SYDNEY, Apr 2:
Australia has named its largest-ever Olympic boxing team with representatives in every men’s weight division for the London Games.
The contingent will be led by world No. 2-ranked light heavyweight Damien Hooper, considered the best chance of giving Australia its first Olympic boxing medal since 1988.
Hooper qualified after reaching the quarterfinals of the recent world championships in Azerbaijan before being beaten by eventual world champion Julio Cesar La Cruz. The squad, announced Monday by the Australian Olympic Committee, also includes light flyweight Billy Ward, flyweight Jackson Woods, bantamweight Ibrahim Balla, lightweight Luke Jackson, light welterweight Jeff Horn, welterweight Cameron Hammond, middleweight Jesse Ross, heavyweight Jai Opetaia and super heavyweight Johan Linde. (Agencies)
Australia names boxing team for London
Ajitpal Singh named Chef-de-Mission of Indian contingent
NEW DELHI, Apr 2:
Three-time Olympian and former captain of the Indian hockey team Ajit Pal Singh today became the first sportsperson to be named India’s Chef-de-Mission for Olympic Games, bringing an end to the bitter wranglings for the post within the IOA.
The seven-member committee, which was formed to appoint the Chef-de-Mission for the July 27-August 12 Games, “unanimously” selected the former hockey star to head the Indian contingent in the London Olympic Games.
Making the announcement IOA Acting President Vijay Kumar Malhotra said Senior Vice Presidents Tarlochan Singh and B P Baishya, both of whom were in the fray for the post, will be the IOA’s delegates for the Games.
“We have fulfilled yet another promise of giving the sportspersons a major role in the affairs of the Association,” Malhotra said.
He said he was confident that Ajitpal, 65, will live up to the high expectations, and will be a true ambassador of the country.
“It is not an ornamental post, it carries lot of responsibilities and Ajitpal as a leader will have to play the role which will bring glory to the country,” he added.
Malhotra also added that by appointing a sportsperson as Chef-de-Mission the “IOA members have silenced their critics once again who always used to say that athletes are being ignored in the functioning of the sports bodies”.
“We have set the trend, and I hope it will continue,” the acting president said.
IOA Secretary General Randhir Singh called it a historic decision, saying “an Olympic medal winner will be leading the Indian contingent in the Olympics for the first time”.
Malhotra further added that “before this also another far reaching decision was taken when IOA decided to share all the sponsors money with the qualified sportspersons”.
Giving his reaction, Ajitpal, who is holidaying in Goa, said he was humbled by the decision of the IOA. (PTI)
Star Group wins Indian cricket’s broadcast rights
CHENNAI, Apr 2: ]
The Star Group today bagged the broadcast and digital rights of India’s international cricket matches at home for a period of six years after bidding a whopping Rs 3851 crore (approx USD 750 million).
The Rupert-Murdoch-owned company beat competition from Multi Screen Media (Sony) to bag rights for all international matches at home and domestic events like Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and the Irani Trophy starting from July 2012 till March 2018.
The company’s six-year contract is valued at Rs 3851 crore and will cover 96 matches in all. It would be coughing up Rs 40 crore per match on an average, much higher than the Rs 32.5 crore per match that Nimbus was paying the BCCI before its contract was terminate last year due to default in payments.
Star and Multi Screen Media (Sony) were the only two companies to make the bids but a total of five had filed the tenders.
“The BCCI is very happy with the deal. Now the media rights have been fully evaluated and fully priced with Star coming out with a such a deal,” BCCI President N Srinivasan told reporters while making the announcement.
The second highest bidder was Multi Screen Media (Sony), which bid Rs 3700 crore.
“Following a transparent process of verifying the eligibility of each bidder, the winner was chosen,” Srinivasan said.
Star Group’s India CEO Uday Shankar promised that the company would provide good telecast of the matches.
“I thank the BCCI for giving Star the broadcast rights. In collaboration with our partners ESPN, we will do a commendable job,” he said.
“We have already got channels. But the option of launching a channel, if number of matches demand that, is always open,” he added. (PTI)
Taekwondo team leaves for Nationals
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 2: J&K Taekwondo team today left for Guwahati, Assam, to participate in the 5th National Taekwondo Poomsae Championship scheduled to be held from April 6 onwards.
The team was flagged off by Anil Gupta, Chairman, J&K Taekwondo Association in presence of PC Sharma, president, DN Pangotra, organizing secretary and Nissar Hussain, vice president.
While speaking, Anil Gupta, said that participation holds the key to success in any sports event so the players should not give up and participate whole heartedly.
Meanwhile, J&K Taekwondo Association organised 21 days special pre-participation coaching camp for the said championship under the guidance of Vikrant Narwalia and Atul Pangotra, coaches.
The players who were going to participate in this included Atul Pangotra, Sanjay Kumar, Mohd Ali, Brinder Singh Manhas, Tashi Tundup, Sanket Sharma, Vishal Mahotra, Rahul Singh Chib, Adnan, Rajesh Sharma, Manpreet Singh, Kanav, Shehnaz Parveen, Ambreen Fatima, Narmita Katoch, Priyanka Sharma, Meenakshi, Shushely Magotra, Simran Kour and Shital Manhas.
The team will be accompanied by Vikrant Narwalia as coach while Ashish Bhardwaj as team manager.
Tendulkar hands over MI captaincy to Harbhajan Singh
CHENNAI, Apr 2:
Sachin Tendulkar today decided to hand over the captaincy of Mumbai Indians in the fifth edition of IPL to Harbhajan Singh following a discussion with the management of Mumbai Indians.
“Sachin Tendulkar in discussion with the management of Mumbai Indians has decided to hand over the responsibilities of captaining Mumbai Indians in Season V of the Indian Premier League to ace off spinner Harbhajan Singh,” a press release issued by Mumbai Indians stated.
“The Mumbai Indians is more than a team. It is like a family to me. At this point of time, I feel I need a break from the responsibility of captaincy of the Mumbai Indians. After due consideration, I discussed my intention to hand over the Captainship of the team to Harbhajan Singh, with Mukeshbhai and Nitabhabhi,” Tendulkar was quoted in the media release.
Tendulkar further stated, “I was touched by the graciousness and wholehearted support they offered me while emphasising that they would accept any decision which helps me to continue enjoying the game. Harbhajan will have my wholehearted support as the senior most player in the team.”
Mumbai Indians owner Nita Ambani termed it as a “difficult moment when Sachin expressed his desire to relinquish the captaincy.”
“But we believe that Sachin is the best judge on such matters and hence, as always, we fully support his decison. I have learnt a lot during the last three seasons working with Sachin closely. Sachin is the soul of Mumbai Indians, and I am sure he will guide Bhajji as he takes on the responsibility of captaining Mumbai Indians,” Nita Ambani said.
Harbhajan termed this as a “huge honour” as he thanked Sachin and Mrs Ambani for entrusting this responsibility.
“Sachin paaji spoke to me about his decision of wanting me to take over the responsibility of the team. It is huge honour and I thank Paaji and Nita Bhabhi for the faith reposed in my abilities”, he said.
“Mumbai Indians is a great team with explosive talent and promising youngsters. I am committed to do the very best and look forward to leading the team to play to its full potential during the season,” Harbhajan added. (PTI)
Don’t think there is any secret tactic to victory: Gilchrist
MOHALI, Apr 2:
Kings XI Punjab captain-cum-coach, Adam Gilchrist, today said there is no “secret tactic” to victory, but added they have a balanced squad that is capable of beating the best in business.
“We necessarily don’t have big list of names that match up with some other franchisees, but we have a balanced squad,” Gilchrist said at the PCA stadium here, four days ahead of their IPL-5 campaign opener against Rajasthan Royals on April 6 at Jaipur.
KXIP may have not won a title so far, but the Aussie insisted they were not going too much into the history, and instead want to derive positives from the past.
The side missed the semis by a whisker in the last edition, but made it to last-four under Yuvraj Singh in IPL-1.
“We have a balanced squad. We are playing competitive cricket. I don’t think there is any secret tactic that will guarantee victory,” he said in response to a question.
Joe Dawes, the newly appointed Indian bowling coach, who will play the same role for KXIP and Mike Young, the side’s fielding coach, were also present at the press conference.
Dawes sounded confident of an improved show.
“I am delighted to be a part of Kings XI Punjab as it is a young and enthusiastic team with some of the best players on its side. I am very confident about team’s performance in IPL season-5 and am looking forward to a great season of cricketing tournament,” said Dawes.
Chief Operating Officer of KXIP, Arvinder Singh and team’s assistant coach Vikram Rathore were also present.
However, in a departure from the past, none of the team’s co-owners were present at the press conference, with flamboyant Preity Zinta also conspicuous by her absence.
Gilchrist said there were some new additions to his team this season, including English pacer Stuart Broad.
“According to original plan, he was supposed to join us on April 8, but keeping in view his calf strain, we will have an update on his condition tonight as he was expected to undergo a scan today,” he said. (PTI)
IGP finalizes arrangements for JKP’s Inter Zone Sports Meet from April 9
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 2: Jammu Kashmir Police (JKP) is organizing 4 day Inter Zone Sports Meet from April 9 onwards.
This was stated by K Rajendra Kumar, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Armed/ Law and Order, during a meeting, chaired by senior police officers. The meeting was called to finalize the arrangements for the conduct of the Inter Zone Sports Meet.
Addressing the meeting, K Rajendra Kumar, disclosed that the event will have 14 disciplines in which a large number of sports personnel and athletes will participate and it will be played at different venues including Police Sports Stadium, Gulshan Ground, District Police Lines, Jammu University, CTC Sunjawan and Officers Mess.
He said that men and women players will participate in Basketball, Volleyball, Handball, Boxing, Wrestling, Weight Lifting, Shooting, Kabaddi, Archery, Kho-Kho, Tug-of War, Badminton, Billiards, Table Tennis and Lawn Tennis events during the meet.
“The players will represent different zones of the organization viz Armed, Auxiliary, Civil Defence, SDRF, CID, Telecom, Crime, Traffic, Security, SSG, Railways and Training Zones, IGP said, adding, that Nodal Officers for all the zones have been designated and committees constituted to make the event a success”.
IGP further stated that the games will be conducted as per the rules laid down by All India Police Sports Council Board and all the events during the sports meet will be played on the knock-out basis.
“All necessary arrangements for boarding and lodging of the players have been finalized”, IGP added.
Among others present were IGPs, Dilbagh Singh, Zahoor Hussain Chisti, HK Lohia and Gulzar Ahmed Salathia, DIGs, Dr KK Saini, Yoginder Koul, Abdul Qayoom Manhas, P Namgyal, T Punchok, Avtar Singh Bali, JP Singh and Johny Williams, Medial Superintendent, Police Hospital, Basant Kumar Sharma and Commandants of Jammu based IR/ JKAP battalions.
Tatra controversy: CBI issues restraint order against Rishi
NEW DELHI, Apr 1:
The CBI today issued a restraint order to prevent London-based NRI businessman Ravi Rishi, an accused in a case of alleged irregularities in purchase of Tatra trucks for the Army, from moving out of the country.
The agency has alerted all airports and exit points to ensure that he does not leave the country, official sources said.
Rishi was not available for his comments and his company, when contacted, refused to react to the development, saying it were cooperating with the CBI in the case.
57-year-old Rishi, named as an accused in the agency’s FIR in alleged irregularities in purchase of Tatra trucks for the Army, has been questioned twice so far by the CBI and was likely to be summoned again.
Rishi has termed the allegations against him as unfortunate, saying the trucks were sold through public sector undertaking Bharat Earth Movers Limited. He also said the charges levelled with regard to Tatra trucks by Army Chief Gen V K Singh were baseless.
The move comes after the Army chief complained alleging Lt Gen (retired) Tejinder Singh had offered him a bribe for clearing a consignment of “sub-standard” trucks.
Lt Gen Singh has refuted the allegations and has filed a defamation case against the Army chief and some other senior officers.
CBI officials will be seeking more details from the Army chief before they decide on whether to register a preliminary enquiry or a case in connection with the bribery charge.
The sources said the Army chief was expected to soon provide more material about the alleged bribe offer. (PTI)
Cheques, drafts to be valid for 3 months only
NEW DELHI, Apr 1:
Banks from today will stop honouring cheques and drafts if they are not presented within three months of the date of issue as against six months earlier.The decision to reduce the validity of cheques, bank drafts and other instruments to three months announced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) earlier will come into effect from today.With a view to mitigating frauds related with such instruments, the RBI in a directive had said with effect from April 1, 2012, banks should not make payments against cheques, drafts, pay orders or banker’s cheques if they are presented after the period of three months from date of issue.
The directive followed complaints that some persons were taking undue advantage of the six-month validity period and circulating these instruments like cash.Commenting on the decision to curtail the validity period of cheques and drafts, a senior banker said, the three-month validity period is a good enough time for conciliation of these instruments.The RBI had said, “In public interest and in the interest of the banking policy, it is necessary to reduce the period within which cheques/drafts/pay orders/banker’s cheques are presented for payment from six months to three months from the date of such instrument.” (PTI)
Indo-US relationship drifting: Book
NEW DELHI, Apr 1:
India should have sent its troops back to Sri Lanka to kill or capture Prabhakaran and the LTTE leadership after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, says a new book by a former US diplomat.
Rajiv Gandhi’s killing was an attack on India’s status as a regional power. Forcibly bringing Prabhakaran to India to face trial would have sent a clear message to the region, and the world, that India would defend its political leaders from attack, defend its political system from intimidation and defend its primacy in South Asia against any challengers, the author says.
A frightened India became content with being a passive regional power rather than active global power, says the book “China’s Nightmare, America’s Dream: India as the next global power” by William H. Avery, former American diplomat.
Avery was on posting in India and served in the US Department of State during the Administrations of President Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
India’s window of opportunity to influence Sri Lanka will never be as wide open as it was in 1991 after Rajiv’s killing”, the author says adding that India’s craven inaction in Sri Lanka after the assassination cost it valuable years in its quest to become a global power.
The events of 1991 that included the shame of having required to sell its gold and killing by a terrorist organisation of its former prime minister were a low point in the history of modern India.
Seven years after its annus horribilis, India, however, was able to make its first crucial step towards true power- the move that stunned the world- and earned India virtually universal approbation. But history has proven India’s 1998 nuclear test to have been a wise choice, says Avery.
The Pokhran test changed India overnight into a ‘front-line’ post in the US Foreign Service. It also made India a much more interesting assignment for an American diplomat, the author says. He says by any measure the 1998 American sanctions on India were a failure.
Withdrawn in stages and completely by 2001, the sanctions achieved little other than to make the US feel that it was taking action against India’s nuclear test. By the time the decade ended the US had become resigned to a nuclear India.
The world is no longer responding to India with indifference. India has the world’s attention and respect. Now India must reach out and claim global power status. Doing so will require a transformation of India’s economy far greater than that which followed the reforms of 1991, and, a foreign policy far more assertive than that of the past decade, Avery says.
The author says that to become a true global power the Indian economy will have to make a transition from outsourcing to innovation-intensive industries. Its multinationals will have to become truly global companies, with more business outside India than within.
Finally, India must develop and implement a more assertive foreign policy one that backs talk of great power status with military might and willingness to use it.
“China has no such timidity in its foreign affairs. In addition to the port in Sri Lanka, it is also helping expand the Pakistani port of Gwadar and Chittgong port in Bangladesh.
China has also requested Burma to allow its warships to dock at Burmese ports, which, if approved would give China naval access to Indian Ocean’, the author says.
The author notes that all the rich countries in the world have had their time in demographic ‘sweet spot’. Europe was there in the eighteenth century. The United States in the nineteenth. Japan in the early twentieth. China in the 1980s. Now, it is India’s turn, he says.
The book says that with their economies trailing off, the United States, Europe and Japan have only one choice if they are to increase or even maintain their standards of living- they must export to where the growth is today.
“Number one on their list of markets will be India. The big prize in the next 50 years will be Indian customer, not the Indian supplier”, he says.
China will also be a big market but not the first, the book says.
Avery, however, cautions that India today is falling into the colonial trap. Imperial England’s economic policy was simple: Import raw material from the colonies and export manufactured goods from England.
The difference today is India’s ‘raw material’ is services, not goods. The export of these services- outsourcing- represents the single greatest limitation on India’s growth.
Two centuries ago, the United Kingdom used Indian cotton as raw material to run its textile mills and strengthen its industrial base. Today, the US uses Indian IT services to run its software products and strengthen technology base, he says.
The effect, the author says, is the same: a colonial style enrichment of other nations, at India’s expense.
Avery says that there was every indication that bilateral relations would continue to strengthen rapidly with Barack Obama replacing George W. Bush. After all, Manmohan Singh and Bush had been, for all their success, an unlikely pair: the soft spoken economic professor and the brash cowboy.
“It was tempting to wonder as Obama began his presidency, the author says: “If the cowboy and the professor could produce the nuclear deal, what even greater things can the two professors achieve?”
“The professors have been in charge and it shows. The first three years of the Obama-Singh era have resembled a long-term academic seminar on growing strength of the Indo- American relationship. Somewhere along the way, however, the world stopped listening. For all the words that Singh and Obama put forth about each other and the bilateral relationship, it turns out that they were missing one important thing: action”, the book says.
The strength of the Indo-American relationship depends not on which party is the White House, but instead on the quality of leadership in both, White House and Delhi. The Indo-American relationship under Singh and Obama is drifting.
Happily, it is not yet too late, but there is no time to spare!, the book says. (PTI)