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All set for grand
opening
Security forces leave nothing to chance
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Hyderabad
jottings Profile of the day—
I.M. Vijayan Hunt for saw dust and tarpaulins Pak overcome Nigeria Indian eves’ make winning start
Bangladesh
fight back against England Aparna Popat enters final SAI trials
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All set
for grand opening Hyderabad, October 23 The grand opening ceremony which will include synchronised pyrotechnics, lights, lasers, space canons, a multitude of dancers, and a performing circus, besides para-diving by personnel from the Indian Air Force, will be of two hours, 40 minutes duration. Just about everything that can be called spectacular has been stashed into the show, seen as a precursor to mega meets in the future. The sports complex was bustling with activity this evening with last minute rehearsals being carried out to precision. The Andhra Pradesh Sports Minister, Mr P. Ramlu, and the convener of the games ceremonies committee, Mr SP Singh (IAS) were supervising the arrangements. The pyrotechnic show, son-et-lumiere, and Imperial State Circus from China will be the special features of the show which would also have monks from the Shaolin Temple performing Kung-Fu. Armed forces personnel will also participate in the cultural event. More than 1500 service personnel are expected to depict the epic story of Emperor Ashoka in a theatrical show. A 300-piece Army brass band is also set to enthrall the spectators. The opening ceremony will also include a colourful flypast, paradiving, and air show. Giant screens are in place for proper viewing of the ceremony. The show depicting Emperor Ashoka will feature a troupe of 1000 dancers who will perform a war ballet. A recorded speech of Dr Nelson Mandela is also likely to be relayed on the public address system. Performances by folk artists doing bihu, garbaras, bhangra, tappetagulu and garagalu will add to the colour.The son-et-lumiere show will mark the conclusion of the ceremony. Miss World Priyanka Chopra will be the hostess for the opening ceremony while Yukta Mookhey will conduct the show at the closing ceremony to be graced by the President, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Meanwhile, at the international airport, special immigration counters have been set up to clear formalities. The services of Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Arabic, French, and Russian interpreters have been specially requisitioned in view of the foreigners’ arrival. Anti-sabotage measures along with access control system are also in place. Sniffer dogs have been pressed into service to keep the vulnerable areas sanitised. Among the 300 African athletes who were the first to arrive on October 20 were the young Ingrid Hayden, South Africa’s best swimmer who participated in the last world championship at Barcelona. At Abuja, she won in 50m, 100m, and 200m breaststroke besides leading her country in longer relay. She appears well set to meet the Chinese challenge head-on. Her team-mate, Ziada Jardin is another top swimmer in the fray.A breaststroke specialist, Jardin won a silver in 50m and a bronze each in 100m and 200m. South Africa’s chief coach Karoly von Torus feels the African swimmers will put up a commendable show. He has high hopes on the 18-year-old Senegalese breast-stroker Malik Fall, silver medallist in 200m individual medley and winner of the bronze in 50m and 200m at Abuja. South Africa’s women’s hockey team, winners of the African Games gold, is led by Susan Webber and includes veteran striker Piete Coetzee. Among the five Egyptian medal-winning athletes of the African Games who have arrived are El Ghazaly, winner of the discus gold, and Ahmad Marwa, winner of the hammer throw title. In boxing, the top Africans in the fray include Bozian Malik, winner of the 54kg gold in the African Games at Abuja; Nisrelidin Gilaly, silver medallist in 64 kg; and Ellis Chemye, winner of the bronze in 69 kg. The African contingent is led by IOC member Francis Nyangweso and includes 25 medallists of the African Games in Abuja, Nigeria. |
Security forces leave nothing to chance HYDERABAD:
The recent deadly attack on Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu by the Peoples’ War Group of Andhra Pradesh at Tirupathi has put the state police force on full alert and nothing is being left to chance to ensure that the inaugural Afro-Asian Games are incident-free.
The Gachhibowli Sports Complex, where most of the competitions will be held, including the opening and closing ceremonies, has been fully combed and sanitised and nobody is allowed in without a thorough search. The reasoning is that if the PWG could target the most protected citizen of the state, then nobody is safe and the police is taking no chance this time around, though this is causing a lot of inconvenience to people, particularly to the media. “But we are helpless”, said a polite-sounding cop. The cops have been instructed to carry out their jobs diligently, without fear or favour, and have been given the authority to frisk anybody and everybody. Uniformed cops, both men and women, in large numbers have taken positions at various vantage spots near the stadiums as well as on the routes to the stadiums, keeping an hawk’s eye. The VIP enclosures at the stadiums, particularly at the Balayogi Stadium at Gachhibowli, have been put out of bounds for people. Even media men are not allowed to go anywhere near them, and the security agencies have not yet considered the demand to allow a select group of camera crew to photograph chief guests like Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishan Advani from near the VIP enclosure. The cops perceive everybody as a security threat, and justifiably so, as in these days of uncertainty, it’s some times very difficult to make out a penpusher from a terrorist!
— OSR
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Hyderabad
jottings
Hyderabad, October 23 * * * Fostering the spirit of brotherhood appears to be the motive of the first Afro-Asian Games. Tastefully designed banners with the message ‘Two continents, one spirit’ have been hung at vantage points all over the city, including the Begumpet airport. Neon signboards and images of players in action illuminate the highways at night.
* * * Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is playing the perfect host to visiting dignitaries and sportspersons who have assembled here. Last night he visited different hotels to inquire about the well-being of the participants. He also hosted a tea party.
* * * A cheering crowd provides sportspersons just the right motivation to give their best. But what if the crowds don’t turn up? Worried over this aspect, the organisers hit upon the idea of artificial cheering. In the India-Rwanda football match at Lal Bahadur Stadium on Wednesday, a thunderous pre-recorded cheer went up every time the ball neared the goalmouth. A novel idea indeed to keep sportsmen in high spirits !
Amardeep Bhattal
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Profile of the day—
I.M. Vijayan Thrissur-born star Indian striker I.M. Vijayan, who scored India’s first goal against Rawanda in the Afro-Asian Games on Wednesday is not only loved by football fans in Kerala but also commands respect in Punjab where he plays for JCT Phagwara. Born on April 25, 1969, Vijayan has played in many national and international tournaments, including the SAF Games, Nehru Gold Cup, SAFF Football Tournament, Durand Cup, Santosh Trophy, Federation Cup, and the high profile National Football League ever since its inception. Daughters Archana and Aromal, and son Amy provide him all the inspiration. Vijayan was adjudged India’s top player in 1993, 1997 and 1999. He enjoys the unique distinction of scoring the fastest international goal when in the 1999 SAF Games, he bulged the net in 12 seconds against Bhutan. Honoured with the Arjuna Award this year, Vijayan who made his international debut in 1989, is aiming to make his last international appearance in the ongoing Afro-Asian Games truly memorable. He has already announced that after the Afro-Asian Games he will hang up his boots though he will continue to assist JCT Phagwara for the current season, including the eighth National Football League scheduled to kick off next month. —TNS
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Hunt for saw dust and tarpaulins Hyderabad, October 23 The field conditions have deteriorated due to heavy rains and also due to rehearsals by thousands of people for the opening and closing ceremonies. Home Minister T Devender Goud directed the organisers to procure heavy-duty driers to rid the ground of water and to spread saw dust on the field. It was also suggested that tarpaulin sheets could be spread on the field to avoid further damage to the ground due to rehearsals for the ceremonial act. The ground was still slushy due to continuous practice for the grand opening of the games. But, the lack of availability of saw dust at this time of the year is worrying the officials, who are also exploring other possibilities to dry the field. The good news, however, is that the weather forecast for the rains is that it should subside in the next 24 hours following the weakening of the low pressure system in the South West Bay of the Bay of Bengal.
— UNI |
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Pak overcome Nigeria Hyderabad October 23 However, Ali Raza and Mohammed Salim Khalid made it 3-1 shortly before half time and Pakistan appeared to be on course of a resounding win. However, Nigeria hit back with two quick goals through Nuhu Jatu and Sunday Ogodogu David to narrow the margin. Finally, Mohammed Salim Khalid struck six minutes from close to give his team full points. Earlier, Korea defeated Ghana 3-0. |
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Indian eves’ make winning start Hyderabad October 23 For India, all the goals came in the second half. After Annarita Kerketa opened the account in the 50th minute, Surinder Kaur scored a brace making it 3-0. Thereafter, Sanggai Chanu, Adline Kerketta, Jasjeet Handa, Suraj Lata Devi, and Sumai Tete went on a scoring spree leaving Ghana gasping for breath. South Africa’s landslide victory over Kazakhstan saw skipper Susan Weber at her devastating best. She pumped in five goals in quick succession after Ross Bronwyn Kim, Bee Kery(2), Coetzee Pietie (2) and Wehmeyer Sharne (2) set the tone for the marvellous win. Korea, who downed Kenya 5-0, forged ahead through Jin Ju Kim in the fourth minute. Byoung Ju Sin added the second soon after interval and Yuon Hee Lee made it 3-0 with a field goal. A brace by Jong Eun Kim completed the rout. |
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Swimming hopes HYDERABAD: National coach
K.V. Sharma said swimming, starting on October 25 would witness 38 races. In each event, there will four swimmers from Africa, three from Asia and one from hosts India. China will be fielding many of their Asian Games medal winners. Abhinav ruled out New Delhi: Abhinav Bindra will not be participating in the first Afro-Asian Games in Hyderabad.
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Hockey (women): India b Ghana (8-0) South Korea b Kenya (5-0) S. Africa b Kazakhstan (12-0) Men: Pakistan b Nigeria (4-3) South Korea b Ghana (3-0) Football (men): Zimbabwe b Burkina Faso (4-1) Friday’s match Football (men): India vs Malaysia
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Chennai, October 23 Both teams earned three points each from the day-night encounter. India take on Australia in another match under lights at Gwalior on Sunday. This is only the fourth occasion in 70 matches between the two countries that has gone without a result. India had won on 34 occasions and lost to New Zealand 32 times. The teams split points in the third one-dayer in Wellington in 1998-99 and at Colombo, twice, in the 1997-1998 Singer Cup tri-nation tournament with Sri Lanka as the third team. Even as mopping up operations were in full swing, a second downpour sealed the fate of the match when India were struggling at 141 for three with Sachin Tendulkar (48) and Yuvraj Singh (29) at the crease, after Virender Sehwag, V V S Laxman and Rahul Dravid had returned to the pavilion. The first suspension of the game came ten minutes before the skies actually opened out when play was halted for 16 minutes due to bad light. The floodlights were switched on about half hour before the scheduled time (4.30 pm) but the passing clouds enveloped over the stadium and Tendulkar’s appeal for bad light was upheld by the umpires David Sheperd and A V Jayaprakash. After Rahul Dravid won a good toss, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar got off to a solid start with the former in his usual flamboyant style, going for the leather. Sehwag was more aggressive after earning a reprieve in the very second over of the innings when Crish Cairns failed to hold on to the ball near the boundary ropes. Daryl Tuffey was the sufferer. Tendulkar might have been unfortunate since rains came while he rediscovering his form following not so remarkable performance in the two Tests. While wickets were falling at the other end, Tendulkar stuck to his wicket despite struggling a bit against both Tuffey and Oram in the initial stages. Also, he did not get to bat much and had faced only 42 balls in the first 20 overs. However, it was good for the Indian team that Tendulkar has got into his form in the opener of the vital three nation series. India: Sehwag b Cairns 31 Tendulkar not out 48 Laxman c Mills b Styris 25 Dravid c Styris b Vettori 4 Yuvraj Singh not out 29 Extras: (w-3, nb-1) 4 Total (3 wkts, 26.5 overs) 141 FoW: 1/53, 2/88, 3/93. Bowling: Darryl Tuffey : 4-0-26-0, Jacob Oram : 6-0-31-0, Chris Cairns : 3-0-16-1, Paul Hitchcock: 3-0-17-0, Scott Styris : 4-0-19-1, Daniel Vettori: 4-0-21-1, Chris Harris : 2.5-0-11-0. — PTI
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Bangladesh
fight back against England Dhaka, October 23 Bangladesh
(1st innings): 203 England (1st innings): Trescothick c Mahmud b
Vaughan b Rafique 48 Butcher lbw b Mushfiqur 0 Hussain c Mashud
Thorpe c Saleh b
Clarke b Rafique 14 Read c Mashud b Haque 1 Batty c Mashud
Giles c sub (Aftab) b
Harmison lbw b Mortaza 0 Hoggard not out 6 Extras:
(lb-4, nb-5, w-2) 11 Total: (all out, 120.3 overs) 295 Fall of wickets:
1-137, 2-140, 3-140, 4-175, 5-224, 6-225, 7-266, 8-267, 9-267 Bowling: Mortaza 23-6-41-3, Mushfiqur 17-5-55-2, Mahmud 17-7-45-0, Rafique 35.3-9-84-3, Haque 23-8-53-2, Saleh 2-0-9-0, Kapali 3-1-4-0. Bangladesh (2nd innings): Sarkar not out 4 Saleh c Read b Harmison 8 Bashar not out 0 Total:
(1 wkt, 3.4 overs) 12 Fall of wicket: 1-12 Bowling:
Hoggard 2-0-7-0; Harmison 1.4-0-5-1 — AFP |
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Jaipur, October 23 Lee took no time in trouncing India’s Nikhil Kanetkar in straight sets 15-9, 15-2 to set up a title clash with second seed Yeoh Kay Bin, also of Malaysia. Yeoh made it to the finals after a hard-fought 15-11, 15-13 win over fellow countryman Kuan Beng Hong, who had earlier in the day scored an upset victory over national champion Abhinn Shyam Gupta in a three set thriller 13-15, 15-7, 15-10 to make it to the last four. In the women’s section, Aparna Popat — the favourite to win the championship — had a tough day in store for her today. After having to rally from a set down in the quarterfinal match against Jiyang Yanmei of Singapore, Popat again had to exert herself before prevailing over fourth seed Xiao Luxi, also of Singapore, 13-10, 11-9. She takes on third seed and defending champion Polsana Salakjit of Thailand in the final. — UNI
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SAI trials Kurukshetra, October 23 Interested players should bring two passport size photographs, photocopies duly attested and original certificates of their sports achievements and educational qualifications. The selected candidates will be provided free boarding and lodging along with expertise coaching, insurance cover and sports kit by the SAI. The trials for day boarding scheme in the age group of 13 to 19 years will also be held at the same venue. Interested players can contact Harphool Singh, hockey coach-cum-in charge, Sports Authority of India, Training Centre, Kurukshetra.
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