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Bollywood shines at closing ceremony
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Orlando wins six gold medals, equals record
Dope case: hearing adjourned again
Now Bangladeshi shooter in sex scandal
ODIs a big challenge: Strauss
Lara regains touch
Lee wrecks SA
Sachin’s surgery today
Sporting Clube shock Mahindras
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Bollywood shines at closing ceremony
Melbourne, March 26 Sounds of conches, chimes and bhangra music reverberated before more than a lakh spectators at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as India, hosts of the next edition of the Games four years later in New Delhi, presented a breathtaking song and dance spectacle. “Shera”, the mascot of Delhi Games, was brought into the stadium accompanied by Indian global icons — former Miss World Priyanka Chopra and former Miss Universe Lara Dutta. A host of sporting icons including Sunil Gavaskar, Milkha Singh, Kapil Dev, Prakash Padukone, P.T. Usha, Anju Bobby George, Michael Ferreira, Ajit Pal Singh, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Karan Singh and Satpal took part in a parade, bringing the message of friendship, love and peace from India. The programme ended as the strains of music and dance built up to a crescendo and the stadium erupted in a dramatic pyrotechnics display featuring the three colours of the National Flag, launched off the roof of the Melbourne Cricket Club. The traditionally attired dancers then made formations to spell out the words “See you. Delhi 2010”. The music loving Australians were also enthralled by the presence of Bolloywood stars Aishwarya Rai, Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukherjee. A 45-second “India Showcase Video” was presented accompanied with music composed by Ranjit Barot. The short film showcased India as a nation of diverse cultures, magnificent landscapes and a rich heritage. The film ended on a visual of Isha Sharwani in a ‘namaste’ pose in front of the Qutub Minar and the actor was seen in the same position on the centrestage surrounded by dancers. With dancers with petals forming a rose, Aishwarya Rai appeared performing a dance and golden rays unfurled all around the stage to represent the sun and monuments of India and Delhi were projected on to the main stage. Action returned to the big screen as a dynamic film capturing the spirit of Delhi and the games was shown. As the Delhi 2010 logo was formed on the screens, the sounds of bhangra music filled the stadium. Saif and Rani, accompanied by 24 other dancers, presented a programme aptly titled “Delhi Dhamal”. More was in store for the spectators as a parade, led by 50 children waving the Tricolour, entered the stadium riding a spectacular float followed by a grand chariot drawn by puppet horses. On the first level of the float were percussionists, Taufiq Qureshi and Sivamani, the second was for sports legends and the third was for ‘Shera’ accompanied by Lara Dutta and Priyanka Chopra. A banner followed the float bearing the message “See you Delhi 2010”. Colourful, costumed characters representing Kathakali and Chhau dancers, elephants, camels, peacocks and butterflies, completed the procession. As a grand finale, Nigam, Shiamak Davar, Sunidhi Chauhan and Shreya Ghoshal sang the theme song for Delhi 2010. Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy composed the music while the lyrics were penned by Gulzaar. Jung adjudged best athlete
Ace shooter Samresh Jung might have missed out on a record seven gold medals but the Indian more than made up for it when he was adjudged the “Best Athlete of the 18th Commonwealth Games” here today. Jung, who won five gold, a silver and a bronze in pistol shooting competitions, becomes the first Indian ever to bag the honour in Commonwealth Games history. The 35-year old CISF Inspector from Delhi had set a target of winning an unprecedented seven gold in a single edition of the games at the start of the event. But a wandering mind in a shoot-out forced him to settle for bronze in the 25m centre fire pistol individual event before a malfunctioning gun in the standard fire pistol individual competition saw him end up ninth. Jung has already left for China where he will be competing in the ISSF Shooting World Cup. Mr H.J. Dora, Chef de Mission of the Indian contingent here, said: “It is a rare honour for an Indian athlete and it will inspire the younger generation in the country to come up with more medal winning performances in the international arena. The whole Indian contingent is proud of Jung’s exploits. The long periods of training and hard work put in by him has borne fruit.”
— PTI |
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Sharath bags TT gold
Melbourne, March 26 Third seed Sharath, favourite to win the title, fought a 1-2 deficit to prevail 4-3 against William Henzell of Australia in an engrossing thriller. With a capacity crowd at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre rooting for Henzell, the Indian had almost made a mess of it but kept his nerves in the decider to outlast the dogfight 11-5, 8-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-8, 7-11, 11-8. After the scores were level 7-7 in the decider, Sharath opened out with a series of forehand and backhand down the line shots to rattle the Australian and earn three match points at 10-7. The Indian lost one match point, but then unleashed a fine forehand that sealed the brave fight from Henzell. Sharath punched the air in elation, as members of the Indian contingent burst into spontaneous celebrations, while the locals fell silent. India thus got their second gold from the event, having earlier won the top honours in the men’s team competition apart from a bronze in women’s team category. TTFI hails paddlers golden feat
New Delhi: The Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) has hailed the feat of the paddlers for winning a “rich haul” of three medals, including two gold and a bronze, in the 18th Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. TTFI president Ajay Singh Chautala said the “whole country was proud of their great achievement”. He said all credit for the success of the TT team should go to the “players and coaches”. Achanta Sharat Kamal won the men’s singles gold after the men’s team had won the gold and the women’s team the bronze.
— PTI, OSR |
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Aussies whip Pak, win men’s hockey gold
Melbourne, March 26 Along with this, Australia also have the Olympic gold and the Champions Trophy and are now looking forward to the World Cup later this year in Germany. For Australia, who led 1-0 at half time, the goal scorers were Liam De Young (18th), Luke Doerner (58th) and Jamie Dwyer (61st). Pakistan played with only 10 men for the last 19 minutes of the match after Tariq Aziz was sent off. While Pakistan threatened on occasions, Australia, the world’s top-ranked team, was too strong in all departments of the game, in which they forced as many as nine penalty corners and converted two of them. Australian defenders Mark Knowles, skipper Bevan George and Dean Butler did not concede a single penalty corner. If it was hot for the crowd, the temperature on the pitch was not cool either with plenty of rough play and physical clashes. After a couple of green cards — one each in the first half — the match erupted into a brawl in the 41st minute that left Robert Hammond’s with a bloodied face and the umpire gave marching orders to Tariq Aziz. Tariq, in sheer frustration, struck Hammond in the mouth with his stick and the umpire had little hesitation in showing Aziz the red card. The Kookaburras took full advantage of their numerical strength and while Pakistan tried its best to keep the margin to a single goal, Luke Doerner slammed home from a penalty corner to double Australia’s lead (2-0). Two minutes later, a brilliant goal from Jamie Dwyer secured Australia a third straight Commonwealth gold medal with the Kookaburras defeating Pakistan 3-0.
— UNI |
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Orlando wins six gold medals, equals record
Melbourne, March 26 The 19-year-old equalled the record haul at one games achieved by Australian swimmers Ian Thorpe and Susie O’Neill, and Canadian swimmer Graham Smith, at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena. Orlando added golds in the rope, ball, clubs and ribbon to the team and all-round titles she picked up on the previous two days. “I’m actually a bit speechless right now but I’m glad I did it for my country, the sport and myself,” Orlando told reporters after surpassing her idol Erika Leigh Stirton’s five rhythmic gymnastics golds at the 1998 Games in Kuala Lumpur. O’Neill won six gold medals in Kuala Lumpur while Thorpe matched that in Manchester four years ago. Smith won six at the 1978 Games in Edmonton. Orlando, the highest-ranked rhythmic gymnast in Canada and North America, credited her success to a punishing training regime.
— Reuters |
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Dope case: hearing adjourned again
Melbourne, March 26 The cases were postponed as the Indian officials wanted more time to gather information to fight the charges against the duo, CAS Secretary General Matthieu Reeb said. “The Indian authorities requested more time to gather more information on the cases, and another 48 hours have been granted,” Reeb said. However, a final decision was likely by Tuesday or Wednesday, he said. The CAS hearings had earlier been adjourned on Friday after the Indian chef-de-mission H.J. Dora made his preliminary submissions. Dora had represented the two tainted weightlifters who returned to India after the scandal broke out. Dora, however refused to give any details of what transpired at the second hearing. “We attended the hearing, and have been told not to make any statement to the media. Whatever has to be said, the CAS will say,” he told PTI.
— PTI |
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Now Bangladeshi shooter in sex scandal
Melbourne, March 26 Taufiqur M. Rahman was nabbed yesterday for making sexual advances at an Australian paid workforce member in her early 20s but was released later on bail. Victoria Police Commissioner Christine Nixon said in a statement that “the 40-year-old man allegedly assaulted a female paid workforce member in her 20s”. Rahman was released on bail after five hours in detention following the intervention of the team manager. He has been charged with indecent and unlawful assaults, the same charges that were slapped on Indian masseur Diwan Asgar Nabi, who allegedly tried to kiss, fondle and embrace a 16-year-old Australian volunteer. The Indian masseur’s case has been posted for hearing on April 4 and 5. Following the scandal, the Bangladeshi chef-de-mission convened a meeting of athletes and officials in the village, where Rahman denied the charges. “The incident took place in an open space at the village,” said a Bangladeshi official who did not want to be quoted.
— PTI |
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ODIs a big challenge: Strauss
New Delhi, March 26 The 28-year-old said although it would be a big challenge to get the better of the hosts, his team was confident that the newcomers in the side will grab the opportunity to excel just as it happened in the Test series. “Guys who came in the Test series have done well and now there are some new players in the one-day side. The one-dayers will provide opportunity to newcomers to stake their claim,” he said. “The one-day series is a big challenge for us. India is a great one-day side but we are looking forward to carry forward the momentum of the Test series,” Strauss said in a press conference ahead of the first match to be played here on Tuesday. “The warm-up match was really useful workout. We have been practising specially for the one-dayers and we have done well in the Test series. We are going to play positive cricket,” he said. Struass said India were a class one-day side and to underestimate them on the basis of the Test defeat in Mumbai would be foolhardy. “We are keen to go out there and play. We know the potential of the Indian team and we are not underestimating them. They are a good one-day side. We lost the warm-up match and that shows the strength India has.” Strauss also said that playing against a team of India’s calibre would give them a chance to know their strengths before the World Cup. “This series will help us know how good a side we are. With the World Cup around, it is very important for us to play well consistently and gain experience from every series,” he said. Asked how they rated themselves against an Indian side without Sachin Tendulkar, he said “we rate ourselves very highly. “Sachin is a great cricketer and every player goes through a lapse of form. He is going through the same phase.” On his own role in the team he said, “I am one of the oldest in the side which seems strange. But it also shows that there is so much talent with young players coming in and doing well. It is good for the English cricket.” On Andrew Flintoff’s captaincy, he said the all-rounder had done a fantastic job in the Tests. “He has done a fantastic job. He did not get enough time to prepare for the job but he was inspirational and led from the front and all the boys supported him.” Sehwag fit to play first ODI
Virender Sehwag will play in the first one-dayer against England after being “declared fit” today. “Sehwag has been declared fit,” said Cricket Board (BCCI) Secretary Niranjan Shah told PTI ahead of the match to be played at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground here on Tuesday.
— PTI |
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Lara regains touch
Napier, March 26 Only 78 overs have been possible in the first two days, and with more rain forecast over coming days, the chance of an outright decision is becoming remote. But there has been enough time in the middle for Lara to display his magic after failing in his four previous innings on what will be his last tour of New Zealand. He rediscovered his classic, flowing stroke-play and as much as New Zealand tried to stack the off-side with fielders, Lara’s placement was too good as he cracked 12 boundaries. But as he was marching towards his century the gremlins struck again. He went to pull Astle, but a bottom-edge cannoned into his legs then on to the stumps, and Lara walked from the field to a standing ovation after his 107 ball stand. At stumps, Morton was not out 70, his second half-century in consecutive Tests, with Dwayne Bravo on 22. Daren Ganga was the first wicket to fall, bowled by a full length Shane Bond delivery for 30. Scoreboard
West Indies (1st innings) Gayle c Fulton b Martin 30 Ganga b Bond 38 Lara b Astle 83 Morton not out 70 Chanderpaul run out 2 Bravo not out 22 Extras (lb-3, nb-8) 11 Total (four wkts) 256 Fall of wickets: 1-37, 2-111, 3-171, 4-189. Bowling: Bond 18-2-87-1, Franklin 15-1-66-0, Martin 10-2-39-1, Astle 14-5-23-1, Styris 13-5-27-0, Vettori 8-4-11-0.
— AFP |
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Durban, March 26 Fast bowler Lee passed 200 Test wickets on his way to figures of five for 69 while Ponting hit seven fours and a six in his 48 not out. Brett Lee put Australia in control on the third day of the second Test against South Africa. The home side lost their last five wickets for 12 runs in the space of 34 balls with Lee claiming the last four wickets to fall, dismissing Andre Nel and Makhaya Ntini with consecutive deliveries to end the innings at tea. Scoreboard
Australia (1st Innings) 369 South
Africa (1st Innings) Smith c Langer b Lee 0 De Villiers c Hayden Gibbs b Kasprowicz 9 Kallis c and b Clark 114 Prince c Symonds Rudolph c Hussey Boucher b Lee 19 Pollock c Gilchrist b Lee 1 Boje not out 6 Nel c Hayden b Lee 5 Ntini c Ponting b Lee 0 Extras (lb-3, nb-14) 17 Total (all out, 88.4 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-10, 3-144, 4-200, 5-226, 6-255, 7-256, 8-257, 9-267, 10-267. Bowling: Lee 19.4-5-69-5, Kasprowicz 14-0-60-1, Warne 25-2-80-2, Symonds 11-3-16-0, Hussey 1-0-2-0, Clark 18-4-37-2. Australia (2nd innings) Langer c Pollock b Boje 37 Hayden not out 35 Ponting not out 48 Extras
(lb-2, nb-3) 5 Total (for 1 wicket) 125 Fall of wicket: 1-49. Bowling: Pollock 9-3-25-0, Ntini 6-1-17-0, Boje 10-1-42-1, Nel 8-3-20-0, Kallis 3-0-19-0.
— Reuters
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Sachin’s surgery today
London, March 26 Tendulkar will be in the safe hands of Dr Andrew Wallace, who had earlier performed an operation on the 32-year-old to cure a tennis elbow. Tendulkar could also miss the early part of the tour of West Indies, starting on May 18.
— PTI |
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Sporting Clube shock Mahindras
Mumbai, March 26 Substitute Chidi Edeh, who came in for Rajesh Meetei just before the half-time, scored the all-important goal for the Goans in the 55th minute with a left-footed blast past Mahindra custodian Sandip Nandy. The Nigerian controlled a back header from compatriot Dudu Omagbemi, after the latter had been served a long ball, and found the mark to inflict on league leaders and Federation Cup winners Mahindra United their first defeat in eight ties. Sporting Clube thus took their points tally to 16, three behind Mahindras, from nine matches.
— PTI |
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