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Swimming
Rowing
India face in-form Lanka
Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene plays a shot during a practice session in Hambantota on Friday. India and Sri Lanka play the first of the five one-day matches on Saturday. — AFP Match Starts: 2.30 pm
Dale Steyn leads South African fightback
Don't want to break hearts of my fellow Naga people: Swuro
Out of turn promotion for medal winners
India to play in Champions Trophy
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Souring ties, soaring
hopes
India had almost forgotten how to win an individual Olympics medal when Leander Paes revived the memory with a bronze at the Atlanta 1996 — 44 years after wrestler K.D. Jadhav had won a bronze at Helsinki 1952. India had always looked to the hockey to deliver a medal at the Olympics, but Paes' success raised visions of others emulating him in the theatre of the Olympics. Happily, since then, India have been winning individual medals in every Olympics.
When the squad for London was named, tennis was back in focus — for all the wrong reasons. When the All India Tennis Association (AITA) named Mahesh Bhupathi as Paes' doubles partner, all hell broke loose. The spectre of star players backing out of the Olympics loomed large as a miffed Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna declared that they would not pair up with Paes in the men's doubles. They wanted to be allowed to play as a team. Sania Mirza expressed her reservations on playing with Paes in the mixed doubles, after winning two Grand Slam titles with regular partner Bhupathi. Paes too was unhappy at being made to team up with the lowly-ranked Vishnu Vardhan for the doubles. These developments rattled the sports administration in the country. Political bosses stepped in to play the role of peace-makers, and a compromise was worked out. Thus India will be fielding their biggest-ever tennis squad for the Olympics, consisting of seven players. The AITA got wild cards for Sania, Rushmi Chakravarthi and Somdev Devvarman, and the players seemed to have buried the hatchet to gear up for the Olympics. Sania was silenced after her mother, Nasima Mirza, was made the manager of the two-member women's team. Despite their differences, a medal or two from tennis is being eagerly awaited — in the men's doubles and the mixed doubles. Paes, Bhupathi and Sania have the experience and class to triumph. But will they? The bickering among them has firmed up the players' resolve to do their best, and they’re professional enough to strive hard when they’re on the court. The Olympics will be the best chance for the likes of Somdev Devvarman, Vishnu Vardhan and Rushmi Chakravarthi to raise the bar, though they will all face formidable challenges. Paes was a 23-year-old bubbly, enthusiastic youngster, willing to take on the world, when he played at Atlanta. Had he not bumped into Andre Agassi, who was in raging form then, in the semifinal, Paes could have staked claim for gold. At 38-plus, Paes is a wizened and experienced pro now, who has achieved much on the Grand Slam stage. And his experience will come in handy when he chases his dream of winning another Olympic medal. Paes will be competing in a record sixth Olympics, and he wants to sign off in style. The Olympic tennis matches will be played at the Wimbledon arena, where Paes and Mahesh have played many a memorable match before. Paes had hit the big league here when he won junior Wimbledon as a 17-year-old. He has travelled much since then, winning Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon. The Indians had gained valuable exposure during the Wimbledon Championship, which can be of critical importance when the Games begin.
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Number of competitors
— 172 Indian Angle Format All matches are best-of-three sets, except the men’s singles final, which is best-of-five sets Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza are current French Open champs, but Sania has been paired with Paes for London Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna are in with a chance in men's doubles titbits In 1896, John Boland went to Athens to visit a friend, who entered him in the singles competition. He won the title - and added the doubles medal The first rackets were wooden, with strings made of sheep or bovine intestines. The first tennis balls were made of wool or hair, wrapped up in leather
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Up against the tide
India is not a swimming power — not at the world stage, not even at the Asian stage. Navigating through water, swimming or sailing, is hardly the forte of Indians, despite our very large coastline. So please don't expect much from 20-year-old Gagan Ullalmath, the lone Indian swimmer in London, in the men's 1500m freestyle.
The international swimming federation, FINA, has opted to pick up Ullalmath under the "university quota". A total of 900 swimmers, male and female, are participating in the Olympics. If this number is not reached on the basis of the qualification standard, the remaining slots are filled up by handing wildcards to unrepresented countries. Khade, Sejwal, D'Souza and Sangvekar had qualified under the Olympic Selection Time (OST) criterion, or the 'B' standard mark, and were expecting to participate in London. Then, in the first week of July, FINA named Ullalmath as India's sole participant. Ullalmath clocked a personal best of 15m 59.33s in the 1500m freestyle at the AASF Age Group Championships in Palembang, Indonesia. The Olympic qualifying time for a direct entry is 15:11.83 and the timing to get a FINA invite is 15:43.74. All that was obviated in Ullalmath's case because he got through on the university quota. Incidentally, Sangvekar's timing in 1500m freestyle is 15:34.57s, nearly 15 seconds faster than Gagan. What can he do in London, then? Not much. Though he can gain experience and hopefully, become prospect for the future, which was FINA’s reason for picking him. Swimming The swimming events will be held from July 28 to August 5 Indian Angle Favourites Australia is another strong swimming nation, were second to the US in the last three Olympic Games |
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India likely to remain in the back row
India has a three-member rowing team competing in — the second Olympic Games in a row in which India has qualified three rowers. The team comprises of Swarn Singh (single sculls), Manjit Singh and Sandeep Kumar (double sculls). They have been training at the venue of the competition for the last few days, and have been struck by loneliness. No, it's not because it's lonely at the top - it's because the venue, Eaton Dorney, is about 36km from London.
The three rowers are not medals prospects by any stretch of imagination. In Beijing Manjit Singh, then competing in the single scull event, finished 18th. Manjit shifted to coxless fours and coxed eights events before finally moving for the double sculls event. "It's better to be transparent and clear about the team's chance," Indian coach Ismail Baig says. "I know it is very difficult for our rowers to be among the podium finisher." Baig knows that India may be good enough for a few medals on the Asian scene, but the Olympics brings in very strong rowing nations. "I am not given to make big promises," says Baig. "Making it to the second round events will be a good showing by our rowers and then we can think of the next round," he added. rowing The rowing events are scheduled from July 28 to August 4 Indian Angle Favourites |
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India face in-form Lanka
Hambantota, July 20
But India are not Pakistan and are known for greater deeds of consistency at the very high echelons of competitiveness. Dhoni echoed the Indians' familiarity with Sri Lankan conditions saying, "We are no strangers to Sri Lankan conditions. So acclimatisation would not be an issue". The Indian captain was implying that the near two months break the players have had since the IPL would serve them well as the team aims to win the series to herald the new season for them on a happy note. Dhoni made no secret of India's ambitions in the next tour to the emerald isle, the world Twenty20. He was happy that most of the players in the touring team would form the nucleus of the side for the world T20. For Mahela Jayawardene and the Sri Lankans, it would just be the continuation of the good yields in the series against Pakistan. "We have just finished a good series against Pakistan. It is now for us to build on the good work," Jayawardene said. Like his Indian opposite number, the Lankan captain thought the series should provide a good basis to launch the world T20 campaign. "We have got a few new players in the squad, this series would be a good opportunity for them", Jayawardene stressed. In the Indian squad their new vice captain Virat Kohli and a solid Rohit Sharma would be the players to watch out for apart from a couple of comeback men - opener Virender Sehwag and pace spearhead Zaheer Khan. — PTI
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Dale Steyn leads South African fightback
London, July 20
England were 326 for seven at lunch after adding just 59 runs for the loss of four wickets in 25 overs on an overcast morning in south London. Steyn struck in the third and fifth overs of the day to dismiss Alastair Cook and Ravi Bopara as the match underwent a transformation from the first day when the England batsmen were seldom troubled in reaching 267 for three. In the first eight overs of the day, England added only six runs for the loss of two wickets as Steyn and Vernon Philander bowled an immaculate line, gaining some swing with the second new ball. South Africa, bidding to replace England as the world's top ranked Test team, made a crucial breakthrough when Steyn dismissed Cook. Cook had added only one run to his overnight 114 when he was bowled off an inside edge by a ball from Steyn which swung in to him. — AFP Scoreboard (At Tea) South Africa first innings:
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Don't want to break hearts of my fellow Naga people: Swuro
Kolkata, July 20 In 1948, Nagaland's Dr Talirmen Ao led a barefoot Indian football team to become the first Olympian from the Northeastern hilly state bordering Myanmar. Being the second Naga Olympian after Dr Ao, the 29-year-old from Dzulha village of Phek district of Nagaland is a popular figure in the state. In fact, chief minister Neiphiu Rio is all set to fly London with his entourage to cheer for Swuro during the July 27-August 12 extravaganza. "There are prayers for me (at the Nagaland churches). The chief minister (Neiphiu Rio) has wished me luck personally. He is also likely to fly to London to cheer for us. It's a proud moment for me," Swuro told PTI in an interview. "They are very happy for me and doing every little thing possible for me. It's an additional responsibility on me. I'm overwhelmed. I don't want to break their hearts," said Swuro. — PTI
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Out of turn promotion for medal winners
New Delhi, July 20 Those who win one or more medals in a particular year will be eligible for an out of turn promotion in that year. Further, a record-breaking medal winning performance in the National Games will also be considered for one out of turn promotion during the service career. Two out of turn promotions will be given for a coach, if he/she has trained a sportsperson to medal wins in international competitions. This would be in addition to the monetary reward scheme of the Government already in existence for all medal winners and their coaches in international sports events, where the quantum of monetary rewards for individuals is up to Rs. 50 lakh for medal winning performance in Olympic Games, Asian Games and World Championships. The Cabinet decision will cover all the sportspersons working with the Central Government Ministries and Departments. During the send-off function of the Olympic-bound athletes here early this week, Sports Minister Ajay Maken had appealed to Public Sector Companies like the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Railways and SAIL etc to give sportspersons time-bound promotions, and give them postings in sports-related activities, instead of clubbing them with general category employees in the matter of work allotment and promotion policy. |
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India to play in Champions Trophy
New Delhi, July 20 The Champions Trophy will be the first top-level international event, after the Olympics. The six teams are: India, Australia, Belgium, Germany, The Netherlands and New Zealand. Two more teams will qualify, to take the number to eight, after the Olympics.
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A rejuvinated India would look for a winning start to the new season but the task would be easier said than done against a strong Sri Lanka as the two sides clash in a five-match ODI series starting here tomorrow. Barring the Indian Premier League, Mahendra Singh Dhoni's India have not been in action since their last international outing in South Africa in March.
Overwhelmed by the attention she is getting in Nagaland for being only the second athlete from the state to qualify for the Olympics, Indian women's archery team member Chekrovolu Swuro says winning a medal in London would not just be a personal high but also an expression of her gratitude to her "tribe".
LEANDER PAES
MAHESH BHUPATHI
Favourites
If we consider only timings, four other Indian swimmers had a better claim on a place in the Olympics. Virdhawal Khade, Sandeep Sejwal, Aaron D'Souza and Saurabh Sangvekar achieved the Olympic 'B' standard qualifying mark in their events but were ignored. 
The hosts, by contrast, have been hungry Tigers on prey. They beat Pakistan at home in both ODIs and Tests, outplaying the high-riding opponents with a clinical performance.