it showed as he was seldom extended en route to a 6-2, 7-5 victory.

Strong Italian team holds Stubbs

2011-01-31T10:26:00.000+05:30

Italy's Flavia Pennetta begged Australia's Rennae Stubbs not to retire from tennis as the pair stimulated around Melbourne Park for the past two weeks of the Australian Open, But Stubbs had the great comeback for Italy's world No 25 singles player and world No 2 in doubles."I said to Flavia, 'You can continue my career by losing to us'," Stubbs said yesterday, as the Australian and Italian women headed to Hobart for the first round of the Fed Cup's elite World Group. Stubbs was given exciting farewells on centre court in both Sydney and Melbourne by the WTA. She turns 40 in March and is finally stepping away from the professional tour after 22 years.

But when she took the microphone on both Ken Rosewall and Rod Laver Arenas she told the respective crowds she would keep playing Fed Cup as long as Australia kept winning. Australia is finally back in the World Group after seven years in the zonal wilderness."If we win I'd like to keep playing until the next tie," Stubbs said yesterday. "I just want to be part of it. It took us that long to get back to the World Group and I've been part of that journey. So if we were to win, it would give me some kind of inspiration to keep going."

Fed Cup supremacy is also in the mind of newly crowned Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters. Belgium is also back in the World Group and Clijsters was on a plane home less than 24 hours after building her winning speech. Belgium has drawn the United States in its first round tie to be played in Antwerp. It will be the sixth time Australia and Italy have met in a tie. Australia leads 5-0 in head-to-head encounters. But the last victory was in 1988 when Wendy Turnbull was still part of the squad.

Italy has progress noticeably since then and contested four of the last five Fed Cup finals and was crowned champion in 2006, 2009 and 2010.All of the Italian team is ranked in the top 50 in singles. Australia only has two of its four there with Sam Stosur, No 5, and Jarmila Groth on debut at No 34.Stubbs will line up with Stosur in doubles. The pair has eight grand slam doubles titles between them. World No 67 and Common wealth Games gold medallist, Anastasia Rodioniova, completes the team.

Cisco broadcasts HD videos of the CWG

2011-01-31T10:17:00.000+05:30

The recently held Delhi Common wealth Games 2010 was a great success for India winning more gold medals and organising the event with grandeur. The opening and finishing ceremonies will be in memory for a long time. Millions of television viewers prized every moment of the games thanks to technology in the background by Cisco to broadcast high definition (HD) videos and images of the games. The CWG 2010 was the first global project where huge volume of HD uncompressed video (~400Gbps) was broadcast to help viewers witness continuous high quality video of the games, said Sandeep Raina, Senior VP, India & SAARC, Cisco.

Cisco deployed its largest ‘Internet Protocol (IP) Next Generation Network’ Medianet solution – this combines video technologies in home, business, and service provider networks -- for any sporting event at the CWG 2010, he said. Also, for the first time in the history of broadcasting, a disaster revival site was deployed for the main studio (IBC) for the HD uncompressed video contribution service using IP multicast technology. This solution enabled the Government of India and CWG Organising Committee to deliver games applications, communication services and standards of teamwork services to athletes, officials and guests from all over the world, he said.

The services were delivered on the communications network from MTNL and the completion was undertaken by HCL Info systems. The deployment included ‘quad-play architecture’ that bundles mobile, fixed-line, Internet and TV services into one package. The Cisco unified communication and teamwork solution was provided through 3500 IP phones including high-end video phones, he said.Sandeep says Cisco’s IP NGN infrastructure had two separate networks Managed Data Network (MDN) and Broadcast Network (BN). Both the networks were built on IP MPLS technology to deliver multiple services concurrently.

Lewis-Francis sets sights on European Championship medal

2011-01-28T10:37:00.000+05:30

After years of censure Mark Lewis-Francis proved his doubters wrong in 2010, winning individual silver at the European Championships and then the Common wealth Games, where he also took relay gold. Now, while the other British athletes who competed in the Delhi Games take a break, Lewis-Francis is approaching on through the indoor season without a pause, his sights set on a medal at the European Indoor Championships in March."I'm doing so well I don't want to stop," says the 28-year-old ahead of opposing at the first major event on the indoor calendar, the Glasgow grand prix tomorrow. "I'm still on cloud nine after the 2010 season. Nobody expected that.

I didn't even expect to have such success and I don't want it to end. I was out for such a long time, so to be back is something I don't want to miss again. I haven't got that long left, so I just want to embrace every minute of it while I can."Lewis-Francis is confident he can beat the European outdoor sprint champion,over 60m indoors. "I think I had him for 60m [in Barcelona], I think I definitely did," says Lewis-Francis, who finished 0.7sec behind the Frenchman. "I don't think he was thrashing me for 60m in the 100m, he's just got a really strong last bit to his race. It could be interesting. I don't want to hype it up but it could be a different race this time."

The British team will have to qualify for their places at the trials next month but another name Lewis-Francis may have to look out for is the 33-year-old Dwain Chambers, the European indoor record holder."We'll see what happens," says Lewis-Francis. "If I can go to the European champs and get a medal and then build up my self-confidence for the world champs this summer because we all know the world champs is going to be solid, it's not going to be easy that could just prepare me for it."Despite having won medals at the Olympic Games memorably taking 4x100m relay gold at Athens in 2004 and the world championships, Lewis-Francis is yet to win an individual medal on the global senior stage, an achievement he says he is not happy to retire without.

Asian Games, CWG medal winners to be rewarded today

2011-01-28T10:11:00.000+05:30

Uttar Pradesh players who won medals at the Asian Games held at Guangzhou, China and the Common wealth Games 2010 will be felicitated with cash rewards on Friday. They will be given the ‘Manyawar Shri Kanshiram Ji Antarrashtriya Khel Puruskar 2010’ by Chief Minister Mayawati at 12.00 noon on Friday. The award function will be organised at 5, Kalidas Marg, Lucknow. The medal winners happening arriving in the state capital from Thursday morning. Director Sports (UP) Dr Hari Om informed, “Apart from archer Ritul Chatterjee, all the players had reported for the event by Thursday evening. Ritul is presence the national camp, so his award will be collected by his father.

Arrangements for the stay of the players have been made at Hotel Piccadilly.The cost of journey to Lucknow and back to their destinations will be reimbursed. Besides, each player has been provided a separate vehicle at Lucknow. After the felicitation, during which a sum of around Rs 1.97 crore will be spread among the players, lunch will be held at the same venue,” he further added. The gold, silver and bronze medal winners of individual events will be given Rs 15 lakh, Rs 10 lakh and Rs 8 lakh, respectively, while the gold, silver and bronze medal winners of team events will be given Rs 10 lakh, Rs 8 lakh and Rs 6 lakh, respectively.

A senior sports official informed that two rooms are being given to a player who has come with his family if the total number of members are more than four to ensure a comfortable stay to the players. “Besides a car for each player, a bus has also been arranged if the players want to go site-seeing in the city. A ‘rehearsal’ for the event will be organised on Thursday evening for the felicitation function the next day. The players will also attend a dinner which will be hosted by Chief Secretary (UP),” he said. Talking to The Indian Express, gymnast Ashish Kumar said that he was happy with the facilities provided to the players. He, however, said that it would have been very hopeful if he would have been awarded for the bronze medal also which he had won during the Common wealth Games.

Settle dues to Aus firms in 10 days

2011-01-27T10:40:00.000+05:30

Taking serious note of the payment dispute between some Australian firms and organisers of the Delhi Common wealth Games, the Sports Ministry has planned the last to settle the issue within ten days.Ajay Maken,the new sports minister, instructed the sports secretary to get in touch with the government officials in the Common wealth Organising Committee and clear all lawful payments after proper verification."I have ordered the sports secretary to settle the issue in the next ten days and clear all verified and legitimate payments pending to Australia and other participating countries.

Four of Australia's biggest event management firms have threatened to slap a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against the Commonwealth Games organisers for the recovery of their dues. Ric Birch, the man behind the successful opening and closing ceremonies of the mega-event, in Delhi from October 3 to 14 last year, has commissioned Slater and Gordon, a Melbourne-based law firm, a to draw up the multi-million dollar complaint that would involve at least four of Australia's biggest event firms - including his firm, Spectak Productions, and fireworks group Howard & Sons against the Delhi Games' organisers.

He refused to comment when asked whether Suresh Kalmadi would be happy to see the back of M S Gill from the sports ministry."I have just taken over and I do not wish to comment on such matters," he said, with a smile. He praised his precursor, Gill, and said he would carry on to push for transparency. As minister of sports, he said, he would like to see younger faces, who have played at the international level, being given more say in the running the sports bodies."Those who have played the games are more passionate and understand the difficulties of the athletes, which the other officials would not be able to do so," he said.

Kalmadi claims dismissal as Delhi 2010 chief is illegal

2011-01-27T10:33:00.000+05:30

Suresh Kalmadi has claimed that the decision to sack him as chairman of the Organising Committee of last year's Common wealth Games is "illegal and arbitrary".Kalmadi was detached from his position, beside with secretary general Lalit Bhanot, earlier this week by India's new Sports Minister Ajay Maken to ensure a fair investigation into corruption allegations nearby the event, held last October."I am shocked to receive an order...illegally and randomly removing me from the position of chairman of the executive board and the Organising Committee (OC) of the Common wealth Games," Kalmadi wrote in a letter to Maken."I have extended all possible cooperation to all the investigating agencies, including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

"I have even written to the CBI stating I am available to assist them at any given point of time. "In light of the above, the concerns expressed by the CBI are unfounded and the Order dated 24th January 2011 is uncalled for."Without prejudice to my rights and contention and in furtherance of my letter dated 25th January 2011 wherein it has been affirmed that the order dated 24th January 2011 is illegal and without any authority, I am handing the charge under protest."Kalmadi claimed that the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), which he has headed since 1996, had allotted him as chairman of the Organising Committee in 2004 and the Sports Ministry did not have the authority to dismiss him.

"The IOA is an independent autonomous body and as per the Olympic Charter must remain free from Government interference," Kalmadi wrote."We worked hard to bring the Commonwealth Games to India for the first time ever."The OC, under my Chairmanship, has worked tirelessly for over five years to deliver successful Games that India can be proud of."I am anguished that instead of being commended for my hard work at putting up such a impressive show, the OC is being unfairly singled out and that I have been served with a decision of this nature."I would like to say that if I were asked by the Sports Ministry, I would have consulted my colleagues and resigned voluntarily."

Second medal for Velthooven

2011-01-25T11:15:00.000+05:30

Sprinter Simon Van Velthooven grabbed a surprise second medal on the last night of the UCI World Cup in Beijing yesterday. Van Velthooven, the Common wealth Games bronze medallist in his specialist keirin, chosen up a bronze in the 1000m time trial at the Beijing Velodrome.The burly Manawatu rider had earlier made it through to the eighth round of the men's sprints before turning his attention to the gut-busting kilo, more for experience than expectation. More used to the hurly burly of the keirin than the exact aerodynamics of the kilo, Van Velthooven nonetheless produced the fastest final lap of all 32 riders to climb to third place overall in 1:03.103.

Frenchman Francois Pervis took out the gold in 1:01.197, with Hugo Haak (NED) second and Van Velthooven third after scorching home in 15.373 seconds for the final 250m.It gave the BikeNZ team a third medal at the World Cup after Van Velthooven won the men's keirin and New Zealand took out the team pursuit. Head coach Tim Carswell said it was mission accomplished."We got plenty out of this World Cup with Simon coming here in excellent form and getting the rewards he deserved," Carswell said.In other events, Canterbury rider Natasha Hansen missed out in repechage for the women's keirin, Joanne Kiesanowski was 11th in the omnium competition and Tom Scully was a close fourth in the points race.

"The women, without their two strongest riders, showed there's depth in the women's pursuit programme with Jaime Nielsen really impressive," said Carswell."And it was great to have Tom Scully back to this opposition and he got stronger throughout the weekend and was unlucky not to get a medal. He said there would be little respite as the squad will be in full preparation for a major assault on the final World Cup in Manchester next month, and then a further month on to the world championships."There's a growing depth in the programme which will make selection for Manchester challenging," said Carswell.

Saina geared up for Korean challenge

2011-01-25T10:59:00.000+05:30

Saina Nehwal does not consider in living in the past. The world No.4, who had a remarkable season in 2010 winning three Super Series titles and the Common wealth Games gold, said that the fresh term offers new challenges and the past will be of no help in a competitive sport like badminton. The ace shuttler, who will begin the season with the newly upgraded $1.2 million Korea Open Super Series Premier, arrived in Seoul on Sunday and will start her campaign against Tzu Ying Tai of Chinese Taipei in the first round on Wednesday. Tzu, who is ranked 21 in the world, had lost to Saina in the final of the Singapore Open Super Series last June.

Next up for Saina would be Sayaka Sato of Japan. Incidentally, Sayaka too had lost to Saina in the final of the Indonesia Super Series, a week after Saina beat Tzu in the Singapore Super Series final. The Indian is ready to meet the rivals she beat a few months ago. "They are very tough opponents. Moreover, I am coming back from an injury. I don't know how my body will respond to these challenges. Though I had a huge season last year, it's history now. I have to start afresh again and all the players will be eager to start the season on a high note. So it's not going to be easy,'' Saina said.

If she clears the initial rounds Saina will run into Asian Games champion Shixian Wang in the quarters. Shixian, who beat Saina at the World Championships and lost to her at the Hong Kong Super Series will be keen to avenge her defeat. The 20-year-old Chinese girl, claimed the No.1 rank last week but slipped to second this week."I am not thinking too much about any player now. I know in big tournaments like this I have to give my best on all five days of the tournament,'' Saina said.Parupalli Kashyap, the only Indian in men's singles will face Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk of Thailand in the first round.

The mixed doubles pair of Valiyaveetil Diju and Jwala Gutta may find it tough against former world champion Nathan Robertson and Jenny Wallwork of England in the first round. It would be no different for Jwala and Ashwini Ponnapa in the women's doubles as they are drawn against Tsk Ka Chan and Hol Wah Chau of Hong Kong. The main event begins on Wednesday after the qualifiers on Tuesday. Korea Open is the first of a new series started by the Badminton World Federation. Five of the 12 Super Series events have been upgraded to Super Series Premier events from this year opening with the Korea Open.

Rajesh shines brightest to get title

2011-01-24T15:02:00.000+05:30

Over six thousand, five hundred people rode down the thin uneven lanes of Karnataka Trade Promotion Organisation (KTPO) on countless cycles but it was Tamil Nadu's C Rajesh who shone the brightest here at the BSA Hercules India Cyclothon.On a mild Sunday morning, the National Elite race saw 95 of India’s best cyclists kick on amidst ear-splitting noise, plethora of colours and of course the cops. At the end of six laps spanning 50 kms, there was only one cyclist who rode home with a handsome purse of Rs 1.25 lakh, a bright yellow jersey and a contended smile.

In the race which was run in the points format (winner of every lap gets five points, three for the second placed rider and two for the cyclist journey the line in third), Rajesh clinched 13 points overall while defending champion Sabu Ganigar of Karnataka came in second (Rs 75,000), one point behind the leader.Rajesh kept himself in the hunt through five laps of the race maintaining close distance with the leaders but things took a different turn in the final lap. The Trichy-born 21-year-old sat comfortably behind eventual overall third-place winner Pankaj Kumar (10) of Haryana, who clinched Rs 50,000, for a brief while, but with Sabu closing in on him, things began to get tense.

Treacherous roads packed with humps and potholes, combined with a number of sharp turns, radically reduced the speed of the riders but Sabu nonstop to hound Rajesh and got close enough to make a move. But it was not to be. Sabu attempted a final push to get ahead of Rajesh but the South Western Railways’ cyclist was boxed down by the riding pack at the final turn. With Sabu well and truly out of the way, Rajesh, who represented India at the 2010 Delhi Common wealth Games, daintily glided past the tape and onto the podium.

Medal winners wait for cash awards

2011-01-24T14:50:00.000+05:30

The national athletes who won medals in 2006 Common wealth Games and 2010 South Asian Federation Games are still waiting to collect the cash awards announced by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Dawn has learnt.According to the Pakistan Sports Board, the athletes appeared in four disciplines and won five medals during the 2006 Common wealth Games, held in Melbourne, Australia. A 323-member Pakistani dependent participated in the 11th South Asian Games held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, last year when the contingent was headed by then federal sports secretary Anis-ul-Husnain Musavi.

Pakistan’s dependent participated in almost all the 23 disciplines and grabbed 80 medals. Pakistani athletes formed a stir in boxing, squash, hockey, weightlifting and several other games.“No awards, how pathetic! I have played for this nation and all of them specifically federal sports ministry is not concerned at all for our cash awards,” one of the leading athlete, who was part of the 2010 SAF Games dependent told Dawn on condition of anonymity.“If the like amount about travel payment or any other financial concern related to any sports ministry official were pending, it would have been released within two months,” he said.

The athlete insisted: “I don’t know what system the federal government follows, all I know that this is not a action given to national heroes.”Asked whether they have approached sports ministry or any other federal government official concerned in this regard, the athlete said: “There are excuses from the sports ministry that they have no money and they have already forwarded our file to the finance ministry so as soon as they [sports ministry] get the money they will give us the awards.”

The prime minister had announced cash awards for all the medal winners of SAF, Asian, Common wealth and Olympic Games, and issued orders in this regard. However, when approached, an official of the federal sports ministry said: “A request in this regard is pending with the finance ministry but they have not replied yet.”The official claimed that they were actively pursuing the matter and hopefully “it will be resolved any time soon.”The official however, refrained from giving any time frame or time limit for the issuance of cash awards for the players.

NZ the biggest test for Jen

2011-01-22T10:47:00.000+05:30

CHEPSTOW’S Jenny McLoughlin admits she will have to pull out the best performance of her hatchling career to date if she is to award at the IPC World Athletics Championships. The 19-year-old sprinter has travelled to New Zealand for the championships, which start today, following a promising 2010 that saw her claim 100m and 200m bronze at the Paralympic World Cup and silver in the former at the Common wealth Games in Delhi.McLoughlin will line up in the T37 100m and 200m again in Christchurch, where she will renew her rivalry with fellow Brit Katrina Hart, while also joining forces with her for the 4x100m relay.

The Chepstow sprinter finished behind Hart at both the Paralympic World Cup and Common wealth Games last year but insists she will have to be on red-hot form just to medal let alone beat Hart.“I think I will have to run out of my skin to get on the podium because there is going to be some hard racing but you never know what might happen,” said McLoughlin.“I am pretty confident and going to the Common wealth Games gave me a lot of confidence. It was a great experience and I know I’m in good situation at the moment.“I would probably say the 200m is the one I prefer, you have to get a good start in the 100m and there is a bit more leeway in the 200m and I think I run a good bend as well.

“Katrina is going to be out there and I think we do push each other on. We both want to do well and that is good for the team but we both do our own things and just meet on the track.“But aside from Katrina I race with the other girls I am going to come up against all the time. I did at the Paralympic World Cup and in Delhi and now at the worlds.”McLoughlin – a former Chepstow Comprehensive School pupil – has been fine tuning her preparations at an Aviva-funded holding camp in Auckland prior to moving on to Christchurch. The Chepstow runner will begin her campaign tomorrow with the 200m.

Salary of CWG workers published following complaints

2011-01-22T10:41:00.000+05:30

In the wake of complaints that a huge number of relatives and without qualifications persons got jobs during the Common wealth Games, the government's high level enquiry Committee headed former CAG V K Shunglu today made public the names of 2100 persons appointed by the Organising Committee. The list of the 2100 persons selected by the CWG OC and holding posts during the period March 2009-November 2010 has been made available along with their designations and salaries on a government portal.

The High Level Committee (HLC), appointed by the government to look into allegations of corruption in conducting the CWG, has received complaints that several of the persons appointed were paid salaries not equal with their qualifications and experience and that some of them were relatives/associates of VIPs or office bearers of the Organising Committee.It has asked the public to share any information about these persons, their relationship with CWG officials, their experience and salary drawn and send them to the HLC.

As per the list, Sardar Mohammad Aslam Khan who worked for Protocol and CGF Relations was the highest paid with a monthly salary of Rs 3,22,105 which he drew till November last year. Sujit Panigrahi in the Technology section drew a whopping Rs 3,01,355 monthly salary till January last year while T S Darbari was getting Rs 1,96,000 per month before his sacking in January last year for participation in the Queens Baton Relay financial bungling.Jarnail Singh, who was the Chief Executive of the CWG Organising Committee, got a monthly salary of Rs 1,52,000 till November last year while OC Director General VK Verma drew Rs 1,87,794 per month till November, 2010.

Rasquinha contemplating arrival to hockey

2011-01-21T11:20:00.000+05:30

The formal announcement of World Hockey Series by the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) early this month has not only got over 100 overseas players involved in the league but it has also forced former India captain Viren Rasquinha to think of a return.“I have been playing domestic hockey league in Mumbai and I have been considering making a comeback,” the former India midfielder, who was in Bangalore on Thursday, told .The league, which is to be launched later this year, has received a marvelous response from hockey players the world over, and if things go as planned, hockey buffs may see former greats taking to the turf.

“Let’s say that the World Series is quite a bit of a target but more than that I just want to get back to the sport,” added the 30-year-old who retired from international hockey in 2008 to pursue a MBA degree. When asked if he sees himself playing for India again, he said he was confident. “Though the game has changed since the time I quit, if I am able to make time and practice three hours a day I am confident that I can make it to the Indian team,” he opined. The Mumbaikar has donned the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO) since 2009 and with the OGQ-funded athletes playing a main role in the medal tally at the Common wealth Games and Asian Games that kept him busy all of 2010.

However, this year, he has decided to devote time on the field and get acquainted with the fast-paced game.“I have not held a stick in a while as the CWG and Asian Games kept me busy with OGQ work but I’ve just been aggravated with myself for not working out. I hardly had the time but again it all depends on how busy I am going to be this year,” he said. Going by the stunning presentation of young athletes from rural India in the quadrennial proceedings last year, Rasquinha said that urban youngsters don’t have the hunger and dedication to achieve success at the international arena. He even affirmed that he did not see any Mumbai hockey player making it to the national squad in the coming years.

Merrien named Guernsey performer of 2010

2011-01-21T11:07:00.000+05:30

Lee Merrien was named wonderful performer of the year in the Guernsey Sports Commission awards on Wednesday.Merrien received the island's highest sporting honor for his performances during 2010.He finished 12th in the London Marathon and was the first Briton home in eighth place in the European Championships marathon in Barcelona. Cricketer Jeremy Frith and table tennis player Alice Loveridge won the individual sportsman and woman awards. Frith was man of the tournament in the ICC European Division Two Championship, which hosts Guernsey won, having scored two of the tournaments three centuries and being the top wicket taker with 12-117 from 41.1 overs with eight maidens.

He, along with tennis player Heather Watson, were the two runners-up to Merrien in the top award. Loveridge, 16, finished 17th in the singles at the Youth Olympics in Singapore, having been the only British player to be eligible for the tournament. She also secured her first senior title with victory in the women's singles final at the Six Nations International table tennis tournament. The team trophy went to the island's football squad who won the National League System Cup and went on to represent England in the Uefa Regions Cup.The Jory Brothers, Adam and Peter, took the small team award for their performance in the full bore shooting at the Common wealth Games, where they finished fourth.

Boxing's Gage Demore won the Lambourne Shield, awarded for wonderful individual achievement by a resident of Guernsey aged 11-18, with young golfer James Hamon recognised as making the greatest progress in the year. Graham Guilbert took the Development Award, which has been renamed the Dave Dorey Memorial Trophy, in recognition of his 50 years of work in boxing.Footballer Richard Luxon was named disabled sports achiever of the year. The ICC European Division Two tournament was recognised as the best organised event of the year.

Jayachandran gets bail

2011-01-20T10:29:00.000+05:30

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday granted bail to Common wealth Games Organising Committee (OC) official M Jayachandran in the Queen's Baton Relay scam. Justice Hima Kohli granted bail to Jayachandran as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was unable to file a charge sheet within the fixed 60 days of his arrest. Jayachandran, joint director (finance) in the OC, was arrested Nov 21, 2010 for making doubtful payments to Indian-owned London-based private firm AM Car and Van Hire Limited during the Queen's Baton Relay function in London.

Meanwhile, the CBI also admitted before the court that they were not going to file any charge sheet in the case. The court granted him bail on a private bond of Rs 50,000 and two sureties of like amount. Earlier, CWG officials Sanjay Mahendroo and TS Darbari were given bail by the court as the CBI failed to file a charge sheet in the case. According to the Criminal Procedure Code, an undertrial is allowed to bail if the investigating agency fails to file a charge sheet within two months of his arrest. The CWG officials are facing charges of causing a loss of Rs 1.55 crore to the exchequer in awarding a contract for the Baton Relay function October 29, 2009, in London before the Common wealth Games.

The CBI registered two cases in connection with contracts awarded at exorbitant rates to London-based AM Films and AM Car and Van Hire Limited. The CBI said Darbari, Mahendroo, Jayachandran, OC director Raj Singh, director of transport firm Ashish Patel, and other unknown persons were involved in falsification of court records and public documents, using forged documents as genuine and criminal conspiracy. The agency also booked them for corruption under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Oz companies might charge CWG OC

2011-01-20T10:13:00.000+05:30

Foreign firms which were a part of the Common wealth Games are mulling legal action against Suresh Kalmadi led CWG OC due to professional indifference, non-payment of bills and no efforts to communicate. It has been learnt that millions of dollars are owed to 30-40 foreign companies that helped in the implementation of the opening and closing ceremonies of the sports mega-event held last October. The Australian company behind the fireworks at the Common wealth Games in New Delhi has accused the organisers of unethical behaviour, saying they had not paid their bills.

Andrew Howard said his company, Howard and Sons, was still owed Aus$300,000. Howard said his was one of about 30-40 companies from around the world which had worked on the glittering opening and closing ceremonies and was still waiting for payment or apparatus. “I’ll speak on my company’s behalf, our company still is to be paid 300,000 dollars. We’ve fulfilled our contract in its entirety to a very, very high standard and at every step of the way the organising community has unsuccessful to distribute its end of the contract.

It’s an extremely frustrating situation. We are all so sick of the unprofessional, unlawful and unethical conduct of the OC and they need to be held accountable to their contracts,” he said. A lot of Australian companies have claimed that they have still not been paid for their services rendered during the Common wealth games 2010. These companies include contractors, apparatus suppliers, vendors and consultants. Australian contractors have claimed that they are yet to receive payments between 10-20 million dollars for the various services performed during the opening and closing ceremonies.

Sharath hopes to continue ranking

2011-01-19T12:14:00.000+05:30

India’s number one paddler Achanta Sharath Kamal hopes to maintain his world ranking till June to secure an Olympic berth. Having made to the no 2 club in Germany, Ochsenhausen, the current world ranked 40 said it was actually big to get abase in the European nation where the practice condition is excellent. Talking to PTI on the sidelines of the 72nd Senior National table tennis championship here, the Common wealth Games doubles gold medallist said: "At the moment I am looking to qualify for the Olympics straight. This is going to happen by June 1. By then I should be within top 40 in the world."

Twenty eight direct entries with two from each country will secure an Olympic berth. "If someone else also can make it, we can have a chance in the team competition," he said."The Federation is also trying to help me to play the pro-tours. After this I have the England Open and the Qatar Open, where I am defending some points. Playing fine in these tournaments will help me defend some points to stay in the top 40."He said it was tough to make a club in Germany where only one foreign person is allowed per club. He had to wait till he won the Egypt Open.

"It''s the strongest nation in Europe. Germany are also the Olympics silver medallist. I get good practice partners and good practice environment. Basically the players are very strong there and so is the system," he said. Kamal said, "I wanted to go to Germany in 2009. But I couldn''t, as I was too weak for the league. Even being World No 70, I was weak for the league."Because only one foreign player is allowed for a club and generally that place is occupied by a Chinese, Japanese ora Korean. So even if an Indian is good, the Chinese are chosen because of their brand value. So that was one thing why I couldn''t get in."

CBI arrests event manager in CWG overlays scam

2011-01-19T11:55:00.000+05:30

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Tuesday arrested the owner of event management companies Meroform India and GL proceedings, Binu Nanu, for his involvement in the controversy over granting overlays contract for the Common wealth Games.Nanu was produced in a CBI special court in Patiala House and was remanded to four days police custody, CBI sources said. The term overlays means a variety of impermanent fittings, fixtures and equipment required for competition and non-competition venues.

These include marquees and tents; temporary structures for ticket booths, spectator services and security checks; portable cabins, furniture and fixtures. The union cabinet had approved Rs.687 crore for overlays in the Organising Committee (OC) budget for the Oct 3-14, 2010 Common wealth Games. The Organising Committee had primarily proposed a budget of Rs.948 crore for the overlays. But the sports ministry, in consultations with the OC, brought it down to Rs.687 crore.

The expenditure finance committee headed by the finance secretary also recommended a budget of Rs.687 crore. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report had pointed out that the reduction in cost by OC indicated that the quantities of the overlays were overstated at the time of tendering. It suggested that there was a possibility that undue favours could have been given to confident vendors.

CWG probe: Panel may miss deadline

2011-01-18T09:44:00.000+05:30

The V K Shunglu Committee, which was given three months to arrange a report on financial irregularities in 2010 Common wealth Games, is likely to miss its limit and will have to be given an extension. It was appointed on October 14, the day the Games ended, but began its work on October 25.Sources in the Organising Committee say most of the files that the committee requires for its investigation are with the Comptroller and Audit General (CAG) office, which is also conducting an audit of the Games. To an enquiry by Business Standard, Shunglu neither definite nor denied that the committee was going to seek an extension.

Shunglu, himself a former Comptroller and Auditor General, was appointed by the prime minister to head the probe into the Games, which was held between October 3 and 14. Later, he was given the status of a Supreme Court judge and all agencies were asked to cooperate with the investigation. Now, sources say the committee has sought files which relate to the construction and reformation of stadiums, but these can only be made accessible to it once they are returned by the CAG. The CAG is expected to table the findings of its audit during the Budget session of Parliament, scheduled to start in February.

Business Standard has also learned that the Committee has called very few people for questioning, unlike the Central Bureau of Investigation, and is relying more on the files involving to the conduct of the Games. Earlier, soon after the constitution of the panel, questions were raised over the need of having a probe by the Shunglu Committee when the CAG, CBI and the Enforcement Directorate were already conducting their own investigations.

DVC to hike capacity by 1500 MW

2011-01-18T09:24:00.000+05:30

Damodar Valley Corporation is likely to add approximately 1,500 MW thermal power capacity over and above the accessible coal fired generation capacity of 3,070 MW, according to sources. The corporation has 144 MW hydro electric capacity. All the upcoming capacities were designated to supply to Delhi during the Common wealth Games in October 2010. DVC authorities were not available for comment. According to sources, one unit of 500 MW each at the Greenfield power plants at Durgapur in West Bengal and Kodarma in Jharkhand are expected to be operational at full load by March 2011.

On completion, both the plants will generate 1,000 MW (2 X 500 MW) each. The plants are scheduled to be fully operational by end 2012.According to sources, the first unit of 500 MW at Kodarma is a thermal power station already put in trial generation mode. Lighting of the boiler at the first unit of 500 MW at Durgapur Steel TPS is likely to be over in the next two weeks. Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd is project contractor for both the plants. The second 500 MW unit at the second phase of the Mejia TPS in Bankura district of West Bengal is expected to be fully operational either by the end of this month or early February.

DVC had 1,340 MW thermal power capacity under the first phase. In the second phase, the corporation is adding two units of 500 MW. The first unit of the second phase development became operational in 2010.According to sources, though the project contractor BHEL has already completed work of the second 500 MW unit in Mejia Phase-II, the unit could not be run on full load due to non-availability of coal. As per regulatory guidelines, unless a unit is run on full load for a stipulated period of time, it cannot be declared as commercially operational.

Savage cuts could destroy Games heritage

2011-01-17T16:43:00.000+05:30

Scottish sport leading bodies face slashing cuts of tens of thousands of pounds from their operating and coaching budgets, compromising medal targets for the 2014 Common wealth Games in Glasgow and jeopardising legacy aspirations. They say job losses are predictable, and some sports are unable to appoint coaches for which money had previously been committed. The management board of sportscotland unanimously approved the cuts at a meeting in Stirling 10 days before Christmas, but many governing bodies have yet to learn the detail. Sportscotland insist the cuts are “not set in stone”, but table tennis has already met the national agency. “We have been informed that our budget is to be reduced from £174,000 last year to £63,000,” said chairman Jonathan Whitaker.

“Development and elite performance budgets have both been savaged. “There are 17 sports on the 2014 Common wealth programme for Glasgow, and nine of them are projected to lose more than £345,000.Another nine sports not involved in 2014 are scheduled to lose more than £124,000. Among those is archery – which was on the Delhi programme where targets were not met. It is currently projected to lose £80,000 of the £97,000 it received last year. Lacrosse and sub aqua will forfeit some two thirds of their total budgets. A sportscotland spokesman said last night: “These are indicative facts and are due to be considered again in February.”

Reductions, which it’s feared will dilute and in some cases wipe out the legacy potential of the 2012 Olympics and 2014 Commonwealths in Glasgow, are not due to the economic climate, insisted sportscotland, although a significant part of the cuts have also been influenced by slashed funding for UK coaching.Most sports – including some which have yet to hear officially and are due to meet with the national agency in the next couple of weeks – are unwilling to comment, fearing further repercussions. But they claim that partnership managers, through whom they liase with sportscotland, have not been correctly consulted, and despite assurances, they speak of a lack of right of appeal.

I-T to examine complaints of ‘ghost employees’ in Games OC

2011-01-17T16:32:00.000+05:30

In fresh trouble for Common wealth Games Organising Committee, the Income Tax department has sought information of appointment of over 2,000 people among allegations that many were “ghost employees”. In a letter to the Organising Committee (OC), the I-T department has asked it to furnish details of muster rolls, documents pertinent to selection of workforce, salary and tax deduction at basis among others. The OC has been asked to submit the particulars by this month-end. The I-T action came following complaints that large amounts had been siphoned off as salary expenditure in the names of people wrongly shown on the rolls.

About 2,100 people were shown as having worked between May 2009 and November 2010 at different capacities and have together drawn salary running into several crores.“We have asked details of employment in OC to cross-examine whether all the employees have taken their salaries and paid taxes. We will also be checking whether the gather rolls and other records were manipulated or not,” an I-T official said.The move assumes significance as Central Vigilance Commission has received complaints of “fraudulent” recruitment process undertaken by the Organising Committee, sources said. They said that CVC has also asked the Chief Vigilance Officer of the Sports Ministry to probe irregularities in the whole employment process.

The OC has at present about 250 employees who are being reassured in a phased manner, sources said. The anti-corruption watchdog is enquiring into over 30 complaints related to alleged corruption in Games works carried out by different civic and construction agency. It includes overlays works, workforce selection, hiring of equipment and public relation connected projects executed by OC.Besides, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered four FIRs naming some of the close aides of OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi for alleged criminal conspiracy and financial irregularities in executing certain contracts.

OC inflated list of overlays to favour vendors

2011-01-11T07:33:00.000+05:30

Officials of the Common wealth Games Organizing Committee led by Suresh Kalmadi are in for fresh problem with the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit having found that OC had reduced items from overlays by up to 58% without affecting the Games."As this does not seem to have affected the overlays work later on, it clearly establishes that quantities were inflated at the time of scoping and tendering," the audit said. The CAG observed that "the possibility of this inflation to give undue favour to vendors cannot be ruled out in the light of several other indications of collusion."

Interestingly, as per the tender guidelines, the vendors were required to submit experience certificate of providing overlays for at least one major multi-sporting occasion such as Olympics, CWG or Asian Games for pre-qualification. But the audit found that none of the four vendors who were declared qualified had submitted the certificate. If the actual cost and estimation lastly authorized by the government is taken into account, the overlays bill should not have exceeded Rs 450 crore. This was also the figure OC had initially projected for overlays in 2007.

The Kalmadi-led OC had initially drawn up an overlays budget estimate of Rs 450 crore in July 2007. This was inflated to Rs 870 crore in September 2009 when it was presented before the sports ministry. This was further enhanced to Rs 948 crore a month later when extra provision for some security and technology related items was added. But the finance ministry directed the OC to reduce this budget estimate, which it then brought it down to Rs 713 crore, including a contingency of Rs 40 crore, in October 2009. Finally, the government accorded approval for Rs 687 crore in January 2010.

Delhi searches for legacy after CWG

2011-01-11T07:21:00.000+05:30

Three months ago, the Common wealth Games in New Delhi closed on a triumphant note with many Indians daring that the event had proven pessimists wrong. Organisers were delighted the stadiums had hosted 11 days of international, multi-sport action without any of the major disasters predicted by many observers. But such excitement faded quickly after the 6,000 athletes left the city, with attention focusing instead on the vast budget, which ballooned to an estimated $6 billion dollars, and a series of corruption scandals. The Games' sporting legacy has also been hard to recognize as venues remain locked up and public eagerness dissipates despite an impressive medal haul by the host nation, which came second in the table behind Australia.

"These venues will turn into white elephants to be eaten by ants," warned O.P Bhatia, who was in charge of the new netball arena that he complains has remained idle since the end of the Games on October 14.The $63-million Thyagaraj Stadium, now handed over to the city government's education department, is an all-round sports complex that Bhatia grumbles is still not open to the limited community or students."The main Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium also lies idle and it will go to ruins if not utilised," Bhatia said.The Nehru stadium, built in the 1980s, was given a major upgrade and a stunning new roof to ready it for the athletics and the opening and closing ceremonies. But its future role is uncertain.

"India did well in the Games and if these facilities are freely available to our young men and women then the country would progress its performance in international events," said Bhatia, now a temporary sports administrator. Many sports in Delhi are also struggling to reap the benefits from the Games, which were meant to promote exercise and healthy living."We are begging for training space and although there is so much available in the new stadiums, nothing is being given to us," Amateur Boxing Federation secretary general P.K.M. Raja told AFP.The Sports Authority of India (SAI) said the venues were still in limbo due to red tape but promised rapid action.

Somdev gets wild card for Australian Open

2011-01-08T09:31:00.000+05:30

Somdev Devvarman has been awarded a important wild card into the men's singles main draw of the Australian Open to be held in Melbourne from January 17 to 30.According to Tennis Australia, the Indian has been given a wild card in recognition of his performances in 2010. He first insolvent into the top 100 and then won singles gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi and then the Asian Games in Guangzhou against quality opposition.

Tennis Australia started giving one wild card each in men's and women's singles seven years ago. Anil Khanna, president of the Asian Tennis Federation said: " I am very happy Somdev has got the wild card. He richly deserves it." Somdev was happy about the good news. " I am keen to make compensation for my presentation in the Chennai Open," he told reporters.To be sure this is a break which has come in time for Somdev. After the highs of 2010, he began badly at the Chennai Open when he lost in the first round. Somdev did try to play down the loss but it's no secret that losing at a venue which he loves was hard to digest.

Everyone knows how hard it is to qualify for a Grand Slam and Somdev can now focus on his preparations. As one who puts in hours in training, Somdev needs to use this chance well.Some of his former coaches in Chennai who worked with him six years ago, say that Somdev should not stand three feet behind the baseline and hope to win points. But the bigger issue is one cannot run down Somdev for one first round exit at the Chennai Open. He is aware this is a big year for him as staying in the top 100 will be top precedence.

Games cyclists dominate awards

2011-01-08T09:26:00.000+05:30

Pro Tour cyclist Julian Dean received a boost in front of the weekend's national championships when he was named Male Road Rider of the Year at the Road and Track Awards in Christchurch last night. Dean was one of five riders to be honoured by BikeNZ at a particular function in Christchurch ahead of the national championships.BikeNZ is the umbrella body embracing all national bike and cycling organisations with Road and Track, BMX, Mountain Bike and Schools.The awards also went to Common wealth Games medallists with Jesse Sergent voted male track rider of the year, Alison Shanks female track rider of the year, Sam Webster best emerging talent and Linda Villumsen female road rider.

"We felt it important to honour our riders who achieve great things in our sport. While we money the efforts and performances of all of our riders, as a very young organisation we felt it was now an suitable time to increase the awareness of these awards," said BikeNZ CEO, Kieran Turner."For a sport our road and track cyclists bat above their weight on the world scene. This year we have a record five riders on the Pro Tour in the men and four in the women. And on the track we have established ourselves as a world class group of riders, coaches and support staff."And while we have big plans going forward and it is great to celebrate success at the sharp end of our sport tonight, we are also committed to promote cycling as a fun and healthy form of sport and recreation for the whole family and a great way to get around town."

Dean enjoyed his most winning year on the Pro Tour in 2010, again competing in all three Grand Tours for his Garmin Transitions team - the Giro D'italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana. He had three podiums in the Tour de France - second in stages four and 18 and third in stage 20 - and two podiums on the Giro - second on stage 18 and third on stage 10 - to complete an wonderful year.Villumsen has celebrated her first full year in New Zealand colours in style. The former Danish rider, who has been based in New Zealand for several years, switched allegiances to this country in 2010. The HTC Colombia pro rider became the first New Zealander to win a medal at the world road championships, winning a bronze in the time trial in Melbourne. She followed that with a silver medal in the same event at the Common wealth Games in Delhi.

Owen Ellington - Personality of the Year

2011-01-07T11:27:00.000+05:30

The outstanding personality for 2010 ought to be someone who has made a important part to the welfare of Jamaicans here and abroad. This person ought to demonstrate courage against the odds. This person ought to be a symbol of hope and a unifying figure. Last year saw some wonderful achievements. There was Christopher Gayle's triple century in a Test match at Galle, Sri Lanka. By making 333 runs, he has made the highest score by a West Indian, outside of the Caribbean; and highest score by any batsman against Sri Lanka.

Gayle is only one of four men in the history of Test cricket to have scored two triple centuries, the other three being world record holder Brian Lara, Australian Don Bradman and Indian Virender Sehwag. Gayle's achievement was remarkable as it was in his first match after being deposed as captain, showing character in the face of adversity.

Then there was Veronica Campbell-Brown, 2010 CAC Athlete of the Year, who is the reigning Olympic 200m champion and the second most-decorated female athlete in Olympic history in terms of gold medals. In March, Veronica extended her inspiring championship records by taking the World Indoor title in 60m in Doha, Qatar. In the outdoor season, she set world season leading times at 100m (10.78) and 200m (21.98), and remained unbeaten at 200m.

Then there was Greg Christie, contractor general, who had out-standing compliance from govern-ment agencies and who is seen as a symbol of courage and anti-corruption. Furthermore, the careful reports and up-to-date website demonstrates profession-alism, clearness and competency. And not to mention Karl Hendrick-son, retired business tycoon who leads a family business in baking, hospitality and chicken business which employs approximately 3,000 persons. The conglomerate in 2010 acquired The Jamaica Pegasus, while donating $50 million to Jamaica College. Mixing entrepreneurship with education is a winning formula.

Geva desires netball to have Olympic status

2011-01-07T11:15:00.000+05:30

England goal defence Geva Mentor is confident netball will be awarded Olympic status, in spite of losing its bid for addition to London 2012 and Rio 2016.entor, 26, who helped England to win bronze at the 2010 Common wealth Games in Delhi, has 52 caps for her country. The Bournemouth-born player told BBC Solent: "It would be the pinnacle for netball to have Olympic status and it would do wonders for the sport."It may not happen in my playing career but I want to see it in my lifetime."

The International Olympic Committee approved netball as an Olympic sport in 1995, but it has still failed to gain categorization as a contribution sport at the games, and lost out to rugby sevens and golf for Rio 2016.Mentor argues that netball will need to gain more support before it can compete with other sports on a global scale."Netball needs someone to take that first step," she added. "The media have a big part to play in raising the popularity of the sport, as well as sponsorship. We need a big-name sponsor and a bit more coverage.

"The participation levels are there, it is just about maintaining that and we'll be up there."We know we can't fight against football and rugby but to have more credit and insight into the sport would be great."Mentor divides her time between competing in Australia at the ANZ Championship and playing in England with the international squad.She won the ANZ Championship with Adelaide Thunderbirds last season but, after spending three years at the club, she has now joined Melbourne Vixens.

Peers awarded final Hobart wildcard

2011-01-06T16:59:00.000+05:30

Common wealth Games gold medallist Sally Peers has been awarded the final wildcard to the 2011 Hobart International. Currently ranked No.154 in the world, Peers enjoyed her come through season in 2010 when she claimed a bronze medal in singles and gold medal in doubles at the Common wealth Games, and reached the second round of the US Open after defeating world No.54 Aleksandra Wozniak of Canada. After making her WTA Tour debut at the Hobart International in 2009, Peers was eager to be returning for her second main draw appearance at the competition.

“I expected to play in the qualifying rounds so I’m looking forward to entering the main draw and care up my good form,” Peers said.“It’s such a quality field of players to be here once again is a great honour and I will try to play the best I can. Hopefully next year I can directly enter the major draw.”Peers also received a wildcard to this year’s Brisbane International and enjoyed her second win against a top 100 player by defeating world No.25 Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) in the first round.

After awarding a wildcard last week to Australian Open Play-off winner Olivia Rogowska, Hobart International Tournament Director Michael Roberts was pleased to invite another rising star in Australian tennis to Hobart.“Sally performed very well last year with success locally on the ITF Pro Tour as well as abroad at the Common wealth Games and the US Open” said Roberts.“She’s already had a great start to the year and will have the support of fans as she looks to carry on playing well and take her season to the next level in Hobart.”

CBI had fifty questions for Kalmadi

2011-01-06T16:44:00.000+05:30

The CWG 2010 Organising Committee chief was grilled for about nine hours by the investigating agency regarding alleged financial irregularities in conducting the sports event When the world highly praised Common wealth Games 2010, the chairman of the Organising Committee Suresh Kalmadi who had a smile on his face, most likely wouldn't have thought that a few months later he would be grilled by half-a-dozen CBI sleuths.Kalmadi, who reached the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office at about 10 am on Wednesday, was questioned for nine long hours and left the premises at about 6.30 pm.

"He was questioned about financial irregularities in the Queen's Baton Relay held in London and faced a questionnaire consisting of about fifty questions," a senior CBI official said. CBI sources said that Kalmadi was asked about information of the procedure which was followed in awarding certain contracts and how the money was paid. Officers of the investigating agency had earlier raided Kalmadi's Delhi and Pune residences to look for documents and evidence in association with three FIRs which they have lodged.

The agency had earlier supposed that there were discrepancies regarding certain contracts that were awarded to various firms totalling several hundred crores."He was questioned extensively on the procedures followed by the OC in assigning contracts," sources stated. Kalmadi was also reportedly asked about the Organising Committee's coordination and involvement with other civic agencies during and before the Common wealth Games. "We have recovered a few documents and vital leads from raids which we had conducted at his residences and we asked questions based on those documents and clues which we gathered during our probe," sources said.

Shaunae athlete of the year

2011-01-05T12:01:00.000+05:30

In an unparalleled decision, the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) selected top junior athlete Shaunae Miller as the Athlete of the Year for her astral gold medal and record-breaking performances in 2010.The 16-year-old 11th grader at St Augustine's College was presented the important Charlie Major Sr award by Charlie Major Jr and Andrea Charlton during the BAAA luncheon at the Sheraton resort, Cable Beach, Sunday.Miller not only got the No.1 ranking in the women's 400 metres with her victory at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Moncton, Canada, but she also posted a national junior record and was the gold medallist at both the Carifta Games and CAC Junior Championships where she recognized a meet record as well.

Those feats helped her to also cart home both the Dianna Lynn Thompson Junior Female Athlete of the Year and the Anita Doherty Junior Female Track Athlete of the Year awards.But her biggest triumph came in her win over Donald Thomas, the CAC and Common wealth Games gold medallist and IAAF Continental Cup silver medallist and Chris 'Fireman' Brown, the IAAF World Indoor 400 metre gold medallist, at the year-ending gala awards celebrations."I was excited that I won, but I was a little shocked," said a soft-spoken Miller. "I just have to keep my head high and just continue doing what I have been doing. I'm going to go out and try my best to do it again this year."

Her coach, Dianne Woodside, said the feat is just the tip of the iceberg. "She had a very productive year. I think she deserves it," Woodside said. "She has the World Youth Championships in France. She is very young, so we won't put any pressure on her for World Championships. But if she's ready, she will go to it too."Woodside, by the way, was named the Henry Crawford Coach of the Year, an achievement she shared with her Club Monica athletes."I'm quite honoured. It's not something that I likely, but I'm just glad that I came out on top," said Woodside, who also serves as the president of the revised Bahamas Track and Field Coaches Association.

Civic agencies come under CBI scanner

2011-01-05T11:55:00.000+05:30

The Central Bureau of Investigation has widened the ambit of its inspection to uncover the irregularities in organising Delhi Common wealth Games. As the investigating agency intensifies its inquiry into the CWG scam , it will also probe the role of agencies such as the CPWD, NDMC, DDA and the MCD, besides that of the Organizing Committee , which were concerned in the implementation of projects relating to different aspects of the sporting event.The development does not augur well for the civic agencies, or for that matter OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi , who will appear before the CBI for questioning here on Wednesday. He is likely to be questioned about his alleged role in the scam, particularly in the three cases already registered by CBI on the Queen’s Baton Relay and the TSR system.

He’s also likely to be questioned about the contents of the mutilated CD improved from his residence. The CBI, in keeping with its efforts to get to the bottom of the scam, has been conducting searches at the OC headquarters at the NDCC Tower here almost on a daily basis. While it has managed to secure quite a few files pertaining to the three cases already registered by it, agency officials have, in the last couple of days, started investigation for documents on probe points such as, overlays, Games Village, catering, opening and final ceremonies, street-scaping, venue-upgradation, accreditation cards purchase and distribution and waste-management.

Separate agencies were tasked with the job of executing the contracts under each head, and the agency believes that irregularities were dedicated in each aspect. Sleuths of the CBI visited the OC head-office on Monday, and again on Tuesday, in an attempt to zero in on papers relating to each aspect. “Apart from the OC, agencies such as the CPWD, NDMC, DDA and the MCD too have come under our scanner,” said an official. The CPWD, for instance, had upgraded five venues, with the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Complex, Indira Gandhi Stadium Complex, Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Swimming Pool Complex , Major Dhyanchand National Stadium and Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range for the CWG held here between October 3 and 14, 2010.

Urban dev ministry draws flak for CWG projects delay in 2010

2011-01-04T17:50:00.000+05:30

2010 was not a memorable year for the Urban Development Ministry as delays in completion of Common wealth Games projects almost became an millstone round its neck. Nothing went right for the nodal ministry for coordinating the execution of all Games-related projects.As head of the Empowered Group of Ministers for the timely execution of Games projects including the opening and closing ceremonies, Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy faced the flak for the mess in construction of stadia and the Games Village.

The preparatory work for the sporting extravaganza kept the ministry busy for better part of the 2010. Despite the normal review meetings chaired by Reddy, the works moved in a snail's pace failing deadlines. However, after the Games, Reddy cracked the whip on EMAAR MGF, the developers of the Games Village, who erred on several counts. The ministry directed the DDA to confiscate the bank guarantee of Rs 183 crore furnished by EMAAR MGF for its failure to honour the contract.

During 2010, the ministry took initiatives to create focus on sanitation by launching sanitation ratings of 423 cities.Along with the Human Resource Development Ministry, it jointly launched the National School Sanitation Initiative with the objective of bringing about much needed behavioural change which is a key to victory of any sanitation-related initiative. The ministry's flagship programme Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) finished five years of its implementation and more funds were released for urban infrastructure projects under the scheme this year.

Suresh Kalmadi agrees to head Pune power panel

2011-01-04T17:38:00.000+05:30

Congress MP Suresh Kalmadi has finally conveyed his readiness to understand the chairmanship of the Pune District Electrification Coordination Committee (PDECC), which had become defunct after he refused to take up the post as the senior-most MP in the district. Kalmadi just sent a letter to the office of electrical inspector and the district collectorate expressing his willingness to accept the post. He wrote that he could not accept the post earlier as he was busy organizing the Common wealth Games (CWG) in New Delhi in October last year.

The PDECC, a district-level committee to monitor quality of power supply and consumer satisfaction, had become obsolete after Kalmadi declined the offer to chair the body and facilitate its meetings. RTI activist Vivek Velankar, who had accessed the records on the issue, told that a monthly review of the services provided by the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited by the committee was necessary.“Citizens are not fulfilled with the services of the MSEDCL. Interruptions in power supply despite paying extra charge, power cut every Thursday in the name of maintenance and problems in distribution of electric bills are the most important issues,” he said.

The state government had passed an order in July 2005 to form district-level committees to monitor power supply and customer satisfaction as per section 166 (5) of the Electricity Act, 2003. As per the order, the senior-most MP from the district will be chosen as the chairman of the committee and all members of the legislative assembly in the district will be members of the committee. Officers of the state government and electricity company as well as consumer representatives will also be members of the committee.As per the state government order, such a committee was earlier formed in Pune district under the chairmanship of Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar. This committee held two meetings in October 2007 and November 2008.

James Magnussen eyes a golden career

2011-01-03T10:44:00.000+05:30

PORT Macquarie's own Common wealth Gold medallist James Magnussen is for a larger a better year than 2010.And considering the 19-year won relay gold at the Delhi Common wealth Games, his prospect are sky high.Magnussen rushed the gold award from his English rivals in the last 50 metres of the 4 x 100m freestyle relay at the XIX Common wealth Games in Delhi.The Aussies' team of sprint king Eamon Sullivan, Kyle Richardson and Tommaso D'Orsonga left Magnussen in second place behind England's Adam Brown with 50m remaining. But the Port Macqquarie superfish stormed home to win by a body length.

"I sort of knew where he was, and I knew his style of swimming, so I was not at all worried by him," Magnussen explained."I knew I could get up over him in the end."It's a dream to win a gold medal for Australia."I'm thrilled."As confident as the youngster sounds, representing his country at the Common wealth Games came somewhat surprisingly."It was a lot more than I expected to occur to me for the year," Magnussen said.The plan was to just get settled in Sydney and get myself into a routine."But 2010 held much more for Magnussen than winning Commonwealth gold.

"I was able to travel to six different countries," he explained."I had the opportunity to meet a lot of world-class swimmers from all over the world."And he is off again. After spend a week home with family for Christmas, Magnussen has headed back to the big smoke and won't be back in his native land of Port Macquarie for some time."I had a really nice time while being back here," he said."It was good to catch up with friends and family.""Unfortunately chances are this will be the last time I'm in Port Macquarie before London (2012 Olympic Games)."Before concentrating on the upcoming Olympics, Magnussen must first competition the Australian swimming championships in April.

Games star in hopeful come back

2011-01-03T10:36:00.000+05:30

She was one of athletics' best-performing females in 2010 but Nikki Hamblin started 2011 lining up against the blokes.The double Common wealth Games silver medallist was a late entry into Saturday's Tauranga Twilight meet at the Tauranga Domain, skipping her expert 800m and 1500m and moving up a distance in its place. The English-born, Cambridge-based 22-year-old took on a quality line-up in the feature race, the Waikato-Bay of Plenty competition 3000m, and ran gamely to finish 10th in the 23-strong field in 9m 18.41s."This time of year is very much an injury risk for me because I am running the long miles and to come and run around the track is always a bit chancey but I'm glad I came because now I've got a gauge as to where my fitness is," Hamblin said.

"I'm about where I thought I'd be so it's onwards and upwards. I haven't done any specific training, just concentrating on mileage and not doing any fast stuff, so it could have been anywhere between 9min and 10min."I tried to find a guy running about 9.15 pace which worked pretty well."She might have been a relative unknown 12 months ago but Hamblin's presentation in Delhi put paid to that.Within four days, her silvers in over 1500m and 800m - behind Kenyan Olympic champion Nancy Langat - reignited female track running in this country.It was the first time a New Zealand woman had won a Games track medal since Barbara Moore 20 years ago and Hamblin connected Lorraine Moller as the only other woman - and fifth runner overall - to have won two persons track medals at one occasion.

The only downside to Delhi was her 1500m time, which was an agonising 0.07secs short of a qualifying mark for this year's world championships in Korea, but Hamblin isn't letting that affect her plans."I'm sure I'll be able to run my qualifying time when I go to Europe in June and July so I'm not going to chase it in Australia or New Zealand just so I can get that solid base built up."I need a lot of power so I can last until August because it's a long term and ideally I only want to peak once."Auckland's Jonathan Jackson chased down American Cory Chaffee to win the 3000m title in 8m 31.02s, while Hamilton Hawks runner Mohamed Ali was the first WBOP athlete in fourth, clocking 8m 46.03s.Organisers of the annual meet attracted nearly 300 junior and senior entries, including decathletes Brent Newdick - who also won silver in Delhi - and Scott McLaren.

Saina Nehwal: Indian star of the year

2010-12-31T12:11:00.000+05:30

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

2010-12-31T11:43:00.000+05:30

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

2010-12-30T16:40:00.000+05:30

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

2010-12-30T16:28:00.000+05:30

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

2010-12-29T18:05:00.000+05:30

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

2010-12-29T16:01:00.000+05:30

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

2010-12-28T10:18:00.000+05:30

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

2010-12-28T09:59:00.000+05:30

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

2010-12-27T11:33:00.000+05:30

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

2010-12-27T11:27:00.000+05:30

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

2010-12-23T08:14:00.000+05:30

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.