After the unexpectedly strong display in the Commonwealth Games, in which they garnered 12 medals, Indian track and field exponents would aim to prove that it was no flash-in-the-pan effort when they open their campaign in the Asian Games athletics events starting on Sunday.

With the shooters, who picked up 30 CWG medals including 12 of the golden hue, coming a cropper in these Games and returning with their tails tucked firmly between their legs, the pressure is on the athletics contingent, numbering 71 including 31 women, to salvage the country’s pride that has taken a beating in these Games.

The huge athletics squad may be unwarranted going by the numbers, but a sizeable chunk is to make up the numbers for the four relay events in which the country’s track and field selectors traditionally lay stress on.

All those who attained the medal podium, including star discus thrower Krishna Poonia who led an unforgettable clean sweep of all the medals by India in the Delhi CWG, have come here to try and prove their worth at these Games.

Traditionally in most track events, the CWG field is of higher quality while in the Asiads the field events are very tough with the Chinese, Koreans, Iranians, Japanese, Saudi Arabians and the former Soviet bloc countries which are now part of the Asian Games family – like Kazakhstan.

For example in women’s triple jump, in which the Indian entrants are M Prajusha – who won a long jump silver in the CWG – and Mayookha Johny, the title-favourite is world no. 1 Olga Rypakova of Kazakhstan.

Prajusha and Mayookha, who finished outside the medal bracket in CWG, are expected to face a tough time in the jump events in which the former Soviet bloc nation has a fleet of top women competitors, including Yulia Tarasova of Uzbekistan who took part in the Asian All Stars meet in Delhi in July.

The women’s long jump, a straight final, is on November 23 while the triple jump is scheduled two days later, also a straight medal contest.

In the throwing events for women, a strong battle is expected to materialise between Poonia, compatriots Harwant Kaur and Seema Antil, who took the discus silver and bronze behind her in Delhi, and Song Aimin and Li Yenfeng of China. The event is scheduled on the third day of the premier discipline, November 23.

Renjith Maheswary, a triple jump bronze winner in Delhi’s CWG, will have Li Yanxi of China and Roman Valiev of Kazakhstan to contend with in the straight final on November 26th.

Tintu Luka, groomed by former Asian track queen PT Usha, is a strong contender for a medal in the women’s 800m along with women’s world 1,500m champion Maryam Jamal of Bahrain which has come with a strong crop of middle distance men and women runners.

Tintu disappointed in CWG, belying the country’s hope for a medal, but she and senior compatriot Sinimol Paulose are the bright Indian hopes in the women’s two-lap race.

India’s chief coach Bahadur Singh is hopeful of hauling in close to the number of medals that India secured in the CWG. “We should get as many as we got in the CWG,” he said.

“Tintu Luka will perform very well,” he said. Bahadur, a former shot put legend at the Asian level, also has high hopes for his successor Om Prakash, the Asian champion who was throwing close to 20m this year before coming a cropper in the CWG.

“There is Om Prakash, Prajusha, Kavira Raut (CWG 10,000 m women’s bronze winner) and others like Preeja Sreedharan who can perform well,” he said.

On the first day tomorrow, Indian athletes would be in action in nine events, including men’s 20km race walker Harminder Singh (bronze winner in CWG) who will be competing for the first gold in the athletics event on Sunday along with eight others. The other Indian in the fray is Baljinder Singh.

There are two Chinese, as many Koreans and Japanese walkers who have better personal bests in the event than the two Indians.

Also to be seen on the first day are men’s high jumper NC Chittarasu and Hari Shankar Roy, men’s sprinter Mohammed Abdul Najeeb and K Satish Rane, men’s 400m runners Mortaja Shake and Bibin Mathew, Sunil Kumar (men’s 5000m), HM Jyothi (women’s 100m), Manjeet Kaur, Mandeep Kaur (women’s 400m), Kavita Raut (women’s 10,000m) and Puthiya Orchatteri (women’s 3000m Steeplechase which has only six competitors and a straight final).

In the sprints, both men and women, Japanese runners are expected to dominate and are favoured to win the men’s 100 and 200m as well as both 40m hurdles races.

The showpiece event, the men’s 100m sprint, would see Asian record holder Samuel Francis of Qatar, top Japanese sprinter Eriguchi Masashi and China’s Lao Yi fighting for the top honours.

In the last Asian championship at this city, China won 18 gold to Japan’s 12..Agencies(End)

India is all set to host First South Asian Winter Games in Uttarakhand from January 7-19 next year. Besides India, all other SAF nations, namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan are expected to participate in these games.

The skiing event for South Asian Winter Games 2011 will be held at Auli from January 7-12, while Dehradun will play the host to the Ice Skating and Ice Hockey events from January 14-19. The opening ceremony of the winter games will be held in Auli on January 7.

Randhir Singh, Secretary General, Indian Olympic Association said that, “India is extremely happy to host the first ever winter games at Uttarakhand. The state-of-the-art, newly built infrastructure will witness the best ever haul across SAF nations. Our main aim is to promote winter games and sporting culture and I am sure that these games will give a new boost to the future of winter sports in India.”

On the occasion, Brig. SS Patwal (Retd.), President of the WGFI said, “The infrastructure created at Auli for the skiing competition has got excellent slopes in terms of distance and vertical drop which has been homologated by the Federation of International Skiing. The artificial snow facility has given us a freedom to double the skiing time to 90 days. While the ice skating facilities at Dehradun are of world class standards and we have already tested the ice making there.”

“I am sure the 1st South Asian Winter Games will pave the way for budding winter sports enthusiasts and will offer an international exposure to the professional sportspersons. These games will also help position India on the international winter sporting calendar and will give a new boost to our sportspersons to train and participate in more international events.” added Brig. Patwal.

“Bharal”, the Himalayan blue sheep, has been chosen as the mascot of SAF Winter Games. Keeping in view its agility, strength, sure-footedness and adaptability for survival in the snow-covered high altitude areas, the basic qualities of a skier, the WGFI chose Bharal as its mascot for 1st South Asian Winter Games 2011.

Music maestro A.R. Rahman today revealed that the theme song for the Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi is about energy, winning and not giving up.

“When you hear the song you feel like India is calling you,” he told a packed media conference here on Monday, a day after he presented the
song to the Group of Ministers.

“I want the crowd to sing along with us. We have put in a lot of hard work into the song and we are all very excited to turn it into a memorable experience.” added Rahman

“With 30 days to go for the opening of Games Village, we are confident of great Games. I have heard the song and I am sure Rahman’s song will make every Indian proud,” said Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi Chairman Mr. Suresh Kalmadi, MP.

Rahman, who won two Oscar Awards for his score in Slumdog Millionaire, said the Group of Ministers liked the theme song.“I presented it to them last evening and they were excited,” he said.

“I am still working on fine tuning the song, which will be a big part of the celebrations. And I want to dedicate this song to Mahatma Gandhi.”

The Mozart of Madras said his goal is to come out with a memorable song. “There are a lot of positive things happening and my song also reflects the feeling of togetherness and excitement,” he said.

“I do not get distracted by the negatives around. I urge the media to focus on the positives and portray a positive image of India and the Commonwealth Games to the international community.”

Rahman, who will be performing during the Opening Ceremony of the Games on October 3, has scored some of the most memorable music in films. Besides the Oscar Awards, he won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score and the BAFTA Award for Best Film Music for his score in Slumdog Millionaire.

With less than 60 days to the Commonwealth Games 2010, a strong line-up of athletes has started confirming their participation for this edition of the games. Amidst the entire furore and the media upheaval, the OC has started getting confirmations about the contingents of top athletes from various nations who will be competing against each other for the top spot. Organising Committee Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010 expects a strong participation of over 8000 athletes and officials from all continents of the world to fight for the medal tally.
Top seeded New Zealand Rugby team, a star studded 21 member swimming squad and archers from Scotland, the Pakistan National Hockey Team and individuals athlete like 14 year old New Zealand Diver Gabrielle Armstrong-Scott to the 56 year old English Shooter Michael Gault. Steve Hooker from Australia, the current Olympic and World Champion in Pole vaulting; Zoe Smith, the Commonwealth Youth Games Champion Weight lifter; the Welsh Hurdler- Dai Greene; the British Table Tennis Player Paul Drinkhall and Australian Pole Vaulter Steve Hooker are among the names who have kept aside all doubts and have confirmed their participation in this world class event.
Stephanie Louise Rice, 22-year old Australian swimming sensation also shot down concerns over her participation in the Games over security worries. She further stated that she doesn’t have concerns and added that the Australian Commonwealth Games Association was working closely with the Indian Commonwealth Games authority and reiterated the fact that they had complete faith in their ability.
With increasing confirmations even the associations of various nations are positive about the event being a great show. Jon Doig, Chief Executive of Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS), is too confident that everything will be ready on time and the Games would be a huge success .According to a Scotsman reports ,the CGS support team, who had visited Delhi on a number of occasions are prepared for any problems which may arise.
Moreover Barry Maister, the secretary general of New Zealand Olympic Committee has been quoted saying that they are not concerned with all the negative talk and are hopeful about Delhi being a unique and positive experience.

India’s leadings sportspersons, nominated brand ambassadors for the Commonwealth Games, will spearhead the nation’s hunt for glory in the ‘Go for Gold’ campaign on August 14 marking the 50-day countdown to the Delhi 2010 Games.
Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Singh and World No. 2 badminton player Saina Nehwal will be among the Commonwealth Games brand ambassadors who will visit various residential localities around Delhi, eliciting support for the Games from the capital’s residents.
The 2010 Commonwealth Games, the biggest multiple-sport event staged in India since the 1982 Asian Games, is scheduled for Oct. 3-14.
Other star athletes appointed brand ambassadors for the 2010 Commonwealth Games are Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra, Olympic bronze medallist wrestler Sushil Kumar, Commonwealth’s ace pistol shooter Samaresh Jung and four-time World champion woman boxer M.C. Mary Kom.
The star athletes will travel around the city in two floats across Delhi, which will be flagged off from the Organising Committee Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010 headquarter opposite Jantar Mantar in the morning. It will traverse through the interior and far-flung areas of Delhi.
The procession will start in the form of a parade, lead by the athletes and comprising volunteers, that will provide the city’s residents an opportunity be part of the grand event, which will conclude with a gala function in a five-star hotel in the evening. The 50-day countdown will provide a sneak preview of the CWG anthem composed exclusively for CWG Delhi 2010 by noted musician A.R. Rahman. On the occasion the specially designed uniforms for the Commonwealth Games workforce will also be unveiled.
Plans are to use all possible mediums to invite all Delhiites to come and join the parade and cheer the athletes. In addition, sporting enthusiasts will get a chance to be photographed with ‘Shera’, the mascot for CWG Delhi 2010. There will be a on the spot contest named “Be The Innovative Fan” and the most innovative ones will get the prizes.
You can also click photographs and shoot videos and submitting them to a micro-site being created for the fans to celebrate the spirit of joy and togetherness and cheering the sporting personals to go for gold.

Any sport is played for top honours. All the blood, sweat and toil is focused at one thing – winning. For the winner of any game, the prize is a metal disk which makes him stand apart from the also-rans.

The Commonwealth Games, Delhi 2010, will strive towards creating a new high of excellence and the medals will do their bit to add to the sheen. The medal, apart from attesting the athletes’ successes, will also reflect the spirit of the Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010, a testament to brilliance and the resurgent spirit of the nation.

Organising Committee Commonwealth Games today unveiled the victory medals for XIX Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi.

“Indian athletes won 50 medals in the 2006 Games. We hope 70 of these wonderful medals will be won by Indian athletes. India finished fourth in the medal tally at Melbourne. We’re hopeful of moving to the third place this time.” said Organising Committee CWG 2010 Delhi Chairman Mr. Suresh Kalmadi, MP

“The Prime Minister has given us Rs 700 crore for training of athletes, I am confident that will reflect in India’s medal tally,” added Mr. Kalmadi.

The medal design is clean and simple and the dominant form that gives it dynamism is a rising upward spiral that starts taking shape from the plain textured base, gradually becoming the highlight of the medal. It represents the rise to glory for each athlete from struggle to their moment of glory.

The front of the medal has the Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi logo and dates. The back has the emblem of the Commonwealth Games Federation.

The medal is 6 mm thick with a diameter of 63.5 mm. The signature element’s starting fin is raised by 1 mm and it rises up to 3 mm on the last fin. The embossed logo and date is raised by 1mm.

The lanyard of the medal carries all six Games colors (pink, purple, green, red, yellow and blue) blending into each other. It is created with Delhi2010 brand and design elements.

The medal case is clean and simple with black background enhancing the logo embossed on top in Gold, Silver or Bronze – matching the medal inside. The color and simplicity of the box is keeping with the significance of the product it carries. The black base provides an appropriate background to the multi-hued lanyard and the medal itself.

OC CWG Delhi 2010 has ordered a total of 1,408 medals, which includes multiple medals for team events. The cost of producing each gold medal is Rs 5,539, while every silver medal costs Rs 4,818 and a bronze medal Rs 4,529. The total cost of producing these medals is Rs 81, 08,566 including the price of the boxes and lanyards.

Considering the various constraints in medal manufacture, Tombac Bronze (92% copper, 6% zinc and 2% nickel) was selected as base metal. This metal has the ability to flow under compressive force and allow formation of sharp and firm features in design.

The India Government Mint, Kolkata, was entrusted with the design, development and manufacture of the medals. The Image & look department of the CWG Delhi 2010 has created 4 design options for victory medals. After sampling the existing design was selected for final prototype.

The Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi authorities had prepared 4 photographic perspective views of the medals. State of the art CNC Engraving Machines are being used for manufacturing. Sample medals took almost a month to manufacture to match the conceptual view.

Due to high projection the life of each die was very short which meant that total number of dies required for manufacture of medals are very high.

The manufacture of the medals is in full swing. The medals will be subjected to a very special process called ‘Frosting’ for generation of mat surface on the base and top surface of the letters and main design will be polished to a glossy finish. Each medal requires manual and intricate finishing bringing the conceptual artwork to reality.

The Commonwealth Games Organising Committee today denied the charges of financial irregularities in relation to the launch of the Queen”s Baton Relay in London last year. “Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi would like to state that we have followed due diligence in making all payments, getting the clearances from the Executive Board and from Reserve Bank of India for incurring the expenditure in foreign currency.

All remittances happened against this clearance,” OC spokesperson Lalit Bhanot said in a statement. The OC also said that it has not received any official communication regarding the alleged irregularities in the launching ceremony of the Baton Relay on October 29.

“We must point out that we have not received any official communication in this regard. “In response an e-mail from the Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010, the High Commission of India in London recommended AM Car & Van Ltd as one of the official vendors for cars.

The payments were made as per the High Commission rates,” it said. On the basis of that, a total payment of 238,093.56 Pounds Sterling was made to the company, according to the statement.

“A payment of 146,868.80 pounds was made to AM Films UK Ltd on October 24, 2009 for hiring mobile video screens. This was made after Metropolitan Police insisted that we provide the mobile video screens at the venue of the function.

“The accounts were settled before the Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi left London,” it said. “The allegation that Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi makes payments of 25,000 pounds every month to AM Films UK Ltd is baseless and incorrect,” the statement read.

The QBR was launched by Queen Elizabeth at the Buckingham Palace in London, where Indian President Pratibha Patil was also present. PTI

Legendary British athlete Sebastian Coe, chief of the 2012 London Olympic Games Organising Committee, remarked tongue in cheek that it was nice to find the Commonwealth Games organisers in a relaxed mood with the event round the corner.

Coe, who is part of the delegation with visiting British Prime Minister David Cameron, said with barely 64 days left for the Oct 3-14 Games, the organisers had a relaxed look whereas his own team is on tenterhooks with two years to go for the Olympics.

“Very nice to see the organising committee so calm with just 64 days left whereas we are on our toes with two years to go for the 2012 London Olympics,” said Coe, after a meeting with the officials at the Games organising committee at the headquarters here.

The 53-year-old middle distance runner, who won four Olympic medals including gold at the 1980 Moscow and 1984 Los Angeles, was, however, confident that Delhi will host one of the best Commonwealth Games.

When asked about the delays in construction of venues, Coe said: “These things happen everywhere and in all Games. But after what I have seen, I must compliment the organising committee for the great work that they have done.”

Coe, whose mother was born in India, went on to add that hosting a mega event is a complex problem for all organising committees.

“With my experience I can tell you that every city works very hard for such mega Games. We did the same during the 2002 Games in Manchester,” he said.

Coe said Manchester also faced similar problems like Delhi, but all were sorted out in time.

“Hosting a multi-discipline event is a very critical task. The problems never get solved quickly, but they somehow get sorted out. I wish the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee all the best and hope to see a dazzling show,” he said.