New Delhi, July 18 (Agencies): The government is worried about the pull out of star players from the Commonwealth Games but the Organising Committee (OC) says one or two withdrawals would not make any difference.
The Sports Ministry and the OC came out with completely contrasting viewpoints as Olympic Champions Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser and Chris Hoy announced that they will skip the October 3-14 Games.
Sports Minister M S Gill feels the Games would lose sheen if star players like Bolt would not compete but OC Chairman Suresh Kalmadi says it makes no difference if one or two players decide to miss it.
"We have read in paper this one is not coming, that one is not coming.
Let me tell you that the biggest squad ever is coming from every country.
Australia has confirmed 700 entries and England 500 which is highest ever.
"If one or two do not come, it does not matter.
The Games will go on, the best of the world are coming and new champions will be created," Kalmadi said at the inauguration of the Swimming Complex.
However, Gill was very disappointed with the decision of the athletes and said he would ask CWG President Mike Fennell to bring those players to Games and would also raise the matter at the meeting of the Sports Ministers of the Commonwealth nations on October 4.
"Star athletes have slowly drifted away from the Games.
It's not at all good.
I want to tell Fennell that don't bring your officials here but bring stars like Bolt, Fraser, Hoy and others with you.
"I'll raise this issue before them definitely.
If these stars failed to turn up, then all our efforts stand waste.
People would say that if only you and Suresh (Kalmadi) were to run then why you spent so much," Gill said.
Somdev knocked out of Aptos Challenger NEW DELHI, July 18 (Agencies): Somdev Devvarman's good run at the ATP Challenger event in Aptos, USA, came to an end after a semi-final defeat against American Donald Young.
The second seed Indian fought hard but lost 2-6, 6-3, 4-6 to his third seed opponent at the $75,000 hard court event.
Somdev collected 33 ATP ranking points and $3,765 as prize money for his effort.
Young will take on Australian Marinko Matosevic in the summit clash.
Matosevic beat compatriot and fourth seed Carsten Bell 6-4, 6-4 in the other semi-final.
He had also ousted top seed American Rajeev Ram in the opening round itself.
Om Prakash clinches gold at Salvo Games NEW DELHI, Jul 18 (UNI): Indian ace Om Prakash Singh today won the gold medal in the men's shotput event at the Savo Games in Lapinlahti, Finland.
According to an official statement here, the Asian Champion threw 19.12 metres to attain the first place.
Singh is currently training at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Throwing Training Centre in Kuortane, Finland.
Mahesh wins Tata Photon Monsoon Regatta HYDERABAD, Jul 18 (UNI): In expected form Mahesh Ramchandran and crew R S Dulaji, Neeraj Sharma and G Sahu stole the crown, in the Monsoon Regatta 2010, from defending champion Nitin Mongia and crew in style and in straight sets at the Hussain Sagar lake here today.
Each race of the three proved to be the closest Indian Match Racing has seen with both sailors aggressively gaining and losing ground to each other across all legs.
With two races won the pressure was on Mongia to take on the third race to stay in contention for the Gold.
During the third race after some intensive pre start maneuvering keeping the Umpires tense and busy Nitin won the start starting from the committee end and Mahesh from the pin end albeit a trice late.
At the first crossover Mongia was ahead and the upwind criss crossing continued with Nitin opening up with every tack and looking pretty.
The first downwind leg and the next upwind leg saw the gap lessen a bit and at the last upwind rounding Mahesh was close at Mogia’s tail but seemingly having given up the chase.
A deep swig of much needed water and a few cool gibes later Mahesh hailed 'Yankee' essentially a sailors manner of calling a foul on the opponent and the Umpire agreed and what could have at least moved to a fourth set ended in a straight three setter win for Mahesh claiming the coveted Tata Photon Monsoon Regatta YAI National Inland Championship and the Gold.
Nitin Mongia and crew Yuvraj Singh, P S Rao and G Randhawa after a brilliant unblemished round robin and semi finals settled for Silver.
Gulshan Chunekar, Ninad Meykar, Chetan Fernandez with substitute Chaitanya Chowgule were awarded the Bronze beating Ayesha Lobo and crew, who lost the losers finals but retains the record of being the first India woman in a Match Racing Semifinal.
The final Race in the Optimist saw Upamanyu Dutta winning once again.
Zephra finished with the Open Silver and the girls Gold.
KC Ganapathy with equal points finished with the Bronze as Zephra had more second positions.
Yellow card leads to fracas Chennai, Jul 19 (UNI): A yellow card to Mukesh Kumar in the 43rd minute resulted in a fracas between the Army players and umpire R S Suriya Prakashin the 86th MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup All India HOckey tournament here today.
In the heat of the moment, Eka advance in a menacing manner and assaulted Suriya Prakash with the hockey stick.
The umpire suffered a bleeding injury on the side of the head that required four stitches.
In fact, the umpire had shown the green card to Preetinder of ONGC and yellow to Mukesh Kumar (who had earlier received a green card).
With the new green card rule in vogue, players will have to sit out for two minutes for a green card.
"Eka is out of the next match for sure, whether he will play in the rest of the tournament will be decided after receiving umpires’ report," tournament officials told reporters after the match.
J&K shooter Sandeep Singh excels in Singapore Open Shooting C’ship KT NEWS SERVICE JAMMU, July 18 : Jammu and Kashmir Rifle Association (JKRA) complemented Jammu and Kashmir shooter Sandeep Singh Bandral for his outstanding achievements in the Singapore Open Shooting Championship held from July 10 to 18.
President DGP Punjab PS Gill, Working president IGP Armed Dilbag Singh congratulated him for his landmark achievement in the International shooting championship.
He represented India in Air Pistol in the junior section and got the 21st position.
Besides, he remained second in India among the 23 marksmen participated in the said Singapore championship.
On the behalf of the JKRA, both PS Gill and Dilbag Singh have assured all help to him.
JKRA has also decided to honour Sandeep Singh very soon.
Meanwhile, various NGOs of Doda district including Young Star Cricket Club Doda, Doda Students Welfare Organization, Chenab Foundation for Education and Development and others in a joint meeting also congratulated the Son of Soil shooter Sandeep Singh.
It is pertinent to mention here that Sandeep Singh is the only shooter from Jammu and Kashmir participated in the said Shooting Championship held in Singapore, but despite meager facilities he has showed brilliant performance in the Singapore Shooting championship.
MLA Doda Abdul Majid Wani and MLA Ramban Ashok Kumar also extended their heartiest congratulation to Sandeep Singh for his brilliant performance in recently held Championship .