The guilty will not be spared, Gandhi told reporters on the sidelines of a function.

It’s everybody’s responsibility to ensure the Games are successful, she said.

Breaking her silence on charges of murky deals involving the Commonwealth Games Delhi will host next month, Gandhi stressed that the Games was not about a party or an individual, but an issue of the nation’s pride.
(IANS)

The Delhi assembly, on the first day of it five-day monsoon session, witnessed a ruckus as soon as it met, with BJP members protesting over alleged financial irregularities in Games projects.

Some BJP members started beating steel plates with spoons, demanding the suspension of the question hour to discuss irregularities in Games-related projects. The party later walked out of the house seeking a reply from Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

Public Works Department Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan, in his point-by-point reply to the opposition’s charges, said they were “baseless”.

“There has not been a single incident of corruption in 12 years of rule of the Congress. At the same time, the city has witnessed unprecedented development,” he said.

“Delhi has earmarked Rs.3,803 crore for various Games projects, whereas Rs.16,198 crore was meant for the overall development of the capital in the last three-four years,” Chauhan said.

The BJP demanded a judicial probe into the irregularities in the Commonwealth Games projects, which could take place alongside the mega sporting event.

Though Dikshit did not speak on the Games in the House, she intervened twice while Congress legislators were speaking and said: “May I say that all of you (BJP members) are misleading the house.”

Later, talking to reporters, she said that all the allegations are “false”.

Earlier, the assembly was adjourned twice during question hour after BJP members asked for a discussion on the Games but Speaker Yoganand Shastri disallowed this.

The sports ministry had asked IOA to resolve the issue immediately, but the IOA said that it can’t help WFI financially as it would be seen as “abetment to doping”.

WFI secretary-general Sahdev Yadav hoped that the federation can still pay the fine by the deadline.

“We are still hoping that we can meet the deadline. But if we fail, what can we do, our weightlifters will not take part in the Commonwealth Games. We are still hopeful that the sports ministry will come and bail us out. We are just asking for interest- free loan,” Yadav said.

A top IOA official put the onus on the sports ministry saying that it is the responsibility of the government to help WFI.

“We want the government to pay the money as an interest-free loan to the WFI. It is the obligation of the sports ministry to help the WFI,” the IOA official said on condition of anonymity.

The sports ministry has so far refused to pay the amount because it is supporting a dope-free sport through its own National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) and doesn’t want to be seen in a bad light.

(IANS)

The move has been welcomed by the sportspersons. “Amid the news of various kind of corruption in the Commonwealth Games preparations these are some of the good news. This will certainly boost the morale of the sportspersons who have been preparing hard to win a medal in the games”, says a former wrestling champion from Delhi.

States like Delhi, Bihar, Punjab have yet to make announcement in this regard. On Monday, Haryana government announced that sportspersons, who win medals in the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games (CWG) will get cash rewards. The highest reward of Rs.700,000 will be given for a gold medal. Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda made announcement in this regard on Monday. Players winning silver and bronze medals at the CWG will respectively be given Rs.500,000 and Rs.300,000.

Last week, Himachal Pradesh Chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal announced that the government will provide free week-long boarding and lodging in its hotels to world record holding athletes during the Commonwealth Games.
“The week-long free package to the world record holders during Commonwealth Games being held in Delhi is aimed at attracting the best sports talents to visit our state and enjoy the traditional hospitality along with their spouses,” a press statement of the state said. Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) is organizing the package for the athletes.

The Group of Ministers (GoM) on the Games has asked the composer Rahman to tweak it before the opening ceremony.
“I presented the theme song before the GoM and it was approved. I have been asked to tweak it and it will be released within next 10 days,” Rahman told reporters here.

“I think it won’t be good to release the theme song without making the necessary changes,” he said when asked about the song.

Beginning with the words “Oh yaaro, India bula liya” (Friends, we have called you to India), the song is composed mostly in Hindi with a sprinkle of English.

While Rahman will be the lead singer of the theme song, there will be other songs as well for the Commonwealth Games, including one dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi and another to the “key of knowledge”.

“The song is about India, about energy, winning and not giving up. We want the crowd to sing along with us at the opening ceremony. It is simple but not simplistic,” he said.

Asked how different it was from Shakira’s popular football World Cup anthem “Waka Waka”, Rahman said: “It is not ‘Waka Waka’. We wanted to go beyond it. It is complex, difficult to explain but I am sure you will like it when you hear it.”

Rahman said he was initially apprehensive about whether the GoM would like the song.

“I was a little bit apprehensive if they will like it because the GoM consists of aged people but they all liked and approved it,” he said.

Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi and filmmaker Shyam Benegal, who is a member of the core committee of the Commonwealth Games, were present on the occasion.

The GoM chaired by Urban Development Minister S.Jaipal Reddy met for the first time Sunday after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh intervened to take stock of the much-criticised preparations for the Oct 3-14 Games.

The three-hour long GoM meeting also discussed other details related to the opening ceremony besides giving approval to the theme song composed by Rahman.

All the work related to the Commonwealth Games will be complete in time and Delhi will be ready to host the best ever Games, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said Sunday.In her Independence Day message, she asked Delhiites to make the mega-event a memorable one and protect the legacy the city will get thereafter.
“Hosting a successful Games will earn good name for India and Delhi,” she said.
The city hosts the Games Oct 3-14.

Children make I-Day celebrations more live
As the tricolour unfurled at the Red Fort, children dressed in saffron, white and green – colours of the national flag – seated on the front lawn made a bright and cheerful statement with their presence.

The enthusiastic children clapped the loudest when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived and cheered when he mentioned the Right to Education act, the legislation which provides for free and compulsory education to children aged 6 to 14.

The audience too comprised a large number of children who were escorted to the venue by their teachers as early as 5 a.m. Many of them held tricolour pom-poms, adding more colour and vibrancy to the celebrations.

Rain, rain go away

The crowd gathered for the Independence Day function at the Red Fort were a worried lot. The weather office had predicted rains and they had been strictly prohibited from carrying umbrellas to the venue for security reasons.

The invitation card had specifically mentioned that only raincoats were allowed.

But much to their relief, the rain gods did not smile.

However, the high humidity was reflected as many of the VIPs were seen fanning themselves with their invitation cards.

Taking a cleanliness lesson from PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in his address, expressed concern over India lagging behind in terms of cleanliness and sanitation and called for a ‘Clean India’ campaign where children are taught about “hygiene”.

Listening raptly to his message, the around 500-odd school children took it to heart. Usually the Red Fort area looks like a garbage dump after the Independence Day celebrations as children litter the place with empty food packets.

But this Sunday it was different. The premises wore a spic and span look.

A lesson well learnt and some relief for the cleaners.

Of patriotic songs, balloons

The majestic Red Fort facade was decked with flowers and the colours of the national flag could be seen everywhere. But what heightened the patriotic mood were soul-stirring songs sung by children in many Indian languages.

Many in the audience were seen humming the tunes, while others tapped their feet while waiting for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to arrive for the function.

And stealing the show at the end of the celebrations were the tricolour balloons floating in the sky.

Saffron, white and green helium balloons with folded flags attached to them were released, and the audience, specially the children, strained their necks looking upwards to trace the skyward journey.

Many of the children clapped loudly when the folded flags, filled with glitter, unfolded as the balloons rose upwards.
(IANS)

“I am convinced that all our countrymen will treat the Games as a national festival and will leave no stone unturned to make them a success. The successful organization of Commonwealth Games would be another signal to the world that India is rapidly marching ahead with confidence,” he added.

The Games are slated for Oct 3-14.

On Saturday, the prime minister made it clear that the facilities for the Games should be made ready in time and meet international standards as the “eyes of the world” were on the country.

His intervention followed controversies over the event’s preparations as well as the slow pace of infrastructure improvement in the national capital.

Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna are other players selected Friday by the committee comprising Anil Dhupar (chairman), S.P. Misra, Rohit Rajpal and Balram Singh for both the events.

Yuki Bhambri, Vishnu Vardhan and V.M. Ranjeet have been nominated as reserve players for the Commonwealth Games.

Vishnu Vardhan, Ranjeet Virali Murugesan and Divij Sharan are the reserves for the Davis Cup tie. Misra will continue to be the non-playing captain of the team.

The selection of the women’s team has been deferred by a week, till the conclusion of the ongoing coaching camp at Pune on the recommendations of the coaches for the Games’ preparation — Jaidip Mukerjea, Nandan Bal and Enrico Piperno.

“The trials are still going, the coaches are overseeing the players’ performances. Once the camp gets over, they will be in a better position to recommend the names,” Mukerjea told IANS.

The selection committee also discussed the clash of the ATP World Tour doubles with the November Asian Games and has deferred the decision for nominating the team for the event.

Team:

Commonwealth Games (men’s): Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, Somdev Devvarman, Rohan Bopanna.

Reserves: Yuki Bhambri, Vishnu Vardhan and V.M. Ranjeet

Davis Cup: Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, Somdev Devvarman, Rohan Bopanna.

Reserves: Vishnu Vardhan, Ranjeet Virali Murugesan and Divij Sharan (IANS)

Vijender, who missed the recent National Championships in New Delhi, said he was fit and satisfied with his preparation for the Games.

“Earlier, Indian boxers were content with mere participation in the Olympics and World Championships. But the aspirations have undergone a dramatic change. They now enter the ring confident of matching the rivals punch for punch,” Vijender said.

“At the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002, Indian boxers claimed three medals. The tally increased to five in 2006 in Melbourne but this time at Delhi we are hoping to win eight or nine.

“India’s fine show in this year’s Commonwealth Boxing Championships has made us hopeful of a big haul of medals. In the last Commonwealth Games, India got one gold medal and that tally could increase to five if we live up to our potential,” he said.

Vijender said support from home crowd will boost them.

“The support should lift the Indians to greater heights. My focus is on winning a gold medal for India,” said Vijender, who became the poster boy of Indian boxing after winning the bronze at the Beijing Olympics.

Vijender is also among the six Indian sportspersons chosen as brand ambassadors for the Delhi Commonwealth Games.

“It’s a big honour to be among the brand ambassadors of the Commonwealth Games, which should be a big hit among sports fans and provide a boost to Indian sportspersons,” said Vijender, who followed up his Olympic medal with a bronze in the World Boxing Championships.

The other brand ambassadors are Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra, Olympic bronze medallist wrestler Sushil Kumar, ace pistol shooter Samaresh Jung, world No. 2 woman badminton player Saina Nehwal and four-time World champion woman boxer M.C. Mary Kom.

The Indian boxing squad for the Commonwealth Games will be finalised after the Aug 26-28 selection trials in Patiala, where the core group of boxers are currently training. (IANS)

World championship medallist Ramesh Kumar (74kg category) has been left out of the Commonwealth Games squad. Narsingh Yadav (74), who won the Commonwealth Championship in December and Asian Championship in May, has not found place in the Senior World Wrestling Championship squad that was also announced Monday.

Ramesh Kumar won a bronze in the world championship last year, though his performance this year has not been good.

The Wrestling Federation of India announced the teams for the Commonwealth Games and the Senior World Wrestling Championship in Moscow, Russia, after conducting selection trials.

The wrestling competitions of the Commonwealth Games will be held Oct 5-10 while the 2010 Senior World Wrestling Championship will be held Oct 6-12 in Moscow.

Team for Commonwealth Games:

Free Style: Anil Kumar (55kg), Yogeshwar Dutt (60), Sushil Kumar (66), Sumit (74), Anuj Kumar (84), Mausam Khatri (96), Rajiv Tomar (120).

Greco Roman Style: Rajender Kumar (55kg), Ravinder Singh (60), Sunil Kumar (66), Sanjay Kumar (74), Manoj Kumar (84), Anil Kumar (96), Dharmender Dalal (120)

Female wrestling team: Nirmala Devi (48 Kg), Babita Kumari (51), Geeta (55), Alka Tomar (59), Suman Kundu (63), Anita (67), Gursharanpreet Kaur (72)

Team for Senior World Wrestling Championship:

Free Style: Vinod Kumar (55kg), Yogeshwar Dutt (60), Sushil Kumar (66), Narsingh Yadav (74), Mausam Khatri (96), Joginder (120)

Greco Roman: Rajender Kumar (55 kg), Ravinder Singh (60), Sunil Kumar (66), Rajbir Chhikara (74), Dharmender Dalal (120).

Female wrestling team: Nehra Rathi (48 kg), Sakshi Malik (51), Alka Tomar (59), Navjot Kaur (63).

(IANS)