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July 9, 2002, Chandigarh, India
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Jyotiraditya Scindia: Like father, like son New Delhi, July 8 The young Jyotiraditya was pushed into the cauldron of realpolitik following the tragic and untimely death of his father Madhavrao Scindia. Three months into active politics, Jyotiraditya is slowly coming to grips with the enormity of Parliamentary politics. The young Member of Parliament from the Scindia pocket borough, Guna, is no straightjacket politician. He’s a sportsman-politician, like his late father, and fortunately, shares the same passion for sports as his late father had. The young Scindia scion is very sad at the tragic plight of Indian sports. He wonders why can’t India, a country of over a billion people, make their mark in international sports fora when specks in the world map like Senegal, Ireland and South Korea could make tremendous impact in the just-concluded FIFA World Cup Football Championship? The late Madhavrao Scindia’s passion for sports, particularly cricket, was legendary. The former president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India and Union Minister can take credit for putting Gwalior in the sports map of the world. It was due to Madhavrao Scindia’s tireless effort that the Roop Singh Stadium in Gwalior became an international cricket venue. When he was the Union Railway Minister, the Railway Hockey Stadium in Gwalior was renovated and provided with an astro-turf. The inaugural match on the newly-laid track was a classic contest between India and Pakistan. Madhavrao Scindia was also responsible for setting up the Pace Bowling Cricket Academy in association with the Sports Authority of India, at the sprawling complex of the Laxmibai National College of Physical Education and Sports (LNCPE) at Gwalior. Former SAI cricket coach Gurcharan Singh did a commendable job in turning the God-forsaken cricket ground at the LNISPE complex into a dream cricket facility. Unfortunately, when Scindia ceased to be a Union Minister, and the Government changed at the Centre, the SAI wound up the Gwalior Cricket Academy. But it gave Madhavrao Scindia the inspiration to start the Gwalior Cricket Academy, which has now been renamed as the Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Academy. Jyotiraditya has promised to carry forward the sports legacy of his father, and during a recent get-together to honour players of the Gwalior Cricket Academy in the Capital, the young Scindia promised Mr Gurcharan Singh that the third-generation Scindia (Jyotiraditya’s son) will also be trained in Gurcharan Singh’s coaching centre. It may be recalled that Madhavrao Scindia was a regular at the “nets” at the National Stadium when Gurcharan Singh was the senior coach there. The “Maharaj” would not miss his daily date with “nets” at the National Stadium whenever he was in Delhi. Later, Jyotiraditya was also sent there to learn cricket under Gurcharan Singh. Though Gurcharan Singh is no more with the SAI (he has established his own cricket academy — Dronacharya Cricket Foundation — after retiring from SAI), Jyotiraditya wants his own son to learn the basics of cricket at the National Stadium, one of the finest cricket centres, now being managed by coach Maninder
Singh. Jyotiraditya is very concerned at the decline of Indian sports, and wants to do his bit to rejuvenate the sports set up. He does not see any reason why Indian sportspersons cannot make their mark in international competitions, given the right kind of training and exposure and a secure, assured future. Jyotiraditya’s easy accessibility, and his genuine concern for sportspersons, have come as a boon to sportspersons from Gwalior, as the Scindia scion is determined to give a great fillip to sports in the former fiefdom of the Scindias. |
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DDCA honours budding cricketers
New Delhi, July 8 Lt-Governor of Delhi Vijay Kapoor distributed the prizes. DDCA president Arun Jaitley presided over the function. Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC), who won the prestigious Hot Weather Cricket Tournament trophy, was given a cash prize of Rs 35,000 while runners-up Indian Airlines Corporation received Rs 25,000. Among those honoured on the occasion were former international umpire S. K. Bansal, former manager of the Indian cricket team Sunil Khanna, Delhi Ranji Trophy players Gautam Gambhir and Akash Chopra, Abhishek Sharma and Kuldeep Rawat and six coaches who qualified the Grade I-I Coaches’ Examination. DDCA senior vice-president C. K. Khanna, who is also the vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket India, former Test opener and DDCA vice-president Chetan Chauhan, DDCA sports secretary Sunil Dev, general secretary Sneh Bansal, treasurer Ram Babu Gupta, Suresh Chopra, Dr S. S. Sareen, and other office-bearers and directors along with the Sports Committee members were also present. Sports secretary Sunil Dev presented a detailed account of the cricket activities during the past one year. All the club secretaries, coaches, former Test players, umpires and parents of the players also attended the gala gathering. Lt-Governor Vijay Kapoor praised DDCA president Arun Jaitley for his initiative and hard work in doing the spadework for the proposed new stadium at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground, construction of which is scheduled to commence very soon. Mr Kapoor assured all the possible help from the Delhi Government for realising the long-cherished dream of Delhiites to have a world class cricket stadium in the Capital. Mr S. P. Bansal proposed a vote of thanks.
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Karthikeyan
fails to secure podium finish New Delhi, July 8 The 26-year-od J K Tyre find was in blistering form while qualifying, securing second place for the first event on the grid behind Belgian Bas Leinders, who also beat the previous lap record. The times were
only slower than Formula One cars and faster than $300 time. A wet track meant he qualified sixth for the second event but overall, despite failing to finish in either race, Karthikeyan was satisfied that he made his mark at Monza. “The Car was brilliant and the set up was good and I am happy that we had a good qualifying”, said Karthikeyan. “Only myself and Bas beat the old record which shows how fast the cars were going. For my first time on the Monza track, I think it was a good performance”. As for the races, Karthikeyan can only hope for better times to come. In the first race, he spun his wheels at the start and was back to third place. A loose wheel-nut on the left front suspension made him lose two seconds a lap and he was forced to retire in the ninth lap. In race two, Karthikeyan’s machine was squeezed by Justin Wilson car before the first corner and he was forced off the track and into the wet grass. And his race was over. “We don’t know why the wheel-nut came loose”, he said. But overall, it was a very good weekend, especially for qualifying. Karthikeyan is sponsored by Indian corporate giants TATA, Kingfisher, J K Tyre and Amaron Battery. |
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Anmol Sharma helps Hans Raj Academy win New Delhi, July 8 Electing to bat, Hans Raj Academy made 146 for 8 in 35 overs. Anmol Sharma’s masterly knock of 70 runs contributed hugely to Hans Raj’s win.. In reply Dronacharya crash into 141 for 8 in 35 overs. Only Sahil Kher put up handsome 42 runs. Scores: Dronacharya Cricket Foundation: 141 for 8 in 35 overs (Sahil Kher 42, Abhishek Narang 24, Gaurav Gulyani 3 for 17, Anurag Bhandari 2 Hans Raj Academy: 146 for 3 in 22.3 overs (Anmol Sharma 70 n o, Mohit Sharma 42). |
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