Asian Games: October 2010

Friday, October 29, 2010

Anand, Humpy opt out of Asian Games

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After Leander Paes, it was the second 'big' setback for India going into Guangzhou in a few days time. Vishy Anand, India's best bet in chess along with his female counterpart Koneru Humpy have both pulled out due to a clash with Chess Olympiad happening at the same time

Anand, Humpy opt out of Asian Games

India's medal prospects in chess at the Guangzhou Asian Games suffered a major setback after World champion Vishwanathan Anand announced his withdrawal.

New Delhi: World chess champion Viswanathan Anand will not be available for next month's Asian Games in China due to prior commitments, officials said on Friday.

With the top woman player Koneru Humpy also opting out of the mega event, the Indian squad will be same that played in the Olympiad last month. Humpy had won two gold medals including one in the team event in the last edition in Doha while Anand was absent there as well.

Both the players have already told the All India Chess Federation that they will not be available for the November 12-27 Games.

"AICF Secretary had approached Anand to play in the Asian Games. But he said he will not be available," Delhi Chess Association President Bharat Singh Chauhan, who has been named team manager of the 10-member squad said.

Medals will be up for grabs in the team events for men and women apart from the two individual rapid events.

Men: K Sasikiran, P Hari Krishna, Surya Shekhar Ganguly, G N Gopal and B Adhiban.

Women: D Harika, Tania Sachdev, Eesha Karavade, S Meenakshi and Nisha Mohota.

Coaches: Lev Psakhis and Oleg Romanishin; Manager: Bharat Singh Chauhan.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Top Asian sprinter to take part in Malaysian Open

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KUALA LUMPUR: Asian 100m record holder Samuel Adelebari Francis of Qatar is the top drawcard in the Malaysian Open athletics championships at the National Training Track in Bukit Jalil this weekend.
The 23-year-old holds the record of 9.99, which he clocked to win the gold medal in the Asian Track and Field (ATF) championships in Jordan in 2007.
The Malaysian Open is part of Samuel’s preparation for an onslaught to win a first Asian Games gold medal in Guangzhou next month.
Asia’s No. 1 long jumper Hussain Taher Alsaba of Saudi Arabia, who has a personal best of 8.35m, will also feature in the two-day meet.

Number one: Samuel Adelebari Francis will be taking part in the 100m as a warm up for the Asian Games.

The 30-year-old Hussein said that he would face strong challenges in his bid to win a hat-trick of Asiad gold medal.
“The pressure will be on me to live up to my No. 1 tag in Guangzhou. However, I hope to become the first athlete to win the long jump gold medal in three consecutive Games,” said Hussain, who is looking forward to recording a good distance in the Malaysian Open.
The meet will also be the last warm-up competition for the Malaysian athletes for the Asian Games. Those who will feature in Guangzhou are Lee Hup Wei (high jump), P. Yuvaraaj (400m), Roslinda Samsu (pole vault) and women’s 4x100m quartet of Norjannah Hafiszah Jamaluddin, Siti Sarah Abdul Kadir, Yee Yi Ling and Siti Zubaidah Adabi.
The Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU) deputy president, Karim Ibrahim, said that Yuvaraaj, who is training in Jamaica since August, would return tomorrow to compete in the meet.
“Yuvaraaj did not qualify on merit for the Asian Games but he will be competing in the Games as one of the the recipients of the IOC (International Olympic Committee) scholarship,” he said.
“I hope Yuvaraaj would be able to dip below 47 seconds in Guangzhou after two months of training in Jamaica.”

Liew strengthens position in Guangzhou Asian Games

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ODENSE: Malaysia’s Liew Daren has put himself in a good position to be considered to play in the third singles slot in the men’s team competition at the Guangzhou Asian Games.
In the Denmark Open at the Odense Sports Park yesterday, Daren came back from a game down to beat a higher ranked Dicky Palyama of Holland 19-21, 21-14, 21-10 in a 53-minute first-round match.
But the 23-year-old, who came through from the qualifying tournament, is not thinking about the prospects on getting to play in the Asiad.
“I am delighted to be included in the team for the Asian Games but I still want to make a strong impression in convincing the selectors on my ability to play well,” said Daren, who was a semi-finalist in the recent Indonesia Open Grand Prix Gold tournament.

Going strong: Liew Daren defeated Holland’s Dicky Palyama 19-21, 21-14, 21-10 yesterday to qualify for the last 16 of the Denmark Open.

“I will leave it to them to decide on the best strategy for the team. I am comfortable playing with the underdog tag without the unnecessary pressure.”
In the match against Palyama, Daren admitted that he committed several errors towards the closing stage of the first game and allowed his world No. 21 opponent to win it.
“I cut my right palm in going down to retrieve a shot in the second round qualifying match against Wang Zhengming (which he won 21-16, 11-21, 21-18 on Tuesday) and I did not want to use it as an excuse for not playing well,” said Daren, who is ranked 89th in the world.
“I felt that I had a chance to keep my hopes alive and continue my journey in the tournament. I just pulled my socks up and I did not want to repeat the same mistakes in following two games against Palyama.”
Daren will be play against the winner of the match between Hong Kong’s Hu Yun and India’s Anand Chetan for a place in the quarter-finals.
Daren said he is eager to reverse the outcome against the challenger coming through.
“In the past, I have lost to both of them on two occasions each. Both matches against Chetan went down to the wire in three games while the last meeting with Hu Yun was also decided over rubber games. It will be a refreshing change to score a win tomorrow (today),” Daren recalled.
The other Malaysian in the men’s singles competition, Chan Kwong Beng, who is also in the team for the Asian Games, failed to get past the qualifying rounds. He was beaten 11-21, 14-21 by Denmark’s Emil Vind in a second-round match.
In the men’s doubles, the newly-forged partnership of Mohd Fairuzizuan Tazari-Ong Soon Hock got off to a winning start, beating Taiwanese Chen Chung Jen-Lin Yen Jui 21-12, 21-10 in 23 minutes.
Meanwhile, top seeded Dane and 2008 champion Peter Gade Christensen has opted to withdraw from the tournament because a lower back injury.
“The injury has restricted my movement and it is wise not to risk aggravating it,” he said.
“I will leave for home tomorrow and continue to seek treatment. Hopefully, I will be ready for the next tournament (French Open) next week.”

Karate seeks to end 12-year drought

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THT Online Karatekas Binod Shakya and Roji Nagarkoti fight during a training session in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

KATHMANDU: The lead up to the 16th Asian Games was marred by selection controversies, yet karate coach Deepak Shrestha believes in ending the 12-year medal drought.

Eight karatekas were selected for the Asiad slated for November 12-27 in Guangzhou. The squad consists of two senior players in Kushal Shrestha and Binod Shakya, who have already represented Nepal in the 15th Asiad in Doha, along with two rookies in Kalpana Basnet, and Tara Gurung.

Of the other remaining four, Rabindra Dahal and Binod Maharjan had participated in the Senior AKF Championships. Ganga Adhikari was one of the eight Nepali gold medal winners in the 11th South Asian Games in Dhaka, while Roji Nagarkoti was the member of Nepali squad that claimed second position in the 10th SAG team kata.

Karate so far had claimed four bronze medals in Asiad. Sita Rai was the first to strike bronze during the 12th Asian Games in Hiroshima, Japan in 1994 before Rajat Kishor Shrestha, Sapana Malla and Samar Bahadur Gole won the other three in the 13th Asiad in Bangkok, Thailand in 1998. Ever since, Nepali karatekas have failed to taste success at this level.

Karate won seven medals — three gold (Ganga, Binod Shakya and Sunil Lama), two silver (Anu Adhikari and Binod Maharjan) apart from a bronze each in team and individual kata (Kushal) -- during the 11th SA Games. Sunil and Anu both failed to qualify for the Games.

In a controversial circumstances, Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club’s Sunil lost the 55kg final selection bout against Rabindra of Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC), while Roji defeated Anu in women’s 55kg selection match. Roji and Kushal will compete in both kumite and kata events.

Rabindra, the bronze medallist of the ninth and 10th SA Games, will be returning to international tournament since his pre-quarterfinals loss in the Senior AKF Championships in Malaysia in 2007. Despite his appearance in the international arena after three years, Rabindra was confident of a good showing. “I have been preparing well and hope to fare well in Guangzhou,” said Rabindra.

Deepak Shrestha, who has been entruted as the national team kata coach, is hoping to make the event a memorable ones by helping karatekas strike medals. “This is my first experience as national team coach, and I want to make the most out of it,” said the coach. Rajendra Kapali is looking after kata. A Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) volunteer coach Naomi Kondo is assisting the duo in Nepal's preparation.

Coaches Shrestha and Kapali both relying on Binod Maharjan, Binod Shakya and Ganga apart from kata event for medals. “The Binod duo and Ganga have huge international experiences and are also doing good in training. It has made us confident to earn medal,” said Shrestha.

Moreover, the mandatory provision of the same player to compete in both kumite and kata has also fueled further hopes in the Nepali camp.

Binod Maharjan had defeated 10th SA Games silver winner Ram Limbu, while Tara overcame eighth SA Games gold winner Meena Pathak for Guangzhou tickets. Kushal and Kalpana were spared the headache to final selection as they were directly picked up in yet another controversial circumstances when their opponents were found under-aged and were farcially barred from competing at the last moment after coming through various stages of selection procedures.

Binod Shakya was also confident of a better showing. “My experiences and the ability to maintain safe distance with opponents has made me confident of winning a medal.,” said the player. But he rued the lack of international training which would have greatly helped their preparations

China's tennis team prepare for Asian Games

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BEIJING - OCTOBER 10: (L-R) Hsieh Su-Wei of T...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Some of the spotlight at the Asian Games will fall on Chinese tennis. The veteran players are improving, but with the withdrawal of Zheng Jie, Chinese youngsters need to assume more responsibility at Guangzhou next month.
Peng Shuai was one of the first Chinese tennis athletes to get on the professional road. She was the earliest to find a coach, and among the first to arrange her competition schedule through the coach instead of with the national team. Peng was considered China's future star when she was 14 years old, and she competed at the Asian Games at a very early age.
"My first time to take part in Asian Games was when I was 15 years old. But there was a cramp in my leg. I appeared at the last Asian Games, but I didn't show up on court."
Many Chinese fans consider Peng Shuai the tennis team leader, especially after she beat Amelie Mauresmo and Martina Hingis at the 2008 China Tennis Open. But the veteran says she's not at ease, with the Guangzhou Asian Games just ahead.
"I feel very happy to play in Guangzhou, but I am also under a lot of pressure."
Peng Shuai turned pro first, but the female player with the best performance on this road is Li Na. She's currently the most famous Chinese player in international tennis, and success at the Asian Games is her top goal.
"This will be my last Asian Games. I'm honored to be part of the games, and I do hope we can put on a good performance."
Li Na's departure from the Games after Guangzhou means the new generation of Chinese tennis players must catch up, and shoulder more responsibility as soon as possible.
"I think they are good. Group matches involve four people and I can't play all the matches by myself. So I need work together with these youngsters to be at our best."
The young players performed well at the recently-finished China tennis grand prix. There's no doubt they will be the future of the sport in China.

Saina seeded second in Asian Games singles

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MUMBAI: India's best bet in badminton, Saina Nehwal, is seeded second and given a first round bye in the women's singles at next month's Asian Games in Guangzhou, but faces a tough task in the quarterfinals.

The badminton competitions, in which seven gold medals are at stake, would be held from November 13-21.

Saina, currently the world no. 3 behind top ranked Chinese Xin Wang and Yihan Wang, is expected to get past either Lydia Cheah of Malaysia or Vietnam's Thi Trang Vu, who are to clash in round one.

The 20-year-old Indian star, who made it to the Beijing Olympic Games quarterfinals two years ago, has beaten Lydia when they met in the final of the Chinese Taipei Open in 2008.

Saina's rising stature and her recent form going into the Asian Games on the back of the Commmonwealth Games gold should stand her in good stead if she is to face the 21-year-old Malaysian girl.

The Vietnamese is, however, an unknown commodity for the Indian medal hope as the two have never met before in an international competition at the senior level.

A victory in round two would pilot the Hyderabad-based Indian world junior champion straight into a potentially dangerous clash with Hong Kong's World no. 12 Pui Yin Yip, seeded sixth.

They have a 1-1 head-to-head record till now, with the Haryana-born Saina having conquered Pui in straight games last year in the French Open after having lost to the Hong Kong girl in the 2007 Swiss Open.

In the semifinals, Saina is drawn to meet Chinese world no. 5 Shixian Wang, the third seed, a rival to whom she had lost in this year's world championship.

As many as eight players in the world's top 20, including world no. 1 Xin Wang, have entered the singles contest in which India's other competitor, Aditi Mutatkar (world no. 39) would be up against Thilini Jayasinghe of Sri Lanka in the first round.

A victory in the opener would pit Aditi against formidable Eriko Hirose of Japan, the fourth seed and world no. 8, for a place in the last eight.

In men's singles, India's P Kashyap will have to overcome world no. 9 Tien Minh Nguyen, seeded fifth, in the first round while national champion Chetan Anand, ranked 18th in the world, is to line up against world no. 4 Jin Chen of China, the third seed.

Twelve of the world's top 20 ranked shuttlers, including world no. 1 and 3 Chong Wei Lee (Malaysia) and Dan Lin (China) are to vie for the medals, making it a top drawer competition.

Saina would also spearhead the country's women in the ten-team competition in which unseeded India are to face Indonesia in the first round with the winners entering the last eight.

China and Japan have been seeded one and two.

Asiad roster final count: 191 athletes

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Philippine Sports Commission

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MANILA, Philippines – A 284-strong delegation, 191 of them athletes, will represent the Philippines in the 16th Asian Games scheduled Nov. 12-27 in Guangzhou, China. “This is the final count,” said Moying Martelino of the RP Asian Games screening committee during yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s UN Avenue.
The former secretary-general of the Asian Basketball Confederation said the list does not include those who tried to make the RP team at the last minute.
“We submitted the applications of our late entries. But we have not received any confirmation from Guangzhou,” he said.
Martelino, who was joined in the forum, also backed by Outlast Battery, Pagcor and Shakey’s, by Philippine Sports Commission commissioner Chito Loyzaga, said the 44-member RP dragonboat team is out of it.
“The dragonboat team is out,” said Martelino of the men’s and women’s team who made a final appeal for inclusion from the Philippine Olympic Committee board.
Among the late entries, submitted way past the Oct. 30 deadline from Guangzhou, were around a dozen more athletes from shooting, chess and basketball.
Martelino is confident that the Philippines will surpass its showing in 2006 in Doha.
“Personally I think that with the preparation and training and the choosing of our athletes, we should improve on the finish we had in Doha. We’re talking of 4 (gold), 6 (silver) and 9 (bronze). We’re looking at something better,” he said.
Loyzaga, part of the RP basketball team that won silver in the 1990 Beijing Asian Games, is just as confident.
“Considering the amount of time we spent and the resources that were made available and put together, I have a good feeling. Their spirits are high and that they’re looking forward to compete. They will give it their best shot,” he said.
Martelino said there’s little hope that the inclusions will be made considering that the Games are just 17 days away, and that billeting are already being finalized.
More than 12,000 athletes and officials will take part in this Asian Games, almost twice as much as those who were in Doha in 2006, but only 6,000 will be allowed to join the opening-day parade.
“The final count is 191 athletes, 53 coaches, 16 managers, 12 medical people, 10 administrative people, the chef-de-mission, which is Joey Romasanta, and his deputy, Chippy Espiritu,” said Martelino.
The top POC officials, including its president, Jose Cojuangco, will be there as guests of the Olympic Council of Asia, while their PSC counterparts, led by chairman Richie Garcia, will travel on their own and be there as VIPs. Martelino said the first batch, made up of nine officials, will leave on Nov. 9 to attend the delegation representatives’ meeting where they will go through the entire list of those who will be allowed in the Games Village.
“And by the time the main bulk of 140 persons leaves on Nov. 10, everything will be ready, especially their billeting. It’s not the number of rooms, the number of beds. No room assignments but bed assignments,” he said.

Al Khojai ready for Asian Games in China

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UAE equestrienne Farah Al Khojai has reached the final stages of her preparation for the Asian Games, being held in China in November.
The talented sportswoman is the only entrant from the UAE in the dressage competition at the Games, and is currently completing a gruelling training schedule in Germany as she readies herself and her Hanoverian stallion, Dubai Duty Free Whisper, for the event. “To represent my country in an international sporting event has long been a dream of mine, and I am so proud to be able to do so at this year’s Asian Games,” said Farah Al Khojai. “I have dedicated the past two years to this goal, and while it has meant many sacrifices and extremely hard work, I am determined to do the very best I can.
“In addition to the long hours spent training, I have had the extra challenge of finding financial support. Finally, thanks to the generosity of Dubai Duty Free, I am able to fly the flag for the UAE at the Asian Games.”
One of the world’s oldest sporting activities, competitive dressage involves an increasingly difficult series of routines designed to show the suppleness, obedience and strength of the horse, and control, precision and expertise of the rider.
Earlier in the year Al Khojai represented the UAE in the FEI World Challenge, earning second place in the Advanced Class. More than 46 countries around the world are participating at this year’s Asian Games which takes place from November 14 to 17 in the Chinese city of Guanzhou.

As Asian games approach, Tibetan students spread

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Supporters of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in different countries of the world have called upon the members of the Tibetan diaspora to hold demonstrations in solidarity with the protesting students of Qinghai and Gansu.

by B.Raman

(October 27, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) As the Asian Games scheduled to be held in the city of Guangzhou (formerly known as Canton) in the Guangdong province from November 12 to 27 approach, the Tibetan students’ protests against the introduction of Mandarin as the medium of instruction in the Tibetan schools have spread from the Qinghai province where they started last week to the Gansu province. Thousands of Tibetan students demonstrated in different parts of the Gansu province on October 25 and 26,2010.

Supporters of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in different countries of the world have called upon the members of the Tibetan diaspora to hold demonstrations in solidarity with the protesting students of Qinghai and Gansu.

In a statement, Tenzin Choekyi, the General Secretary of the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC), which organized protest demonstrations against the Beijing Olympics of August 2008 in different cities of the world including New Delhi, has stated as follows: "The Tibetan language is intrinsically linked to Tibetan culture and identity. Denying Tibetans the right to learn in their own language is denying them the right to exist as a people."

In another statement disseminated on October 26, the TYC called China the biggest colonizer of modern times and appealed to the international media covering the Asian Games to highlight the Chinese violation of the human rights of the Tibetans. It has announced plans for a protest rally on cycles from Dharamsala to New Delhi on November 12. The demonstrators will carry a freedom torch and banners reading : "Welcome Future: Future for Tibetan Youth, Youth for Independence", mocking China's Asian Games slogan "Welcome Future".

The TYC’s statement said: “China lacks the "moral right" to hold such an important international sporting event.
Generally the spirit of any international games represents friendship, solidarity and promotion of peace and freedom. The Asian Games in particular is about helping weaker countries, helping them rehabilitate and develop an understanding of mutual friendship and cooperation. A country hosting such an important event essentially should respect these principles”.

It said further that China should not have been given the right to host the Asian Games and added: “Instead of promoting peace and friendship, China continues to use its military and economic might to stifle smaller and weaker countries.
So long as they do not end the occupation of Tibet, words such as freedom, truth and peace for the Chinese government is just another rhetoric. Therefore China has no moral right to host such an important sporting event."

The TYC said: “The slogan for the games 'Welcome Future' targeted at youth development and promising future is only appropriate if Tibet is free. The biggest obstacle for Tibetan youth development is the continued occupation of Tibet and, oppression and denial of fundamental rights of the Tibetan youth.” The TYC has described the Asian Games as another charade of lies and deceit.

The Chinese authorities, who are deploying about 12,000 security forces personnel to prevent any breach of security during the Games, have taken some extraordinary security measures such as directing the occupants of buildings in the vicinity of the main stadium to shift from their residences during the duration of the Games. They have also reportedly moved from Guangzhou all Tibetans and Uighurs living in the city to prevent any demonstrations by them.

One of the principal guests of honour at the opening ceremony of the Games is expected to be President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan, which has been helping the Chinese authorities in maintaining a watch on the Uighurs.

Indian men's, women's Rugby team leave for Indonesia

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New Delhi:India's national Rugby teams -- both men and women -- today left for Indonesia to compete in the Borneo Sevens tournament.

While the men's team will aim to improve their Asian rankings the women side would try to get on board as they are not ranked yet.

The three-day tournament will begin at Sabah Island from October 29.

The 10-member men's squad, under captain Nasser Hussain, had finished in bottom half in the 16-team line-up at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games.

They are ranked eighth among Asian nations and are placed 73 among 95 Rugby playing nations internationally and Rugby India vice president Aga Hussain is confident that they will be able to climb up the ladder in Asian region.

The Indian team, seeded eighth in the tournament, will be up against the world's best rugby playing nations in the two separate outings -- IRB Asian Rugby Sevens Series and 10th invitational club Borneo Sevens.

The men's competition will see the top 12 teams of Asia competing in four pools of three teams each. After the league games, the tournament will enter the knockout stage.

The Indian team has been grouped in Pool-D alongside fourth seed Malaysia and ninth seed Thailand.

"At the Commonwealth Games, the Indian men's team faced the best in the world and this experience should hold them in good stead and help them put up a good show in Indonesia," Hussain said.

Pool A comprises of teams from Korea (seed 1), Hong Kong (5), Kazakhastan (12), Pool B -- China (2), Guam (6), Chinese Taipei (11) and Pool C -- Japan (3), Sri Lanka (7), Philippines (10).

The 12-member women's sevens team will compete in the Asia Pacific Women's Sevens, which comprises of eight teams divided into two groups

The event, for the first time, will have teams from FORU (Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions). FORU teams are Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tonga.

The Indian team has been accorded fourth billing in the tournament and is placed in Pool B alongside Singapore (2) and two FORU teams.

Pool A includes Kazakhstan (1), Malaysia (3) and two FORU teams.

"Women's Rugby in India has been growing tremendously of late and there was a lot of competition for making it to the squad. With the Asian Games coming up, where both the men's and women's team will be up in action, this tournament will definitely help us," Hussain said.

Sanctioned by the International Rugby Board (IRB) and the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU), Borneo Sevens is being held for the second consecutive year. The tournament will witness around 500 elite rugby players from around the world fighting it out for the top honours.

In the Rugby Sevens calendar, everyone looks forward to this tournament as it is held in the stunning tropical location of Kota Kinabalu at Sabah island.

Men's team: Nasser Hussain (C), Puneet Krishnamurthy, Amit Lochab, Hrishikesh Pendse, Pritom Roy, Rohaan Sethna, Thimmaiah Madanda, Kayrus Unawala, Kamaldeep Dagar and Dinesh Ravi Kumar. Coach: Usiaia Biumaiwai.

Women's team: Surabi Date (C), Vahbiz Bharucha, Niharika Bal, Bhagyalaxmi Barik, Tapasi Nandi, Priyanka Mondal, Neha Pardeshi, Annapurna Bhotate, Yogita Marathe, Sheetal Maurya, Sangita Bera and Sutapa Das. Coach: Elenoa Kunatuba.

New service platform to prep for Asian Games' mobile communications

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China Mobile

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When the 16th Asian Games opens in Guangzhou, China, on Nov. 12, delegates and visitors to the sporting event can expect mobile calls to be connected efficiently even in high density "hot spots".
According to T.K. Ng, general manager of Motorola networks services for China and Asia Pacific, the Guangdong branch of China Mobile is working with the telecommunications equipment vendor to ensure the Chinese operator's network can handle peaks in mobile traffic during the sporting event and ensure calls are not dropped. Ng added that this is a significant requirement as "roaming charges are very handsome income for service providers".
To support the expected spike in mobile calls, Motorola is leveraging its new Service Management Platform (SMP) which will allow operators to track near real-time network performance blind-spots through an online interface so network problems can be addressed immediately.
Ng said in a phone interview: "For example, during the Beijing Olympics, whenever events were held at large venues such as the 'Bird's Nest' stadium, mobile calls around the area would surge past 100,000. With a proper monitoring system, operators can immediately send a rapid deployment vehicle from the mobile base station to expand bandwidth [and cope with the peak in traffic].
"The platform also allows operators to monitor the surge patterns for mobile usage during large events so they can better forecast and allocate resources to ensure 'hotspot' areas are taken care of."
Next month's Asian Games will be the first large event where the SMP, which was launched Wednesday, will be put to test, though, the technology behind the platform is not new, he said. The system's the measurement record (MR), for instance, was already deployed at the 2008 Olympics, he added.
It is this experience, Ng said, that brought China Mobile to Motorola, which was looking to enhance its mobile communications ahead of the 10 million guests and 14,000 athletics expected at the games.
He added that the SMP is an improved version of the vendor's traditional operation and maintenance center (OMC), which could only measure performance from a network perspective such as ensuring the working status of a mobile base station. The SMP can provide operators with data on networking performance as well as customer devices, allowing them to analyze call patterns and usage models.
Ng explained: "In the past, operators could only make intelligent guesses about network performance issues. It was also costly to deploy engineers on the street to collect real-life data.
"The SMP service profiles all voice and data calls made by users and provides a clear picture of how customers use mobile services in everyday life. With a better understanding of customer preferences, operators can provide services tailored for specific uses, user groups, mobile devices or locations."
Asked about the cost of implementing the system, he said Motorola will be operating an "open" business model that depends on the market and service providers. Operators can either adopt the SMP with a one-time charge or on a per user subscription basis, he said.
Motorola is currently not in talks with other telcos to launch the system in other regions, he said, noting that the vendor wants to first ensure the SMP can be successfully implemented during the Asian Games before using it as a launch pad for the Asia-Pacific region.
The Guangzhou Asian Games will be the largest sports event hosted in this region for the past 10 years, in which Motorola's SMP will deploy around 16,000 radios able to cover a cumulative mobile user base of more than 10 million expected during the event.

Guangdong justifies spending on Asian Games By Liu Weitao

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Guangdong justifies spending on Asian Games

Zadki Ali Jabbar (right), editor of The Island, a newspaper in Sri Lanka, visits Guangzhou Xiangxue Pharmaceutical Co Ltd on Wednesday. [Photo/China Daily]

GUANGZHOU - People should not misinterpret the 120-billion-yuan ($18 billion) bill for the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games and the Asian Para Games, a senior Guangdong provincial official has said.

"Less than 20 billion yuan is for games-related facility construction and maintenance as well as the whole event's operation, while the remaining 100 billion yuan has been spent on the city's overall infrastructure upgrade," Lin Xiong, head of the publicity department of the Guangdong provincial Party committee, told reporters on Wednesday.

Lin made the remarks while meeting with a media delegation consisting of more than 40 journalists from mainstream media in 18 Asian countries and regions.

This was the biggest Asian media delegation to have come to China so far.

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Critics have fussed about spending for the 2010 Asian Games and the Asian Para Games after Guangzhou Mayor Wan Qingliang revealed last week the total expenditure figures for the event.

According to Wan, Guangzhou has spent 6.3 billion yuan on the construction and maintenance of sports facilities, 7.3 billion yuan on the event's operation and 109 billion yuan on improving the city's appearance and environment.

"Even without the Asian Games, Guangzhou still needs to put hundreds of billions of yuan into the city's renovation and upgrade," Lin said.

"Most of the 120 billion yuan went to the construction of subways, roads and bridges, improving the urban environment and the treatment of industrial waste water."

The total budget for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games was 280 billion yuan, according to figures released by the Beijing municipal government in August 2008.

The visiting Asia media delegation will travel to Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Shenzhen and Foshan from Oct 19 to 24 to learn about the preparatory work of the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games and the Asian Para Games as well as the social and economic development of the Pearl River Delta region.

Most of the delegation members belong to the Asia News Network, an association of mainstream national daily newspapers across Asia. The world's largest media organization of its kind, the Asia News Network, was established in March 1999 and now has members in 18 countries and regions.

"I hope journalists from Asian countries will have an accurate understanding and report objectively about the Asian Games and the social and economic development of Guangdong," Lin told the delegation.

The 16th Asian Games will be held in Guangdong from Nov 12 to 27, followed by the 2010 Asian Para Games from Dec 12 to 19.

China to deploy 1454-member delegation for Asiad

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A view of the new Asian Games Town Gymnasium. File Photo: Ananth Krishnan

The Hindu A view of the new Asian Games Town Gymnasium. File Photo: Ananth Krishnan

Hosts China will be deploying its biggest ever delegation comprising 1,454 members, including 977 athletes, in next month’s Asian Games to be held in Guangzhou.

Chinese athletes will participate in 41 sports and 447 events to retain its top position in the Asian Games beginning from November 12. The Asian Games feature 28 Olympic sports and 280 Olympic events.

Thirty five former Olympic champions including Chen Yibing, Liu Xiang, Lin Dan, Zhou Suhong, Zhu Qinan and Wang Liqin will take part in the Games besides rising stars such as Feng Zhe, Zhang Chenglong, Liu Shiwen will be part of the Chinese delegation.

He Wenna, gold medallist of Beijing Olympics Trampoline said, “As athletes, we will have the Olympic spirit and the Chinese sports spirit, sticking up for the honour of our country. We will obey the discipline of the Games and also the rules of anti-doping, having a clean event.”

Duan Shijie, chef-de-mission of the Chinese delegation and China’s vice sports minister said, “we want our athletes to show their fighting spirit and sportsmanship at the Asian Games and maintain our leading position in the rankings.”

“As the host, we will also ensure a clean team with no drug cases. We consider the Asian Games an important part of our preparation for the 2012 London Olympic Games,” official media quoted him as saying.

Since the ninth Asian Games in 1982, China has dominated the medal rankings. At the last Asiad, in Doha four years ago, China claimed 165 gold medals, 88 silver and 63 bronze.

The Asian Games is believed to be the largest-scale sporting event in the world. Besides the 28 Olympic sports, it also involves 14 non-Olympic sports, including wushu, cricket, rugby and chess.

Qabil eyes first gold in Asiad equestrian

Post under Riding

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia are riding high hopes on Mohd Qabil Ambak Mahamad Fathil to steer the dressage team to go one step better in the Asian Games.
The 30-year-old Qabil is the most experienced rider in the country and to him, a first-ever gold in Asiad equestrian in Guangzhou will put him on the right track to achieve his childhood dream – to qualify for the Olympic Games.

The right horse power: Qabil Ambak delivered a bronze in the individual dressage at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha.

Qabil will be competing with the same team who won a silver medal at the 2006 Doha Games. The team include his younger sister, Quzandria Nur, and the others are Putri Alia Soraya Ahmad Shuhaimi and Lee Cheng Ni.
In the individual dressage, Qabil will also be out to better his result at the previous Games in which he won a bronze.
Qabil is also expected to stamp his mark in the jumping event with two others – the Al Mohdzar siblings, Syed Mohsin and Syed Omar Syed Abu Bakar.
Currently, Qabil, the 2001 Sportsman of the Year, and all the team members except for Cheng Ni are in Europe training under different coaches at their bases in Belgium and Holland. Cheng Ni trains in the United States.
The Equestrian Association of Malaysia (EAM) secretary, Lau Choo Seng, said that Malaysia had a good tradition in the dressage event at the Asiad.
Malaysia were also silver medallists in the event at the 1998 Bangkok Games.
“Our target is to win a medal again in team dressage and jumping.
“All the previous members, who won the silver at Doha in dressage will be there in Guangzhou,” said Choo Seng.
Meanwhile, the National Sports Council’s (NSC) officer in charge of equestrian, Jennifer Yong, said that Malaysia’s main challengers would be from China, South Korea and Japan.
“Malaysia are only taking part in the dressage and jumping team and individual events. We will not be taking part in eventing this time,” she said.

Putri Alia Soraya Ahmad Shuhaimi, along with Qabil, was part of the silver-medal winning team four years ago.

“We have a good chance in dressage but we should not overlook the strong challenge from China and South Korea.
“The NSC have been funding the training of these athletes for the last two years and we also fork out money for the purchase of their horses.
“The riders, however, have their own individual coaches and their own groomsmen and veterinarian.
“In our regular meetings, the equestrian team have given assurances to do better than in their outing at the 2006 Doha Games.”

Pakistan eyeing Asian Games cricket gold - India's absence has made the job easier.

Post under Cricket

Captain Khalid Latif says India's absence has made the job easier.

KARACHI: With India not taking part in the cricket event, Pakistan are aiming for a gold medal in the Asian Games which features the sport – a Twenty20 event – for the first time in its history.
The event kicks off next month in Guangzhou, China, where India withdrew its men and women teams from, citing prior commitments. Despite a seemingly easy route to the title, Pakistan captain for the event, Khalid Latif, has full respect for his opponents.
“We [cricketers] have never featured in events like the Olympics or the Asian Games but we can sense the feeling athletes experience when their country’s flag is on top after winning a gold medal,” Latif told The Express Tribune. “It’s an important assignment for us and we won’t take it lightly.
“Playing for the senior side is a big honour but representing the country in an event like this is nothing less. I’m proud to be named captain.”
Pakistan is among the seeded teams in the event that also features Test nations like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh besides Afghanistan who were impressive in the ICC World Twenty20 in Caribbean this year. Hosts China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Maldives, Singapore and Nepal are the other teams taking part.
Latif, while ruing India’s absence, said it made Pakistan one of the favourites. “It’s good to have India in the event because it adds excitement. They are tough competitors but their absence has made us one of the favourites.”
But the right-handed batsman, who has played five One-Day Internationals and the same number of Twenty20s for Pakistan, added that the event would be competitive given the nature of the format.
“Our former greats are serving as coaches in China and Afghanistan so we can expect tough competition from them.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 27^th, 2010.

Tibetan body protests hosting of Asian Games by China

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Interview with the President of Tibetan Youth ...

Image by SFTHQ via Flickr

Dharamsala, Oct 26 The Tibetan Youth Congress here today said it would light a ‘Freedom Torch’ and launch a bike rally from Dharamsala to New Delhi on November 12 to protest hosting of Asian Games by China next month.
“China lacks moral right to hold such an important international sporting event which represents friendship, solidarity and promotion of peace and freedom,” TYC said in a press statement.
“So long China do not conclude the occupation of Tibet, words such as freedom, truth and peace for the Chinese government is just rhetoric…A country hosting such an important event essentially should not only represent but respect these principles,” it said.
TYC would light a ‘Freedom Torch’ and launch a bike rally from Dharamsala to New Delhi on November 12 to protest China hosting the international sporting event, the release said.

Thai boxers allowed to fight in Guangzhou

Post under Boxing

The Thai boxing team will be allowed to take part in next month's Asian Games but any medals they win in Guangzhou may not be counted.

Thailand will send 11 boxers to next month’s Asian Games.

Thana Chaiprasit, Thailand's chief of delegation for the Asian Games, said yesterday all Thai athletes, including 11 boxers, had been registered to participate in the Nov 12-27 event by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).
"This means the OCA has accepted Thai boxers to take part in the Games," Thana said.
But Thana said the boxing team will have to wait until Nov 11 when the International Amateur Boxing Association (Aiba) makes a decision if medals won by Thai fighters will be registered.
Gen Taweep Jantararoj, president of the Amateur Boxing Association of Thailand (Abat), has been at odds with Aiba bosses who have suspended him for "continuously violating Aiba rules."
Aiba said the suspension meant Thai boxers could not take part in the Asian Games in the Chinese southern city of Guangzhou.
Taweep is appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to overturn the suspension.
The court has postponed making a ruling. It was initially expected last week.
Meanwhile, the Thai golf team have suffered another setback as they are not allowed to replace Atiwit Janewattananond with Supakorn Uthaipat in the men's squad.
According to Thana, the Asian Games organising committee said that the Thai Golf Association (TGA) did not have any reasonable evidence to support the change.
Atiwit was originally picked for the team but was axed by the TGA who claimed he had made several mistakes including recording an incorrect score at the Lion City Cup in Malaysia last month.
Atiwit then announced that he would not play for the national team anymore and the TGA named Supakorn as his replacement.
TGA president Rungsrid Luxsitanonda said he now had no choice but to send only three male players to the Asian Games.
"The remaining players may be under extra pressure," he said.
"It will be difficult for them to win the team's event because few players play well for four days."
In the team's event, four players play for a team and the worst score does not count towards the total.
The three men are Poom Saksansin, Wasin Sripattranusorn and Atthachai Jaichalad.
In other development, shooter Pavaranat Ponglaokham has been excluded from his team and tennis players Suchanan Wiratprasert was replaced by Nicha Lertpitaksinchai.
In all, Thailand will have 595 athletes and 207 officials in the quadrennial tournament.

Remaining One Million Tickets On Sale For Asian Games Now

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GUANGZHOU, China – October 25, 2009 – The 16^th Asian Games (www.gz2010.cn/en), part of the worldwide Olympic movement and governed by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has made the remaining one million tickets on sale starting today – with the Asian Games beginning in 18 days.
The Asian Games are the second largest sports event in the world after the Summer Olympic Games.
The remaining tickets for The 16^th Asian Games are on sale starting today, totaling nearly one million tickets, they allow access to more than 600 competitions in 42 disciplines.
Tickets are available at all ICBC bank locations and on the official website of The 16th Asian Games.
China Mobile users can also purchase tickets via their mobile phone. All tickets for the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the Asian Games and Asian Para Games have been sold out.
Games organizers remind spectators to bring their ID cards or passports with them to all events as their legal identification must match the name on the ticket.
For additional information, please go to the official ticketing website: tickets.gz2010.cn or contact the Asian Games’ ticketing hot-line at (+8620) 125808.
About The 16^th Asian Games
The 16^th Asian Games (www.gz2010.cn/en) is approved and governed by the Olympic Council of Asia and will be held in “Flower City” of Guangzhou from November 12 – 27, 2010. More than 14,000 athletes, trainers and coaches from 45 countries and regions will compete in 42 sports. More than 10,000 accredited and non-accredited worldwide media are anticipated to cover the Games with more than three million spectators expected to attend.
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For additional information:
Mr. Jeff Ruffolo
Executive Advisor – Chief Communications Officer
The 16^th Asian Games
The 2010 Para Games of Asia
E-Mail: Ruffolopr@hotmail.com
Mobile (86) 1350 244 2900

Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee

Guangzhou Asian Games Sports and Culture Centre

#299 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District

Guangzhou, 510620 P.R. China

Indian football team starts campaign against Kuwait

Post under Football

Pictograms of Olympic sports - Football. This ...

Image via Wikipedia

NEW DELHI: Pitted against strong opponents in a tough group, India will kick off their Asian Games campaign against Kuwait on November 7 at Huadu Stadium, Guangzhou in China.

India will lock horns with defending champions Qatar in their second Group D match on November 9, while they play their last league match against Singapore on November 11.

Sukhvinder Singh's boys had left for Guangzhou early on October 25 to acclimatise with the conditions and play practice matches.

The team had a preparatory camp at Cuttack, Orissa from October 6 to 24.

The Asian Games will officially open on November 12 but the football event will kick off on November 7 and conclude on November 25.

Hosts China are slotted in Group A along with Malaysia, Kyrgyzstan and Japan, while Thailand, Maldives, Oman and Pakistan are in Group F.

Group B includes Iran, Vietnam, Bahrain and Turkmenistan while Group C comprises of Korea Republic, Palestine, Jordan and DPR Korea. Uzbekistan, UAE, Hong Kong and Bangladesh form Group E.

The top two teams from each group and the four best third-placed teams will qualify for the Round of 16.

India did not qualify for the women's football competition.

Groupings:

Group A: China, Malaysia, Kyrgyzstan, Japan

Group B: Iran, Vietnam, Bahrain, Turkmenistan

Group C: Korea Republic, Palestine, Jordan, DPR Korea

Group D: Qatar, Kuwait, India, Singapore

Group E: Uzbekistan, UAE, Hong Kong, Bangladesh

Group F: Thailand, Maldives, Oman, Pakistan.

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