|
|
|
|
|
Sports News
New Delhi September 3:
Four wrestlers were axed from the Indian squad for failing dope tests barely a month before the Commonwealth Games begin there.
They have been provisionally suspended after Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) received a report from the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), WFI President GS Mander said in a statement.
“The ... wrestlers from the Commonwealth Games team have tested positive for methylhexaneamine, as per the report received from NADA,” Mander said. Three freestyle wrestlers -- Sumit (74 Kg), Masuam Khatri (96 Kg), Rajiv Tomar (120 Kg) -- and female grappler Gursharanpreet Kaur (72 Kg) tested positive for the substance which is also used as nasal decongestant.
Narsingh Pancham Yadav (74 Kg), Anil Mann (96 Kg), Praveen (120 Kg) and Anshu Tomar (72 Kg) were named as replacements after the emergency meeting of WFI’s selection committee. In January, four Indian wrestlers training for the Oct. 3-14 Commonwealth Games were asked to leave camp after testing positive for a banned substance. Doping has been a recurring problem in India with weightlifting producing the highest number of offenders.
In fact, participation of the Indian lifters in the Commonwealth Games was uncertain as the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) struggled to pay the fine they had incurred. After six lifters failed drugs tests last year, IWF was fined $500,000 by the international body, which threatened to ban the federation if the amount was not cleared in full by August.
The IWF paid $125,000 from its funds and borrowed the rest as an interest-free loan from the Games organisers to clear the way for the lifters’ participation in the first Commonwealth Games in India.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
Melbourne September 3:
The world should not be worried about Indian organisers' race against time to complete venues for the Commonwealth Games as delays are part of Indian way of preparations, Australia's Commonwealth Games chef de mission Steve Moneghetti said.
The overlays work is yet to complete at many venues as heavy monsoon rains played havoc with the work, pushing back the deadlines further. But Moneghetti was full of optimism, saying there will be a unique spin to it and everything will be in order soon. Probably from a western culture they might be, but in India that is way they do things.”
"They're actually going fine from an Indian perspective, it's just internationally that we're all worried. It will have a quite unique spin on it and that will make it a really cultural experience," Moneghetti said. Moneghetti, a former Commonwealth Games champion marathon runner, urged the Australia CWG Association to embrace the multi-sports event scheduled for October 3-14.
"I think it's brave of the Commonwealth Games -- you have got to go. It's the Commonwealth Games, it's not four nations. There are 71 countries represented in the Commonwealth and we need to embrace that," he said. "People ask me 'oh, they're way behind' -- that's the Indian way. Moneghetti said athletes should travel to India without any fear and enjoy there.
"For most countries that go, it's not about winning medals, it's about being a welcome part of the Commonwealth and enjoying that cultural experience.” "So to have them in India, it's just fantastic. Rather than close in or be scared and that 'we're losing the Commonwealth brand,' we are actually taking it out and exposing it to another part of the world, which is a fantastic thing,"
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
New Delhi September 3:
Wrestler Sushil Kumar unveiled an exclusive range of apparel and promotional merchandise for the 2010 Commonwealth Games here.
Kumar, who was the chief guest on the occasion, launched the range of designer apparel and custom-made items to make the Games more alluring and appealing. Commonwealth Games Treasurer, A.K. Mattoo said that the merchandise would go a long way in attracting the public to the sporting extravaganza. "There are 29 items which would be on display immediately. These are mostly sportswear, T-shirts, mugs, posters etc. The price range we have ensured that the merchandise is in the range of Rs. 25 and Rs 300. That is the end," said Mattoo.
Kumar, who won a wrestling medal at the Beijing Olympics, appealed to citizens to make the Games a grand success. "As a sportsman, I would like to say that hosting the Commonwealth Games is an opportunity that is given only to a few fortunate nations. I appeal to all of you to give your best in making the event a grand success," said Kumar.
"For the 15-20 days when the Games would be on, please do come forward and make them successful. It is a matter of prestige for India," he added. The 2010 Commonwealth Games, which kicks off on October 3, is India's biggest sporting event since the 1982 Asian Games. India is expecting about two million tourists in New Delhi for the Games, as well as about 10,000 athletes from 71 teams representing 54 Commonwealth member states.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
New Delhi September 3:
Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal slipped one place from her career-best position of world number two to the third place in the latest international rankings release.
The 20-year-old Saina had made a meteoric rise following her back-to-back title triumphs at the India Open Grand Prix, Singapore Open Super Series and Indonesian Open Super Series to reach the world number two spot. But a quarterfinal finish at the recently-concluded World badminton Championship in Paris left her one place down the rung at the third position.
Saina has 64791.2637 points, while Xin Wang of China rose to the second spot after finishing second in the World Championship in women's singles. Compatriot Yihan Wang is still the number one in the ranking. In March, Saina had attained the fifth position after becoming the first Indian woman to reach the semifinals of the prestigious All England Super Series Championships.
However, she dropped to the sixth position in the subsequent weeks. Saina's next engagement will be the all-important Commonwealth Games in Delhi from October 3 to 14, before playing the Asian Games in November. In the men's ranking, the Indian trio of Chetan Anand, P Kashyap and Arvind Bhatt were at 17th, 29th and 31th spot respectively, while mixed doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and V Diju were at the 13th place.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
New York September 2:
India's Sania Mirza failed to get the measure of Russian teenager Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, losing 2-6, 4-6 in the second round of the US Open here.
With Sania's loss, India's challenge in the singles is over, with Somdev Devvarman already crashing out of the first round against South Africa's Kevin Anderson in the men's event. Sania was outplayed in the first set by the 20th-seeded Russian. She fought back in the second and was tied 4-4 before she dropped her serve.
Pavlyuchenkova showed nerves in closing the match and even faced a break point but recovered in time to convert her second match point. This is first time the Russian has entered the third round at Flushing Meadows. Sania's best performance here came in 2005 when she reached the fourth round. The 23-year old, now ranked a lowly 160 from a high of 27, came through three qualifying rounds to enter the main draw.
It was the first time since 2005 the Indian had to play in a Grand Slam qualifying round. Her recurring wrist injury sidelined her early in the year and she since has been struggling to strike form. Sania had lost in the first round at the Australian Open and Wimbledon earlier this year.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
Mumbai September 2:
A national-level swimmer has moved the Bombay High Court after her name did not figure in the Indian squad for next month's Commonwealth Games.
According to Mumbai-based Anoushka Merchant, the Swimming Federation of India had said that it will select eight probables, but later it named three girls without informing the other aspirants.
A division bench of justices D K Deshmukh and N D Deshpande asked additional solicitor general Darius Khambata to get instructions from the federation, and adjourned the hearing till tomorrow. Last month, Mumbai-based wrestler Mayur Simhasane too had moved the court challenging his non-selection but the court did not give him any relief.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
New Delhi September 1:
The Commonwealth Games, to be held here from October 3-14, will offer the highest number of gold medals ever for para-sports featuring athletes with physical disabilities.
Para-athletes from 26 countries are expected to compete for 15 gold medals in four sports disciplines - Athletes, Swimming, Powerlifting and Table Tennis - during the mega-sporting event, a release from Organising Committee said.
Para-Sport event director Lisa Lavigne said this marks a new high in the history of the Commonwealth Games for para-sports athletes and Delhi's count of medals for para-athletes is three more than at Melbourne in 2006.
"All arrangements have been made for para-sport athletes competing in Delhi 2010," said Lavigne. "The facilities for para-athletes include the provision of accessible competition and training venues. In addition the Games Village and transport for athletes will be fully accessible," Lavigne said.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
New Delhi September 1:
Home Minister P Chidambaram today reviewed the security measures for the Commonwealth Games starting October 3.
Top officials including Home Secretary G K Pillai, Delhi Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal and senior officials from Intelligence agencies and National Security Guards briefed him about the measures for the mega sporting event. Dadwal is understood to have given a presentation on deployment of security personnel, traffic management and contingency plan for emergency.
A four-tier security apparatus with Army back-up will be put in place during the Games. However, so far there is no specific threat to the Games. Over 10,000 athletes from 71 countries and 500,000 spectators are expected at the Games. According to the security plan, athletes, officials and guests can visit the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium only by bus and no VIPs, except the heads of state, will be allowed to take their cars in.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
Ahmedabad September 1:
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi targeted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the Commonwealth Games preparations, saying even if he mops the floor the sports facilities will not be ready in time.
Observing that the preparations were in a "mess", Modi also taunted the CWG organisers telling them that any government body in Ahmedabad even would have ensured that all the stadia were ready before the commencement of the mega sporting event on October 3.
"I don't know what is happening in the Commonwealth Games. Even if the PM (Manmohan Singh) starts wiping the floor, the venues won't be ready for the game," Modi said at a function here. "CWG people had four years to get the venues ready, but they are still struggling. They should have given it to Ahmedabad (Municipal Corporation), which would have built those stadiums in time," Modi said.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
New Delhi September 1:
Beijing Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Singh will spearhead India's boxing challenge at the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games here.
The 10-member Indian team was selected after two-day trials at the National Institute of Sports (NIS), Patiala. A total of 44 boxers from the core group participated in the trials. German Coach Mirko Wolf, who has been hired by Videocon for the Indian World Series of Boxing (WSB), team was also present at the trials.
The trials were held in a transparent manner wherein the boxers in each weight category had the opportunity of showing their mettle against the others in their category, an official said. Each bout was of three rounds of three minutes each and judged with the international body's approved computerised scoring system. All the bouts were videographed so as to replay them and check the performance of the boxers when in doubt. The team will continue to train at Patiala till Sept 15 and then shift base to Delhi to acclimatize themselves prior to the Games.
Commonwealth Games: Amandeep Singh (49 kg), Suranjoy Singh (52 kg), Akhil Kumar (56 kg), Jai Bhagawan (60 kg), Manoj Kumar (64 kg), Dilbagh Singh (69 kg), Vijender Singh (75 kg), Dinesh Kumar (81 kg), Manpreet Singh (91 kg), Paramjit Samota (+91 kg)
Asian Games (Guangzhou): Amandeep Singh (49 kg), Suranjoy Singh (52 kg), Chotte Lal Yadav (56 kg), Vikash Krishan (60 kg), V. Santhosh Kumar (64 kg), Dilbagh Singh (69 kg), Vijender Singh (75 kg), Dinesh Kumar (81 kg), Manpreet Singh (91 kg), Paramjit Samota (+91 kg).
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
New Delhi September 1:
India's first Olympic silver medallist double trap shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore Tuesday lashed out at the "vindictive attitude" of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) after pulling out of the last day's trials to select the Commonwealth Games shooting squad.
Rathore was disqualified after he skipped the trials saying that he had no option but to pull out after the way the NRAI hounded him and some other shooters. "I think, as sportsmen, we all go through the adversities created by our sports officials some time or the other. But the whole atmosphere of vindictiveness, created by the sports administrators did not leave me or some of the other shooters with a positive frame of mind to overcome the odds stacked up," Rathore told reporters.
Rathore was highly critical of NRAI's selection policy which came in for similar criticism from Beijing Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra and world No.5 double trap shooter Ronjan Sodhi. Rathore said: "Our previous selection policy was that selection trials are held for competitions in the forthcoming two months calender (and if someone has won a medal in the immediate past or had an exceptional performance then he is excused from trials, if he so desires with the permission of the federation). Hence after taking 2009 off, I planned to start training by January 2010 and be in form by June for World Championships.
"However in March, we got stumped by the NRAI when it announced a new selection policy. The new policy was to follow a system of adding up all scores shot by shooters and averaging them out. The highest aggregate gets selected." Rathore went on to add that the policy was implemented in March but scores were retrospectively taken from previous months like February, giving rise to prejudice and bias. "Scores shot by Indian shooters abroad in different (mostly better) conditions were to be compared to scores shot in humid, hot and windy conditions prevailing in the summer months in India.
Taken by surprise, since I was not in form in early 2010, I was left with a huge score deficit to fulfill in the latter selection trials in indian conditions," he said. Rathore said the rifle and pistol shooters too were made to follow the same policy, though it was amended for them, but not for shot-gunners. "So we had a situation, one federation but different selection policies. Again, revealing bias.
The policy laid down some grace marks for Olympic and World Championship medallist but decided that 2004 Olympics being in distant past did not warrant grace marks. As if the experience is limited by four-year life cycle of each Olympics," he said. "Its now interesting to hear the officials say that the matter was never brought up to their notice, was it not, really! I have tried to maintain as positive an attitude as is possible. I do believe there is a higher good for me despite these troubles. I know the strength of the Indian shooting team and hence am looking confidently at all those selected to win at the Commonwealth Games," he said.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
Rosario September 1:
The Indian women's hockey team slumped to their biggest World Cup defeat as they were crushed 1-7 by the defending champions Netherlands in their opening Pool A match here.
The Netherlands were in a rampaging form against India Monday with penalty corner specialist Maartje Paumen netting a hat-trick while Kim Lammers chipped in with two goals as the Dutch began their title defence in style. Also winning their group matches were Germany and Australia as the Pool A kicked into action Monday. Germany beat New Zealand 2-0, courtesy goals from Celine Wilde and Tina Bachmann.
Australia secured a narrow 2-1 victory over Japan in the third and final match of the day played in cold and wet conditions, with Kobie McGurk and Madonna Blyth scoring for the Hockeyroos. Kaori Chiba scored for Japan. India began their campaign on a disastrous note as the Netherlands recorded their biggest World Cup victory since beating Ireland 6-0 in 2002.
It was India's biggest defeat in a World Cup match. Paumen was the star player while midfield maestro Naomi van AS played a sterling role in the Dutch triumph. The Netherlands opened the scoring in the eighth minute of the match when Marilyn Agliotti volleyed home from close range, but the Olympic champions were soon pegged back thanks to a powerful 24th minute strike from India forward Rani Rampal.
Ellen Hoog restored the Dutch advantage two minutes later from open play before Lammers established a 3-1 half-time lead. Paumen got her name on the score-sheet six minutes after the break, sending a typically powerful penalty corner flick into the India goal. Naomi created the Netherlands fifth goal, evading a number of challenges with a surging midfield run before Lammers drilled home from the top of the circle (45th minute).
The scoring was completed by Paumen in the 49th and 60th minute, the first of which came from the penalty spot and the second courtesy another ferocious penalty corner effort. The Netherlands appear to be in great shape, and will look forward to their next fixture against New Zealand Wednesday. India will play Australia Wednesday.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
September
|
|
Bangalore August 30:
Sania Mirza and Somdev Devvarman will have to be at the top of their games for their first round engagements at the US Open, beginning in New York on Monday.
Sania, who came through the qualifying draw, goes up against fellow qualifier, the big-hitting 17-year-old Michelle Larcher De Britto of Portugal. The Hyderabadi, ranked 160, to De Britto's 176, is second on Court No.7 (after an 8.30 pm IST start). Somdev's clash against Kevin Anderson, the 6ft 8' South African with a sledgehammer serve, is also scheduled for Court No. 7, as the fourth match of the day.
Somdev's match will be a contest between the serve and the return. "I'm in a good place mentally," Somdev told reporters. "I had good training coming into the Open. I'm hitting the ball very well. My whole team is excited about getting started here. Kevin is a good player and is undoubtedly enjoying his best season. He serves well and I'm going to have to take every chance I get. I will have to play extremely well to win."
Somdev, ranked 99 in the world, to the South African's 77, has never played Anderson on the ATP Tour. Somdev, aged 25, and Anderson 24, played the US Collegiate Tour before turning pro in '08 and '07 respectively. Sania's clash against De Britto promises to be a slugfest. Like the Indian, the Portuguese teen hits a heavy ball. De Britto, ranked in the top 100 last year, has a big forehand with which she likes to dictate play.
Sania said: "De Britto is one of the highly rated new talents on the Tour. She is extremely consistent. Like me she also has the confidence of coming through the qualifying rounds with three good wins." Sania, who returned to the Tour in June after a four month break due to a recurring wrist injury, has struggled with match play, more so on American hardcourts where she found little success this year.
"I've played enough tennis at this level to understand that it takes time to comeback from a long injury break," Sania said. "I knew I would need a few months to find my feet again in professional tennis. I think I've made some progress over the last few weeks and coming through the US Open qualifiers is a definite confidence booster."
In the qualifiers, at the Big Apple, Sania seemed to have turned the corner with some well fought wins. In the second round of the qualifying competition she beat Russian Elena Bovina, ranked as high as no.14, four years ago. In the final round, she put out Colombian Catalina Castano, formerly ranked in the top 40.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
August 30,
|
|
New Delhi August 29:
President Pratibha Patil presented the National Sports awards on Sunday, with badminton sensation and World number two Saina Nehwal getting the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Besides Saina, 15 sportspersons were awarded Arjuna Awards which included Indian footballer Sunil Chettri, Chess grandmaster Parimrajan Negi and Indian women’s cricket team captain Jhulan Goswami. Saina, who has been in great form, was not present at the ceremony due to international commitments.
The 20-year-old from Hyderabad won the Indian Open Grand Prix, the Singapore Open and the Indonesian Open this year. This is also the first time, since the inception of Arjuna Awards, that two footballers have been conferred with the prestigious award. Delhi boy Sunil Chettri is the third Indian to play in a foreign football league and also scored a hat-trick in the AFC Challenge Cup final that India won to qualify for the Asia Cup after 24 years.
Chettri’s team mate in the national team Dipak Mondal, who plays for Kolkata club Mohun Bagan, also got the Arjuna Award. Jhulan Goswami, who was adjudged as the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s Player of the Year award in 2007, is the lone recipient from Cricket to get Arjuna award this year.
The other sports personalities who got this award are: Krishna Punia (athletics), Joseph Abraham (athletics), Dinesh Kumar (boxing), Rajiv Tomar (wrestling), Sandeep Singh (hockey), Jasjit Kaur (hockey), Jajseer Singh (paralympics), Dinesh (kabaddi), Kapil Dev (volleyball), Rehan Poncha (swimming) and Sanjeev Rajput (shooting). The award’s committee was headed by legendary athlete PT Usha, who finalised the winners of this year’s prestigious awards last month.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
August 29,
|
|
New Delhi August 28:
Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal will skip the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award ceremony to be held at the Rashtrapati Bhawan here tomorrow.
World number two Saina crashed out of the World Championship after losing her quarterfinal match to Chinese Shixian Wang yesterday in Paris. "No I will not be available. I have written a letter to the sports ministry for that," she told reporters through an email, when asked if she would be here to receive the award.
"I am proud to be named the most promsing sportsperson of 2010. It will be a source of inspiration to me forever," she added. Saina won a hat-trick of titles -- the Indian Open Grand Prix Open, Singapore Super Series and Indonesia Super Series -- to reach the world number two ranking and was one of the contenders for the World title.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
August 28,
|
|
New Delhi August 28:
With just 36 days left for Commonwealth Games and incessant rains delaying key projects, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit refused to spell any deadline for their completion and only said all works will be over before commencement of the event on October 3.
Dikshit's comment came just four days ahead of expiry of the "final deadline of August 31", set by her last month, to complete all the works linked to the event, including the key Barapullah Nallah elevated road project which will link Games Village with the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
"It has been raining very heavily which has affected our works. If rain stops and sun comes out then we should be able to complete all the work by September 10. Otherwise we will have to extend the deadline," she told reporters after inaugurating a parking facility near JLN Stadium.
|
|
Source :
Punjab Mail Online
|
|
News Date :
August 28,
|
|
|
|
|
|