Saina declared 'most promising player'

Monday, December 8, 2008 (New Delhi)
Saina Nehwal's good performance in the year 2008 has been recognised by the World Badminton Federation as the world body declared her the 'most promising player of the year' in its council meeting in Seoul.

She was elected out of three players proposed by the world body ahead of one Korean and one from Pan America. Saina, who became the first Indian women to break into the list of world top-10, had a dreamrun this year. After reaching the quarterfinals of Beijing Olympics, she also won Chinese Taipei Open, World Junior championship and Commonwealth Youth Games.

Elated at being bestowed with the honour, Saina said, "I am very excited and happy to get this honour. I never expected such an award but now that I have got it, it has motivated me a lot and given me a big boost."I just want to work even harder now and get more results," she added.

Let's have cricket in Olympics: London Mayor

Tuesday, December 9, 2008 (London)
London Mayor Boris Johnson has strongly backed cricket's inclusion in Olympics and wants the Twenty20 format to make its debut when the city hosts the 2012 edition of the Games."It is high time we install in the Olympic T20 cricket," Johnson said at a high level business reception by Think London, an organisation that connects international businesses to the city.Many top players like retired Australian stumper Adam Gilchrist have also backed cricket's inclusion in Olympic Games.Cricket has never been a feature of multi-disciplinary events with an exception of 1900 Paris Olympic Games and the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games.

Rain forecast may cause delayed start of first Test

Intermittent rains on Tuesday and the prediction of more showers in the coming two days could disrupt the first cricket Test between India and England, beginning on Thursday.

Meteorological Centre Regional Director S R Ramanan told PTI that one or two spells of rains was suppose to lash city in the next 48 hours."For the next 48 hours, there would be one or two spells of rain and cloudy weather conditions would prevail due to activity of the North East Monsoon over Tamil Nadu," he said.

"There is no alert of low pressure or depression in the Bay of Bengal. This is only a normal monsoon activity.

Gradual reduction of rain fall was expected from Thursday, the day that the first Test was to commence," he added.City has been experiencing intermittent rain forcing the Indian team to abandon their practice session, which was delayed from morning to the afternoon, while the England team already in the stadium also faced the same fate.

England team arrived here last night to commence their short tour of India with the first Test but was denied of any practice at the Chepauk grounds so far due to constant drizzle.

Reaching the stadium around 2.00 pm the English were forced to stay indoors at the stadium dressing room, while the Indian could have their sessions for over an hour and were forced to abandon it, also due to rain.In fact, the Indian team which was scheduled to have their practice session from 10.00 am rescheduled their plan to 12.30 pm this afternoon.

The two-Test series was originally scheduled to be played in Ahmedabad and Mumbai, but was shifted to Chennai and Mohali for security reasons after the Mumbai terror attacks.

Frenzied Kolkatans can't have enough of Maradona

Kolkata: Frenzied Kolkatans didn't seem to have enough of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona as he visited the Mother House to pay obeisance to Mother Teresa and later called on Marxist icon Jyoti Basu, crowding both venues for a glimpse of the star and screaming themselves hoarse with their slogans.

On the second day of his visit to the city, Maradona lit a candle at Mother Teresa's tomb, participated in a prayer session with the sisters of the order, and shook hands with the orphan children to fulfil a wish that he has nurtured for years.

And from all accounts, Maradona and Basu got along famously - thanks to their common "friend", Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

"Viva Maradona", "Maradona, Maradona", shouted frenzied fans as he went to pay homage at the tomb of Mother Teresa - the Catholic nun revered worldwide as the Apostle of Peace.
Maradona spent half-an-hour at the Mother House, the global headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity founded by Mother Teresa in South Kolkata.

"I wanted to see what Mother Teresa has done in this city. So I want to utilise this trip to visit the Mother House," Maradona said on Saturday, disclosing why he had agreed to come to the city.

Mother Teresa, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, is known for her monumental work among the underprivileged.

Clad in a black T-shirt and jeans, Maradona arrived in a silver-white Mercedes at Mother House to deafening cheers from thousands of people who waited for hours on the streets and had perched themselves precariously on trees and walls of nearby buildings for a glimpse of the soccer genius.

He waved and threw flying kisses, as nuns of the order, draped in blue-white sarees received him on the narrow ally leading to the Mother House.

Once inside the courtyard of the building, Maradona and his girlfriend Veronica were welcomed with a blue-white garland by the sisters, who also seemed to enjoy every bit of their interaction with the soccer superstar.

Evidently in high spirits, Maradona went round the building, and met the young orphans - some of them mentally challenged.

He patted the infants on the head and kissed and embraced them before proceeding to the room where the Mother's grave lies.

Hands clasped, Maradona stood silently before the tomb and then lit a candle as the sisters chanted prayers.

Pindrop silence descended on the room once the prayers ended, as Maradona seemed to soak in the serenity of the place. He then knelt down and kissed the white marble of the tomb.
Before leaving, Maradona went back to the children. "Bye, bye", he said.

Outside, soccer fans sporting Argentine jerseys tried to break the barricade put up by the security personnel deployed in strength.

"I want to touch his feet - his left foot, and see what it is made of," said a youth.

"If he doesn't mind, I want to embrace him. Can you help me?" was another young Maradona fan's plea to a scribe.

Maradona called on Basu later in the day.
"Maradona told Basu, 'I (Maradona) am a friend of Fidel Castro, and you (Basu) are a friend of Castro too'," West Bengal Sports Minister Subhas Chakraborty told mediapersons waiting outside Basu's home in North 24-Parganas district.

"He further said 'Whoever is Castro's friend across the world is also my friend'," Chakraborty added.

The football hero met the nonagenarian politician for 10 minutes, but disappointed his fans who waited in hundreds outside Basu's residence.

Lending a communist hue to Maradona's visit to Kolkata, the organisers had arranged for a tete-a-tete between him and Basu. Maradona, a great admirer of Castro, readily agreed to call on Basu at his residence after seeing a photograph of the former chief minister with Castro.

The photo, showing Castro and Basu standing side by side, was taken in 1973 when the former Cuban president visited the city. It was sent to Maradona about 10 days ago by the organisers of his visit.

Kolkata, the soccer crazy hub of India, had accorded a tumultuous welcome to the hero of Argentina's 1986 World Cup triumph since he landed in the city in the wee hours on Saturday.

More than 50,000 exuberant fans spent a sleepless night as they assembled at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport and lined the route of his convoy upto the hotel.

Around 80,000 people turned up on Saturday afternoon at the giant Salt Lake stadium, where Maradona was felicitated. He also laid the foundation stone of the Indian Football School at Maheshtala, 13 km south of the city.

Jeev Milkha Singh reaches 36th in world rankings

New Delhi: Golfer Jeev Milkha Singh has touched a career-high ranking of 36 in world rankings after his win in Golf Nippon Series JT Cup in Japan on Sunday.

Jeev, who got 24 points for his win in Japan, now has two wins in his last three tournaments.
He had won Barclay's Singapore Open, before his win in Japan. He has already won the Asian Tour Order of Merit title this year, with record earnings of $1.44 million.

He also finished tied 11th at UBS Hong Kong Open.

The last time he finished the year within the top 50 was in 2006, when he was ranked 37th. The next best Indian in world rankings after Jeev is Jyoti Randhawa, who is ranked 147.

Arjun Atwal (201), SSP Chowrasia (324), Shiv Kapur (433) and Gaurav Ghei (472) follow Randhawa.

Bhutia disappointed with handling of Maradona's visit

The chaos which nearly threatened to upset Diego Maradona's felicitation programme at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan left India captain Baichung Bhutia disappointed.

Bhutia, who led the External Affairs XI side against the Chief Ministers XI in an exhibition match, was thrilled to have come close to the legend, was however, unhappy with the way things were handled by the organisers, the state governement and celebrity management company.

"Things could have been better handled. There were too many people around with the cops and media getting into the way of things. That Maradona will be visiting Kolkata was known before hand, but the organisation left a lot to be desired," said the India and Mohun Bagan skipper.However, the Sikkimese snipper was thrilled with the experience.

"It was great to come close to the legend. There was a lot of excitement and it was nice that such a legend visited the city.

"Bhutia's team won the match 1-0, courtesy an own goal. Maradona is scheduled to visit Mohun Bagan club on Sunday for a clinic with under-12 boys of the club but Bhutia said he won't be there."I know a lot of players would be going but I am not going there," he said.

Maradona willing to help Indian football

Soccer legend Diego Maradona on Saturday said he is open to helping India develop the game once his tenure as Argentina's coach ends.

"I am now on contract as coach of Argentina. Once the contract ends I would like to come to India and help improve the soccer infrastructure in this country," Maradona said during a 45-minute freewheeling media conference.

The 'God of soccer', who received a tumultuous welcome from thousands of fans since his arrival early Saturday, said he was touched by the affection of Kolkatans and would love to return to India.

"The affection I have received here has added to my will to return," he said.

The 48-year-old Maradona who in the morning laid the foundation stone of the Indian Football School at Maheshtala, said: "We are discussing some projects, and if these discussions are fruitful I will come back."

Asked how India should proceed to get its own Maradona, the hero of Argentina's 1986 World Cup victory said: "I think a lot of attention and affection must be given to young players who are doing well. There is lot of competition in the world and India has a lot to achieve."

Expressing his "whole-hearted" support to Indian football, he said: "I think stress should be given on infrastructural development."

Maradona said he was moved by the love and affection showered on him here. "I really feel very emotional. I thought I have gone through enough experiences in this life. But after coming here I think there are more to come."

When a scribe asked Maradona, whether he felt scared on seeing thousands of passionate soccer buffs here, he promptly replied: "No, I have never been scared in my life. On the contrary, I was very much surprised and pleased to see all those waiting for me."

Maradona said one his reason to come to India was to visit the Mother House here. "I wanted to see what Mother Teresa has done in this city. So I want to utilise this trip to visit Mother House."