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| Sunday,
July 15, 2001, Chandigarh, India   |
Jiang promises unique Olympics
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‘BCCI should show the way in dope testing’ Montgomery runs year’s fastest
100m Youthful Uruguay down Bolivia, Costa Rica win
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Abhinav, Anjali to lead challenge Cricketers back from training in
Australia Divya Ramesh in
SAF Games squad Footballer dies of cardiac arrest Two more players
join camp
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Jiang promises unique Olympics Beijing, July 14 “On behalf of the Chinese Government and people and in my own name, I extend my solemn tribute to your contribution to the international
Olympic movement,” Mr Jiang, also general secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), said in a message to Samaranch. “The Chinese Government and people will go all out to support Beijing to turn the 2008 Olympic Games into a grand event that will contribute to the development of the Olympic spirit, world peace and friendship of different peoples in the world,” Mr Jiang said. Chinese vice-premier Li Lanqing, who led the Chinese delegation at the IOC’s Moscow meeting, emphasised that the Chinese Government would make every effort to ensure a perfect and best 2008 Olympic Games to be held in
Beijing. Speaking at a grand ceremony held last night at the Chinese Embassy in Russia, Mr Li said the Chinese Government would cherish this hard-won chance and honour and will continue to do its utmost to make the Beijing Olympic Games the best, most successful and unique in the Olympic history. “Beijing’s victory has proved once more that China, a just, progressive and strong country, enjoys broad respect and friendship in the international community,” he said. Last night, tens of thousands of Chinese gathered in a carnival at Beijing’s millennium monument and Tian’anmen square to celebrate the Chinese capital’s hard-won victory over Paris, Toronto, Istanbul and Osaka. President Jiang and other senior leaders including Mr Li Peng, Mr Zhu Rongji, Mr Li Ruihuan, Mr Hu Jintao and Mr Wei Jianxing, as well as Beijing’s party chief Mr Jia
Ginglin joined the carnival. Mr Jiang and other Chinese leaders then drove through the jubilant city to the Tian’anmen Square, where over 400,000 people had gathered to celebrate the historical moment. The People’s Daily, China’s leading newspaper, today hailed Beijing’s successful bid for the 2008 Olympic Games as “a long cherished dream of the Chinese people coming true.” In an editorial, the CPC’s mouthpiece, recalled that late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping had suggested China bid for the Olympic Games as early as in 1990, and that even the failure in 1993 (to host the 2000 Olympics) did not dampen the Chinese people’s enthusiasm towards the Olympic Games. “Today’s China is enjoying unprecedented political stability, economic prosperity and ethnic harmony, while the city of Beijing is witnessing rapid development, with its environment improving and more and more sports facilities in place,” the editorial
says, adding that this has laid a solid foundation for a successful Olympic Games in Beijing. The editorial notes that the holding of the Olympic Games in the world’s most populous country will help promote greatly the Olympic spirit and exchanges between the Chinese and western cultures. China’s fast-growing economy will also assure that an Olympic Games in Beijing will bring tremendous opportunities for businesses worldwide and greatly promote the development of world trade, it said. The official Xinhua news agency, in a commentary, noted that the Chinese people’s painstaking effort and honesty at last gave a touch to the IOC members, who did not hesitate this time to cast their vote for Beijing and demonstrate their confidence in China. “With China being a sports powerhouse with huge economic potential, the conditions are ripe for the most populous country to host an Olympic Games,” Xinhua said. “The world has recognised us,” said University teacher Zu Danliang, standing in a sea of Chinese red five star national flags at the millennium monument, where giant television screens brought the results of the
Moscow vote live to a crowd of several thousands. PTI
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‘BCCI should show the way in dope testing’ Chandigarh, July 14 Dr Chadha, who held the post of team physio for two years, from 1997 to 1999, said the BCCI should not find it difficult to set up the laboratories given its sound financial position. His remarks are important in the contest of allegations being made in certain quarters that Indian players use performance enhancing drugs while playing international cricket. Dr Chadha who has a long association with Indian cricket, having been junior selector for three years and senior selector for four years, said drug abuse in sports went back almost as far as sport itself. The first instance was reported when athletes consumed hallucinogenic brews of mushrooms and seeds to enhance their performance. With Ben Johnson’s disqualification during the 1988 Seoul Olympics, it was realised that competition testing alone was insufficient. He said random drug testing had started for various other sports and there was no reason why cricket also should not follow suit. If India took a step in this direction then it was quite likely that other cricket playing countries would also follow suit since no team could support a cheat. He was of the view that it was of no use waiting for the International Cricket Council to act on the burning issue since it might take some time. It would be better if India showed the way. The following are excerpts from the interview Q: What are these energy drinks which Indian cricketers are allegedly using? A: Energy/sports drinks are being widely used by sportsmen all over the world to relieve fatigue immediately after strenuous exercise. Exercise causes depletion of the glucose (glycogen) in the muscles leading to fatigue/exhaustion. Replenishment by sports drinks immediately relieves muscle soreness as these drinks contain carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, electrolytes etc. and none of these ingredients are on the banned list of drugs. Q: It was alleged that some of the Indian cricketers were taking creatinine powder for enhancing performance. Is creatinine a banned drug? A: The immediate energy source for muscle contraction is ATP (adenosine triphosphate) which is stored in the muscles in small quantities. Therefore, it has to be re-generated time and again. ATP is derived from carbohydrates and lipids. Creatinine is also stored in the body which helps in the replenishment of ATP. Creatinine powder taken orally is not in the list of banned drugs. Q: Which are the banned drugs? A: Drugs used with the exclusive aim of obtaining an artificial and unfair increase in performance in competition are called banned drugs. There are no banned drugs as far as the game of cricket is concerned but for other games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has chalked out a list of anabolic steroids, hormonal preparations, narcotics, analgesics, beta blockers, diuretics and stimulants like cocaine, caffeine and blood doping. Q: Which drugs should be banned in the game of cricket? A: I feel, to start with anabolic steroids and hormonal preparations, which help in improving muscle bulk and strength and stimulants like cocaine, which increases alertness and mask fatigue, should be banned. There is no point in imposing a ban on all the drugs listed by the IOC like narcotics and analgesics’ which are basically used for reliving pain, beta blockers and diuretics, which help to to loose weight immediately. The use of high doses of caffeine in the form of coffee (6 to 8 cups) or cola (10 cans) consumed over a short period are also banned by the IOC which I feel should not be added in the list of drugs for cricket players. Alcohol and marijuana, banned by some countries, do not have any performance-enhancing effect but they can rather have a negative effect on the performance of a cricketer as they impair concentration and alter perception of time. Their use will not help a cricketer to perform better. Q: What is the ultimate solution to stop the drug menace in cricket? A: Due to high stakes involved in cricket, why let a player using performance-enhancing substances to have an unfair advantage over others? Therefore, I feel, instead of waiting for the International Cricket Council to take a decision, the BCCI, which is administratively and financially a sound organisation, should start random tests at national level for banned drugs like anabolic steroids, hormonal preparation, cocaine etc for which they can recognise reputed laboratories. Q: What is your advice to young cricketers? A: I feel cricketers should not use performance enhancing drugs on both medical and ethical grounds. The side effects of anabolic steroids and hormones can lead to liver damage, cancer and cardiac diseases. Most of the other drugs have only psychological effect. Cricketers should concentrate on their technique and fitness levels, which can improve their performance considerably. |
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Montgomery runs year’s fastest
100m
Oslo, July 14 Montgomery, 26, had a great start and pulled away as Boldon tensed up on the line although he still clocked 9.88, with Bernard Williams of the USA third in 9.99. The US 100m champion’s new personal best time was aided by a just allowable 2.0m/s following wind in the 13 degrees Celsius conditions in the tightly-packed Bislett stadium. Just three weeks before the World Championships in Edmonton (Canada) it will provide food for thought for the absent world and Olympic 100m champion Maurice Greene, who failed to run in this third Golden League event of the season after demanding an excessive appearance fee. “When I saw my time, I could not believe it - 9.84, wow,” said Montgomery. “It was not a good race, it was fantastic. I felt confident in the heats, and I thought I could win.” Montgomery is a training partner of American sprint queen Marion Jones, who clocked a stunning 10.94sec ahead of Ukraine’s Zhanna Pintusevch-Block in her 100m. Jones, who has won all three of the Golden League meetings of the season, paid tribute to her and Montgomery’s coach Trevor Graham and revealed Montgomery had worn her spikes in his heat, which he won in 10.13. “I knew Tim had a fast one in him but 9.84...,” said Jones.
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Youthful Uruguay down Bolivia, Costa Rica win Medellin, July 14 A youthful Uruguayan team struggled to a 1-0 victory over an equally young Bolivia yesterday in a clash that revealed the future face of soccer in the South American countries. Javier Chevanton, Uruguay’s 20-year-old striker, picked up a rebound in the penalty box in the 64th minute and flicked a shot over the head of goalie Carlos Arias, 21, for the lone score in the group C match. In a late game, Costa Rica edged Central American neighbour Honduras 1-0 in a new and unexpected chapter of their rivalry. Neither team was originally supposed to be here - both were last-minute replacements when Canada and Argentina dropped out. Uruguay also nearly didn’t come because of concerns about safety, and coach Victor Pua left his big names at home. Italian league stars such as Alvaro Recoba, Daniel Fonseca and captain Paolo Montero were allowed to rest for Uruguay’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Bolivia, with no hope of reaching the World Cup, is using the Copa America to rebuild. Gone are 1994 World Cup veterans like Marco Antonio Etcheverry and Edwin Sanchez, although Julio Baldivieso and Marco Sandy are here. Arias played most of the game with a bandage around his head to stop the bleeding after an early collision with Uruguay’s Richard Morales. It was Uruguay that applied the early pressure, and Morales failed to cash in on two excellent chances. He shot just wide on an empty goal, then fired high over the bar from inside the penalty box after a pass from Andres Martinez. Bolivia settled down and tested Uruguay’s defence in dangerous counterstrikes. In the game’s most controversial play, Milton Coimbra dove to head a cross from the right by Baldivieso, forcing Gustavo Munua to make a brilliant save on pure reflex. Bolivia’s Limberg Gutierrez raced for the rebound and appeared to be tripped by defender Carlos Diaz, but Canadian referee Mauricio Navarro didn’t whistle the penalty. The action was back-and-forth, with both sides creating good chances. After Chevanton scored, Bolivia went all-out on the attack in search of the equaliser. But on its best chance, a free kick by Baldivieso went wide of the right post. Costa Rica got a gala performance from Manchester City striker Paulo Wanchope, who scored in the 63rd minute to guarantee the team’s second straight win over Honduras. The “Ticos”, as the team is known, won 3-2 in a recent World Cup qualifier. Costa Rica, which played in the Copa America in 1997, was a deserving fill-in for Canada. The Ticos are tied with the USA for first place in the CONCACAF qualifying group for next year’s World Cup, ahead of Honduras, Jamaica and Mexico. The Hondurans, making their first appearance in the tournament, got the call after Argentina dropped out Tuesday. Coach Ramon Maradiaga had released his best players and drew heavily from the local Motagua Club, reinforced with Udinese striker Carlos Pavon and Cagliari’s David Suazo. The game wasn’t as close as the score indicated. Costa Rica narrowly missed goals on two balls that hit the post and a shot by Wanchope that was cleared off the line. The Hondurans, who arrived on Thursday night, tried to counter-attack but were simply overmatched physically. In the first 30 minutes, they were forced to make two substitutions for injuries, including Suazo.
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Abhinav, Anjali to lead challenge Chandigarh, July 14 The NRAI selection committee, meeting on Friday, decided to hold back the men’s skeet team for the time being as ‘skeet scores are very low’. Of the 29 selected shooters, 23 have already been cleared by the government. The team: Air rifle:
Abhinav Bindra, Charan Singh, Sameer Ambekar. Free rifle prone: A.P. Subbaiah, Satguru Dass, T.C. Palangappa. Free rifle 3-position: A.P. Subbiah, T.C. Palangappa, Charan Singh. Free
pistol: Samresh Jung, Ved Prakash, Vivek Singh. Centre fire pistol:
Jaspal Rana, Naresh Kumar, Ved Prakash. Standard pistol: Jaspal Rana, Naresh Kumar, Vivek Singh. Rapid fire pistol: Poonam Kumar, Mukesh Kumar, Ronak Pandit. Air pistol: Jaspal Rana, Ved Prakash, Samresh Jung. Trap: Mansher Singh, Manavjit Singh, Anwar Sultan. Double trap: R.V.S. Rathore, Gaurav Sondhi. Women:
(Air rifle): Anjali Vedpathak, Anuja Tere, Meena Kumari. Sport rifle prone: Raj Kumari, Kuheli Gangulee, Anuja Tere Sport rifle 3-position:
Anjali Vedpathak, Kuheli Gangulee, Anuja Tere. Air pistol: Sonia Rana, Shilpi Singh, Shweta Chaudhary. Sport pistol: Sushma Rana, Saroja Kumari, Shweta Chaudhary. Skeet: Aarti Singh. Coaches: Prof. Sunny Thomas, Tibor Gonezol, A.K. Balashan-mugham, Deep Bhatia and Mohinder Lal. |
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Cricketers back from training in
Australia New Delhi, July 14 The trio got expert training at the Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy (CBCA) in Adelaide as part of the Border-Gavaskar Scholarship programme. A selection panel, headed by Sunil Gavaskar, had picked the three players for the training programme in Australia, after carefully evaluating their potential. All the three are members of the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore. Thanks to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the three youngsters were able to extend their stay in Adelaide by two weeks, from the scheduled four weeks. The Border-Gavaskar Scholarship Programme to hone cricket skills, is funded by the Australia-India Council (AIC). Besides the scholarships, the AIC has contributed to the production costs of the modernised Border-Gavaskar Trophy, played for in Tests between Australia and India. The trophy is currently in the possession of India after beating Australia in the home Test series in March this year. The Australian High Commissioner in New Delhi, Mr Rob Laurie, welcomed the programme. He said here today he hoped it would not be a one-way track, and that young Australian cricketers also would have a chance to sharpen their skills in India, especially against spin bowling. Last year’s group of scholarship holders included Shiv Sunder Das, who made his Test debut for India against Bangladesh in November 2000, and then opened in the Test series against Australia. |
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Divya Ramesh in
SAF Games squad Mumbai, July 14 However, her name does not figure in the teams to play at the German, Dutch and Danish championship from October 2 to 21 or for the Asian Badminton meet. Announcing the teams after the selection committee meeting here today, BAI President, VK Verma, said Divya could not be
accommodated in any of the other teams as her present national ranking was five and only the top four players were selected. “In fact, we wanted to include her in the teams for the Malaysian Open and the Indonesian Open after national champion Aparna Popat pulled out due to fitness problem, but could not, as it was too late”.
PTI |
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Footballer dies of cardiac arrest Mumbai, July 14 Charles, playing at the stopper back position for Bengal Mumbai Club against the income tax team in the Harwood league, collapsed in the first half but managed to sit in a taxi and get admission in a Mumbai hospital. But there he suffered a second stroke and died. The Nigerian had been playing in India for last three years. In the first year he played for the Indian National Club in Delhi, then with the Steel Authority of India in Kolkata, before joining the Bengal Mumbai Club at the start of this season.
UNI |
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Two more players
join camp Patiala, July 14 The camp is being held in preparation for the Indian team’s tour to England from July 20 to August 4. The squad, which is on an exposure tour in view of the Afro-Asian Games, is scheduled to play a series of four matches against top club teams. While Mahindra United released all its six players for the camp, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal were reluctant to release their players. East Bengal finally relented and released Sangram Mukherjee and Deepankar Roy, both of whom reported to chief coach Sukhwinder Singh today. Out of the three Mohun Bagan players selected for the camp, Rennedy Singh and R.P Singh have already reported at the NIS. Basudev Mondal, the third Mohun Bagan player, is yet to report at the camp. Now 18 out of the 25 probables selected for the camp have reported at the NIS. The club is still dithering over the release of ace striker I.M. Vijayan and midfielder Deepak Mondal. The AIFF has summoned officials of the Indian Football Association (IFA) and Sukhwinder Singh to New Delhi on July 17 for a meeting with the secretary of the AIFF, Mr Alberto Colaco. The final squad will be announced after the meeting. England’s F.C. Bury is yet to release Baichung Bhutia for the Indian team’s engagements in England. |
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