Jalandhar, December 19
Indian women wrestlers today put up a good show by winning three gold, four silver and five bronze medals followed closely by Canada and Cameroon during the commonwealth free style women wrestling championship being held at the local PAP Indoor stadium.

Among Indian wrestlers Babita, Geeta and Alka Tomar won gold in the 51, 55 and 59 Kg free style wrestling while Canadian wrestlers proved their mettle in two categories. Bouchard Justine and Buydens Megan won gold medals in the 63 and 67 Kg category. Even the Cameroon wrestlers managed to sweep two gold medals by displaying good technical attacking moves.

Results: 48 Kg Women Free Style: Mwambro R (Cameroon, Gold), Nirmala Devi (India, Silver), Leeuw Brumilda (South Africa, Bronze) and Neha Rathi (India, Bronze), 51 Kg Women Free Style: Babita (India, Gold), Madi Mpho (South Africa, silver), Robertson Donna (Scotland, Bronze) and Ford Diana (Canada, Bronze), 55 Kg Women Free Style: Geeta (India, Gold), Nirmala Devi (India, Silver), Clason Jayne (Scotland, Bronze) and Bensted Emily (Australia, Bronze), 59 Kg Women Free Style: Alka Tomar (India, Gold), Rajni (India, Silver), Salmon Louisa (England, Bronze) and Barker Jazmyne (Canada, Bronze), 63 Kg Women Free Style: Bouchard Justine (Canada, Gold), Anita (India, Silver), Navjot Kaur (India, Bronze) and Geringer Zumickle (South Africa, Bronze), 67 Kg Women Free Style: Buydens Megan (Canada, Gold), Memanus Ashlea (Scotland, Silver), Suman Kundu (India, Bronze) and Babita (India, Bronze), 72 Kg Women Free Style: Ali Annabella Laure (Cameroon, Gold), Coetzee Sonja (South Africa, Silver), Wiebe Erica (Canada, Bronze) and Anmol (India, Bronze).

New Delhi, December 19
Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president Mike Fennell expressed "great disappointment" and "distress" at the CoCom's (Coordination Commission's) report on the delayed delivery of the games venues, particularly the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and the SP Mukherjee Swimming Complex, which were "so far behind schedule".

Fennell, who attended the Executive Board meeting of the Organising Committee here today, before briefing the media, said though the CoCom members had their best visit to assess the preparedness for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, they were concerned with the delay in the construction of the stadiums as most of them were behind schedule.

According to the revised schedule, most of the stadiums would be ready by March, but the Nehru Stadium and the Swimming Pool complex would not be completed before June, thus putting a question on the trial games. The Dhyan Chand National Hockey Stadium, which was expected to be completed and handed over to Hockey India to test the facilities for the 2010 World Cup Hockey Championship, slated to be held in February-March, is not yet ready. As a result, Hockey India is not able to finalise a four-nation tournament, planned to be held in January.

However, Fennell was happy that the Organising Committee had made significant progress in many key areas, and he was confident that Delhi would hold a successful Commonwealth Games, better than Melbourne in 2006. The CGF chief said he has taken in full faith the assurance given by Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr M.S.Gill that there will be no more delays in the construction of the games venues, and the Nehru Stadium and the Swimming complex would be completed as per the revised schedule.

"There can ben no delays and I was pleased to receive directly from Sports Minister Dr Gill his assurance today that the venues will not encounter any further delays". "We have continuously received assurances on the delivery timelines for these projects and to now hear that there are further delays is distressing. These delays will have an impact upon the Organising Committee's operational planning, particularly in relation to the conduct of test events and overlay installation", Fennell explained.

There was bonhomie among chairman of the Organising Committee Suresh Kalmadi, Chief Executive Officer Mike Hooper and Mike Fennell, as Kalmadi stated that Fennell had "played some magic" to make Hooper do some constructive works for the past few months.

Organising Committee vice-chairman Randhir Singh, who has taken direct control of the 23 sub-committees to revamp their working, which has been praised by the CoCom, got praise from Mike Fennell for the good work done. As a result, the CGF has decided to put on hold the appointment of a Technical Review Committee.

And Fennell has also changed the strident postures he had adopted earlier. "With the back drop of the CoCom's report and the positive progress made in operational planning, Kalmadi and I have agreed today an alternative approach to our ongoing interaciton and monitoring work", Fennell said.

"In October, I announced that the CGF would be instituting in January a Technical Review Committee (TRC) that would visit monthly. However, in view of the current improved status, we have agreed it is now more appropriate for the CGF to provide additional on-going supports to the Organising Committee through its existing Commonwealth Games Knowledge Management Programme", Fennell stated.

Rurka Kalan (Jalandhar), December 19
Rural Punjab has the fields, the diet and the players with bodies to handle the rigour of sports. But when it comes to coaching, not just the state, rather the entire nation falls short on many counts. Enter YFC Rurka Kalan. The emerging soccer hub at Rurka Kalan village, district Jalandhar, organised a six-day ‘Grassroots Training Program’ for football coaches, which was assisted by The Australian Sports Commission and the Sports Department, Punjab.

The master trainer for the program Sanjeev Parmar, director Parmar Sports Training Inc. in Ottawa, Canada speaks to The Tribune about India’s coaching standards, Indian football’s future and much more.

Q: Firstly, what exactly is your connection with India?

A: I am not directly related to India, but there are so many indirect links that I feel very, very much at home here. I was born and raised in Canada and am presently based in Ottawa. But my wife is from New Delhi and she keeps India ticking inside my family.

Q: What is your specialisation in the field of coaching?

A: I am a Canadian Soccer Association ‘A’ license coach and have been a professor at the University of Ottawa in Human Kinetics department for the Soccer Class. I coached for 6 years at the University of Ottawa as an assistant coach and was the assistant coach of the Ottawa Fury Women’s Professional Team, which was ranked 7th in the world at the time.

Q: What about your playing career?

A: To be precise, on July 9, 1986, the day of the World Cup Final, I made up my mind that my career was to be in this sport. After school, I received a full scholarship to attend Houghton College, in western New York, to play university soccer. After my four-year career in college, where I was voted a three time All American (All Star team in America), I was drafted by the Toronto Lynx professional team but chose to play for the Charlotte Eagles instead.

Q: Your academy has been thriving. What exactly is the setup there?

A: I started Parmar Sports Training in 2003 with 10 kids and it has now grown to over 500 kids a week. We presently have two full time coaches, along with 6 other part time coaches. We work with kids aged 6 - 18 years of age in developing technical mastery of the ball in most of our programs. We also offer soccer specific fitness programs as well tactical program for various ages.

Q: What is your opinion of India Football?

A: Indian football is in the early stages of development and has a lot of potential and room to grow. Presently, the grassroots lack quality training. Unfortunately, due to this problem, Indian footballers are unable to develop the basic technical mastery and motor skill development that is best learned in the 10 - 12 age group. You have to start early to make your mark in soccer, such is the fiercly competetive nature of the sport these days.

Q: Keeping Punjab in mind, and your experience from this camp, what have you derived?

A: The local coaches in Punjab are not well educated and lack the qualifications to work with young footballers. They don’t understand the psychology of dealing with young children and lack the communication skills to motivate and encourage their players. Many coaches do not fulfill the requirements of a youth coach.

Q: How was your experience at YFC Rurka Kalan?

A: My experience has been wonderful each time, I’ve come to YFC. This is my third visit and I have seen incredible development over the past year. YFC has developed a world-class facility with a good training pitch, brand new stadium, training gym and an amazing sports complex, which houses and feeds the academy students.

BRIEFLY

Saina, Chetan reach finals
Lucknow: Top India shuttlers Saina Nehwal and Chetan Anand did not break sweat and sailed into the finals, but it was the resurgence of Aditi Mutatkar that was the highlight of the day in the Syed Modi International Grand Prix tournament here on Saturday. World number eight Saina trounced sixth seeded Switzerland's Jeanine Cicognini 21-12 21-10 in just 24 minutes, while 17th ranked Chetan came better off compatriot RMV Gurusaidutt 21-16 21-13. — PTI

New Jersey Nets Sean Williams goes up for a slam dunk against the Toronto Raptors during the second half of their NBA basketball game in Toronto, on Friday. — Reuters

Younus likely for Aus series
Lahore: Pakistan's upcoming tour to Australia could mark the comeback of Younus Khan into international cricket, after former captain ruled out any talks of retiring from the game and said he would be available for the team whenever needed. Younus was not considered for the tour of Australia after he did not make himself available and could not be contacted by selectors. — PTI

Amla, De Villiers boost SA
Centurion: Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers shared a century partnership and regained the initiative for South Africa on the fourth day of the first Test against England at SuperSport Park on Saturday. South Africa were 182 for five at tea, an overall lead of 244. Each of England's fast bowlers claimed a wicket as South Africa lost three wickets for 37 runs at the start of the day after resuming on nine for one. — AFP

Aussies made to wait for win
Perth: West Indies had Australia shuddering for half the day but by stumps it was the hosts who were one wicket from cracking in a courageous chase. Australia grabbed four breakthroughs in the last hour to be on the verge of a 2-0 series win, with Kemar Roach and Gavin Tonge needing another 51 to reach their unlikely victory target of 359. — Agencies

Shiv tied 29th after opening round
Paarl: Delhi pro Shiv Kapur brought home a sedate one-under 71 to lie tied 29th after the opening round of the South African Open Golf Championship here. Shiv had a rather ominous beginning as he bogeyed the opening hole and dropped a shot on the eighth as well. The European Tour regular, however, squeezed in birdies on the third, fourth and seventh holes to lie one-under at the turn. — PTI

Baljit eyeing comeback in CWG
Chennai: A freak eye injury might have cast a shadow over his career but a determined Indian hockey goalkeeper Baljit Singh is eyeing a comeback in the national side to play in the Commonwealth Games in October next year. Baljit said his vision has recovered 55 per cent following treatment in United States and after another surgery he is hoping to be fit to play again by March end next year. — PTI