telephonic help from outside via secret ear piece, signs from audience etc etc.SwamyG wrote:How do they cheat in chess? No representation from China. Interesting.
With apologies to Elizabeth Barrett Browning !!How do I cheat thee? Let me count the ways.
I cheat thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
Pillai also hit out at his one-time India teammate Pargat for having taken up a senior role in HI, which he said, was the brainchild of former Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi - the man whom the former skipper had despised earlier. "The same Pargat Singh had called Kalmadi a mafia. He took up the job in HI which has been foisted by Kalmadi once the carrot of a position was dangled in front of him," said Pillai. Pillai said he would go all out in support of WSH as "it's a very good thing for all Indian players". "I am going to sign with them," he added.
There is a rush among sporting bodies to follow the Indian Premier League (IPL) way to build their sport. The latest to follow this route is American football even as broadcaster Ten Sports has signed up a multi-year deal for telecast coverage so that the sport makes a mark in India.
The Elite Football League of India (EFLI) is making an entry with its first edition ready to kick off in November 2012 in Pune.
The franchise-based league will initially have eight teams - Mumbai Gladiators, Hyderabad Skykings, Goa Swarm, Pune Blacktigers, Kolkata Vipers, Delhi Defenders, Punjab Warriors and Bhubaneswar Warhawks.
The EFLI is working with the government so that a governing body for the game can be instituted along the shape of India's cricket board, the BCCI.
EFLI founder Sunday Zeller said, "The launch of EFLI in India is a momentous occasion for us and indeed for the game. American Football is an inherent part of the American way of life. With a history of over 100 years, the game has acquired cult status in US, which can be mapped alongside its history. India is known to assimilate cultures and that, coupled with the immense pool of talent it has, makes it an ideal choice for a concept like EFLI. We are certain that these factors will combine to make India a force to reckon with in this great game of American Football, apart from creating the most lucrative sports league in the country."
Teams will be sold through the auction route like the IPL. There will be 59 games including two play-off games to decide the top teams. EFLI CEO Richard Whelan said, "India is beyond doubt a great market for the sports and entertainment sectors. A concept like EFLI presents a huge opportunity and the perfect platform for brands to get visibility and reach out to their potential customers. We felt that India didn't have enough games or sport to watch on television and, thus, see a huge potential here. We are training coaches from athletics, volleyball and wrestling and hope to be ready for the first season in time."
The league plans to add eight more teams during the second year and four in each subsequent season until 2022. By then, the league would have 52 teams representing all Indian cities with a population in excess of 1 million. ELFI will share 15 per cent of its revenue with the Sports Authority of India.
The EFLI will invite 600 companies to attend an orientation program to discuss strategy for long-term business affiliation. The league hopes to attract not just corporate backing but also support from the army, city municipalities and political parties. The Super Bowl is the most watched sport on American television.
One has to be born yesterday, to think there is nothing kaala in the daal.Curiously, Russia had put up a bid initially for the match and then revised it after sensing Chennai would better it in the last minute. This has come as a big surprise to the chess fraternity in general, especially as it came at 11.59 pm on July 31, one minute before the deadline. "This was a big setback to us," said Prabhakar. However, he refrained from commenting further on Fide's decision.
You can witness the first ever Indian Grand Prix on October 30 by shelling out a minimum of Rs 2,500 but be ready to spend Rs 35,000 if you want to have the best view of cars and drivers from the Main Grand Stand. The tickets for the race were made available online on Saturday through http://www.bookmyshow.com and within the first two hours close to 1,000 tickets were sold according to the organisers --Jaypee Sports International (JPSI).
"We have tied up with bookmyshow.com for the online sale. Tickets will be sold in two phases and the first phase begins today. Tickets will be also be available at some outlets in metropolitan cities from the second phase," Sameer Gaur, the CEO and managing director of JPSI said while launching the ticket sale in the company of India's F1 drivers -- Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok.
Fans can choose their preferred seat location while booking their tickets.
The Rs 2,500 tickets are for the natural stand, which can accommodate 6,500 fans. Then comes the Picnic stand for which 8,000 fans will have to spend Rs 6,000 each. For 36,838 seated Classic stand, the ticket price is Rs 6,500.
The two most expensive stands to watch the race are Premium Stand and the Main Grand Stand. While the price for premium stand is Rs 12,500 for each of the 10,230 seats, it's a whopping Rs 35,000 for the each of the 20,156 Grand Stand seats.
Hockey India today cracked the whip by slapping a two-year ban on star players Sandeep Singh and Sardara Singh for repeatedly indulging in indisciplinary activities.
The national federation imposed the sanction on Sandeep and Sardara after a marathon meeting here today which was attended by the HI top brass, including its secretary general Narinder Batra.
Taking a hard stance over their repeated objections to power-sharing governance in Indian hockey, the International Hockey Federation (FIH), on Monday, stripped India of hosting the 2011 Champions Trophy, which it claimed is in contravention of their Charter. “We regret that we have to move the Champions Trophy from India,” FIH president Leandro Negre said in a statement. “It is difficult for the teams, the organisers and the fans. But we feel that this is the only way to maintain the integrity of our sport,” the statement added.
. Tried looking for the live coverage on almost all the sports channel which I have. Surprisingly, none of them were telecasting it!Live!! Media couldn't even broadcast the news about Bad shoes for players!! Hockey is a very very poorer cousin of Cricket!!!by Asit
Tried looking for the live coverage on almost all the sports channel which I have. Surprisingly, none of them were telecasting it!
McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh has played down speculation the Indian Grand Prix could be boycotted because of wrangling over tax.
The 12 Formula 1 teams and drivers are concerned they will be hit with big tax bills at next month's race.
"The teams are concerned about the implications of withholding tax in India and being taxed locally," Whitmarsh told the BBC.
"But I don't believe [the race] is seriously under threat."
"I am sure this will be resolved," he added.
The sport's expansion into new territories can mean big business for both its participants and the host country but Whitmarsh says the team want guarantees that they will not fall foul of local tax legislation.
"You don't go somewhere if you're going to be penalised," added Whitmarsh, who is also the chairman of the F1 teams' association, Fota.
"This affects all the teams and the drivers that are going there and at the moment the teams are working together to resolve it.
"But we have been unable to thus far get assurances from the Indian tax authorities that this manner will be resolved in a satisfactory manner.
"There is a concern, we do need to get it resolved but I'm sure it will be resolved, so we shouldn't get too excited about it. It'll be fine."
Pakistan's Dutch coach displays the great Pakistani quality of lacking sportsman spirit.SBajwa wrote:India wins the first Asian Champions trophy defeating Pakistan 4-2 in penalty shoot outs.
http://www.rediff.com/sports/report/hoc ... 110911.htm
The new coach must be doing something good!!! GO!!!
Indian Express storyThe high-voltage summit clash was marred by Pakistan coach's unwarranted action of constantly abusing Indian players from the roof of the stadium. Whenever there was an infringement from the Indian side, he abused liberally. And whenever the umpires blew against India, he hollered ‘Thank You'.
Abusive coach
The high-voltage clash was marred by Pakistan head coach Michel van den Huevel’s constant stream of abuses at the Indian players from the roof of the stadium, even leading to his eviction between the game. There were tense moments on the field as well, with regular skirmishes between the players. SV Sunil was the first to be shown the green card for a rough tackle, shortly before Pakistan equalled India on that front.
Asked if the ill-tempered happenings had any effect on his performance, Sreejesh claimed that it only helped raise their game. “See, in any case an India-Pakistan match is high on emotions. Especially playing in the final, it was always expected to be intense. But after things heated up in the match, it only worked to push us further. It started as a match and ended as one but it did turn into something like a mini-war and I am glad I was able to help the team come out victorious. It feels great,” Sreejesh said.
The pakis have shown selective angst against India in many matters. Notwithstanding this fact, something truly irksome and bothersome would be DDM's show here. For one, the head coach of the paki team is Michel van den Heuvel. Not some Michel Henricus Maria. In fact, MHM is a politician in Netherlands: http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_van_HultenVasu wrote: Pakistan's Dutch coach displays the great Pakistani quality of lacking sportsman spirit.
The last paragraph of the letter from FIH to HI, which read: “The other point upon which I am being pressed by my Executive Board is in relation to the amount of approximately US$500,000, which is owed to FIH, pursuant to contract for the men’s World Cup held in Delhi in March, 2010. The release of this money is apparently being refused by the Reserve Bank of India. It would help if a written explanation is provided as to the reasons why this money is being withheld together with the steps that the FIH is required to take in order that payment can be made. The money is clearly the property of the FIH”.
Not just P&SB, also Namdhari XI and Punjab Police have been the worst criminals on the field. Everyone from Kanwalpreet Singh to Gagan Ajit Singh to Jagdev to Manpreet, we have had extreme violence from some of the Punjabi players. May be the easy pardons from KPS Gill must have been responsible. There have been huge grouses in non-Punjabi people such as the Sundergarh camp of which the Tirkeys, the Lakras, the Xalxos etc., Coorgis, Camp TN of which Md. Riaz was a major star, Camp Army (folks such as Dhananjay Mahadik who never got a chance till it was all too late), Camp BSF, Air India and Indian Airlines with Dhanraj copping the blame almost often, Mukesh who stood alone in his own world, about the bad influence and punching above their weight from Camp Punjab.In 1995, the final of the famous Aga Khan hockey tournament in Mumbai had to be abandoned after the rough tackling Jagdev Singh of Punjab Police broke the knee of Indian Airlines forward Shakeel Ahmad. Mumbai's sports loving crowd then spontaneously stormed onto the Bombay Gymkhana field, ready to thrash the Punjab Police players. Jagdev Singh, Pargat Singh and other stars ran for their lives into the dressing room. The final was abandoned, the sponsors turned away from the tournament and the prestigious Aga Khan tournament was held only one more time over the next decade! None of the Punjab Police players were penalised. Instead, the victim, Shakeel Ahmad, lost his place in the Indian team after the incident.
Pargat has been a great player, I loved Azlan win in the 90 and the Sydney 2000 run before the Poland hungama happened, but he has also been the worst person to enforce discipline on the field. So when he questions people such as Sardara and Sandeep, and throws them as if he has been spotless clean, it is all solpa complicated to accept as life and move on.Team coach Pargat Singh can’t answer that. ‘‘This is bad, I know, it’s not good for the game. But hockey is an aggressive game. Josh chahiye, par josh ke saath hosh bhi hona chahiye’’’, he says.
Let me also remind the case of Diwakar Ram, who has been here and there, from his WC junior days. Sadly, the attention span of an Indian is measured in nano-seconds. And no, that is not a happy thing despite the khudkushi spirit induced by another Nano.
A wonder of talent spotted long ago by ever-green Merzban Patel ‘Bawa’. Walmiki was supposed to play in the last Junior World Cup. However, a selector from his city favoured another forward from the same city, Victo Singh. He lost out a great chance. He waited. Was in the Bangalore camp, won the heart of new coach Nobbs. Scored on his debut match itself. Not many noticed. Went on to score some more goals, not many considered them vital till in the final penalty shoot out, the youngster did his job of scoring perfectly.
Due to terrorists fear, the 2007 CT was shifted from Pakistan. The FIH felt sad about it. It said that it won’t allow players of Pakistan to suffer on account of shifting; the country will be accommodated wherever the event would be shifted. It stood by it. 2007 CT was shifted to Malaysia. Ok. The six-nation event was enlarged to -- believe me, not a seven-nation one so as to accommodate the hosts Malaysia -- eight nation! England was brought in. It was a huge bonanza, advantage for England which was in the India’s group of OQ and thus got invaluable match exposure.
At the hospitality of an Asian nation, Malaysia, England was accommodated. India also made a bid for the 2007 CT, but lost out to Malaysia, simply because Malaysia was ready to dance to the tune of FIH for winning the bid. India stuck to seven-nation while Malaysia offered free cheque.
Why do I elaborate this? To bring home a valid point. Here lies the question: Where is the same logic which was used in 2007, now? CT is now shifted from India for whatever reason. Why do you allow a set of players (India) suffer for not fault of theirs. When 2007 event was shifted, the FIH elaborated the logic that Pakistan players should not be deprived of their right to play CT, their participation should be ensured. We appreciated the FIH’s logic. Why can’t the same logic be used now with respect to Indian players, who are facing OQ and are desperate to play CT? In 2007, the same FIH used a godsend opportunity – shifting CT from Pak – to accommodate England, besides Pak. Why do they not even talk about Indian players being deprived of their right now? Why not the HI, which sub-served the FIH interest, think on this line?