New Delhi, October 26
Sachin Tendulkar has suggested that on-field umpires should make only leg-before decisions and technology be allowed to have a final say on all other matters on a cricket field. Tendulkar was all for the increased use of ‘Hot Spot’ technology - which establishes the first point of contact of the ball - for making accurate decisions and taking off the pressure from the on-field officials.

“For the caught behind and all, the Hot Spot will come. Close in catches, again the Hot Spot will come. For the bowled you don’t need a machine, so only the LBW decisions is what the umpire has to concentrate on,” Tendulkar said.

“It is tough for the umpires to watch the no-balls and watch what’s happening in the front. For the basic line decisions you have to have to have a laser or something like that… the no-ball like tennis you can call it with a machine,” he said.

Tendulkar was impressed with the results of the Hot Spot technology and said it could also be used for making the bat-pad decision. “We are still using technology for close catches. They should use the Hot Spot for the bat-pad decision so the main umpire has to only make the LBW calls. I’m quite happy with the Hot Spot because that establishes the contact,” Tendulkar said.

The prolific batsman though gave a thumbs down to the umpire referral system and also suggested that in a Test match instead of two, three-umpires should do the duty session-wise. “I’m not particularly happy with the referrals because I’m not convinced of the angles (on television) and all. I’m not convinced. I wasn’t happy when we first went through it,” he said, referring to India’s series in Sri Lanka in 2008.

Another suggestion, if taken seriously, would bring a lot of smiles on the umpires’ faces. “Maybe we could have umpires doing a session each and so have three umpires for a game, so umpires do get time off also,” he said.

New Delhi, October 26
Union Sports Minister M S Gill today inspected the 2010 Commonwealth Games venues here and expressed satisfaction at the pace of preparation for the quadrennial sporting extravaganza. Gill visited the construction sites at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where both the inauguration and closing ceremonies are scheduled, and a swimming pool complex coming up at the Talkatora Stadium.

“I came here to see preparations and also had thorough discussions with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) officials and the engineers. I can assure you that these two stadiums will be the technology and engineering marvels,” Gill said after the inspection.

“Organising Committee officials, engineers and all others are fully motivated towards the timely completion of the work. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has also spoken to the engineers who are fully focused on staging a world class event,” he added.

The CWG OC has drawn flak from different quarters for the tardy preparations with the Commonwealth Games Federation chief Michael Fennell issuing a warning that the Games could turn out to be a “partial failure” if the pace of work was not sped up. But a confident Gill, after inspecting the swimming pool complex at Tal Katora Stadium, assured that there would be enough time to hold the test events at the venues before the Delhi Games.

“Fennell has raised concerns about it but works are going fast. After two months you see the preparations yourself and by early next year, I think, it will be completed and then test events would also be organised here,” Gill said. — PTI

Bhiwani, October 26
World’s number one ranking boxer Vijender Beniwal will celebrate his 24th birthday with the Queen of England at Buckigham Palace. Disclosing this here today, Mahipal Beniwal, father of Vijender told that he would also accompany his son at this ceremony.

“It is indeed a matter of joy and proud for Beniwal family that a simple rural family has got chance to have dinner with the Queen of England”, said Mahipal. Expressing happiness over the achievements of Vijender, the proud father said every player should first decide his aim and work hard to achieve it like Vijender.

It is mentionable that Mr Michael Fennell, chairman, Commonwealth Games and chairman of managing committee Mr Suresh Kalmadi have jointly invited the father and son for the Queen Baton Relay 2010 to be held at Buckingham Palace in London on October 29.

Coincidently, Vijender’s birthday too falls the same day. “This day will remain alive for our whole life” said Vijender.

Patiala, October 26
Punjab female archers have finally managed to make their presence felt in the country with Gagandeep Kaur, a first year student of Masters in Journalism and Mass Communication, Punjabi University, Patiala competing against many international archers and defeating them to reserve her berth in the Indian squad that would take part in the Asian Championship (compound round) to be held at Bali, Indonesia, from November 16 to 21.

With this, she has become the first girl ever from Punjab to be selected in the Asian Archery Championship. The trials were held at NIS, Kolkata.

Born on April 2, 1988, in a middle-class family, Gagandeep had no idea that she would one day make it this big in the game. Talking about her carrier in archery, she said, “I was in Class XI when my best friend joined archery at Polo Ground and I started going with her just for her company. That’s when Vinit sir, who is currently working as an assistant director with SAI at NIS, Patiala, encouraged me to take it up seriously and after that there was no looking back.”

Her father Jasvir Singh, a government employee, and mother Gurdeep Kaur has been her biggest inspirations in every walk of life. Gagandeep informed that when she expressed her desire that she wanted to seriously pursue archery, her parents simply said you are intelligent enough to make your own choices but studies too are equally important.

Since then, she has been an overall performer. She has scored distinction throughout graduation while performing well in various All-India Inter-University and Senior National Championships.

Gagandeep has recently won a silver medal in the Senior National Archery Championship that was held at Pune. Bawa gives credit of her achievements to director sports of the university Dr Rajkumar Sharma and her coach Jiwanjot Singh.

She said, “She was lucky to have a coach like him who gave direction to her carrier. I had been shooting on recurve bow since five years but was not getting the desired output despite practice. My coach realised that I was more suitable for compound bow and as soon as I changed the category, the results were remarkable. I won various medals in All-India Inter-Universities.”

Gagandeep also thanked Dr Rajkumar Sharma for his support. She said our equipment is worth lakhs and no one from middle class families could afford it. Our university has provided us with the best equipment as a result of which I have been able to come this far.

His father talking about her achievement said, “I am glad that she has done our family and state proud. I hope she wins a medal and fulfills the expectations of her coach. She is an intelligent girl and I wish her all success in life.”

Her coach Jiwanjot Singh is very sure of her success. He said she is a very sincere student and her hardwark is finally going to pay off.