Beijing, April 7
International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge today downplayed threats of boycott of the Beijing Games even though he sought a rapid "peaceful resolution" to the Tibet unrest.

In unusual comments that highlighted the shadow cast by the Tibet issue over the Olympics, Rogge told heads of the National Olympic Committees here, "I am very concerned with the international situation and what is happening in Tibet".

"The torch has been targeted", Rogge said, a day after Tibetan protesters attempted to disrupt the Olympic Torch Relay in London by even snuffing out the flame with an extinguisher.

"The International Olympic Committee has expressed its serious concern and calls for a rapid peaceful resolution in Tibet," the IOC chief said.

Tibetan and human rights activists have been targeting the Olympic Torch to turn the global attention on alleged repression in the Himalayan region.

"Violence for whatever reason is not compatible with the values of the torch relay of the Olympic Games," Rogge said.

The IOC chief again brushed aside the talk of boycott of the Olympics, as Western powers seek to build pressure on China to hold the dialogue with the Dalai Lama, with some leading political figures calling for boycotting the opening ceremony of the Games in August.

Rogge said, "Some politicians have played with the idea of boycott" but there was "no momentum for a generalised boycott".

"We need the unity of the Olympic movement to help us overcome the difficulties. Our major responsibility is for offering good games to the athletes who deserve them," he said.

"The athletes deserve and the world expects it, and the unity of the Olympic movement will deliver it."

The London incident came in for condemnation from China with a Beijing Olympic official calling it an "act of defying the Olympic spirit".

A "few pro-Tibet independence" activists tried to sabotage the London relay which was a "serious violation" of the Olympic spirit as the Olympic flame belonged to the world, a spokesman for the torch relay centre of the Beijing Olympic Organising Committee said.

The spokesman said as the highest symbol of the Olympic spirit, the Olympic flame represented peace, friendship and progress, according to official Xinhua news agency.

The 16th General Assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees is meeting for three days from today — a tradition for the organisation to hold its biennial session in the Olympic host city. — PTI

New Delhi, April 7
Learning from the London and Paris experience of disruption of the Olympic Torch Relay, India has decided to leave no stone unturned to ensure smooth passage of the Olympic torch with “respect and security.”

Amid fears that the torch relay may be disrupted by Tibetan protesters and human rights activists in New Delhi, the government today said that it is making all arrangements for security of the Olympic torch when it reaches here on April 17.

Minister of state for external affairs Anand Sharma told mediapersons here, “As far as the government of India is concerned, we are committed to provide complete security to the Olympic torch. We are confident of ensuring the relay of the torch in India with respect and security.”

Asked to comment on reports that China would be sending its security men for the torch relay here, Sharma said that the Indian government has assured that it will take all measures to provide foolproof security. “Our officers and security agencies are capable of providing complete security to the Olympic torch.”

Sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs told The Tribune here that the route of the Olympic torch relay was yet to be finalised. “That would be done by the Indian Olympic Association. Our job is to provide security.”

Earlier, national security adviser M.K. Narayanan took stock of the arrangements being made.

It is understood that the MHA suggested shortening the route from Red Fort to India Gate, a nine-km stretch and instead confining it to Rajpath.

Ahmedabad, April 7
On what should have been the final day of the second Test here, the vanquished and struggling Indian team practised hard under the harsh sun for three-and-a-half hours to try and recapture some form ahead of the series decider against South Africa in Kanpur.

Twelve members of the jumbo squad of 16 selected for the April 11-15 third and final Test at the Green Park were in action at the stadium in Motera, first doing ground fielding and catching drills and then having a session of batting and bowling at the nets.

Captain Anil Kumble, who is recovering from a groin strain and is set to undergo a fitness test on the eve of the Kanpur tie, and his spin partner Harbhajan Singh, laid low by a stomach bug, skipped the practice session.

Ishant Sharma, also recovering from his finger and toe injuries and scheduled to undergo the fitness test with Kumble on April 10, was yet to join the team.

Munaf Patel, who replaced the out-of-form R P Singh in the squad, has already reached here and practised today. Wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and pace bowler S Sreesanth only batted at the nets and did not take part in other drills, leading to speculations over their fitness ahead of the decider.

Port Of Spain, Trinidad, April 6
A classy century from Ramnaresh Sarwan led West Indies to a six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the second Test today to tie the two-Test series at 1-1.

The Guyanese pairing of Sarwan (102) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (86 not out) put on 157 for the fourth wicket after West Indies, chasing a target of 253, were in trouble at 73 for three.

The win means West Indies have ended their losing streak of seven consecutive Test series and foils Sri Lanka's hopes of a first series win in the Caribbean.

Sarwan and Chanderpaul turned the innings around with a display of patient and considered batting which was exactly what was required at a delicate stage of an absorbing Test match.

Sri Lanka had pinned their hopes on a breakthrough with the new ball and that was delivered when Tillakaratne Dilshan took a superb catch to dismiss West Indies' captain Chris Gayle for 10.

Scoreboard

Sri Lanka (1st innings): 278

West Indies (1st innings): 294

Sri Lanka (2nd innings): 268

West Indies (2nd innings):

Gayle c Dilshan b Thushara 10

Chattergoon lbw b Vaas 11

Sarwan c Dilshan b Murali 102

Samuels c Warnapura b Vaas 11

Chanderpaul not out 86

Smith not out 14

Extras (b-11 lb-2 w-2 nb-5): 20

Total (four wickets, 68.3 overs): 254

Fall of wickets: 1-23 2-24 3-73 4-230

Bowling: Vaas 17-2-52-2, Thushara 12-3-49-1 (w-2, nb-1), Amerasinghe 13-0-43-0, Muralitharan 24.3-4-92-1 (nb-4), C. Silva 2-0-5-0.

Result: West Indies win by six wickets Series: Draw 1-1. — Reuters

New Delhi, April 7
India's superiority on grass court notwithstanding, Davis Cup coach Nandan Bal wants the team to prepare well against the Japanese side, which he believes is better in dealing with pressure.

"Japanese players are a lot better prepared to handle tough situations. So, we have to prepare well for the tie," he said after the team's first practice session of the day.

Bal said the Indian players have good technique when it comes to playing on grass.

"Most of them are good at volley. Japanese, I think would struggle a bit to get used to low bounce as they play a lot on hard courts," he said.

Rohan Bopanna joined the camp today while captain Leander Paes is expected to arrive tomorrow.

Bopanna, nursing a knee inflammation, was restricted to a light session and was seen hitting just backhands and returns.

"There is no point taking chances. That's why we left him on one side of the court to hit some backhands and returns.

Forehands and service require a lot of movement, so we did not want to push him hard," Bal said.

"From tomorrow we will start intense session," he added.

The coach however ruled out serious problem with Bopanna's knee.

"There is no problem whatsoever. Just for precautionary measures we have told him to start slow. Also it is very hot, humid and muggy," Bal said.

Mahesh Bhupathi is unlikely to join the camp before Wednesday as he returns to the country tonight after losing the Miami Masters final.

Meanwhile team manager S P Mishra said mood in the camp was good and players were practising hard.

"Players are seriously focused. They are practising hard. We have nothing to do with the past and we want them to stay focussed for this tie," he said.

Mishra believes India have a good chance to advance to World Group play-offs.

"India players have a better tennis aptitude on the grass. Chances are fair on the home surface. They are ranked higher than us but rankings do not matter in Davis Cup," he said.

Dr Vece Paes, Leander's father, said the recent players' revolt had affected everyone.

"It shook everyone up. We can only hope that everyone forget that at least for this tie as we all are professionals. I think it would not affect Leander and Mahesh and let's hope it does not affect the other three (players)," he said. — PTI

The American duo of Billy Mayfair and Fred Couples were stroke adrift at the tied third spot after turning in identical six-under 66 in the final round. — PTI

Yamunanagar, April 7
Luck is not on the side of Padma Shri awardee Karnam Malleswari! The weightlifter had developed backache a few hours before she was to lift weight at the Athens Olympic in 2004.

And now, just a few months before the Beijing Olympics, an ultrasound examination has revealed that there is a five-mm stone in her ureter.

While talking to The Tribune over the phone from Delhi, Karnam said, “I had been devoting a lot of time at NIS, Patiala, and was lifting 100-107 kgs in snatch and 130 kg in clean and jerk.”

But during the camp, she developed pain. “I took a brief rest and started practicing again but the pain re-occurred.”

Karnam, who was the world champion in 1994-95 and a two-time Asian champion, said, “In the ultrasound examination, it was revealed that there was a five-mm stone in the ureter.”

After that, she opted out of the practice sessions and her chances of participating in the Asian championship have also been dashed.

She would not be able to participate in the Asian weightlifting championship starting on April 23 at Kanazawn city, Japan. The championship is the qualifying tournament for the Olympics.

Karnam believes that Indian women weightlifters will get at least one berth in the Olympics. The Indian weightlifting association will select players for the Olympics (if the team qualifies) after the championship in Japan.

When asked what her chances were of participating in the Olympics, if India qualifies, Karnam was hopeful of participating in the 69-kg weight category on the basis of her performances at the recent training camp at NIS, Patiala.

She said, “Sportspersons never give up. After consultation with several doctors, I have decided to not go for laparoscopy but an alternative treatment for the stone.”

Karnam (32) who had won a bronze medal in the Sydney Olympics by lifting 110 kg in snatch category and 130 clean and jerk, had settled in Yamunanagar after marriage. A mother of two children, she had once expressed a desire to retire but she again started performing.

During practice sessions, she lifted weight in the proximity of her Sydney performance.

Recounting the past, she said that the luck was not on her side. “Before leaving for the Athens Olympics, I had lifted more weight than the girl who picked the bronze,” said Karnam.

She had developed backache on the eve of her event and did not lift weight.

New Delhi, April 7
Seventeen-year-old racing prodigy Ashwin Sundar is the latest kid on the racing block to make his mark and earn a place in the German racing team Ma Con Motor Sports with a three-year-sponsorship deal.

The Chennai boy, who came out with flying colours during his test drives in Germany, would be racing in German Formula Volkswagen ADAC Championship 2008.

Unlike his three famous seniors — Narain Karthikeyan, Karun Chandhok and Arman Ibrahim (all from Chennai) — Sundar hails from a humble background with no racing history.

Though Ashwin's entry into the German team will cost Ma Con “2,00,000 Euros”, neither the young racer, nor his sponsors JK Tyres, would have to bear the burden, as he has been taken in solely on account of his racing talent.

Ma Con Sports, the leading car racing team in Europe, based at Dortmund, conducted test trials for the selection of two out of the eight drivers in the team, from Britain, European Union countries and Ashwin. And, the Indian boy was "duly rewarded for his sterling effort".

Ashwin was the only Indian to win two categories at the 10th JK Tyre National Racing Championship in 2007 —Formula LGB Swift Class and Formula LGB Hundai Class.

He was also declared the "champion of champions" for two wheelers in the Ucal Rolon Indian National Racing Championship in 2006, besides doing well in the Asia Road Racing Championship in the 115cc four-stroke category.

The baby-faced youngster, who is yet to own a city driving licence, said he could easily assimilate to the conditions in Germany during his 15-day stay there for the test trials.

"Ashwin's mentality is different. I am tired with the European kids", noted Marian Hamprecht, owner of Ma Con, who was all praise for the Indian boy's inherent talent.

"He has shown immense talent by winning the testing sessions held in Germany in February 2008 at Ma Con Motor Sports' own test circuit. His progress has been clearly evident and culminated into his successful entry into the team", added Marian, who left a promising racing career to create his own club.

He said Ashwin had been adopted by Ma Con so that “he can give his 100 per cent. I looked for a driver who is more attractive than an European driver, and Ashwin perfectly fitted the bill,” summed up Marian.

Sanjay Sharma of JK Tyres could not conceal his joy when he observed that Ashwin's sudden jump into an international team was totally unexpected. "Ashwin Sundar joins highly successful JK Tyre prodigies club which has big names such a Karun Chandhok, Armaan Ebrahim and Narain Karthikeyan in the international arena", he elaborated.

But for this "no strings attached" sponsorship deal, Ashwin could never have made it into an international team as all his father could afford was just a two-wheeler when he showed tremendous potential for racing at the tender age of 12 years.

"It's a dream come true. I never expected that it would come so soon to me. I will be joining the F3 German series from next year", added the shy teenager modestly.