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Jaideep expects three gold
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Coverage outsourced
They also serve who sit and play
Oz still a force to reckon with
Ponting: Not a revenge series
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Athletes in for BONAZA
New Delhi, September 30 This welcome break in convention will give the athletes an opportunity to have a first hand view of the cultural programme of the opening ceremony for the first time in the history of the Commonwealth games. Even in Olympic games and the continental games, tradition followed is of athletes marching into the stadium only after the cultural programme has ended. New Delhi is following the Singapore model where at the inaugural Youth Olympics last month, participants were allowed to sit in the stadium before the start of the cultural programme. A source in the Organising Committee confirmed the change saying it has the approval of the Commonwealth Games Federation. Athletes are the backbone of the games. It is because of them that such mega events assume special significance. Their presence in the ceremony that marks the beginning of competitions is not only appropriate but highly desirable. So, New Delhi criticised for many aberrations, can draw applause for a positive change, adds the source. Though the presence of heads of various participants at the opening and closing ceremonies of the events like Olympic games, Commonwealth games and Continental games is conventional, not many heads are coming for the October 3 event. Sources reveal that nations like Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, Scotland, Malaysia and Pakistan will go unrepresented at the opening ceremony. Besides Prince Charles, Princess Camilla and Prince Edward , the Earl of Wessex, no other important dignitary has confirmed attendance. The Queen’s Baton, that was received with an overwhelming ovation on arrival in the Games city today, will arrive at the venue of the opening ceremony at 8.26pm after having traversed a 170,000 kilometre journey across all 71-member nations and territories of the Commonwealth. It will be Prince of Wales who will receive the Baton and read the Queen’s message before the President of India delivers her address to signal the commencement of the Games. Meanwhile, the security check of 3000 odd artistes participating in the opening ceremony has been finally settled. They all will be given security clearance to facilitate their participation in full dress rehearsals as well as the opening ceremony on October 3. Union Home Minister P. Chidamabaram who visited some of the games venues virtually created a scare when he announced that number of volunteers and support staff at different venues was too large and needed to be pruned down by a minimum of 25 per cent. With just three days to go for the Games to begin and fallout of Ayodhya judgement coming, many of the participating athletes have started feeling the pressure of heightened security. Yesterday, when the England hockey team played its third and final practise game against India - it ended in a 3-3 draw -- some English players were quoted as saying that security now was of much higher level than what they had witnessed during the World Cup in Delhi this February. They said they were not very keen to leave the Games Village except to go for the training sessions at different venues. With TVs and internet not working to their expectations, some felt isolated, without knowing much about the heightened security concerns about the Ayodhya verdict. Meanwhile, the Organising Committee has decided not to accredit any more volunteers without security clearance.
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Jaideep expects three gold
New Delhi, September 30 Jaideep, who was mesmerised by the magnificence of the Games Village, told The Tribune at the Village here tonight that he was confident that India will pull off golds in men's doubles, mixed doubles and singles (either men or women). He said Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi were overwhelming favourites for the men's doubles gold, while Leander Paes and Sania Mirza were expected to pull it off in the mixed doubles. He was also confident that Sania Mirza (women's singles), Somdev Devvarman and Rohan Bopanna (men's singles) were capable of fetching a singles gold for the hosts. Sania Mirza, who had arrived in the Capital early this week, cheched into the Games Village late this evening. The other women players--Rushmi Chakravarti and Poojashri Ventakesh — were the first to check into the Village while Nirupama Vaidyanathan arrived from the US. Jaideep said the men's team of Rohan, Devverman, Leander and Mahesh would join the women at the Games Village tomorrow and Saturday. Leander, Mahesh and Devvarman were presently playing in Malaysia to tune up for the CWG. Jaideep said the facilities at the Village were simply superb, and the facilities provided for the tennis players both at the Village and the competition venue were excellent. "With such kind of facility, India can now confidently stake for the Olympic Games", the former Indian captain said. Jaideep was, for a long time, the non-playing captain of the India Davis Cup team till Leander Paes matured to shoulder the burden of a playing-member and anchor of the team. Meanwhile, the flag-hoisting ceremony of the Indian contingent will be held tomorrow noon. The Village was bathed in a caledeoscope fo colours this evening, and the Indian and foreign athletes, including the paraolympic athletes, some of whom sported bulging muscles, were at peace with themselves, soaking in the peaceful ambience of the Village. The security at the Village was friendly, without being intimidating, to give out a positive message of things to unfold over the next fortnight.
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Coverage outsourced
New Delhi, September 30 Games News Service, which will become operational from Friday, will provide accredited journalists not only results, quotes and other bits of information but also cover all activities related to the conduct of the Games. This Australian agency has reportedly hired 30 journalists to satiate accredited media requirements of information, including results and other events, taking place at different venues of the Games. The company will be paid a whopping Rs 9 crores for the 15-day operations. Besides hiring some Indian journalists, the agency is also bringing its own team from Downunder to oversee the operations. The contract to Games News Service, sources reveal, has been given at the instance of the Commonwealth Games Federation. Though Doordarshan had been sending its cameramen, producers and directors to various international events for the past several years as part of its preparation for the Commonwealth Games, it has finally decided to rely on a UK-based company that has expertise in multi-camera coverage of sporting events. Doordarshan had sent big teams to both the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006 and the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing to train its staff for the big event. It may be pertinent to note that some of the world’s top sports coverage producers are based in the UK. These units operate on turnkey basis and take complete responsibility of the coverage of any sporting event with perfect technical knowhow. Since Doordarshan is the host, it has to provide earth station and signal to the foreign channels that have got TV coverage rights for the Commonwealth Games. Besides the visiting experts, both Doordarshan and Al-India Radio have deputed army of their reporters, cameramen, producers and directors besides technical staff to cover the country’s biggest sporting event of the millennium so far. |
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They also serve who sit and play
New Delhi, September 30 Bhavina Patel, Sonal Patel and Usha Rathore are hoping to put up a determined fight to lift gold. “We have a good chance to win the gold medal”, said coach Raj Aravindan. He said Bhavina was World No 34 as per the latest rankings and the team have been slogging it out ever since they arrived in Delhi . But he admitted that the eves had a tough fight on hand, since the team will have to go through a challenging league format, followed by the semi-finals and the final. Bhavina, however, was confident that they would be able to pull off the gold. “We are in good shape, and hope to make the most of our home advantage. We have been practicing hard ever since our arrival in Delhi on September 26.”, she noted. The team have been practising at the Jamia Milia complex in the morning and the Yamuna Sports Complex in the evening.. She said India ’s biggest challenge will come from Nigeria , England , Australia and South Africa . The league for open singles will have between three to five players, and there will be five groups for the team gold. The draw for the event will be held later. The girls said they have been thoroughly enjoying their stay at the magnificent Games Village , and they have been getting considerate treatment from the Games volunteers and the plice personnel. “It has been a pleasant stay”, said the players almost in a chorus.
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Oz still a force to reckon with
Mohali, September 30 Given the combativeness and the commitment they always display on the field, one can conclude that the Ricky Ponting-led team surely would be no different this time. And if the only tour game played at the Sector 16 cricket stadium in Chandigarh is any indication, the fourth-ranked team led by Ponting is well capable of causing the top-ranked Dhoni-led squad some serious headache. Even if the wicket is going to be on a slower side on account of the unusually long spell of rains, it must be comforting for the Ponting & Co to start their campaign with the first Test of the two-Test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the relatively greener and harder track at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium tomorrow. The Australian seam attack has the firepower to unsettle an impressive batting line-up. Pace spearhead Mitchell Johnson can be handful on a responsive track. In Ben Hilfenhaus and Shane Watson, Ponting has a pair of seamers he can bank upon. And if left-armer Doug Bollinger reports fit tomorrow morning, then skipper Ponting would have no worries on the seam bowling front.
Ponting must be keeping himself updated on the news about the match fitness of his nemesis Harbhajan Singh. Suspense still continues over the availability of ace off-spinner for the Mohali Test as he is still troubled by an ankle sprain. "We will take a call on Bhajji tomorrow," Dhoni revealed at the pre-match media conference on the eve of the match today. If Harbhajan is unable to take the field, left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha and leggie Amit Mishra are likely to be blooded into the playing XI. Harbhajan has been a thorn in the flesh of the Australian batsmen. His record against the Australian skipper is particularly impressive. Just back from South Africa after playing in the gruelling Champions League in South Africa, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Chennai Super Kings skipper, has no time to adjust himself to the Test mode. Similar is the case with left-handed batsman Suresh Raina. The visitors would surely be worried about the form dangerous Virender Sehwag displayed during the recent Sri Lanka series. Rahul Dravid would be keen on recovering his form. The fans will, however, sorely miss Yuvraj Singh, who has not been selected in the Test squad. It is the seam bowling which should be a matter of concern for Dhoni. Though pace spearhead Zaheer Khan looked sharp at the nets, he will be staging a comeback to the team after a considerable period of time. So whether Zaheer can hit the right spots straightaway remains to be seen. Though he showed some improvement in the second innings during the Chandigarh game, Sreesanth has been unpredictable. Lanky Ishant Sharma has also been inconsistent. The Delhi pacer hits the deck hard and gets the ball to move either way at a decent pace. If he is able to get into his groove early as he has shown occasionally, it would be a big morale-booster for the team. "They are a competitive unit. We have played well against the Australians. The boys know what is expected of them," Dhoni said when asked about the team prospects in the crucial Test. A two-Test series does not provide any chance after a slip-up. Nobody knows this better than Dhoni or Ponting. Reason enough for an engrossing contest between the two top notch teams! IS Bindra set to retire in 2012
International Cricket Council’s principal advisor and Punjab Cricket Association’s president IS Bindra today announced that he would quit as cricket administrator in 2012. Talking to media persons at PCA Stadium here today Bindra said that he has decided to hang his boots after two years due to his falling health. “I have decided to retire in another two years because it’s my health and family that needs attention,” said Bindra. |
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Ponting: Not a revenge series
Mohali, September 30 The Australian team is fully prepared for the challenge, especially after having a dominating practice match against Board President XI at Sector 16 Stadium last week. However, the Aussie skipper dismissed the idea of ‘revenge series’, saying: “We love to come here and win but it’s not a revenge thing,” said Ponting. Notably Australia had lost their last series 0-2 on Indian soil in 2008. Ponting said during their last tour, none of the bowlers had experience of sub-continent conditions. “But this time, we are a little bit more experienced”, said Ponting. On Harbhajan Singh’s chances of missing the match due to injury, the Australian skipper said that he was quite sure that Bhajji will play “by all means”. |
KALMADI NOW AIMS TO BID FOR THE OLYMPICS New Delhi, September 30 He’s now dreaming of bidding for the Olympic Games, and he got a solid backer in Del hi Lt. Governor Tejinder Khanna. Khanna gave a pat on Kalmadi, while receiving the Queen’s Baton at the headquarters of the Organising Committee at Parliament St reet here today, observing that the facilities for the Commonwealth Games were “world class” and at par with Olympic standard. He backed Kalmadi, saying that “ India is now prepared to bid” for the Olympics. He said the Games Village was the finest-ever, “and is ready to host Olympics or any other multi-sport world class meet”. The LG said many foreign delegates were so impressed with the facilities that “they have told me that we should bid for the Olympic Games now”. He said he was not looking into the superficial aspects “that have been highlighted, but having seen the facilities myself, I am giving a thumps-up to the Commonwealth Games.” Butt says Pak chances bright
Pakistan hockey team captain Rehan Butt said his team has set their sight on the gold medal in the Commonwealth Games in Delhi . Pakistan had won the bronze at Manchester (2002) and silver at Melbourne (2006) after finishing fourth in the inaugural edition of CWG hockey at Kuala Lumpur in 1998. Butt said though Pakistan would face tough challenge from Australia , England , New Zealand and of course hosts India , “we will give the gold a good shot”. He said his team were hoping to utilize the positives derived from the CWG to mount a determined bid for the gold in the Asian Games at Guangzhou ( China ) in November. Butt scoffed at the critics of the Delhi CWG as he observed that “efforts of the host city should be supported, instead of being criticized.” He said the 58-member Pakistan contingent, including the hockey team, were quite impressed with the beautiful facilities at the Games Village . “I am sure that the Village and other facilities will be quite excellent”, he said while other team members sported a wide smile. In fact, around 5500 athletes and officials have already checked into t he Village, out of the 7000 odd athletes and officials who are finally expected. Everyone is thoroughly enjoying their stay at the village, and facilities on offer are exhaustive, including beauty saloons, bank, ATMS, bar, cultural centre, discotheque, cafeterias, gyms, handicraft shops and shops selling myriad goods. Nothing less than two gold for me: Jwala "During the Manchester Commonwealth Games, I was very young and new. I still remember those days, it was a different experience for me. Gopi was playing in those days. But now I have grown as a player a lot would be expected of me and Diju. I am ready for it," Jwala told PTI. "I am looking to win two gold medals, nothing less than that. Me and Diju had good exposure this year, thanks to the government's support. We have grown as players in the last couple of years and foreign teams are now scared to face us. —
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New Delhi, September 30
In vice-captain Michael Clarke, Simon Katich, Mike Hussey and Marcus North, Ponting has a batting line-up capable of putting up a decent total on the board.
New
Delhi: In 2002 Manchester, she was a novice taking her first steps in badminton but eight years down the line, Jwala Gutta is one of the best medal prospects for India at the Commonwealth Games and the 27-year-old says she will not let her country down. The seven-time national doubles Champion Jwala will pair up with V Diju and Ashwini Ponnappa to spearhead the Indian challenge in mixed and women's doubles events and she said she is eyeing two gold medals at the October 3-14 Delhi event here.