Games set, sherwanis to match

No matter what you've felt about the Commonwealth Games before this day - trepidation or pride, nervous tension or indifference - come Sunday and goosebumps are assured, as jolly, bobbing heads of the Indian contingent comes into view on TV or inside the stadium, when the Delhi 2010 is declared open.

A group of hockey players - led by captain Rajpal Singh - have gone ahead and customised turbans to match with their maroon sherwanis, and India's women athletes will try putting their best foot forward in their red-and-green sarees, as the 619-strong home team brings up the rear of the parade at the ceremony starting 7pm. While Saina Nehwal - a baton bearer was ready to pull on her track-suit and simply pull her hair back tight, not fussed over her attire as she runs her lap of 80m, shooter Samresh Jung and wrestler Sushil Kumar who will hand the baton to Abhinav Bindra, were still figuring out which of their outfits to don first with some typical confusion clouding the sequence of events.

Pride on their sleeves remains a common dress code. And all athletes concur that years of preparation for some of them will culminate into performance and possible glory over the next 12 days. "It's important to be out there and show our full strength on the opening day. I'm excited," says Nehwal who is eager, in equal measure, to witness the glamorous show that India will put out as it welcomes 71 nations of he conglomeration.

A smattering of words from the Oath she took at the Commonwealth Youth Games two years ago and memories of being the flag-bearer at Pune come back to the badminton ace on the eve of the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games. "But this is bigger. It's the real deal," she adds.

Rajpal Singh prefers a more flamboyant preparation. "There are 4-5 members in the team who are Sikh and we'll wear turbans matching with sherwanis. For us, it's an important part of our attire. We asked some friends in Delhi to arrange for them. It will also make us look different in the contingent," promises the Indian hockey captain.

For Nehwal, who has often missed opening ceremonies till date since she invariably has early matches to play the next day, Delhi will be different. "I'm looking forward to it. And because it's happening in India, I want to be out there as part of the opening ceremony," Nehwal says, adding that she is especially curious about the cultural show and firecrackers which she is sure will be spectacular.

"My mother will be in the audience, and I know she'll be as excited as these are my first big Games where my parents will come watch me. The Games are different from other badminton tournaments, and the opening ceremony sets the tone. As a kid I was never someone who watched sports on TV. But after I started playing, I remember watching Sydney and Athens and realising just how big these Games are," she says.

For boxer Vijender Singh, some of his best memories of the Beijing Olympics - besides his bronze medal - are of carrying the national flag during the closing ceremony. "It still inspires me to give my best in each tournament which I take part in. Most of the time we are travelling and play abroad and it will be a special moment taking part in the opening ceremony. We are excited about wearing the traditional sherwani. I will try to go for a traditional look coupled with a different stole," he says.

One of the six Games ambassadors, MC Marykom, might not be part of the Games since women's boxing doesn't figure in them, but she is equally enthused about being a baton bearer."It's been a hectic past week but I wanted to be here at the opening ceremony though I'm not taking part in the Games. It will still motivate me for the upcoming Asian Games," she says. "I am not sure about the official kit but I will also try to give some local Manipuri touch to it like I did at the opening ceremony in the World Championships at Barbados."

The athletes are also relieved that the Games management has arranged for them to be seated rather than standing in the field during the long ceremony. "It's good because most of them have an event on the next day and wouldn't want to be exhausted," Marykom adds. While wrestler Sushil Kumar is unsure of the schedule and has left the day's plan to his coach's cue, shooter Jung says, "I'm a little confused about whether to carry the track-suit or the sherwani." As India throws open the red carpet to the Commonwealth, it's also time to welcome the home champions.

You can grunt your way to tennis win, study says

Tennis players who grunt loudly when they hit the ball appear to have a competitive edge over their opponents, according to a study published on Friday.

The noise accompanying a hard shot makes an opponent slower to respond and more likely to misjudge exactly where the ball is going -- so it is tougher to hit it back, said Canadian and American researchers.

"Conservatively, our findings suggest that a tennis ball traveling 50 miles per hour (80 kph) could appear 24 inches 2 feet (60 cm) closer to the opponent than it actually is," said Scott Sinnett, an assistant at the University of Hawaii.

The researchers tested their theory on students in a laboratory at the University of British Columbia, using sounds that were comparable in volume to grunts of tennis stars Maria Sharapova and Rafael Nadal.

The results were published in the online issue of Public Library of Science ONE.

Sinnett and his colleagues say there are several possible explanations for why grunting has an effect.

Some professional tennis players try to judge the spin and velocity of a ball from the sound it makes hitting a racket, so a loud grunt would mask those clues, while also serving as a general distraction, the researchers suggested.

Grunting is a controversial subject in tennis circles, with nine-time Wimbledon champion Martina Navratilova having called it "cheating pure and simple."

"The study raises a number of interesting questions for tennis. For example, if Rafael Nadal is grunting and Roger Federer is not, is that fair?" Sinnett said.

A Wimbledon match this year between Serena Williams and Portuguese teenager Michelle Larcher de Brito was described as a "decibel Derby" for all the noise the players were making.

Sinnett said the researchers now planned to look at whether the world's top tennis players had developed strategies to mitigate the effects of their opponents' grunts.

CWG will result in economic impact of $4,940 mn

Commonwealth Games 2010 is expected to result in an overall economic impact of USD 4,940 million on India's GDP during a period of four years ending 2012 and create an employment opportunity close to 24.7 lakh.

According to a Games Organising Committee document, this figure is almost three times the economic impact the 2006 Melbourne Games had on Australian GDP.

"It is estimated that the Commonwealth Games 2010 would result in an overall economic impact of approximately USD 4,940 million on India over the period of 2008-12," the document said.

It said the 2002 Manchester Games created an impact of nearly USD 3,400 million in Britain's, while the Melbourne Games created an impact of USD 1,600 million on Australia's GDP.

The OC estimates said the Delhi Games are also expected to create an "enormous employment opportunity" of close to 24.7 lakh jobs.

Stressed out... Kashmir is a very difficult place, full of surprises: Omar

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah says he is "stressed out" dealing with the situation in Jammu and Kashmir because "logic and reason doesn't work" these days. He calls Kashmir a "very difficult place" and says "it is awfully different to see things from within".

But he is confident that the situation in the state, which witnessed four months of civil unrest, will calm down soon though he doesn't want to fix a timeframe. "Kashmir surprises us all. We are working hard and let us hope for the best."

In an interview with The Sunday Express, Abdullah said the eight-point package announced by the Centre puts the "onus on us". He acknowledged that the state government could have taken a decision on its own on the withdrawal of the Disturbed Areas Act and on the presence of security forces. "But that would have been different. It is better this way. We know the onus is on us now."

He said the Unified Command, the high-level security grid in the state, will deliberate and take a look. "Don't expect results (on withdrawal of the Disturbed Areas Act) overnight. It will happen in select areas after due consultation.

First, we will deal with this whole issue of the presence of security forces, bunkers etc. Subsequently, we will take up the Disturbed Areas Act."

He called the eight-point package a beginning. "This is a step in the right direction. The ultimate goal is resolution of

the issue, both its internal and external dimension. Hopefully, there will be space to talk to Pakistan as well." He said the decision to appoint interlocutors to begin the process of dialogue was an important move forward. "It is important to find a mix. There will be political people as well as others," he said.

Abdullah said he felt "stressed out" dealing with the situation. "I have always sought a political solution for Kashmir. I don't believe economic packages or development will alone solve the problem. I put forth my government's view before the top leadership of the country at the inauguration of the railway line in Anantnag even when everything was calm. I have always worked to facilitate a political solution (of the larger issue). I don't believe in deception in politics. But logic and reason doesn't seem to work these days."

He said the reasons for the unrest were different from the "perception" created by his opponents and the media. "Kashmir is a very difficult place. Everything is very complicated here. It is awfully different to see things from within. Nothing is as simple as you see it from outside."

Asked whether he felt his authority as Chief Minister was under question during the last three months of unrest, he said: "Remember, this is not an agitation against the state government. This is a Quit Jammu and Kashmir movement and see who has left. Businessmen, traders and students have left Kashmir."

He said he hasn't yet analysed how and why the situation took such a turn. "One requires a certain amount of peace of mind to introspect. We are still dealing with it (situation). There are still people out there who are foolish enough to throw stones at school buses and children. I first want normalcy restored as soon as possible."

Asked why he didn't meet the families of youths killed in firing, Abdullah said he was in touch with several such families. "I chose not to visit these families. It is not because I did it for security reasons. I was worried that if

people living in the neighbourhood create a situation where my security does something, then people will ask me why I went there in the first place. I didn't want to cause a tragedy. It is better this way."

On the statements by armed forces on issues like the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, he said: "It is my belief that it is not the Army's job to analyse policy issues, certainly not publicly when there are mechanisms for discussion like the Unified Command. There are other channels of communication that can be used."

Asked about his government's promise to separatists that peaceful protests would be allowed, Abdullah said: "We allowed a procession on Eid and you saw what happened. They burnt down two government buildings." He claimed there were instances when securitymen were fired at from within the processions. "We have policemen with bullet injuries. I can tell you there were guns in processions at Pulwama, Anantnag, Sopore and Pattan. There was one particular case where a grenade was about to be exploded. The blame would have come on the police."

How is his coalition with the Congress? "It is absolutely fine. There has been a fair amount of discussion within the

coalition and we are trying to handle this situation together. There are individual ambitions which get tapered down by the party leadership which takes decisions in its own interest and the interest of the state."

Lalu favourite target in Bihar campaigning

RJD chief Lalu Prasad is the favourite punching bag in the campaigning for Bihar assembly elections. The man who changed the rules of the game in the state for 15 long years but failed in the last assembly elections is at the centre of attacks and counterattacks.

In the run-up to the polls, his detractors are reminding people against the return of the "jungle raj". After his party''s debacle in the Lok Sabha polls last year, Prasad, who is fighting with his back to the wall to regain power in Bihar, is the target alike of his detractors as also of those who were his admirers till the other day.

The ruling Janata Dal(U)-BJP combine as also Congress, which was playing the second fiddle to Prasad for several years in Bihar, are leaving no stone unturned to corner him politically. Congress is going all out to make inroads into Prasad''s Muslim-Yadav (MY) votebank by giving a large number of tickets to Muslims and has also brought in Mehboob Ali Kaiser, a leader from the minority community, as the new PCC Chief.

Congress leaders say that some 50 Muslim candidates could be put up by the party which is contesting all the 243 seats in the state after a long time. One of Prasad''s brother-in-laws, the controversial Sadhu Yadav, is already in Congress while another, Subhash Yadav, who was recently denied RJD renomination to the Rajya Sabha, is out of the party and is also knocking at the doors of 10 Janpath.

They are now saying that Prasad has become "arrogant". Playing the development card, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a friend-turned-foe of Prasad, is in his caustic best while attacking Prasad.

Kumar is sarcastically dubbing him as Mr Turnaround over his claims that he had worked a miracle on the Railways. "People of the state are not going to vote for Lalu Prasad and his party even by mistake," Kumar claims alleging that after unleashing a "reign of terror" for 15 years in Bihar, the RJD chief is now talking of setting things right in the state.

In fact, the Chief Minister has made an issue of Prasad occupying a front seat in the Lok Sabha though his party had only four MPs, to allege that he has a poll pact with Congress. Lalu is hitting back alleging secret links between Congress and the JD-U. His statements show that he no longer treats Congress as a non-entity and "vote-katwa" (spoiler of other parties'' chances) in Bihar.

Fortress Delhi set for biggest Commonwealth Games

With nearly 6,000 athletes already in Delhi and hundreds more streaming in by the day, the capital was putting the finishing touches to preparations for the biggest ever Commonwealth Games on Saturday

The 12-day sports gathering for mostly former British colonies was in crisis a week ago but organisers seemed to have put the worst of the rash of preparatory problems behind them on the eve of the opening ceremony.

The late scramble by the government to salvage the $6 billion event might still not be enough to erase the public relations disaster of the last few weeks but the 19th Commonwealth Games can at least boast the most participants.

"The fact that we will have the participation of 6,800 athletes and team officials from all 71 nations and territories indicates the love they have for India," said chief organiser Suresh Kalmadi.

"We are on course to deliver the Games successfully and smoothly."

The late arriving athletes will land in a city in the grip of huge security operation aimed at ensuring the safety of the athletes and spectators, 60,000 of whom will pack the refurbished Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Sunday.

Some 100,000 security personnel have been deployed around the city and MiG fighters and helicopter gunships will be on standby.

The Delhi government has also ordered shops and commercial establishments to remain closed on Sunday but the city's police chief YS Dadwal said people would still be able to get around.

"It's huge task and we have cancelled leave for all policemen," he told reporters. "It's a moment of great challenge for Delhi Police.

"We have not asked people to stay home. We told them, 'Plan your movement because of limited road space during the Games. Reach venues well in advance and be prepared to stand in queues.'"

Britain's Prince Charles arrived in Delhi on Saturday to attend the opening ceremony on behalf of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, the head of the Commonwealth.

The Delhi Games, intended to showcase India's growing financial clout with a display of soft power, had threatened to become a national embarrassment before the government intervened.

The organisers had seven years to prepare but the shoddy construction and filthy accommodation forced some of the teams to either postpone their arrival or put up in city hotels.

The director of sport for the Canadian team, Scott Stevenson, said conditions in the athletes' village had now improved.

"We wanted it to get to adequate class as we say, which is where we are," he said. "So people are comfortable, they are getting their sleep, eating well and it's easy to move around. It is a comfortable village to be around."

The organisers renovated most of the existing stadiums and some of the venues, including hockey and cycling stadiums, have been hailed as world class.

The string of top athletes who have skipped the games for fatigue, injury, health or security concerns have taken some of the lustre off the sporting competition, which starts on Monday.

Strong swimming teams from Australia, England, South Africa and Canada have bucked the trend, though, and the action at the Dr SP Mukherjee Aquatic Complex will be among the highlights of the Oct. 3-14 event.

"It is very different from the swimming world championships and in my view the only experience that beats competing at the Commonwealth Games is the Olympics," said South Africa's 2004 Olympic champion Roland Schoeman.

Corruption charges, an attack by suspected militants that wounded two tourists, a dengue fever epidemic, a filthy Games Village and the collapse of a footbridge have tarnished India's image, questioning its ability to host events of such magnitude.

Nano may become available overseas in a year or two: Forster

Nano, the world's cheapest car made by India's Tata Motors, could be available overseas in a year or two, the company's CEO Carl-Peter Forster has said.

"We don't know yet, but in a year or two perhaps," Forster said in an interview.

"We are looking at that very carefully," he said when asked about would one be able to buy the miracle car outside India.

"Because first of all we would like to satisfy local demand. We believe that it in its current and present form a car for developing markets. So we're looking at specific developing markets. So if you're living in one of these developing markets, Asia for example, possibly Africa,possibly Latin America, you might be able to buy (in a year or two perhaps)," he said.

When asked about cases of a few Nanos catching fire, Forster said it is being investigated. "There were three or four cases. We are finding out what it is. It's a strange mix of some misuse, some after-sales equipment. And we are getting to the bottom of it. We have to find ways to protect against some of the misuse," he said.

Forster, who is upbeat about the new Land Rover rolled out by the company, said it is doing excellent. "Strong demand coming out of the recession... with extra-strong demand I would call it. We have the right product right now, strong diesel engines. Particularly Range Rover is doing fantastic."

Talking about the smallest Range Rover ever introduced he said: "We introduced a small Range Rover today, which is the smallest ever, almost two sizes smaller than the current smaller Range Rover. Great demand. Great interest. Call it - Let me call it that. It will be in the market next year."

The Tata Motor CEO said they are making money with Jaguar, Land Rover combined. "It's a combined entity. We have to look at it as a combined entity. We've made good money in the first quarter of the fiscal year, yes," he said.

"We have a great order bank. Incoming orders are slowing down a bit, but not much. A bit. But we see continued strong demand in China, which is offsetting the slowdown in a way. So we have continued to be positive," he said.

Forster denied that the company is shedding any jobs from its plants in Britain. "There are no job losses. Actually we're creating jobs," he said.

On consolidation plans Forster said, "... the idea is to basically consolidate, to take the people from the one and put them into the other and create a larger entity which would be more efficient and flexible. That is our mainstream plan. The unions are objecting. Let's say they have other ideas."