India needs more international hockey fields: Australian firm

Melbourne, Nov 7 (IANS) A Melbourne-based global manufacturer of synthetic sporting surfaces, which has been installing hockey surfaces and athletic tracks across India, says international standard synthetic surfaces are crucial for India to regain its golden days of hockey domination in the world.”When hockey moved to synthetic surfaces, India lost out because it currently uses natural grass surfaces. If India wants to push ahead with regaining its supremacy over the game, it needs international standard fields and that is where we come into play with our Poligras XL surfaces,” Advanced Polymer Technology Australasia Pty. Ltd’s managing director, Martin Schlegel, told IANS.

Sports Technology International (STI), a member of Advanced Polymer Technology (APT) Group, is one of the largest and most technologically advanced synthetic sports surface companies in the world with ISO-9001 accredited standard manufacturing facilities in Melbourne.

Its unique sporting surface is made with a low-sliding resistance microfibre yarn and sits on an in-situ built elastic layer which provides exceptional shock absorption for players. This innovative hockey surface has been accredited by the International Hockey Federation and is completely manufactured at Sports Technology International’s factory in Dandenong, Victoria, a 60-minute drive from Melbourne.

STI had recently installed synthetic turf at the official hockey site for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and the athletics track facilities for the just concluded third Commonwealth Youth Games held in Pune.

With nine hockey surfaces and five running tracks projects under way in major cities across the length and breadth of the country, STI is also in the fray for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

Earlier, the company installed sporting surfaces for the Sydney 2000 Olympics, the 2006 Asian Games in Doha (Qatar) and the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, besides facilities for various Champions Trophies across the world. “Next year’s Champions Trophy matches hosted in Australia will be also be played on Poligras surfaces,” Schlegel points out.

“We have installed the Steel Authority of India’s hockey facility, using Poligras XL, and a running track for Infosys in Bangalore. However, working in India can be difficult and challenging. Logistically, it is the only country where for implementing projects we have a stipulation that all materials will have to arrive at the same time for customs clearance. In other countries, we get the material as the project progresses,” Schlegel told IANS.

“The other challenge is dealing with the levels of authorities involved in signing the project, which makes it a very lengthy process and also affects cash flow,” he adds.

The company services the construction and contracting industry in the elite sports market, supplying tennis courts, bowling greens, and hockey, football, rugby and multi-sport playing fields as well as athletic running tracks.

Source: http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/sports/india-needs-more-international-hockey-fields-australian-firm_100115997.html

F1 race arrival to India delayed by a year to 2011: Kalmadi

New Delhi, Nov 6 (PTI) India's date with high-profile Formula One race is delayed by another year to 2011, Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi said today but refused to give any reason for it.
"Formula One will be held in India in 2011. Berni (Ecclestone, Formula One supremo) and GP Group are working on this plan," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function.

Kalmadi, who had been saying that F1 race will be held in Greater Noida in 2010, however, did not give any reason for the delay.

"I don't know," he said parrying an answer to the queries regarding reasons for the delay.

This followed after President and CEO of Formula One Management Bernie Ecclestone said last month that the Indian Grand Prix will only be inserted in the 2011 season.

IOA signed a deal -- reportedly for 10 years -- in June last year to host F1 in Greater Noida and the site for the race track was surveyed by Hermann Tilke who has designed most new F1 tracks over the past decade including Sepang, Bahrain, Shanghai, Istanbul, Singapore.

Kalmadi expressed happiness that Olympic sports is on the rise in India after the Beijing Games and fine showing by the country in the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune last month.

"We won the first individual gold, won bronze in boxing and wrestling in Beijing. It is not about only one or two disciplines. Our youth did well in the recent Commonwealth Youth Games by finishing on top. So, Olympic sports are beginning to do well," he said at a function to celebrate '700 Days to go for the 2010 Commonwealth Games'. PTI

Source: http://www.ptinews.com/pti%5Cptisite.nsf/0/C0EA732BECA6B4AF652574F9003659BC?OpenDocument

IOA signs MoU with Kerala Olympic Association for 2010 National Games

New Delhi, Nov.7 (ANI): The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Suresh Kalmadi today (November 07) signs MoU with Olympic Committee of government of Kerala for the 35th edition of the national games going to be held in the month of May in 2010.

“Today we have signed MoU with Olympic Committee, Government of Kerala for the 35th edition of the National Games, which are going to be held in May in 2010. The national games have been allotted in 2007-08-09 and we have got lot of motivation from Olympic sports. We won medals in Olympics and first unusual gold medal. We won 126 medals in Pune Youth Games also, so Olympic sport is coming alive in India so it’’s a good sign to feel happy for. New champions will create through national games, so the national games are being organised every year,” said Suresh Kalmadi, president, IOA.

He further added that the preparations for the 2010 Commonwealth Games are progressing as per the schedule and the necessary infrastructure needed for the New Delhi Games will be ready by 2009.

“Common Junior Games held recently in Pune and have been very successful. Both the opening and closing were very good and allcountries came, so it’’s a very good thing. The infrastructure will get ready for commonwealth games by 2009 and no doubt that it will be the best of commonwealth games. We have conducted several meeting for security measures. The security arrangements were very good in Pune and we are hoping that it will be good in Delhi also. We have won 76 medals in common youth games, so what will happen in senior, you know well,” added Suresh Kalmadi, president, IOA.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games are scheduled to be held in Delhi from October 3-14, 2010. This will be the largest multi-sport event conducted till date in Delhi and India generally, which has previously hosted the Asian Games in 1951 and 1982. The opening ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi.

Source: http://www.newspostonline.com/sports/ioa-signs-mou-with-kerala-olympic-association-for-2010-national-games-2008110712762

Shooting star Deepika eyeing Commonwealth Games

PUNE: After striking gold in the 10 metres air-pistol event in the Youth Commonwealth Games, Deepika Patel has now set her sights on the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

With just two years left for the big event, the 17-year-old from Varanasi feels her performance in Pune will help her graduate to a higher level and will be shooting alongside her idol Anjali Bhagwat.

"The gold will boost my career. Now I will start preparing for the Commonwealth Games. But my ultimate dream is to represent India at the Olympics and I will give my best to be at the London Games in 2012," a calm and composed Deepika said.

For the last five years Deepika has been balancing her shooting and studies. She is now in the 12th standard and wants to concentrate fully on shooting once her board exams are over.

"This year is very crucial for me. It is tough to manage between school and practice, but my teachers are very cooperative. I have not much time left for my board exams. Now I will concentrate on my studies and take up shooting after the boards," she said.

She attributes her success to her parents and coach.

"I feel blessed. My coach SP Bhattacharya, my entire family and the District Rifle club Varanasi taught me small things and I am successful today because of their help," said the teenager.

Like Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra, Deepika's father Mahesh has built a 10 metres personal shooting range for her on the terrace of their house in Varanasi.

"The range was the best gift I got from my father. I don't have to depend on anyone for training. This sport involves a lot of mental training and my coach helps me with it. I do a little bit of yoga but, mostly it is positive thinking which keeps me going," she added.

Her father Mahesh, who runs a handloom mill in Varanasi, introduced Deepika to shooting at the age of eight.

"We are a big joint family, I have one boy and two girls, Deepika is the eldest. I had always dreamt big for my kids. After India's ace shooter Jaspal Rana shot to fame I decided my kids will follow suit," he said.

Soruce: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/3676109.cms?TOI_Sports_mostread