Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awards announced
Hyderabad, Aug 19 : The Government of Indian on Tuesday announced the names for four of the
most coveted awards to sports persons: Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, Arjuna Awards and
Dronacharya Awards for the year 2007 and Dhyan Chand Awards for the year 2008. The awards
will be given by Her Excellency, the President of India on August 29, 2008.
The names announced are based on the recommendations of the selection committees constituted
under the chairmanship of Milkha Singh for selection of the deserving candidates for Khel Ratna,
Arjuna and Dhyan Chand Awards, while the selection committee for Dronacharya Awards (2007)
met under the chairmanship of Jyotirmoy Sikdar. The Committee unanimously decided to select the
following outstanding players and coaches for the awards:
Khel Ratna Award 2007
Mahendra Singh Dhoni – Cricket
Arjuna Awards 2007
Chitra K. Soman - Athletics
Anup Sridhar - Badminton
Johnson Varghese - Boxing
Harika Dronavalli - Chess
Arjun Atwal - Golf
Probhjot Singh - Hockey
Tombi Devi - Judo
Bajranglal Takhar - Rowing
Avneet Kaur Sidhu - Shooting
Alka Tomar - Wrestling
Farman Basha - Power Lifting (Disabled category)
Dhyan Chand Awards 2008
Hakam Singh - Athletics
Mukhbain Singh - Hockey
Gian Singh - Wrestling
Dronacharya Awards 2007
Sanjeeva Kumar Singh - Archery
Jagdish Singh - Boxing
G.E. Sridharan - Volley Ball
Jagminder Singh - Wrestling
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is the highest sports honour given by the Government of India for
the most spectacular and outstanding performance by a sportsperson in a year and comprises a
cash award of Rs. 5 lakh, a scroll of honour and a medal.
Introduced in 1961, the Arjuna Awards are given to sportspersons with outstanding achievements.
The selection committee counts his/her performance from the previous three years and also the
quality of leadership and sportsmanship and a sense of discipline. It comprises a cash award of Rs.
3 lakh, a scroll of honour and a statute of Arjuna.
Named after one of India’s greatest ever player who was a part of gold winning Indian hockey
team in three consecutive Olympic Games held in 1928 Amsterdam, 1932 Los Angeles, 1936
Berlin, the Dhyan Chand Awards are given for life time achievement in sports and games to honour
those sportspersons who after their retirement from active sporting career continues their service in
promotion of sports. It comprises a cash award of Rs. 3 lakh, a scroll of honour and a plaque.
Instituted in 1985, the Dronacharya Awards are given to honour the excellence of sports coaches
for giving training to individual or team and enabling them in achieving great feat in the international
sports arena. The award carries a citation- a bronze statute of Dronacharya and a cash of Rs. 3
lakh.
India may shuffle batting line up to counter Lankans
Dambulla, Aug 19 : Jolted by the humiliating defeat in the series opener, India may opt to shuffle
their struggling batting line-up as they go into the second cricket one-dayer against Sri Lanka here
tomorrow hoping to find a way to regain their winning touch.
After losing the Test series, the Indians made a poor start to the one-dayers by losing the first game
here by eight wickets and it will need a far more inspiring performance by Mahendra Singh Dhoni
and his men to reverse their fortunes.
The absence of Virender Sehwag, who has been ruled out of the series because of an injury, has
come as a big blow for the Indians who have been forced to have a re-look at the batting order.
The Indian think tank is now toying with the idea of shuffling the batting order for the crucial second
game of the five-match series.
But with an average age of around 24 years, Dhoni and his men will have to move mountains to get
a stranglehold of the on-going series and this may force the skipper to move himself and other
seniors up the batting order.
However, Dhoni will be missing the fire power of his most experienced batsman Sehwag who can
really be destructive on his day.
In that scenario, vice-captain Yuvraj Singh, who hit an explosive 172 in the lone practice match
before the start of the ODI series, opener Gautam Gambhir and Dhoni himself will have to take the
responsibilty on their shoulders to guide the relatively junior batsmen of the team.
Paes steps down as Indian Davis Cup captain (Lead)
New Delhi, Aug 19 : After months of bitter row that saw the almost the Davis Cup team refusing to
play under Leander Paes, the old warhorse stepped down from the captaincy Tuesday. Former
Davis Cupper S. P. Misra has been named the non-playing captain for the tie against Romania in
the World Group play-off in September.
Paes informed All India Tennis Association (AITA) Secretary General Anil Khanna about his
decision during a meeting in Beijing just after the Olympics doubles tennis event, an AITA
statement said.
Misra told IANS from Secunderabad that it was an honour for him to lead a squad that includes
two great champion players and two highly talented youngsters.
"With Paes and (Mahesh) Bhupathi in the team and highly rated young players like Prakash
Amritraj and Somdev Devvarman, we should be able to battle it out with Romania who will be
hard to beat at home," Misra said.
Misra said contrary to general belief, the Davis Cup squad had always been a cohesive unit and
played in the right spirit. "I have every reason to believe the team will put up a good show."
Sharath only winner, boxers in crucial fights Wednesday
Beijing, Aug 19 : Paddler Achanta Sharath Kamal was the only saving grace for India after a
disastrous show by long jumper Anju Bobby George at the Olympic Games here Tuesday. But the
numerous fans back home would be more interested in the action in the ring Wednesday, with two
boxers both a bout away from a medal.
Yogeshwar Dutt also failed on the mat, as India had another unproductive outing on the 11th day of
the Games.
Sharath Kamal, double gold medallist at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, kept himself in fray by
storming to the second round with a 4-2 victory in the best-of-seven match at the Peking University
Gymnasium.
The 26-year-old Sharath Kamal won 6-11, 12-10, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7 in 45 minutes. A
victory in the second round is likely to see him clash with World No.1 Wang Hao of China in the
quarterfinals.
The win against Carneros brings the Indian face-to-face with World No. 31 Chen Weixing, a
Chinese-born who plays for Austria. Weixing, who got a bye in the first round, has beaten the
Indian several times in the past, including once at the China Open in 2006.
Argentina thump Brazil to book Olympic final berth
Beijing, Aug 19 : Argentina's Sergio Aguero scored twice and Juan Riquelme converted from the
penalty spot as the defending champions beat arch-rivals Brazil 3-0 Tuesday to book their place in
the final of the Olympic football tournament.
Brazil finished with nine men after first Lucas and then substitute Thiago Neves were sent off for
fouls on Javier Mascherano as the five-time world champions continue their wait for a first ever
Olympic gold in men's football.
Sergio Batista's Argentina side will now meet Nigeria in Saturday's final after the 1996 Olympic
champions defeated Belgium 4-1 in the day's other semi-final in Shanghai thanks to a brace from
Chinedu Obasi Ogbuke sandwiched in between goals from Olubayo Adefemi and Chibuzor
Okonkwo.
There was no indication the fireworks to come in the second half during the first 45 minutes at the
Workers Stadium in Beijing as Brazil and Argentina went in at the break scoreless with chances
having been at a minimum.
However, the warning signs were there as Lionel Messi's tireless running caused panic in the Brazil
defence on several occasions during the first period, not least five minutes before the break when
he dribbled to the byline but his low cross failed to find a teammate.
Modern cricketing gear makes Mendis difficult to crack: Expert
Dambulla (Sri Lanka), Aug 19 : The state-of-the-art cricketing equipment make it difficult to crack
an already cryptic bowling action of spinner Ajantha Mendis, feels a sports expert.
"Modern gears utilised in cricket today perhaps insulates the feeling from the ball as it comes to the
bat," said former Sri Lankan cricketer and sports expert Ranil Abeynaike said.
"Batsmen a few years ago could have read Mendis better if he had been bowling at that time," he
added.
However, he feels Indian batsmen can crack him if they watch every ball of his.
"The Indian batsmen will have to play according to each ball of Mendis and would have to observe
him while taking him on. Every bowler has some distinct pattern of bowling either through his
shoulder movement or hand action and that is what could be central to tackle Mendis," he said.
Asked if the Indians should opt for swatting the spinner who has several varieties in his arsenal,
Abeynaike felt it would not be the proper method of tackling him.
Yuvraj Singh, who perhaps opted for a similar strategy, managed to hit the Sri Lankan lethal
spinner for a six but fell in the next ball in the series opener yesterday as Mendis beguiled him with a
beauty that hit his stump.
Sehwag leaves for home
Dambulla, Aug 19 : Indian opener Virender Sehwag on Tuesday left for New Delhi after an ankle
injury forced him to withdraw from the ongoing one-day series against Sri Lanka.
Sehwag had twisted his ankle during the practice session on Sunday, ahead of the first one-dayer
here.
Indian team sans Sehwag, who was in good form in the Test series, lost the first ODI by eight
wickets on Monday.
'Ring of fire' to light up new Dubai cricket stadium
Dubai, Aug 19 : A new state-of-the-art cricket stadium in Dubai Sports City (DSC) will be lit up
by a 350-plus-floodlight 'ring of fire' when it opens early next year.
The new floodlight system has been installed in the rim of the stadium's roof in such a manner that it
will light up the field and prevent any shadows that may distract players, according to a DSC
statement Tuesday.
"The ring of fire will allow cricket to be played during the cooler evenings, and replicate natural
daylight," Macky Dudhia, general manager for sports business at DSC, said in the statement.
"The revolutionary design will create ideal playing conditions and add to the atmosphere inside the
ground," he added.
The 25,000-seat stadium is part of a larger cricket complex in the DSC that is currently under
development.
The complex will include the building of the International Cricket Council (ICC) headquarters, an
ICC global cricket academy to be headed by Australian legend Rod Marsh, two oval grounds
attached to it and indoor net facilities.
Hyderabad, Aug 19 : The Government of Indian on Tuesday announced the names for four of the
most coveted awards to sports persons: Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, Arjuna Awards and
Dronacharya Awards for the year 2007 and Dhyan Chand Awards for the year 2008. The awards
will be given by Her Excellency, the President of India on August 29, 2008.
The names announced are based on the recommendations of the selection committees constituted
under the chairmanship of Milkha Singh for selection of the deserving candidates for Khel Ratna,
Arjuna and Dhyan Chand Awards, while the selection committee for Dronacharya Awards (2007)
met under the chairmanship of Jyotirmoy Sikdar. The Committee unanimously decided to select the
following outstanding players and coaches for the awards:
Khel Ratna Award 2007
Mahendra Singh Dhoni – Cricket
Arjuna Awards 2007
Chitra K. Soman - Athletics
Anup Sridhar - Badminton
Johnson Varghese - Boxing
Harika Dronavalli - Chess
Arjun Atwal - Golf
Probhjot Singh - Hockey
Tombi Devi - Judo
Bajranglal Takhar - Rowing
Avneet Kaur Sidhu - Shooting
Alka Tomar - Wrestling
Farman Basha - Power Lifting (Disabled category)
Dhyan Chand Awards 2008
Hakam Singh - Athletics
Mukhbain Singh - Hockey
Gian Singh - Wrestling
Dronacharya Awards 2007
Sanjeeva Kumar Singh - Archery
Jagdish Singh - Boxing
G.E. Sridharan - Volley Ball
Jagminder Singh - Wrestling
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is the highest sports honour given by the Government of India for
the most spectacular and outstanding performance by a sportsperson in a year and comprises a
cash award of Rs. 5 lakh, a scroll of honour and a medal.
Introduced in 1961, the Arjuna Awards are given to sportspersons with outstanding achievements.
The selection committee counts his/her performance from the previous three years and also the
quality of leadership and sportsmanship and a sense of discipline. It comprises a cash award of Rs.
3 lakh, a scroll of honour and a statute of Arjuna.
Named after one of India’s greatest ever player who was a part of gold winning Indian hockey
team in three consecutive Olympic Games held in 1928 Amsterdam, 1932 Los Angeles, 1936
Berlin, the Dhyan Chand Awards are given for life time achievement in sports and games to honour
those sportspersons who after their retirement from active sporting career continues their service in
promotion of sports. It comprises a cash award of Rs. 3 lakh, a scroll of honour and a plaque.
Instituted in 1985, the Dronacharya Awards are given to honour the excellence of sports coaches
for giving training to individual or team and enabling them in achieving great feat in the international
sports arena. The award carries a citation- a bronze statute of Dronacharya and a cash of Rs. 3
lakh.
India may shuffle batting line up to counter Lankans
Dambulla, Aug 19 : Jolted by the humiliating defeat in the series opener, India may opt to shuffle
their struggling batting line-up as they go into the second cricket one-dayer against Sri Lanka here
tomorrow hoping to find a way to regain their winning touch.
After losing the Test series, the Indians made a poor start to the one-dayers by losing the first game
here by eight wickets and it will need a far more inspiring performance by Mahendra Singh Dhoni
and his men to reverse their fortunes.
The absence of Virender Sehwag, who has been ruled out of the series because of an injury, has
come as a big blow for the Indians who have been forced to have a re-look at the batting order.
The Indian think tank is now toying with the idea of shuffling the batting order for the crucial second
game of the five-match series.
But with an average age of around 24 years, Dhoni and his men will have to move mountains to get
a stranglehold of the on-going series and this may force the skipper to move himself and other
seniors up the batting order.
However, Dhoni will be missing the fire power of his most experienced batsman Sehwag who can
really be destructive on his day.
In that scenario, vice-captain Yuvraj Singh, who hit an explosive 172 in the lone practice match
before the start of the ODI series, opener Gautam Gambhir and Dhoni himself will have to take the
responsibilty on their shoulders to guide the relatively junior batsmen of the team.
Paes steps down as Indian Davis Cup captain (Lead)
New Delhi, Aug 19 : After months of bitter row that saw the almost the Davis Cup team refusing to
play under Leander Paes, the old warhorse stepped down from the captaincy Tuesday. Former
Davis Cupper S. P. Misra has been named the non-playing captain for the tie against Romania in
the World Group play-off in September.
Paes informed All India Tennis Association (AITA) Secretary General Anil Khanna about his
decision during a meeting in Beijing just after the Olympics doubles tennis event, an AITA
statement said.
Misra told IANS from Secunderabad that it was an honour for him to lead a squad that includes
two great champion players and two highly talented youngsters.
"With Paes and (Mahesh) Bhupathi in the team and highly rated young players like Prakash
Amritraj and Somdev Devvarman, we should be able to battle it out with Romania who will be
hard to beat at home," Misra said.
Misra said contrary to general belief, the Davis Cup squad had always been a cohesive unit and
played in the right spirit. "I have every reason to believe the team will put up a good show."
Sharath only winner, boxers in crucial fights Wednesday
Beijing, Aug 19 : Paddler Achanta Sharath Kamal was the only saving grace for India after a
disastrous show by long jumper Anju Bobby George at the Olympic Games here Tuesday. But the
numerous fans back home would be more interested in the action in the ring Wednesday, with two
boxers both a bout away from a medal.
Yogeshwar Dutt also failed on the mat, as India had another unproductive outing on the 11th day of
the Games.
Sharath Kamal, double gold medallist at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, kept himself in fray by
storming to the second round with a 4-2 victory in the best-of-seven match at the Peking University
Gymnasium.
The 26-year-old Sharath Kamal won 6-11, 12-10, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7 in 45 minutes. A
victory in the second round is likely to see him clash with World No.1 Wang Hao of China in the
quarterfinals.
The win against Carneros brings the Indian face-to-face with World No. 31 Chen Weixing, a
Chinese-born who plays for Austria. Weixing, who got a bye in the first round, has beaten the
Indian several times in the past, including once at the China Open in 2006.
Argentina thump Brazil to book Olympic final berth
Beijing, Aug 19 : Argentina's Sergio Aguero scored twice and Juan Riquelme converted from the
penalty spot as the defending champions beat arch-rivals Brazil 3-0 Tuesday to book their place in
the final of the Olympic football tournament.
Brazil finished with nine men after first Lucas and then substitute Thiago Neves were sent off for
fouls on Javier Mascherano as the five-time world champions continue their wait for a first ever
Olympic gold in men's football.
Sergio Batista's Argentina side will now meet Nigeria in Saturday's final after the 1996 Olympic
champions defeated Belgium 4-1 in the day's other semi-final in Shanghai thanks to a brace from
Chinedu Obasi Ogbuke sandwiched in between goals from Olubayo Adefemi and Chibuzor
Okonkwo.
There was no indication the fireworks to come in the second half during the first 45 minutes at the
Workers Stadium in Beijing as Brazil and Argentina went in at the break scoreless with chances
having been at a minimum.
However, the warning signs were there as Lionel Messi's tireless running caused panic in the Brazil
defence on several occasions during the first period, not least five minutes before the break when
he dribbled to the byline but his low cross failed to find a teammate.
Modern cricketing gear makes Mendis difficult to crack: Expert
Dambulla (Sri Lanka), Aug 19 : The state-of-the-art cricketing equipment make it difficult to crack
an already cryptic bowling action of spinner Ajantha Mendis, feels a sports expert.
"Modern gears utilised in cricket today perhaps insulates the feeling from the ball as it comes to the
bat," said former Sri Lankan cricketer and sports expert Ranil Abeynaike said.
"Batsmen a few years ago could have read Mendis better if he had been bowling at that time," he
added.
However, he feels Indian batsmen can crack him if they watch every ball of his.
"The Indian batsmen will have to play according to each ball of Mendis and would have to observe
him while taking him on. Every bowler has some distinct pattern of bowling either through his
shoulder movement or hand action and that is what could be central to tackle Mendis," he said.
Asked if the Indians should opt for swatting the spinner who has several varieties in his arsenal,
Abeynaike felt it would not be the proper method of tackling him.
Yuvraj Singh, who perhaps opted for a similar strategy, managed to hit the Sri Lankan lethal
spinner for a six but fell in the next ball in the series opener yesterday as Mendis beguiled him with a
beauty that hit his stump.
Sehwag leaves for home
Dambulla, Aug 19 : Indian opener Virender Sehwag on Tuesday left for New Delhi after an ankle
injury forced him to withdraw from the ongoing one-day series against Sri Lanka.
Sehwag had twisted his ankle during the practice session on Sunday, ahead of the first one-dayer
here.
Indian team sans Sehwag, who was in good form in the Test series, lost the first ODI by eight
wickets on Monday.
'Ring of fire' to light up new Dubai cricket stadium
Dubai, Aug 19 : A new state-of-the-art cricket stadium in Dubai Sports City (DSC) will be lit up
by a 350-plus-floodlight 'ring of fire' when it opens early next year.
The new floodlight system has been installed in the rim of the stadium's roof in such a manner that it
will light up the field and prevent any shadows that may distract players, according to a DSC
statement Tuesday.
"The ring of fire will allow cricket to be played during the cooler evenings, and replicate natural
daylight," Macky Dudhia, general manager for sports business at DSC, said in the statement.
"The revolutionary design will create ideal playing conditions and add to the atmosphere inside the
ground," he added.
The 25,000-seat stadium is part of a larger cricket complex in the DSC that is currently under
development.
The complex will include the building of the International Cricket Council (ICC) headquarters, an
ICC global cricket academy to be headed by Australian legend Rod Marsh, two oval grounds
attached to it and indoor net facilities.