CWG faces the heat from all corners. India embarrased

Bridge disaster ends a horrendous day

New Delhi: With just 12 days to go for the Commonwealth Games, host India faced the prospect of major international embarrassment Tuesday with both its showpiece structures, the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and the Games Village, coming under harsh scrutiny, forcing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene once again.

An under-construction foot overbridge near the main venue of the CWG collapsed, injuring 23 labourers, five of them seriously, just as Games officials and several foreign contingents complained that the village was still not fit for accommodation.

In a major blow to the preparations for the mega sporting event, expected to be attended by about 7,000 participants and officials from 71 countries and territories, the foot overbridge linking the Nehru Stadium to the parking lot, collapsed leaving red-faced officials scrambling for an explanation.

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CWG not collapsing, says Delhi CM

NEW DELHI: Under mounting attack over preparations for the Commonwealth Games , particularly after collapse of a foot overbridge near the main venue, DelhiChief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Wednesday admitted facing "problems" but rejected the criticism that the event was collapsing.

"I would like you tell very categorically that these minor glitches and hitches do come around....but to make out as the whole thing is collapsing - I am sorry, we do not agree with that," Dikshit told reporters.

"There will be some problems. There are some problems. But they are not insurmountable. If there is any concern or there is any problem, they will be addressed to," she said.

Asking people to remain "positive", she said national pride is involved with the event and every effort is being made to make it a success.

"This is not my Games, this is not your Games. This an event of the whole country. We will address all the concerns and drawbacks. There is no reason to worry...we should look at it as an opportunity. Please become positive," she said.

In a major embarrassment for organisers as well as Delhi Government, an under-construction foot overbridge collapsed yesterday outside the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, the main venue of the Commonwealth Games, injuring 27 labourers.

Delhi Government's Public Works Department had given the contract to a private firm to construct the overbridge.

The city government has already blacklisted the company and ordered a probe into the incident.

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We are engaged: Lara - Hesh

It is official. Tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi and the former Miss Universe 2000 have formally announced their engagement. Mahesh it seems popped the question to Lara in New York during the recent US open.

A very happy Bhupati has tweeted 'So @DuttaLara and me got engaged in NY last week. Its official now...'

The pair were seen together during the the Filmfare awards and then again during the IIFA weekend at Sri Lanka.

The couple who had earlier denied reports of their affair, have come out in open and we wait for more details.

Net gains for Lara Dutta. Tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi and the Miss Universe 2000 have made their liaison public, putting all media speculation to rest and setting tongues wagging, once again.

Although the scribe tribe had gone all out to unveil their little charade, both Bhupathi and Dutta had earlier denied any romantic alliance. But at a recent and prestigious awards nite, the duo showed up as a lovey dovey pair.

Besides, Bhupathi's split and subsequent divorce with spouse Shweta Jaishankar too has come through, giving him romantic leverage. Lara's live in relationship with Kelly Dorje hit Splitsville, and thereafter the actress was soon found sharing a cozy time with his ex pal Dino Morea. But the link soon lost it's sheen, as Morea returned for more of Nandita Mahtani, his former girlfriend.

Months of denial and the no comment stance comes to a close on the Lara and Mahesh episode. Now for the forthcoming racket…..

Mahesh Bhupathi wedding . . .

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CWG: Three Indian swimmers fail in dope test

The Indian CWG squad swimmers Richa Mishra and Jyotsana Pansare along with Amar Muralitharan were tested positive for methylhexaneamine, a stimulant banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency in 2010.

Richa Mishra was selected as the best female swimmer of the 64th National aquatic championship in Jaipur.

Secretary of Indian Swimming Federation, Virender Nanavati, confirmed the development and told the media that both Richa and Jyotsana will be withdrawn from the team if their 'B' samples also turned out to be positive.

"We have been informed by the National Anti-Doping Agency about the three swimmers failing dope tests. Their samples were collected during the National Championships in Jaipur," said Nanavati.

"They can ask for a 'B' sample test but that is their individual decision. We will see what happens after that procedure is completed. If the 'B' samples of Richa and Jyotsana also test positive they will be withdrawn from the team. I can't say whether we will have the replacements," he added.

Richa won three individual gold medals with one meet record during the Nationals and Jyotsana won a gold in the 100m backstroke event in Jaipur.

Earlier on Thursday, Sep 2, three other Indian wrestlers, including one Arjuna award winner, were failed in NADA dope test and national federation suspended them from the CWG squad.

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Chidambaram reviews CWG security

New Delhi: Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday 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. Parking arrangement has been made for 150 buses at the stadium.

Each of the 13 competition venues for the Commonwealth Games will have a tight security ring and special arrangements will be made to transport the athletes to and from the Games Village. Helicopters carrying commando snipers will keep an eye on the convoy.

This is aimed to prevent incidents like the attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore in March 2009.

To ensure fleet security, each of the 574 vehicles to be used for ferrying athletes across the city will have to undergo mandatory anti-sabotage clearance every morning before athletes board them.

Besides, after the takeover of all venues and the Village, security agencies will start their work for erecting metal barriers, tyre busters, CCTV and metal detectors and conduct anti-sabotage drills.

"The security will be similar to that in Parliament," an official said.

Mock security drill will be held by security agencies and electronic bar codes will be provided to authorised cars and buses.

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Commonwealth Games Players to get a taste of Kerala’s massage treatment

With an aim to give foreign visitors a taste of famous Kerala massage during the Commonwealth Games, Delhi’s health department had approached Kerala government a couple of months ago for assistance to select masseurs who could be trained in massages that could be used to give relief to tired or injured athletes. Kerala Government, advertised for masseurs & 150 candidates were chosen & trained for games duties.

A team of 150 masseurs trained in therapeutic Kerala ayurvedic massage will cater to around 8,000 sportspersons during the Commonwealth Games. The masseurs, most of whom are either ayurvedic massage therapists or ayurvedic doctors from Kerala, have been selected by the director of Medical Education Ayurveda and principal of Ayurveda Medical College of Trivandrum. They will be now trained in sports injuries by a Pune-based specialist in August.

S Bhattacharjee, director of Delhi Health Services, said the Organizing Committee would need around 120 masseurs while the rest would be kept on standby.

The masseurs will be divided in various teams and will be stationed at the Commonwealth Games Village and event venues. After reaching the capital 10 days before the Games, the masseurs will stay in a hostel facility in Maulana Azad Medical College and Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital complex.

Health minister Kiran Walia said research has shown that masseurs of Indian system of medicine like ayurveda are among the best in the world. She claimed that masseurs specializing in sports-related massages were an important component of the health arrangements for the Games.

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Four from AP in athletics squad

New Delhi, Aug. 31: Four athletes from Andhra Pradesh — S. Geetha, Abdul Najib Qureshi, K. Mrudula and Ch Shanti — made it to the 90-member Commonwealth Games Indian squad that was announced on Tuesday.

Geetha and Abdul Najib Qureshi will compete in the 100 metres, 200m as well as the 4x100m events while Shanthi will turn up for the 100m and 4x100m races. Mrudula has been picked for the 400m and 4x400m events.

Hyderabad’s Ramesh Kumar has been named as the coach for the women’s team.

The squad, which has 46 men and 44 women, will compete in 45 out of the 46 track and field events. No athlete has been named for pole vault event. The athletes for 20km walk will be announced later.

“It’s the biggest Indian athletics squad for the Commonwealth Games. We are the host country and are expecting the highest number of medals this time,” AFI officiating secretary Ravinder Chaudhry said.

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It'll be our best-ever show in CWG: Coach Bahadur

Padma Shri Bahadur Singh,the chief coach of indian athletics team for commonwealth games2010, one of the best shot putters India has ever produced and a veteran of five Asian Games, is perhaps the busiest man at the Netaji Subas National Institute of Sports (NSNIS) in Patiala where the Indian athletes are training for the CWG.

Talk about the Delhi Games and Bahadur's eyes will light up with excitement. "It will be our best-ever show," he told TOI with confidence. "We won just two silver medals at the last Games but this time it will be a totally different story."

According to the coach, the host country will be a medal contender in at least 10 events. "If you look at the track events in the women's section, we have got a chance in the 400m hurdles, 800m, 3,000m steeplechase and 10,000m."

The coach expects great things from youngsters like Tintu Luka and Mayookha Johny. "Tintu has got the capacity to excel at the world level but needs to work more on her endurance. She may not win a medal but she will definitely produce a good performance," said Bahadur. Analysing Mayookha's chances, he said: "She got a better chance in long jump. In triple jump, she will better the national record for sure."

Bahadur said the women's discus throw would see fierce competition between Melbourne silver medallist Seema Antil, in-form Krishna Poonia and Harwant Kaur. "All three are capable of winning medals," Bahadur, who personally trains Seema, felt. Among the men, the chief coach is floored by the improvement shown by Pankaj Dimri who clocked 1:46.26 in men's 800m at the inter-state meet in Patiala.

"That was a stunning performance. Not even Sriram (Singh) or Charles (Borromeo) could clock this time," he said. "I'm also confident about the performance of Om Prakash in men's shot put, Vikas Gowda in men's discus and Renjith Maheswary in men's triple jump."

Asked about the contribution of foreign coaches, Bahadur Singh said their contribution was vital for the sport. "Earlier, we never did this well. All these improvements in standards came only after their arrival. For example, in middle and long distance and walking we have done well with the help of foreigners."

The coach revealed that the plan was to let the athletes' peak at the right time. "We've deliberately kept the qualifying standards a bit low so that our athletes didn't have to reach their peak to qualify for the Games."

Read more: It'll be our best-ever show in CWG: Coach Bahadur - Interviews - Commonwealth Games - Events & Tournaments - Sports - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/events-tournaments/commonwealth-games/interviews/Itll-be-our-best-ever-show-in-CWG-Coach-Bahadur/articleshow/6465128.cms#ixzz0yIToeRUI

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Promila Aiyappa Heptathlon Athlete Biography

Aiyappa G. Pramila IND

Sex	Weight	Height	Date of Birth	Place of birth
W			08/05/1977

Information
Née Ganapathy

Personal Best - Outdoor
	Performance	Wind	Place	Date
200 Metres	24.09		Bangalore	17/07/2008
800 Metres	2:16.90		Bangalore	18/07/2008
100 Metres Hurdles	13.85		Chennai	30/07/2000
High Jump	1.75		Chennai	30/07/2000
Long Jump	6.52		Bangalore	05/07/2000
Shot Put	12.30		Bangalore	17/07/2008
Javelin Throw	42.62		Chennai	31/07/2000
Heptathlon	6105		Chennai	31/07/2000

Progression - Outdoor
	Season	Performance	Wind	Place	Date
200 Metres	2008	24.09		Bangalore	17/07/2008
	2001	25.04		Edmonton	04/08/2001
	2000	24.69	1.4	Sydney	23/09/2000
800 Metres	2008	2:16.90		Bangalore	18/07/2008
	2001	2:22.89		Edmonton	05/08/2001
	2000	2:20.86		Sydney	24/09/2000
100 Metres Hurdles	2009	14.97	-0.4	Guangzhou	10/11/2009
	2008	13.95		Bangalore	17/07/2008
	2001	14.41	-0.8	Edmonton	04/08/2001
	2000	13.85		Chennai	30/07/2000
High Jump	2009	1.64		Guangzhou	10/11/2009
	2008	1.74		Beijing (National Stadium)	15/08/2008
	2008	1.74		Bangalore	17/07/2008
	2001	1.73		Edmonton	04/08/2001
	2000	1.75		Chennai	30/07/2000
Long Jump	2008	6.37		Bangalore	18/07/2008
	2006	6.26	0.1	Chennai	02/11/2006
	2004	6.39	0.6	Chennai	16/06/2004
	2001	6.43	-1.5	Chennai	19/10/2001
	2000	6.52		Bangalore	05/07/2000
	1999	6.43		Lucknow	13/09/1999
Shot Put	2009	10.45		Guangzhou	10/11/2009
	2008	12.30		Bangalore	17/07/2008
	2001	11.43		Edmonton	04/08/2001
	2000	11.14		Sydney	23/09/2000
Javelin Throw	2008	42.04		Bangalore	18/07/2008
	2001	34.60		Edmonton	05/08/2001
	2000	42.62		Chennai	31/07/2000
Heptathlon	2010	5454		Patiala	08/08/2010
	2008	6078		Bangalore	18/07/2008
	2004	6046		Bangalore	07/08/2004
	2003	5787		Jamshedpur	07/09/2003
	2001	5825		Bangalore	25/06/2001
	2000	6105		Chennai	31/07/2000
	1998	5705		Calcutta	05/11/1998

Honours
	Rank	Performance			Wind	Place	Date
Heptathlon
The XXIX Olympic Games		27	7	5771		Beijing (National Stadium)	16/08/2008
15th Asian Athletics Championships		5	f	5500		Manila	21/09/2003
8th IAAF World Championships		15	7	5492		Edmonton	05/08/2001
27th Olympic Games		24	7	5548		Sydney	24/09/2000

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Indian athletics team for CWG 2010 announced

New Delhi, Aug 31 (IBNS): The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) named a 90-member team on Tuesday for the upcoming Commonwealth Games (CWG), with a hope of producing the best result for the country in the Games.

AFI selected 46 men and 44 women, to compete in 45 track and field events to be held at the Commonwealth Games in October.

In a release, AFI Acting Secretary Ravinder Chaudhry said the performances of the athletes from Apr 2010 to the beginning of Aug when the National inter-State meet was held in Patiala had been considered by the selection panel.

The names of the walkers for the 20km event will be announced later while the relay teams will be selected on Sept 15.

India has won a gold medal (Milkha Singh in 400 yards in 1958), five silver and four bronze medals in track and field competition at the Commonwealth Games.

The team
Men:

100m, 4x100m: Abdul Najib Qureshi, BG Nagaraj, Krishna Kumar Rane, Hemant Kirulkar, Rahamattulla Molla, Shameer Mon, Ritesh Anand, Manikandaraj and S Sathya.

200m: Dharambir and Abdul Najib Qureshi.

400m, 4x400m: Kunhi Mohammad, Vinay Chaudhry, J Premanand, Harpreet Singh, VB Bineesh, Jithin Paul, Bibin Mathew and SK Mortaja.

800m: Pankaj Dimri, P.Francis Sagayaraj and Manjit Singh.

1500m: Sandeep Karan Singh and C Hamza.

5000m: Sunil Singh and Sandeep Batham.

10000m: Sunil Singh.

110m hurdles: Siddhanth Thingalaya.

400m hurdles: Joseph Abraham.

3000m steeplechase: Elam Singh and Ramachandran.
Marathon: Bining L.

Shot put: Om Prakash and Sourabh Vij.

Discus throw: Vikas Gowda.

Javelin throw: Kashi Nath and Samareet Singh.

Hammer throw: Chandrodaya Narayan.

Long jump: Maha Singh, Ankit Sharma and Hari Krishnan M.

Triple jump: Renjith Maheshwari and Amarjit Singh.

High jump: Nikhil Chitrasau and Hari Shanker Roy.

Pole vault: Gajanan Upadhyay.

Decathlon: Bhartinder Singh and P J Vinod.

Women:

100m, 4x100m: S Geetha, HM Jyothi, PK Priya, Sarbani Nanda, Rebecca Jose, Nirupama Sunderraj, Arjina Khatun and Ch Shanthi.

200m: HM Jyothi, S. Geetha

400m, 4x400m: Mandeep Kaur, Jaunu Murmu, Ashwini AC, Sini Jose, Tiana Mary Thomas, Chitra K. Soman, Mridula K, MR Poovamma, Priyanka Panwar and Manjit Kaur.

800m: Tintu Luka and Sinimol Paulose.

1500m: Shushma Devi, Jhuma Khatun and OP Jaisha.

5000m: Kavita Raut, Preeja Sreedharan and Laita Babar.

10000m: Preeja Sreedharan and Kavita Raut.

100m hurdles: G Gayathri.

400m hurdles: Jauna Murmu and Ashwani AC.

3000m steeplechase: OP Jaisha, Sudha Singh and Priyanka Patel.

Marathon: Sukanya Mall Singh.

Discus throw: Krishna Poonia, Harwant Kaur and Seema Antil.

Shot put: Manpreet Kaur.

Javelin throw: Saraswathi S.

Hammer throw: Hardeep Kaur.

Long jump: Mayookha Johny, Prajusha MA and Reshmi Bose.

Triple jump: Mayookha Johny, Prajusha MA and G. Gayathri.

High jump: Kavya Muthanna and Sahana Kumari.

Hepthathon: Promila Aiyappa, Sushmita Singha Roy and Navpreet Kaur.

Coaching staff: Bahadur Singh (Chief Coach), RS Sidhu, Parvir Singh, Renu Kohli, N Ramesh, Virender Punia, Gurdev Singh, Nishad Kumar, MS Dhillon, Jogesh Kumar, YC Saha, JS Bhatia, MA George, Jose Mathew, Kuntal Roy, PT Usha, Yuri Ogorodonik, Nikolai Snesarev, Arnold
Stasuik, Datsuik V, Kravcheko V, Dmytry Vanayakin and Alexander.

Support staff: Kenny Patrick, Elmira Kravchenko, Natalya, Dymytry Buldov, Pawan Kumar Saini, Neol W Dass and Nayak Ashish Kushwaha.

Managers: MK Pathak, Suman Rawat and Mumtaz Khan.

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