Indian Sports and Entertainment Industry

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 25 Apr 2010 17:51

Here is a link for live coverage (positions, ie.): http://www.anand-topalov.com/en/live.html {2nd round is on right now.}

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 26 Apr 2010 05:00

Anand won the second match. Series tied at 1-1.

Ameet · Post by **Ameet** » 26 Apr 2010 11:00

India clubbed with S. Korea, Australia in Asian Cup soccer

http://sify.com/news/india-clubbed-with ... dicjg.html

India will spare no expense to spare the blushes of the Bhangra Boys

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/football/in ... -tlr0.html

India are sparing no expense on preparations for their coming-out party at next year's Asian Cup. While few expect India to emerge from a testing group that also includes South Korea and Bahrain, the All India Football Federation has gone to great lengths to ensure the team are at least competitive.

Next season's kick-off to the new professional I-League will be delayed from October until February to allow coach Bob Houghton to have his squad in camp for six months before the Cup. Apart from daily training, the squad will spend two months in Portugal in July, and will travel to the Middle East for warm-up games in December. It's a preparation that their opponents - including Australia - can only envy.

''The national team has gone up 50 places [in the FIFA rankings] in the last three years, so we're improving,'' Houghton said. ''We've probably punched above our weight and we've had some good success - albeit at a level below the teams we'll be playing here.''

Carl_T · Post by **Carl_T** » 26 Apr 2010 11:08

We are f***ed.

RSoami · Post by **RSoami** » 26 Apr 2010 13:55

Asian badminton championship was organised in Delhi in Siri Fort...No mention of that here..I am a badminton fan...sad

Ameet · Post by **Ameet** » 27 Apr 2010 02:23

http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ ... ck_check=1

The cricket final was the first major sporting event streamed live by Google. According to Dale, about 50 million people around the world had tuned in by noon Pacific time. After India, the U.S. had the largest viewership.

ArmenT · Post by **ArmenT** » 27 Apr 2010 08:29

Folks, I was reading a BBC article on the latest IPL tamasha with Lalit Modi and they revealed a bit of his earlier life. Did you have any idea that while he was a college student in North Carolina (he went to Duke U.), he was once arrested for kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon + charges of cocaine trafficking

Compared to him, Sanjay Gandhi seems to be an amateur.

Carl_T · Post by **Carl_T** » 27 Apr 2010 09:02

On his wikipedia page.

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 28 Apr 2010 07:52

Third game between Anand-Topalov drawn. Nice deal, Anand was playing black.

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 29 Apr 2010 03:26

Anand wins Game 4 with white.

Anand 2.5
Topalov 1.5

Official site results page

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 29 Apr 2010 05:25

Anand goes into the 5th game with great momentum. The only drawn game was when he played black. A 3 game lead would be real nice, though not insurmountable it will put a whole lot of pressure on Topalov. Anand, if I am not mistaken, has to only draw the games in the tournament to retain the WC title.

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 29 Apr 2010 05:54

The winner is required to win outright. The rules are:
* 12 classical games, first to 6.5 wins
* If 6-6 after 12 games, 4 rapid games (25 mins, +10 seconds per move) are played.
* If 2-2 after 4 games, two blitz games (5 minutes, +10 seconds per move) played.
* If drawn, upto four more two-game blitz events are conducted, for a total of 10 blitz games.
* If still drawn, one sudden death game under special blitz conditions.

Commentators are lauding Anand's game 4 performance, and in particular, his ability to 'play like someone else', and taking advantage of Topalov's impetuousity. Anand has used the same approach (Catalan opening) in both games he has won, and also emulated former champion Kramnik in the process. Kramnik successfully used the Catalan against Topalov four years ago in their championship match.

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 30 Apr 2010 07:53

Ah...I did not know that. I assumed if Anand drew he retained the title, like some tournaments in the past. I too got the same feeling about commentators. There has been widespread accolades on the 4th game. Topalov's h6 was bad enough. Anand's 23rd move was good and I could see that. But I cannot understand how his 10th move (Na3) is lauded to be really good. Well if I understood it I would probably be analyzing the games like the commentators

The official website is blatantly pro-Topalov. They don't have an interview of Anand on the interviews tab. I am not sure if they have it embedded deeply in some page. I think Danailov is a bad influence on Topalov. Danailov has been playing games outside the chess board for few months now. I guess it is to rattle Anand

, the results so far tell it is not working or backfiring.

The fifth game is tomorrow.

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 30 Apr 2010 08:02

Some links apart from the official site for commentary, analysis and general gup-shup of comments I have been following the last week.

http://chessbase.com/
http://www.chessvibes.com/
http://www.chessninja.com {I like the boards}
http://www.chessclub.com/
http://www.chessdom.com/ {there are charges that this site has a Balkan slant - which the site disputes}
http://susanpolgar.blogspot.com/ {on game day, i view the official site for the moves, plus Susan's commentary. It does not hurt that she is kinda cute to look at too.}

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 30 Apr 2010 12:33

Of course the commentary on the official Anand-Topalov site is pro-Topalov. Both the Bulgarian and English official commentary providers are official or unofficial members of his team

The Indian press has not dwelt on this much, but Anand is essentially playing against the Bulgarian apparatus, not against Topalov alone. It doesn't get much press because there's no 'big power rivalry' dynamic like Fischer-Spassky did. Keep in mind Anand arrived in Sofia after a 40hr road trip due to the volcano-related air transport issues. I hope he keeps his cool and continues to deliver. There's already talk of Danailov and cohorts resorting to creating controversies to distract Anand if Topalov cannot quickly equalize.

Here's a funny thread on another chess forum titled Bulgarian Dirty Tricks Department

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 30 Apr 2010 16:40

^^^
Yup read that link few days ago. It is from the Chess Ninja site, I gave a link earlier. People are on pins to find out Anand's seconds. He has held them close to his chest so far. Until recently I never realized Anand has so many non-desi fans.

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 30 Apr 2010 19:57

5th game, six pawns each. Anand has a rook and knight to Topalov's rook and bishop. Topalov has the interesting "Sofia rules"self-imposed. It seems he will neither offer nor accept a draw.

Sofia Rules

The “Sofia Rules” of chess matches have been introduced by the Mtel Masters tournament in Bulgaria’s Sofia. According to them, the players do not have the right to offer draws and to talk to one another during the game, thus avoiding the possibility of having games end in negotiated draws after just a few moves.

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 30 Apr 2010 21:42

Anand, playing black, holds on to the 1 point lead with a draw in the 5th game.

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 01 May 2010 04:31

Anand plays white in both round 6 and 7, before going back to black in round 8. Except for round 1, where he blundered with black, he's won with white and easily held on with black. It would be interesting to see how Topalov now handles playing black in successive games, after having lost with that color each time so far.

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 01 May 2010 21:40

6th game drawn. It went well for Topalov. He did better this time playing black. He will go into the rest in a better state of mind. Of course nothing like winning, but he should be happy. So not a good game for Anand. But he is going to play white again and has still a better chance to break any momentum. Would Topalov become aggressive in the 7th to wrest the initiative or would he play for a draw - he usually does not. 7th game is going to be very interesting.

Carl_T · Post by **Carl_T** » 02 May 2010 11:57

Chhetri fails to make the bench for the second game. It'll be a few mos before we see him most likely.

Sri · Post by **Sri** » 03 May 2010 15:59

Dunno where to post this... but too good to pass this ....

Ameet · Post by **Ameet** » 03 May 2010 22:04

Golf comes to the fore in India

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/bus ... 645128.stm

Veteran coaches Karan Bindra and Anitya Chand say that they have seen a surge in interest in the sport among children as young as five.

Parents, too, are keen to encourage their children to become career golfers. Many junior players are regularly competing in tournaments, both in India and abroad.

Sixteen-year-old Vani Kapoor has been playing for five years and has the top position on the women's order of merit list.
"I want to take up golf as a career - I practise every day after school. It's a big part of my life," she says.

Meanwhile, Piyush Sangwan, a 12-year-old who has been playing golf for the past eight years, is no less keen.
"I want to be the next Tiger Woods.," he says. "I dream of golf even when I sleep."

He recently won the top honours in the under-13 category in the True Vision International Junior Golf Championship at Thailand.

From just six courses in the 1960s, there are about 250 now, with another 50 being built across India.

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 03 May 2010 23:19

Anand-Topalov World Championship Game 7 also drawn. Anand leads 4-3 , and plays black in Game 8 .

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 04 May 2010 08:22

Topalov has been playing aggressively in the last two game. Anand held on today, with a great disadvantage w.r.t time. His brilliance and experience saw him through. Topalov came with all guns blazing today; tomorrow is another day. He has 3 whites in the last 5 games.

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 04 May 2010 22:43

Topalov wins game 8 . Scores are now 4-4 .

Like in game 1, Anand blundered. Game 9 will be interesting, to see whether Anand is really tiring, or whether it is just a momentary lapse. Anand plays white next. Commentators suggested Anand was too cavalier in games 6 and 7, where it was suggested he didn't press enough for a win with white on both occasions. Now both sides have two whites in the remaining four games, with Topalov playing white in the last classical game.

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 05 May 2010 02:02

It was a good game. Anand is adopting a non-aggressive strategy for the match. He does not seem to exhibit the will or intention to knock off the challenger. Whereas Topalov is showing all signs of wanting to push and win. This habit might get him into trouble.

It is like an attacker laying a siege on a fort. The attacker, by nature, wants to occupy the fort. And the defender seems to be content in thwarting efforts instead of destroying the attacker.

In the last few games Anand has been falling behind on time. I thought he was going to lose the 7th game. He should have won at least one game when he played white in the 6th and 7th. Lost opportunity.

As of now, if I were a betting man, I would bet on Topalov.

Carl_T · Post by **Carl_T** » 05 May 2010 02:53

Bob Houghton resigns from Team India.

Vasu · Post by **Vasu** » 05 May 2010 16:55

According to reports by Praful Patel and others, its a rumor, and Bob hasn't resigned. But there was definitely a fudge-up by AIFF....

Indian National Team: Bob Houghton Has Not Resigned - AIFF President Praful Patel

The news of Indian national coach Bob Houghton resigning is doing the rounds in Indian media and the president of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), Praful Patel echoed the same words as that of its general secretary, Alberto Colaco, who termed it as “completely false reports” when Goal.com contacted him on Monday evening.

The top two important men in Indian football had an emergency meeting called in the national capital with Houghton’s contract being one of the primary agendas of the discussion. Many believe that the AIFF is trying it’s best to cover-up the goof-up of delaying in the issuing of a new contract to Houghton.

It is learnt that while Alberto Colaco and Houghton’s agent were corresponding, the former intimated on the issue to Praful Patel who asked him to seek the opinion of the three vice-presidents – Subrata Dutta, Ankur Dutta and A.R.Khaleel.

While two of the three suggested that Houghton be asked to wait until the 7th of this month when the AIFF Executive Committee meets, one of them reportedly said that the AIFF wouldn’t be held to ransom by the English coach over the salary demands.

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 07 May 2010 16:32

A disappointing performance by Anand on the 9th game leading to a draw. They are tied at 4.5 games each.

Vasu · Post by **Vasu** » 07 May 2010 22:19

there's quite a few things happening on the national sports front, I am sure most of you are aware of the Sports Ministry ably led by Dr. MS Gill bringing in an old clause that restricts the terms of the heads of various sports federations in the country. It is joined by a PIL by a lawyer against the heads of sports federations who have been at the helm for so many years without anything to show for it. Most are politicians who have nothing to do with the sport they are pretending to lead. The courts are involved and they may sway the Gill/ PIL way.

Anyways, Kalmadi/Randhir Singh and coterie say that IOC will ban India if the government tries to interfere in the autonomy of the sports federations. They've all even met the Prime Minister.

Today's editorial from the Hindu

Sports Ministry on right track

Union Sports Minister M.S. Gill has done a real service to Indian sport by restoring a 35-year-old clause in the government guidelines dealing with the tenure of office-bearers of the National Sports Federations (NSFs) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). The tenure clause in its amended form, which was notified last week, is actually a softening of the 1975 guidelines. It restricts the term of a president of a federation to a maximum of 12 years (up from eight previously) and that of the secretary and the treasurer to two terms of four years. It is another matter that over the years the guidelines have been honoured mainly in the breach. Dr. Gill's laudable initiative was speeded up by observations made by the Delhi High Court in an ongoing public interest litigation and by the sentiments expressed by several MPs in the Rajya Sabha.

The IOA and NSF bosses have taken shelter behind the Olympic Charter, the document that governs world sport. They have also sought the Prime Minister's intervention. The Olympic Charter empowers the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to suspend a National Olympic Committee (NOC) if government regulations, laws or even the constitution of a country hamper the activity or erode the autonomy of an NOC. Dr. Gill, who has tried to bring transparency and accountability into the functioning of the NSFs, has wisely decided to send a senior Ministry official to the IOC Headquarters in Lausanne to sort out the matter. Autonomy cannot mean unbridled liberty to run sports bodies at the cost of the public exchequer. In framing fresh regulations, the Sports Ministry has argued that it has merely followed international ‘best practices.' With politicians at the helm of most federations, reform and regulation of Indian sports bodies has become extremely difficult. The spirited attempts by Mani Shankar Aiyar, Dr. Gill's predecessor, to set up a regulatory authority met with stiff resistance. The former Chief Election Commissioner has a tightrope walk ahead as he sets out to discipline the IOA and the federations without breaching the Olympic Charter — even as he grapples with the enormous task of getting Delhi ready for hosting the Commonwealth Games less than five months from now.

Go Dr. Gill, go go.

Vasu · Post by **Vasu** » 07 May 2010 22:24

and the other news that has gone unnoticed here....

Gouramangi Singh set for Melbourne Heart trial

On the back of India's successful qualification for the Asian Cup 2011, after a gap of more than two decades, and the recent signing of Indian international striker Sunil Chettri by Kansas City Wizards, there is more good news awaiting Indian football. Indian international stopper back and last season's Defender of the Year Gouramangi Singh could become the second Indian player from the current squad and only the fourth Indian player in history to ply his trade abroad.

His trial with A-League club Melbourne Heart was confirmed by the player's Melbourne-based manager Lyndon Miranda. Gouramangi Singh was ecstatic about the prospects of playing in Australia, whose team is a rising power in world football.

"The invitation to try out for the club was a bolt from the blue and least expected, I had to pinch myself really hard to make sure I wasn't dreaming. I now look forward to impressing the club coach. I am quite thrilled about the prospect of playing alongside Simon Colosimo and John Aloisi, both Australian internationals who are part of the team. I would also like to thank the national team coach Mr. Bob Houghton for instilling in me the self belief that I can achieve it all and without his pivotal role in my career, none of this would have been possible," he added.

When contacted Bob Houghton expresses his delight at the possibility of an A-League affair for Gouramangi.

"This is certainly great news for Indian football and it's great to see foreign clubs interested in Indian players. Gouramangi has certainly deserved this trial as he has worked very hard over the last few years and is now one of the central players in the team. His absence will certainly be missed for the Asian Cup camp, but I would like to wish him all the best for his upcoming trial,” said Gouramangi.

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 07 May 2010 22:27

Anand draws again. Topalov has played well, and I am beginning to like him. After a day of rest Anand will begin with a white, good for him.

Vasu · Post by **Vasu** » 07 May 2010 22:31

Carl_T wrote:We are f***ed.

come on. It'll be fun. I've been waiting for such a long time to see India play against a highly ranked team. I know we'll lose, but it'll be nice to see the national team play at the highest level. We need to play more than just SAF and Nehru Cup now.

meanwhile, did anybody notice the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup is on. India forced a draw with China in the first game, but came back strongly to beat PakiSatan in the second game, 4-2.

Dawn.com - India beat Pakistan in Sultan Azlan Shah Cup

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 09 May 2010 23:31

11th game drawn. It got interesting towards the end. I was waiting for the one blunder from Topalov for Anand to win. Well, if my 11 year could see that move, so could million others and Topalov. A disappointing game for Anand though, he will now be playing against an aggressive Topalov tomorrow, who will go for a win. It is bound to be nerve-racking game tomorrow.

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 09 May 2010 23:47

Indeed. Winner takes all tomorrow, with both parties on 5.5 . Topa may be desperate to avoid the rapid and blitz games if they draw again in the 12th game. One of the best world championships in recent times, for entertainment value.

In other news, India beats South Korea 3-2 in the Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament, to top the current points table.

rgsrini · Post by **rgsrini** » 10 May 2010 19:35

Great news!!! First the Pakis(4-2), next the Koreans (3-2) and now the Australians (4-3). Awesome performance by our boys so far!

India shock world champions Australia 4-3 in Azlan Shah

India dazzled with a near-perfect performance to stun world champions Australia 4-3 in a pulsating round-robin match of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament on Monday.

Carl_T · Post by **Carl_T** » 10 May 2010 19:48

Vasu wrote:
Carl_T wrote:We are f***ed.
come on. It'll be fun. I've been waiting for such a long time to see India play against a highly ranked team. I know we'll lose, but it'll be nice to see the national team play at the highest level. We need to play more than just SAF and Nehru Cup now.

While it will be fun to see how we match up, I have given up on this generation, I'm thinking about the generation after the next one. I just remember what happens when we play teams like Japan and Korea.

Amber G. · Post by **Amber G.** » 10 May 2010 23:06

I know it has been posted before, but here is the game 4 moves and final position

Vasu · Post by **Vasu** » 11 May 2010 00:42

India beats Australia 4-3 to stay on top of their group at Azlan Shah. Maybe the embarrassing draw with China sparked something in them.