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India lift gold, 3 silver on Day 1
Nenad, the man who saved wrestling
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India blow away Ghana in mixed event
‘Hurt’ Sania gets support
Sania Mirza has found support from all quarters after a political leader questioned her nationality. file
Jadeja: IPL star to Test player
HI appoints Grewal as high performance manager
Glittering start to Glasgow as 6,500 athletes vie for top honours
Navjot, Sushila clinch silver
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India lift gold, 3 silver on Day 1
The women's 48kg weightlifting event saw an India one-two that saw Manipur rise the fore. Mirabai Saikhom Chanu, having lifted 98kg in clean and jerk — that's more than twice her own weight of 48kg — threw down the weight, shrieked in joy and jumped into the arms of the coach, Hansa Sharma. Mirabai thought she'd won gold, beating her friend and rival, Khumukcham Sanjita Chanu.
Just then, a stern voice said over the loudspeaker: “No lift.” The referees had ruled that Mirabai had committed a foul with her final lift; the total she'd lifted successfully in clean and jerk (95kg) snatch (75) remained 170 kg. Khumukcham Sanjita Chanu won by three kilos - her best lifts were 77kg and 96kg, for a total 173. Mirabai went backstage, slumped to the floor, punched the ground in frustration. Hansa Sharma came to her and hugged and consoled her — Mirabai immediately grinned in happiness. She'd been beaten, but she was not heartbroken because she'd lost to an Indian only. Just minutes later, the two girls were joking and laughing, hugging each other as they wondered how they'd celebrate in the evening. The two come from Manipur. Another Manipur was around, too — Kunjarani Devi, the medal winner in the same 48kg event in the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006. Mirabai and Sanjita were both born in Manipur, in 1994; both are from modest agricultural backgrounds; both train together at the national camp, and both lift almost equal weights during practice. “They were both in good shape, both have been lifting similar weights in practice,” said Hansa Sharma. "It was useful that we had two superb lifters in the same weight categories, because they were then able to push each other, get inspired by each other.” “I was upset, but it's a medal that India has won," Mirabai said later, grinning. "I thought I'd won and so it was quite disappointing when it was ruled a no lift.” The Indian had no clue why the lift was ruled a foul - possibly, Mirabai wasn't quite in 'control' of the weight she'd lifted above her head, possibly her elbow or her shoulder was slightly bent. Both Kunjarani and Hansa did not know why it was called a foul, a foul that cost Mirabai the gold medal. If a non-Indian had won the gold ahead of Mirabai because of that foul, the Indians may have lodged a protest, may have asked the jury to analyse and review the lift. But the gold coming to India meant that there was no anger — just happiness in the Indian camp. The eyes of both the girls were moist, though Mirabai's tears were bitter because she had lost gold. Indians at the Opening
There were hopes that Sachin Tendulkar would make an appearance, and he did that to – but only through a video message as a brand ambassador of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The Ceremony was ‘different’ because UNICEF was involved, and a sum of over 3 million pounds was raised by donations through people’s cellphones. There was a delightful glow in the stands of the Celtic Park stadium as people raised their phones after making their donations. The Queen wasn’t seen flashing her phone, though she was snapped putting on her lipstick! Indian flag shown upside down in official song video
India has hit the headlines for reasons other than sporting after it came to light that the country's flag was shown upside down in the official song. The official song titled "Let the Games Begin" is also the Glasgow Children's 2014 anthem for Unicef. The song features the flags of all the participating countries but the makers have blundered while showcasing the tricolour |
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Nenad, the man who saved wrestling
Glasgow, July 24
Lalovic is the president of the international wrestling federation (FILA). At first sight, he seems to be the right man for the job, for he’s tall and wide of figure, owner of a bone-crunching handshake. But it’s not size that makes him relevant to the sport – Lalovic is a businessman who grew up and studied in several countries. He has worked with a travel agency, is a mechanical engineer, has run a restaurant and a tennis club. He’s a partner in a construction company and imports Suzuki cars and motorcycles into Serbia. And, just in case if you’re wondering if he’s manufactured, say, natural shampoo, the answer is in the positive – yes, Nenad Lalovic has produced natural shampoo, too. These reasons – having set up business and run them – make Lalovic a very relevant man in the world of wrestling. Wrestling came close to being dropped from the Olympic Games early last year. This was clearly absurd, because wrestling is possibly the most ancient of all sports, popular in almost all countries in the world. It wasn’t dropped, after all, but the scare did act as a wake-up call for the sport. Lalovic, who took over as the acting president of FILA in February 2013, admits that there indeed were problems with the way the sport was being run. “FILA had bad governance, and there was no transparency,” Lalovic told this correspondent. “It was not that the sport was not popular – no one was against wrestling. It’s just that the way the federation behaved was very wrong.”Lalovic isn’t willing to go into the specifics, but mentions one bout at the 2008 Olympic Games which many people suspected was fixed. “Ara Abrahamian of Sweden, who won a bronze, received his medal and then dropped it on the mat – he later said he didn’t care for the bronze, that he wanted the gold,” says Lalovic. That episode wasn’t handled well, says Lalovic. “This is one instance in which there was lack of information,” he says. “There was a lack of information with in the (governing) board of FILA, and the real situation of the sport was hidden was the Olympics family.” Lalovic says economics can’t be allowed to determine the future of the sport, but adds that it’s good to be pragmatic, change with the times and ensure that wrestling doesn’t get forgotten in the marketplace of sport. “We reorganised the federation in a modern way, and sport has been improved by new rules and better representation of women and participation of athletes in decision-making,” he says. “There will be more changes – new constitution, new colours of the mats, a new website!” He also likes the ‘old’, though. He says that he knows how the top Indian wrestlers begin, in the mud akharas of rural or suburban India, and that it’s important to preserve traditional wrestling styles across the world. “From Australia to Africa to South America, every country in the world has wrestling, and different indigenous styles,” says Lalovic. “Those can’t be allowed to die. Our Olympics styles (Free style, Greco Roman) are based on those traditional styles of wrestling.” The traditional styles also should have organised competitions, they should be added to sports events as demonstration disciplines, says Lalovic. “We’ll discuss and take care of this issue at the FILA Congress in Tashkent in September,” says Lalovic. At Tashkent, Lalovic will run for a six-year term of FILA president. He’s likely to be elected unopposed – for he’s widely seen as the man who saved wrestling from being hacked off the Olympics programme.
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India blow away Ghana in mixed event
Glasgow, July 24 India hardly broke any sweat as Parupalli Kashyap started the proceeding, spanking Daniel Sam 21-6 21-16 in a 27-minute men's singles match to put his team in the driver's seat right from the start. PV Sindhu then taught Stella Amasah a lesson or two in badminton with a 21-7 21-5 victory in the women's singles competition to give India a 2-0 lead. Men's doubles pair of Akshay Dewalkar and Pranaav Chopra thrashed Emmanuel Donkor and Abraham Ayittey 21-7 21-11 in just 22 minutes to make it 3-0 in India's favour. Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa then another 17 minutes to brush aside Evelyn Botwe and Diana Archer as India continued their rampaging run. Finally, P C Thulasi and Kidambi Srikanth — both singles players — paired up and trounced another makeshift combination of Sam and Amasah 21-5 21-9 in a mixed doubles match to put an end to Ghana's misery at the Emirates Arena. India will next take on Uganda. TT teams off to solid start
Indian men and women’s table tennis team made a comfortable start defeating Vanuatu and Barbados respectively at the Scotstoun Sports Campus. The women’s team blanked Barbados 3-0 courtesy a clinical performance by Shamini Kumaresan, Manika Batra and Madhurika Patkar. Shamini got the better of Sherric Felix 11-3, 11-2, 11-3 in the opening singles before Manika made it 2-0 beating Anthonette Riley 11-2, 11-5, 11-2. Shamini then teamed up with Madhurika for the first win of the competition getting past Krystle Harvey and Riley 11-4, 11-4, 9-11, 11-3. — Agencies |
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Mo Farah pulls out of Commonwealth Games
Olympic and world middle distance champion Mo Farah withdrew from England's Commonwealth Games team on Thursday, saying he was not fully fit following a recent illness. The 31-year-old Farah, who won the 5,000 and 10,000 metres titles at the London Olympics and the world championships in Moscow last year, was preparing to run both distances in Glasgow. But he said he had decided to remain at his training camp in Font Romeu in Switzerland to concentrate on being fit for next month's European Championships in Zurich. "I have taken the tough decision to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games," Farah said in an England team statement. "The sickness I had two weeks ago was a big setback for me. "Training is getting better but I need another few weeks to get back to the level I was at in 2012 and 2013. "I really wanted to add the Commonwealth titles to my Olympic and World Championships, but the event is coming a few weeks too soon for me as my body is telling me it's not ready to race yet."
Malaysian gets reprieve after jacket found
Commonwealth Games shooting gold medallist Nur Ayuni Farhana Abdul Halim has been given a late reprieve to compete in Glasgow after her missing competition jacket was found and sent to her in Scotland. Malaysian Ayuni, who won gold with Nur Suryani Taibi in the 10 metre air rifle pairs in New Delhi four years ago, had been scratched from the 10 metre air rifle and 50m rifle prone events after the garment was lost en route and failed to arrive before Monday's registration for competition. India’s para-powerlifter tests positive
There was a huge embarrassment for India when para-powerlifter Sachin Choudhary had to be pulled out of the Games and sent back home for failing a drug test conducted by the NADA last month. Choudhary quietly left Glasgow for India citing his father’s ill-health even as his doping report was made public. He was tested out of competition. Choudhary was a surprise inclusion in the paralympic squad since he was not a medal prospect. His name was not a part of the list of medal prospects sent to the sports ministry by the PCI but then he somehow made it to Glasgow. India beat Canada 4-2 in the opener
Indian eves beat Canada 4-2 in the opening match of the Games at Glasgow, Scotland. India dominated the match all throughout and did not give the opponents an easy time on the field. India was awarded its first penalty corner in the seventh minute but was unable to convert the same. Canada realizing that the Indians were dominating them completely then went on the attack and in the 13th minute won a penalty corner but were unsuccessful also. While both the teams continued their attack it was in the 21st minute when finally India scored through Rani, giving her team the all required breakthrough and confidence. Canada immediately came back into the match (24th min) as B Stairs gave her team the equalizer. This did not deter the Indians and within 4 minutes it was Poonam Rani who scored through a penalty corner. — Agencies |
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‘Hurt’ Sania gets support
New Delhi, July 24 Every time Sania stepped on the court as India's most decorated female tennis player in recent decades — be it for the mixed doubles trophy in 2009 Australian Open or becoming the first Indian to win a WTA Tour event — her title triumphs were rejoiced by every Indian citizen as the victory of the whole nation. So, what happened all of a sudden that her nationality was questioned by a political leader just because the 27-year-old is married to a Pakistani national? Sania found herself caught in a political crossfire following the decision of the Telengana Government to designate her 'Brand Ambassador' of the newly carved-out state by Chief Minister K Chandrashekhara Rao. She was confronted with a question on her nativity when a Telangana BJP leader, K Laxman, sought to know what makes Sania a Hyderabadi and a Telenganite. While Chandrashekhara Rao called her a ‘true Hyderabadi’ and claimed she was the right person to be the face of Telangana in India and abroad, the BJP leader tried to play up her marriage with Shoaib to drive home his political point. Laxman's tirade against Sania was more to do with Rao's another decision to deny scholarships to poor children who were born and brought up in Hyderabad but belong to Seemandhra. Sania reacted strongly to BJP leader's barb and said that she is 'an Indian and will always remain an Indian. "I strongly condemn any attempts by any person, whosoever, to brand me an outsider. I am an Indian, who will remain an Indian until the end of my life," the statement issued by her said. "It hurts me that so much precious time of prominent politicians and the media is being wasted on a petty issue of my being appointed the Brand Ambassador of Telangana. I sincerely believe that this precious time should be spent on solving the more urgent issues of our state and country," she said. Sania found support in former captain of the Indian women's cricket team Anjum Chopra, who said the entire controversy was “uncalled for”. "If somebody is the citizen of the country and he/she marries a foreign national, it doesn't change his nationality. Sania has played for India. She is an Indian and you can't change it," Chopra told The Tribune. "As a sportsperson, you definitely feel hurt if someone questions your nationality. I can understand how much emotional distress this must have caused her. I think the BJP leader has raised a wrong question," she added. Noted author Shobhaa De said Sania has been an international icon and a proud recipient of Padam Shri. “We talk about improving our relationships with our neighbours. When the marriage is working totally fine between the two, you are casting all kind of aspersions. She has brought so many laurels to the country.” Saina Nehwal ‘sad’ at not receiving promised cash awardNew Delhi: Saina Nehwal today said she is "hurt and sad" that she is yet to receive the Rs.50 lakh cash award promised by the Andhra Pradesh government for winning the bronze medal at the London Olympics. Saina's comments came after Telangana CM announced a Rs.1 crore cash grant for Sania towards her training. "I am happy to know that Sania Mirza has become the brand ambassador of Telangana and I am proud of Telangana but I am very hurt and sad that I have still not received the cash award from my state for the Olympic bronze medal that I won for my country," Saina tweeted. — IANS
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Jadeja: IPL star to Test player
London, July 24 Two days later, he played in an ODI match vs Australia and his captain never introduced him into the attack. When he batted, he failed to lay bat on the ball. One of the Channel 9 commentators suggested that Jadeja should not even yield a $200 dollar contract, as he was “an average T20 player at best”. Exactly one year later, Jadeja bamboozled Australia’s finest player of spin, Michael Clarke, five times in just over 100 balls, in their Test series. Jadeja excelled as a Test bowler – something many believed Jadeja was not suited for. Many still labelled him a bowler rather than a bowling all-rounder. In the final Test against Australia in Delhi, he scored a vital 43, dismissing claims that he was merely a bowler. He finished with 17 wickets in the series and was termed as a definite No. 7 in Test cricket, at least in the Indian conditions. Slowly and steadily the $2 million dollar price tag was starting to make some sense. Three months later, Jadeja was India’s match-winner in the Champions Trophy. He was the star with the bat and ball. No one could argue on his being an all-rounder in the short format, but he was still a long way off in Test cricket. But once again he hit back at his critics, proving to them that he could take wickets in South Africa and didn’t need the Indian turners. Unfortunately, his batting had left a lot to be desired. Jadeja, the Test bowler, had now become India’s number one Test spinner, as India embarked on a tour of New Zealand. In the first Test match, however, it was Jadeja’s counter-attacking batting that attracted the fans. His brutal and calculated onslaught on the second new ball nearly resulted in an Indian victory. That innings might not have resulted in a victory, but when Jadeja repeated his onslaught two Test matches later, it led to a glorious Indian victory at Lord’s. Jadeja was now a fully qualified Test cricketer. Not just as a fielder, or just a bowler, but a hard hitting lower order allrounder.
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HI appoints Grewal as high performance manager
New Delhi, July 24 The move will further ensure HI's commitment towards identifying, developing and giving young players an international platform to showcase their skills in the game of hockey. Grewal will take charge on August 1. The North Zone comprises Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Chandigarh, Rajasthan and Delhi. Grewal is the second zonal High Performance Manager appointed by HI after V Baskaran who is in charge of the South Zone. — PTI
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Glittering start to Glasgow as 6,500 athletes vie for top honours
Glasgow, July 24 What they did put up last was a nice little party, homely and pop concert-style. True, it was rife with clichés – the tartan kilts, the bagpipes, the vats of Scotch, for instance. However, to cram the culture of a nation would indeed need resorting to clichés. The trouble with Opening Ceremonies is that they immediately evoke comparisons with each other. The Queen arrived in a Rolls Royce — there was no stunt involving a stimulated jump from a helicopter like the 2012 London Olympics; there was no stunning synchronised movement of a 1,000 people on drums, as was done in the 2008 Asian Games; there was no million dollar balloon, as Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games had; the fireworks didn’t go on and on and on, and they could not have cost too much. The Opening Ceremony didn’t have much opulence, though it did have heart and soul and humour, and the people had a good time filled with singing and laughter. It’s a moot question —should an Opening Ceremony inspire awe and wonder, or should it be a cheerful and hearty welcome, accompanied by song and dance? Glasgow opted for little of the first, plenty of the second. It, inevitably, stoked a strong nationalistic Scottish sentiment – which is a very interesting occurrence, because the vote for the independence of Scotland from the United Kingdom is less than two months away. Popstar Rod Stewart, of a mixed Scottish-English parentage, belted out his “Can’t Stop Me Now”. He sang about “the tartan pride”, and went on: “They can't stop me now, the world is waiting… It's my turn to stand out in the crowd, they can't stop me now.” At these words, it was possible to imagine that a very large number of Scottish people were relating these lyrics with their desire to break free from the United Kingdom. But then there were also very loud cheers for the athletes from England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the other constituents of Great Britain; the Queen was welcome with genuine affection; there was also a hearty roar as people sang along with the national anthem, God Save the Queen. The message from Scotland at the ceremony seemed to be – ‘We’re different from the English or the Welsh, but we’re part of United Kingdom, too’. The referendum for independence is predicted to be a very closely run thing. That view was strengthened by the Opening Ceremony — the Scottish people are nationalistic and jealous about their identity, but they’re not completely alienated from the rest of the UK, too. Indians at the Opening
There were hopes that Sachin Tendulkar would make an appearance, and he did that to — but only through a video message as a brand ambassador of the UNICEF. The Ceremony was ‘different’ because UNICEF was involved, and a sum of over 3 million pounds was raised by donations through people’s cellphones. There was a delightful glow in the stands of the Celtic Park stadium as people raised their phones after making their donations. The Queen wasn’t seen flashing her phone, though she was snapped putting on her lipstick! Indian flag shown upside down in official song video
India has hit the headlines for reasons other than sporting after it came to light that the country's flag was shown upside down in the official song. The official song titled "Let the Games Begin" is also the Glasgow Children's 2014 anthem for Unicef. The song features the flags of all the participating countries but the makers have blundered while showcasing the tricolour |
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Glasgow, July 24 Earlier, Navjot had downed South Africa’s Daniel le Grange in the semifinals. He had pipped Wales’ Brandon Dodge in the quarterfinals after accounting for Australia’s Tom Pappas in the opening round. Sushila Likmabam also took the silver after losing the final bout to Scotland’s Kimberley Renicks in the women’s 48kg category. Earlier, the Manipuri lass had beaten Australia’s Chloe Rayner in the semifinals. Sushila had defeated Cameroon’s Marie Medza Effa in the first round before going on to eliminate Australia’s Amy Meyer in the pre-quarterfinals. India’s Manjeet Nandal bowed out in the repechage round of the men’s 66kg category. Another Indian Shivani lost to Canada’s Jessica Klimkait in the first round of the 57kg category. — Agencies
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Manipur rise the fore. Mirabai Saikhom Chanu, having lifted 98kg in clean and jerk — that's more than twice her own weight of 48kg — threw down the weight, shrieked in joy and jumped into the arms of the coach, Hansa Sharma. 
Was Sania Mirza Pakistan's 'daughter-in-law' when she won the 2012 French Open in the Mixed Doubles category? The entire country, including Hyderabad — the place she continues to call home — celebrated her achievement even though she was married to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik at the time.
Glasgow didn’t aim for a pretentious, jaw-dropping Opening Ceremony – perhaps this can be put down to the modesty of the budget on offer, perhaps to the modesty of the Scots.
