Suresh Kalmadi brings more disgrace, Indian Olympic Association forced to accept international observers

New Delhi: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) faced more disgrace on Tuesday when it was forced to accept international observers for "fair" polls. The IOA buckled under the pressure when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) slammed both the disgraced Suresh Kalmadi and the Indian body's acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra.

The simmering war of words between the IOC and IOA intensified with the former slamming the latter for refusing to accept an observer for its upcoming elections and threatened to take action if poll date is not furnished by September 25.

The poll dates were announced by the IOA on September 24 but it was still not clear whether they would accept the 'observation'.

On September 14, IOA's acting president V K Malhotra in a strongly worded letter to IOC president Jacques Rogge had asked if appointing neutral observers is only for India or for other member associations as well.

"I was surprised to receive yet another letter dated dated September 11, 2012 (after the one on August 31) from your office which reads like a dictate. It virtually orders IOA to do things as specified in it," Malhotra wrote in the letter.

The IOC in its two letters dated August 16 and September 11 stated that IOA's election process of the IOA would have to be held in strict compliance with the Olympic Charter.

The IOC and the Olympic Council Asia (OCA) will be appointing observers for the elections and it is completely unacceptable to the IOA.

Later, Malhotra in his letter said IOA was only being singled out.

"I am also amazed to read that IOC and OCA will like to jointly nominate the observers for the elections of IOA. I will like to know whether IOC is sending observers to monitor the elections of all the NOCs or only IOA is being single out. In any case, the idea of IOC-OCA observers may not be acceptable to the IOA," said Malhotra.

In a strongly worded letter, in response to a September 13 missive by IOA acting president V K Malhotra in which he had termed the world body's decision to send an observer as unacceptable, the IOC said that such a supervision was necessary owing to the "confusion surrounding the status of Suresh Kalmadi".

"The IOC and OCA are extremely astonished by the content of your letter and by the fact that you do not seem to understand that the internal situation of your NOC is not as smooth and normal as you want to depict it".

"Should we remind you that, despite our numerous and repeated requests, you and your NOC were unable to take any clear decision vis-a-vis situation of Mr Kalmadi with much confusion surrounding the status, powers and decisions of your NOC Ethics Commission in this affair," the letter addressed to Malhotra said.

"We urge you once again to respond transparently and openly to all the questions which we have raised in our previous communications. If we do not receive any clear and satisfactory answers within a deadline of one week maximum, we will immediately produce a report for the IOC Executive Board for appropriate action," the letter dated September 18 and signed by NOC Relations Director Pere Miro said.

"In particular, we expect (i) a clear answer to the simple question of the date of which the Elective General Assembly of the IOA is expected to take place and (ii) a clarification of the composition of the General Assembly with respect to the principle of the voting majority for the national federation affiliated to the IFs governing sports on the programme of the Olympic Games," it said.
Earlier on Monday, Mr Malhotra had also termed the government's directive to adhere to age and tenure guidelines in its upcoming elections as "illegal" and "unconstitutional" and said that it could even move the Supreme Court if its case in Delhi High Court goes against it.

"Where is the law for IOA to implement these guidelines? There is no Act of Parliament. We have filed a case in Delhi High Court against the sports ministry guidelines, saying that these are illegal and unconstitutional. The high court had issued notices and hearing is coming up on October 15," Malhotra said.

"The government had sought to portray that the high court had directed the IOA to adhere to these guidelines. It's not like that. The court had simply said that the IOA can hold elections by taking into account its rules, by-laws and government sports code.

"What the high court said is a bit contradictory and we will fight out our case till the end. But, the court had also said that it (the high court observation) can be changed also later on. Besides, International Olympic Committee can even derecognise India if the government forces these guidelines on us," he said.
(With PTI inputs)

Deccan Chargers' IPL contract terminated by the BCCI

New Delhi: The BCCI, on Friday night, terminated the contract of the debt-ridden Deccan Chargers, bringing an end to the suspense on the fate of the beleaguered franchise.

The decision to terminate Deccan's contract was taken at an emergency governing council meeting of the IPL in Chennai. The BCCI President N Srinivasan took the final call to end Charger's contract after discussing the issue with other members, a top BCCI official said.

BCCI's working committee will meet today to decide the future course of action.

The committee will decide whether to float a fresh tender for a new team or allow PVP Ventures, a Hyderabad-based urban infrastructure and film production company, whose Rupees 900 crore bid was rejected by Deccan at the auction on Thursday, to take the team.

Deccan Chronicle Holdings, the owner of Deccan Chargers, received a bid of Rs. 900 crore by PVP Venture Capitals but surprisingly chose to reject it at the auction as it considered the price and terms unsuitable.

The development brought the BCCI back into the picture. PVP Ventures may be given the team now.

The late night development came as a setback for Deccan Chargers which was trying to resolve its financial problems ahead of the 5 pm deadline today.

BCCI sources said that a fresh tender for a new IPL team could be issued.

"This option would be discussed when the governing council meet tomorrow as we want nine teams to take part in the next edition of the IPL" the source said.

The BCCI, it is learnt, also took legal opinion before deciding to terminate the Deccan contract mainly on the ground that it mortgaged the team to a consortium of banks.

The Deccan Chargers owned by Deccan Chronicle Holdings, was hoping to resolve its financial problems by selling the team but it rejected the sole bid it received at the auction on Thursday.

PVP Ventures Limited, the Hyderabad-based urban infrastructure and film production company, had offered Rupee 900 crores but Deccan rejected it finding the terms of payment and the amount unacceptable.

It is said that the banks were primarily unhappy with the mode of payment which ultimately led to the deal falling through.

There were also reports that one of the banks was willing to bail out Deccan Chargers by making the payment to the players. But with the BCCI terminating the contract, the gesture would serve no purpose now.

Deccan Chronicle Holdings purchased the Hyderabad franchise for Rs. 428 crore in 2008. At the auction, the base price was said to be around Rs. 750 crore.

The winning bidder had to meet BCCI's eligibility criteria and other requirements. This was the first time an entire IPL franchise has been put on the block by its owners, although Rajasthan Royals sold a small stake in 2009 to the actress Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra.

PVP Ventures Group is owned by Potluri Vara Prasad, a successful entrepreneur having interests in infrastructure, movies and financing.

He was named as accused number 19 in the alleged disproportionate assets case against Y S Jaganmohan Reddy.

Suresh Kalmadi can't contest Indian Olympic Association chief election: Delhi High Court

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court ruled on Thursday that Indian Olympics Association (IOA) chief, Suresh Kalmadi will not be able contest the same post this year. The Delhi HC ruled that the election will be held according to the sports code, which prohibits one office bearer to contest election more than three times.
The former Congress MP was arrested last year in April following charges of corruption with the CWG fund. He was under jail custody and was released on bail only recently. Following which he reclaimed the office of IOA chief once again.
Kalmadi had been at the helm of IOA affairs for the last 18 years.

Tendulkar will respond fittingly to critics: Sourav Ganguly

Mumbai: The calls for retirement might have grown louder after Sachin Tendulkar was bowled three times on the trot in the recent Test series against New Zealand, but former India skipper Sourav Ganguly is convinced the senior batsman would respond in a befitting manner.

"It's not the first time he has been bowled. It has happened when he was at his peak. He had then found a way and he is going to do it again. I am sure people's talk (about his retirement) must have hurt him and he will respond to it," Ganguly said here on Friday, after delivering the fourth Dilip Sardesai memorial lecture at the Bombay Gymkhana.

Ganguly was sure that Tendulkar would call it a day when he's on a high like all great players do.

"Having played with him for so long, you got to believe he's not over. When he goes he will go on a high like it should be for every player and more so for the great man," said the Bengal stalwart while answering a query before a packed gathering, which included former Test players Ajit Wadekar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Sanjay Manjrekar and Bapu Nadkarni.

Tendulkar had been bowled in the three innings he played in the two-Test series against the visiting Kiwis in Hyderabad and Bangalore, triggering a debate whether the champion batsman should retire.

Ganguly noted Tendulkar's advancing age and said the batsman should now concentrate on Test cricket more while utilising the limited overs cricket to get into the groove for the longer version whenever possible.

"He has in the past used One-day cricket to stay in focus for Tests. But it's up to him as he knows his game better than others. He's getting on in years, he's 39-40. He can't play all forms of cricket. I feel he should concentrate more on Test cricket," Ganguly said.

Asked about India's chances in the upcoming World T20 championships, the former captain said India had a good team but cautioned that it cannot win the World Cup all the time.

"India had won the T20 World Cup in 2007 and then the bigger World Cup in 2011. You cannot win the World Cup all the time. T20 is a hit and miss game. India has the team but needs to play well on the particular days for two weeks," he said.

Ganguly was of the opinion that first-class cricket has improved a lot from the time he started playing in the late 1980s, with there being vast differences in the standard of wickets and facilities provided to the players.

"The big improvement (made) by BCCI is the pitches and how the players are looked after," he said.

Ganguly was firm that when selectors look for players to graduate to Tests, they should always look at performance in Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and Irani Cup games and not the lucrative and popular IPL.

"IPL is a great thing to have happened to Indian cricket as it allows our first-class players to play alongside great cricketers of other countries. But when the selectors want to pick a Test player they should look at the performance in Ranji, Duleep and Irani, not IPL," he maintained.

Ganguly categorically said he was not interested in becoming India's coach in the foreseeable future.

"My hat is not in the ring," the retired cricketer said, adding that he always felt that captain was the boss of the team and the coach was to complement him.

Asked a tricky question about what would be the things he would take from former India coach Greg Chappell, with whom he had a torrid relationship when he was captain, and what would be the things he would not, if he took up coaching Ganguly said the former Australia captain was very good to discuss about batting one-on-one.

"He was fantastic to discuss about batting one to one. But on a load of things I would not follow him," he said, to peels of laughter from the gathering.

Looking at the way the Indian fast bowlers had dropped in pace after a few years at international level, Ganguly felt they needed personal physical trainers to work with.

"Players are on the road all the time. When I toured England in 1996 the only time I visited the gym was to see how it was. But things have changed with the arrival of foreign trainers.

"A personal physical trainer needs to be there for our fast bowlers all the time. When Zaheer Khan and Munaf Patel started their careers they clocked 150 kph but two years down the line they had become line and length bowlers," he said.

Ganguly emphasised that while winning at home was welcome, a player's true worth will be judged only when he performs well outside the country.

"Touring and performing overseas is the true measure of a player's worth. India needs to emulate what they did in 1971 (under Ajit Wadekar) and in 1986 (in England). The last two tours to England and Australia (when India lost 8 Tests on the trot) was disappointing," he said.

In this respect the former left-handed batsman singled out Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara as the men who can take the team forward.

"I see youngsters like Kohli, Pujara and the captain (Mahendra Singh Dhoni) taking India forward," he said.

Expressing happiness over the spin bowling of R Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha in home conditions when they demolished New Zealand (and West Indies last season), Ganguly wanted them to perform as well when India tour overseas.

Ganguly was of the opinion that new-age cricketers who are growing up with the riches of IPL in their eyesight, will realise that true satisfaction will come only when they perform well in Test cricket.

"Playing for India is much bigger than IPL. They will all realise that satisfaction level in playing and performing in Tests is much higher than IPL," he said.

He also remarked in a lighter vein that captaining India was much easier than captaining a franchise in IPL as in the former's case there was no need to answer the selectors or BCCI bigwigs after a poor day in office for the team.

Leander Paes-Radek Stepanek storm into US Open Final

New York: India's Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic reached the US Open men's doubles final on Thursday when Marc Lopez, playing with Spanish Davis Cup teammate Marc Granollers, retired.

Fifth-seeded Paes and Stepanek, the Australian Open champions, were level at 6-6 in the first set when Lopez called it a day after needing treatment on his left calf.

They will face either second-seeded Americans Bob and Mike Bryan -- the champions in 2005, 2008 and 2010 -- or the Pakistan-Dutch pairing of Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi and Jean-Julien Rojer in Friday's final.

"I feel sorry for Marc. We all come here to entertain you and they are great guys," said Paes.

"I have a great partner. He really pushed me today and pulled the whip out, which is probably what I needed. We are looking forward to the final."

Lopez's injury will be a worry for Spain ahead of their Davis Cup semi-final against the United States in Gijon from September 14-16.

The champions have already lost top singles player Rafael Nadal, who will miss the tie with a knee injury.

Deccan Chargers in financial trouble, BCCI meet today

Mumbai: Dark clouds loom over the Deccan Chronicle Group as their Deccan Chargers IPL franchise is all set to be auctioned.

According to the latest reports, the Chennai-based Sun Group, promoter of Sun TV and SpiceJet, has entered the race for Deccan Chargers and sources claim that the discussions are in the final stages.

In fact, the BCCI is meeting in Mumbai today to discuss the matter.

The BCCI had earlier asked the Deccan Chronicle Group to resolve its financial problems with regard to Deccan Chargers but the sale of the IPL franchise was finalised by the promoter company some days ago after getting the nod from the BCCI.

Sania Mirza, Leander Paes out of US Open mixed doubles

New York: It was a forgettable day for the Indians at the the US Open with both Sania Mirza and Leander Paes losing their respective mixed doubles matches.

Sania and her mixed doubles partner Colin Fleming were knocked out of the US Open in the quarter finals. The Indo-Brit duo lost to fourth seeded pair of Kveta Peschka and Marcin Matkowski 6-3, 7-5 in just over an hour. This loss ends Sania's campaign at the 2012 US Open.

Paes and partner Elena Vesnina were also knocked out in the quarters by the seventh seeded Czech pair of Lucie Hradecka and Frantisek Cermak 7-6, 7-5.

The Czeck duo needed only 103 minutes to finish off the game. But it's not all bad news for Paes as he still has a chance in the quarterfinals of the Mens Doubles event.

'Frustrated' Tendulkar bowled for the 3rd time in a row

New Delhi: In his last three innings, Sachin Tendulkar has been bowled out three times. Cricket fans are asking, is age finally catching up with the master?

Today, Sachin was castled by pacer Tim Southee for 27 runs, his highest score in the two-match Test series against New Zealand. He was evidently frustrated as he made his way back. In the first innings, Doug Bracewell had him bowled at 17. In the first Test, that India won, Trent Boult got him and cheap at 19.

This is the first time that the 39-year-old Tendulkar has been bowled in both innings of a Test at home. Over all it is only the fourth such instance in a 21-year-long career. The last time he was out bowled in three consecutive innings was in 2002 against England, where he was dismissed by Matthew Hoggard, Dominic Cork and Michael Vaughan.

Out of the 20 Test innings he has played, including England tour in 2011, Tendulkar has been dismissed BOWLED or LBW 10 times (five times each).
There are more disquieting statistics. Out of the 20 Test innings he has played, including the England tour of 2011, Tendulkar has been bowled five times and caught leg before five times. He has also not exactly been among the runs. Since August last year, Sachin has scored five fifties in 20 innings and has notched up a total 723 runs. No centuries. The last century (146) was in January 2011, against South Africa.
Tendulkar, who has scored 15,489 in 189 Tests for an average of 55.31 prior to this match (Bangalore Test), has now being bowled 51 times in Test cricket. Rahul Dravid (55) and Allan Border (53) top the charts.

A few days ago, former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar had worried about Tendulkar's foot movement.

Increasingly there are comparisons with Rahul Dravid, who retired earlier this year. Dravid made the decision to hang up his boots after he had a tough time reading the line of the ball in England and Australia last year.

Die-hard Tendulkar fans have resolutely argued that the Master Blaster still has some good cricket left in him. However, there are those who suggest that after a spectacular journey he should quit while still ahead.

MS Dhoni, Unmukt Chand bag top honours at Cricket Awards

Bangalore: Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was conferred with the Castrol Cricketer of 2011 for his outstanding contribution to the game and winning the 50-over World Cup last year.

The Indian cricketers in the running for the cricketer of the year included the likes of Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Suresh Raina and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

The current India under-19 captain Unmukt Chand has been honoured with Castrol Junior Cricketer of the Year for 2011.

Test Cricketer of the year was bagged by Rahul Dravid for scoring 1,145 runs in 12 Tests with five centuries against his name.

The ODI cricketer of the year was won by Suresh Raina and Batsman of the year was hogged by Sachin Tendulkar. Bowler of the year was conferred on Ravichandran Ashwin for his outstanding bowling performance.

Besides the above categories, the organisers who instituted two new awards this year -- the Castrol Performance Under Pressure Award and the Castrol stand out Performance Under Pressure Award were won by Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli respectively.

Tendulkar and Sehwag were honoured with Special Awards for reaching hundredth ton and scoring a one-day double ton against Sri Lanka respectively.

Former skipper Ajit Wadekar, under whose leadership India won the historical Test series against the West Indies in 1971, was conferred the Castrol Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the sport.

Apart from his onfield genius, Wadekar has also been the coach, manager and chairman of the national selection committee. I Initiated in 1997-98, the Castrol Awards for Cricketing Excellence recognizes outstanding performances by Indian cricketers -- past, present and future.

No Khel Ratna for Rahul Dravid: Is it a problem of backlogs?

New Delhi: Twenty Seven athletes across various sporting disciplines will be given the National sports awards on Thursday. While the number of awardees has gone-up this year, there are some who've been in the queue for long, and have missed out again. The question then is, are the parameters for these prestigious awards good enough? And how do you deal with the problem of backlogs?

Not just one of the finest Indian batsmen, but Rahul Dravid is one of the best players to have ever played the game of cricket. But 'The Wall' who protected India on the cricket pitch for 15 long years, has still not been awarded the country's highest sporting honour - the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna.

Dravid finished as the highest run scorer in Tests for the year 2011, add to that his retirement from the sport early this year and many believe this was the perfect time to give the wall the honour he so richly deserves.

Instead, it's being given to Olympic medalists, shooter Vijay Kumar and wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt.

"There is some lack of communication. Rahul Dravid doesn't need to prove his credentials by having that particular award, he is the greatest we've known," former India cricketer Bishen Singh Bedi said.

The BCCI has now recommended Dravid's name for the Padma Bhushan. Interestingly, Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, the chairperson of the Khel Ratna committee, himself got the award in 2005, a year after his Olympic silver in Athens. Surely then, Vijay and Yogeshwar could've waited as well?

"This time there was great deal of emphasis on Olympic sport. It is unfortunate, yes he (Dravid) deserves each and every award that any sportsman can get in this country," said Randhir Singh, General Secretary of Indian Olympic Association.

And then there are those who have given up after waiting for so long. Like 13-time Grand Slam champion Mahesh Bhupathi.

Or even Boniface Prabhu, the face of wheelchair tennis in India, who has won more than 15 international titles, including one Grand Slam title. "Awards are being given to two disabled athletes but I have been ignored again," Boniface Prabhu said.

While it's great that 25 athletes are getting the Arjuna this time instead of 15, and 2 are getting Khel Ratna instead of 1, the bigger problem is, how to deal with the problem of backlogs. The idea one gets is of the federations not pushing enough. It is then upto the athlete, to use all kinds of sources to get the job done, like squash player Dipika Pallikal had to do this time around, to assure herself of an Arjuna Award.

From: NDTV

Now, a film about boxing braveheart Mary Kom

Boxer Mary Kom captured the nation's imagination after she returned from the Olympics in a blaze of glory, armed with a bronze medal and the goodwill of everyone back home. In the natural progression of things, Bollywood has a film planned about her.


But the man behind it isn't quite the person you'd expect to make a movie about a sporting hero or, in this case, a heroine.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali may be known for his weeping sagas of unrequited love but that hasn't stopped the Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam director from jumping in the ring to produce the film about Mary Kom's life.

The cast for the yet untitled venture hasn't been finalised but the film will be directed by Omung Kumar who worked with Mr Bhansali in Black and Saawariya as Art Director.

"Omung brought the script to me a month before the Olympics. Mary Kom has made India proud. I was moved by her story. She has what it takes to make a great champion. She is a mother of two, has been through so much struggle, has tremendous spirit and a sense of living and dignity and is now a World Champion. An Indian woman boxer is rare. It will be an exciting film to produce and I am very happy to do it," Mr Bhansali was quoted by Times of India.

Mr Bhansali will reportedly meet Mary Kom herself on August 23 to discuss the project with her. Will she give him her blessing or knock him out with a right hook?

'It's a long grind ahead, but we won't look too far into the future'

Around 12 months ago, India capitulated in England, resulting in humiliating defeats across formats and they eventually surrendered the crown of the No 1 Test side.
However, this time, as yet another gruelling season beckons, the skipper says his side has learnt the lessons.

The team has gained in confidence after a 4-1 series victory in the one-day series in Sri Lanka, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni said on Thursday that the team was prepared, physically and mentally, to face the challenges.
Speaking at an event to unveil the jersey for the T20 format, Dhoni threw light on the team's preparedness for the long season ahead, saying, "The one-and-half-month off was crucial from the physical and mental aspect."
Highlighting the effort put in, Dhoni added, "Even during the series in Sri Lanka we had time in between games where we put a lot of emphasis on fitness and it was good to see the way the guys responded."
India's home season starts against New Zealand with two Tests and two T20s followed by the World T20 in Sri Lanka next month after which England, Pakistan and Australia will tour the country, keeping the Men in Blue busy till March 2013.
Dhoni admitted the calendar was taxing as they would be in action till the next IPL, but said the team was planning for 15 days only.
Comeback man Yuvraj Singh was also present and the sight of the Punjab all-rounder in India colours is bound to bring cheer to Indian fans.
The man of the tournament in the 2011 World Cup has been selected for the T20 games against New Zealand and World T20. "I am feeling good. It has been a tough two months' training at the NCA but I never thought I would be able to make a comeback," said Yuvraj.
Dhoni also spoke on Yuvraj's return. "He is an important character in the team, not only when it comes to cricketing skills but also in the dressing room. The dressing room is a bit boring without Yuvraj but now it will be livelier again."

Usain Bolt may play in Australia's T20 Big Bash League

After conquering the tracks, the fastest man on earth, Usain Bolt, now wants to register a win on the cricket field. The 25-year-old might be seen playing cricket in the Australia's Twenty-20 Big Bash
League in the coming season.

Former Australian captain Shane Warne has been leading a campaign to get Bolt to cricket. Bolt recently revealed that Warne had contacted him about playing in the Big Bash League for the Melbourne Stars.

The Jamaican, who is an avid cricketer, describes himself as an all-rounder. He told an Australian TV channel that Warne was in touch with him and he was trying to work out if he could find time from his busy schedule to play cricket.

Warne has started a social media campaign to get Bolt to his Melbourne team. Warne tweeted that the negotiations were on in full swing and that Bolt would be a great addition for the team in the T20 league.

"Cats out the bag, we've spoken. Olympic legend @usainbolt would like to have a crack at 20/20 for the Melb stars 2012 Please retweet guys," Warne posted on micro-blogging site Twitter.

Bolt has a long history with cricket. He had started off as a cricketer in his junior days before switching to athletics. Bolt, who is a huge cricket fan, had told Headlines Today that Sachin Tendulkar and Mahendra Singh Dhoni were his favourite cricketers.

Secretary-General commends Commonwealth Olympians

London: Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma has lauded the Commonwealth nations for their record-breaking accomplishments at the 2012 London Olympics.

He said they had done the Commonwealth proud.
   
The closing ceremony of the 17-day sporting event on 12 August coincided appropriately with International Youth Day.
   
Participants from Commonwealth countries won a total of 179 medals -- 56 gold, 55 silver, and 68 bronze.
   
Great Britain led the Commonwealth table, achieving 65 medals -- 29 gold, 17 silver and 19 bronze. It ranked third in the overall Games medal tally after USA and China.
   
Australia took second place among the Commonwealth competing countries, winning 35 medals -- 7 gold, 16 silver and 12 bronze. New Zealand came in third with 13 medals – six gold, two silver and five bronze.
   
But the successes go far beyond country rankings. There are personal achievements too, and the sheer personal dedication shown by athletes representing many of the smaller Commonwealth countries.
   
Uganda's Stephen Kiprotich did the Commonwealth community proud with his outstanding gold medal in the men's marathon, the country's first yellow metal for 40 years. David Lekuta Rudisha created a world record in the 800m for Kenya.
   
Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago launched his javelin into gold position and The Bahamas' 4x400m relay team also won gold.

Wrestler Sushil Kumar was one of two Indian athletes who brought home the silver medal, in addition to the bronze won by Mary Kom in women's boxing. And then there was Canada's Rosannagh Maclennan who won gold in the trampoline.
   
Track legend Usain Bolt's accomplishments make him bigger than just a Commonwealth champion, but Jamaica and the Commonwealth proudly lay claim to him first. The Jamaican sweep in the men's 200m was also an admirable feat.
   
But what would these games have been without the exceptional performances by the UK's Ben Ainslie, Bradley Higgins, Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah, Nicola Adams, the first ever Olympic women's boxing champion.

(Agencies)

Former WBA champion Michael Dokes dies at 54

Akron (Ohio): Michael Dokes, a former World Boxing Association heavyweight champion, has died. He was 54.

The Rhoden Memorial Home in Akron said Dokes died on Saturday. The Akron Beacon Journal reported that the boxer died in an Akron hospice from liver cancer.
  
Known as "Dynamite" Dokes because he packed a powerful punch, the fighter won the WBA title in 1982 by defeating Michael Weaver. He lost the title a year later when he was beaten by Gerrie Coetzee.
  
Dokes had a career record of 53-6-2. A run of legal problems began late in his career. In 1986, Dokes was arrested in Las Vegas for cocaine trafficking and served two years' probation.

In 2000, he was sentenced to 10 years in jail after pleading guilty to attempted murder, second-degree kidnapping and intent to commit sexual assault against his girlfriend. He was released in 2008.

Olympic flag arrives in Rio, host of 2016 Games

Rio De Janeiro: The Olympic flag arrived on Monday in Rio de Janeiro, which will host the 2016 Summer Games -- a challenge which authorities in Brazil say the city is prepared to conquer.

Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes stepped off a plane carrying the flag, accompanied by Carlos Arthur Nuzman, president of the 2016 Games Organizing Committee and Rio Governor Sergio Cabral, an AFP correspondent at the airport saw.

"The arrival of the Olympic flag marks a period of transformation in the city," Paes told reporters. "This is a unique opportunity for Brazil -- a time of great celebration."

Also on board the plane were Brazilian athletes -- some with medals around their necks -- who competed in the London Games, which ended on Sunday in a blaze of music, fireworks and light.

"Arriving in Rio with the flag was a privilege for us, the athletes," said Robert Scheidt, who won bronze in Olympic sailing's Star competition with Bruno Prada.

"There is room for much improvement (in terms of the number of medals won) here in Rio," Scheidt added.

Brazil won a total of 17 medals in London -- three gold, five silver and nine bronze.

Hosting the Games will be a huge challenge for a city notorious for its traffic chaos, poor infrastructure and shanty town violence, but authorities say Rio -- which also hosts the 2014 World Cup -- will rise to the occasion.

On Tuesday, the Olympic flag will be flown to Brasilia for a ceremony attended by President Dilma Rousseff and on Wednesday, Paes will carry it through Rio's northern Alemao complex of shanties -- known here as favelas -- as well as through the western district of Realengo, officials said.

On Sunday, Paes received the Olympic flag from London Mayor Boris Johnson during the ceremony that marked the close of the London Games and the countdown to the 2016 Summer Games, which will be the first held in South America.

On Monday, Brazilian deputy sports minister Luis Fernandes said in London that the 2016 Games would galvanize projects already in place across South America's largest country as well as in Rio, a city of 6.5 million people.

The plans in Rio include the extension of a metro line to the western Barra da Tijuca district. Four express lanes for buses and cars are also under construction.

"The Olympics are an opportunity to invest a huge quantity of funds in infrastructure, an amount that would normally take 15 or 20 years to invest," Fernandes told a press conference in London.

"The Olympics give us an opportunity to concentrate resources to build this infrastructure a bit sooner," he added.

Brazilian Olympic Committee officials and Rio city authorities insist everything will be ready. Some of the venues will be used for the World Cup, but the Olympic Village and other event sites still must be built.

Story first published on: Tuesday, 14 August 2012 12:36  
From NDTV 

India at London Olympics: Top 5 flops

New Delhi: The 83-member strong Indian contingent was said to be the biggest but more importantly the strongest ever. However, India managed to win just 6 medals. Here's a look at the names who didn't live up to their billing in our top 5 flops at the London Games.

1. ARCHERY: Number 1 disappointment came from the archers who 'bowed' out of the Olympics without a fight. In fact the only world number 1 in the Indian contingent Deepika Kumari fumbled both in the team and the individual event. What's worse, was the excuse offered by the India coach Limbaram blaming black magic from rival teams for their early exit.

2. INDIAN MEN'S HOCKEY TEAM: At number 2 is Hockey or should we say SHOCKEY. No one expected a medal from the Indian men's team but finishing 12th out of a total of 12 teams, without winning a single game, marked the worst performance by an Indian hockey team at the Olympics.

3. TENNIS: Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna took on the All India Tennis Association when they said either we play together or not at all. But they lost in the 2nd round at the Games. Leander Paes, who was left to play with an inexperienced Vishnu Vardhan, also fizzled out in the 2nd round.

Paes and Sania Mirza promised India's best chance in the mixed doubles but they too crashed out in the 2nd round. India's tennis campaign at the Olympics was no less than a double fault.

4. RONJAN SODHI AND ABHINAV BINDRA: At number 4 are the 2 shooters who misfired. Abhinav Bindra was India's first ever individual gold medallist at the Olympics but he failed to even qualify for the final of 10 meter Air Rifle event. Ronjan Sodhi, on the other hand, was the world champion in double trap. But he too, like Bindra, made an early exit.

5. MALE BOXERS: Seven male boxers from India qualified for the London Games but none won a medal. Devendro Singh and Vijender Singh came close, reaching the quarters, but faltered at the last hurdle. Controversies over the points system aside, it wouldn't be wrong to say that the Indian boxers fell well short of country's expectations.

From NDTV