Hockey World Cup 2010 : India vs Australia

I was there last night. The atmosphere in the Maj. Dhyan Chand National Stadium hosting the FIH Hockey World Cup was electrifying. The stands were almost full. The sound was deafening. The Astroturf was gleaming in the floodlight. Amidst this the team India lost their way. Once the Aussies were 2-0 up within the first 7 minutes, Indian team was found meandering in the in the middle like a lost lot, desperate to find ways to stop the rampaging Aussies. This desperation helped the Aussies in pumping in 3 more goals, 2 of them were very soft ones. The net result was a 5-2 drubbing received by India.

(Pic1 : the cheering crowd)

(Pic2: India - Australia match in progress)

But the good thing was that India still could score 2 goals and both were field goals. The skill of the Indian players in dribbling was much above the Aussies. But Aussies were more powerful and fast. Indians had no answer to their blitzkrieg. Actually we never had expected Indians to win this match, but did not expect to lose them that badly either.

We also got to see the Pakistan – Spain match and to our delight saw Sohail Abbas taking a penalty corner. The onlt PC Pakistan had managed in the second half and they scored the winning gola of it. Everyone supported Pakistan in that match. The Pakistan team acknowledged this support by doing a lap of honor after the match which they had won 2-1.

(Pic3: Pakistan - Spain match in progress)

(Pic4 : Pakistan team doing a lap of honour for the crowd support)

Overall, it was a wonderful experience being at the stadium supporting our team which will be happy if they can finish 6th in the tournament. But we also get to see some world class hockey. If India can finish around 6th, they will be back in the elite group that gets to play Champions trophy. With a ranking of 12th, India is not getting enough chances to play regularly with top teams.

World Cups do not come to India that often. It is taking place after 28 years. Who knows when it will be next? So we are going back to the stadium next Saturday, this time with families. Lets all be there and egg on our team to finish at least 6th.

Outing with Family ?

Yes, one can go there with families and kids. Toilets in the building are newly laid and are relatively clean. Much better than what you get in cricket stadiums. Several fast food stalls have been put up in the complex. Tickets cost you just 100/- for 3 matches. SRK extracted Rs.140/- for MNIK.

Tickets

For many, it was shocker to find that tickets are sold only at the Ambedkar Stadium which is several kilometers away from the venue. This is ridiculous. So get your tickets beforehand. The best way to get ticket is to buy them online from ticketgenie.in. They have an option in which for 60/- rupees extra, tickets are delivered at your address by Blue Dart courier.

Prohibited Items at the Venue

Delhi police has published a list of items prohibited in the stadium in the TOI dated 28th Feb. Items confiscated are just dumped at the gate. If you are lucky, you may get them back. But to be safe, it is advisable not to carry these items. Some of them are : Bag (may be including large ladies handbags), camera or handycam, pen, flag with poles (however only flags are allowed), coins and eatables from outside including water bottles. Mobile phones and keys are allowed.

Hockey World Cup 2010 Delhi Tickets

The first international sports events for 2010 in Delhi is knocking at the door. The Hockey World Cup 2010 Tickets are now up for sale. Event strats on 28th Feb and ends on 13th March, 2010. India has no chances, but I will be there as a sports fan to cheer the team. Tickets can be purchased online. More info is available on the official website The Hero Honda FIH World Cup 2010.

Ticket price is Rs.100/- for genral stand and Rs.500/- for premium stand. You can watch all 3 matches played for a day with one ticket. Match 1 starts at 16:35, match 2 at 18:35 and match 3 at 20:35. For the Final on 13th March, the ticket prices are Rs.150/- and Rs.750/-. This is the complete match schedule.

For Delhi residents, tickets can also be purchased from following outlets:
Select Cafe Coffee Day, 24x7 Convenience Stores and United Bank of India branches (only from February 12, 2010)

CAFÉ COFFEE DAY outlet list, DELHI - NCR
1 CP - Janpath : SHOP NO-42 JANPATH PEARY LAL & SONS PVT LTD ,
2 Kamla nagar : M/S OPEN HOUSE, 9, UB, BUNGALOW ROAD, JAWAHAR NAGAR,
3 Lajpat nagar : A-10, GROUND FLOOR, LAJPAT NAGAR-2,
4 Panjabi bagh : CCD-FIRST FLOOR, SHOP NO-6,CLUB ROAD, PUNJABI BAGH
5 Saket : NO-13,COMMUNITY CENTRE PVR COMPLEX SAKET
6 NFC : 14-COMMUNITY CENTRE NEW FRIEND COLONEY
7 CP : INNER CIRCLE C.P. B-49,
8 Dwarka sec-12 : DWARKA SEC- 12, SHOP NO. 101,102,109 FIRST FLOOR.,
9 CP : N-11 OUTER CIRCLE CONNAUGHT PLACE
10 M Block-GK1 : SHOP NO-37 G.K-M BLOCK GREATER KAILASH-1
11 Shantiniketan : SHOP NO-1 DDA MARKET SHANTINIKETAN NEW
12 Karol bagh : (422D) SHOP NO-422D-GN, METRO STATION KAROL BAGH
13 Geetanjali Cafe : GEETANJALI HOSPITAL , NEAR ARABINDO COLLEGE,
14 Mayur Vihar : LSC, FIRST FLOOR ,F1,F2,F3,F4,F5, MAYUR VIHAR-2 , NEW DELHI
15 AWWA : OPP- TO TAJ PALACE PALLAVI SHOPPING COMPLEX CHANKYAPURI,

Union Bank of India Branches
1 OKHLA SME ( NODAL BRANCH)
2 CONNAUGHT PLACE
3 ANAND VIHAR
4 SUNDER NAGAR
5 LODI COLONY
6 MOTI BAGH
7 ASAF ALI ROAD
8 KAMALA NAGAR (SUBZI MANDI)
9 SHALIMAR BAGH
10 PASCHIM VIHAR

Other Ticket Retail Outlets
A : 24 X 7 Convenience Stores:
1 Greater Kailash 2 Market
2 Lajpat Nagar 2 Market
3 PVR Anupam Complex, Saket

B : Ticket Counter at Gate 5 of National Stadium
C : Online Booking redemptions at Pragati Maidan Gate 2 / Ambedkar Stadium

Adieu Shaun Pollock

Watching Shaun Pollock holding back tears while giving his farewell speech last night after the SA-WI 5th ODI brought tears to my eyes as well. He was a gentleman on the field. A realization had occurred that cricketers of our generation are fast disappearing. Pollock had bowled his last ball last night. Gilchrist have another 15 days before hanging up his gloves.

Warne is gone. So is McGrath, Lara & Inzy – all these great revelers of our time had retired in the last 12 months. Only a handful now remains. But even the likes of Jayasurya, Sachin, Dravid and Ganguly are fast approaching their final days.

We had probably failed to realize that it is not only us who had crossed into the late 30s, but the cricketers as well who has been part of our life for last 15 years. It is a fact that most people in our age group no more watch cricket as ardently as they used to do some 15 years back. That was the time when we would hardly move from the television room until the last ball is bowled. The hourly drinks break provided toilet breaks for us. Now we hardly watch a full day’s cricket. In fact I do not remember when I had watched a full days cricket on TV last time. The golden era of cricket has probably been over.

Even though we are not addicted to cricket anymore, we still follow it. These are the bunch of guys whom we love to hate at times and then admire most of the time. New guys are getting inducted into most of the teams to replace these all time greats. But if you look at most teams, there is little promise. Look at the replacements for Pakistan and India. These new generation players may be talented, but not at par with the ones they are replacing. There will never be another Pollock, Gilchrist, Sachin, Lara, Inzamam, McGrath or Warne. We will certainly miss them.

Ana Ivanovic

Producing glam dolls of tennis have been the specialties of the former Soviet states. But one Ana Ivanovic has been able to raise her head out in that race as one of the glamorous tennis babes. More importantly, she can actually play tennis. Currently ranked 14 in the world speaks for her teenis ability.

The 19 year old Swiss based player of Serbian origin has rapidly risen in the world rankings in last 3 years. She was ranked 705 at the beginning of 2004, but ended at 96. Year 2005 saw her jumped to 16.

She has added one more reason for women tennis to be so attractive. It is bad that she had lost in the 3rd round of this years Australian Open. Her official website is www.anaivanovic.com.

Photos from Lakshadweep

I have uploaded some of the photos from Agatti, Lakshadweep. Open the link of photos in the side bar (flickr.com) and watch them in slideshow. Scanned photos are low resolutions upload. These are my SLR photos. Originals selecetd for scanning were exceptionaly clear and sharp photos. Please let me know your comments.

The Indian Autoricksaw Challange

A rally of autoricksaw! What! When I heard of this unique event this morning, it really sound funny to me. It is usual to travel 30 /40 km a day in autoricksaw in India. But what about travelling nearly a thousand kilometers over 7 days. It is really challange. But it will also be fun.

Non-Indians may wonder as to what is an autoricksaw. Look at the photo above. A common mode of in town travel in India, this three wheel thing can reach a max speed of 55km. No wonder as to why 13 out of the 14 teams are foreign tourists who probably have felt in love with this small machine.

The chennai based Indian Arc (international youth group), has organised this rally with the main aim to raise money and help New Hope Society for Education and Social Welfare, which is fighting consistently to eradicate child labour from India. The steep entry fee of 1000 EUROS (Approx Rs.55,000/-) kept Indian participants at bay. The only exception bening the team of 5 member Lodha family.

The 937 km rally from Chennai to Kanyakumari via Mahabalipuram -- Pondichery -- Thanjavur -- Madurai --Tuticorin -- Courtallam, which is said to one of the scenic routes in South India. The rally started on 21st August and will conclude on 28th Aug.

Want to know more... read on the website of Indian Arc.

Venugopal Rao : Don't we have a better batsman

Normally I do not write about cricket, as many of my readers are not aware of this game that is followed like an alternate religion in the Indian sub-continent. But this time I could not stop myself from expressing. I had undergone the painful experience of watching India-A losing the final of Eurasia Cup Cricket championship to Pakistan-A last night at Abu Dhabi. The teams were almost equals with the only difference is the one guy who was incidentally the captain of India A team. It is the guy named Venugopal Rao. When the asking rate was almost 6 from the beginning, he continued to bat as painstakingly as possible to notch up 69 runs from 99 balls. The 30 balls he consumed pushed the required rate to beyond 10 and reach of others when he got out. Never ever for a moment he showed any aggressive intent to take the bull by horn. He looked so natural blocking balls. The commentators were virtually pleading him to hit the ball or at least try to hit the ball. And the selectors had chosen this man to lead the side. In contrast, Hasan Raza, the Pakistani captain cracked a fine hundred fighting cramps. Don’t we have a better second line batsman in India then this Venugopal Rao?

I was amazed at the opportunities this man has got at international level. What potential selectors have seen in him is not understood. This is his stats in ODIs for India –

Matches: 15 Runs: 207 Avg: 25.87 Fifties:1 Hundreds: Nil Ducks: 2 Highest:61*

The highest score has also came in the recently concluded Indo – Pak ODI series at Abu Dhabi (April 2006). So in the 13 matches before April, 2006, his highest score had been only 38. And the selectors still continued with him while keeping stalwarts like Ganguly and Laxman out. I wonder whose pawn is he? It is not only talent, but other things also helps you a place in team. Think about the money a player gets to paly in an ODI -- it is Rs.1.6 lakh or so. He was the first choice over Suresh Raina. But Raina grabbed the opportunities he got and has made it to the Team India as a potential match winner. Yet Venugopal Rao continued to get opportunities, mostly as a replacement for injured Sachin. What a pity! And the result was there to see for everyone last night.

The only bright spot of the night was the seven ball innings of a youngster named Rohit Sharma. By the time he was in, the required rate has gone above 10. He thrashed Moortaza, the Pakistani leg spinner for 14 runs in one over, that included a majestic square drive for four and a towering six over long-off. This was the same bowler whom Venugopal Rao found hard to even score singles. Rohit Sharma had scored one hundred and two fifties. When he came in to bat, Rameez Raja simply said that he is a class apart from others. He indeed looked so in his brief stay of just seven balls. The confidence, the footwork and the class in his shots a must have catch the fancy of many eyes. May be he is the next Sachin in the making. So guys keep a watch for this guy.

Tour de France

Watching the live telecast of Tour de France being shown these days in Ten Sports every evening, I was curious to know how Lance Armstrong, who is not seen winning any race, eventually wins the tour. So many such questions pop up like what is the scoring system, how winner is decided, how jersey's are awarded, etc. The most coveted jersey is the Yellow Jersey, called the maillot jaune worn by the overall time leader, i.e., the rider with the lowest total race time upto that stage is considered the leader. The colour of this Yellow Jersey came from the yellow page named L'Auto, the original sponsor of the race. The tradion of awarding the Yellow Jersey on a daily basis came into practice from 1919. There are other jerseys for winners in different categories. There is the Green Jersey, called the malliot vert awarded to the rider who accumulates maximum points. Then there is the Polka Dot Jersey awarded to the King of the Mountains, the rider with highest mountain points. The last one is the White Jersey awarded to the best rider in under 25 category. Besides being an individual sport, it also is a team event, where teams of 9 pedalls over 3500 km in 3 weeks in this tough test of endurance and strength. The race was started in 1903 and this is the 92nd edition. Want to know more. Read on this excellent link Tour de France .

Here is another interesting link at The 2005 Tour de France which will give you graphical details of the tour and many things you may like to know.