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| SPORTS TRIBUNE | Saturday, July 21, 2001, Chandigarh, India |
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Expectations
from Delhi Afro-Asian Games Samaranch
exits after 21 years Hard-hitting
Richie mesmerises Yorkshire Sports goods
industry, NGO on warpath |
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Expectations from Delhi Afro-Asian Games THE hosting of any major international sport by India necessarily poses some pertinent questions, related in the main to the expectations in terms of medals by the men and women wearing the national colours. These expectations should in fact have been certainties when a country decides to sink crores of rupees for a project like the Afro Asian extravaganza. Given India’s less than impressive image on the international sports field questions like possibilities of medals in such multi-event games can always be a little embarrassing. One cannot but wonder and perhaps even view with awe the audacity and courage of the sports administrators who continue to press for hosting of major internationals without being able to give convincing performance aspect of Indian sportspersons. It does indeed need courage to project a positive image of Indian performance while arguing the case for hosting an international meet. It is not as if the administrators are ignorant of the true and dismal picture of performances but they are also optimists of a rare variety found only India. It is this confidence, call it anything, that has brought to India any number of major international fixtures. India may not have won medals on the field of sport but the sports organisers have ensured that the country has a record of sorts for opting and holding disciplines without a thought for the glory of the home country. That is generosity of a kind not found anywhere else in the world. The Afro Asian Games, to be held in New Delhi from November 3 to 11, is one such example of a project which could have only emanated from an Indian think tank. The preamble went through some teething problem and the prelude was hardly a confidence building exercise. But once the officials managed to convince the Prime Minister there was no stopping the march towards the preparations. It did not matter if the budget crossed the original estimate, boomeranging to over twice what was floated. The Rs 50 crore exercise has now crossed the Rs 100 crore mark. And after all the debate and paper work it is now fairly certain that everything is going according to schedule (one hopes so) and the games will be held as scheduled. What is not certain is the participating angels. An Afro-Asian Games means the best of the talent available from the two continents with India as hosts allowed to fill in one spot. Though there are just about four months to go it is not yet certain if all the top sportspersons will be making their way to India for the inaugural sports venture on the Afro-Asian lines. At the same time it could be said with some certainty that top formers from the continents will not be available for the competition in Delhi in disciplines such as athletics swimming and football. Also confirmed is the fact that Pakistan and South Korea will be tied up with the more important Champions Hockey to be held in Pakistan at the same time. The hockey competition of the Games will have been devalued considerably without these two countries. And then there is the question of the participation of Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes in the tennis discipline as the dates of the Afro-Asian Games clash with the World Doubles Tournament to be held in Bangalore. The two players have made it very clear as to where their preferences lie. Unless the Bangalore schedule is changed India will be fielding a tennis team without Paes and Bhupathi. At the beginning of the Afro Asian Games exercise it was given out that India would be winning a few medals. Since then the tone has changed. No one is now talking about medals for India. It is an Intercontinental venture with Africa versus Asia. This change of loyalties is a smart move to escape possible criticism in the event of India not doing as well as proclaimed by the officials. Let us now have a close look at what exactly can be achieved from the Indian participants in the Games. Given the possible vacancies among the top places Indians can well hope to generate some medals from the athletics front with the
throwers (both men and women) having a fairly decent chance. The relays squad too could mint some medal. One hopes sincerely that the competitors could come up with some “clear and legal” efforts on the run- up to the Games to boost Indian hopes. One can do without the euphoria and mirages which preceded the Sydney Olympics. India had some success in the boxing competition of the Asian Games two years ago but it would amount to over-optimism to think of any medals in the competition at the Afro-Asian Games in this sport. Boxing is a popular sport in Africa and the standard is rather high, much higher than can be imagined here. While acknowledging the fact that the sport has made considerable ground in recent years in this country the boxers still have a long way to go before making an impression in the international “ring”. The sport to which India could look forward to gaining some honours is shooting. Young Abhinav Bindra has been making a name for himself in the various international competitions while Jaspal Singh Rana and Anjali Ved Pathak have it in them to pitch in with some fine showing. Anjali Ved Pathak, if one remembers, finished eighth in the shooting competition at the Sydney Olympics. Weightlifting has received considerable boost with the medal showing of Malleshwari at Sydney last year and Kunjarani Devi’s brilliant fetes in China recently and it is quite within the capabilities of the women lifters to pick up medals in the Afro-Asian Games. The men, however, will have to really sweat it out to make an impression on the lifting stage of the Games. And this leaves women’s hockey. Indian women have done well enough on the Asian front, finishing second to South Korea in the Asian Championships and should be able to finish among the medal winners in the Afro-Asian Games even though the challenge posed by South Africa and Zimbabwe cannot be written off. South Korea will of course start as favourites. Spotting medals in a major competition like the Afro Asian Games is no easy task but given the ground realities and the tight international schedule and commitment of the top sports persons of the two continents it will be not a surprise if Indian competitors are able to come up with some face saving performances even if by default. If they do and one sincerely hopes so, it will go a long way in justifying the hosting of the Afro Asian Games. Som justification is most certainly needed! |
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Samaranch exits
after 21 years THE Moscow Olympics of 21 years ago certainly had their meaningful moments. It was, after all, when Steve Ovett beat Sebastian Coe and then Coe beat Ovett, not to mention when Britain’s greatest athlete, Daley Thompson, won the first of his two Olympic gold medals in the decathlon. Nevertheless, Jimmy Carter’s campaign to strangle the event, because of the then Soviet Union’s intervention in Afghanistan, succeeded in inflicting serious damage on the quality of those games. It was the Olympic movement’s lowest point. The subsequent climb back to the forefront of world sport has been in no small part due to the ambition of Juan Antonio Samaranch, who stepped down on Monday — the day before his 81st birthday — after 21 years in office. Although their countries’ athletes stayed away in 1980, many International Olympic Committee members slipped in and out of Moscow for the preceding IOC session to cast a vote for Samaranch. He had become an IOC member in 1966 and from that moment was always working towards the presidency. He followed the route of his predecessor, the Irishman Lord Killanin, becoming head of the press commission that gave him a public image and then “chef de protocol”, which meant he had cause to meet all the IOC members. Samaranch never regarded his fascist past as a hindrance, and when Franco’s regime was over he used his friendship with King Juan Carlos to secure the post of Spanish ambassador to the Soviet Union. This enabled him to lobby the 11 votes of the Communist Eastern Bloc and entertain other visiting IOC members in the run-up to the Moscow games. Amid all the turmoil of the boycott, the vote for a new IOC president was almost a mundane foregone conclusion. Samaranch’s opponents had little to commend them: Jim Worrall, a Canadian judge, was always regarded as a jokey figure; Willi Daume, the organiser of the Munich games in 1972, was getting too old; Marc Hodler was a reluctant candidate and came from the world of winter sport, which did not enjoy the Olympic popularity it does today. Samaranch swept to victory by an overall majority on the first vote. Immediately after the games he went to Lausanne in Switzerland for the ceremony of handing over the keys to the IOC headquarters - and has stayed there ever since. His home has always been the same small suite in the Lausanne Palace Hotel. A few weeks after his arrival, Samaranch had lunch with the IOC director Monique Berlioux, who told him Lausanne was not big enough for both of them. Five years later she left, after a row. Her departure cut the last link with old-style amateurism by which the IOC had steadfastly stood. Ever since, Samaranch has worked to modernise and strengthen the Olympic movement. Some of his members have been uncomfortable with his methods, but none could object to the rising income, influence and growth he produced. In 1972, the IOC had to borrow money from the Munich games’ organising committee; today its wealth is measured in hundreds of millions of dollars, even though almost three-quarters of its income goes to organising cities, national Olympic committees and international sports federations. Samaranch is described as having brought more commercialism into the games. He certainly has done so, but even in 1980 the IOC had already lost its amateur ethos and was playing by a new set of rules. Two years previously there was only one candidate to stage the 1984 games, Los Angeles, and instead of operating by the Olympic Charter they produced their own set of rules. The IOC gave way to the Californian style of doing business. Since there was no public subsidy, the Los Angeles games had to make a profit and did — $ 225 million — under the capable direction of Peter Ueberroth. Samaranch was impressed by Ueberroth and wanted him as an IOC member. He brought him to East Berlin for the 1985 IOC session only for his executive board members to rule him out; some saw him as a likely candidate for the presidency and didn’t fancy the competition. Samaranch was aware of the dangers of relying solely on TV funding and created the Olympic programme (TOP), granting companies such as Kodak, Visa and Coca-Cola the usage of the famous rings on their products — but still no advertising in the arenas. There was some squirming among his older members, but this quickly generated a four-yearly income of $ 300 million and rising. Another tradition was also ended in the quest for profit. In 1986, Samaranch announced that he wanted the winter games moved forward by two years in order to alternate with the summer event. As one US TV mogul explained to him, they could no longer stand the cost of two Olympics in one year’s budget. The effect was that the winter games had a period of exposure to themselves, and TV rights soared. The Americans alone now pay $ 1billion for each summer games. This has given Samaranch the opportunity not only to increase the size and reach of the games but also of the IOC itself. He virtually turned himself into a head of state, visiting Presidents, Prime Ministers and other world leaders. It was not all pomposity and vanity. It meant when there was trouble ahead in an Olympic city, he could talk to the head of state as well as the organising committee of the games. Thus, there were long discussions between the IOC and South and North Korea just to ensure the rest of the Communist world would be in Seoul in 1988. But like so many men of power, Samaranch could not see the time to go. Trouble was on the horizon in 1986 at the session to decide the venue for the 1992 games — the wining, dining and other hospitality for the IOC members was grotesque. — By arrangement with the Guardian |
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Hard-hitting Richie mesmerises Yorkshire HIMACHAL
Ranji Trophy middle order batsman Richie Kapoor has made a huge impact in the current Yorkshire League matches in England. Richie, who hails from Nahan in Himachal Pradesh and represents Bilaspur district, gave a string of superlative performances with the willow winning accolades from one and all. Playing for Kexborough the 24-year-old Richie made all take notice of his batting abilities. With a combination of raw power, elegant strokeplay and exquisite timing Kapoor launched a sensational blitz against Armitage Bridge, which fetched him unbeaten 182— a new competition record—which included 12 sixes and 13 fours helping his side compile 229 for nought in the allotted 14 overs. Kapoor followed this scintillating innings with a terrific century against Drakes Premiership rivals Lascelles Hall. The hard-hitting batsman came to the crease in the 16th over. He was undefeated till the 47th over having slammed 156 in 131 minutes, including 12 sixes and 11 fours. This was the second highest individual tally in the premiership of the season. The awesome batting display of power hitting produced a 132-run partnership with skipper Neil Hinchliffe. The irrepressible Kapoor then chanced his arm claiming three for 35 as Lascelles Hall just managed to survive and take a point, finishing on 186 for eight. Kapoor undoubtedly was star of Barnsley’s score of 223 all out. Opening the innings the doughty batsman tore the Academy bowling attack apart on his way to blistering 111, which was studded with 19 fours and one hit over the fence. Kapoor faced just 96 balls and was out caught in the deep trying to clear the fence. Earlier, the Barnsley Indian star blasted Rotterham bowlers to all parts of the ground scoring sparkling 129 with the help of nine sixes and six fours. In all, he notched up three centuries in his last four outings. Kapoor, who first visited England in 1996 with the touring Bombay Cavaliers, said of his decision to play in England:” We don’t have any cricket back home during the summer and I really enjoy coming here.” Kapoor, who plays along with Madhya Pradesh’s Amay Khuresia, at present touring along with the Indian squad in Sri Lanka, and Mumbai’s opener Wasim Jaffer in league matches, won appreciation for his straight driven sixes and powerful cover drives. Last year too he stood out owing to his power display hitting 36 sixes in just three matches. He has also picked up 16 wickets with his off-spin bowling, highlighting his utility to the team. He also plays sixes tournament in Bangkok. The Nahan batsman, whom former India fast bowler Yograj Singh thinks very highly of, needs to translate such deeds in the premier domestic championships. This would certainly do a world of good to the future of the promising player of the state whose players have yet to make a mark at the national level in the most popular game of the subcontinent. |
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Sports
goods industry, NGO on warpath THE battle lines have been drawn. But for a change this time the contestants are not slugging it out in the middle of the field. On the contrary, the rivals are fighting through boardrooms and the medium being angry official communiques. The crux of the matter is that the lucrative Jalandhar-based sports goods manufacturing industry is facing the wrath of a powerful New Delhi based non-government organisation (NGO) — Global March Against Child Labour — which has alleged that child labour is rife in the industry. A report released last month by the NGO titled ‘Kick Child Labour Out of Football’ has brought the million dollar industry to its knees due to the negative publicity the report has generated in India and abroad. Industry sources said it was a bad omen, particularly for football exporters, as the 2002 World Cup is just around the corner. Industry barons are livid and say the NGO is playing into the hands of people with vested interests. Months before the 1998 World Cup, the same NGO had released a report titled ‘A Sporting Chance: Tackling Child Labour in India’s Sports Goods Industry’. The report, at that point of time, had a devastating effect as overseas buyers, including big names like Adidas, Mitre and Umbo bitterly questioned the ethics of involving children in the stitching of footballs. The impact was destructive, Puma — decided to take its business out of India. Figures procured from the Sports Goods Export Promotion Council show how the negative publicity generated by the NGOs report an adverse impact on the industry. Football exports, which till that year constituted a whopping 44 per cent of all the country’s sports goods exports, plummeted by nearly 23 per cent from Rs 125.54 crore in 1998-99 to Rs102 crore in 1999-2000. Consequent to the 1998 report, 32 sports goods exporters decided to fight back and formed the Sports Goods Foundation of India (SGFI). Sources reveal the SGFI represents the interests of nearly 92 per cent of all football manufacturing units in and around Jalandhar. The SGFI tried to stabilise itself and opted for a rehabilitation programme for children. The social protection and monitoring programme is the brainchild of the Chandigarh-based Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID) and World Federation of Sports Goods Industries (WFSGI) — a parent body of the SGFI. The Project Director of the SGFI, Mr Navdeep Singh, has questioned the `highly exaggerated’ figure of 10,000 children working in the industry, as claimed by the NGO. Moreover, he asserted that under the social protection programme, the SGFI in collaboration with the National Child Labour Project (NCLP), has adopted four schools in an effort to help the children enter the school system. He said health facilities and vocational training would be imparted to 27 more schools under the NCLP. “The NGO is advocating something without going into the ground realities. Moreover, if a child is not working in a hazardous industry, gets proper schooling, enough rest and recreational facilities, what’s wrong in a child working a skill which will stand him in good stead in the future” However, difficult times are ahead for football exporters with Chinese and Pakistani exporters posing stiff competition. And with the NGO’s claims of child labour, the sports goods manufacturing units have a lot on their hands. |
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Kudos to Ivanisevic for Wimbledon win Congratulations to Goran Ivanisevic for his first-ever grand slam victory in the world’s biggest and the most famous tournament, Wimbledon. For the past two seasons, everything was going wrong for him from injury to bad form, but he fought all that and went on to become the first-ever wild card entrant to win the title. Critics say that the rain disrupted semifinal changed his destiny but the truth is that a deserving person is destined to triumph, and that’s what happened with Goran. Off the court, Ivanisevic and Rafter are great friends but on court, neither was in a mood to gift the match away. It was a very close and sensational match and had a nail-biting finish. Rafter as a great sportsman hugged the new champion and for this he deserves a pat on his back. With the U.S. Open on the cards, let us wait and see how the Croatian digests this win and strives for another. Well done Goran! Keep it up. HANNY GANDHI
Chandigarh II Goran Ivanisevic of Croatia deserves high praise for winning the men’s singles final against Pat Rafter 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 9-7 in the thrilling final at Wimbledon. It was a wonderful display by both players. He is the first player to win one of the four Grand Slam crowns after entering on a wildcard. Really his dream has been realised. SUBHASH C. TANEJA
Rohtak Hockey win Kudos to the Indian lads who brought glory to the nation by winning the inaugural Junior Asia Cup (under-18) hockey title at Ipoh. They routed Uzbekistan in the final to romp home with the cup. They dominated over their rivals and pumped in goal after goal. That speaks volumes of India’s command. On the basis of their spectacular performance, Indian skipper Jugraj Singh, who emerged the top-scorer of the tournament with 14 goals, along with Suraj and Rajpal walked into an Asian-XI selected for future tournaments in the coming season. This augurs well for Indian hockey. TARSEM S. BUMRAH
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