A gold medallist will now get Rs.20 lakh while silver medallists will be awarded Rs.10 lakh. The bronze medal winners will take home Rs.6 lakh.

Sports minister M.S. Gill made this announcement at the Conference of State Ministers for Youth Affairs and Sports held here Tuesday.

Gill appreciated the efforts made by states in the implementation of Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA).

The State Sports Ministers unanimously resolved that there was an urgent need for enacting a National Sports Act for promoting good governance practices in the National Sports Federations (NSF), including professional management, financial accountability and good electoral practices.

They also recommended the setting up of a National Sports Dispute Redressal Tribunal to ensure speedy resolution of sports disputes, including player’s grievances. It was noted that a large number of countries have sports legislation in place to regulate the activities of sports federations and facilitate proper sports development.

The Minister appreciated the innovative work done by the Madhya Pradesh government in setting up several professionally managed sports academies for which they have been awarded Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar for 2010.

He announced that from now onwards one award will be earmarked for the best performing state in sports development.

Gill also said that efforts are on to add over one lakh rural youth clubs to the present number of three lakh.

ians

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had Sunday unveiled a new format for the next season with 10 teams split into two groups and the cap on team spending increased to $9 million. The teams will be allowed to retain four players in their squads from the last event – a maximum of three Indians and two foreigners.

“New IPL rules a bit confusing. Two new teams added (good). All players should go into pool to make it fair for everyone. Simple and straight,” Khan tweeted Tuesday.

The fourth season of the IPL will have 10 teams after the addition of two new teams. There will be 74 matches in total, compared to 60 earlier this year.

The format needed to be changed after the inclusion of two new franchises – Pune Warriors and Kochi.

IANS

According to Jamia’s media co-ordinator the trials will be held Sep 13 and 14 for students between the age group of 14 to 19. Schools and colleges actively involved in sports, with adequate infrastructure and having a better sports history of producing national and international sports persons, are eligible under this scheme.

Bopanna and Qureshi, who made their first quarter-final at Wimbledon earlier in the year, next face 10th-seeded South Africa’s Wesley Moodie and Dick Norman of Belgium, who dumped Brazilians Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares 6-2, 6-2.

The India-Pakistan pair, seeded 16th here, have never won a US Open match together prior to this year’s campaign.

In the mixed doubles, second-seeded Leander Paes of India and his Zimbabwean partner Cara Black cruised to the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-1, win over Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi and Robert Lindstedt of Sweden, who had shocked fourth-seeded Mahesh Bhupathi and Daniela Hantuchova.

Paes and Black next play Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany and Mark Knowles of Bahamas.

IANS

Reacting about disclosure of three Pakistani players — Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif — for their involvement in spot-fixing in the fourth and last Test against England at Lords’ , Dhoni said the fixing allegation has brought disrepute to the game.

“Definitely harsh decisions need to be taken, otherwise soon people will start blaming the entire cricketing fraternity,” Dhoni told a news channel.

“It’s sad what has happened with the Pakistan team. Investigations are going on. Something like match fixing or spot-fixing doesn’t only restrict to the people who are doing it or the side they belong to. People start associating it with the whole fraternity which means all cricketers whichever team you’re playing for”, he added.

According to Dhoni, it is unlikely that any Indian player could be lured into taking money for fixing.

“The kind of effort we put in the field, I can’t even think about it. End of the day what’s the money all about? There’s a bracket on money, after that whatever money you earn you’ll still eat the same, go in the same car,” Dhoni said.

“All cricketers come from middle class backgrounds so they are aware of the situation. I think most of them want to play for the country and get the fame. They are clever enough to know that money is bound to come if you are playing cricket for India.”

“I believe the struggle they go through in the starting phase of their career teaches them really well and that they don’t think about the money. You have already gone through the harsh part of life, travelled through sleeper class, and at times in a bus with no reservation or nothing. I feel most of the cricketers go through it. I don’t think anything like that will happen in the Indian team.”

Sachin Tendulkar and former Indian captain Kapil Dev have already supported for Indian cricket fraternity and demanded tough measures against Pakistani players, involved in the betting.

“Looking at the stadiums and progress I don’t really think we are capable of holding such big tournaments,” said Saina, who is a brand ambassador of the New Delhi Commonwealth Games.

“I have seen many Games like Melbourne Commonwealth Games and Olympics in China. Compared to that, it is not up to the mark. But I am sure (that) before Oct 3, it will be ready and people will like it.”

Within minutes the World Number 3 realised that she had committed a faux pas and, in a phone-in to television channels, profusely apologised for her shocking statement.

“I am sorry for whatever I said. I did not mean it. The Commonwealth Games will be a huge success.

“I want to do well in front of my home crowd. I am very proud that the Commonwealth Games are being held in India. I am a little disappointed after making these comments. It is not right on my part to say it as lots of people follow me,” she said.

Saina also said that India will win a whole lot of medals at the Games.

“The players are all preparing hard and have done well in major international events in the run-up to the Games. The archers won a gold in the World Cup. It is a good sign. We will see a lot of sportspersons winning medals for India.”

Tendulkar may have achieved many cricketing heights in the last two decades, but Friday was “a memorable moment” for the batting maestro as he donned a new cap and the blue outfit of the IAF.

He was conferred with the IAF’s honorary rank of group captain to honour his achievements and contributions to the nation in the cricketing field.

With this, Tendulkar becomes the first sportsperson of India to be conferred the IAF honorary rank. The 37-year-old batsman also became the first to receive the honour with no aviation background.

Kapil Dev, India’s 1983 World Cup winning captain, was given the honorary rank of lieutenant colonel of the Territorial Army in 2008.

Tendulkar was ceremoniously inducted into the force as its brand ambassador at an event here when IAF chief Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik presented the cricketer his rank.

“It’s a great pleasure and honour. I cannot say it’s even a dream come true. It was a wishful thinking and it has come true today,” said Tendulkar, looking fetching in an IAF uniform.

With the shirt, he was wearing blue grey terrycot trousers, a narrow blue grey nylon belt with the chrome plated IAF crest on the buckle, a peak cap, black shoes and the grey name tab of “Sachin Tendulkar”.

The only things missing on the uniform were entitled ribbons, decorations and an entitled aircrew badge on his chest.

“As soon as he flies, we will give him the wings,” Naik told reporters, adding that the highest run getter in both Test and limited over matches would be flown in the SU-30 “when he gets time from his busy schedule”.

And Tendulkar connected well with his audience well when asked to speak. “My senior colleagues,” he said, to loud clapping from the gathering full of senior IAF officials, including the only living five-star rank officer Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh.

Tendulkar said he was “extremely proud to be part of IAF”.

And he urged the youth to “join the air force and serve the nation. So dream, because dreams do come true”.

Earlier, President Pratibha Patil had conferred the honorary rank of the IAF on the iconic batsman on June 23 this year. The rank was conferred under the provision of granting honorary rank by the armed forces to eminent personalities to acknowledge their contribution towards the nation.

Till date, 21 eminent personalities have been granted honorary ranks by the IAF, the first being the Raja of Jawhar Yashwant Rao, who was conferred the flight lieutenant’s rank in 1944. Industrialist J.R.D. Tata was made an honorary air vice marshal in 1974, and the last one to get such an honour, in 1990, was industrialist-cum-aviator Vijaypat Singhania, who is now an honorary air commodore.

Naik said that besides recognition of his contributions, Tendulkar’s association with the force would motivate the younger generation to join the IAF.

“Youth admires him. I think the youth will get inclined towards the Air Force. We are hopeful.”

IANS

The team of 27 was shortlisted from 38 probables after four trials were conducted in Patiala and Delhi over a period of two years.

Indian coach Chayan Chowdhury said: “We have a new and a young team. We have got good exposure in the last three years. We had camps in and outside India and that should help us produce good results. I am expecting not more than 2 medals to be honest,” Chowdhury told IANS.

Forty-eight medals are at stake in 14 track events, (eight for men and six for women) and two road events (mass start and time trial).

The squad:

Men: Bikram Singh, Sombir, H.S. Prince, Amrit Singh, Gurbaj Singh, Rakesh Kumar, Rajender Bisnoi, C. Rajesh, Atul Kumar, Amandeep Singh, Harpreet Singh, Sarpreet Singh, Sandeep Malik, Dayala Ram Saran, Vinod Malik, Satbir Singh, Paramjit Singh, Hetraj Singh.

Women: Mahita Mohan, Rameshwari Devi, Rejini V, Y. Sunita Devi, Pana Chaudhary, Sayona, Suchitra Devi, Helen, Renu Bala Devi.

Coaches: Graham Seers (foreign coach), Chayan Chowdhury (head coach), Narender Singh, Kuldeep Singh, Ruma Chattopadhyay, Kiran Bala and Amandeep Singh.

IANS

“No, in my 21 years of international cricket, I have never heard of any Indian player being approached by bookies,” said Tendulkar.

It was perhaps for the first time in all these years, that Tendulkar has spoken on match-fixing and also asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to thoroughly investigate the ’spot-fixing’ scandal and punish the Pakistani players if found guilty.

Tendulkar feels the revelations made by the British tabloid The News of the World, if proven true, will bring disrepute to the game that has worked hard to clear itself from the stains of match-fixing scandals in 2000.

“ICC should make a thorough probe in the ’spot-fixing’ scandal related stories and take appropriate action if the players are found guilty. If the allegations are true, they will certainly bring disrepute to the game,” said Tendulkar.

Tendulkar said he is not an expert to speak on the topic by sitting far away in India, but the incident has certainly disappointed him.

IANS

Breaking the dahi handi evokes the spirit of Krishna who loved eating curd and butter and broke earthen pots to eat them.

“So far we have sent 170 Govindas to government hospitals, 152 of which have been discharged after treatment. 18 are still in hospitals and some of them are critical,” said a disaster management officer of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

“We are still getting calls about more injuries,” he added.

Dahi Handi celebrations were on a high this year, with several places offering whopping prize money of Rs.25 lakh.

“Of the 70 Govindas that were brought here, we have treated 59 and discharged them. Eleven Govindas are still being treated and one of them is in a critical condition,” said a medical officer from KEM Hospital in souhcentral Mumbai.

An earthen pot containing a mixture of milk, dry fruits and ghee is hung around 20-30 feet above the ground with the help of a rope.

Enthusiastic young men form a human pyramid by standing on top of one another, trying to break the pot. Onlookers throw water on the young men to prevent them from doing so.

Breaking of the pot is followed by prize distribution. Devotees believe the broken pieces of earthen pot keep away mice and negative influences from their homes.

IANS