New Delhi, October 11
Iron woman Krishna Poonia created history when she lifted the women's discus throw gold in the athletics events at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in the 19th Commonwealth Games here tonight. India, in fact, made a one-two-three in Discus throw when Harwant Kaur and Seema Antil clinched the silver and bronze, respectively.

This was India's only second gold medal in athletics in the Commonwealth Games after Milkha Singh's triumph in the 400m at the Edmonton Games in 1958.

Krishna Poonia recorded her winning throw of 61.51 metres with her very first heave. She fouled the next two, but could measure only 58.80 metres in her fourth attempt. The fifth throw was also a foul, and she measured a less distance of 58.27 in her last attempt, but her first throw proved to be the best to ensure her the gold, as the other throwers could not come anywhere near her best.

Harwant Kaur heaved her winning throw of 60.16 metres in her third attempt, after measuring 58.59 and 57.21 metres in her first two throws. Her fourth heave recorded 57.98m, fifth 59.54 and sixth 58.38. Seema Antil covered a distance of 58.46 metres in her second attempt to fetch the bronze. She measured 55.25 in the first throw, but fouled the third. She had 56.07, 56.89 and 57.94 in her last three attempts.

Krishna Poonia, the youngest of the three Indian throwers, were born a few months before the 1982 Asian Games, and it was just as well that the grand show piece venue of the Asiad proved the perfect platform for Krishna to excel and become a part of India's athletics lore.

In the much-awaited 800m women's final late in the night, Tintu Luka, a trainee of legendary athlete P.T.Usha, only flattered to deceive, as after maintaining the lead from the start to about 450 metres, she was pushed back by the eventual winner, and then one by one, all other runners finished ahead of her but for two. Running in lane No 6, Luka committed a strategic blunder, when she bolted away to lead from the first 25 metres and maintained the lead till about 450 metres, but then ran out of steam, as one by one, all other runners blazed past her as she had barely any energy left to pull herself ahead at the home stretch.

Lan' Gat Nancy of Nigeria clocked 2:00.01 minutes to win the gold. Hamblin Nikki of New Zealand (2:00.05) and Cummins Dlane of Canada (2:00.13) took the silver and bronze. 

New Delhi, October 11
After having dominated the ring at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium for the past week, Indian boxers witnessed a carnage of sorts as Amandeep Singh, Jai Bhagwan, Dilbagh Singh and the big one, Vijender Singh all lost their semifinal bouts, to settle for bronze medals. There was way too much drama at the bouts and it all culminated with the Indians filing a protest with the jury over Vijender’s loss.

But not all was lost as Manoj Kumar (welterweight, 64kg), Suranjoy Singh (Flyweight, 52 kg) and Paramjeet Samota (Super Heavy Weight, +91 kg) all made it through to the finals on October 13.

The day started with Jai Bhagwan losing to England’s Thomas Stalker by 5-10. Then it was Amandeep Singh lost out to Northern Ireland’s Paddy Barnes 0-5. And finally, Dilbagh also lost to Patrick Gallagher of Northern Ireland in an engrossing battle by 4-5. The evening session started with Manoj Kumar taking on Bahamas’ Valentino Knowles. After a cautious opening round (0-0) Manoj opened his guard and ripped a couple of right jabs to pick up vital points for a 3-1 win.

Next up was Suranjoy and the little Army man had the perfect setting of a big crowd and a Pakistani opponent in Haroon Iqbal. Suranjoy, who has been mighty impressive all through, blasted off to a massive 6-0 lead in the first round itself. Iqbal fought back in the second round and the score was 7-2 at the end of it. But right in the beginning of the third round, Suranjoy landed a superb left hook and from there on there was no looking back as the Indian won the fight 9-3.

But the real talking point of the day was crowd favourite and India’s best bet for a Gold, Vijender Singh. Fighting an English opponent in Anthony Ogogo, Vijender started with caution and slowly started to dictate the bout. He held a slender 1-0 lead after the first round. The second round saw both boxers hold their guard and not being too adventurous.

It all came down to the last round where Vijender pulled away at 3-0 with some fine one-two combination punches. But soon after, the referee awarded Ogogo two points as Vijender was charged for clutching. 

New Delhi, October 11
Nigerian women’s 100 metres gold medallist, Osayemi Oludamola became the first athlete to fail the dope test at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi on Monday.Oludamola, who was awarded the gold after Australian Sally Pearson was disqualified for false start, is reported to have taken a banned substance and result of her B sample is awaited, said CGF chief Mike Fennel.

After failing the dope test for a banned drug, the Nigerian sprinter has been placed under provisional suspension until the test of her 'B' sample.

Fennell said that the 24-year-old tested positive for the banned stimulant methylhexanamine and stands the fear of losing her gold medal which she won after Australia's Sally Pearson was stripped off her gold for false start.

“I regret to announce that a positive dope case has come out. Nigeria’s Osayemi Oludamola has tested positive for methylhexaneamine and under anti-doping rules of the Games, she has been handed a provisional suspension,” said Fennel while speaking over the dope incident.

Fennell further said that Osayemi had been notified of her positive sample and she has requested for her B sample to be tested, the result of which is expected on Monday evening.

“Under anti-doping procedures she has been notified and she has requested for a ‘B’ sample testing. The ‘B’ sample testing will be done today and her hearing will also be held today,” he said.

It was the first positive test of the CWG 2010 and Fennell said that only time will tell what impact it will have on the image of such a high profile event.

Fennel informed that the Federation has conducted over 950 tests to date and the results from just over 700 are already available. 

New Delhi, October 11
Australians are continuing their supremacy in Commonwealth Games by dominating track and diving as well as diving events with England and Canada giving India a tough fight for the number two position.

Besides swimming, Australians, Englishmen and Canadians primarily shared among themselves the medals in cycling, including road cycling, and diving events as well. Results of the diving competition held today, for example, saw Canada’s Alexandra Despatie winning the gold medal in 3 m springboard with team mate Ross Reuben getting the silver. Australian Nel Grant got the bronze. It is in aquatics and diving that India had only a bronze to show.

Melissa Wu and Alexandra Croak of Australia won the silver and bronze medals in 10m Platform diving as the gold went to Malaysian Pandelela Rinong Pamg.

Australian gold tally which stood at 62 this evening was more than the double of the second placed India (30) while England had (26) and Canada (22).

Defending champions Australia have already made the final grade in the women’s hockey where they will meet New Zealand.

While India, as hosts, are already past its previous highest aggregate tally of 69 medals won at Manchester, besides equalling the previous gold medal haul of 30 (Manchester,2002). India’s best performance so far has been in shooting followed by wrestling in which it won 19 medals out of 21 medal events.

Disappointments from the boxing ring and some below expectation performances in shooting and tennis, India has its own spells of glory in the Games by winning its second ever athletic gold — women’s discus throw in 52 years after Flying Sikh Milkha Singh’s triumph in 440 yards run in Cardiff.

If Leisel Jones helped Australia to win the last event in the pool 4x100 metre relay, to accomplish an individual record of 10 Commonwealth Games gold medals here, Canada has Alexandre Despatie who collected his eighth career gold medal in diving in the Games and completed a golden triple here in the springboard diving.

New Delhi, October 11
For wrestling star Sushil Kumar, “small” or “big screen” offer no infatuations as he wants to concentrate on his training to fulfil a bigger national aim - a wrestling Olympic gold in 2012.

“Wrestling is my love and my routine is my training centre and my room in the hostel,” he says revealing that he spurned the offer to appear in TV serial “Dus ka dum” as for him “it is a distraction.”

Sushil Kumar, who won the swiftest gold medal in 66 kg in the history of the Commonwealth Games without dropping a point yesterday, also dismissed all speculations about his intended marriage to the daughter of his coach-cum-mentor and the 1982 Asian games champion Satpal Singh.

“I even do not keep a mobile phone,” declares Sushil Kumar maintaining that “awards or rewards should not be demanded. They have to come to you automatically because of your achievements.”

While talking about his diet, Sushil says that he is a pure vegetarian and takes whatever is prescribed to him by his team doctor or the dietician. He also revealed that when he was picked for random sampling for doping on the eve of the Games, he got a little upset as he was on diet control to remain within the permissible of his own weight category.

Sushil Kumar accompanied by two other gold medallists in wrestling Narsingh and Yogeshwar Dutt was in forefront in answering questions from media at an interaction programme here this evening.

There were 21 gold medals at stake in the Commonwealth Games of which India won 19, including 10 gold and five silver. Coach Jagminder Singh said that Joginder Kumar lost to Canadian wrestler Arjan Bhullar primarily because his foot hit the corner of the wrestling mat and he suffered a fracture. Anuj Kumar could not perform at all.

Chief Coach Jagminder Singh, Wrestling Federation President G S Mander and Secretary Kartar Singh, too, were present at the interaction where the future plans of the Indian wrestling team were revealed.

“On October 15, our training for the coming Asian games will resume,” declared Jagminder Singh.”All the shortcomings and weaknesses noticed in our team during the Commonwealth Games will be rectified in time for the next month Asian Games. We hope to perform well in Guangzhou.”

Yogeshwar Dutt, who also comes from the same akhara as Sushil Kumar, says the wrestling as a sport has received an overwhelming support from the people of north India.

“If wrestlers from Haryana are doing well,” he said, “it was simply because there is virtually an akhara in every village. Besides, the Haryana government has been offering various incentives, including jobs, to outstanding wrestlers.

“On the other hand,” rued Kartar Singh, “Punjab is facing a major problem of drug addiction. Youth are afflicted with this malaise. There were hardly any coaching centres left in the State. We want to revive wrestling as a popular sport.”

Coach Jagminder Singh admits that because of not many wrestlers available in higher weight categories, India was not producing champions in them. “If we have Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt in middle weight categories, it is because there is very tough competition in these categories. Even other nations do not have many wrestlers in heavier weight categories.

GS Mander maintained that India supported by other nations would keep pressing the Organising Committee of the 2014 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee to include Freestyle wrestling for women as well as Greco-Roman wrestling in the Glasgow games. Wrestling is one of the four basic sports of the Olympic movement, he added. 

New Delhi, October 11
There are times when it is hard to decide, if what you see on the field has to get an objective description, or is there a little room for understanding the realities of a sport like rugby, and India’s chances at it?

Well, to put it mildly, India did not sway from the script and were expectedly thrashed by heavyweights Wales, South Africa and Tonga during their Rugby Sevens matches at the Delhi University grounds here today. No one ever gave them a chance, not the crowd, not their opponents and not even the team themselves.

Starting of their day against South Africa Nasser Hussain, the Indian captain, and his men got a royal beating, going down by a massive margin of 59-0. There was absolutely no contest in the match, but the South Africans, and their pace and fluid passing within the formation, made it look worse than it actually was. That the final score was a flattering one, just made it worse for the hosts.

In their second match of the day, the Indian team put in a little more determination, but were again no match for the 2009 World Cup champions Wales. Amit Lochab scored India?s only try four minutes into the first half with the final score reading 56-7 in favour of the Europeans.

In their last match of the day, the hosts took on Tonga and were probably expected to put in a good show for the crowd that had withstood the heat to cheer each of their runs, and moves. The team tried, but the gulf in class and maturity was once again evident. Simple errors of crossing the ball cost the hosts heavily and they were second best in this contest to by a pretty big margin of 38-5.

It was a lesson in a game that we know very little about. Not that the team would pick up any magical tactics after today’s beating, but at least they will know where to start from!

New Delhi, October 11
An over conscious world champion Tejaswani Sawant and partner Meena Kumari ended with a bronze medal in the 50 m Rifle Prone Pairs on the seventh day of shooting competitions in the 2010 Commonwealth Games at Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range today.They were just a point behind gold and silver medal winners in the event.

In the only other medal event of the day, Indian team of Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Allan Daniel Peoples finished fifth in the Pairs Skeet.

Bronze medal won by Tejaswani and Meena was the only medal won by the hosts in the shooting events today. Partnering Meena Kumari, Tejaswani Sawant recorded a perfect 100 in her second round. She, however, totalled 583 points against 585 by Meena Kumari to aggregate 1168, just a point behind the winners from Scotland and the second placed English team

The gold in the event was won by Jen McIntosh and Kay Copland of Scotland. The Scottish pair also aggregated 1169 but beat the English team in shoot off. Michele Smith and Sharon Lee comprised the second placed English team.

“I got over conscious because I did not want to make any mistake. Even our coach cautioned me against becoming over conscious. We are a good team and even if we had repeated our own best performances, we could have easily taken the gold medal,” she said in her post-event media interaction.

Meena Kumari, Tejaswani felt, was slightly stressed as it was her only event in the Games. “I was under pressure because am the world champion and I was supposed to perform well. May be I trained less for this event,” said Tejaswani.

Even Meena Kumari was also happy with the bronze saying the difference between the gold medallist team and us was just one point, she said revealing that she lost her rhythm in between that delayed her shots.

In the Pairs Skeet for men, Achilleos Georgios and Andreas Chaskisos of Cyprus won the men’s Skeet Pairs event with ease. They claimed the title with a total score of 194 maintaining dominance of Cyprus in the event. They also created a new Games record. Interestingly, Achilleos Georgios scored a perfect 25 in all four rounds to return an individual score of 100 against 94 by his partner.

John Hughes Caswell and Richard McBryde of Canada took the silver with a score of 191, the same scored by English pair of Clive Bramley and Richard Brickell. The English team had to take the bronze because its final round score was lower than the Canadians.

New Delhi, October 11
After scoring twice in the last three minutes to beat Canada 3-0, India drew some consolation by finishing fifth in the women's hockey competition of the 2010 Commonwealth Games at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here this afternoon. The home team led 1-0 at the breather.

Winners of gold medal in 2002 and runners-up in Melbourne in 2006, India girls were elbowed out of semis because of lower goal average by South Africa. Earlier in the first play off match, Trinidad and Tobago notched up its first win defeating Malaysia 2-1 to take the ninth position.

Playing before a handful spectators, Indian girls could not reproduce the form that they had exhibited in their last round robin league match against South Africa on Saturday.

As the ball swung from end to end, India managed to take the lead in the 18 th minute when Ritu Rani got his way into the circle and beat Canadian goalkeeper Azelia Liu. In fact, if India could not add to its tally till the 67th minute it was because of Liu who stood her ground well, executing some brilliant saves, including powerful reverse flicks by Rani rampal, skipper Surinder kaur and Anjum Saba in the run of play.

Canadians found the afternoon heat too much. May be it was the heat or the lead they conceded in the first half, they looked satisfied in play confined to midfield for most of the time.

India got five penalty corners and failed to make use of any. two went waste because the ball could not be stopped properly.

New Delhi, October 11
Indian paddlers, led by champions Achanta Sharath Kamal, Soumyadeep Roy and A Amalraj qualified for the quarterfinal in the men’s singles and will be eyeing to better their performance in the individual competitions of the Commonwealth Games.

While, Achanta beat Rumgay of Scotland in a 4-0 match, Saumyadeep dished out a 4-3 thrashing to Henzell Williams from Australia. Amalraj knocked out Yiangou Marios of Cyprus.

“It was not easy match. Henzell is much higher above me in world ranking. It is not the first time I have played with him.

I did not want to restrict my confidence, which made me play well,” said the Begal paddler Saumyadeep who will face Cai Xiao Li of Singapore in the quarterfinals.

“I have a good chance to win as I have played with him earlier also and won matches against him,” he said.

However, Amalraj admitted his not-so-well performance and said, “I did not do really well today Yiangou was a low ranked player but he stunned me with his game. But I pulled it off,” said Amalraj.

On the home crowd support, the paddlers said that it adds little pressure to the performance.

“There was slightly more pressure but it was the crowd’s support that really helped me,” he said.

Achanta Sharath Kamal and Shamini Kumaresan were out of the mixed doubles after a 11-4, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9 defeat at the hands of Malaysian pair Shakirin Ibrahim and Beh Lee Wei in their round of 16 match.

Though, Achanta shrugged off his mixed double loss to cruise through 11-4, 11-7, 11-4, 11-6 against Shane Overmeyer of South Africa in men’s singles.