Thursday, September 30, 2010

England's Willstrop & Matthew aim to squash al

NEW DELHI: Walking about in the Games Village, you could be forgiven for not recognizing James Willstrop. With his straw-coloured hair messily tucked behind his ear and a ready smile and warm handshake for everyone, Willstrop doesn't possess the air of someone who's regarded as one of the best squash players ever to come out of England.

At six feet and 4 inches, he doesn't even fit the bill of a squash player but then the magic of Willstrop is in what he manages to do on the squash court.

For England's best-ever junior player, it didn't take long for Willstrop to graduate. He soon became the second-best player in the world but an ankle injury and subsequent surgery in 2009 meant that the part-time singer and guitarist Willstrop has spent the last 18 months recovering lost ground.

In February earlier this year at the Swedish Open, he became the only player to defeat the current world No. 1 and two former - Ramy Ashour, Karim Darwish and Amr Shabana - in successive rounds at the same tournament.

Along with Nick Matthew, the world No. 2, England, possibly, have the strongest squash team and would be disappointed with anything other than gold at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

It would've been an easy and understandable decision for Willstrop and Matthew to skip the Commonwealth Games. If the
threat of a terror attack wasn't enough to scare some athletes away, the horror stories about the seemingly deplorable conditions in the Games Village were.

Willstrop finds the idea of skipping an event like Commonwealth Games incredulous.

"Terrorism is not a problem peculiar to India. The threat levels in New Delhi are the same as in London. I was a bit surprised at the kneejerk reaction of some players who chose to stay back," Willstrop told TOI.

Unassuming and every bit as friendly as his teammate, Matthew, who lost the world No. 1 ranking to Ramy Ashour just a few months ago, is gung-ho about Delhi 2010.

"We're used to India. Everything will be fine eventually. We've spent a couple of days here and it's been so far so good. Irrespective of what we had read, we haven't heard one word of negativity within the team since we arrived," he adds.

A mixed doubles silver medalist at Melbourne in 2006, Willstrop admits that though everything is not how it should be, the arrangements are still very good. "Some things aren't as good as the others but the facilities are very good. The Commonwealth Games for us is one of the biggest events. We've spent the past one year preparing for this. A few problems weren't going to keep me away," he says.

The argument that the Commonwealth Games, a legacy of the colonial past, is a concept past its sell-by date and it finds no favour with either Willstrop or Matthew. "These games really matter to us, to me. I list my silver from Melbourne as one of my achievements. I completely loved it in Melbourne," Willstrop remarks.

Matthew is enjoying the best form of his life. A shoulder surgery in 2008 was a period of darkness for the Sheffield-resident but his comeback since saw him take the number one rank. "My shoulder surgery in 2008 made me reassess my life and priorities. It was the hardest time for me but it also gave me a new perspective. CWG for us is still an important event. I came fourth in Melbourne and that hurt. Winning gold is the aim here. This matters, a lot," he asserts.

TOI

New Zealand tennis player Barry pulls out of CWG

WELLINGTON: New Zealand tennis player Ellen Barry has pulled out of the troubled Delhi Commonwealth Games citing health and safety concerns, local media reported on Friday.

The 21-year-old had been scheduled to play doubles with Marina Erakovic at the Oct. 3-14 Games, but she said her "gut instinct" had told her to withdraw.

"I was just concerned for my health and safety. I know a lot of athletes will be going, but for me it felt like the right decision," Barry told reporters in Christchurch.

"Up until the day before yesterday I was still weighing it up ... it was very difficult to come to a decision, but I just wanted to go with what my gut feeling was.

"That was, that it's the right thing for me to come home."

Barry becomes the second New Zealand athlete to pull out citing security concerns in the Games' lead-up which has been plagued by infrastructure failures, a dengue fever outbreak and constant fears about athletes' security.

Team Sky cyclist Greg Henderson pulled out last week saying there were "too many risks".

New Zealand chef de mission Dave Currie said the two were the only ones from "190-odd (New Zealand) athletes" to pull out over security concerns but conceded more could follow.

"I don't know but I guess there is also the possibility that others, while they are here, might decide they want to go home," Currie said.

"We've had athletes in here for 36 hours and I've had no sense of that yet. But if it was the case and somebody said 'look, Dave, I don't feel safe', then we would facilitate them going home."

TOI

Volunteers too find novel ways to loot

NEW DELHI: If corruption has been the byword leading up to the Commonwealth Games, can the volunteers be far behind? Apart from the high rate of attrition affecting the volunteers programme at the Commonwealth Games, there are also multiple instances of people taking undue advantage of the situation. The common notion among volunteers is, if the officials are corrupt, why should they have any qualms fleecing the state's resources?

One such person, who 'benefited' from a scam, boasted how he hustled away with surplus kit. "I had applied for the volunteer programme but I wasn't too serious about it. I thought that I would take the kit and then decide. Then I was approached by certain individuals who asked me whether I intended to pursue it, and I showed my reluctance," he told TOI.

"They struck a deal with me, offering to delete the data (that I had already received the kit) and asked me to come back another day and collect it again. He said that we would split the extra kit, and I was all for it. Why should I feel guilty? The Commonwealth Games is all about corruption," he added.

There you have it, straight from the horse's mouth.

TOI

CWG opening ceremony to showcase India's culture

NEW DELHI: It's going to be a Spectacular Sunday.

As the curtain finally creaks up on the Commonwealth Games, the world will get a glimpse of India's great heritage and tradition during an elaborate but closely guarded opening ceremony, featuring light, music and dance.

TOI managed to steal a sneak preview of the sounds, colours and action that will mesmerise over 60,000 spectators, including President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Prince Charles at the Nehru Stadium.

On the agenda is a three-hour long show highlighting the rhythms and ragas of the nation and performed by over 7,000 artistes drawn from across the country.

"The whole ceremony is divided into seven segments. It will be a dazzling show," informed sources, who are part of the rehearsals, which began at the venue on September 20, said.

The segments - Rhythm of India (ROI), Great Indian Journey (GIJ), Celebration, Yoga, Swagatam, Rajasthan Puppets and The Knowledge Tree - promise to bring the arena alive and make it a mesmerising evening for one and all, including lakhs of television viewers. The acclaimed artistes, incidentally, have been preparing for the show in the high security Cantonment area, oblivious to the controversies plaguing the show.

ROI, an 18-20 minute show, will take the stadium decibels to a new, incredible range, with nearly 1000 drummers reaching a steady crescendo. The segment will showcase traditional drums from Ladakh, Punjab (dhol), Kerala (chenda), Manipur (pung cholom), Meghalaya (wangla), Andhra Pradesh (koya) and Karnataka (dhollu kunitha).

The GIJ is a more than half-an-hour long train journey through the heart of India , which will capture life in the hinterland through bazaars, blacksmiths, milkmen , street circus, street vendors et al. "It is an impressive show which will bring alive the life in our villages," sources revealed.

The part titled Celebrations will also run for around 30 minutes and will transform the entire stadium into a dance floor. On stage will be several hundreds of exponents of the classical arts, including the flower dancers of Ladakh from up north to Mohiniyattam from down south.

The yoga, the physical and mental discipline that originated in India, will be another item which will be performed by around 2,000 students from various schools and colleges of the Capital.

The welcome song, Swagatam , which will run for around 10 minutes, will be rendered by a group of 1000-plus students while 'Welcome' will come alive on the giant screen in all languages.

Another highlight of the show will be the puppets from Rajasthan. The giant string puppets, made out of teracotta , measuring 15-20 feet dressed in vibrant colours and costumes of the desert state, will hang from the Aerostat and will be controlled by a group of trained persons.

"This show will be done in such a way that spectators sitting in the top-most tier will be able to get up close with the puppets," sources added. The highly secretive buildup to the opening ceremony has increased the curiosity quotient among the people.

THE 7 WONDERS

Swagatam (The welcome song presented by thousands of school kids running almost 10 minutes)

Rhythm of India (listen to nearly 500 drums from all over the country: 20 mins)

Great Indian Journey (explore India travelling in the CWG rath: 30 mins)

Yoga (get a feel of all the yogic poses: 20 mins)

Puppets from Rajasthan (the highlight of the show)

Celebrations (Enjoy the rich tradition of Indian dances in a 30-minute capsule)

The Knowledge Tree (Learn about the vedas and Indian classical music)

TOI

Federation chief must share blame, says NZ minister

WELLINGTON: Commonwealth Games Federation CEO Mike Hooper must shoulder some blame for the chaos that plagued the Delhi Games lead-up, his New Zealand compatriot Sports Minister Murray McCully said on Friday.

Hooper has pinned blame on Indian organisers for the problems that left the Games teetering on the brink of collapse last week, prompting protestors in Delhi Thursday to accuse him of racism and burn an effigy of the administrator.

But McCully said the federation had serious questions to answer, including Hooper, the organisation's chief executive officer who lived in India in the years preceding the Games to monitor progress.

"We should be careful about simply asserting that Indian officials carry all responsibility," McCully told the New Zealand Herald.

"He (Hooper) has been based there to oversee these arrangements. I certainly think there's going to be a sharing of responsibility, but this is not the time.

"Let's leave them to do their jobs and leave the serious questions for afterwards -- but they need to be asked."

Earlier this week, Hooper said that while the federation had pushed for deadlines to be met, it did not have the power to ensure projects were completed on time.

"At the end of the day, I'm not a construction engineer. I'm not a builder," he told Television New Zealand.

"We're at the hands and the mercy of, effectively, the government of India, the Delhi government, the agencies responsible for delivery of the venues."

New Zealand was one of the most vocal critics of squalid accommodation in the athlete's village but McCully said the criticism had been necessary to get the Games back on track, even if it was embarassing for India.

"I've got no doubt there were some raw nerves touched but serious issues of safety and welfare were arising," he said.

McCully's comments came as New Zealand tennis player Ellen Barry said she was withdrawing from the Games because of security concerns.

"It was a really difficult decision, I thought about it for a long time," Barry told reporters. "I was just concerned for my health and safety. I know a lot of athletes will be going, but for me it felt like the right decision."

She is the second New Zealand athlete to pull out after cyclist Greg Henderson said last week that he would not travel to Delhi.

TOI

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

After Olympics, Kipruto eyes CWG medal

NEW DELHI: Kenya's 3000m steeplechase champion Brimin Kipruto starts as the favourite in his event at the Commonwealth Games. Yet, the Beijing Games gold medallist knows it won't be an easy race given the tough competition. In a chat with TOI, Kipruto talked about his expectations from the Delhi Games and looked forward to the London Olympics in 2012. Excerpts...

You have won almost everything that is there to be won. What else are you aiming at?

It is a good feeling to have won so many international medals, but then I have never won the Commonwealth Games. I would really want to win that title.

What are the chances of winning one at New Delhi?

This year I ran a new personal best and I am in good form. That is a good sign ahead. I hope I will be able to do well.

After the Beijing Olympics, there was a dip in your form. Why was that?

I am very proud to be Olympic Champion in 2008. It was indeed a great effort, and it gave me immense pleasure. Maybe 2009 was not my best year. I wasn't getting the type of timing that I would have liked. But this year I am better than ever and have run some pretty good races.

Do you plan to compete in events other than the 3000m steeplechase?

No. Right now, I will focus only on the steeplechase. That is my main event and I think I'll be able to get some results.

In the Commonwealth Games, who will be your main competitors?

The Kenyan team will be strong as there are quite a few good runners. The team from Uganda is also quite strong and its runners can pose a good challenge.

Have you found out about the conditions in Delhi in October?

The Indian authorities have been working hard to provide the best of conditions. I am confident that they will organise the Games as well as possible. A lot of effort has been put into it and I am not really worried about the conditions.

What are your expectations from the London Olympics?

It will be a tough race as the best competitors will be there to win medals. It won't be easy, but I hope to defend my Olympic title.

After Beijing, you'll be expected to do well in London. How will you cope up with the pressure?

I have medals from the Olympic Games in Athens 2004, the World Championships in Helsinki in 2005, World Championships in Osaka 2007, and Olympics in Beijing 2008. So I know what it is to perform and achieve under pressure. I think I will be up to it.

TOI

Injured Semenya deals new body-blow to Delhi CWG

NEW DELHI: World 800m champion Caster Semenya pulled out of the Commonwealth Games on Tuesday because of a back injury, dealing another devastating setback to the troubled event, which starts on Sunday.

Team South Africa's Chief Medical Officer Shuaib Manjra said that Semenya underwent medical tests in Johannesburg on Tuesday and scans confirmed a back injury.

"Semenya also confirmed that she had been suffering serious lower back pain and had not been comfortable during her last few races," said a statement by the South Africa Olympic Committee (SASCOC).

Manjra told reporters the athlete's well-being and health were priorities and while her absence robbed South Africa of a potential gold medallist, he did not want to risk serious injury with the 2011 World Championships and the 2012 Olympics fast approaching.

"It would serve no purpose to have an athlete in Delhi who was struggling with any sort of injury that would compromise performance," said Majra.

"It is our medical view that physically and emotionally she would not be capable of doing justice to her talent at an event of this magnitude."

The 19-year-old Semenya was added to the South Africa squad for the Games in August, one month after the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) ended a controversial probe into her gender that saw her sidelined for almost 11 months.

Semenya had impressed since her return, improving steadily over the course of several warm-up competitions leading up to the Delhi Games, and broke the 1:59 mark in the 800m on September 7 in Milan.

Semenya shot to fame when she lowered her personal best in the 800m by more than four seconds at the 2009 African Junior Championships.

But the victory raised questions about her muscular physique and deep voice, stoking speculation about her gender.

Scandal erupted weeks later after she dominated the field and cruised to gold at the World Championships in Berlin.

Following the event, the IAAF banned Semenya from competition and required her to submit to sex testing, igniting a political and popular uproar in South Africa.

Almost a year later, the runner was reinstated following exhaustive negotiations between medical teams of the IAAF and her own team, which were presided over by a mediator.

Terms of the agreement have remained confidential.

Meanwhile, Majra added that no final decision had been made in relation to South Africa's long jump specialist Khotso Mokoena and men's 800m world champion Mbualeni Mulaudzi, whose participation is also in doubt.

"We are awaiting the result of an MRI scan conducted on Mulaudzi on Tuesday and we have to assess Khotso's readiness in competing at a tournament post recovery from an injury."

TOI

CWG stadium sting dishonest'

New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) Popular Australian TV channel ABC claimed that the alleged sting operation by another Channel Seven on alleged security lapse at the Commonwealth Games was 'ridiculous and dishonest', but the latter has threatened to sue them.

ABC's Media Watch Monday night highlighted loopholes in Seven News reporter Mike Duffy's report, which received worldwide coverage on the lack of security for the Commonwealth Games.

The channel said that when the 'filming was done, full Games security was not yet in operation' and said the 'entire stunt ridiculous and dishonest'.

Media Watch host Paul Barry alleged that Duffy's suitcase was empty anyway when he walked into the stadium area and indicated that the reporter manipulated the whole episode, ABC claimed in its report.

The channel Seven crew had conducted a sting operation that was broadcast last week. They had claimed that they were able to walk in carrying a large trolley suitcase having explosives capable of triggering up to 200 explosions if fitted with a detonator.

The news crew said they were easily able to obtain a detonator and ammonium nitrate from the capital, adding to a slew of allegations that preparations for the mega event had not been up to the mark.

Soon after ABC report, Seven Network reporter Mike Duffy said he was 'suing ABC TV's Media Watch for defamation' and are 'retaining the nation's top lawyer in the field, Mark O'Brien'.

The Delhi Police had also called the sting operation motivated. 'It was deliberately planted as the reporter does not even know that ammonium nitrate is a fertilizer and a non-prohibited item for sale in India.'

'There is no lock down in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium security as yet. Security will be bolstered with additional deployment after the complete lock down and substantially more during Games time,' the police had said.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Air India offers special schemes, flights for CWG

STAFF WRITER 14:46 HRS IST

Mumbai, Sep 27 (PTI) In a bid to cash-in on the extra traffic expected during the Commonwealth Games, state-run Air India has offered two special schemes to its passengers flying out of Delhi.

Besides, the national air-carrier would operate two special flights from Auckland and Brisbane to Delhi.

Air India is the official airline partner for the mega sporting event starting in Delhi from October 3.

A passenger can avail of these two short-term promotional schemes between October 1 and November 14, Air India said in a press release here.

Under the scheme 'Lucky 7', any individual travelling seven times on Air India domestic/international network in economy class from Delhi during the validity period will be eligible for an economy-class return ticket (two coupons) to any destination on the Air India domestic network from Delhi.

Who'll open the Games? Charles or Prez Patil?

NEW DELHI/LONDON: The Empire and the former colony have locked horns over who will open the Delhi Commonwealth Games - Prince Charles or President Pratibha Patil. And from the looks of it, it seems the Empire may win this one.

The simmering difference on the issue - reported first by TOI on September 14 - has now taken the proportions of a full-blown battle with New Delhi maintaining that Prince Charles doesn't represent the Commonwealth. With the Queen not coming, the honour of opening the Games should go to the Indian Republic's Prez Patil.

However, a prior agreement seems to be tilting the scales in the Empire's favour, or at least ensuring a favourable compromise.

The agreement signed between the OC and CGF says the Games will be declared open by the Queen or her representative. The Queen's message contained in the baton that will be read out on October 3 ends with her statement, "I declare the Games open." It is to be read out by Prince Charles on her behalf.

Prince Charles is likely to declare the Games open while a face-saving arrangement may be made for President Pratibha Patil.

Though Indian officials have been pressing for Patil to inaugurate the Games, sources said it would be difficult to rearrange the script even though talks are on at the "highest levels."

What is now being considered is that once Prince Charles has read out the Queen's message, President Patil will deliver the final speech of the opening ceremony and state that she was "happy that the Games have been opened", or words to this effect.

It's clear that Prince Charles will speak before the President and once he has said that the Games are open, there may not be much point in Patil repeating this. The halfway house would allow the British monarch to maintain its traditions while the President of the Indian Republic will be given due respect and status.

It is being pointed out that the government should have carefully considered the text of the OC-CWG federation pact as well as the monarchy's emphasis on tradition, even if the Queen was too busy with her engagements to make it to her former colony.

While the last word may not have been heard, given the Indian insistence that Prince Charles is not head of the Commonwealth and could not be equated with his mother, legal and traditional considerations can only be sidelined if Buckingham Palace agrees to a rearrangement of the script.

As of now, both Buckingham Palace and Clarence House, Prince Charles' official residence, maintain that the latter would declare the Games open when he reads out the message from Queen Elizabeth II, the head of Commonwealth. Clarence House has stated that Prince Charles would read out the last line and declare the Games open.

A spokeswoman for Clarence House told British media, "The Queen has asked the Prince to represent her in Delhi, and carry out the same duties she would perform if she was there. He will officially declare the Games open."

The British opinion is that it is the prerogative of the Queen to inaugurate the Games as it's one of the privileges that she, as head of the Commonwealth, enjoys.

TOI was the first to report the row over who gets to open the Games and that the issue had arisen particularly as this is the first occasion that she would not be attending or opening the Commonwealth Games.

TOI

Beggars mostly gone from New Delhi during CWG

NEW DELHI: The banners were erected at the little hillside enclave while everyone was at work, long blue and purple signs with a smiling cartoon tiger proclaiming the arrival of the Commonwealth Games.

By nightfall, the enclave was nowhere to be seen. The plastic-roofed shanties that are home to more than 200 people - laborers who have spent the last year fixing up the city's roads for the games - had disappeared behind the smiling tiger.

While poverty remains one of India's most intractable and enduring problems, officials don't want it to be what visitors to the games remember. Many of this city's beggars have been arrested or forced from the streets, migrants have been rousted, and thousands of homes hidden from sight.

New Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, the equivalent of mayor, denied the hundreds of banners put up around the city in recent days had anything to do with disguising poverty.

"It's to give the city a festive look," she told reporters on Monday.

But the message was clear to Chaitran Rahu, one of the migrant laborers whose home was hidden last week by the 10-foot (3-meter) banners, which are made of thick plastic and mounted on metal and bamboo frames.

"They know that we're laborers and we're dirty, and they don't want anyone to see us from the road," he said, growing increasingly angry as he spoke.

He shovels tar on a road gang for a subcontractor and makes about $2.75 a day. If that seems to be miserable pay, it puts him well ahead of more than 800 million Indians who, according to World Bank estimates, survive on less than $2 a day.

The Commonwealth Games - an Olympic-style competition held every four years - bring together nearly 7,000 athletes and officials from 71 countries and territories. India wanted the games, which open on Sunday, to help showcase its emergence as a growing economic power and help it shed its old cliches of poverty and illiteracy.

Instead, its image has been battered by its chaotic last-minute efforts to get ready for an event it was supposed to begin preparing for in 2003.

In recent weeks, organizers faced criticism over the filthy and unfinished state of the athletes' village, questionable construction, security fears and worries over diseases such as dengue fever. Over the weekend, a snake turned up in the room of a South African competitor and a 4-foot (1-meter) cobra was reportedly found at the tennis stadium.

The village was supposed to be ready last week, but many teams have delayed moving in because cleaning and repairs have not been finished.

"We inherited a very difficult situation, but it's improving almost by the hour," Dikshit said on Monday. "We are racing against time, no doubt about it, but we will perform."

Some of the buildings had leaks in them, there was still water in some basements and some elevators were not working, Dikshit said. But team officials and athletes said conditions in the village had improved dramatically.

Pakistan Olympic Association chief Arif Hasan complained that his team's rooms were "not fit enough to live in" and gave organizers 24 hours to improve conditions or its athletes will stay in a hotel.

As for poverty, officials seem to want no one to see it at all. Officials launched a drive against beggars, slum neighborhoods and the homeless earlier this year, demolishing thousands of slum homes and arresting or displacing thousands of people. Human rights groups complained, and the courts finally stepped in to stop them.

"You cannot just take bulldozers anywhere and demolish anyone's house in the name of the Commonwealth Games," a New Delhi court said after city officials tore down a series of homeless shelters and shantytowns. "We think you want to show the foreigners coming for the Commonwealth Games that there are no poor people in India."

New Delhi, of course, is not the first city to try to hide its rougher edges. The Chinese government tore down and rebuilt large parts of Beijing in the years before the 2008 Olympics, demolishing entire blocks of housing and displacing thousands of people.

But Indian officials like to point out that they govern the world's most populous democracy - unlike China, its main regional competitor for economic power - and that the needs of ordinary people need to be taken into account.

"The government is just trying to hide its ineptitude," said a homeless man named Ilyas, a civil servant who recounted how he had moved to New Delhi a month ago after a bitter family feud and a battle with depression. He had been living on the streets, near a mosque where free food is distributed. But now he's hiding in a city park and sleeping in the bushes. "The police tell us to get off the streets, so we come back here," he said.

P Sainath, an Indian journalist who often writes about India's growing economic divide, said he was not surprised by the government's actions.

"All this captures the elite of India very well," he said, referring to the government's proud recitations of its booming economic growth and increasing consumer culture. "India is not really about 'Slumdog Millionaire.' It's about slumdogs versus millionaires, and that's what you're seeing in Delhi now."

On a New Delhi street corner on Monday, some things continued as they have for years.

New Delhi is believed to have about 60,000 beggars, many of them handicapped. Nearly all are from India's poor northern states.

If begging is ubiquitous in many parts of the city, it remains officially illegal. The least lucky beggars are convicted in special courts and then trucked out of town to rundown facilities that are often little better than prisons.

While most beggars have been chased off the streets recently, two young girls were working cars stopped at a traffic light near the city center. One was performing second-rate gymnastics while the other held out a bowl for donations.

The older one, who was about 13 and who identified herself only as Seema, said they regularly had to dodge the authorities these days.

"The police say the Olympics are coming, and we have to stay away and come back in one month," she said.

TOI

England lower sights for Commonwealth campaign

LONDON: England will be battling to hold on to second place in the medals table when they head to the Commonwealth Games missing a clutch of top names regarded as certainties to strike gold.

England have finished runners-up in the medal rankings at the last three games, but are bracing for a stern challenge from Canada and hosts India at this year's multi-sport extravaganza in Delhi.

While the English will travel with one of their largest ever teams -- 371 competitors spread across 17 sports -- the English contingent will be weakened by several notable absentees.

Heading the list of athletes missing in action is World and European hepathlon champion Jessica Ennis, who is skipping the event to avoid disruption of her winter training schedule.

The 24-year-old is joined on the missing list by distance Mo Farah, the reigning 5,000 and 10,000 metres European champion, who has withdrawn citing fatigue after a gruelling season, and cyclist Victoria Pendleton.

While a clutch of Olympic and world champions will be in Delhi, including Rebecca Adlington, Gemma Spofforth (swimming), and Tom Daley (diving), team officials are declining to set a medals target.

England chef de mission Craig Hunter has warned the team face a testing fortnight in India.

"This will be a very challenging Games for us," said Hunter, who has identified India and Canada as the likeliest threats to English hopes of finishing second in the medal table once more.

"Certainly, India will be very strong in a number of events that proffer gold medals and have a home-based advantage.

"Canada is a nation we've always fought second and third spot for. They're looking like they're investing a lot of money and effort into their sport.

Despite the cautious tone over their prospects in Delhi, English officials are planning an all-out assault on the 2014 Games to be held in Glasgow.

"Our aspiration for 2014 is to top the medal table in Glasgow," said Hunter, who has expressed sympathy with track and field athletes such as Ennis who have chosen not to compete in India.

"For track and field, it's been a long season, and there are other clashes on the international programme," he said.

"They have to prioritise and, while this is an amazingly important event, it is also the road into London for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 - a unique opportunity for our athletes.

"We recognise that there are pulls on people's time and perhaps some of them decided that this isn't appropriate for their preparation."

In team sports, England's women hockey players will be looking to build on their strong showings at the World Cup and Champions Trophy earlier this year, when they both struck bronze.

Although they face stiff competition from defending champions Australia, South Africa and India, the English women have avoided their rivals in the group stage and will be confident of reaching the gold medal match.

"We believe. We've not had that much belief before - it takes results to give you that. It's been building and now we're going into the Commonwealth Games with that belief," captain Kate Walsh said.

TOI

Dope dilemma: Can athletes take part in Games?

NEW DELHI: The disciplinary panel of the National Anti-Doping Agency dwelt extensively on the technicalities of dope violation on Monday even as lawyers of the athletes who tested positive for banned stimulant methylhexaneamine (MHA) claimed they could take part in the Commonwealth Games in the absence of a provisional suspension.

The athletes were upbeat at the end of the day's proceedings but the federations were not amused, with the Wrestling Federation of India outrightly refusing any change in the squad while the Swimming Federation of India contended that 'it was a complicated task'.

The three-member panel debated on basic issues surrounding MHA with two of them concurring that the tests conducted by NADA during the CWG selection trials were indeed in-competition tests, NADA director general Rahul Bhatnagar said.

Former national badminton champion Dinesh Khanna and doctor NK Khadiya said that "the sample collection process which takes place 12 hours before a competition in which the athlete is scheduled to participate through the end of such competition is 'in competition' testing. We can't agree with the argument that 'competition' only means the final race, match, game or singular athletic event."

With MHA being banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency in competition - its abuse being considered as a violation only when the samples are collected during a tournament - both Khanna and Khadiya argued against the lawyers' contention that trials do not constitute in competition. Had the lawyers won the day, the four wrestlers who were originally in the CWG squad, would have been exonerated.

The majority view of the panel prevailed even as its chairman, retired additional district judge Dinesh Dayal, held that the tests were not in-competition as they were not held during specific event.

Meanwhile, the athletes' lawyers maintained that the seven dope tainted athletes who were part of the CWG squads - Rajiv Tomar, Mausam Khatri, Sumit, Gursharanpreet Kaur (wrestling), Richa Mishra and Jyotsna Pansare (swimming) and Saurabh Vij (athletics), were eligible to take part in the Games if their federations took them back.

The decision met with mixed response from the federations. Wrestling Federation of India president GS Mander said the four wrestlers would be not be included in the team as the WFI had already announced replacements immediately after the dope results came out early this month. "It is not legally and practically possible. If we include them now, it would be unfair to those wrestlers who were picked in their place," he said.

A visibly upset Tomar said he would meet the federation officials on Tuesday and is still hopeful of taking part in the Commonwealth Games. Meanwhile, Swimming Federation of India said it will call a meeting of its selection committee in the next two days to decide on whether Richa and Jyotsna should be taken back.

However, SFI secretary Virendra Nanavati said it was a 'complicated job'. "It is going to be difficult as we have already named the replacements," Nanavati said.

THE TAINTED 12

Sportspersons in the CWG squads:

Wrestling: Rajiv Tomar, Sumit, Mausam Khatri, Gursharanpreet Kaur.
Athletics: Saurabh Vij.
Swimming: Richa Mishra, Jyotsna Pansare.

The others who tested positive but were not part of the Games contingent were Rahul Mann and Joginder Singh (wrestling), Akash Antil (athletics), Amar Muralidharan (swimming) and Sanamacha Chanu (weightlifting).

TOI

Friday, September 24, 2010

Australisa, NZ confirm participation in CWG

Australia, New Zealand confirm participation

New Delhi/Melbourne, Sep 24 (PTI) In a boost to the controversy-marred event, the Australian and New Zealand Commonwealth Games bosses today confirmed participation of their teams in the Delhi Games, giving a thumbs up to the much-criticised Athletes' Village.

The decision of the two teams comes after uncertainty over their participation with the Australian Olympic Committee even questioning the wisdom of the event being awarded to Delhi while New Zealand had said it would take one more day to decide.

After a visit this morning to the Village which had come under attack from various quarters over sanitary conditions, Australian Commonwealth Games Association chief Perry Crosswhite said his country was happy with the Village and that their athletes are looking forward to the Games beginning October 3.

"We are quite happy with the Village and we are looking forward to the Games.

PM asks all involved in CWG preparations to ensure success

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has directed all those involved in Commonwealth Games preparations that everything should be done to ensure success of the mega sporting event, Minister of State in the PMO Prithviraj Chavan said on Friday.

A day after Singh took stock of the preparedness with union ministers and others involved, Chavan said there was a concern over pull-out threats and hoped that everything would go well.

"With only a few days left, the Prime Minister took personal initiative saying that no stone should be left unturned to see that we successfully conduct the Games," the minister said.

Singh held a meeting with urban development minister Jaipal Reddy, sports minister MS Gill, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Lt Governor Tejinder Khanna on Thursday to review the preparedness of the Commonwealth Games.

However, CWG Organising Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi was kept away from the meeting, triggering speculation about his being sidelined.

Chavan sought to downplay this, saying the Prime Minister had called all the departments of government and "OC does not fall in the category."

Asked about the pull-out threats and mishaps at the Games avenues, he said "We are all concerned. It's a very prestigious undertaking for the country."

TOI

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Delhi Police inspectors to be deployed for CWG security

New Delhi, Sep 24 (PTI) Forty per cent of Delhi Police personnel currently posted at police stations in the national capital will be deployed across the city for Commonwealth Games related security.

The police stations will also be working with one Inspector instead of the usual three during the Games which will be held in the city from October three to 14.

The Station House Officer, an inspector-rank official, has been spared of Games-related duty while the other two inspectors handling investigations and anti-terrorism squad have been assigned security duty during the sporting event.

"We have not touched the SHO but other inspectors will have to do Games related duty. After Games related duty, they will report to the police station," a senior police official said.

Now, 4 cyclists withdraw their participation

London, Sep 24 (PTI) There is no stopping individual pullouts from the crisis-ridden Commonwealth Games with four leading cyclists becoming the latest to withdraw citing "fears of catching dengue fever and the unsanitary condition of the athletes' village".

Welsh world and Olympic champion Geraint Thomas, Isle of Man rider Peter Kennaugh and the England pair of Ben Swift and Ian Stannard, said they were opting out of the Games as they feared for their health after reading reports about the dengue outbreak and the "filthy" conditions at the Games Village.

"It's a massive disappointment first and foremost but with the hygiene and the risk of getting ill, it was a massive risk," said Thomas, who competes in the 4,000 metres individual pursuit, the road race and the time trial.

Cyclist Henderson first NZ athlete out of CWG

MELBOURNE: Former world champion road cyclist Greg Henderson on Friday became the first selected New Zealand athlete to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games, saying there are "too many risks" in going to Delhi for the troubled event.

Henderson, who was left shaken after seeing pictures showing "filthy" conditions at the Games Village, has informed the New Zealand cycling body about his decision to withdraw.

"There are just too many risks and in this situation the cons outweigh the pros. Who knows exactly what's gone on there," said Henderson, who is here to compete in the road cycling world championships next week.

"Realistically it's probably going to be OK and the Games will go on. But where I am in my career, at the moment the negatives outweigh the pros," he was quoted as saying by 'The Sydney Morning Herald'.

Henderson said he reconsidered his decision to compete in the Games at the insistence of his wife and kids.

"It's about my family, it's not just about Greg Henderson any more, I've got to think about my wife (former Australian Olympic cyclist medallist Katie Mactier) and little girl Charlie and they don't want me going to the Commonwealth Games," Henderson said.

Henderson joins Olympic champion Geraint Thomas, Peter Kennaugh, Ian Stannard and Ben Swift in withdrawing from the controversy-hit October 3 to 14 Games, the organisers of which are in a mad scramble to complete the preparations.

"It's not all about Greg Henderson, I've got a family now," Henderson said.

"I have to put them first and I don't feel 100 per cent sure about the environment over there. I look at it and think would I like Katie or Charlie competing over there and the answer is obviously no. I've got to put myself in their shoes and weight up if it's worth that much.

"Anything could happen over there. Is my career, is cycling, worth it?" he asked.

Henderson came sixth in the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games road race.

"...the only one I'm missing is an Olympic medal and I'll be gunning for that in 2012," he said.

"It's going to be a shame not to represent my country but I'm going to do that next week (at the world road championships)."

TOI

Friday midnight is lockdown deadline: MHA

With security agencies failing to take over and lock down the Commonwealth Games Village and venues even on Thursday, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has cracked the whip and told the Organising Committee and other authorities concerned to complete the work at the venues by Friday midnight, so that they can be handed over to the Delhi Police by Saturday morning.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram reviewed the security arrangements for the Games at a meeting in North Block on Thursday. Delhi Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal and representatives of the Organising Committee attended the meeting.

While taking note of the delays, the Home Minister set certain deadlines for the Organising Committee and other authorities to complete the work. The Delhi Police informed the Home Minister that once the venues are handed over to the Delhi Police, full security will be provided. Underlining the race against the clock, Chidambaram also directed that the minutes of the meeting be forwarded to the Organising Committee and others by Thursday afternoon.

Officials said that as many as 420 people had been given special passes to complete the unfinished work inside the Games Village. Another 200 workers are engaged in finishing the work on the exterior of Village. "The Village can only be sanitised and security-cleared once these workers complete the work," an official said. The fact that the foreign athletes and delegates are expected to start coming in from September 25 is only adding to the rising panic levels.

While arrangements had been made to host 8,000 guests, the latest estimates suggested that only 6,000 guests were likely to arrive. "As a result, of the 34 residential towers in the Games Village, eight will not be used," a source said.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Mamta Sharma receives Best Debut award

Singer Mamta Sharma, who is in the news for her hit debut song Munni badnaam hui from Dabangg, received the 18th Journalist National Best Debut Singer award from Oscar Fernandes. She also performed at the venue.

Rahman launches Delhi 2010 theme song

After much delay, composer A R Rahman unveiled the theme song for the upcoming Commonwealth Games on September 11.

The music director performed the song O yaaro, India bula liya last Saturday. The song has been composed and sung by Rahman.

The launch of the song got delayed after the Group of Ministers (GoM) overseeing the October 3-14 mega-event asked Rahman for some modifications to the composition.

Music release of For Real

Vishal Bhardwaj launched the music of the film For Real, composed by Ustad Zakir Hussain, at a Mumbai multiplex last week. Sudhir Mishra, actress Sarita Choudhury and director Sona Jain were present.

The film tells a story of an urban Indian family through the eyes of a six year-old child and releases across India on September 17 through PVR Pictures. Zakir Hussain has given music for a film after a gap of eight years. He agreed to compose because the script reminded him of his childhood.

Sarita Choudhury, the lead actress, says, “The character I play in the film is a singer, who gives up her singing career in London to get married and moves to India to be a mother. I agreed to do an Indian film after so many years because I was so impressed with the level of the writing in the script. And Zakir’s music is just beautiful.”

Sona Jain added that she needed the flavour of world music for her songs and it was a dream come true when Zakir Hussain agreed to compose the songs. “He put a condition that I would need to write the lyrics since I had written the script as well. That was something I had never done before, but I am grateful to him for pushing me, supporting a debutant director and have learnt so much from him.”

PTI

Canada announce squash, rugby teams for Delhi CWG

Ottawa: Canada has named an eight-member squash team for next month's Commonwealth Games, which will be spearheaded by two-time men's national champion Shahier Razik and three-time women's national champion Alana Miller.

The squash competition at the Commonwealth Games is one of the top events in the international calendar with leading nations such as England, Australia and New Zealand gunning for top honours.

Apart from Razik, the men's team will also have Shawn Delierre, who will be participating in his second Commonwealth Games, world number 78 Robin Clarke and 22-year-old Andrew McDougall.

Reigning national champion Miranda Ranieri, Stephanie Edmison and 19-year-old Samantha Cornett are the other members of the women's team along with Miller.

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"I'd like to congratulate all of the squash athletes being named and to welcome them to Team Canada. There is an excitement building as the Commonwealth Games draw nearer.

"I'm very much looking forward to cheering on our squash team as they compete against many of the world's best in Delhi," said Canada's Chef de Mission Martha Deacon.

Canada's national coach said, "With all of our Canadian players competing on international circuits, we look forward to taking on many of the best players in the world in Delhi.

"We know that players like Shahier and Alana will provide great leadership to the younger players and we expect to create some upsets."

Meanwhile, Canada also announced a strong 12-member Rugby sevens team which will be competing against powerhouses like three-time gold medallist and defending champion New Zealand, England, Australia, Fiji and South Africa in the 16-team event of the Delhi Games.

The Rugby Sevens tournament in Delhi will be the first opportunity to witness this unique brand of high-octane game in a multi-sport event since it was added to the Olympic programme a year ago.

"I know that the Rugby Sevens tournament in Delhi will be one of the hottest spectator draws of these Games. It's a great test for our talented Canadian squad," Chef de Mission Deacon said.

Rubgy Sevens team: Nanyak Dala, Thyssen de Goede, Sean Duke, Ciaran Hearn, Nathan Hirayama, Phil Mack, Ian Schoults Neil Meechan, Justin Mensah-Coker, John Moonlight, Taylor Paris, Conor Trainor; Geraint John (coach), Quentin Fyffe (assistant coach), Rodger Swany (manager).

http://www.ndtv.com/article/commonwealth%20games/canada-announce-squash-rugby-teams-for-delhi-cwg-52896?cp

Athletes Village open for Commonwealth Games 2010 in New Delhi

After a lot of predicaments and verdicts about being a failure, the Athletes Village is ready for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi which is currently thick with Dengue affected victims.

The Games village is all ready to house more than 2000 people and serve upto 25000 meals a day the experience of which has been sampled by the media. And not only this, it also has 1168 flats, an athletics track, a gym and two swimming pools. CWG Federation CEO Mike Hooper recently compared the Athletes villages to be as good as Olympics villages and is definitely the best CWG village he has ever seen till date.

However, the success of the CWG might still be a question to ponder upon up untill its started. The costs are still bringing major creases on the everyone’s brow as the Organising committee is not ready to reveal to the RTI the details of items like cutlery and flower pots which costed the taxpayer a whooping 630 crores !

With Delhi clouds still showing more signs of rain and so much to still deal with, it might lead to calling for more money so that CWG is ready and all set.

Rahman adds zing to CWG theme song

MUMBAI: After dismissal reviews by many musicians, common people and even Organising Committe members, AR Rahman has finally tweaked the theme song for Commonwealth Games 'Oh yaaro, yeh India bula liya', making it more peppier and appealing.

The original version of thr song faced a lot of brickbrats and was openly criticised by CWG Organising Committee's executive board member V K Malhotra and other leaders for "falling short of expectations".

After a meeting, Commonwealth Games, Sports Secretary Sindhu Shree Khullar said, "There will be more music, particularly instrumental, in the opening theme song of the Games."

Asked whether the tweaked version will be like Shakira's 'Waka Waka', the World Cup Football song, he said, "Waka Waka was more commercial. Ours will be like Chake De.

Rahman had taken six months to come up with it and was paid Rs 5 crore, states PTI.

A music video will also be launched next week featuring sportspersons like Milkha Singh, Karnam Malleswari, Abhinav Bindra among others.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

CWG lane trials causes traffic chaos in Delhi, NCR Read more: CWG lane trials causes traffic chaos in Delhi, NCR - The Times of India http://timesofi

NEW DELHI: Chaos reigned on the roads as the city and its suburbs had a harrowing preview of the traffic nightmare that lies in store during the Commonwealth Games next month.

Blocking out regular traffic from the special CWG lane caused massive jams in most areas, including Lodhi Road, NH-24, Ring Road, Khelgaon Marg and Mall Road.

Thousands were stuck for hours across Gurgaon as the Delhi- Gurgaon Expressway and most other arterial roads were choked. Areas affected included Huda City Centre, IFFCO Chowk and Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road. The Delhi-Jaipur Road (NH-8) also witnessed heavy congestion. The blockage on the highway stretched to over three km.

Even one side of the Noida Expressway remained shut from 10.30am to 2.30pm as authorities conducted a mock drill on the 20-km stretch connecting Noida to Greater Noida.

The situation could worsen in the coming weeks. "From September 23 to October 13, we are going to shut down the expressway every day from 10.30am to 2.30pm," said Ajay Sahdev, SP (Noida traffic). In the capital too, the police plan to extend the CWG traffic trials to peak hours. On Wednesday, the traffic diversion was implemented immediately after the morning rush hour.
TOI