The Hindu : Cathy's arrival provides the impetus

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 25, 2002

Sport

Sport - Athletics

Cathy's arrival provides the impetus

By Kamesh Srinivasan

MANCHESTER JULY 24. These are still the early days, and the real thing is yet to start. The locals are only upset that the weather is not to their liking. Luckily, most of the visitors are only too pleased with the pleasant atmosphere.

There is excitement in the air, with the arrival of the Olympic gold medallist, Cathy Freeman.

She, of course, is not at her best these days and would only be running in the relay. Understandably so as her husband has been ill, and has been diagnosed with cancer.

It is in a bid to boost the morale of the Australian contingent that Cathy made it here, and also because she has fond memories of winning the relay gold as a 16-year-old in the Commonwealth Games in Auckland in 1990.

There is excitement in the Indian camp as well, as Sports Minister Uma Bharti and IOA president Suresh Kalmadi, make a strong case for India hosting the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Canada and Singapore are the other countries to have made the preliminary presentations. The formal bids are expected to be presented in May next year, and the decision would be made a few months later in the General Assembly meeting of the Commonwealth Games Federation in Jamaica.

The Indian authorities have stated that they have held the Asian Games twice, and deserve to host the Commonwealth Games, especially considering the eagerness of the huge population of a 100 million. The sports minister assured in her speech at the meeting that the Indian government would back the venture totally.

The Indian camp believes that the bid could be clinched if a serious attempt is made, rather than place blind faith on mere "lip sympathy" of the member units.

The chairman of the Commonwealth Games Federation, Mr Mike Fennell of Jamaica, mentioned at a press conference that there was a presentation from Melbourne 2006 for the next Commonwealth Games, apart from one on the next Commonwealth Youth Games of 2004 to be held in Bendigo, 90 km from Melbourne.

It was announced that there would be an award for the outstanding athlete of the present Games, named after the former secretary of the CGF, David Dixon.

``The General Assembly approved the David Dixon Award with tremendous enthusiasm in 1999 and it is very exciting that it will be awarded for the first time here in Manchester'', said Mr. Fennell.

Each country would be asked to nominate one of its athletes on August 4, to be considered for the award.

Women squad upset

Back to the present scenario, there was a demand for immediate sympathy and equal justice from the Indian women's hockey squad, as it was upset with its accommodation at the Daisy Bank Hall, far away from the Games village.

The secretary of the Indian Women's Hockey Federation (IWHF), Mrs Amrit Bose, was quite upset with the situation and said that she was trying to convince the IOA and the chef de mission about the need to give her team equal facilities like the rest of the huge contingent.

``There is no water; no communication and the girls are facing a lot of difficulties. I am unable to get Mr M.C. Chowhan on the phone'', said Mrs Bose, who is here as a technical official.

The girls and the coach were in good spirits and talked positive after a short stint of practice at the Belle Vue, which was still being decked up with temporary stands etc.

The step motherly treatment to the women's hockey team could be perhaps because the team had finished fourth in the last edition in Kuala Lumpur. The girls were keen to prove a point, and assert their ability, especially in the light of having missed the bus to the World Cup to be held in November, following the defeat to the US in the play-off qualification series here in England recently.

There was good news from Bisley shooting range, as the Indian marksmen and women seemed to be zeroing in on the medals with a good fare in the badge matches.

These badge matches are serious business as the medals are presented like in the normal competition, in a ceremonious way. Anjali Vedpathak Bhagwat set the tempo by winning the individual golden badge in both the air rifle and 3-position events. Anjali had scores of 396 in air rifle and 563 in sport rifle. Suma Shirur did well to compile a score of 395 in air rifle to bag the silver badge.

``The conditions at the 50-metre range are tough. I had a bad score, but it happens to be the best'', said Anjali, with usual cheer.

Abhinav Bindra also warmed up for the more serious ventures ahead, with a 595 in air rifle, and had good support from Sameer Ambekar who shot a 592, as the two took the gold and silver. Abhinav had rounds of 98, 100, 99, 99, 100 and 99, which should augur well for the Indian challenge.

After the 589 in the World Championship in Lahti, this was a welcome return to form for the 19-year-old Abhinav.

Jaspal Rana won the standard pistol gold badge with a 571 while Samaresh Jung took the bronze in the free pistol event with a 560, five points behind Olympic silver medallist Michael Gault of England.

Major Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore celebrated his late clearance by the Union government by winning the gold badge in double trap with an impressive 94. He had rounds of 46 and 48.

Shweta Chaudhary took the bronze badge in air pistol with a 373, six points ahead of compatriot Sheila Kanungo, who started badly with an 88 but recovered ground.

There was not much good news from other events. Anwer Sultan shot an 88 out of 100, and had to be content with the 12th slot in trap, while Manavjit Singh Sandhu did not compete.

With the pairs and individual competitions ahead, there will be enough scope for everyone to stake their claim for the precious medals.

Meanwhile, tickets were still available for many events. The tickets for the opening and closing ceremony have been priced at 75 to 195 pounds. The swimming events will cost the spectators 25 to 90 pounds a day.

Table tennis, badminton, wrestling, boxing, hockey, judo, netball ranged from five to 15 pounds. There has been gate for the gymnastics rehearsals, with the tickets priced at 10 pounds.

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