<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Chennai-based Rohini Rau will leave this weekend for the Zoom 8 World Sailing Championships in the Netherlands from July 31 to August 6.
The Girls Asian Sailing Champion has many firsts to her credit and now she hopes to work towards the Asian Games in 2006 and the Olympics in 2008.
Partnered by Pallavi Naik of Goa, the two were the first girls to win gold for India at an international event - the Asian Sailing Championships in January this year.
Now she's on her way to the Zoom 8 World Championships where she'll be the first Indian girl sailor to handle a Zoom 8.
Rohini has now got a seat, on the sports quota, to study medicine. And her family hopes it will be in Chennai so she can pursue her dream of making it to the 2006 Asian Games and then the Olympics in 2008.
There's been encouragement for the promising sailor from the Tamil Nadu Government's Future Champions Programme and if past records are anything to go by, then future sailing crowns are surely hers.
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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi marked their reunion after a gap of more than two years by winning the doubles title at the $2.5 million ATP Tennis Masters Series in Toronto, Canada, last night.
Paes and Bhupathi, world number one pair at their peak in 1999 when they won the French Open and Wimbledon titles, defeated Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden and Belarussian Max Mirnyi 6-4 6-2 in the final.
The Toronto win gives the duo 500 ATP points each and will push Paes up to Number 20 on the Doubles Entry ranking. Bhupathi's ranking will stay at his current Number 5. (PTI) <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
come Olympics and its family vacation time for the various officials in the various incompetent sports federations in the country. luckily, Mr. dutt has changed a few rules and the "managers" and officials of all rank and color and up in arms.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Departing from the norm, the Sports Ministry has decided to cut out all frills associated with managers and officials who will accompany the Olympics contingent for this year's Athens Games. But the series of cost-saving measures by the Ministry has Indian Olympic Association officials fuming.
The Ministry has kept the number of managers down to a bare minimum, clearing only three of around eight suggested by the IOA. Further, these three have been cleared in keeping with the convention being followed for almost a year â at no cost to the government.
When contacted, Sports Ministry officials said that the entire contingent would be given the ceremonial sports kit but not the out-of-pocket allowance of $35. The proposed enhancement to $50 is yet to be cleared by the Finance Ministry.
According to Ministry sources, these measures have been taken to restrict various federations from recommending names at their own "whim and fancy". "We can't clear names recommended on an ad hoc basis," revealed a source.
Except for the women's hockey team, which has appointed a manager on a long-term basis, the Ministry has not been clearing managers at the government's cost for the last few months. Incidentally, the women did not qualify for Athens. The Ministry source felt the federations should take some responsibility on this issue and should also keep the ministry abreast with their plan, both long term and short term.
"We have been funding all the athletes for various exposure trips and providing everything that's needed. We have spent and are willing to spend on them any time...but not on managers until they are planned well in advance. There's no lack of commitment from our part to promote sports. We are here to supplement the efforts of the federations."
Incidentally, this is the first time the Sports Ministry has decided to take a tough stance on officials accompanying athletes to such a mega event. They have been following this practice for smaller events.
This decision is not surprising as it comes after a series of such steps by Dutt, including his surprise visit to SAI, where he hauled up officials for pathetic conditions in the sportspersonsâ residential wing.
Most surprising of all with our politicians is that they all promise a hell lot , for a gold medalist in the olympics.
Example TN government has announced 1 crore for any citizen from TN who wins a gold ... fact being if the 1 crore and more is spent on sports in the state we can produce a no of medalists ! <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->It might sound incredible but India could end up winning as many as 10 medals in the Athens Olympics if a new study by economists at PricewaterhouseCoopers is to be believed.
The Indians managed only one bronze medal in the previous edition at Sydney, but the analysis, which takes into account factors like population, average income levels, whether the country is the host nation and whether it was previously a part of the Soviet Bloc, predicts an unprecedented haul for the country.
"Indian sports tends to be focussed on events that are not included in the Olympics, such as cricket, which is not an Olympic sport, may attract potential stars away from athletics and other Olympic events in India," says the study.
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well at least the last part is true.
Ah, if only wishes were the wild asses of Rann. <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='rolleyes.gif' /><!--endemo-->
There goes our first hope of getting a medal... <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<b>Indian shooting stars fizzle out on 1st day</b>
The Indian contingent will have to look elsewhere for inspiration. It did not come from the Markopoulo Shooting Range on Saturday. 10 metre Air Rifle shooters Suma Shirur and Anjali Bhagwat failed to get anywhere close to the podium as competition began at the Olympic Games here.
There was some personal glory for joint world record-holder Shirur who was one of the eight finalists out of the 64 participants in the qualification round. She finished eighth eventually.
It was a shattering experience for Bhagwat, a second-time Olympian. At Sydney four years ago, she won a hardship quota 15 days before the event, went on to qualify for the final and finished seventh. Here, she won a quota berth two years ago but finished with 393 and was joint 20th. <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo-->
He finished second, bagging the silver medal in the finals of the double trap shooting competition at the Markopoulos shooting range.
Earlier in the day, the 34-year-old Army Major shot rounds of 46, 43 and 46 for a total of 135, which put him in a tie for fourth place.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
If I'm not wrong, then it might be the first medal by an Indian, i.e. not by a team. AFAIK, all previous medals have been by the hockey team or some other team.
Anyway, congrats to Mr. Rathode. <!--emo&:clapping--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clap.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='clap.gif' /><!--endemo--> May your tribe increase exponentially.
<!--QuoteBegin-Krishna+Aug 17 2004, 01:46 PM-->QUOTE(Krishna @ Aug 17 2004, 01:46 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin--> If I'm not wrong, then it might be the first medal by an Indian, i.e. not by a team. AFAIK, all previous medals have been by the hockey team or some other team.
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Krishna:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->It is worth mentioning here that the only other athletes to ever win individual medals for India at the Olympics are <b>Khashba Jadhav in the 1952 </b>Helsinki Games, <b>Leander Paes at Atlanta in 1996 </b>and <b>Karnam Malleshwari in Sydney 2000</b>. All won bronze medals. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
From: Indolink
<!--QuoteBegin-Viren+Aug 17 2004, 01:17 PM-->QUOTE(Viren @ Aug 17 2004, 01:17 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin--> All won bronze medals. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Viren, make that the first silver medal then! <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tongue.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Rathore adds silver lining to India's Olympic cloud
QUOTE ATHENS: Shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on Tuesday opened India's medal count in Athens.
>>> Congratulations ONLY to Mr Rathore and his Coach!
BTW its phunny I see no Indian Media Quacks telling us that he is from Gujarat ..... English /Secular Media only see crime in Gujarat ....
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BTW expect that IOA ( & congress MP & ex Army ) Chairman to take the credit along with * 70 year old Sports Minister * , maybe Priyaranjan Dash Munshi will jump into ... after all his phootball players havent done anything .... ( excluding likes of Vijayan ..)
<!--QuoteBegin-Bhootnath+Aug 17 2004, 02:32 PM-->QUOTE(Bhootnath @ Aug 17 2004, 02:32 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin--> BTW its phunny I see no Indian Media Quacks telling us that he is from Gujarat ..... English /Secular Media only see crime in Gujarat ....
<!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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Remember reading somewhere that Irfan Pathan too is from Gujarat. English media does a good job of keeping such secrets.
Apologies for the diversion.....back to Olympics 2004
<!--QuoteBegin-Krishna+Aug 17 2004, 11:51 PM-->QUOTE(Krishna @ Aug 17 2004, 11:51 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin-Viren+Aug 17 2004, 01:17 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Viren @ Aug 17 2004, 01:17 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin--> All won bronze medals. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Viren, make that the first silver medal then! <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tongue.gif' /><!--endemo--><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
No this is the third Indian silver medal. The first two silver medals were won at the Paris Olympics in 1900 by Norman Pritchard an Anglo-India who ran for India. He won in 200 metres and 200 metres hurdles. A controversy has been created by some Brits that he was actually a British which probably is true and India officially did not participate until 1928 (again true). It did unofficially participate though. However, the Olympic official website lists him as an Indian.
<!--QuoteBegin-kedar bhandary+Aug 17 2004, 02:33 PM-->QUOTE(kedar bhandary @ Aug 17 2004, 02:33 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-Krishna+Aug 17 2004, 11:51 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Krishna @ Aug 17 2004, 11:51 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin-Viren+Aug 17 2004, 01:17 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Viren @ Aug 17 2004, 01:17 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin--> All won bronze medals. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Viren, make that the first silver medal then! <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tongue.gif' /><!--endemo--><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
No this is the third Indian silver medal. The first two silver medals were won at the Paris Olympics in 1900 by Norman Pritchard an Anglo-India who ran for India. He won in 200 metres and 200 metres hurdles. A controversy has been created by some Brits that he was actually a British which probably is true and India officially did not participate until 1928 (again true). It did unofficially participate though. However, the Olympic official website lists him as an Indian.
then make that the first silver medal, since Independence! <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:lol:--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='laugh.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tongue.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Good show boys! <!--emo&:thumbsup--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbup.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='thumbup.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Dutt is in Athens in his official capacity as minister and head of the Indian contingent at the 28th Olympic Games.
Whereas VIPs, officials, delegates and heads of other contingents have been accommodated at the Hilton, Divani Caravel and other luxurious hotels in downtown Athens, the IOA has thought it fit to seclude the minister at the backward-of-beyond Airport Holiday Hotel, kilometres away from the city proper, the Games Village, the Main Press Centre and Games venues.
At the same time, the IOA powers-that-be have accommodated themselves at the poshest of hotels downtown.
Not a single official of the IOA, which called a media conference for him at the remote Holiday Inn hotel yesterday morning, was present at the briefing.
Moreover, unlike his counterparts from other countries, the minister has not been provided security protection, again thanks to the insouciance of the Indian national sports body.
In a move that constitutes a slap in the face of the IOA, the Greek government, on its own initiative, has deemed Dutt a security risk and offered him protection. All this after three days, during which the minister could have been at grave risk.
Although tight-lipped on the subject, the Indian embassy is not one bit amused.
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Why? See post 1. Its time these sports federations were answerable to the people for the rotton work they have done. <!--emo&:furious--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/furious.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='furious.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin-Bhootnath+Aug 18 2004, 12:02 AM-->QUOTE(Bhootnath @ Aug 18 2004, 12:02 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin--> Rathore adds silver lining to India's Olympic cloud
QUOTE ATHENS: Shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on Tuesday opened India's medal count in Athens.
>>> Congratulations ONLY to Mr Rathore and his Coach!
BTW its phunny I see no Indian Media Quacks telling us that he is from Gujarat ..... English /Secular Media only see crime in Gujarat ....
<!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Congratulatiopns once again .. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
He is from India <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tongue.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Hurray...India defeats South Africa by 4-2 <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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