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India scores big on F1 debut
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Singh Deo, Anil Khanna to head IOA panels
Kabaddi WC: Soaring demand for passes, transport
Bollywood to bolster event
Punjabi University win cycling championship
Harbhajan to lead Punjab in Ranji Trophy
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India scores big on F1 debut
New Delhi, October 31 Initially, there were apprehensions, dogs on the track, a power-cut in the middle of a press conference and a bat flying in the media centre, but in the end, praise flowed India's way like an uncontrolled stream. Apprehensions vanished with each passing minute, leashes were put on dogs and every single glitch, although there were not many, was addressed with determination and eventually removed. The memories of the organisational disaster that the Commonwealth Games was, were drowned in the noise of the Formula One cars racing at over 350kph at the Buddh International Circuit. The racers left India with memories to cherish and desire to come back, administrators lauded the organisers - Jaypee Group - for creating a super circuit with a challenging racing track. Without any doubt, India made a grand entry into the world of Formula One, the pinnacle of motorsport. F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone confessed that he feared if the race will happen at all as construction work continued till the last minute, but he took a flight back by saying that "India delivered on all counts". Sebastian Vettel, the proud winner of the first ever Indian GP, discovered in less than a week's stay here that Indian people are happy and content in contrast to the Europeans, who have every luxury to enjoy. "I think it is a very impressive country, very different to what we probably know from Europe, but very inspiring. If you keep your eyes and ears open, you are able to learn a lot here, the way people handle things over here. Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, who was third behind McLaren's Jenson Button, gave India a rating of nine on a scale of 10. "I think when you host the first race even in a new country, there are things that for sure you learn and you improve. I think next year it will be even better, in terms of how the teams will settle, how the electricity will work, after we had some problems on Thursday, which is very normal for a first time that we use an environment like this one. "I think the starting point next year will be a lot better than this year... from zero to ten maybe it's nine, so it's very good but the ten will be achieved very soon," the Spaniard said. BIC architect was scared of deadline
Greater Noida: German architect Hermann Tilke, who designed the Buddh International Circuit for the inaugural Indian F1 Grand Prix, said it was a big challenge to get the track ready in time and was afraid of missing the deadline. "You had to be afraid of course as the last asphalt layer was done later than usual. But everything worked out fine and the show was the best possible. We started the design four years ago. But the construction only started two years ago," Tilke told PTI. "This land was very flat. We had to bring in the earth to make elevations. It was not logistically difficult but, more a challenge in terms of time. In the end, we were running out of time and then it became a big challenge. But high technology and quality was there... so the difficulties were mastered by the organisers Jaypee group," he said. The 54-year-old has designed tracks in Sepang (Malaysia - 1999), Sakhir (Bahrain - 2004), Shanghai (China -2004), Istanbul (Turkey - 2005), Valencia (Spain - 2008), Yas Marina (Abu Dhabi - 2009) and Yeongam (Korea - 2010).
— PTI Kiss and make up: Teams ask Massa, Hamilton
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Singh Deo, Anil Khanna to head IOA panels
New Delhi, October 31 IOA acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra said here today that veteran sports administrator K.P. Singh Deo will be the convener of the high-powered Olympic Games Monitoring Committee. Singh Deo is already chairman of the Sports Development Commission of the IOA. A former president of the Rowing Federation of India, Singh Deo had accompanied the Indian contingent as the chef-de-mission for the 1988 Seoul Olympics. The other members of the monitoring committee are: Malhotra (chairman), IOA secretary-general Raja Randhir Singh (vice-chairman) and the president or secretary-general of every qualifying federation for the Olympics and one sportsperson as ‘athlete representative’ from each qualifying federation. The IOA has also constituted a four-member Empowered Committee, headed by All-India Tennis Association secretary-general Anil Khanna, to look after the marketing committee for the Olympics, including the television royalty rights. Others in the committee are president of the National Rifle Association of India, Raninder Singh, president of Kayaking and Canoeing Association, S. Ragunathan and IOA treasurer N Ramachandran. Malhotra stressed that the IOA will make every effort to generate its own resources, instead of depending on Government dole, to send the contingent to the London Olympics. "We have set up a marketing committee with experts and experienced hands in the field to generate funds so that we don't have to depend on the Government for grants," he emphasised. He said the IOA has also formed an Ethics Committee, according to the Olympic Charter, consisting of eminent judges. They are retired Supreme Court judge Justice Umesh Banerjee, Justice R.L. Khurana (retd.) and Justice M.S.A. Siddiqui (retd.). The IOA is determined to make its functioning transparent and accountable and also make it financially viable by generating its own resources. "The IOA will do everything to become financially viable and also make sportspersons feel that they are part of the Olympic movement in the country." Malhotra added.
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Kabaddi WC: Soaring demand for passes, transport
Patiala, October 31 In a unique turn of events, instead of politicians going out of their ways to ensure heavy rush and arranging for villagers, a day ahead of the World Cup, the Punjab Government’s brainchild, euphoria is in the air with villagers rushing to politicians to ensure best seating places at the venues. Sources confirmed that barring the opening ceremony, which would see the presence of Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan, where the rush is obvious, the organisers are receiving many requests for passes at all other venues across the State for the 20-day event starting tomorrow. A senior politician from Faridkot told The Tribune that generally whenever a Government function is held, the local political leadership is asked to arrange for specific number of buses to ferry party workers at the venue. However, this time around, things are totally different. “This time we are asking the party high command for more and more buses to ensure all our workers are happy and adjusted at the venues,” he said. Interestingly the tournament has come at the right time, giving ample opportunity to the Akali leaders to ensure maximum participation from their respective constituencies ahead of the upcoming elections. “We are getting a huge demand for free passes and everyone, especially the youth, is interested to watch the spectacular event in Patiala,” said Surjit Singh Rakhra, a former Samana MLA. “Instead of us trying to arrange people, the rural belt is too keen to watch the matches as kabaddi is a very popular sport.” Fourteen teams from across the globe would be touring parts of Punjab including Bathinda, Patiala, Sangrur, Faridkot, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Muktsar, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur, Mansa, Gurdaspur and Moga. “All preparations are complete and the response we are getting is overwhelming,” claimed Joint Director of Sports, Sohan Lal Lottey. “There is a shortage of passes at all venues and though around 3500 VIP passes are being distributed at all venues, we are unable to meet every demand.”
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Bollywood to bolster event
Chandigarh, October 31 While Shah Rukh Khan will be the major attraction of the opening ceremony to be held at Bathinda on new Punjab day, another star Katrina Kaif will be the crowd-puller at the closing ceremony on November 20 at Ludhiana. This prize-money tournament promises a minimum of Rs 10 lakh to each participating team. The winners in the men’s section will carry home Rs 2 crore against Rs 1 crore offered in the first edition. Going by proverbial adage that a Punjabi - be he is from East Punjab (India) or West Punjab (Pakistan) - can skip anything, including meals, but not a game of kabaddi, corroborates the emotional bondage that Punjabis have with this mother sport. While the men’s competition has for the first time attracted teams - minus players of Punjabi origin - like Nepal, Sri Lanka, Argentina and Afghanistan, competition for women is also being introduced this time. The team from Turkmenistan may also be without any Punjabi flavour. Iran, that had organised the first Asia Cup recently and participated in the inaugural edition of the Punjab Government-organised World Cup two years ago, will be missing this time. While the Olympic fraternity remained divided till 1996 over allowing professionals to compete in the Olympics, kabaddi has, since its inception, remained a ‘professional’ sport where key performers get instant recognition in shape of cash awards from the spectators. The format of the version here is different from the one which saw competition in the Asian Games. While the Olympic Council of Asia recognises National style kabaddi, Punjab is vouching for Circle style or Punjab style. Each team is divided into Raiders and Jaffis (hold backs or stoppers). When a raider enters the rivals’ territory, he heads towards Jaffis. One of the four Jaffis tries to hold back the raider, who tries to keep on chanting “kabaddi” without a break in his breath. The moment his chant is broken, he is considered dead and his team loses a point while the rivals get a point. The raider gets a point only if he is able to return to his territory without losing his chant. Instead of the chant, the new rule limits his raid time to a minute. Though kabaddi became a part of National Games in India in 1938, the sport got a major break in 1990 when it was included in the Asian Games. But it was the National style and not the Punjabi or Circle styles. Efforts are still on to get this sport included both in the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics.
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Punjabi University win cycling championship
Patiala, October 31 Cycling coach of the university Mittarpal Singh said he was delighted with the performance of cyclists and were hoping spectacular performances in road events also. In track events, Kerela University and GND University eves, Amritsar, finished second and third, respectively, behind Punjabi Universituy. In men’s section, while Punjabi University was the winner, GND University and Kerela University finished second and third, respectively. Patiala SSP Gurpreet Singh Gill gave away prizes to the winners. Meanwhile, in 20 km time trial event of road cycling, GND University eves won gold medal while Punjabi University, Patiala and Kerela University were second and third, respectively. In 48 km time trial event of road cycling in men section, Kurukshetra University lads outclassed the opponents to win gold medal whereas GND University and Punjabi University were second and third, respectively.
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Harbhajan to lead Punjab in Ranji Trophy
Chandigarh, October 31 PCA secretary MP Pandove said Harbhajan will be available to play for Punjab in the Ranji Trophy whenever he is not involved in any international assignment. The PCA Senior Selection Committee, convened by Pandove, met under the chairmanship of Chaman Lal Malhotra at the Mohali stadium today and selected the squad for the first two matches after much deliberation among the members. Team: Harbhajan (C), S Kanwar, R Inder Singh, K Goel, M Singh, M Sidana, B Sharma, G Khera (WK), MS Gony, Sandeep, Navdeep, Barinder, Amitoz, V Bhalla and Rajwinder Singh Golu. |
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London: McLaren and Ferrari Team bosses have asked the "magnetic" Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton to sort out their differences after the two drivers collided for the sixth time this season during the inaugural Indian Grand Prix. It all happened at turn five in lap 24, when Hamilton in an attempt to pass Massa hit the sidepod of the Ferrari racer but stewards ruled that it was the Brazilian's fault and imposed a drive-through penalty on him. "They're young drivers but they're not that young. They are men. They've got to figure it out for themselves. They have to sort it out. They've been coming together too frequently. Clearly Lewis and Felipe are magnetic," McLaren team principal, Martin Whitmarsh said. Whitmarsh's counterpart at Ferrari, Stefano Domenicali, said, "We can sit down together and play cards but it will not solve the issue. One thing that is crucial in my view is that we need to make sure there is a coherent approach from the stewards about things that happen on the track.
— PTI
New Delhi: