Bharat Rakshak

According to media reports, both star players were busy shooting for commercials. Some reports said that Harbhajan was present in the national capital finishing his brand engagements before leaving for the second edition of the Indian Premier League in South Africa.

Australia to appeal ITF decision over India venue

BRISBANE (AP): Tennis Australia says it will appeal an International Tennis Federation decision to leave its next Davis Cup match in the southern Indian city of Chennai, despite ongoing security concerns by the Australians. "We will be lodging an official appeal on Monday,'' Tennis Australia spokesman Darren Pearce told The Associated Press on Sunday. "It will be under the same grounds -- our concerns for the security of our team."

The third-round Australia-India match in Asia-Oceania Group 1 is scheduled to take place in Chennai on May 8-10. The winner will advance to the World Group playoffs in September. In a statement released on the Davis Cup Web site Friday, the ITF said Chennai was approved by the Davis Cup Committee following "a positive report from the ITF's security consultants.'' Australian tennis officials had sought a change of venue amid heightened concerns about security for sports events on the Indian subcontinent, following a terror attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team in Lahore, Pakistan last month.

Following the Lahore attacks, and with extra security needed for India's general elections, a decision was made to move the IPL Twenty20 cricket tournament to South Africa. On Sunday, Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper indicated that former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt's manager still had concerns over Chennai as the venue. "The rebuff triggered speculation Saturday that Australia would consider other avenues of appeal, including head-of-state security and possibly a boycott,'' the newspaper said. "It seems unlikely team spearhead Lleyton Hewitt, Australia's most decorated Davis Cup player, will travel to India for the match.''

Hewitt's manager, David Drysdale said: "We are awaiting to see Tennis Australia's response.'' In late March, Tennis Australia asked for the match to be moved. "We have received advice from a variety of sources referring to traveling to India,'' Tennis Australia chief executive Steve Wood said in a statement then. "It is on that basis of security concerns that we have asked for the tie to be moved out of India. The All India Tennis Association said in a statement at the same time that it was confident of the match being held in Chennai. "There's no need to shift it,'' the statement said. ``The International Tennis Federation wrote to us about Australia's security concerns and we've sent a reply.''

negi wrote:Bhajji and Dhoni did a good thing by not turning up ; padma awards are a joke with likes of Burkha,teesta and whole of bollywood getting them these days they are not just worth the effort .

There are a few nurseries that sustain hockey talent in the country and Orissa’s Panposh Academy is easily amongst the best. The lads have been the most impressive lot of the sides that have played the qualifying rounds of the Bombay Gold Cup and they are getting better by the day. Never mind the cruel weather conditions under which they have to showcase their skills. Panposh XI beat Chennai based Indian Overseas Bank 3-1 yesterday and will now play Air India and Karnataka XI in Group B when the league stage of the tournament gets underway on Tuesday. Drag-flicker Amit Rohitdas notched up a brace within the first ten minutes for the victors while Jems Jidan Munda added the third in the 27th minute. V Vinod Rayer had earlier equalised for IOB in the 9th minute.

Talented lot

“We have quite a few talented players in the current lot and two of them — Amardeep Ekka and Birendra Lakra — couldn’t make it for the Gold Cup. They are training with the junior World Cup probables in Bhopal,” said KC Choudhury, the coach of Panposh XI. Choudhury also showered praise on Rohitdas claiming the 17-year-old has blossomed during the four years he has been at the academy. “I was sceptical whether he would make it to the elite group of trainees when he first came four years ago. He was quite short and thin. But he is developing well, so lets see what happens from now on,” he said about the player who has already scored five goals in two matches.

Putting up another impressive display of skilful hockey at top pace, the young Panposh XI, from the hockey academy in Rourkela, knocked out Indian Overseas Bank 3-1 to enter the quarter-final league of the 47th Bombay Gold Cup Tournament here today. All the goals in the second-round tie were scored in an action-packed first half. IOB strove hard, earned eight penalty corners but failed to score off any in the second half. For Panposh XI, Amit Rohitdas fired in two goals, while speedy front-liner Jems Jidan Munda, scorer of three delightful field goals in the 8-3 rout of Lucknow United in the first round, scored the third.

The Chennai bank men put up a far more inspired display than the team from Lucknow had done against the same pacy rival but still ended up second-best, their lone goal coming from the stick of Vinod Rayer. Rayer's equaliser came in the ninth minute after Rohitdas had put Panposh 1-0 ahead in the third minute off the second penalty corner earned by his team. Rohitdas was on target with the next penalty corner award too to make it 2-1 for the Orissa outfit in the very next minute. The bankmen should have equalised again, but Gopinath's tiff shot off a penalty corner was brilliantly saved on the goal-line by Bipin Kerketta.

IOB had another chance within minutes but Aiyappan's reverse hit went over the cross-piece. With the bankmen striving hard for drawing level, Munda widened the lead off a sudden move, beating IOB goal-keeper Arun Gandhi with his fine shot. IOB had another fine chance to reduce the margin in the 33rd minute when they got a penalty stroke award in their favour, but Panposh goal-keeper Saurabh Singh, who came up with some good saves, blocked Mithulselvan's flick.

Panposh have been drawn in Group-B in the league phase along with star-studded Air India and Karnataka XI.

It’s an all-too-familiar sight in the tribal pockets of Orissa and Jharkhand. As one enters these picturesque hamlets, surrounded by hillocks all around and dotted with tiny little huts and rich flora and fauna, what strikes the eye is not just Nature’s bounty, but something else. Scantily-clad little boys, sweating profusely, all engrossed in a game devised and developed of their own, chasing a round-shaped ball made of cotton, with bamboo sticks which have been curved at the bottom. Among these boys are the future stars of Indian hockey. In fact, these tribal boys today form the backbone of the national team. And they have not been trained in any academy. Some fine-tuning of their skills will do. For, hockey comes naturally to them. As the local elders say, they start learning about hockey in their mother’s womb itself. And one of the more famous names from this ‘school’ is Bimal Lakra. Just like Dilip Tirkey and Lajrus Barla and more recently Ignace Tirkey and Prabodh Tirkey.

The tribals (adivasis) of Orissa and Jharkhand (formerly Bihar) have a special place in Indian hockey. Right from the days of Jaipal Singh Munda, who led India in the Olympics for the first time, to the present Indian team, these tribals have made a special impact on the Indian sporting scene. The tribal pockets of Pamposh and Gumla are the nurseries of Indian hockey which have produced players of repute by a dozen over the years. In these villages, kids play only hockey and it’s a childhood passion for everyone. Bending bamboo branches, into the shape of sticks, hockey is played in every village. Most of the villages inside the remote jungle areas rely on the land and the forest produce for their livelihood and it was from these villages that many a hockey star was born. Hockey competitions form a main part of the village festivals and some times winners slog it all, just for fun and all they get as a prize, is a dressed chicken.

“These are naturally gifted players. They come from very poor families but have that urge to do well. They are very committed and sincere. And all of them work hard and with dedication,” says Narinder Singh Saini, a Sports Authority of India coach from Haryana, who has been working in Ranchi for over a decade with the tribal girls.

And one such gifted player is Bimal Lakra, who has displayed consistent results over the past five years to seal a place for himself in the Indian midfield. Bimal Lakra is any coach’s delight. He is dedicated, sincere and honest. He may not be flashy and flamboyant but he is focused and foolhardy. He may not be articulate to put his thoughts into words like some of his city-bred teammates, but his is intelligent enough to read the game and his hockey sense is second to none in scheming the moves on the field. All coaches like him because of his ability to carry out instructions meticulously and to execute the coach’s plans on the field. He is talented, technically sound and hardworking, and given his penchant for learning, he is bound to stay in the Indian team for a long time if he is nurtured properly.

Born in Simdega on May 4, 1980, Bimal Lakra is one of the six children of Marcus Lakra, a hockey player himself. Though, Lakra Senior played only at the district level, he saw to it that his children get at least the basic necessities to continue their hockey. He even mortgaged his seven acres of ancestral property to bring up his family. But the good thing he did was to encourage his children to play hockey and today he has no regrets. Today, four of them have excelled in hockey and three of them played for India, two at the senior level.

Bimal has been part of the Indian team since his debut against South Korea during the 4-Nation Panasonic Masters competition in Germany in 1998. He played his first senior Nationals in 1997 after playing for the Mohun Bagan Club in the Calcutta league for over a year and never looked back since.

For the next three years, Bimal Lakra was in and out of the Indian team but being a hardworker, he has made sincere efforts to improve his game. In 1999, he played for India in the Test series against Germany, Belgium and Malaysia and in between played in the Asia Cup but missed the 4-Nation tourney in Australia. In 2000, he started with the 4-Nation meet in Spain and was part of the Indian team that played Tests against Canada and Belgium. He also led the India ‘A’ team in the Akbar el Yom tourney and in between played the 8-Nation Poznan Challenge Cup.

In 2001, he was part of the senior India team during the Castrol 4-Nation tourney, World Cup qualifiers and the Azlan Shah Cup but his high point came with the Indian victory at the Junior World Cup in Hobart, Australia. Though he was already a part of the senior Indian team he was still eligible for the junior World Cup and he played a crucial role in the midfield to fashion India’s maiden victory for the juniors at the world stage.

L N Mittal's ArcelorMittal to revive Jharkhand women’s hockey team
For LNM, it’s Chak De! Jharkhand

JAMSHEDPUR: The huge success of SRK-starrer Chak De! India has perhaps induced the world’s biggest steel maker ArcelorMittal to get serious about hockey, which used to be the religion before cricket mania arrived. At the outset, L N Mittal-controlled ArcelorMittal has set its sights on reviving the fortunes of the Jharkhand women’s hockey team. Interestingly, the move coincides with the company’s Rs 40,000 crore steel-related investment plans in Jharkhand, which are yet to take off.

ArcelorMittal’s immediate mission is to bail out the Jharkhand women’s hockey team and expand its alliance with the state leadership. After all, gone are the days when Jharkhand women made it to the national hockey side in droves. The present team has merely two representatives from the state. “Jharkhand and women’s hockey go hand in hand and what better way than to help the cause of the game. We have successfully conducted the block level tournament and we have many more plans. But let us get the proposals and examine them. We will then decide how to proceed,” ArcelorMittal’s CSR manager (Jharkhand) Sumana Chakravarty Dutta told ET.

Recently, ArcelorMittal organised the first-ever block level women’s hockey tournament in the state’s Khunti and Gumla districts, sponsoring the entire event and distributing sport kits to the players. Around 12 teams from were selected, who fought it out among themselves for the top slots. Talented players picked at the grassroots level were selected by the state women’s hockey association for nurturing them further. “Poor representation of state women in the national women’s hockey squad is no secret, which is why, we wish to nurture more state talent. We are thinking of giving the proposal for setting up a hockey academy which would have its own coach and state of the art infrastructure and help state eves hone their skills. There are even proposals of Mittal’s sponsoring the state team when they play national level tournaments,” said Jharkhand State Women’s Hockey Association (JSWHA) treasurer Suresh Kumar.

A.S. De Mello – from whose autobiographical essay we have borrowed the subtitle of this chapter – writes that before leaving for Amsterdam, India’s hockey players were ‘confident that they would not disgrace themselves’. [11] At the same time they had not approached the games with any fantastic hopes. Jaipal Singh, who had a first-class degree from his native Ranchi and was then a student at Balliol College, Oxford, was appointed captain of the team. A Munda tribal from Chotanagpur, the forested plateau of Bihar, Jaipal is a fascinating character in Indian history, whose influence in later years extended far beyond the hockey field. As Ramachandra Guha writes, he later became the marang gomke or ‘great leader’ of the tribals of Chotanagpur and in the Constituent Assembly ‘he came to represent tribals not just of his native plateau, but all of India’. It was his interventions in the Constituent Assembly that ultimately led to the reservation of seats for tribals in government jobs and in legislative bodies after independence. [12] Sent to Oxford by missionaries, Jaipal successfully led a team comprising Indians studying at British universities to Belgium and Spain and had earned a great reputation as a hockey player in the UK, as is evident from his numerous profiles published in the World Hockey magazine.

When the team for Amsterdam was announced it included Jaipal, S.M. Yusef and the Nawab of Pataudi Senior, who were already in Britain. Thirteen players sailed from Bombay, nine of them Anglo Indians, to lead India’s challenge at the 1928 Olympics. [13] However, before they sailed for London, there was a last-minute alarm when it was revealed that because of insufficient funds only 11 of the 13 selected players could undertake the tour. The shortfall, contemporary reports revealed, was Rs15,000. That the crisis was serious was evident when the federation announced that in case sufficient funds weren’t garnered Shaukat Ali of Bengal and R.A. Norris of the Central Provinces would not accompany the team. In the end it was largely owing to the munificence of the sports-loving public of Bengal, who organized public collections to make up the funding shortfall, that the two players were able to make the trip. [14]

While he became better known in later life as a prominent parliamentarian and Adivasi leader, Jaipal thus describes his hockey career in the UK in his memoirs:

The effect of the tours of Indian students I conducted every year with the help of Aga Khan, ‘Kanji’ Baroda, Patiala, Bhopal and other Indian royalty was the formation of the Indian Hockey Federation. ... India decided to send a team to the Amsterdam Olympiad in 1928. I was still at Oxford a probationer for the Indian Civil Service. ... As after 1926 I could not play for the University team, I played for the Wimbledon Hockey Club. . . . As at Oxford I continued to receive publicity in the London press. [15]

In a clear reflection of how haphazardly that first Olympic team was put together, and
also of the times, he goes on to narrate the strange manner in which he was appointed
captain of the Indian team:

One early evening two Britishers, Colonel Bruce Turnbull and Major Ricketts, both of the Indian army, called at the Church Imperial Club. Turnbull was Secretary of the Army Sports Board in India and Ricketts was his lieutenant. I stood them drinks. They told me the Indian hockey team was coming the following week on its way to Amsterdam. ‘We want you to captain the team,’ I agreed but told them I would have to get leave from the India Office for absence during term time. I did not get leave! I decided to defy the ruling and face the consequences. [16]

Jaipal met his team when its boat docked at Tilbury on 30 March 1928. Having lived in England for a few years by now, he was unimpressed by what he saw as their rustic ‘untidy dress and crude demeanour’. The team was put up in a pension at South Kensington and Jaipal invited them a couple of times to the well-known Veeraswamy’s Restaurant on Regent Street: ‘It was expensive to feed them. The Indian dishes were Hyderabadi but not cheap.’ Soon after arrival the players started addressing Jaipal as ‘skipper’, though he was yet to accept the offer formally. In the first few practice sessions Shaukat Ali and Dhyan Chand caught Jaipal’s attention. Shaukat played for the Calcutta Customs and could adopt in any position. Dhyan Chand, a Lance Naik in the Indian army, had made his name in New Zealand
scoring the bulk of the goals for the Indian Army team in 1926. Dhyan Chand, Jaipal states,

was humble. He had only one pair of trousers. I took him to Austin Reed on Regent Street. We went downstairs. Trousers galore were shown. ‘Can I take them upstairs and see them in the sun?’ That finished me. I told Shaukat the story. ‘What else do you expect of a Lance Naik?’ he laughed. [17]

The Indians played a series of matches in London against leading club sides and haphazardly put together national teams such as the Anglo Irish. Dhyan Chand scored in almost every game. India’s last engagement in England was at the Folkstone Easter Festival, where it beat the English national team 4–0 and a team calling itself the Rossalians 18–0. Following these victories the British and French press in unison suggested that the Indians were favourites for the hockey gold in Amsterdam. [18] And they weren’t wrong.

‘The World’s Best Centre-Forward’: Amsterdam 1928

At Amsterdam the onus was on the hockey team to lead the Indian challenge. The athletes, Chawan in the 10,000 metres, Hamid in the 400 metres hurdles and Murphy in the 800 metres, had failed to qualify for the second round. In hockey India played its first match against Austria, winning 6–0, an encounter reported in detail at home. Already Dhyan Chand was being described as the ‘world’s greatest centre forward’. As The Statesman put it:

The Indian Hockey team has successfully surmounted the first obstacle towards the prize for which they journeyed to Europe. India defeated Austria 6–0 with the world’s greatest centre forward Dhyan Chand giving another masterly exhibition. He scored all 3 goals in the first half. After the interval Dhyan Chand scored the fourth goal. The fifth was obtained by Shaukat Ali while Gately secured the last goal. [19]

Dhyan Chand eventually scored 14 of India’s 29 goals in Amsterdam.

The very next day The Statesman published another detailed report on India’s 9–0
win over Belgium. The space allotted to the report was nearly double compared to the
first, an indication of the growing popularity of the team back home

All India followed up their brilliant victory over Austria by defeating Belgium 9–0. The point about today’s victory was it proved India can pile up goals even if Dhyan Chand does not think it necessary to improve his goal average. In his skilful manner he worked out scoring possibilities yet tapped the ball either to Feroze Khan or Marthins. Seaman, whose clever stick work on left wing has been the feature of the tour, bewildered Belgium’s goalkeeper twice. Allen in India’s goal did not have much to do. Jaipal Singh was brilliant and Penniger did all that was required of him with polish. [20]

Subsequently the Indians beat Denmark and Switzerland to set up a title clash with hosts Holland on 26 May 1928.

When the Indians trounced Holland 3–0 in the final, the press back home went ballistic. The Statesmen had an entire report titled ‘How India Won Honours’ and went on to suggest that 40,000 people went into ruptures over the brilliant exhibition of hockey displayed by the Indians in the final. It reported that despite having to reconstruct the side in the absence of Feroze Khan, who had broken his collarbone in the clash against Denmark, and Shaukat Ali, who was down with flu, India won comprehensively. [21] Interestingly, the report does not mention the absence of captain Jaipal Singh, who had for personal reasons walked out of the team before the semi-final. This is one of the most enduring mysteries of the tour and perhaps the first known political controversy within the national hockey team. Jaipal too is remarkably silent about this discord in his memoirs, one that had raised doubts over who had actually captained the final victory–Singh or Penniger. Singh left the Olympic team on the eve of the semi-final and did not take part in the final either.

He refused to discuss the issue ever again in public and until new evidence emerges, the mystery of Jaipal and why he walked out of that first Indian Olympic victory will remain unresolved. [22]

Coming back to the victory, The Statesman report quoted above also hit on another intriguing aspect of those years of Indian dominance at the Olympics: ‘It is no empty title, for the critics are of the opinion that even if England had been competing in the Games, honours would have gone to India, though possibly not with the record of not conceding a goal remaining intact.’ [23] The colony had won in Europe but the colonizer was absent. In fact, there was a rumour in Olympic circles that England had initially entered a team for the Olympic hockey competition at Amsterdam. According to this rumour, after the 4–0 drubbing they received at the Folkestone festival at the hands of the Indians, the English were scared of losing on an international stage to their ‘colony’ and withdrew from the event. That there is some truth to this rumour is evident from Dhyan Chand’s recollections:

I reiterate that this is mere hearsay (that England dropped out of the Amsterdam Games fearing the Indians), although we fondly hoped that at least in future Olympics we would have the honour of meeting Great Britain and showing them how good or bad we were. It is my regret that this hope was never realised so long as I participated in Olympic events. [24]

The British hockey team never participated in the Olympics until 1948, by which time India was an independent nation. [25] When India beat Great Britain 4–0 in the 1948 games, it unleashed great celebrations in the newly independent nation and the win contributed to national self-confidence and self-belief. [26]

It was in Amsterdam that the legend of Indian hockey was created. Even the Dutch papers praised the team with generosity: ‘So agile are the Indians that they could run the full length of the hockey field, juggling a wooden ball on the flat end of the hockey stick.’ [27] Britain may not have participated, but soon after the win the viceroy, Lord Irwin, sent a telegram to the team manager B Rosser: ‘Please convey to Jaipal Singh and all members of his team my heartiest congratulations on their magnificent victory. All India has followed the triumphal progress throughout the tour and rejoice in the crowning achievement.’ [28] This telegram, which mentions Jaipal as captain, finally laid the captaincy debate to rest.

India scored 29 goals in Amsterdam without conceding even one, and averaged more than five goals per match. Interestingly, the Olympic hockey competition was played in May, while the actual Olympiad, including the opening ceremony and other events, took place two months later in July. As a result, the victorious Indian team did not have the good fortune of enjoying the Olympic atmosphere, the rituals of the opening ceremony and the subsequent ambience of the Olympic village.

In London, the victory became a source of great nationalist celebration for the Indian community. Indian women organized a tea party in their honour and presented them with turbans. Interestingly, as Jaipal pointed out, ‘The Anglo Indians never wore them!’ [29] They were also entertained to lunch at Veeraswamy’s by Dr Paranjpe, a member of the Indian Council. And when the team reached Bombay it was welcomed by a huge throng of adoring fans. Mole Station overflowed with a wildly cheering crowd trying to get a glimpse of the new heroes. In audience was Dr G.V. Deshmukh, the Mayor of Mumbai, who was there to accord the team a civic reception, and a representative of the Governor of Mumbai, who sent a congratulatory message. [30]

Jaipal, who had broken his term at Oxford without leave to play in the Olympics, paid a personal price for the victory. He returned to Oxford after the festivities were over, only to be confronted with angry dons. As he put it: ‘I was told that as I had broken term I would have to stay for one more year. Captaining India to world championship was no prize for the British. I resigned from the ICS and refused to pay back 350 pounds. I was not put in gaol.’ [31]

Jaipal’s resignation from the ICS after that first hockey win left an enduring legacy far beyond the hockey field. He gradually moved into politics and became the leader of the Adibasi Mahasabha in 1938. The man who had looked down in derision at Dhyan Chand for his rustic manners now became the champion of India’s tribals. He held the view that the tribals were ‘the original inhabitants’ of the subcontinent–hence the term adibasi or adivasi.

As Ramachandra Guha has pointed out, Jaipal went on become the greatest defender of tribal rights in the Constitutional Assembly and his interventions were erudite as well as spirited, as for instance when he opposed the prohibition of alcohol which had been inserted as a Directive Principle. Alcohol, for him, was part of the daily and ritual life of the tribals of India and denounced the ideas as an interference:

With the religious rights of the most ancient people in the country ... it would be impossible for paddy to be transplanted if the Santhal does not get rice beer. These ill clad men ... have to work knee-deep in water throughout the day, drenching rain and in mud. What is it in the rice beer that keeps them alive? I wish the medical authorities in this country would carry out research in their laboratories to find out what it is that the rice beer contains, of which the Adibasis need so much and which keeps them [protected] against all manner of diseases. [32]

Jaipal’s hockey adventure led to his premature departure from the ICS, but the ICS’s loss was independent India’s gain. It was Jaipal who first initiated the demand for a separate tribal state of Jharkhand, which was ultimately carved out of Bihar in 2001.

"Davis Cup - the pinnacle of any athlete's career"

Having scored his 36th Davis Cup doubles win in India’s recent victory against Chinese Taipei, Leander Paes has moved to second place for all-time doubles wins in the competition behind Italy’s Nicola Pietrangeli. “I never even knew that, to be honest. I think it’s a great reflection of how many years one has put into Davis Cup and of one’s perseverance,” said Paes.

Needing just six more victories to equal Pietrangeli’s record of 42 doubles wins, Paes was enthusiastic about chasing that record: “It’s not that far away. I’m certainly going to be playing for another three or four years. To be No. 1 in all-time doubles wins in Davis Cup would be a fantastic achievement and something I’ll work for. It is certainly something that motivates me and helps me get out there every morning.”

“The Davis Cup is the pinnacle of any athlete’s career, in my opinion. For me growing up in a family where both parents represented India, it’s probably the single most motivation that I’ve got. Just playing for the country is the utmost. It’s something that no matter how many years you play, you never get stale of.”

Paes and Bhupathi unbeaten since 1996: In addition to his own success, Paes has a 23-2 win-loss record in partnership with Mahesh Bhupathi, placing the duo equal third for wins by a doubles pair in Davis Cup. The pair has not lost in the competition since 1996, an unbeaten streak of 22 matches, a record in Davis Cup doubles and a number matched in singles only by Boris Becker, who also won 22 in a row, and Bjorn Borg, who won 33 consecutive rubbers. “We haven’t lost a Davis Cup doubles rubber in years and that’s something that’s been motivating me a lot. I remember in our last tie when we lost the third set, I was motivated to come back and play excellently in the fourth set to protect that record.”

Paes first played Davis Cup as a 16-year-old in 1990, and has played 45 ties, compiling a 84-31 overall win-loss record in singles and doubles. “I got into tennis over football because I wanted to play for the country. Davis Cup, Olympics, those kind of things really matter for me. Davis Cup has helped me a lot and I love the team atmosphere.”

Defeating Ivanisevic – a Davis Cup highlight: In his 19-year Davis Cup career, he singles out India’s 3-2 1993 quarterfinal triumph over France on red clay as his greatest memory from a team perspective. Having defeated Henri Leconte on the opening day, Paes defeated Arnaud Boetsch to set up a live fifth rubber. Ramesh Krishnan wrapped up the tie against Rodolphe Gilbert in a match which resumed on Monday at 4-4 in the fifth set after bad light had stopped play on Sunday. The captain that day was Naresh Kumar, who Paes describes as one of the big reasons why he has set his Davis Cup records and, “one of the reasons why I still love my tennis and play with a lot of passion.”

Individually, Paes says that his most memorable tie was India’s victory over Croatia on grass in Delhi in 1995, when he won all three of his rubbers, including a victory over Goran Ivanisevic. In that match he recovered to win after trailing by two sets and being one point away from a double break down in the third set, to lead India into the World Group.

Next up – Australia: Paes’s next Davis Cup engagement is in May when Australia is scheduled to visit India, with the winner advancing to September’s World Group play-offs. “A very interesting tie. Last time Australia won comfortably in Adelaide so it helps that we play in our backyard. (Somdev) DevVarman will be carrying the mantle in singles and the doubles we will have to be ready and up for. Ball and Guccione are a tough team. We will work hard to win and prepare well.”

"It is a good sign for Indian hockey”

Former Indian hockey star Mukesh Kumar talks exclusively to espnstar.com on India’s Azlan Shah triumph. --- By Sudeer Mahavaadi

Q: How can the Azlan Shah Cup win boost for the revival of hockey in India?
Ans: Well I personally feel delighted. India played good hockey, no doubt, but I also felt that some of the teams did not field their full strength squads. India did not begin well. When a side like Egypt could hold India to a 2-2 draw you can imagine how hard other teams are working at the international level. We may have beaten Pakistan 2-1 in the semis and Malaysia, the hosts in the final but it was a struggle for us. But I was happy with the way Sandeep Singh led from the front. That is why he was declared the Player of the Tournament. He is one of my present favourites. You need a captain like him.

He was well supported by Halappa, the goal-keeper, Baljit Singh, Prabojit Gurbit and Dileep Tirkey. It is a good sign for Indian hockey. This is just the kind of medicine we needed. But they should not get carried away by this win and be overconfident. The Asian Games are coming up and then the all important Commonwealth Games next year and the World Championship would follow. So, we still have a lot to achieve.

Q: What were the strengths and weakness you observed in the Indian team?
Ans: Well I was happy with the overall performance. There continues to be areas where we can still get better. Those days were different when Dhanraj Pillai and I could combine well. Combination is important in hockey. I think our forward line seemed better. I was happy with Halappa's show to some extent. Of course Sandeep's all-round play was quite appreciable. But again when experienced players like Prabhjot and Halappa do not maintain their consistency, there is cause for concern. You cannot depend on Sandeep everytime.

I also heard that Dileep Tirkey, who has played more than 400 internationals, is planning to call it quits. This might disturb our rhythm. Ignace Tirkey is maturing fast. The goal impressed me more than anyone. He was fantastic at crucial junctures. I hope we can win more, provided the youngsters are nurtured properly.

Q: But there aren't too many kids taking to hockey in India?
Ans: It is really pathetic. We should blame the state governments for the lack of interest in youngsters. There are no grounds provided for hockey and there is a serious dearth of special coaches. The Central and state governments should think seriously about this. Otherwise things can never improve and we should not dream of Indian hockey regaining its past glory.

Q: Were you upset that Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh did not come to receive the Padmashri awards even through they were in New Delhi?
Ans: I think Dhoni and Harbhajan should have attended. I really wondered how they could avoid such an important function. We also heard that they were here in India but were busy with commercial commitments. Everyone knows that the President of India, who is the first citizen of the country, gives out these awards.

It really surprised me. A responsible person like Dhoni, whom I respect as a cricketer and a captain should not have missed the ceremony. There were reports that there might have been some communication gap but as far as I know (Mukesh is a recipient of the Padmashri) recipients are informed at least fifteen days in advance. I am not saying Dhoni and Harbhajan do not know what the value of the award is but what happened was appalling. After all, we know that Dhoni likes to lead by example.

India, how it has fared in 2009 so far
A statistical summary of how and what of Indian senior men’s hockey so far in 2009 (Jan-April 20, 2009)

1) 24 players represented India
2) Only 10 players played in the all the four assignments
3) Only 9 players played all the 20 matches that India played this year.
4) India’s performance stat: played 20, won 10, lost 4 drawn 6
5) Despite playing all the four events, Adrian D’Souza played only 8 matches.
6) Sarwanjit Singh was part of three events only to play in just a handful of matches!
7) Ravi Pal Singh played only one assignment after which he was dropped.
8 ) For the first time in his career, Ajitesh Roy played all the matches in a tournament – 5 in 2009 Azlan Shah Cup.
9) India scored 41 goals in 2009 while conceding 32, about half of them in the Punjab Gold Cup.
10) 12 players got their name in the scorers’ list, with Sandeep Singh topping it with 12 goals.
11) Shivender Singh comes second with 7 goals, followed by Prabhjot Singh (5), Tushar Khandker (4) and Rajpal Singh (3).

Davis Cup: Tennis Australia files appeal

New Delhi (PTI): Tennis Australia on Tuesday filed an appeal against International Tennis Federation's decision to approve Chennai as the venue for next month's India-Australia Davis Cup tie. ITF will hear into the appeal this week and decide on Tennis Australia's request to shift the tie out of India on security grounds. ITF had cleared Chennai as the host city despite TA's concerns about coming to India.

"The All India Tennis Association has been advised today by the ITF that Tennis Australia has officially appealed against the decision of the Davis Cup Committee to the ITF Board regarding confirmation of the Davis Cup venue as Chennai. ITF has confirmed that the appeal will be heard as soon as possible, definitely within this week," an All India Tennis Association said in a press release. AITA is confident that the tie will be held in Chennai from May 8 to 10 and is making arrangements for the Asia/Oceania Group I tie in Chennai.

Mr Khanna is quoted as saying “Lleyton is said to have withdrawn since he is involved presently in clay court season.” Lleyton Hewitt’s manager David Drysdale said “If this quote is accurate then it is concerning. Neither Lleyton or myself have said any such thing, nor have either of us had any contact with Mr Khanna.

“I would point out to the Indian spokesperson that perhaps he should refer to Lleyton’s record of commitment to Davis Cup and he would see that Lleyton has always placed playing for his country ahead of his own individual tournament play. Lleyton has been committed to playing this Tie since it was announced and certainly has not placed any claycourt plans ahead of his participation. Perhaps it is all just wishful thinking from Mr Khanna that Lleyton would withdraw from the team, and I would suggest he be assured of his facts before speaking with the press.”

Commitment, n.: [The difference between involvement and] Commitment can be illustrated by a breakfast of ham and eggs. The chicken was involved, the pig was committed.

"Because Australia is involved in the zonal playoffs, which are not played at the same time as the (Davis Cup) World Group (ties), we play right in the middle of the clay season," Drysdale said. "It's a pain in the arse ... if I had my way, he wouldn't play. But there's no way he won't play."

The Rome Masters concludes on May 4 and the Madrid Masters begins on May 10. "If it's home in Australia, it's impossible to play somewhere like Madrid because it finishes the day Madrid starts," Drysdale said. "And if he plays Rome, he may get to the tie late."

The schedule for the Asia Cup hockey tournament to be held in Malaysia early next month is as follows:

Group A: South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka;
Group B: Pakistan, India, China, Bangladesh.

Fixtures:
May 9: Japan v Sri Lanka, India v Bangladesh, South Korea v Malaysia, Pakistan v China;
May 10: China v Bangladesh, India v Pakistan;
May 11: Malaysia v Sri Lanka, Japan v South Korea;
May 12: Pakistan v Bangladesh, China v India, South Korea v Sri Lanka, Malaysia v Japan;
May 13: Rest Day
May 14: Semi-finals;
May 15: Classification;
May 16: 3/4th placing and final.

Australia Davis Cup tie to stay in India

Australia's appeal to shift next month's Asian zonal Davis Cup tie against hosts India out of Chennai over security fears was rejected by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) on Friday. "The ITF board of directors has upheld the decision of the Davis Cup committee regarding the Asia/Oceania zone Group I third round tie between India and Australia," the ruling body said in a statement. The May 8-10 tie will stay in Chennai, it said, adding: "The location and venue was previously approved by the Davis Cup committee following a positive report from the ITF's security consultants."

Australia face a year's ban and a substantial fine ($US100,000) if they eventually decide not to travel to Chennai, according to Davis Cup rules. "If, after the draw has been made, any nation withdraws from the competition, that nation shall not be eligible to take part in the competition in the following year, unless otherwise decided by the Davis Cup committee and/or the board of directors," rules in the website http://www.daviscup.com said. Security in the sub-continent has been called into question following the ambush of the Sri Lanka cricket team's bus in Lahore, Pakistan, last month.

TRIGGERED CONCERN

The incident triggered concern that sport could become a target for more attacks in south Asia. India also remains nervous after Islamist militants killed more than 150 people in a three-day attack in Mumbai in November. The Indian cricket board moved the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 league to South Africa after the government said providing security would be a problem due to clash of dates with the general election. However, India regards Chennai, which held an ATP event at the Cup venue in January, as a safe location.

Earlier this week, former Australian doubles specialist criticised the ITF for endorsing Chennai as a venue. "How can we expect our team to go and play in India when everybody else in that region is pulling out?" Woodbridge told an Australian radio station. "I think it's irresponsible for the International Tennis Federation to expect us as players to go there and put ourselves on the line in a very, very difficult predicament with the way their social system's running."

Three weeks ago the ITF banned the city of Malmo from hosting future Davis Cup ties for five years and fined Swedish tennis officials $25,000 after the host nation decided to stage the World Group tie against Israel behind closed doors.

A win over India would propel Australia to the world group play-offs in September, paving the way for re-entry into the top tier in 2010. A loss against India, with an understrength team, would mean 2012 would be the earliest Australia could re-enter the world group. A 12-month ban would push that back to 2013. The ITF is unlikely to grant Australia's wish, considering its own security consultants approved the Chennai stadium before TA issued its appeal.

The other factor in the mix is the influence of the Asian Tennis Federation executive vice-president and secretary general, Anil Khanna. He is already on record as wanting a Grand Slam to be played in Asia and wields a lot of power among ITF board members. He told The Hindu Times last Saturday, when the ITF first announced Chennai would host the tie, that the ITF had made the right decision. "We are very pleased with the decision. I was expecting it, since the security measures were all in place," Khanna said. "We will be having more than 200 plain-clothes policemen, and have increased security at the venue and everywhere else required."

Australia's No.1 player Lleyton Hewitt and teammate Chris Guccione will not be going in any case. Hewitt's manager David Drysdale said this week the two-time Grand Slam champion and father of two did not want to go to Chennai.

Bombay gold cup continues....

Karnataka XI pipped Panposh XI, Orissa 2-1 in a Group B tie to enhance their hopes of a semi-final berth, in the 47th Bombay Gold Cup Hockey Tournament at the MHA-Mahindra Stadium on Friday. Playing their opening match in the competition, Karnataka XI were kept in check by the talented Panposh until a double strike late in the first half put the latter in the deficit and made their task ahead difficult. K.M. Somanna’s 24th minute opener and M.K. Muddappa’s strike two minutes later for Karnataka XI knocked out the sting of Panposh’s challenge and put them under pressure.

By then Karnataka XI, who next take on Air India in a crucial tie, had warmed up and discovered their rhythm as they combined well to make regular moves into the Panposh citadel. Panposh, who lost their opening tie against Air India and are out of contention, tried hard in search of goals in the second half but they failed to breach the defence of experienced opponents. Panposh’s efforts were rewarded late in the day as they scored a consolation goal through drag flicker Amit Rohitdas’s penalty corner conversion in the 61st minute. They received another opportunity to draw level, but the Orissa lads frittered away a last minute penalty corner as Karnataka XI heaved a sigh of relief.

SYDNEY: Tennis
Australia says it will not allow its team to travel to India for a scheduled Davis Cup match in May due to security concerns,risking a one-year suspension from the competition and a $100,000 fine. (adding salt to injury )

The International Tennis Federation on Friday rejected Australia's
appeal against playing in India and upheld the decision to hold the match in Chennai as originally planned from May 8-10. The winner of the Asia-Oceania Group 1 third-round match will advance to the World Group playoffs.

Sandeep retained captain of Asia Cup hockey squad

New Delhi (PTI): Drag-flicker Sandeep Singh will lead an 18-member Indian squad to defend their title in the eighth Asia Cup hockey tournament in Kuantan, Malaysia from May 9 to 16. After a selection trial in Bhopal, the Indian Olympic Association appointed ad-hoc selection committee made four changes in the squad that won the Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia this month. V Raghunath, Vikram Pillay, Rajpal Singh and Hari Prasad have been named in place of Ignace Tirkey, Sarwanjit Singh, Bharat Chhikara and Shivendra Singh, who have kept on standby. Eight-time Olympic champions, India previously won the Asia Cup at Kuala Lumpur in 2003 and Chennai in 2007. Meanwhile, former India captain Dhanraj Pillay has been retained as the manager of the team.

Squad: Baljit Singh, Adrian D'Souza (Goalkeepers); Sandeep Singh (Captain), Dilip Tirkey, V Raghunath (Full Backs); Gurbaj Singh, Sardar Singh, Ajitesh Roy, Vikram Pillay, Prabodh Tirkey, VS Vinaya (Midfielders); Tushar Khandker, Rajpal Singh, Prabhjot Singh, SV Sunil, Arjun Halappa, Hari Prasad, Gurvinder Singh Chandi (Forwards).

Standbyes: PR Sreejesh, Sarwanjit Singh, Bharat Chhikara, Shivendra Singh.

Officials: Harendra Singh (Coach in-charge); Ramandeep Singh, Romeo James (Coach); Dhanraj Pillay (Manager).

India advance to play-offs as ITF declare them winner

New Delhi (PTI): The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has declared India winner of the Asia/Oceania Group I Davis Cup tie against Australia, who 'forfeited' the tie on security grounds on Saturday. India has now progressed to World Group Play-offs, scheduled for September 18-20, the draw for which will be held on May 12 at the ITF Offices in Roehampton. The World Governing body of the game "regretted" Tennis Australia's decision and said it will decide in "due course" if any sanctions need to be imposed on them.

"The ITF regrets and respectfully disagrees with the decision of Tennis Australia to default its upcoming Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Asia/Oceania Zone Group I third round tie against India, scheduled to be played in Chennai on 8-10 May. By virtue of its decision not to send a team to compete against India, Australia has forfeited the tie. India is declared the winner and will advance to the Davis Cup World Group Play-offs, scheduled for 18-20 September," an ITF statement said. "The Davis Cup Committee in due course will decide any sanctions to be assessed against Australia according to the Regulations of the 2009 Competition," the statement added.

The ITF also said that was satisfied with the security plan presented by the All India Tennis Association for the Chennai tie. "The ITF, as it does for every Davis Cup and Fed Cup tie, asked the host nation to produce a comprehensive security plan for the tie. Tennis Australia received the completed security questionnaire from the All India Tennis Association. "However, because of the specific concerns of Tennis Australia, the ITF also asked its independent security consultants, the Olive Group, to make a site visit to Chennai to investigate both the situation on the ground and to assess the security arrangements put in place by AITA.

"Following the site visit, the Olive Group reported that it was satisfied that the tie could go ahead as planned. Tennis Australia received a copy of the Olive Group report. "This, and other information related to the tie, was presented to the Davis Cup Committee, who voted that the tie should proceed in Chennai. Following an appeal by Tennis Australia, the ITF Board of Directors voted to uphold the decision of the Davis Cup Committee, after having received complete documentation for review," the statement said.

'Australia's pullout will not impact Commonwealth Games'

New Delhi (IANS): The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has said that Australia's pullout from Davis Cup in India next month will not impact the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, and asked the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to take stringent action against Tennis Australia (TA) for defying the apex body. TA on Saturday refused to send its team for the May 8-10 tie in Chennai after the ITF board turned down its appeal to shift it out of India. "ITF had declared the venue safe and Australia should have followed it. ITF should impose a heavy penalty on Australia for taking such an irresponsible decision," IOA secretary-general Randhir Singh told IANS Saturday.

"Australia had some apprehensions about the 2010 CWG (Commonwealth Games) also but that has been sorted out and they are now convinced about the security situation here. I see no reason for TA not to send its team to India." Randhir, who is also the secretary general of Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), sounded confident that the Australian decision will not impact other major events in the run-up to the CWG. India will be hosting major sporting events - badminton World Championship (2009), hockey World Cup (2010) and AFC Challenge Cup before the CWG. "OCA president Sheikh Ahmad Al Sabah was here in Delhi just two days back and he backed India to host the Asian Games in 2018. He assured other nations that there are no security issues in India. I am sure other nations will see the larger picture.

"We successfully hosted big events like Commonwealth Youth Games last year. The participating nations were appreciative of the security cover. Davis Cup is just a three-day affair. Australia's decision is not a setback for 2010 CWG. The preparations are going on smoothly. You cannot club India with Pakistan. There is no such danger looming here as projected by TA. If that is the case, then security around the world is a problem."

Tennis Australia "arrogant, irresponsible": Khanna

New Delhi (PTI): All India Tennis Association on Sunday lashed out at Australia for pulling out of next month's Davis Cup tie against India, saying they have acted in an "arrogant" and "irresponsible" manner "by creating a situation solely out of their mind and not based on facts". AITA also said it would convey its sentiments to the International Tennis Federation in a letter following Australia withdrawing from the May 8-10 Asia-Oceania Group I tie barely a day after the game's governing body rejected its plea to shift the match from Chennai.

"Despite the ITF security team had given an excellent report that India is safe for the Aussie players, they have pulled out of the tie. This indicates a certain order of arrogance and a highly irresponsible action on the part of Tennis Australia," Khanna told reporters. In a letter sent to AITA, Tennis Australia President Geoff Pollard had cited "high security risk during Indian election" as the reason for pulling out of the tie. "We asked for the tie to be moved because we have major security concerns for players, particularly during (Indian) election. The ITF decision has left us with no other option but not to send the team. It would be irresponsible of us to send our players into an area of such high risk," Pollard had said in the letter.

But, Khanna was not amused and said TA's decision might have been influenced by the players who do not want to come to India. "We have got the letter and are extremely disappointed with their decision. The reasons cited for pulling out of the tie reflect their ignorance. They are creating a situation solely out of their mind and not based on facts. We will intimate our sentiments to ITF in writing," he said. "We have a very peaceful elections. Even if incidents do occur but those have nothing to do with the Davis Cup tie.

TA's decision might have been influenced by the players who do not want to travel to India," Khanna said. "Australia is also a member of ITF Board of Directors. They should have acted responsibly. They had done like this earlier also by not sending their team in Indonesia in a junior event. I hope they would act responsibly in future and learn lessons," he added. Australia now face a fine of USD 100,000 and the ban for not abiding by the ITF verdict, but Khanna was guarded in his response on this.

"TA could face financial penalty or may be demoted from Group I to Group II. But we will leave that to ITF. It depends on what ITF Board takes a decision," he said. "BNP Paribas and other international sponsors must also be disappointed. Generally the tennis fraternity in the world would not appreciate TA's decision. This was an important event for the Davis Cup. It was also an important event for us before the 2010 Commonwealth Games," Khanna said. Khanna, also President of Asian Tennis Association, had earlier said he would even proposed for Australia being dissociated from the Asia/Oceania group, but on Saturday he would not drum up the issue.

"That is something to be looked into realistically and Australia to think about," he said. Khanna thanked the ITF for taking a "correct decision" on the issue and appreciated the support AITA got from the Sports Ministry. "We appreciate ITF's objective decision. The Sports Ministry had also supported us throughout," he said. The AITA General Secretary also ridiculed the general talk of Australian sports officials trying to drum up security concern even for the 2010 CWG, saying the Games will be held successfully without any security hiccups.

Fitzgerald said the players shared his disappointment and still hoped for an ITF change of heart prior to May 8.

LLEYTON Hewitt's celebrated Davis Cup career could be over and Australia's participation on hold until 2011, despite Tennis Australia remaining confident that it will avoid the suspension that could follow its reluctant decision to forfeit next month's scheduled tie in India.

Gill said that the Indian government "had assured them (Australia) of complete security. Our assertions have been found more than satisfactory by the Davis Cup Committee and by the ITF," he said. "There is no law and order problem in Chennai," he said. "India does not have the slightest of problems regarding security in sports."

Australia, the 28-time Davis Cup champions, not only face a strong fine and a possible one-year ban from the tournament, but India gets a free pass into the play-offs for the elite World Group. Gill compared the situation to that in Britain, the scene of deadly co-ordinated terrorist attacks in London in 2005 and where Australia is scheduled to participate in this summer's Ashes cricket series with England.

"Tennis is played in a small stadium in Chennai where only a few thousand would have watched them," his statement said. "It interests me that though the United Kingdom has had terrorist incidents, Australia will be going for the Ashes cricket (series) and will play before crowds of 30,000 or more despite obvious security concerns.

"Or am I to understand that they won't go to England?" he said in the statement.

AUSTRALIA will challenge any decision to suspend it from next year's Davis Cup after announcing yesterday that it would not send a tennis team to India for the May 8-10 tie against India in Chennai.

A morale boosting victory for India --- Though it would be wise not to read too much into the victory in Ipoh, it’s certain that Indian hockey is moving in the right direction, writes S. Thyagarajan

Is it a sign of resurgence? Minus the rhetoric, there is a filament of logic in the poser judged against the background of the triumph of India in the Sultan Azlan Shah tournament in Ipoh, Malaysia. The flood of debate following India’s performance has put the focus back on hockey. If anyone had struck the right chord in the aftermath of the highly convincing 3-1 victory over Malaysia in the final on April 12, it was none other than India’s chief coach, Harendra Singh. After returning home, the coach cautioned not to go overboard though he noted that Indian hockey was moving in the right direction thus far after the calamitous slump consequent to the nation’s failure to make it to the 2008 Beijing Olympics for the first time in eight decades.

In the wake of some significant performances in Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and in the Four-Nation Gold Cup in Chandigarh, India started as favourite in Ipoh. A surprising 2-2 draw against Egypt in the opening match stunned many; but it must be said to the credit of the players that they managed to recover quickly and end the competition without a defeat in five matches, winning three, including the intense game against Pakistan. India beat Malaysia twice, in the league and then in the final, both by very impressive margins.

It is not easy to look beyond the gangling Sandeep Singh as the key element in the squad, inspiring players to the peak. He netted seven of the 12 goals that India scored. He is among the best hitters of penalty corners today. More than once in the tournament he proved this, and suffice to say he was the top scorer like last year and was declared the Player of the Tournament. More than scoring, Sandeep exuded a touch of assurance and came off exceedingly well in one-to-one tackles, an area in which he was considered not strong enough some time ago. Perhaps, he is now more inclined towards making interceptions and clearances, playing shoulder to shoulder with the highest capped player in the world, Dilip Tirkey, a true veteran with a wealth of tricks inside the circle. To portray Dilip as the balancing factor in the team and an inspiration would be an understatement.

Baljit Singh under the bar was another important member of the Indian team. Agile, athletic and admirably endowed, Baljit was a picture of confidence. He relished tense moments and tackled them with noticeable vigour. In every match, he made a brilliant save or two. And in the final, Baljit’s performance came in for high praise. If the yardstick is consistency, then full marks go to Gurbaj Singh. He prompted many a goal-bearing move, tackled with grit and gumption, and played with a good measure of imagination. An apt foil on the left was Prabodh Tirkey, whose efficiency in backing Dilip Tirkey whenever the latter advanced ahead was praiseworthy.

Uncomfortable in the role of a centre-half in the absence of the injured Vikram Pillay, the compactly built Sardar Singh was inhibited. Ignace Tirkey, a seasoned campaigner, engineered moves that befuddled the rivals. His presence was brief but whenever he was there, Ignace compelled attention. Barring the final, the contribution of India’s frontline was meagre. Apart from creating penalty corners, its finishing was weak, unimaginative and embarrassingly innocuous. A lot of effort by the mid-field went waste several times. Arjun Halappa was an exception though. His opportunism came to the fore on a couple of occasions.

The expectations of Prabhjot Singh figuring prominently in the attack were not realised, so was the case with Shivendra. The forwards are yet to perfect the art of deflecting long hits which Dilip and Sandeep provided in plenty.

For Malaysia’s new coach, Tang Beng Hai, the outcome provided clues to prepare for the coming Asia Cup. The home team’s win against Pakistan was one of the highlights. Goalkeeper Kumar Subramaniam came up with an impressive performance as did Ismail Abu, Chua Boon Huat, Rahim Rahim and Nabli, whose swift runs down the line imposed pressure on the rival teams. Solid and structured, the Kiwis were no easy opponent for anyone. Their approach was strikingly professional, featuring every element of modern hockey, from clean trapping, clever passing to closing the gaps at every point in the field. You cannot pick a star from among them, but the performances of goalkeeper Kyle Pontifex, Richard Patherick, Joel Baker and Nicholas Wilson provided the needed inputs for coach Shane McLeod who will be striving to help New Zealand win a place in the World Cup in Delhi.

With a solitary win (against Egypt) in five matches, Pakistan presented a pathetic sight. Coach Shahid Ali Khan was at loss to explain the difficulties faced by his team. Apart from Shakeel Abbasi, who showed flashes of brilliance including a hat-trick against Egypt, none in the Pakistan squad impressed. Egypt today is not a force in hockey. But playing in its first Azlan Shah tournament, the team showed the potential to develop into a formidable combination. Egypt’s Polish coach, Jerzy, has inculcated the virtues of European matrix system taking advantage of the individual strengths, including physical and height advantage. The 2-2 draw against India, the equaliser coming 33 seconds before the final whistle, inspired players like Ezz Ahmed and Mushtafa Walid to consistently pose danger to their rivals.

The 2009 edition of the Azlan Shah Cup might not have attracted the best of teams, but the intensity of the tournament never slackened as testified by the full house for the final.

Army XI, PSB in semifinals

Mumbai: Thirteen goals were scored in the penultimate round league matches and defending champion Army XI and Punjab & Sind Bank entered the semifinals of the all- India Bombay Gold Cup hockey tournament here on Saturday. First, down by one goal till seven minutes into the second half, PSB struck back in style scoring three goals in four minutes before notching up a 5-1 victory over Indian Navy and later, Army XI leading 2-0 at half-time defeated SCR 5-2.

The results: Punjab & Sind Bank 5 (Navpreet Singh 2, Mandeep Singh, Parwinder Singh, Kulwinder Singh) bt Indian Navy 1 (Surender Kumar); Army XI 5 (Arumugam, Mansid Bhengra, D. Mahadik, Sunil Ekka, Elizaser Lakra) bt SCR 2 (Gursev Singh 2).

Another feather in the cap of Dilip Tirkey

After certain epochal achievement whatever one does is bound to raise the bar. This is more than true in the case of living legend Dilip Tirkey. Take for instance his selection for the Asia Cup. His selection, especially after the way he played against Pakistan in the recent Azlan Shah Cup, should not be a surprise, but the achievement he would be making, is. The world’s most capped player will now be making another milestone in his 15-year international career. He will be only Indian to play in four Asia Cups perhaps only Asian as well.

Dilip has been selected for the Kuantan Asia Cup, his fourth foray. Though Dilip had made somewhat late entry into the Asia Cup domain, he will achieve the unique record shortly. Dilip first played for India in 1995, two years after the Hiroshima Asia Cup. The next editions should have been held in 1997, but was staged only in 1999 where the defender made his Asia Cup entry. As a poetic justice, the two year lapse had been made out with the Asian Hockey Federation deciding to hold the event biannually after 2007. Dilip figured in the gold winning teams of 2003 and 2007.

If India would win the Kuantan number – there are fair chances – that will give Dilip another feather in his over-crowded cap -- Hat-trick of Asia Cup gold. With a bit of luck, Bimal Lakra would have matched Dilip’s Asia Cup record, but the three-time Asia Cupper is not in the reckoning nowadays. Bimal also played Asia Cup non stop from 1999. Two other Indians have the record of triple Asia Cup – Baljit Singh Dhillon and Dhanraj Pillay. Dhanraj Pillay played his first Asia Cup in 1989, but missed out the next one due to his assignment in a foreign Club.

Air India, Indian Oil in semis

Indian Oil and Air India sailed into the semi-finals in contrasting fashion, in the 47th Bombay Gold Cup Hockey Tournament at the MHA-Mahindra Stadium on Sunday. In a crucial Group B tie, Karnataka XI, for whom a win was mandatory, held Air India to a 2-2 draw, a verdict that booked the latter’s place in the last four following a better goal average, after the airmen swamped Panposh XI 4-0 in their opening match.

In Group C, Guru Tegh Bahadur runners-up Indian Oil beat former champions Border Security Force 3-2, after leading 2-0 at half time. While Karnataka XI took time to settle down, Air India, winners in 2001 and 2002, got off to an aggressive start to initiate a fast-paced encounter between quality teams. By the ninth minute, they tested Karnataka goalkeeper Tharun on three occasions. The custodian blocked two of the many gallant saves he was to make later in the match, while international Sandeep Michael, who made the first try in the third minute, failed to connect after combining with Vikas Pillay in the circle.

Karnataka put behind the early threats and made a determined effort to get back into the match. They combined well and made delightful moves that earned them two back-to-back chances that would have given them the lead. But Muddappa’s effort was blocked by Air India goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh in the 25th minute, while Nithin Thimmaiah shot wide with a beaten defence and a vacant goal at his mercy, after captain Anup Anthony fumbled in front of the goal.

Air India, though, stunned their opponents with a sudden move in the 32nd minute that fetched them a 1-0 lead at half time through Joga Singh’s top-of-circle shot that darted through the goalkeeper’s pads. Karnataka made an impressive impact in an eventful second half that saw M.B. Aiyappa’s firm push being saved by the goalkeeper off a 44th minute set-piece. That blemish almost proved costly as Air India came close to scoring off back-to-back opportunities through Kulbhushan, who deflected a cross over in the 48th minute, while Lazarus Barla’s powerful hit off a penalty corner was blocked by custodian Tharun in the next minute.

Air India paid the price for squandering those chances and Karnataka equalised in the 50th minute through Muddappa after Anthony brilliantly dribbled into the circle. Stung by the equaliser, Air India shot into the lead in the 58th minute when former international Sameer Dad slammed home a Dhanraj Pillay pass. Just when Air India seemed set to put the issue beyond doubt, without the need for calculations, Karnataka, who refused to give up, earned back-to-back penalty corners in the 70th minute. They missed the first attempt, but Aiyappa scooped home past a confused Air India defence to fetch the equaliser off the last attempt.

In the semi-finals, Indian Oil will take on defending champions Army XI, while Air India will face 2004 winners Punjab & Sind Bank. Monday is a rest day and the competition will resume with the semi-finals on Tuesday. The final will be played on Wednesday.

Results: Group B: Air India 2 (Joga Singh, Sameer Dad) drew Karnataka XI 2 (M.K. Muddappa, M.B. Aiyappa).

Group C: Indian Oil 3 (Didar Singh, Inderjit Singh, Bikramjit Singh) bt BSF 2 (Sharnjit Singh 2).

A well equipped team to defend title --- S. Thyagarajan

Chennai: An amalgam of experience and expertise provide India the edge in the Asia Cup hockey championship at Kuantan from May 9 to 16. In the wake of the buoyancy from the Azlan Shah Trophy triumph, the Indian team is palpably strengthened by the induction of four players who missed last month’s trip to Ipoh. Raghunath, Vikram Pillay, Rajpal Singh and Hari Prasad significantly enhance the profile and power. There is better balance in every layer, with the frontline acquiring an adequate measure of sharpness by the inclusion of Rajpal and Hari Prasad for Shivendra Singh and Bharath Chikkara.

Lot at stake

Granting that India does not face the compulsion of a win for making it to the World Cup, being the host for the Delhi edition, the defence of the cup, won in 2004 and 2007, has a lot at stake. There is a grey area about the World Cup, what with FIH stipulating an October deadline to untie the knots that Indian hockey has got enmeshed in now. So a victory will put to rest apprehensions over India’s place in the World Cup even if the event, in a sad development, slips out of the country. Encouraging as the results have been in recent months, the players exude enormous confidence in their approach work.

True, certain frailties remain to continue to haunt the coaches there is a greater realisation of the need to restoring the image of the country. There is logic in the observations for not reading too much into the success at Ipoh. But as an instrument to stoking the confidence level, it was undoubtedly a significant step. The present composition is perhaps the best that can be gleaned at this point of time. There is no necessity to look beyond the duo of Baljit Singh and Adrian D’Souza, though one must regret that the latter does not get as many as chances he deserves to be under the bar.

Stress factor

The stress factor on Baljit Singh is very high although he faces the challenges with an indomitable will. As a second drag flicker, Raghunath, amplifies the area of variety in this vital sector. While captain Sandeep Singh is fulfilling the norms to be regarded as an outstanding flicker in contemporary hockey, the support from Raghunath, not to speak of the solidity by Dilip Tirkey — most capped player in the game today at 408 internationals — contributes to strengthening the fissures in the defence line. Vikram Pillay is bound to accentuate the vibrancy of the mid-field play that Sardar Singh failed to do at Ipoh.

Gurbaj Singh and Prabodh Tirkey, with Sardar Singh, Vinay and Ajitesh Rai lending a helping hand the mid-field can really play a dominant part. It is a pity that the team management is unable to create a slot for Ignace Tirkey whose ingenuity can transform the whole texture of a match. Mere dependence on Sandeep’s penalty strikes dent the image of the frontline, and certainly the calibre of players like Prabhjot Singh and Arjun Halappa. At Ipoh, the forwards fumbled repeatedly what with Shivendra failing to deflect in even one long ball from the accurate strikes by Sandeep or Tirkey.

This is one point the coaches should pay attention too. Anyone of the four--Rajpal, Prabhjot, Halappa and Tushar-can cause repeated alarms to the defence and to the goal-keeper. There must be absolute perfection and co-ordination in the execution and finish of this mode which will be a delight to the beholder. Apart from guidance of the coaching team consisting of Harendra, Ramandeep and Romeo James, the players have the benefit of imbibing a few tricks from Dhanraj Pillay who goes again as the manager. That he has a wealth of experience and a morale booster par excellence can never be questioned. And he has happy memories of leading the team in 2003 at Kuala Lumpur.

Brasa likely to join Indian team for Asia Cup

BANGALORE: Spanish coach Jose Brasa is likely to join the Indian hockey team for the Asia Cup in Kuantan, Malaysia next month. Brasa, who had to endure a longish period of negotiations with the central government, will take over as the national coach once the work visa is issued to him. "Brasa's work permit has to be issued by the external affairs ministry," the sources said. "He has agreed to all terms and conditions and we are keen that he joins the team for the May 9-16 Asia Cup."

Australia confident boycott won't lead to ban

AUSTRALIA will vigorously defend its right to compete in next year's Davis Cup competition, as it prepares to cite precedents from 1974 and 2004 in which teams that refused to contest away ties for political or security reasons avoided suspension the following year. Under Davis Cup rules, withdrawal once the draw has been completed renders the offending nation ineligible to play in the subsequent year, unless otherwise decided by the Davis Cup committee and/or the International Tennis Federation's board of directors.

Having forfeited next month's Asia/Oceania Zone group I tie against India in Chennai starting on May 8, citing an unacceptable risk of harm to its players and staff during the country's volatile election period, Australia does not expect its fate to be finalised until late July, when it will appeal against any suspension delivered by the ITF's Davis Cup committee.

Denmark, the last Davis Cup nation to default a tie citing safety concerns, was effectively demoted by its failure to contest its 2004 tie in Algiers and forced to pay compensation to Algeria, but was not fined or suspended. India boycotted the 1974 final in South Africa in an apartheid protest. "No two situations are exactly the same, but if I was to look for precedents then I would look to the Denmark-Algeria episode and the fact that India didn't play a final, and that should be the upper limit, given it's a final," Tennis Australia president Geoff Pollard said. While others fear a suspension is virtually inevitable, Pollard considered it most likely Australia would return to Asia/Oceania zone group I, probably next year. Pollard is also an ITF board member, while former Davis Cup captain Neale Fraser is a member of the Davis Cup committee, but abstained from voting early this month.

If a ban were imposed, Pollard said: "We would certainly appeal that, there's no question about that. Based on precedent, and we can use the two precedents that we have, that is unlikely and would be unfair." Some form of financial penalty appears to be inevitable, with the defaulting nation liable for "all reasonable expenses" of the other. "I'd think the worst that could happen, you could be suspended for 2010, you could be fined an amount that we're guessing, and you would also be asked to be pay the $15,000 minimum gate money, and probably not get any prizemoney," Pollard said.

Australia's decision drew heavy criticism in India, with the president of the Tamil Nadu Tennis Association, M.A. Alagappan, describing Saturday as "a sad day for tennis", and doubles star Leander Paes declaring "the safe conduct of the Chennai Open this January and the assurances of the Tamil Nadu government should have been guarantee enough. It is unfortunate that Australia has taken this extreme step." The Hindu newspaper also reported Paes's doubles partner Mahesh Bhupathi as accusing the Australians of being "so far away from reality", while local security expert R.K. Raghavan said he was shocked by a decision that "reveals ignorance as well as prejudice".

"TA cannot be allowed to get away with a fine and a one-year ban," he said. There were also suggestions the Australians did not want to play in Chennai's extreme May heat. The ITF had earlier released a statement that it "regrets and respectfully disagrees" with Australia's stance, and advised that the Davis Cup committee would decide any sanctions.

BCCI steers clear of controversy

Mumbai: The BCCI declared on Wednesday that it had nothing to do with Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh remaining absent at the Padma Shri awards function held in New Delhi on April 14. “It’s a personal matter of the cricketers. We don’t want to enter into this controversy,” said Shashank Manohar, president, BCCI. “We recommend players, but the government doesn’t give it to the players we recommend. We did not recommend Harbhajan Singh for the Padma Shri award. Now we have recommended the names of Gautam Gambhir and Jhulan Goswami,” added Mr. Manohar. The BCCI has also recommended Rahul Dravid for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award.

Mahadik helps Army retain the title

MUMBAI: Dhananjay Mahadik scooped home a 65th minute match-winner off a penalty corner as Army XI retained its hold on the 47th Bombay Gold Cup with a 1-0 win over Air India in the final. Mahadik, the Army playmaker and captain, controlled the game and rightly picked up the player of the tournament award at the MHA-Mahindra stadium. He converted the second penalty corner, picking his spot with a powerful drag-flick. Defending champion Army, coached by Gopal Chand, enjoyed better ball possession and looked the sharper side.

Air India attacked in bursts, youngster Yuvraj Valmiki stretching the rival defence with sizzling runs down the right and even winning a penalty corner, but no goal materialised. Dhanraj Pillay found the net once off a penalty corner with a wristy tap, but it was disallowed for not sounding the boards.

The results:
Hardlines Trophy: Indian Oil Corporation 4 (Didar Singh 3, Hamza Mujtaba) bt Punjab & Sind Bank 2 (Sharanjit Singh, Daler Singh).
Final: Army XI 1 (Dhananjay Mahadik) bt Air India 0.
Player of the tournament: Dhananjay Mahadik (Army XI)

We lack the infrastructure, says Bhutia

KOLKATA: Indian captain Baichung Bhutia feels the football infrastructure in the country is going backwards even though the standard of the sport has improved. “The standard of the game has gone up ever since the National Football League (now I-league) was launched in 1996,” Bhutia said at a function here. “The I-League showed how stiff the competition is nowadays, but the factor that is hindering the growth of the sport is the absence of proper infrastructure.”

Bhutia, who is also the president of the Football Players Association of India, said one of the biggest indicators of poor infrastructure is the poor ground condition. “The ground condition is not improving. If you look at the first National League and now, the infrastructure has gone backwards. We really need to work on that,” he said. Bhutia said his club Mohun Bagan has had a satisfying season. The runner-up finish in the I-League was the only sore point, but that did not diminish the fact that Bagan was the most successful team this season. “The season was very good for us. We were the team which won the maximum number of titles this season,” Bhutia said, referring to the three titles — Calcutta Football League, Federation Cup and Super Cup — Bagan won this season.

Octagon sues former client Lleyton Hewitt for undisclosed millions

Lleyton Hewitt invested hundreds of thousands of dollars offshore and took up to $2 million a year from his bank account as personal expenses, the Victorian Supreme Court has heard. In a legal battle over the handling of his finances, the court heard Hewitt has complained his then-management team, Octagon, failed to make enough money for him – including not investing in Lehman Brothers, a US firm which spectacularly collapsed last year. Hewitt and his marketing arm operated two accounts at the First Union National Bank in Virginia, US, worth a combined $7.4 million, the court heard.

But huge slabs were allegedly regularly taken out – including up to $2 million in personal expenses in 2003 compared with just $5000 in businesses expenses for that year. Other funds were placed in Deutsche Bank, London, Bankers Trust and a private account in Switzerland, lawyer Tim North, SC, for Octagon, told the court. "Money, hundreds of thousands of dollars in fact, were invested by Mr Hewitt, not in Australia but in Deutsche Bank, Bankers Trust," Mr North said. "There is obviously a fair bit of activity overseas."

Octagon is suing Hewitt for undisclosed millions for loss of merchandising and management fees. It claims Hewitt breached his exclusive representation contract with them. In response, Hewitt claims Octagon botched his financial plans and owes him up to $300,000 in lost investment opportunities. Mr North said, according to documents before the court, it appeared Mr Hewitt and his father Glynn Hewitt were complaining their investments had not reaped the same results seen on the New York Stock Exchange, including some in entities which had since tanked.

"Mr (Lleyton) Hewitt seems to be suggesting in his hypothetical loss basis, he would have been investing in Lehman Brothers," Mr North said. Lehman crashed into bankruptcy last year, helping spur on the US credit crunch and subsequent global financial crisis. Mr North said Hewitt had been inexplicably vague in stating what he actually wanted from his investment program through Octagon. Hewitt's lawyer, Timothy Walker, said the tennis champion was counter-suing for "loss of proper return on investments held" and negligence in Octagon's management of his finances and investments.

He rejected Mr North's assertion that Hewitt would have wanted to invest in the ill-fated Lehman Brothers but said the "hypothetical" investment document before the court simply outlined a range of stock "bench-mark indices". Hewitt accuses Octagon Inc. of misleading and deceptive conduct, unjust enrichment and management incompetence. Court documents show that between 2005 and 2006 Hewitt was paid $6.75 million in endorsements and tournament fees. His off-court earnings included a Channel 7 deal for $600,000, a New Idea payment of $84,000, Nike funds of $3.5 million, Yonex racquets paid $2.3 million and Optus paid $130,000, the records claim.

Hewitt also received $330,000 for endorsing tennis games for video companies and tournament organisers handed over $340,000 in appearance money. Hewitt, 28, claims he severed ties with Octagon in 2004. Monday's hearing centred on an application by Hewitt's legal team to have Octagon Financial Services added to the pending trial as a co-defendant to Hewitt's counter-claims. Associate Justice Melissa Daly reserved her decision for hearing on a date to be fixed.

Australia’s non participation in the Davis Cup tie against India this month is disappointing to all the Australian players and support staff, however it is completely understandable. There have been many differing views reported through the media both in Australia and in India, and I would like to explain what has happened from a player’s point of view. In my opinion there is no higher honour for a male Australian tennis player than to represent his country playing Davis Cup, to be awarded a gold jacket and join the list of many Australian and world champions who have played for our great country. {See man, it is not just you assies that are fond of wearing the gold and green, just because everyone else does nt wear their patriotism on their sleeve does nt make them less-honorable. We have a team which has sweated and blooded itself on the DC arena, not just figuratively, but also literally. None of our team-members put on a public and vulgar display of patriotism. Thats the difference between you and us.}

I have always made myself available to play Davis Cup and have only missed if severe injury has forced my hand. {On the other hand, even if someone like Paes gets injured in a match, he does nt give up, but runs through the game. Has happened time and again. So yes, please shut up.}

I have travelled to many parts of the world to play Davis Cup and have had to deal with some interesting and confronting places and crowds. I thrive on the team aspect of the competition, which in an individual sport like tennis is very rare. The weeks of Davis Cup are the first weeks I mark down in my yearly schedule, along with the Grand Slams, and then I plan other tournaments accordingly. I have always supported the International Tennis Federation (ITF) in their promotion of Davis Cup around the world, and been one of its strongest advocates. However I must say I feel very let down by the ITF with a few decisions lately relating to Davis Cup.

The first has been their awarding of ATP ranking points to the competition to try to attract certain players to take part in the competition. The problem is they have only awarded them to the World Group section. In my opinion a player shouldn’t require the incentive of ranking points to represent their country in a competition that has been running for more than 100 years. But if you are going to award them, then it should be right across the competition! There are only 16 nations in the World Group, yet our sport is truly global therefore leaving a number of top ranked players playing for their country in Zonal Ties for no points. Not to mention the fact that under this new system a player has to play a live singles rubber to receive the points and countries such as Spain and France have a wealth of players to choose from, so even players selected to represent their country may still miss out on points. This is the first instance where the ITF has totally disregarded consistency for the players.

Secondly the fact that the Zonal Ties are scheduled to be held right in the middle of the claycourt season, yet the World Group Ties are played the week following Wimbledon is again creating an uneven playing field for players and is completely lacking in consistency. By creating this new date in May the ITF is forcing players in the Zonal sections to choose between their own personal ranking and representing their country, again for no points. Meanwhile players in World Group countries continue to earn points and gain valuable practice during the claycourt season leading into the French Open. I had made the commitment to forego my French Open preparations to play the Tie in India even though I am trying to re-establish myself in the world rankings following injury. {So do you mean to tell us that the facts that Ind-Oz match will not be in the world group and the DC calendar hampers your FO preparations are the reasons why you had to put this charade of safety/security and whatever else. Do you mean to take your frustration that Oz is NOT in the world group on us poor heathens?! Even if so, should nt that be an australian problem due to your poor performance last year. We call it karma, bitch. You play bad one day, you pay the price the next. Thats how simple it is.}

The latest ITF decision to refuse to shift the May 8 tie to a neutral venue or a date outside the election is possibly the most disappointing of all. The request from Tennis Australia was made very early and yet the ITF took an extraordinary amount of time to investigate, report and make a decision. {In the sense that you had given your word at the Rome masters and now were arm-twisted that you had to come to the DC. What made you assume in the first place that the ITF would have given you guys permission to shift the DC match elsewhere? What gave you that confidence?}

I would like to point out here that Tennis Australia handled the whole situation very credibly, where they researched the situation in India with help from the Australian Government and independent opinions from at least four different security experts as well as other sports with expertise in this region. {Did you guys consult the Olive Group, the group that provides security information to ITF/ATP events? Next time, before doing your independent verification, please also consult the official security agency to know where they stand.}

The evidence became very clear. Due to the Indian elections, unless a certain level of security was provided, Tennis Australia in its duty of care for the players and team officials should not travel to Chennai. I believe that the level of security requested was very similar to what Cricket Australia would request for their teams when travelling to the sub-continent. {And if security is such a problem, why is McGrath and Warnie and others spending much of their time in the same decrepit Madras for ads, film events and whatever else that exists that would be branded as a capitalist enterprise.}

From what I have been told, the ITF downplayed any threat from the election and the security arrangements fell well short of what was requested. {Rightly so, based on the info they had. And based on the ground scenario, you doofus.} Now one doesn’t need to be Einstein to know that there has been violence and unrest (land mines, a train hijacking and numerous deaths) where the elections were being held in India and that it is still continuing to this day. And the election campaign will reach its climax in Tamil Nadu (capital Chennai) just three days after the tie was due to be played. {And one has to be Lleyton Hewitt to make that Einstein-ic leap in scientific temperance. Everytime I go to Bondi beach, I have to hold my heart in my hand worrying about your-fellow racist Australians enjoying the australian form of life. Do I seek a security consultant to check whether other Asians feel unsafe in your prime rib? And besides, "numerous deaths" in a country of 1 billion, you must be Einstein-personified in exposing further evidences of your cranial capabilities.}

There are reports that the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has gone on a hunger strike in support of innocent Sri Lankan Tamils caught up in the conflict in neighboring Sri Lanka. {And you had to consult a security consultant, and four of them, to figure that Shri MK was playing a drama with the elections in mind. That tells us enough about Mr. Einstein in Oz-land.}

Now the current Indian prime minister is also confirmed to be campaigning in Tamil Nadu next week, whilst we were meant to be there! {Oh, so should Shri MMS be persona non grata in Madras just cos your high honorable Mr. Lleyon Hewitt and his entourage is gracing us heathens in the height of the Indian summer?} It’s a bit like a red rag to a bull risk wise, in my opinion, yet the ITF have showed a lack of protection and concern for the safety of the players. They have let down the players again!!! {Yes, they have let down you dumbasses cos you dumbasses have exposed your derriere yet again.}

I have to say also I have been disappointed with the attitude of the Indian Tennis Association, especially where their Secretary General was quoted in their press saying I wasn’t coming to the Tie. {And he just translated your bloody manager. Maybe you should find a new manager.} Whilst he may have tried to deny it in an email to Tennis Australia, at no time did he do so publicly after being attributed with a direct quote on the matter. {Cos he did nt have to.} As an ITF Board Director and the President of the Asian Tennis Federation I would have thought he would have known better. {He knows himself better, and he knows enough of the australian choothiyagiri too.}

This brings me to the next point, with both countries being in the greater Asian area {and the truth finally dawns on Mr. Einstein}, I would have thought that India may have discussed the matter directly with Tennis Australia {So why did nt you guys directly ask us to talk about security matters and instead went crying to the ITF?!} and in the interests of both the players and the competition resolved the issue. I can remember when in 1999 for the centenary of the Davis Cup, Australia’s home quarter final Tie against the USA was transferred from here to Boston, as the ITF wanted to celebrate the first match of Davis Cup, which actually didn’t include Australia!! {The truth is slowly out, Mr. Einstein at the very least wants to stick back in Oz and have the FO preps on clay court. At the best case, he wants to go to Rome for the masters where he may have a wild-card. If he had come to India, with the matches held on hard-courts, he would have had to shift his preparation from clay to hard and back to clay and that would have screwed his FO preps given that he is already > 100 in the rankings. So all this drama about security, gikurity and whining and crying like a pussy-whipped beatch.}

Australia was promised that the next 2 times it plays the US we get to host them at home, trouble is we haven’t played them since. Why couldn’t an arrangement like that have been made? Then again this wasn’t for the ITF only for the players!!! {Thats your effing problem, if you want to deal with your partners in crime any effing way, go ahead and do that. We are not your brothers nor white enough and heathen enough to realize that East or west, east is the best.} Makes you wonder about the purpose of the ITF if it is not conducting its events with the players in mind!!! {Why blame the ITF, when you guys have nt played in the world group often enough to compete with the US?! Why blame the ITF when you were the guys who ceded the space to US and let them be the hosts?!}

As I have mentioned earlier I was committed to play Davis Cup in India. I played in Mumbai a couple of years ago and enjoyed the experience and culture of India, if only for a brief period of time. One of the joys of Davis Cup has been playing in places where the Tour never goes and experiencing different cultures. It is always a challenge to perform no matter what the weather conditions or court surfaces are. {Yes, it is hard court at Nungambakkam, if you have forgotten that }

As all players, I am aware of the success of the Chennai tournament in January and that player’s safety has never been in question. {So why make a big fuss about things?!} However as I point out, the Indian elections have proven to be an extremely volatile period and it has to be noted that the other major sporting event in India during this time, the IPL cricket, was moved to South Africa for safety reasons. {What has the coordination of an event held at 8 cities over a 1 month period with a 20+ entourage per team got to do with a single city event with < 10 team members spread over 4 days? That, Mr. Einstein, is called common-sense.}

Also, even the ITF’s own handbook points out that national teams face a greater risk than individual players. {And the very same ITF that you dissed two paragraphs above also said that the event in Madras is safer beyond belief. Hypocrite Einstein!} As the recent attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team showed, national sporting teams are no longer immune from such things. {To rephrase Oscar Wilde, "where the pakis are concerned, expect to be fcked sometime sooner than later...." The Sri Lankans in their anti-Indian feelings and bonhomie with their brothers across the Arabian Sea figured just this on March 8.} It appears to me that common sense didn’t prevail in this matter and it became a political and perhaps a financial consideration. {Common-sense did nt prevail in your super-einsteinic head.}

It needs to be stated that none of us Australian players (to the best of my knowledge) had made a decision as to whether or not we would travel to India to play. {But your manager, of course, did .} We were all waiting for the process that Tennis Australia were undertaking, which we all supported, to find out whether we needed to make such a decision. Sadly, in the end we didn’t need to.

Now once again we are in the hands of the ITF regarding any sanction they may impose on Tennis Australia and the Australian Davis Cup team. That decision could have severe ramifications for me as a player, and could effectively end my Davis Cup career. {which of course, you always thought of as an albatross across your back, and nicely covered it. But now that your ATP rankings have dipped, your feelings are back to normal.} Whilst I have been a winning team member twice, I would be devastated if this was the way for my career playing for my country ended. As far as I’m concerned I still have unfinished business in Davis Cup, including getting Australia back into the World Group.

The question being asked most is would I have played in India if Tennis Australia sent a team? Incredibly, I was never given the chance. {Because in all probability, you arm-twisted TA into not sending a team to India lest they forget the chances of having see you again in the DC team in the future.} All that was needed was some common sense and flexibility from the ITF. {to accede to your illogical demands, please, pass that buck to the pakis who will gubo to you, just like you guys gubo to the US. We have an independent furrin policy, live with it.}

So would I have played? I still don’t know the answer to that because as a tennis player I am passionate and committed to representing Australia in Davis Cup, and as a husband and father I have responsibilities to my family. {Well, we are all sadists and anti-human neanderthals with no family and we could nt care a rat's ass about our families.} It was a no win situation either way!! {Yes, you would have lost even if you had come here. Enjoy the break and hope you lose in the first rd in Roland Garros. Peace}

Stan_Savljevic wrote:A fun pic, Indian players confronting bakis at Azlan... Look at Sandeep Singh, priceless
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/2c9 ... OD=AJPERES

Hockey-Asia to beam Asia Cup Matches Live in web

A Kuala Lumpur based new hockey website will beam steaming videos of forthcoming Asia Cup. The Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) and Hockey Asia recently signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate in a unique partnership designed to create income for the national governing body. The MoU grants Hockey Asia the Internet rights of hockey matches held under the auspices of MHF, and in return the national body will receive a certain percentage in the collaboration involving a business model through pay-per-view broadcast over http://www.hockey-asia.com.

With Hockey Asia offering video streaming, online games, forum and latest updates around the continent, the idea is to attract a large market segment of hockey enthusiasts across the continent to watch the video streaming over and over again for a token fee, besides making it a one-stop centre for information. In announcing this, MHF president, His Royal Highness Tengku Abdullah Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, said: “Hockey Asia’s investment is timely.” In the signing ceremony, MHF was represented by its vice-president, Dato’ Dr S.S. Cheema and Hockey Asia by its co-CEOs, Jaap and Rita Suyk.

Hockey Asia offers the fans out there the chance to watch hockey matches involving their teams over and over again. As per the MoU, Hockey Asia will offer a certain percentage of the total income out of all matches mentioned and the percentage is applicable for future pay on demand opportunities. “We have invested a lot of money into this project and we hope to be able to help MHF create the awareness and capture the public’s imagination,” said Suyk.

“To illustrate Hockey Asia’s transparency, two official users of MHF will have direct access to the financial database. By this, MHF is guaranteed to have full access on future incomes from Hockey Asia. “Once hockey-asia.com becomes big, we intend to invest part of the income back to hockey projects in Malaysia.” Suyk who has more than three decades of experience behind him as a trainer, coach and umpire in the Netherlands, held various positions in hockey from 1975 to 2001 and had the distinction of working with both the men’s and women’s teams in the Netherlands hockey league.

He added besides serving as a one-stop centre for information pertaining to hockey in selected countries, namely Netherlands, Pakistan, India and Malaysia, hockey-asia.com is also interested in developing the game by carrying out professional development programs such as the training module modelled after the Dutch Hockey Education system, online-database for MHF, national selectors, coaches and players who are currently being developed. “Hockey Asia has intentions of investing the income in accommodations, new hockey astroturf at schools and universities in case the schools/universities cooperate in the professional programs, either on a short-term and long-term basis.

Further details can be accessed http://www.hockey-asia.com

Bombay Gold Cup Review by Deepak Seth -- Deepak Seth

I got a tremendous opportunity to witness the Bombay Gold Cup recently. Allowing this resident Californian to witness hockey at the local level, that translates into the fare dished out at the current edition of the Mumbai Gold Cup.

I was lucky enough to observe many of the matches & would religiously make the trek to the BHA ground to be amongst the few spectators watching the competition. AND HERE ARE SOME OF MY OBSERVATIONS. As is my habit I will start with the positives & then dwell on the innumerable negatives,

POSITIVES

1. I saw an incredible captain, in Dhananjay Mahadik, not only, because his was an all round brilliant performance worthy of a captain, the defensive stops & policing of important players, his superb PC conversions as drag flicker for his team, his outstanding passing, confirming without doubt that he is decidedly the best pure passer in India, (something that our country desperately needs), not only because he won the “player of the tournament award”, an affirmation by others of this writer’s impression., if there were an award for an assist leader, he would have won it handily.

MORE IMPORTANT THAN ALL THIS WAS HIS BARKING OUT INSTRUCTIONS TO HIS TEAM FROM ANYWHERE ON THE FIELD & HIS TEAM RESPONDING TO THEM... It was fascinating to watch this performance from a true leader, who showed an incredible vision of the game & how his team should take advantage of the situation as it was evolving currently on the pitch. His continuous cajoling of his team to play faster, his calling of plays, his encouragement to younger colleagues to press, press & press, & as a result engineer a turnover of the ball for his team, WAS A TREAT TO WATCH, CULMINATING IN HIS BEING INSTRUMENTAL IN HIS TEAM WINNING THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

Yet it is indeed a crying shame that this youngster is not our national team captain, let aside not even being on our national team, Even no less a person than Dhanraj Pillay has acknowledged his exploits for his Army team of no star studded members, yet propelling it to win championships despite having competitors with veritable India teams in them, like Air India, Indian Oil, PSB & BPCL. He does video capture & analysis, does all the brain work, for his team, leads by example. He has been recognized by independent German writers as the most impressive player for his 1st Division playing German Club T G Frankenthal. He is currently the only Indian player playing in Germany, yet our own sports writers & selectors are blind to his extraordinary skills, both on & off the pitch.

2. The umpiring was top class, each & every one of them. Great control, good decisions very few challenges by players, some of which were entirely genuine, where an adequate explanation for the reason for the call or non call would have been sufficient.

3. My next image is of the Army Team, {Maj Dhyanchand would be truly happy} disciplined, fit, plays modern hockey, half backs going up in support of their forwards, fast, with of course a tremendous captain, I did not see any hard hits from their full backs, restarts were quick, modern & efficient, as was their PC Battery, I am beginning to see elements of modern hockey slowly creeping in to their culture, a direct benefit of the voracious appetite of their captain to imbibe knowledge from all over the world. IT IS FITTING THAT THEY WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP, THEY WERE THE BEST TEAM ON VIEW!

4. A little player by the name of Mangesh from Southern railway, all of 20 yrs old, who has incredible off the ball running skills, good ball control & dribbling skills, was a thorn in side of all the teams, including the above mentioned Army team, in fact he single handedly won 2 PCs for his team against them. He is completely tireless, a ball of energy & plays the lone striker role superbly. To me he is a dream player for a team who need to play counterattack, or take time off the clock particularly when leading. WHERE ARE THE SCOUTS & THE SELECTORS, THE VISIONARIES & HOW MANY SUCH TALENTED GEMS ARE WE MISSING FROM LITTLE TEAMS ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY. Is he on our < 21 team. No Sir! He probably does not have the right connections, or no scouts have looked at him. Yet in my book he would be a very useful player, & his stamina is incredible.

5. The superlative trapping of the Indian Oil team, the fact that they come together 10 days before a tournament aka Australia. Hcky Team, yet continue to practice in their respective cities, yet put up a tremendous show.

6. The defensive grit of the PSB team reminding us of the teams of yester years from Punjab, like Punjab Police & BSF. It is again a tragedy that we cannot find any defensive minded players from this great state, though scouting for a speedy sardar would be crucial.

7. The play of old war horses Dhanraj Pillay & Sabu Varkey, an essential & much needed guidance for the youngsters,

8. PC striking rate of Gursewak Singh was fantastic, even against the Army. It astonishes me that India cannot give this guy a looksee, after all his proven, past, exploits for Western Railway.

9. THERE WAS NO DEARTH OF GOAL SCORING THROUGHOUT THE TOURNAMENT.

NEGATIVES

1. There were hardly any spectators in the stadium, which is a crying shame. It certainly did not do justice to the tremendous effort & skill that was on display, in all aspects of the conduct of the tournament, from the players to officials to announcers to ceremonies to the officiating. India hockey fans, for a game that is played even now with such tremendous skill, where thrills abound at a breathtaking pace, where a group of diehard players ,officials & count on your fingers, fans, brave innumerable odds, including the suffocating & senseless pressure of cricket mania, to plod on, to work & take part in the game they love & are not afraid to stand up for it, you are worthy of being disappointed.

2. Lack of old players, SCOUTS & SELECTORS, so how will you find the Mangeshs’ of Indian hockey, if you do not see any games.

3. No TV cameras, do not tell me DDR that even Coorg, Chota Nagpur & Punjab have no interest in hockey. I do not believe you.

4. Very little combo play from any team in fact I did not see any team put together a string of 3 consecutive passes amongst their team members. Every time there was a combo play it created danger for their opponent. IN fact Western Railway took the lead from such a play but lost their game 1-9.

5. Too many hard hits down the center of the pitch that were difficult to control.

6. Too little communication on the pitch except Mahadik & Mangesh.

7. Tactically most teams were poor & rolling substitutions were inadequately utilized, to give players a much needed rest.

8. Changing direction of play depending on the traffic clogging the field, trying to find the open man in order to create a numerical advantage, was deficient.

9. Too many touches on the ball allowing the opponents to recover, too many mistraps, except for Indian Oil.

In conclusion the wheels of Indian hockey towards modernity are turning but slowly, youngsters like Mahadik will be the catalysts & show tremendous promise, THERE IS NO DEARTH OF HOCKEY TALENT BUT I SUSPECT TEACHING IS AT A PREMIUM & SUPPORT OF PLAYERS FROM YESTERYEARS IS POOR.

Gopi Chand believes India can make it to Group II

HYDERABAD: India should make it to the Group II after a creditable performance in the forthcoming edition of the Sudirman Cup world mixed team badminton championship to be held in China from May 10 to 17, says chief national coach Pullela Gopi Chand. India is currently placed in Group III. Speaking on the sidelines of the on-going training session at the Gopi Chand-Nimmagadda Badminton Academy (Gachibowli) on Wednesday, Gopi said that India may not have fared impressively over the years. “But, things look very positive this time after some very good performances by Indian players especially World No. 10 Saina Nehwal.

We should in all probability top the Group III which also has Sweden, Scotland, USA, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Australia and Bulgaria” he explained. “Competition against Ukraine can be dicey but against other teams we should have a fairly good chance,” he added. Only the Group I teams – China, Indonesia, England, Korea, Denmark, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan – are in contention to win the Cup while teams in the other Groups can only battle for promotion.

Saina factor

“The form and consistency of Saina is a key factor. And with players like Chetan Anand, two-time National champion, spearheading the men’s singles, the chances of India putting a solid performance are good” Gopi remarked. “No doubt, the Indians could have done much better in the India Open Gold Grand Prix championship. But the fact they got a chance to assess where they stand and what areas need to be improved, should help them now,” he pointed out.

Saina said that the last time she played in the Sudirman Cup in 2007, she was not a big name. “This time, I am aware of my reputation and the pressures I will have to handle. A lot depends on how well we start off, and a huge responsibility is on my shoulders,” she said. Chetan said that the three-week break he got from the competitive circuit should help his cause. “I know it is not easy to go all out after the break. But given the training we had, I am confident of a good show.

All-round strength

“Overall, I believe this Indian team is capable of doing well. We have good all-round strength with a very strong mixed doubles combination too in the fray,” he said. However, it is unlikely that Gutta Jwala and Sruthi Kurien, the eight-time National women’s doubles champions, will combine in the Sudirman Cup. Gopi hinted at the possibility of trying out a new combination. The mood is upbeat in the Indian team which is leaving on Thursday for the championship and Gopi hoped that it would translate into winning performances in the championship.

The team:
Men: Anand, Arvind Bhat, K. Tharun, Rupesh Kumar, Sanave Thomas, V. Diju and Arun Vishnu.
Women: Saina Nehwal, Aparna Balan, Sayali Gokhale, Gutta Jwala and Sruthi Kurien. Chief coach: Pullela Gopi Chand.

Career-high ranking for Saurav Ghosal

CHENNAI: India’s best bet in squash Saurav Ghosal reached a career-high of 30 in the latest PSA World rankings released on Tuesday. This is also probably the best by an Indian in the men’s section believes the National coach, Cyrus Poncha. He had actually risen to 29, but dropped a rung thereafter but that again is his best so far. Ghosal started playing in the professional tour in 2003 but has devoted full time in the tour for only one year so far. The remarkable achievement was a reflection of the dedication and discipline of this 22-year-old said Poncha. Originally from Kolkata, Ghosal shifted his base to train at the ICL Squash Academy in Chennai. Currently based in Leeds, Ghosal is training with Malcolm Willstrop.

Recipient of the Arjuna award in 2007 and a medallist in the Asian Games, Ghosal is currently training for the 2010 Commonwealth Games where he is aspiring to win a medal. The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has been supporting him in this regard under their new scheme for preparing the Indian teams for the Commonwealth Games. Delighted with his latest ranking, Ghosal said: “I hope to take Indian squash to the top and win medals for the country,” while conveying his appreciation to the Union Government, the SRFI and his coaches for providing him all encouragement.

It should be fun: Brasa

Mumbai: India's Asia Cup preparations didn't start the way they would have hoped for. The first practice match against Japan at Kuantan, Malaysia, was cut short to just 35 minutes due to repeated rain interruptions on Wednesday. The tie eventually had to be called off while both sides were locked 2-2. Sandeep Singh and Prabhjyot Singh were the scorers for India.

This was India's first of the two practice matches before the continental tournament begins on May 9. They play South Korea on Thursday. "It's unfortunate because we were in a mood to play. And we were playing a good game as well," coach-in-charge Harendra Singh said. "But it is very humid in the afternoon here and rains in the evening." The match had to be stopped thrice due to thunderstorms and was eventually called off since the turf was booked by other countries too. Thursday's second friendly would be played on a 20-minute-per-half format.

The Indian team officials and players met chief coach Jose Brasa for the first time on Wednesday. The Spaniard reached Malaysia on Wednesday after his meeting with the Indian Olympic Association officials where he signed a two-year contract. "It was good to finally meet the players," Brasa told DNA from Kuantan. "My first impression of the team is that they are obviously a very enthusiastic bunch of players. They are a strong unit as everyone knows and it should be fun being with them," he said.

The chief coach, though, was quick to point out that certain things needed attention and he would look into those as soon as the Asia Cup is over. "I observed a few areas in our match against Japan that we need to work on. But it can happen after the tournament is over. Making changes in between will invite unnecessary trouble," Brasa said. Meanwhile, Harendra, who is in charge of the team for the Asia Cup, said he was confident. "We scored from a penalty corner and a field goal today so that is a good sign. We need to keep our winning momentum going," he said.

Talukdar in archery World Cup final

India's Jayanta Talukdar made it through five successive rounds to pit himself against Athens Olympics gold medallist Marco Galiazzo of Italy in the final of the recurve section of the Archery World Cup Stage 2 at Porec (Croatia) on Thursday. The 23-year-old Guwahati-born Talukdar, an assistant manager with Tata Steel in Jamshedpur, is eyeing his second World Cup gold medal in the sport. Porec has been a happy hunting ground for Indians as Talukdar began it all in 2006 winning the individual gold, the year in which his world ranking rose to two. He figured in the World Cup finals in Mexico but finished last among four contestants.

Last year, it was compatriot Rahul Banerjee who made the final in Porec only to finish second. With the day turning out to be a disappointing one for the Indians in the recurve section, Talukdar's display was the only silver lining. Second-seeded Talukdar began with a fluent win against 63rd ranked Brazilian Luis Felipe Paulinyi (113-105), conquered two Chinese, 34th ranked Hai Feng Xue (112-111) in the second round and 18th placed Yu Xing (113-111) in the third round, according to information received. He then ousted 10th seed Baljinima Tsyrempilov of Russia (112-110) in the quarter-finals and edged out 46th ranked Jean-Charles Valladont of France (112-111) in the last four stage.

Talukdar shot consistently with 112 points and above to make himself a strong contender for the gold medal. Among other Indians, only Rahul and Chekrovolu Swuro managed to reach the last 16 round. In the pre-quarter-finals, seventh-ranked Rahul fell to Tsyrempilov 110-113, while Sophie Dodemont of France eliminated 23rd placed Chekrovolu 104-105. The rest of the Indians bowed out in the second round of the recurve section.

Cho Mung Jua {a Korean}, is a Asian Games gold medalist and a keen trainer as well. Refusing to predict the outcome of the tournament, the wily administrator – he is in position of Marketing and Finance respectively in the FIH and AHF – is just said: “India have to be bit generous. They are already in the world cup. If they win here, this slot will perhaps go to any other continent, what way we will benefit.

"We are here to win and nothing else matters. As hosts we are assured of a place in the 2010 World Cup. But we want to show that we are the top team in Asia. We want to earn our place as champions. So there is no question of us taking it easy," he said. "If we win the Asia Cup we will move up in the world ranking and that will be our motivation."

India's attempts to revive their sagging hockey fortunes, after failing to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, commence in Kuantan (Malaysia) on Saturday when they take on Bangladesh in the eighth Asia Cup. The seven-nation competition will be India's first meaningful international outing in 14 months after the disaster at the Olympic qualifiers in Santiago, Chile.

As the defending champions, India would no doubt start favourites. However, in the context of developing a new-look team, it would seem that India are still to take the first step.

Sharath attains career-high 72nd place in world ranking

New Delhi (PTI): Olympian Achanta Sharath Kamal's fine performance in the World Championship paid dividends as the Indian attained his career-best ranking of 72 in the latest ratings issued by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). The Chennai paddler, who pulled off a 4-1 upset victory against world number 39 Steger Bastian of Germany in the World Championship in Yokohama last week, climbed 13 rungs with 11661 points in his kitty in the ranking released on Thursday.

The Indian ace achieved his earlier best ranking when he figured 73rd in July, 2007. Sharath, who regularly plays for the Super Division club San Sebastian in Spanish League, also defeated world number 95 Wang Jianfeng of Norway in the Championship, before bowing out in the third round of men's singles. Next big assignment before the lanky player will be 18th Commonwealth Championships commencing in Glasgow, Scotland on May 19.

Irresponsible ITF acted on selective info: Fitzgerald

Melbourne (PTI): Australian Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald on Friday described the ITF as an "irresponsible" body for acting on "selective information" and not moving their Davis Cup tie out of India which led to his team forfeiting the match and facing a one-year ban from the competition. "We're incredibly disappointed and I think there was a lot of irresponsibility from the ITF in this," said the skipper of nine years.

"It worries me that some of these decisions are made with selective information. Where were elections and when the Indian government couldn't guarantee the safety of the IPL (Indian Premier League cricket) players," Fitzgerald was quoted as saying by the Australian Associated Press on Friday. According to the ITF rules, Australia is liable to ban and a heavy penalty for boycotting the Asia-Oceania Zone Group I third-round tie scheduled in Chennai on May 8-10 over security concerns.

"To have the same group that don't have to be accountable enough make that decision that we can't play and then have that same group also impose the penalty, it all seems a bit silly to me," he said. Fitzgerald said Tennis Australia were justified in seeking a shift to a neutral venue as the tour was a big risk.

Australia captain John Fitzgerald weighing up his Davis Cup future

Disillusioned with the sport's governing body, John Fitzgerald admits he's not sure if he wants to remain as captain of Australia's Davis Cup team.
One of his country's most loyal Cup servants, having served as player or captain for more than two decades, Fitzgerald is still furious that the International Tennis Federation suspended Australia from the 2009 competition for refusing to travel to India for a play-off this weekend. Citing security concerns, Tennis Australia's request to have the Asia-Oceania playoff moved to a neutral venue fell on deaf ears, leaving Fitzgerald's team to forfeit the tie and TA facing a fine and possible suspension for next year as well.

“The question that begs to be asked is: Would the ITF send their children there? Not as individuals but as a national team when there were elections and when the Indian government couldn't guarantee the safety of the IPL players,'' Fitzgerald said. “We're incredibly disappointed and I think there was a lot of irresponsibility from the ITF in this. “It worries me that some of these decisions are made with selective information. “You might expect that they're made in board rooms, but who knows.

“Maybe they're made with blackberries from long distances with language breakdowns ... “Tennis Australia in this situation really did a great job. They went out of their way, they did a lot of homework from all sorts of different angles and realised that there was a risk there and the risk was too much to send young people. “I don't believe the ITF really listened. It's pretty simple to play on a neutral venue. Pretty simple.'' Fitzgerald hoped the ITF might have paid Australia, 28-times Cup champions, more respect.

“Davis Cup is so important to Australia and our record and commitment speaks for itself,'' he said. “So if one time we believe that we don't want to send our players to a place that has risk, it would be logical to me that the powers-that-be would take that reasonably seriously and really look into it deeply. “I would have thought the governing body might have taken that into consideration a bit more.'' The nine-year skipper is also upset that Australia's 2010 fate remains in the ITF's hands. “To have the same group that don't have to be accountable enough make that decision that we can't play and then have that same group also impose the penalty, it all seems a bit silly to me,'' he said.

The whole affair has left Fitzgerald feeling bitter and he conceded he needs time to weigh up his future. “It's dampened my enthusiasm for the governing body, but it certainly hasn't dampened my enthusiasm for the great competition that the Davis Cup is,'' he said. As a player, Fitzgerald won the Davis Cup in 1983 and 1986 before captaining the country to glory in 2003. But he said he was undecided about applying for the role in 2010. “I can't answer that. I don't know,'' Fitzgerald said. “Ask me in a couple of months.” “It's been a great part of my life and I'm still committed to the Davis Cup, but it's only a few weeks since we realised that we're out of the comp for this year and it's a long way till the beginning of next year.”

Fourth-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych overcame stiff resistance in Lleyton Hewitt before prevailing 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4) against the Australian wild card. Breaks of serve were exchanged three times before Berdych edged out his second victory over Hewitt (2-0) in the deciding tie-break after two hours and 18 minutes.

Former World No. 1 Hewitt saved two match points in a dramatic first-round win over Philipp Petzschner that saw him record his 500th tour-level victory. The 28 year old made his debut in Munich this week and was contesting his fourth ATP World Tour quarter-final of the season. He slipped to a 15-10 match record, highlighted by capturing his 27th tour-level title at Houston (d. Odesnik) last month.

Berdych, currently No. 28 in the South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings, is through to his first ATP World Tour semi-final since capturing his fourth title in Tokyo (d. del Potro) in October last year and improved to a 12-10 match record on the season. The Czech No. 2 (behind No. No. 17 Stepanek) was also a semi-finalist in Munich two years ago when he lost to Youzhny.

No Asia Cup on television

Mumbai: Hockey lovers will miss out on live action, again. After no telecast of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, the Asia Cup that begins on Saturday won't be shown on TV (live or even delayed) after the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Malaysia-based website http://www.hockey-asia.com. The website will stream the matches live for a fee of 1.50 euros (Rs 100 approx) per game. It is learnt that the MHF had some revenue sharing issues with their main broadcaster because of which viewers in India will also be affected. "As of now, there won't be any live coverage. Though we will try our best to work something out but it looks unlikely," Anupam Ghulati, ad hoc committee media advisor, said.

There was widespread criticism of the Indian Olympic Association-formed makeshift body after viewers missed watching India's tournament-winning feat at the Azlan Shah Cup. The legal tussle has forced various broadcasters to shy away. "It is a shame that there is no live coverage. TV is the best way for people to connect with the sport and especially when we are winning, it leaves a good impression," an ad hoc committee member said. "We had a talk with Doordarshan but since the problem is arising from Malaysia, we are left with very few options."

Even the Union sports minister, MS Gill, had urged Union information and broadcasting minister Anand Sharma to look into the matter as to why the final of the Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia was not telecast on Doordarshan. Efforts to reach a DD official went futile.

India go down: South Korea came back from a goal down to beat India 2-1 in a practice match at Kuantan on Thursday. Korea scored the winner in the last minute of the 25-minute per half match, through a penalty corner. Arjun Halappa gave India lead in the first half.

Schedule changed: India will face Pakistan in their first group B match which is now postponed till May 10. India were to play Bangladesh in the opener on Saturday but they were moved to Group A after Sri Lanka pulled out.

Australia lets down Indian fans ---- By K. P. MOHAN.

The Aussies have had the habit of chickening out at the slightest of provocations. In an increasingly conflict-ridden world, host cities of major events are forced to spend millions of dollars on security, though pull-outs from competitions under a perceived security threat are rare.

The decision of Tennis Australia to forfeit its Davis Cup tie against India, scheduled to be held in Chennai — May 8 to 10 — because of what it terms “unacceptable levels of risk”, is not only shocking but also condemnable. After its plea for a change of venue was rejected by the Davis Cup committee and its appeal against that decision was turned down by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), Tennis Australia resorted to this extreme step despite assurances of foolproof security by the Indian authorities and clearance from an ITF-nominated security agency.

Two weeks after the World Trade Center towers were brought down by airborne terrorists, an Indian Davis Cup team travelled via New York to play a Davis Cup tie against the United States in North Carolina. Last January, some of the finest tennis players in the world had made light of the much-publicised 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai to compete in the popular ATP event in Chennai, and the English cricket team returned to complete a Test series in the aftermath of the Mumbai carnage. After the Sri Lankan players were targeted in Lahore on March 3 the situation might have changed a little, but as ICC President David Morgan noted recently, there is a great deal of difference in the security scenario in India compared to that in Pakistan.

“So what about the fact that dozens of people are being killed along the campaign trail of the elections? A train was hijacked this week…Did the IPL move for no reason?” John Fitzgerald, the Australian Davis Cup captain, was quoted as saying. IPL, a 59-match competition spread over eight venues, was moved out of India by the cricket authorities when some of the State governments backed out of security commitments because of the demands of General Elections. A three-day Davis Cup tie in front of a few thousand spectators cannot be compared to the IPL. Yet Fitzgerald did just that, betraying a complete lack of understanding of the situation. The wider implications of the Australian pull-out, particularly in respect of the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the 2010 World Cup hockey tournament, both scheduled to be held in New Delhi, and the 2011 cricket World Cup, need no re-emphasis.

Mercifully, Commonwealth and Olympic associations and international federations take a more pragmatic view of such issues. Australian swimming legend Dawn Fraser did not receive much support last March when she suggested that the Commonwealth Games be relocated following the Lahore incident. The Aussies have had the habit of chickening out at the slightest of provocations. In an increasingly conflict-ridden world, host cities of major events are forced to spend millions of dollars on security, though pull-outs from competitions under a perceived security threat are rare. And the organisers of every major international sports event in India in recent times have taken all possible steps to make sure that players and fans feel totally secure at the stadiums.

Against this background, the latest pull-out has added another chapter to Australian petulance, probably at the cost of a one-year suspension from Davis Cup for one of the most successful nations in the history of the great competition. The ITF would be letting itself down if it fails to impose sanctions against Tennis Australia.

A near perfect day for Gaganjeet Bhullar

Lonavla: For Gaganjeet Bhullar, 2009 is a year of reckoning. The 21-year-old pro from Kapurthala, near Amritsar, will play his first Major this year and he knows that a decent show there could make his career. After a near perfect day at the scenic golf course here, apart from an unnecessary bogie on the 11th hole, Bhullar admitted how important this year will be for him. "I think about it (British Open) almost everyday. It's still a long way away but the thought of playing alongside the bigwigs is exciting," he said after carding a round of six under to take his tally to 17 under after three rounds of the PGTI Players Championships at Aamby Valley on Friday.

Content with his performance after Round Three, Bhullar said the late tee off time helped him get a better start. "Due to the late start yesterday (Thursday) there was a lot of wind which was a bit difficult. But the early start on Friday meant the conditions were better and I got off to a good start," he said. The Championship is now for Bhullar to lose. He has a nine stroke lead over Harmeet Kahlon and he knows it. "I have to win it now. I have a big lead and have to play really badly to lose it now," Bhullar admits. The win here would be a big boost for him before the British Open, which begin on July 16. And he aims big: "My goal is not only to make the cut but to finish as high as possible. I have to play aggressively and not get bogged down by the occasion."

"I feel it's a great opportunity for me to get a taste of playing against the likes of Woods and Mickelson so early in my career. I will gain a lot from this experience. But the thing I am looking forward is to play along with Jeev, who has helped me reach so far," Bhullar said.

Round 3 scores:
199 Gaganjeet Bhullar; 208 Harmeet Kahlon; 211 Arjun Singh, Vikrant Chopra; 212 Nabin Mandal; 214 Kunal Bhasin, Rahil Gangjee, Rafick Ali Mollah.

India to host world's biggest badminton extravaganza

New Delhi: It will be a test of India's preparedness for the 2010 Commonwealth Games when Hyderabad hosts the elite World Badminton Championships from August 10-16 this year. The biggest global badminton tournament, classified as the only test event in the calendar year of the International Olympic Association, will be staged at the state-of-the-art Gachibowli stadium in Hyderabad with over 50 countries participating in it.

"We are proud to be hosts to the biggest global badminton event. With our proven records of successfully managing premier events of the sport in the past I am sure that the BWF had all the right reasons to nominate us as the hosts to the World Badminton Championships 2009," VK Verma, president of the Badminton Association of India (BAI), said. "As the Indian youngsters create ripples in the global stage of the sport, this event will definitely be a big boost for many aspiring superstars and also for the present contingent to showcase their talents and performance levels in front of a huge global audience," Verma said.

India, of late, has become a popular venue for elite badminton events, hosting the World Junior Championships 2008 and the Grand Prix series twice in 2008 and 2009. The country will also host the Asian Championships next year. Incidentally, the only other test event in the next calendar year of the IOA before the 2010 Commonwealth Games is the men's field hockey World Cup, again to be hosted in India in New Delhi.

Verma said India was aware of the importance of both the events and would do everything to make them a roaring success. "To host events of these statures we need to have our infrastructure and technology in place in accordance to the norms of international standards. The fact the Badminton World Federation and the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has nominated India as the hosts to its biggest global event makes it quite evident about India's readiness to stage the Commonwealth Games 2010," he said.

Former player Prakash Padukone also welcomed the development and said it could not get bigger for Indian badminton. "There could not have been a better opportunity for India and the players other than hosting and competing against the best in the world, in the World badminton championship at this stage. "This will help us know our players' capability under the pressures of playing against the best. Being hosts to this premiere event we get a wild card entry for the tournament hence performance of the team in this championship will give us a fair idea of the future work required to be done before we approach the CWG 2010," he said.

Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran has over the years gained a lot of experience in youth football and over development of the game. As the AIFF – Director of Vision India & In-charge of National Teams, Grassroots and Youth he is in a position to talk about the Vision India programme. Shaji Prabhakaran spoke to our Editor-in-Chief Arunava Chaudhuri about Indian football and the development projects.

Arunava: Why is it that the Asian Football Confederation has had a Vision for Indian football that we seem to be following and perhaps we ourselves (as Indians) did not have one or perhaps do not have one even today? Or is that judgement wrong?

Shaji: It won’t be appropriate to think that AIFF does not have a vision of its own. Vision India project is just one part of that AIFF Vision. The implementation of I-League in the year 2007 was definitely the part of AIFF Vision and in last 5 years of my association with AIFF I saw some crucial policy decisions made by AIFF for the good of the game in India. What we all have to agree that development work is a process and there are no shortcuts to achieve success in football. I am optimistic that India will close the gap and become very competitive in Asia to begin with, but I am certainly not in a position to predict any time frame. I am also clear in my thought that there is plenty of scope for AIFF to further invest into many crucial aspects of the game to bring about that perceptual change in Indian football in partnership with other stakeholders.

Arunava: Why has Vision Delhi been such an embarrassment in terms of execution comparing it with the small state of Manipur having pulled off the Manipur State League and school leagues already? And the Delhi Football League is still being run by the Delhi Soccer Association in old fashion more as a tournament rather then a league.

Shaji: At the beginning of the Vision Delhi Project I was very optimistic that Vision Delhi Project will be highly successful and trust me, for initial few months it was going fine. The project was progressing to our satisfaction and we also roped in sponsors for the project and thus we could implement the School League in Delhi with 48 school teams. But after initial spurt, the project hit series of roadblocks, and after analysing the situation AFC decided to deactivate the project in 2007. With the intervention from Mr. Das Munshi the project was activated again by AFC in 2008.

I always felt that Delhi deserves a good league, and Elite League which was planned under the Vision project would have been a huge success had it taken place. It is not an exaggeration but the fact that Delhi would have immensely benefited from the project and football would have made the right headlines had Delhi taken this opportunity. In the last two years the project was in the news for all the wrong reasons and all those negative stories have put a serious dent on the image of football in Delhi. At the same time it is also a fact that Delhi does have limited football infrastructure and Elite League format should had factored those genuine demands of Delhi clubs.

When I look for answers why Delhi failed to implement the project? I find that Delhi was not adequately prepared to handle the project of this magnitude in first place and its Strategic Plan for implementation should have been approached differently. But any comparison of Delhi with Manipur will be unjustifiable considering different scenario prevailing in both the States in respect to football.

Arunava: Manipur has been termed as a role model state/city by the AFC. Your judgement on the Vision India programmes impact on Manipur and its football?

Shaji: Manipur deserves all credit for the successful implementation of the project and making India proud in the eyes of Asia by becoming a role model State in Vision Asia Project. Manipur is primarily a football playing State and I don’t think Manipur requires any introduction on that front. Manipur got a tremendous boost and inspiration to work even harder towards football with the introduction of Vision Project in the State. The project has accelerated the development of Manipur football to many folds, and it helped Manipur in putting the right kind of structure at every aspect of the game. When there is right structure and organisation at each level of the game then it helps in creating right foundation for the better future of football at every level. The factors which led to the success of Manipur Project, according to me are: sincerity, passionate involvement and commitment of all stakeholders from the inception of the project. Be it Manipur FA, State Government, Clubs, Community, Media, etc., all stood behind the project as one force, and that is the strength of Manipur Vision Project. The project has expanded 400 per cent in last three years but it is progressing smoothly inspite of difficulty in arranging funds and other constraints.

Vision Manipur not only strengthened their grassroots but also their club structure and competition. For the first time Manipur started a State League with 12 clubs on home and away format in 2006 under the Vision project, and the event was a hit in Manipur among players and the community. With the introduction of MSL it has brought in a lot of positive developments in club football. Match Organisation has improved qualitatively but at the same time it requires quality infrastructure to fully realize it’s potential. There are some problems with spectator control during the MSL and organisers are working hard to put in place the measure to control crowd during the MSL match. Naturally the stakes have gone high for clubs and at the same time there is pressure to generate higher revenue to manage the clubs.

Manipur at present have a better grassroots programme in the country with more than 150 school teams in different age group. With the beginning of youth league, probably this year Manipur may have an excellent club youth structure in place. My analysis is that there will be significant spurt in movement of players probably after 5 years from Manipur to professional clubs across India because of a structured grassroots and youth programme. Thus we will see more and more players from Manipur in our I-League and in Team India. Already Manipur players are in demand and according to last year data there is approximately 165 players from Manipur are playing for different clubs in India. .

My biggest worry is that if Manipur is not supported with additional funding then the project cannot be expanded beyond this point and even maintaining the current status may become difficult. Though the project is financially supported by AFC, AIFF and local government but it may not be enough to sustain and expand the project. I think for additional funding AFC, AIFF, and AMFA have to look for a sponsor to support the project to achieve its long term goals. I don’t know how much the project will attract the interest of marketers because of limited opportunity in brand communication/visibility platforms and exposure. But Manipur Project is perfect project to attract CSR funding. I would like to wish the project lots of luck and I am sure the project will achieve its long term goals because of continuous support from all stakeholders.

Arunava: The Vision India programme has spread from Delhi & Manipur to the south to Kerala & Tamil Nadu. How has the initial progress been there?

Shaji: The Project got rightly expanded to Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the initial progress was satisfactory in both the States, particularly in Kerala. The grassroots programme in Kerala got a tremendous support from Government and it helped in timely implementation of project in 7 districts of Kerala with 56 schools. But the progress of the project in Tamil Nadu hardly made any significant progress after initial euphoria. I can only hope that the project will come back to track soon for the better future of football in Tamil Nadu. I would also like to see Kerala adopting other elements of the project without much delay to take the full advantage of the project.

Arunava: What are the AIFF and the Vision India programme doing for the popularity as well as development of the game in smaller footballing states like Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh?

Shaji: Vision India Project already got expanded to West Bengal and Goa, and Strategic plans for Bengal and Goa may be deliberated in next few months time. I think may be in the next phase, States like, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand may be included in the Vision Project. But inclusion of States in the Vision Project is purely a policy decision of AIFF. We all have to agree and understand that the project cannot be expanded to every State in one go, primarily because of available and anticipated resources with AIFF and its stakeholders. I think step by step approach is better for India but that no way it means AIFF is ignoring these States.

Arunava: What are some of the breakthrough activities planned or executed in the recent past to help young children play football for fun or learn some basic football skills in a proper manner?

Shaji: The launch of football festivals for boys and girls by AIFF in 2005 and 2007 respectively was an important step to promote grassroots football, and NIKE bringing in the Manchester United Premier Cup Under-15 event to India also added flavour in youth football. With these events the opportunities for players to showcase their talents at bigger stage has increased significantly.
I don’t think whatever exists today at grassroots or youth level is sufficient, we need to have much broader grassroots initiative where our clubs and State FA’s have to play much bigger role. Certainly we need to create much more opportunities for children across India so that who all aspire to be part of football finds an opportunity in football nearest to their locality.

Arunava: Bob Houghton’s “Goal 2011” programme has been in news lately. Greatly discussed in the football fraternity with different options supporting it or being against it. Hats you opinion on it? Can it take our football forward?

Shaji: I don’t like to comment on this subject at this juncture since the matter is under discussion and I really don’t know what shape it will take finally.

Archery World Cup: Indian men in final

KOLKATA: Continuing the form that fetched them the men's recurve team gold in the World Cup Stage I, the Indian archers put the country in line for the yellow metal in the Stage II at Porec, Croatia on Friday. The troika of Jayanta Talukdar, Rahul Banerjee and Mangal Singh Champia would take on the Russian Federation in the final on Saturday. The Indian women's recurve team, comprising Bombayla Devi, Rimil Buriuly and Dola Banerjee, made it to the bronze medal play off against Ukraine.

The Indian men's outfit had no problem disposing off Slovakia at 224-193 in the first round and outshot the USA 227-218 in the quarter-finals. The confidence gained from the two victories put India in good stead against Italy in the semi-finals as they prevailed over Italy 225-220 to move into the title round, according to information received. The women's side, ranked ninth, had a tough outing in the opening round against eighth-ranked Great Britain. The two teams were tied 217-217 before the Indians triumphed in the tie-breaker 28-23. The Indian eves stunned top seeds Italy in the quarter-finals 217-212, but failed to consolidate the gains in the semi-finals against fourth-ranked France and lost the tie 206-209.

Talukdar wins individual gold, India win Archery World Cup

Jayanta Talukdar clinched the men's individual recurve gold and helped India win the team event in the Archery World Cup Stage 2 at Porec, Croatia, on Saturday. Talukdar upset Athens Olympic gold medallist Marco Galiazzo of Italy 110-108 in the final to clinch his second gold. Earlier, the trio of Talukdar, Rahul Banerjee and Mangal Singh Champia won India the men's recurve team gold. This was the trio's second consecutive team gold after bagging the first at Santo Domingo World Cup Stage 1 on April 5. India had beaten Great Britain in Stage 1 final.

The trio had bagged India the first team gold in World Cup series winning at Antalya (Turkey) in 2008. This was followed by two more already this year. Talukdar also won his third head-to-head contest against the Italian Galiazzo, all played at Porec. He first tamed Galiazzo in 2006 on way to the gold medal, and again beat him in 2008 and now in the final today. Talukdar held the lead in the first two ends of three arrows each at 55-52. He surprisingly conceded two points in the third end to allow the Italian to narrow the gap to 81-82.

When Galiazzo hit an eight with his second arrow of the final end of the three arrows, the Indian needed a nine to win. Talukdar hit a 10 to take the second crown in Porec. The women's recurve team, however, failed to clinch the bronze medal losing the play-off to Ukraine 197-212. In the men's team summit clash, Russia trailed by one point (54-55) in the first end, recovered in the second end to tie the match at 108 points at halfway mark. However, India took the lead in the third end at 164-162. Russia showed their best in the last end, but it was not enough to beat the Indians.

In the women's third place play-off, it was pretty good performance in dusty conditions as Indian eves took 53-49 lead in the first end. They, however, could not overcome the windy conditions as they did in the first end and went on a wayward shooting, 7-9-8-8-9-6, all on the right side of the target. The Ukrainians tied the match at 100 points and took the lead in the third end at 154-150. The last end for India was stressful as the last arrow slipped from the arrow rest as Ukraine eves settled the issue. Archery Association of India president VK Malhotra and secretary general Paresh Nath Mukherjee congratulated the winners.