Indian Sports and Entertainment Industry

Comer · Post by **Comer** » 09 Nov 2014 17:33

A good article about Borussia Dortmund, may apply to Bundesliga as well:
http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/bor ... ening-club

Sidd · Post by **Sidd** » 09 Nov 2014 17:52

ritesh wrote:Superb news, hope we can keep this momentum for few years atleast & do well in coming WC & OLY.

Next big event is Champions trophy in Bhubaneshwar Dec 6-14.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Men's ... ons_Trophy

ritesh · Post by **ritesh** » 09 Nov 2014 17:59

My bad! Forgot Champions Trophy altogether!
After AG & this Aussie series, it will be good test against dutch / german.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 09 Nov 2014 18:33

Abetting forgery: Saina Nehwal’s coach booked

November 08, 2014

Abetting forgery: Saina Nehwal’s coach booked

Bengaluru: The President of Karnataka Badminton Association, Vimal Kumar, who is also the coach of badminton star Saina Nehwal, is in the dock for allegedly allowing an 18-year-old youth to play national and international level matches for under-15 category, using fake birth certificate.

The secretary of the Karnataka Badminton Association, Bhaskar Raj Urs, has also been booked.

Based on the complaint registered at the High Grounds police station, the cops booked two office bearers of the badminton association along with the player, identified as Daniel Farid, and his father, a manager at a Mumbai-based nationalised bank.

All of them have been booked for cheating and forgery, a non-bailable offence, police said. The player’s father, Shadab Farid, has been arrested and as of now as the player’s age is under scrutiny, the police have sent the badminton player to Bowring and Madivala Forensic Science Laboratory to ascertain his biological age.

“If he is proved to be a minor, but 16 or 17, then he will be booked under Juvenile Justice Act. If he is proved that he is 18 or above, then he will be arrested,” police said.

According to the police, Shadab had got his son’s birth certificate forged to show that he was 15 years old, in order to help him participate in under-15 category.

Some other contestants and their parents had informed Vimal Kumar about the incident, but he failed to take action. They then lodged a police complaint. The High Grounds police have taken up a case and are investigating.

hanumadu · Post by **hanumadu** » 09 Nov 2014 21:21

ritesh wrote:Superb news, hope we can keep this momentum for few years atleast & do well in coming WC & OLY.

Just a word of caution. Aus seems to have rested some of its first rung players for this series.

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 10 Nov 2014 00:15

Yes they rotated in a few youngsters, but it must be remembered that our entire team is young. They have a legacy of a strong team to which to add a few juniors for trial. We are in building phase.

I think the new 4-quarter rule is benefiting our running game. We have won both the major events since the rule came into effect - AG2014 and the India-Aus series. Instead of having to run for 35 minutes nonstop, we now have to run 15 mins only. Of the 6 goals we scored here, 5 were field goals and one PC. Even the PC was an opportunistic deflection netting by Akashdeep, not slotted in by the drag flicker. It's fun to see us outrun historically tough teams like Korea and Australia.

The Hockey Australia site has good coverage of the event and emphasizes how we've maintained a strong defence in addition to playing our running game. That helps neutralize the Australian passing game and block their PCs, while helping us win with our superior running game. It will be interesting to see how well we adapt at CT2014. We still need a big hulking drag flicker like Bovelander, Taekema or Abbas. That would really move us into the top 4 group.

hanumadu · Post by **hanumadu** » 10 Nov 2014 03:08

Our PC specialists Raghunath and another guy (whose name I forgot) are huge and have a reputation of being powerful. Raghunath also serves as the official translator for communicating with the referees during the match

. PC conversion rate has been pretty low in the matches I have seen recently, not just for India but all the teams. Probably because of rule changes. You cannot flick the ball above knee height if the rushers from the goal line manage to get within 5 yards of the ball. So a powerful push in and a clean stop are important.

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 10 Nov 2014 04:49

You're right. Raghunath and Rupinder Pal Singh are both very good. They both typically play flicker and decoy when we do PCs, with the stopper passing the ball to either depending on the set piece being executed.

SBajwa · Post by **SBajwa** » 13 Nov 2014 19:01

Jugraj Singh was a very good drag flicker but due to an accident (trying to save a rickshaw his maruti ran into a wall) he lost hist career.

Sandeep Singh was another drag flicker who was accidentally shot when traveling in a train by a CRPF jawan and he lost his career after that.

There was another player from UP who lost his career (and his life) due to some kind of infection.

We need to protect our hockey players from these type of things.

Terry Walsh Coach of Indian hockey team is very good. we need to have somebody similar for our Women's team too!

member_28714 · Post by **member_28714** » 16 Nov 2014 10:30

Cheen Open Super Series

Womens singles : Saina v Yamaguchi

Mens Singles : Srikanth v Lin Dan

Wont it be a beautiful day if we win both. Especially the womens singles. Gold India, Silver Japan and Bronze Cheen.

In fact Cheen is assured of only one gold in five disciplines - womens doubles where both teams are cheen. They are traiiling to Korea in the mixed doubles finals and they will face the koreans in the mens doubles as well.

All this in Cheen Open. moi moi. Eleven will be mighty displeased that Bhartis, Nippons and Hanguks are pissing on their marquee event. A pity the Viets, philipinos and malaysians could not join the party.

btw the final day is live on Star Sports 4 now.

They could still win 4 out of five golds but lets see.

member_28714 · Post by **member_28714** » 16 Nov 2014 12:07

saina wins, the cheens win the mixed doubles.

now the big one, kidambi srikanth vs the greatest ever lin dan. live on star sports4

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 16 Nov 2014 12:45

Kidambi wins first game 21-19 against the legendary Lin Dan.

member_28714 · Post by **member_28714** » 16 Nov 2014 13:08

unbeleivable, srikanth wins !!!!!!!!!

he beat lin dan, he beat lin dan. in china open finals. in front of their home crowd. 21-19, 21-17. What nerves of steel. Awesome. Just 21 years old.

india wins both singles finals. the greatest day for Indian badminton just happened.

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 16 Nov 2014 13:09

CBF head coach Li Yongbo is going to be sent for re-education now. Congrats to Saina and Kidambi!

member_28714 · Post by **member_28714** » 16 Nov 2014 13:11

awesome lad. no flag draping nonsense on the podium.

hockey looking up, badminton looking up.

Supratik · Post by **Supratik** » 16 Nov 2014 13:11

Lin Dan beaten by Kidambi. That to in front of home crowd. Wow. Mind blowing.

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 16 Nov 2014 13:45

George wrote:unbeleivable, srikanth wins !!!!!!!!!

he beat lin dan, he beat lin dan. in china open finals. in front of their home crowd. 21-19, 21-17. What nerves of steel. Awesome. Just 21 years old.

india wins both singles finals. the greatest day for Indian badminton just happened.

What a moment. In China!!! Saina and Srikanth. Unbelievable!!! I lived to see the day when We RULE. Well done Boys and Girls.

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 16 Nov 2014 14:06

China Open winners history
First time ever that China did not win at least one of the singles. On more than one occasion they've won all 5 events, and have won both the men's and women's singles in almost all the events in the last 20 years, since the Indonesians faded in men's singles.

Srikanth's ranking improves from around 16 to 9, apparently. He has a classic badminton build - tall, lean and lithe. He can go far. Gopichand was understandably ecstatic. China Open is one of the top rung Super Series Premier events, along with All England, Denmark, Indonesia and Malaysia. All others are second rung events.

ritesh · Post by **ritesh** » 16 Nov 2014 17:25

Great day. Salute to our stars... Saina and srikanth!!

member_28714 · Post by **member_28714** » 16 Nov 2014 21:14

modiji does not miss an opportunity to rub it in cheens face. check out PMO press release congratulating saina and srikanth.

negi · Post by **negi** » 16 Nov 2014 21:22

I did not watch the final but I used to follow badminton very closely until couple of years back; I have watched Lin Dan's matches that guy when in form is impossible to beat his defense is godlike , defeating him on his home soil is a big thing it is akin to rookie Marat Safin taking out Pete Sampras in US open in front of NYC crowd . We can now claim to be a badminton powerhouse.

hanumadu · Post by **hanumadu** » 17 Nov 2014 01:06

They all seem to come out of Gopichand academy in Hyderabad. What are the BAI, SAI and others doing?

KJo · Post by **KJo** » 17 Nov 2014 01:12

OMG! AoA!!

Look at this link of Cheen Open winners. All red flags until 2014 where you see the beautiful tiranga.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_Open_%28badminton%29

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 17 Nov 2014 01:25

Whole match, preceded by women's singles award ceremony, is on youtube:

On badminton forums, 50centers complain Lin Dan was out of touch and old, but frankly Srikanth played extremely well - great mix of deft net play , placement and power. Lin is still only 31, and easily the most feared player still. I like how Srikanth moves - fast but unhurried. Kashyap and Saina both have an energizer bunny vibe, but Srikanth is more graceful and has much better reach. He can go far.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 17 Nov 2014 06:40

Lin has always beaten LCW in the big events...from back of the court play he has been impossible to beat...on the occasions when LCW has beaten him, he pulls him close to the net for knife play in which LCW is a master.

btw Saina has left the Gopichand academy and now trains under vimal kumar in padukone academy in blr. she felt Gopi was unable to give her enough time with other star players like sindhu et al under his charge. it is good she has been able to change coaches and start surging in the rankings again.

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 17 Nov 2014 06:47

LCW has never won China Open. It's their home turf premier event, and they guard it jealously. Heads will roll for this debacle - an Indian and a Japanese contesting women's singles, while their men's legend getting pasted by a gangly 21 year old from India.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 17 Nov 2014 07:17

did any of their top3 women play? none seemed to be in the semis.

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 17 Nov 2014 07:32

Two of them did, and were upset. Likewise, Kidambi beat the guy who beat the top seed, and then proceeded to beat Lin Dan himself. Lin may not have been at his best, but he seldom ever loses finals. He hasn't lost a final in 2.5 years, and is the current World and Olympic champion. He became great by rising to the occasion so often, despite injuries and form issues.

member_28714 · Post by **member_28714** » 17 Nov 2014 16:15

Suraj wrote:CBF head coach Li Yongbo is going to be sent for re-education now. Congrats to Saina and Kidambi!

This is what he said six months back. Karma bich karma bich ... lol

Badminton: India will take time to catch up with China, says Li Yongbo

New Delhi: China's badminton coach Li Yongbo on Friday said although India have a couple of good shuttlers in Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu, but overall they still have a long way to go before they can match up to their Chinese counterparts.
"India have a couple good players in Saina and Sindhu. They are capable of beating anyone. But India will take some time before they can come at par with China. We are not too concerned about India," Yongbo said on Friday during a media interaction ahead of the upcoming Thomas and Uber Cup Finals, to be held at the Siri Fort Sports complex from May 18-25.
He, however, admitted that India, Japan and Thailand are emerging stronger in badminton.

"Countries like China, Korea, Denmark, Indonesia and Malaysia were the traditional powerhouses in badminton but now even India, Japan and Thailand are emerging in a big way," Yongbo said.
Talking about badminton's popularity growing in India, Yongbo said, "The fact that a Super Series is held in India and now Thomas and Uber Cup Finals is also taking place shows India has emerged as a new market for badminton."
The coach said despite being the defending champions in both Thomas as well as Uber Cup, they will not be taking any team lightly.
"No doubt, we are a strong side, but in this tournament, we are not taking anyone lightly. We will be playing all our matches very seriously," he insisted.
China have been clubbed with Chinese Taipei, Russia and France in Thomas Cup, while in Uber Cup, they will be up against Chinese Taipei, Russia and England.
Yongbo expressed confidence of his team winning the Uber Cup and doing well in Thomas Cup.
"Overall, competition has gone up in badminton. We are facing challenges from almost all the teams. But we are confident of winning Uber Cup and are well prepared for Thomas Cup," he said.
The coach also said that his team now has more options in doubles as well.
"For the first time I have three doubles pairs to pick up from. Earlier there used to be just one. So in that sense also we are doing pretty well."

Of course we have not caught up with China yet, but yesterday was sweet.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 17 Nov 2014 16:30

key to winning such tournaments is having very strong doubles teams too, the big powers have that and we dont.

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 17 Nov 2014 21:29

Li Yongbo is partly correct. We're still a long way behind in comprehensive depth. On the other hand, it's definitely time for him to start worrying. This debacle will be placed at his feet. Losing both the marquee events at the premier home event is the worst thing that could happen to him, especially not even having a finalist in the women's event, where they're typically stronger.

Talking of strong doubles teams, Li himself was one half of the world's best doubles teams in the late 1980s, along with Tian Bingyi. That's the thing with them - they consistently get their champion players to coach the next generation in different sports. It's the same in Table Tennis. The difference between Chinese and the rest in these sports is sustained coaching rigour, nothing more.

We do have a good, if inconsistent MD team - Manu Attri and Sumeeth Reddy beat former All England champions Liu Xiaolong & Qiu Zihan at AG2014, in straight games in a big upset . They lost to the current top ranked and eventual gold medalists from Malaysia. Clearly they suffer from lack of adequate coaching attention. If we expand Gopichand's Academy and also the Padukone academy, and help them function without monetary hurdles, we'll rapidly bridge more of the gap vs China.

wasu · Post by **wasu** » 17 Nov 2014 23:04

Suraj, padukone seems content to just stay put in bengaluru, but Gopichand is expanding. 3 More academies in AP and more in Vadodara, Rajasthan, MP in the works. If Gopichand is left unhindered, the Chinese will have their hands full in the coming years.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 18 Nov 2014 00:15

I am not even sure if padukone is actively involved in coaching...its former national champion vimal kumar who is working with saina.
the building itself looks quite big from outside , roomy enough for a half dozen courts....not sure how many players use it...most of time it looks a bit deserted.
the quality of construction is CPWD std...stolid and unimaginative.

VenkataS · Post by **VenkataS** » 18 Nov 2014 01:26

I am wondering if the Lee Chong Wei doping scandal has affected the way Chinese players "prepare" for these tournaments!

Irrespective of the above, great achievement by Srikanth Kidambi. I saw the match, he was playing better than Lin Dan throughout the match. Being down 17-19 in the first game and having the nerves of steel to win it 21-19 on Lin's home turf was amazing. Srikanth did make some unforced errors while going for sideline shots and he had some trouble with back-court back-hand net drops but overall I was impressed with his play.

Good on Saina for winning the women's singles event as well. Indian Badminton continues to grow every year.

Supratik · Post by **Supratik** » 18 Nov 2014 11:21

Padukone is more of a mentor. I think he is involved in OGQ.

hanumadu · Post by **hanumadu** » 18 Nov 2014 17:50

Didn't Gopichand come out of Padukone school?

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 18 Nov 2014 23:06

Padukone is fairly old now. He cannot be expected to coach actively, and is far better as a resource manager and funding authority. The Chinese refresh their coaches every generation. For example, the 90s generation was coached by top players from the 80s, and their current coaches were the top players from the 90s. Padukone peaked in the late 70s. He won't have the latest tactics to offer, compared to Gopichand. Gopichand was in fact the only other Indian to beat Lin Dan. Better to get folks like Vimal Kumar, Aparna Popat etc involved, while Padukone retains his current role. Saina can make a good coach in future - I suspect with her drive and stubbornness, she'll succeed through her wards in a way she couldn't in person - consistently outdo the Chinese.

Picklu · Post by **Picklu** » 18 Nov 2014 23:43

Lucho Garcia is undoubtedly the most skilful ball player import in this edition of ISL. He is more like Messi - not strong or fast in the Robben sense but a beauty to watch him dribbling or passing.

Supratik · Post by **Supratik** » 19 Nov 2014 11:56

I would rate Elano very high in the ISL specially in dead ball situations.

member_28714 · Post by **member_28714** » 19 Nov 2014 15:13

Suraj wrote:Li Yongbo is partly correct. We're still a long way behind in comprehensive depth. On the other hand, it's definitely time for him to start worrying. This debacle will be placed at his feet. Losing both the marquee events at the premier home event is the worst thing that could happen to him, especially not even having a finalist in the women's event, where they're typically stronger.

Talking of strong doubles teams, Li himself was one half of the world's best doubles teams in the late 1980s, along with Tian Bingyi. That's the thing with them - they consistently get their champion players to coach the next generation in different sports. It's the same in Table Tennis. The difference between Chinese and the rest in these sports is sustained coaching rigour, nothing more.

We do have a good, if inconsistent MD team - Manu Attri and Sumeeth Reddy beat former All England champions Liu Xiaolong & Qiu Zihan at AG2014, in straight games in a big upset . They lost to the current top ranked and eventual gold medalists from Malaysia. Clearly they suffer from lack of adequate coaching attention. If we expand Gopichand's Academy and also the Padukone academy, and help them function without monetary hurdles, we'll rapidly bridge more of the gap vs China.

meh, India has more men in the top 100 than China does atm. China has 8 to India's 9. Not sure what else you mean by depth. We lack numbers in terms of academies, thats all. Womens we still have some way to go but it will happen sooner rather than later. By next Olympics we will be a dominant force in Badminton. There wont be any more 5-0 sweeps by Cheen.

In doubles, the dominant force is SK, INA and MAL. china is about so so.

Obviously Youngbo had his head up his arse when he made that comment.

btw, Srikanth beat WN 7 CTC of Cheen Tipei in 3 games in Round 1 of the HK SS. Sindhu aslo needed 3 games to get past her low ranked opponent. Womens doubles JG and AP lost a nail biter 23-21 in the last game.