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Sportspersons my top priority: Ajit Pal
Sania’s mum deserves to be manager: AITA
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Sharapova to be Russia’s flag-bearer at London
Boucher announces retirement after eye injury
Harsh to expect medal from Ghosh: Karlsson
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Sportspersons my top priority: Ajit Pal
And Ajit Pal Singh perfectly fit the bill. He was not only an Olympic hockey star with a brilliant track record, but also soft-spoken and non-controversial. He holds the unique distinction of leading India to their only World Cup Hockey Championship title triumph in 1975 at Kuala Lumpur. He played for Punjab for close to 18 years, and then donned the colours of his employers, Border Security Force, for 17 years to enjoy a very long playing career. “It was like a bombshell! It was totally surprised when I was told that I would be the chef-de-mission. I never expected I would ever be appointed to the top job, nor any other sportsperson, for that matter. It was something which had never happened before”, Ajit Pal told The Tribune in an exclusive chat. “But then, why not? Why cannot a sportspersons be the chef-de-mission of the Olympic squad? It is perhaps a step in the right direction”, he said, reflectively. Since he will be setting a benchmark for others, And Ajit Pal Singh is very clear in his mind that his first and foremost task would be to ensure that the sportspersons get the best of facilities, for which they are entitled to, like athletes from other countries - in areas such as accommodation, food, travel, practice etc. “We would be there because of the sportspersons. Therefore, to ensure their comfort would be my foremost priority. They should get supports from all quarters, in every respect”, he added. In the days of yore, India’s Olympic medal hopes solely rested on hockey. But the scenario has changed now, after the three-medal haul in Beijing-2008. “Those were the days when we expected an Olympic medal only from hockey. Now, I am happy to note that other sports have come up, and we expect medals from them”. But taking a reality check, Ajit Pal said India were still far too behind, in the medal stakes, considering the fact that the country had a huge population, and the sports aspirations of the nation had not grown in consonance with the population growth. Ajit Pal has already done his home work well, and he was happy to report that the country stood a strong chance of winning medals in tennis, shooting, boxing, wrestling, and perhaps in archery, badminton and weightlifting. What about hockey? “You never know. Nothing is impossible. The task is difficult, but certainly not beyond us. There are three-four top teams whom we have not beaten. If they do, it will be good for Indian hockey, and we can look forward to a medal,”. Ajit Pal said the present hockey team had been given the best facilities, good exposure and match practice, though they have not played against better-ranked teams like Australia, Germany, Holland and Spain, much. He said the team’s weak link was the deep defence, and the attackers need to be sharper to convert chances into goals, as the big teams would not allow much room or time inside the circle. “Our deep defence is a problem area. The defence of the top teams would be very tight, and they won’t let in our players inside the circle easily. But we are good in penalty corner taking (Sandeep Singh and V.R.Raghunath), and in the mid-field (Sardar Singh being the pick of the lot)”, he observed. He said no combination, no strategy would work if the team did not play as a cohesive unit. |
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Sania’s mum deserves to be manager: AITA
Nazima Mirza has accompanied the Indian women’s team to various international assignments, including the Olympics and the Grand Slams, and her presence in London would be a big boost for Sania and her doubles partner Rushmi Chakravarthi. “She has been travelling with the Indian women’s team for the Federation Cup, Asian Games and the Olympics. She has travelled to various Grand Slam venues also, and has hands-on experience of handling the needs of the women players”, added Oza. Nasima was the manager of the Indian women’s team in the recently-held Fed Cup, where India won all the matches, and also the last Asian Games at Guangzhou (China), where India got the maximum number of medals. Ozha said with Nasima’s vast experience, and the Indian team having two women players, she was considered as the “best person” to look after Sania and Rushmi in London. He said Nasima’s presence in the Olympic village would be an additional advantage for the women players, as she understands the needs of the high-pressure competition, and how important it is to take care of the players’ physical comfort and mental well-being. Meanwhile, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) today cancelled a farewell function for the London-bound athletes, scheduled for tomorrow, as it did not want to upset the training schedule of the athletes. “Most of the athletes are busy with their training programmes at various places. The archers are in Kolkata, some other athletes are training in Patiala and Bangalore, and we did not want to upset their training schedule by bringing them to Delhi”, IOA acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra told The Tribune. He, however, said a farewell function would be held for those who are in Delhi on July 15, in which the London-bound IOA officials would also be present. Meanwhile, there has been a murmur of protest against Jagdish Tytler going with the IOA delegation for the Olympics, though sources said he could make it to London on the strength of being the president of the Judo Federation of India.
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Sharapova to be Russia’s flag-bearer at London
"Sharapova will carry our flag," president of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) Alexander Zhukov told reporters following the ROC's executive board meeting. "She was the most worthy candidate among all our athletes. In June she claimed her fourth grand slam title (French Open)." Russia broke with tradition by naming Sharapova, who also won Wimbledon (2004), U.S. Open (2006) and Australian Open (2008) titles, for the rare honour. Since the Russians first took part in the 1952 Summer Games in Helsinki as part of the Soviet Union this great honour was traditionally given to famous male athletes such as Greco-Roman wrestler Alexander Karelin and swimmer Alexander Popov, who have won numerous Olympic titles. "I am so honored, and especially excited as it will be my first Olympics in my career," she said on her official website. — Reuters
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Boucher announces retirement after eye injury
London, July 10 The 35-year-old Boucher sustained a serious eye injury yesterday when a googly from Imran Tahir cleaned up Somerset batsman Gemaal Hussain but the dislodged bail hit the glovesman on the eye. He left the ground bleeding profusely. One of the finest wicketkeeper-batsman of his time, Boucher played 147 Test matches with a world record of 555 dismissals which include 532 catches and 23 stumpings. He scored 5515 runs with five centuries and 35 half centuries at an average of 30.30. He also played 295 ODIs in which he effected 425 dismissals with 403 catches. He scored 4686 runs with a century and 26 half centuries. In a statement read out by captain Graeme Smith, Boucher said: "It is with sadness, and in some pain, that I make this announcement. Due to the severity of my eye injury, I will not be able to play international cricket again. I had prepared for this UK tour as well, if not better than I have prepared for any tour in my career. I had never anticipated announcing my retirement now, but circumstances have dictated differently. I have a number of thank you's to make to people who have made significant contributions during my International career, which I will do in due course," Boucher said in the statement.
Smith also spoke on behalf of the team: "Bouch, we have walked a long road together, and we are saddened to part under these circumstances." "For the 14 years of your international career, you have been a true Proteas warrior, a patriotic South African, a fighter who asks nothing and gives everything. You have been a 100 percenter for this team. You have been more than a performer, you have been a motivator, an inspirer, an energizer… and a good friend to many", he said.— PTI
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Pallekele, July 10 The tourists, trailing by 111 runs, were 27-1 in their second knock by stumps, losing opener Taufeeq Umar for four, leg-before to seamer Nuwan Kulasekara. Mohammad Hafeez was unbeaten on eight and Azhar Ali was on six, with Pakistan trailing by 84 runs with nine wickets in hand. The resolute batting by the hosts has given them a chance to build on the 1-0 series lead. Sri Lanka won the first Test by 209 runs before the second was drawn. Sri Lanka were only 10 runs ahead when they lost their seventh wicket, but Perera and Kulasekara (33) snatched the initiative by adding 84 for the eighth. Perera, a 23-year-old from Colombo playing only his sixth Test, smashed four fours and three sixes in his maiden half-century after being dropped twice on 11 and 22. Seamer Umar Gul first missed a return catch and then saw skipper Misbah-ul Haq spill a low chance in the slips off his own bowling. Perera, whose four wickets in the first innings engineered Pakistan's collapse for 226, was last man out when he was bowled by left-arm seamer Junaid Khan. Junaid finished with 5-70, his second successive five-wicket haul, while off-spinner Saeed Ajmal claimed 3-66. The third day's play provided a keen tussle between bat and ball, compensating for the entire second day being lost due to rain. Tharanga Paranavitana and Thilan Samaraweera led Sri Lanka's charge with a fourth-wicket stand of 143 after surviving a testing morning session in overcast conditions. The pair had come together when skipper Mahela Jayawardene fell off the last ball of the first day's play to leave Sri Lanka tottering at 44-3 at stumps. — AFP Brief Scores: Pakistan 226 and 27 for 1 (Hafeez 8*, Azhar 6*) Sri Lanka 337 (Paranavitana 75, Perera 75, Junaid 5-70)
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Harsh to expect medal from Ghosh: Karlsson
Faridabad, July 10 “But, going by what I have seen of him, he should be able to create a few upsets," said Karlsson, who has trained Ghosh under the Olympic Solidarity program at his academy in Sweden. "Probably 2020 will be the right time for him, when he will be at the peak of his career." he added. Karlsson feels the London Games will have a huge impact on Ghosh's progress as a player, but said it may also have an adverse effect on the paddler. "The London Olympics will help him for the future, but it may also act in negative for him as he may feel that his aim is fulfilled. Once he comes back to Sweden after the Olympics I will work with him and also discuss this thing with him,” he said. — PTI
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"For now, I would like to thank the huge number of people, many of whom are strangers, for their heartfelt support during the past 24 hours. I am deeply touched by all the well wishes. I wish the team well in the UK, as I head home and onto a road of uncertain recovery."
