Commonwealth Games 2010 - An Overview !

Commonwealth Games 2010 It may have been just a week back but the Indian contingent made sure India had something to cheer about..

The Commonwealth Games 2010 is so far the largest multi-sport event to be conducted in India after the Asian Games in 1951 and 1982. Being the host nation, there was much pressure and several concerns were raised over the preparations: infrastructural compromise, poor living conditions of the Games Village, rains…

After the grand opening ceremony, the focus moved to sports. Athletes and sportspersons from 71 nations and territories were pitted against each other and in the final medals tally, the strong Australian contingent proved to be way ahead of everyone else. India created history finishing second with more than 100 medals. India had been a constant at fourth place in earlier editions of the games, be it at Melbourne in 2006 or at Manchester in 2002.

The overall statistics show that the northern states of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh have clinched more than 50 per cent of the gold medals, with Haryana bagging the lion’s share. The silver and bronze are also the highest for that region, with four silvers and two bronzes under its belt.

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This time the athletic contingent particularly Krishna Poonia of India made history winning a gold medal in women’s discus throw event while Harwant Kaur and Seema Antil settled for a silver and bronze respectively making it a proud moment for the nation. The women relay team also made history winning gold in the 440 yard track event. The gold by the relay team is only the second gold for India till date in the track events after Milkha Singh grabbed the yellow metal in the 440-yard event in 1958 at Cardiff games.

The last day saw three extremely self-assured sportswomen — seasoned shuttle sharks Saina Nehwal and Jwala Gutta and the young Ashwini Ponappa — bring glory to the country. When India was just two gold medals short to gain the second spot, the trio guided the country it. Saina won a nerve-wracking battle after facing a match point in the second game to give India its 38th gold medal. Never before has the country been so united by a badminton game nor has India come so close to finding a really loved sporting icon after Sachin Tendulkar.

Ace Indian shooter Gagan Narang scripted history by winning four gold medals at the Commonwealth Games 2010. Narang had been performing exceptionally well from the start and he kept the momentum going throughout. However, other shooters like Omkar Singh and Vijay Kumar won three gold medals each, scripting a win in their respective categories.

The talented Indian tennis team, which went into the event with great expectations, managed a decent performance scoring one gold, one silver and two bronze medals. The sole gold came from Somdev Devvarman who had a win in the men’s singles event while Sania Mirza won silver in the women’s singles. India, however, lost out in the mixed doubles and the men’s doubles.

Boxing fans in India suffered a major setback when Akhil Kumar lost in his quarterfinal game to a Malaysian wrestler. Indeed Akhil faltered when it mattered the most. Also the world number one, Vijender Singh was knocked out in the semifinals. But, world wrestling champion Sushil Kumar brought India a gold in the freestyle wrestling category dominating his South African counterpart in the final. Winning 6 big points against his opponent without giving away a single point, this prolific wrestler registered a clinical performance.

Achanta Sharath Kamal and former National champion Subhajit Saha ensured that table tennis contributed gold to India’s medal haul by overcoming Singapore’s Gao Ning and Yang Zi 3-2 in the men’s doubles.

The closing ceremony started with a celebration of the traditional Indian sports and later the stadium was lit up by dazzling laser lights that stole the show. There was a huge crowd of about 60,000 people watching from the stands and 7500 security personnel guarding the entire area.

But Tamil Nadu is far from New Delhi where residents are now either lamenting or heaving a sigh of relief that normal life can resume after the biggest and most chaotic party the city has ever thrown! But despite its handicaps, India is still willing and ready to host another big multi-sport event. Hopefully the administration will refine their process and take care in getting their equations right next time. They certainly will come back with a lot of vigour and experience the next time!

The million Dollar Tendulkar Does it yet again!!

The run machine, the little champion and the master blaster are some of the countless titles that have been bestowed upon cricket’s favorite son- Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. Without a doubt he is the best batsman of the modern era. He is the man who shoulders the expectations of billions of fans when he walks into a cricketing arena. And as Matthew Hayden once said, everybody now have seen god. He plays for India and bats at number 4, he is the much celebrated, Sachin Tendulkar.

The Cricket genius Sachin Tendulkar has yet again set a benchmark by being the first man on the phase of the earth to score 14000 runs in the longest version of the game, the test rubber. The little champion already holds a record for most number of runs in ODI’s and Test. After the first test against Australia in which India scored a thrilling victory, Tendulkar scored 13,973 runs and he was instrumental in scoring his 27 runs on the second day of the test game between India and Australia at Bengaluru. Sachin scored 13,000 runs this January and was quick enough to get himself 14000 just 9 months after it. Tendulkar got to his 14000-run mark when he slapped a boundary off Hauritz through the covers. Outstanding is the word to be used for the amount of hard work that has gone into this achievement, the amount of effort he has put in, in spite owning several of those records.

Tendulkar does not go for records, but records are always fond of this man, who forever will stay the pride and face of Indian Cricket. Every time Sachin walks in to bat, its prayers and prayers all over, just to see this little master score tons and tons of runs. The more you see him play, the more you will want to see him. Sachin also has more than 17500 runs in One Day Cricket and holds an impressive aggregate of 56 in Test matches and 45 in One Day Cricket. Tendulkar also holds a precious record for being the first and the only man to have scored a double century in ODI cricket. He also holds a unique record being the first player to score 10000, 11000, 12000, 13000, 14000, 15000, 16000, and 17000 runs in One Day cricket!! He is a complete batsman one could ever see- the best in the business among the fabulous band of batsmen.

I completely agree to Shane Warne’s words – “Technically you never can fault Sachin. Seam, fast bowling, off-spin, leg-spin, leg-break, off-break – nothing is a problem”. When he is out to bat even the best of the bowlers panic and fail to deliver their goods. You should always be mindful of the length and the spot when you bowl to a master blaster like Sachin Tendulkar because he is a man who puts away even the best of your delivery to the boundary and incase you bowl him bad balls? They are hit outside the park!! I truly salute the most impeccable and incredible Cricketing champion, Sachin Tendulkar on his 14,000 runs in Test Cricket!

Chennai Super Kings ku Whistle Podu !!

Cricket once again reached its pinnacle to grab the centre stage with the Champions League 2010 and this event was held in South Africa. The competition was launched in 2008 as a response to the overwhelming success of national Twenty20 domestic cricket leagues, most notably the Indian Premier League. And to top it all, this time Mega Star Amitabh Bachchan has been roped in by ESPN for endorsing this tournament. This tournament was held across venues like Durban, Port Elizabeth, Centurion and Johannesburg. Let’s not forget South Africa in the past, has been exceptional in hosting both the IPL in 2009 and FIFA World Cup in 2010. The winners of the Champions League 2010, the men in yellow.. the Chennai Super Kings.

Chennai Super Kings from the start were a team with a good batting line-up. They gain their strength from their faultless opening pair, Murali Vijay and the big Haydos. While Hayden accompanied Vijay for the first three games, it was the much more temperamental Hussy who came out to bat with Vijay, who was always amongst the runs. Both Hussy and Vijay complimented each other so well with a great understanding and when one of them call their shots, the man on the other end plays a second fiddle which is very much necessary in a 20-over game which demands good partnerships. And the man who stayed low for the first 2 or 3 games bounced back with a 48-ball 94, which was an impressive knock on a rain-hit day in Durban against the Royal Challengers in the semifinals. Indeed I’m talking about Suresh Raina. And for final game against the Warriors, Hussey and Vijay yet again pulled off a spectacular show getting the much needed runs on the board, clinching the trophy!!

Their bowling clearly was power-steered by the Chennai man Ravichandran Ashwin, who now takes the privilege of being the highest wicket-taker in the champions’ league 2010. While Chennai’s bowling attack was spearheaded by Doughy Bollinger and Albie Morkel, its wily spinner Muralidharan made a good climb up the ladder constantly staying amongst the wickets. And the bowling was just exceptional by its own. Dhoni was just wise enough to use his best bowlers at the right time to get a breakthrough.

The Chennai Super Kings from Group A had won three on four while they lost one in the super over against Victoria at Port Elizabeth. In their first game of the tournament, they had a win against the Central Districts by a 57-run margin. In the second game, the Chennai Super Kings won by 97 runs against Wayamba and in their last crucial league game that indeed was a do-or-die match for them, the team won by 10 runs against the all South African team, Warriors at Port Elizabeth clearly clinching a semi-final berth. They beat Royal Challengers in the semifinal and again beat Warriors comfortably in the finals to become the Airtel Champions 2010.

Their first game against the Central Districts saw a clinical performance from Subramaniam Badrinath and Anirudha Srikkanth scoring 52 and 42 respectively. It was a day on which the opening pair collapsed and Raina coming in at number 2 too got out cheaply. And from then on there was no looking back and Chennai finished with 151 in their quota of 20 overs. Their bowling still looked bright with Morkel, Balaji and Ashwin taking a strike each within the first 5 overs. It indeed was a good day for the lanky TamilNadu pace man Balaji who scalped 3 wickets giving away just 20 runs from his 4 overs while Ashwin, Murali and Bollinger went home with 2 wickets each. Chennai stole the limelight from the Central Districts and dumb folded them by 57 runs.

The second game for the Chennai Super Kings saw a splendid 68 from Murali Vijay and an entertaining 87 from his senior partner Suresh Raina. It was a day for Murali Vijay where everything seemed to fall in place and he was in total control of the ball. Though Wayamba lost 2 wickets in quick succession, the Super Kings pressed on for the prized wicket of Jayawardene and it was Bollinger who gave the sense of relief. Ashwin walked with his head held high with 4 wickets under his kitty and Morkel went home with 3. While Chennai set a target as high as 200 from 20 overs, the Wayamba managed just 103 from 17.1 overs. It was Chennai’s consecutive win and this time by a bigger margin of 97 runs.

Game three for the Chennai Super Kings against Bushrangers looked competitive. Though the toss favored them, the match failed to. Batting first Chennai scored 162 from 20 overs. Murali Vijay yet again steered a vital 73 from just 53 balls while Hussey got a nod for his first game instead of Haydos. Raina was the pick of the bowlers claiming 4 wickets while Murali and Bollinger had 2 each. The Bushrangers too upped the run rate at constant intervals managing the same score thus calling the super over or the one-over eliminator into play. While the Bushrangers gave away 12 runs in the super over, the Chennai super Kings had 23 to offer, thus losing a well fought game.

Winning 2 games and losing a game, the Chennai Super Kings had their do-or-die game against the fiery

Warriors. The crucial game saw a fighting spirit from both teams and a 50 from the Australian Hussey

and 35 from the willow of the regular customer, Murali Vijay helped Super Kings to a great extent and from there on captain cool Dhoni chipped in with his valuable contribution of 31 runs. Ashwin yet again was the pick of the bowlers getting 3 wickets under his belt while Murali walked away with 2 wickets. Though at one stage, it was as if the Warriors recovered from their initial setback, Ashwin sealed things going through the Warrior’s line-up in the style of his own.

The big semifinal against the Royal Challengers at Durban was disappointing as the game was delayed and a tensed affair. It was an unusual match in an unusual circumstance. While the Royal Challengers boasted of their good bowling line-up and their list of foreign imports, Raina proved them wrong and it went worse as the night progressed. The Royal challengers were pushed to their backseat with injuries from Steyn and Kohli bothering Kumble. Raina, who was almost silent in the tournament used this opportunity to stamp his authority with the bat. Vijay scored 41 runs while Raina was busy putting every ball one notch over the boundary line as Chennai touched 174 from just 17 overs. The RCB had a huge let down from their eminent batsmen as Manish Pandey was the lone batsman waging a battle. The RCB woes became very prominent while the miscued shots landed safely in one of the finest CSK fielders. Chennai had a big win by a 51-run margin registered its place in the finals.

The finale between the Warriors and Chennai Super Kings was very fitting as Chennai took a win over the Warriors by 8 wickets. Batting first the Warriors managed a total of 128 runs from their 20 overs. Ashwin yet again remained amongst the wickets scalping 2 wickets, while the wily off spinner Muralidharan managed to grab 3 of them. The Warriors, which for most part of the tournament relied on their skipper Jacobs for a good start were forced to score most of the runs without his help as the skipper succumbed to an Ashwin delivery. The Chennai Super Kings rode on the blistering start from their opening pair of Murali Vijay and Hussey. Vijay once again proved his mettle as a perfectionist making sure the ‘Golden Bat’ winks at him. At a tense stage where Chennai has to score 12 runs from eleven balls for a victory, Dhoni’s six got the dug out on its feet and it just seemed that the win was just a top shot away. Hussey who came at the expense of Haydos played a brilliant innings of 51* and steered Chennai to a victory alongside Dhoni. And it just seemed that they saved their best for the last outplaying the teams in the semifinal and final.

It really is sad that this combination would encounter a change for the next season of the Indian Premier League but still the Airtel Champions have done it all. And now the champions of the IPL 2010 will stay the champions of the champions. Warriors, Bushrangers, Wayambas .. here we come .. the Chennai Chennai super kings. All you Chennai people wherever you are... This is a moment for all of us to cherish and preserve. The men in yellow now are the champions of the Champions League 2010. Point Registered.

Is this the End of Cricket??

Cricket seems to be going out of track for sometime now and match-fixing issues do top them all.

From the earlier match-fixing scandals that benighted the careers of many top captains to the beyond tolerable commercialization of the IPL, cricket has long since lost its sheen. For sure, this game of cricket which is called globally as the gentleman’s game is put to shame and the rot is truly unwinding and it’s out naked and so public!

The latest News on the match-fixing row first broke the story that the Lord’s Test between England and Pakistan had apparently been rigged. On further investigations, came the shocking news that as much as seven players were contracted from the playing eleven and pulled into a match fixing scandal. Cricket is clearly losing its magic wand and merely is being stooped so low and stands only next to the millions of dollars that is being offered.

And almost millions around the world, who were watching that particular test match between Pakistan and England at Lords, saw Pakistan bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif deliver no-balls one after the other. Unsuspecting all these went dejected those millions of Pakistan cricket fans. But after the match-fixing scandal is out, Pakistan could only deliver anger, outrage and denial. And in spite of the videos being recorded, pictures clicked, dialogues taped, they just term it as allegations, just allegations shows how hard skinned they are! When as many as seven corrupt cricketers enter the field, cricket is being skinned and ruined.. very sad is the game of cricket caught amidst.

Now comes the question about the Anti-corruption Unit from ICC. It is said that the Anti corruption Unit from ICC or in short the ACSU will stay with the players all the time, be it in the hotel rooms or in the sporting arena. How can there still be a chance for a match-fixing? This surprises me to a large extent. There should for sure be a zero tolerance from the ICC towards dirty issues like this which can ruin the progress of the game. They should bring in a strict rule on match-fixing issues, and take care that the player who is found contracting will be given a lifetime ban from the game. No backdoor entries please.

This match fixing issue is something which is not new to the sport or any of its forms, but still just a ban for a game or two certainly will not help the game. Also we never can impose the whole blame on the Pakistanis either. As we cannot ignore an Indian interference and it is still debatable as we have seen allegations on Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja previously in this regard. Also South Africans - Boje and Chronje, who was then the South African skipper, were caught on their odd foot with a match-fixing scandal charge. When THREE blatant no-balls can pocket an amount as high as £150,000, who would give you thumbs down?

Either way this dirty issue has to be cleaned up. The game has to go on. It is a good wake-up call to the ICC and its associated squad members to get down to level zero and clean up the whole issue. Here should be the end to this dirty stuff. Let rules be strict enough to cash in on any player who is found guilty in this regard. Let’s play clean cricket and give the sport its respect. Say No to Match-Fixing!!