High-definition content is the next level for DTH

May 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The country’s largest direct-to-home (DTH) operator, Dish TV, with 7.3 million subscribers, has now launched high definition DTH service offering five high-definition (HD) channels. Managing director Jawahar Goel speaks to Ashish Sinha on the company’s plans and targets. Excerpts:

What is the future of HD in the Indian broadcasting space?

HD television in the country is what colour television was after the Asian Games in 1982. According to my estimate, there will be 30-40 HD channels within the current fiscal. We are launching five HD channels, but customers will only pay for four and get the Fifa World Cup on ESPN free of cost. It is the future of television viewing. We will continue to add more HD channels as and when broadcasters launch them in the market.

What are the investments and targets planned for Dish TV HD service?

I have kept a very achievable target. We should sell over 60,000 boxes of Dish TV HD in this fiscal. On our part, the HD service on the Dish TV platform should require an investment of Rs 15 crore this year. In the introductory offer that will last all through this year, we will give the Dish TV HD box for Rs 5,990. We will launch exchange schemes for the existing Dish TV customers as well.

Our subsidy on HD box is almost similar to the normal box – around Rs 2,500 per box.

Tell us about the late foray in HD by Dish TV.

I am aware that some DTH operators have already launched HD services without enough dedicated HD channels. We did not want to do that. Our HD service comes with dedicated HD channels—Zee TV HD, Zee Cinema HD—apart from other HD contents.

What is your take on demand for reduction of licence fees to 6% of revenue?

We are hopeful that the government will accept our longstanding demand. There is substantial progress in this direction. Hopefully, with the roll out of the goods and servicestax, we will get what we want.

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Where talent is groomed, foundations are laid

May 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

When S Chikkarangappa broke the news of having begun playing golf to his parents, the biggest grouse his father had was that it wasn’t ‘their kind of sport’. “Our relatives used to tell him that it was a rich man’s game,” says the Bangalore player whose family lives on a farm in the village of Rangagodaddi.

Luckily for Indian golf, Chikkarangappa had enough persuasive powers to convince his father and the Golf Foundation had already been established.

Amit Luthra realised the need of supporting golfers who had the talent but not the means to stick to the sport when Ashok Kumar, who caddied for the 1982 Asian Games gold winner once in a while, wanted to play full-time. The Foundation, currently funded by HSBC, tries to do that and a little more.

“We keep around 10 players on our rolls at any time, with the two main criteria being talent and financial need,” Luthra says. “Then we give each of them a fixed monthly emolument, arrange for their travel for tournaments throughout India and sometimes abroad, pick up the tab for their training with any coach of their choice in India, help them with equipment and apparel and find them a sponsor.”

But apart from finances, as board member and Delhi Golf Club coach Nonita Lall Qureshi explains, the organisation also helps the youngsters get a “kickstart in life through golf”. English lessons and classes on formal table manners are also a regular feature. “The lack of education or knowledge of English can often turn out to be a big setback when you travel abroad. It can come as quite a shock, sometimes bringing out all their insecurities,” Qureshi says. “We just try to prepare them best for all situations.”

The list of players is reassessed each year, and non-performers can even be dropped. There is no age limit for the player to be picked up, but Qureshi says once a player turns professional, they don’t keep him on the list for more than two years. “That’s when you’re expected to support yourself,” she adds.

On the current list, Rudresh Sharma is the only professional; most others are juniors. Chikka and Rashid Khan were on the roster for long, but have been graduated recently. “I was gifted a ladies club set by a member at Eagleton when I started. The only set that I’ve used after that is the one that the Foundation helped me get,” says Chikka.

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IOC sends another warning letter to sports ministry

May 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The ongoing spat between the government and Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi and other sports administrators could snowball into a situation where the country may see itself being thrown out of the Olympic family by next month, thus jeopardising India’s participation in the Singapore Youth Olympics, the Asian Games in Guangzhou and even the Commonwealth Games in October.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) shot out a warning letter to sports minister MS Gill on Friday over limiting office tenures of IOA and federation administrators.

The letter cautioned the ministry against going ahead with their May 1 decision to regulate tenures, which goes against the Olympic Charter, and reitered the possibility of sanctions. If the ministry went ahead with its guidelines, said the letter, the issue would be referred to the IOC executive board meeting in June and may lead to India’s suspension or de-recognition from the Olympic family.

“…We would like to remind you, once more, that in the event where the directives issued by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports would be imposed on the Olympic Movement in India (even for future elections) we would be forced to report this case to the next IOC executive board meeting (in June) according to the rules of the Olympic Charter,” the letter said.

Friday’s letter is in response to the May 12 correspondence by joint secretary to the sports minister, Injeti Srinivas, to the IOC, where the ministry said that the guidelines would not affect the current office-bearers of the IOA and NSFs and would be effective for future elections only.

The joint letter has been copied to IOC president Jacques Rogge, OCA president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Sabah, IOC member and IOA secretary general Randhir Singh and the Commonwealth Games Federation.

Talking to The Sunday Express from Lausanne, Randhir Singh called the ministry’s decision a “big setback” and an attempt to discredit India’s image in the international sports arena. “At a time when India is emerging as a sports power, we expect the ministry to be supportive rather than sully the image of India internationally,” he said.

Resolve issue ourselves: Gill

MEANWHILE, reacting to the letter, sports minister Gill said that the issue should be resolved within the country. “I have got the (IOC) letter and I can’t understand why it is being written again and again. This is an issue amongst ourselves and should be resolved within the country,” he said.

“There should be a limit on the tenure and age (of sports bosses). I have not brought a new guideline. I have only revived the 1975 guideline. The IOA should respect the opinion of the people of this country,” he added.

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China lifts 20-year-old entry ban on HIV/AIDS infected foreigners

April 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Beijing, Apr 28 (ANI): The Chinese Government has lifted a 20-year-old rule that banned foreigners with HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases and leprosy from entering the country.

According to a statement released by China’s State Council, the decision was taken after realizing that it did little to prevent the spread of disease and caused problems when the country was hosting international events.

The statement further said the lifting of the ban would not bring an outbreak of disease in the country, as scientific research has proved daily contact does not cause infection.

Chinese Health Ministry spokesman Mao Qun’an said the groundwork for lifting the ban had began since the Beijing Olympic Games, but it took a few more years only because of the necessary procedures, the Xinhua news agency reports.

The revision comes days ahead of the opening of the Shanghai World Expo.

Earlier, the government had temporarily lifted the ban for various large-scale events, including the 1990 Beijing Asian Games, the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995 and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

According to Chinese Health Ministry, the estimated number of people living with HIV in China had reached 740,000 by October 2009, with deaths caused by AIDS totalling 49,845 since the first case was reported in 1985.

The decision comes several months after the U.S. removed HIV infection from the list of diseases that prevent non-U.S. citizens from entering the country.

Until January, the U.S. was one of seven countries with laws barring entry of people with HIV. (ANI)

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Indian women boxers get set for Asian Games and World Cup bouts

April 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Bhopal, Apr 24 (ANI): The Indian women boxers are preparing for the ensuing Asian Games and the World Cup at the national training camp held at Bhopal.

This camp, which commenced on April 15, will continue till May 21.

The Indian Women Boxing Team chief coach, Anup Kumar, said every woman is trained individually in this camp and that the team is going to perform well in both the Asian Games and World Cup.

“We also emphasise on the defence part…defence…punch…which is going on nowadays…the defence which is done as a reaction to an attack…a counter attack which is done, is the best defence, more attention is laid on that. We do first attack as well,” Kumar said.

“Nowadays, there is computer scoring, which has changed a lot in scoring. Earlier…in manual scoring, it was easier, but today, if the chin does not go up, the punch is not considered strong enough, which means if the body weight is entirely on the punch, then it will earn a point,” he added.

Kumar further said that the Indian Boxing Federation (IBF) has chosen a capable team of senior as well as junior players for the camp.

The government of India has suggested an additional foreign coach to add to their experience.

M C Marykom, the four times world champion, said that all boxers at the camp are working hard and that they are much impressed by Kumar”s training, and another coach would supplement their skills.

“I think our Indian boxers have performed well. Anup Sir has given us good training and all the national coaches are doing good training with us. So…I mean…it is fine…if Russian coaches come, we will learn some techniques used there. I think we will benefit,” said Marykom.

She added that one or two from every country can give a good competition at the championship but China is the toughest competitor as of now.

After the camps in Patiala, Bangalore and Kolkata, the fourth one in Bhopal has witnessed more number of women, since it is centrally located.

Kumar is assisted by eight other coaches in the Bhopal camp. (ANI)

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Australia, Japan fail to secure top seeding for Asian Cup

April 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment

World Cup bound Australia and Japan have failed to secure top seeding at next year’s Asian Cup even though they are the highest ranked teams in the region.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) named host nation Qatar, ranked 97th in the world, as the surprise top seeds while Japan were fifth and Australia sixth ahead of Friday’s draw for the finals.

“We see no reason to follow FIFA rankings,” AFC spokesman Ali Al-Hamdani said on Thursday.

“Seedings for the 2007 event were based on FIFA rankings so as to accommodate Australia, who were making their debut in the competition after moving across from Oceania to Asia. The 2007 system was a one-off to make it fair on other teams following the arrival of Australia.”

With Australia, ranked 19th in the world, now an established force in the continent, the AFC has based the seedings for the Jan. 7-29 event according to results in previous tournaments.

Champions Iraq, who had their international suspension lifted by world soccer’s governing body FIFA last month, 2007 runners-up Saudi Arabia and South Korea make up the rest of the top four seeds.

As a result of the seedings, South Korea could face a showdown with bitter rivals North Korea in the group stages.

The 16 nations will be placed into four pools of four in the draw, which takes place on Friday at Doha’s Aspire Dome — the largest indoor sports facility in the world.

While most teams will be eager to find out which groups they have been drawn in, Qatar organisers face a race against time to fill the stadiums during the state’s largest international sporting event since the 2006 Asian Games, when many seats were empty.

Organisers say they can guarantee full houses at the five designated stadiums, which they hope will strengthen their chances of winning the bid to host the 2022 World Cup.

“Of course, the successful planning of the Asian Cup will have a major bearing on our World Cup bid,” Qatar organising committee chief executive Saud Al Mohannadi told Reuters.

“Preparations are in full swing. We will be targeting both domestic and expat fans. We expect 70 percent of fans to be expats based and working in the region.”

Fears have been raised that Doha’s expensive hotel rates could put off travelling fans.

But Mohannadi said special accommodation rates and packages together with relaxed visa rules and ticketing — which will be announced after the World Cup in South Africa in June — would make the tournament affordable.

The groups will be drawn from four pots:

Pot 1 – Qatar, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, South Korea

Pot 2 – Japan, Australia, Iran, Uzbekistan

Pot 3 – China, UAE, Bahrain, Jordan

Pot 4 – Syria, Kuwait, India, North Korea

(Editing by Pritha Sarkar

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Sania, family to get Pakistan visas today

March 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Mar.30 (ANI): Tennis sensation Sania Mirza and her family will be leaving for Pakistan
shortly to meet former cricket captain Shoib Malik and his family.

Mirza is to marry Shoaib Malik and a formal wedding reception has been scheduled within a month.

According to diplomatic sources, Sania, her parents and sister have applied for a visa at Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and are expected to get visas by this evening.

After the marriage, the couple will be based in Dubai, where Shoaib is a resident. Sania will continue to play tennis once she recovers fully from the wrist injury that has marred her career in the recent past.

Yestarday, Sania told mediapersons that her marriage will be the biggest day of her life.

Sania also hopes to be fully fit to represent India in the Commonwealth and Asian Games that are scheduled for later this year. (ANI)

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Guangzhou Asian Games to have service centre for various religions

March 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Guangzhou (China), Mar 23(ANI): The Guangzhou Asian Games’ will have a religious service centre, which will cater to the followers of different religions, when foreign participants arrive in the region for the event, starting in November.

Director of Guangzhou Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau, Lin Jianxin, said the centre in the Asian Games Town will have six service rooms for Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Christianity, Catholicism and Hinduism, as well as a serenity room.

“Opening a place for religious services is in line with practices at the previous Asian Games and the Beijing Olympic Games,” The China Daily quoted Jianxin, as saying.

Lin added that authorities have started to train workers and volunteers to work in the designated religious areas.

He further said that the religious service centre would be of a combined area of about 1,500 square meters.

Apart from the centre, some 28 temples, churches and religious buildings have also been designated for religious gatherings for those participating in and attending the Games.

According to the Games’ organizing committee, some 12,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions in Asia are expected to attend the upcoming event. (ANI)

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Rakeysh Mehra to make biopic on Milkha Singh

March 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, Mar. 20 (ANI): Bollywood director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra has revealed plans to make a biographical film on the life of Indian ace athlete Milkha Singh.

“There is so much darkness in today”s society. The youngsters today are looking for too much and, here in our backyard, we have something. There are some examples, which were burning once, but for me, burning even brighter today,” Mehra said.

“His story has more relevance in today”s time then it had when he was winning all medals and breaking all world records,” he added.

Nicknamed the Flying Sikh, Milkha Singh is the only Indian athlete till date who has broken an Olympic record.

Milkha Singh won Gold medals in both 200m and 400m events at the Tokyo Asian Games in 1958. At the Cardiff Commonwealth Games held the same year, he improved his 400m timing to 46.16 seconds, and grabbed a Gold medal again.

Titled ”Bhaag Milkha Bhaag” (Run Milkha, Run) the film would portray 75 years of Singh”s life right from his childhood in Pakistan and the Partition, apart from his achievements in sports.

Singh had lost his parents during the partition of the Indian subcontinent.

Ad filmmaker and lyricist Prasoon Joshi would team up with Mehra in ”Bhaag Milkha Bhaag”, which is the first biographical film to be made on a sports icon.

“It is not a eulogy, it is not an attempt to make a documentary on him; this is an attempt to really see what goes behind the making of a great person,” said Joshi.

The duo had worked earlier in Bollywood film ”Dilli 6” and the National Award-winning movie ”Rang De Basanti”.

Mikha Singh said the film would inspire youngsters to become great players.

“I would be happy when India will produces more Milkha Singhs from its soil…I want that parents should watch the movie and inspire their kids to become more great players and make their country proud,” said Singh. (ANI)

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Volunteers launch Delhi clean drive ahead of Commonwealth Games

March 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Mar. 20 (ANI): As Delhi gears up to host the 2010 Commonwealth Games later this year, hundreds of volunteers have joined hands with the officials of civic bodies to take on the task of cleaning the city.

As part of a campaign called, Let”s Do It Delhi, volunteers swept the streets and collected garbage outside Bhikaji Cama Place in South Delhi, to reflect the message that if they can clean Bhikaji Cama in three hours and keep it clean, why not the whole of Delhi.

The campaign is aimed at educating people about the need to keep the city clean as it prepares to host the mega sports event in October.

Professionals, students and senior citizens pitched in with contributions for the initiative.

“School children, senior citizens and professionals, all have come here and supported the cause to make it successful,” said Monika Bhatia, a volunteer.

They say that public participation is very important to make the campaign successful.

“If the public supports us then we can definitely clean Delhi. Without public”s participation, we cannot clean Delhi,” said Air Commodore S K Meda, a volunteer.

The 19th Commonwealth Games, to be staged in New Delhi between 4 to 14th October, 2010, will be the country’s biggest sporting event since the 1982 Asian Games.

New Delhi is only the second Asian city to host the Commonwealth Games after Kaula Lumpur. (ANI)

“Edwin wants to put an end to the fear among his team-mates from armed gangs targeting their homes,” the source said.

“Some of the players and especially the WAGs have been living in constant fear. They are petrified that they will become the gang””s next victim,” he added. (ANI)

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Brit boxer to represent native Pakistan in CWG, London Olympics

March 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, Mar.5 (ANI): British boxer of Pakistani origin and younger brother of light-weight world champion boxer Amir Khan, Haroon Khan, has reportedly joined the Pakistan pugilist team for upcoming events, including the 2012 London Olympics.

According to a private television channel, which quoted sources in the Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF), Haroon along with his father recently visited Karachi where he underwent trials.

Pakistan boxing coach Abdul Majeed Brohi was present during the trial bouts and gave Haroon the green signal to represent the country in forthcoming events, following which he is likely to be included in the squad for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi and the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

“My aim is that at least one of my sons plays for Pakistan and make a name for the country in London Olympics 2012”, sources quoted Haroon’s father as saying to PBF officials.

Haroon is likely to represent Pakistan in the 52 kilograms weight category in the Delhi Commonwealth Games, The Nation reports. (ANI)

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Indian gender challenged athlete Santhi prays Semenya doesn’t get suicidal like her

September 20, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Sep 20 (ANI): Considering her bitter experience after she failed her gender test, Indian runner Santhi Soundarajan prays that South Africa’s champion runner Caster Semenya doesn’t considers suicide.

Soundarajan failed a gender test after finishing second in the women’s 800-meter race at the 2006 Asian Games and was forced to return her silver medal.

Semenya, the 800-metre world champion who is also going through the same type of test to prove that she is eligible to compete as a woman, is facing the same future.

“I pray that Semenya does not go through what I’ve been through, it almost drove me to committing suicide,” the Sunday Express quoted Soundarajan, as saying.

“I’ve suffered immensely due to the stigma of the failed gender test,” she added

Soundarajan, who came from a poor family, was forced to drop out of competitive athletics after she failed the gender test.

Finding a job and earning enough money to eat then became a daily struggle. Semenya also comes from a poor background, but she managed to win the world 800m in one minute 55.45 seconds.

“With so much of the workload athletes go through, there will be hormonal changes. It’s bound to happen. The authorities should bear this in mind. I cannot forget what I had to go through after my medal was taken back. I hail from a poor family and no one would give me a job,” Soundarajan said.

“My entire family suffered as people began looking at me with a jaundiced eye,” she added. (ANI)

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A docudrama plays a story of women cricketers’ struggle and triumph

September 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Kolkata, Sep 9 (ANI): A docudrama titled ‘Indian Women’s Cricket team Poor Cousins of Million Dollar Babies’ highlights the disparity between men and women cricket players in India.

As the title suggests, the docudrama shows how while men cricketers hog all the limelight and bask in the glory of success and money, women cricketers are way behind their male counterparts though they have been able to carve a name for themselves in the international sport arena.

The 25-minute audio-visual commentary narrates a story of the triumph of women’s cricket despite the disparities and differential treatment.

Former Indian Skipper Anjum Chopra said the docudrama has been able to mirror the women cricketers’ struggle, hard work and determination to reach the milestone they have achieved despite receiving far less attention of sports authority, sponsorship and media coverage as compared with their male counterparts.

“I really liked it. I think it’s very nice. It covers a lot of angels into the lives of women cricketers on and off the field. It’s a true depiction of the lives and struggles of Indian women cricketers go through,” Anjum Chopra added.

The The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI ) spends millions of rupees on men’s cricket and its stalwart players but women’s team, which has consistently done well in the context of world tournaments, has not received the same attention and promotion.

Sunil Yash Kalra, who has directed the documentary, said it’s time to tell the story of players engaged in the most popular and fast growing game in India despite their gender.

“It’s a sport which is a nerve centre of India, the subcontinent. And, it’s also included in the Asian Games next year. So, basically if you were to look at it… A, it’s the fastest growing game. B, there is a story that needs to be told about each individual member, that’s what the idea is to showcase the best to the rest of the world,” Kalra added.

The film also reveals interesting facts about women’s cricket in India. For example, women’s cricket in India can be traced back to early 20th century when an Australian school teacher Anne Kelleve made cricket a compulsory game at the Baker Memorial School in Kottayam, Kerala, in 1913.

The Women’s World Cup was initiated in 1973, two years before the men’s World Cup. And, Indian eves played T20 international cricket in 2006 while Indian men played their first match in 2007. (ANI)

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Commonwealth Games work progress reviewed

August 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Aug 19 (ANI): As a part of overseeing the preparedness for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Union Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs M S Gill visited the Karni Singh Shooting Range here on Wednesday.

The purpose of this visit was to review the progress of work for the Commonwealth Games to be staged in Delhi next year.

In the course of his tour of the various sites, he had extensive discussions with the engineers and other concerned officials.

Senior officials of the Ministry of Sports and Indian Olympic Committee also accompanied Gill.

Later, speaking to mediapersons, he said a lot of work remains to be done before the Commonwealth Shooting Championships, scheduled to be held in February, next year.

“I am willing to accept from them (officials) that lot of work has been done but it is also visible to me and to them that lot of work remains. On that they have explained to me all sides, engineering side and others, that how quality and in what manner with more labour more work they will be able to fit it all together in good time because we have to have the Championships of Commonwealth Shooting in February next year. I must have it complete before that,” he said.

Preparations are in full swing in New Delhi for hosting the 2010 Commonwealth Games at an estimated cost of 70 billion rupees.

Delhi had bagged the contract after beating the Canadian city Hamilton in the bid for the games.

The Games will be staged in India for the first time and in Asia for the second time.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, held the Commonwealth Games in 1998.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games will be India’s first major international sports event after the 1982 Asian Games.

New Delhi hosted the inaugural Asian Games in 1951 and again in 1982. (ANI)

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Suresh Kalmadi says India is ahead in countdown for Commonwealth Games

May 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 30 (ANI): Chairman of the organising Committee of Commonwealth Games, Suresh Kalmadi has said that India is ahead of the deadline in the completion of the all facilities to host the Commonwealth Games at New Delhi in 2010.

Addressing a press conference after visiting a couple of sites here on Friday, Kalmadi said, “As the Chairman of the managing committee of the Commonwealth Games, I’m telling you that the things are on track and everything is on schedule and some things are ahead of schedule.”

As far as the security is concerned, he mentioned that India is well prepared and none of the participating nations need to worry on this aspect.

“two officials from the Commonwealth Games Federation have met the Home Secretary and we are in constant touch with them and we are giving them all our feedback. You know there is no question of being satisfied. It’s a continuous process and we will have to do our best as far as security is concerned and we are at it,” added Kalmadi.

The Commonwealth Games is expected to boost India’s image as a global powerhouse. The games may also provide rich pickings for real estate developers.

Delhi is to stage the 2010 Commonwealth Games at an estimated cost of 70 billion rupees.

Delhi had bagged the contract after beating the Canadian city Hamilton in the bid for the games.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games will be India’s first big International sports event since the 1982 Asian Games. New Delhi hosted the inaugural Asian Games in 1951 and again in 1982. (ANI)

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Commonwealth Games Federation satisfied with infrastructure in Delhi

May 20, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 20 (ANI): The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Suresh Kalmadi has said that the executive board of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) expressed satisfaction with the games infrastructure coming up in the city.

“As you are all aware the CGF was here for the whole of last week. We went through a lot of preparations for them and we have satisfied them and we took them around to show the entire infrastructure and they liked the games village the best. They said they have not seen a games village like this anywhere,” said Kalmadi.

He also said that there were minor delays in construction of two venues but promised to have all infrastructure ready six months ahead of the event.

Preparations are in full swing in New Delhi for hosting the 2010 Commonwealth Games at an estimated cost of 70 billion rupees.

Delhi had bagged the contract after beating the Canadian city Hamilton in the bid for the games.

The Games will be staged in India for the first time and in Asia for the second time. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, held the Commonwealth Games in 1998.

New Delhi hosted the inaugural Asian Games in 1951 and again in 1982. (ANI)

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Rishi Narain tees off at the Golf Business Forum

May 13, 2009 By Leave a Comment

In recognition to the huge potential of business of golf in India, ace Indian golfer Rishi Narain was chosen to represent India at the Golf Business Forum on May 4-6, 2009, at Wales. Narain has won an Asian Games Gold Medal in golf and the National Men’s Championship. He has also served as national coach. Besides, he has played the Dunhill Cup and competitive professional tour golf in the US and around Asia in the early nineties.

“While there is a slowdown in the golf industry in the matured markets, the Indian golf sector is growing at 20% to 30%. There are potential investment avenues in new golf courses and facilities, sponsorship of international events and golf retail outlets. The golf industry in India is likely to see an investment of Rs 2,000 crore to Rs 3,000 crore in the next five years,” says Narain.

Organised by KPMG, the annual Golf Business Forum provides a platform for professionals involved in the golf business industry to meet, learn, exchange ideas and do business. The event was introduced in 2004 and each year the forum is taken to a different venue and locations such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, Cyprus and Ireland.

Kavitha Chitturi is new FLO chief

Kavitha D Chitturi, executive director of KCP Limited, has been selected as the national president of Ficci Ladies Organisation, the ladies wing of Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Kavitha is a management graduate from Cedar Crest College, Allentown, Penn and hails from a well-known industrial house in South India. KCP is involved in manufacturing cement, heavy industrial machinery for sugar, cement and high-tech equipment for defence.

Weider eyes Indian market

Weider Germany GmbH, a world leader in fitness and health nutrition supplements, has decided to make India its hub to cater to the entire Asian market. The Weider name is synonymous with health and fitness worldwide and includes quality brands, information, products and services sold in over 120 countries. Says Sven Schade, managing director, Weider Germany GmbH, “We had been on the lookout for distributors in South East Asia and it was unanimously decided that India would be best suited, given its growing economy.”

Contributed by Ashutosh Kumar

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Commonwealth Games delegation arrives in New Delhi

May 11, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 11 (ANI): A Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) security delegation arrived here on Monday to inspect all the facilities and the stadiums before the games to be held in 2010.

A meeting took place at the Delhi Secretariat where Delhi gave its presentation to the delegation members.

Suresh Kalmadi, President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) was also present. He later said that the Commonwealth Games work is not getting delayed at all.

“A delegation of Commonwealth Games has arrived in Delhi, which was here six months back also. They are inspecting all the facilities here and are having discussions with all the stakeholders. Today was the presentation by the Delhi Government. Tomorrow and day after tomorrow, they will see the presentation of the stadiums. Till now, all the presentation work regarding the Commonwealth has proceeded on time,” said Kalmadi.

Preparations for Commonwealth Games are on here for hosting the 2010 Commonwealth Games at an estimated cost of 70 billion rupees.

Delhi had bagged the contract after beating the Canadian city Hamilton in the bid for the games.

The Games will be staged in India for the first time and in Asia for the second time. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, held the Commonwealth Games in 1998. With a population of more than 1.2 billion, India is the largest country in the Commonwealth.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games will be India’s first big International sports event since the 1982 Asian Games. New Delhi hosted the inaugural Asian Games in 1951 and again in 1982. (ANI)

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Cricket to be included as major discipline during 2010 Asian Games

April 15, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Apr 15 (ANI): Cricket will be included in the 2010 Asian Games as a major discipline, which will be hosted by China from November 12 to 27, 2010.

As many as 45 countries will compete in 42 various sports disciplines during the 16th edition of Asian Games, which will be held Guangzhou, China.

Deputy Director Marketing for the Guangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee (GAGOC) Yuan Yui, said that cricket would also be played in the 2010 Asian Games as a major discipline, besides other new entries like dance sports, dragon boat and roller sports.

Yui announced that Cocachin boat and its ground convey left last month on the Asian continent tour to create awareness among the people of the region about the gala games, The Nation reported.

She was speaking at a ceremony aimed to launch awareness campaign for the games “The Road to Asia”.

Pakistan’s Sports Minister Aftab Hussain Jilani and President Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) Lt. General (retired) Syed Arif Hasan were also present on this occasion.

Speaking on this eve, Jillani said that Pakistan would fully cooperate with China in successful organisation of the Asian Games. He said that Pakistan would play a partner’s role in making this event a success. (ANI)

Filed Under: Sports News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Cricket to be included as major discipline during 2010 Asian Games

April 15, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Apr 15 (ANI): Cricket will be included in the 2010 Asian Games as a major discipline, which will be hosted by China from November 12 to 27, 2010.

As many as 45 countries will compete in 42 various sports disciplines during the 16th edition of Asian Games, which will be held Guangzhou, China.

Deputy Director Marketing for the Guangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee (GAGOC) Yuan Yui, said that cricket would also be played in the 2010 Asian Games as a major discipline, besides other new entries like dance sports, dragon boat and roller sports.

Yui announced that Cocachin boat and its ground convey left last month on the Asian continent tour to create awareness among the people of the region about the gala games, The Nation reported.

She was speaking at a ceremony aimed to launch awareness campaign for the games “The Road to Asia”.

Pakistan’s Sports Minister Aftab Hussain Jilani and President Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) Lt. General (retired) Syed Arif Hasan were also present on this occasion.

Speaking on this eve, Jillani said that Pakistan would fully cooperate with China in successful organisation of the Asian Games. He said that Pakistan would play a partner’s role in making this event a success. (ANI)

Filed Under: Sports News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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