Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Matter of pride

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Five members of Artillery Water Sports Association (AWSA) will represent India in the Guangzhou Asian Games scheduled next month

It will be a matter of pride for the Artillery Water Sports Association (AWSA) that five of its members will represent India in the Guangzhou Asian Games scheduled next month in the Chinese metropolis.
Three of them will be competing in rowing, viz, Satish Joshi, Manjit Singh and James Boy and Prakash in kayaking.
Set up in 2002 to popularise water sports such as rowing, kayaking, canoeing, the AWSA has grown by leaps and bounds, thanks to full backing by senior officers of the Artillery Centre, Golconda.
To name a few, Brig. Rohit Kalia, Major Utpal More, former Secretary, Major Mayank Kulshreshta, the current team comprising President, Commandant Brig. Prakash S. Nair, its Vice President, Col. Mohan Babu and Secretary, Major K. Sagar Panigrahy, a Marine Commando (MARCOS), have done yeoman service for the cause.
If achievement is the yardstick for the success of a scheme, its sportsmen have brought the AWSA a whopping 120 national and 20 international medals in its eight-year existence, which could well be the envy of other such projects.
It has also become home for sporting titans such as Arjuna Awardee Satish Joshi and Olympian Manjit Singh besides other stalwarts.
Besides the AWSA's active involvement in the Save the Lake (Hussain Sagar) movement, it has embarked on a programme that has thrown open its doors to all enthusiasts, which will include an introduction to sailing, rowing, kayaking and canoeing, basics in water sports, fun and adventure sailing and advanced training for those aspiring for medals at the state, national and international levels.
Applications are invited especially from students and ex-servicemen for sailing and life memberships. More details may be obtained from Major K.S. Panigrahy at kspanigrahy@yahoo.com or on 9391621916.
“An afternoon of water sports can not only help one unwind but could do wonders for the heart as well,” says Col. Mohan Babu.
Major Panigrahy is indebted to C.P. Singh Deo, President, Rowing Federation of India, M.J. Akbar, Special Officer on Duty with the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority's Budhapurnima Project, M.K. Meena, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh and A.K. Parida, Principal Secretary, Sports and Youth Affairs.
At the AWSA, the endeavours are constant, the day starting at 4.30 A.M., the primary aim being today's performance must outshine yesterday's.
The enthusiasm shown for cleaning the area on an off-day must be seen to be believed. To the AWSA's sportsmen, the Husain Sagar is the playground and its water, their very life!
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Liu Xiang confident in Asian Games

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Liu Xiang confident in Asian Games
Chinese star Liu Xiang believes that he can win the gold medal in the men's 110m hurdles in the upcoming Guangzhou Asian Games.
The former world and Olympic champion, who has been slowed down by injuries in recent years, said he is fit to compete in the quadrennial multi-sport meet.
"It should not be a problem. My condition is pretty good," the 27-year-old said.
Liu also dismissed speculations that he will hang up his running shoes after the Guangzhou Asiad.
"The Asian Games is a preparation for all the competitions next year and the year after," he said.
Liu last competed in this year's IAAF Diamond League in Shanghai where he finished third behind American David Oliver and compatriot Shi Dongpeng. Shi has since moved up in rankings and is expected to give Liu a stiff challenge in Guangzhou.
Liu rose to fame at the 2004 Athens Olympics when he won the 110m hurdles to become the first Chinese man to win an Olympic gold medal in athletics. He became one of the biggest heroes in China after his historic feat.
Liu won a silver medal in the world championships the following year in Helsinki, barely losing to Frenchman Ladji Doucoure. But Liu made up for his loss to finally win a world title two years later in Osaka. He also won the world indoor title in the 60m in 2008. Liu's victory in Osaka made him the first Chinese athlete to claim the so-called triple crown of athletics.
Liu's fortunes, however, changed when he sustained an Achilles tendon injury. The injury forced him to withdraw from the 2008 Beijing Olympics, breaking the hearts of millions of Chinese fans.
Liu made a comeback last year and is slowly regaining his old form. He won gold medals in his pet event in last year's Asian Championships and East Asian Games.
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Asian Games 2010: 30 Days Remaining

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Departure Lobby of Guangzhou Baiyun Internatio...Image via Wikipedia

By Agencies
Guangzhou: China: The 16th Asian Games has 30 days remaining before the Opening Ceremonies of the Games on Friday, November 12. The Asian Games 2010 are the part of the worldwide Olympic movement and governed by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA)
The Asian Games are the second largest sports event in the world after the Summer Olympic Games.
Games organizers and civic officials are in the final preparation work for the Games with all final construction within the city, including all final beautification projects, must be completed by November 1.
More than 80 percent of the stadiums used for training and competition during the Games will be connected by subway trains.
This includes an all-new subway line from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport – some 35 kilometers from downtown Guangzhou – linking the city of 10 million residents with the airport which has doubled in size in anticipation of the Games and future growth of the Pearl River Delta.
The Asian Games Torch Relay has started from its lighting last week at the Great Wall from Beijing to 21 cities in Guangdong Province.
It will also travel to Harbin in Heilongjiang, Changchun in Jilin and Haiyang in Shandong.
More than 2,000 torch bearers ranging from 6 to 100 years old will participate in the one-month relay.
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Asian Games: Guangzhou all ready to go

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Thrilling Games Harmonious AsiaImage by xiaming via Flickr
GUANGZHOU: After seven years of painstaking preparations, Guangzhou -- the southern city at the heart of China's economic miracle -- has reinvented itself and is ready for next month's Asian Games. Organisers say they hope the 2010 Asiad -- the world's second-largest sporting event after the Olympics -- will help the booming metropolis once known as Canton to join the ranks of the world's elite cities.

"After the Asian Games, Guangzhou will not only be known for business and trade, but also sport and lifestyle," the vice secretary general of the Guangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee, Gu Shiyang, said.

"Guangzhou will not only be known as an important city in China, but also in Asia and the world."

Nearly 12,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions will compete for 476 sports titles at the Games in Guangzhou, which sits in the Pearl River Delta, the hub of China's huge export-oriented "workshop of the world".

Just as Beijing did before the 2008 Olympics, Guangzhou has poured billions of dollars into infrastructure projects before the Asiad -- a new rail station, a gleaming trade centre, subway lines, housing projects, highways and bridges.

The opening ceremony of the Nov 12-27 showpiece will be held in a new amphitheatre built on an island in the Pearl River and nestled beneath the towering skyscrapers of the newly renovated waterfront business district.

Construction on 58 renovated sporting venues and 12 brand-new facilities were finished by the end of September, when crews moved in and began testing equipment and going through Games rehearsals, Gu Shiyang said.

Four years after Doha staged what was widely seen as the best Asian Games ever, Gu Shiyang said his city is hoping to outdo the Qatari capital in an effort to one day see Guangzhou hosting an Olympic Games.

But as Delhi found out to its embarrassment as it frantically battled to be ready for the ongoing Commonwealth Games, holding a major multi-sports event is a huge undertaking.

And while there has been none of the chaos of the Delhi preparations, not all has gone smoothly in the run-up in Guangzhou, a city of more than 10 million located about 140 kilometres (85 miles) northwest of Hong Kong.

Officials admit preparations have been fraught with snags, including massive traffic jams during construction and the eviction of numerous unhappy residents to make room for new building projects.

"In the course of construction, of course there was a series of problems," Pan Guolong, an official in charge of venue construction, said.

"During the process, we went through some difficulties and inconveniences, but we have made a better city for the people. Now, most of the people are supportive."

Down the road from the new amphitheatre, where dilapidated housing blocks are still being prepared for demolition, police prevented journalists from interviewing evictees.

"Of course, no one likes to be forcibly evicted from their homes," Wang Yunxiang, a taxi driver, said as he passed by rows of trucks moving people out.

"But the government says this is progress. No one can oppose the government."

At the Capital Centre, a towering luxury apartment complex which overlooks the amphitheatre, residents will be kicked out of their flats during the opening ceremony due to security concerns.

"Some high-level officials will be attending the opening ceremony, so buildings within 500 metres of the amphitheatre will be evacuated," said a building estate agent who identified herself only by her surname Lin.

"You foreigners don't understand -- this is the Chinese way, what the government says goes."

On Nov 1, the city will start evicting beggars from the streets, while anyone hoping to buy a kitchen knife or other large cutting tools will have to visit designated shops and show identification, according to state media.

"Security is our top concern and our top responsibility for the success of the Games," Gu said.

"We are fully aware of the threats from outside the country and also the risks within the city or within the territory. We have made great efforts to make our city safe, to make our Games safe."

To relieve the city's notorious traffic congestion, restrictions will be implemented from Nov 1 to get half of the nearly two million registered vehicles off the roads during the Games, officials said.

The government is also seeking to ensure that stands will be full of spectators -- tickets are being given away to students, enterprises and government institutions.-- AFP


/AsianGames_Guangzhouallreadytogo/Article/#ixzz12J0csPrr
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Asian Games a win-win benefit

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 Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs Raymond Young Win-win benefit: Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs Raymond Young says a Hong Kong bid to host the 2023 Asian Games will not hinder Government spending on social issues.

A Hong Kong bid to host the 2023 Asian Games will not hinder Government spending on social issues, Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs Raymond Young says.

In a recent interview with news.gov.hk, Mr Young said hosting major events can boost Hong Kong's international profile, and he urged people to consider the city's potential bid for the games from a long-term perspective.

With many other cities in the region competing for international exposure, Hong Kong has a unique opportunity to boost its presence by hosting the games, which will bring long-term benefits, he said.

"This is a very small place and people will very easily forget about us. So we have to, from time to time, organise major international events to keep people's interest in Hong Kong."

Sharing his experience in organising the 2005 World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference in his capacity as the Director-General of Trade & Industry, Mr Young said the Government faced strong public opposition and criticism at the time.

"We successfully managed to organise such an event in 2005 and we won a lot of favourable comments from around the world that really raised Hong Kong's profile."

Balanced development In response to criticism against the proposed bid, Mr Young said people should have a more long-term view of Hong Kong's development.

"Of course we are facing a lot of social issues where we could actually do with much more resources. But I do not think it is a zero-sum game. While we pay attention to social problems, we also need balanced development in Hong Kong. We also need to ensure our citizens' good health and the long-term development of sport.

"I think we should focus on whether the issue itself deserves our support, and as we have mentioned in the consultation document, organising such an event will bring a lot of benefits."

Hosting the games will result in the earlier completion of a host of sporting facilities and venues which will become a lasting legacy for our community, he said.

These facilities, which will be built to international standards, will benefit a lot of Hong Kong people - both residents and athletes. They will also attract more international sporting events to the city.

The games will benefit sports development, especially for elite athletes, giving them precious opportunities to showcase their talent.

Mr Young believed hosting the games will help promote a sports culture in the city.

"If we actually succeed in getting the bid, the entire community's interest in sport will be drummed up tremendously."

Sports policy
Refuting criticism the Government does not have a long-term sports policy, he reiterated its long-term objectives to develop and promote sports.

These objectives are to:
* encourage the general public to take part in sports;
* nurture elite athletes; and,
* position Hong Kong as a regional centre for international sports events.

Mr Young said the Leisure & Cultural Services Department organised more than 30,000 community sports activities last year, attracting 2 million people. The Government also subsidises "national sports associations" and launches sports training programmes in schools.
The Hong Kong Sports Institute gets $160 million each year from the Government to train 900 elite athletes, seeing more outstanding sports results. As at June, 32 athletes from seven sports had attained top-20 world rankings, with 29 athletes in six sports ranked among the top 10 in Asia.

To nurture more sustainable major sports events, the Government has launched the "M" Mark System and Support Package in which "M" Mark status will be awarded to the recognised major sports events held in Hong Kong, and a package of tailor-made support measures will be provided.

"Bidding for the 2023 Asian Games is in line with our long-term sport policy and we believe we should grasp this opportunity.
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orch relay for the 16th Asian Games -photos

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The first torchbearer Yang Wei(Center L) runs with the torch during the torch relay for the 16th Asian Games in Zhongshan, south China's Guangdong Province, Oct. 13, 2010. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)


The first torchbearer Yang Wei runs with the torch during the torch relay for the 16th Asian Games in Zhongshan, south China's Guangdong Province, Oct. 13, 2010. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)


Torchbearer Feng Kun runs with the torch during the torch relay for the 16th Asian Games in Zhongshan, south China's Guangdong Province, Oct. 13, 2010. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)


Torchbearer Kenneth Fok from China's Hong Kong runs with the torch during the torch relay for the 16th Asian Games in Zhongshan, south China's Guangdong Province, Oct. 13, 2010. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)


Torchbearer Ku Kui Kei from China's Hong Kong runs with the torch during the torch relay for the 16th Asian Games in Zhongshan, south China's Guangdong Province, Oct. 13, 2010. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

The first torchbearer Yang Wei(Center L) runs with the torch during the torch relay for the 16th Asian Games in Zhongshan, south China's Guangdong Province, Oct. 13, 2010.
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Asian Games torch relay launched in Beijing

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The Guangzhou Asian Games torch relay was launched in Beijing with President Hu Jintao kicking off a nationwide trek that ends in Guangzhou for the start the event. Hu handed off the game torch to Zhang Lin a silver medalist of the Beijing Olympic games during a ceremony outside the Temple of Heaven.
Lin is the first of 2,010 torchbearers, the relay is an important part of the Asian games since it help build up the spirit and the message of peace and friendship in Asia and to other parts of the world. 12,000 athletes form 45 countries will be competing for 476 sport titles on November 12 to 27 in Guangzhou , a city which sits in the Pearl River Delta.
The 2010 Asian games organizers hopes that this sporting event will help the booming metropolis in joining the ranks to the world elite cities. The torch relay will be covering Beijing, Harbin, and 21 other cities in Guangdong before reaching the opening ceremony in Guangzhou.
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Asian Games Town Gymnasium

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&$Asian Games Town Gymnasium(Source: Yuan Hongwei/People's Daily Onlie)&$
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Unique design(Source: Yuan Hongwei/People's Daily Online)
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Asian Games Avatar Series for UC Browser

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Asian Games this year will be held in Guangzhao, China. Largest sporting events in Asia will unite various country of Asia. This Asian games also has inspired a browser that is coming from china to design images with a typical asian games avatar uc browser.
Here are the various avatars that you can get.



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NCFP reinstates GM Antonio for Asian Games

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Grandmaster Rogelio Antonio will join the Philippine chess team to the Guangzhou Asian Games after all.

Antonio was suspended by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines for skipping the 6th Pichay Cup and the 1st Florencio Campomanes Memorial Cup. Because of the suspension, the veteran woodpusher also missed the recent World Chess Olympiad where he was expected to play a key role for the national squad.

Without Antonio, the team failed to achieve its target of at least a top 20 finish in Khanty-Mansiyk Russia as the 37th-seed RP team fell to 50th spot.

But Antonio made his presence felt in a strong tournament in Tuguegarao, an event which he ruled over the weekend. His impressive showing earned him back a spot in the RP team to the quadrennial meet slated next month.

Antonio’s reinstatement was formalized after NCFP president Prospero Pichay informed Asian Games Chief of Mission Joey Romasanta Wednesday of the federation’s decision to put back the country’s second-ranked ranked chess player to the squad bound to compete in China.

Antonio will take the spot of International Master Richard Bitoon.

“Joey has proven that he still is one of our best players and he also apologized to our president and promised that he will follow all the rules and regulations set by the NCFP," said NCFP executive director Willie Abalos.

Antonio will retain his board two status.GM Wesley So will be the team’s board one, GM John Paul Gomez will play in board three and GM Darwin Laylo will be responsible in board 4.

Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre will be the team’s alternate.
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It will be an uphill task for India at the Asian Games

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John Thomas Sarsfield StopfordImage via Wikipedia
The accomplishment and euphoria following India's grand show in the archery event of the Commonwealth Games, especially in the recurve section, will matter little when the Asian Games come around at Guangzhou in a month's time.
The three gold, one silver and four bronze medals, out of which the silver and a bronze were earned from the compound section, do not ensure India's success in China by any stretch of the imagination.
The trio which represented India in recurve at the New Delhi Games will remain the same but will be bolstered by the fourth member, Mangal Singh Champia in the men's and Rimil Buruily in the distaff section.
Out of 141 archers from 24 countries and territories that participated here, only seven were considered worth following including the host. In fact, only Australia, England, Canada and Malaysia, apart from the host, were of some class in the recurve segment.
The Asian Games, however, will be a different kind of competition in archery. The quadrennial showpiece will be just behind the World championship and Olympic Games in terms of standards.

AAI optimistic

“We are expecting at least three medals from the Asian Games,” said Archery Association of India (AAI) Secretary-General Paresh Nath Mukherjee. “I cannot predict the colour of the medals though. Indian archers have really done well at the Commonwealth Games and we only need to carry the confidence to the Asian Games.”
Among the Indians who performed at the Commonwealth Games, Jayanta Talukdar was the highest ranked in the world at No. 5 followed by Simon Terry at No. 8 and Crispin Duenas of Canada at 11. Rahul Banerjee was 15th and Malaysia's Cheng Chu Sian was 19th. Similarly, on the women's side, Deepika Kumar of India was ranked No. 4 followed by Dola Banerjee at No. 10. In the top 20 there was no Australian, Englishwoman or a Canadian.
In the men's team, India is ranked No. 1 and the next best was England at 8th. Australia, which won gold, was placed 15th, Malaysia at 17 and Canada at 18. In the women's section, India was sixth, England 16th, Malaysia was 21st and Canada 26th.
When it comes to the Asian Games, Koreans who dominate world archery will be in full strength. Former World champion Im Dong Hyun and Joo Hyun-Jung lead the No. 1 status in individual world ranking. Korea is the No.1 team in the women's sections. China and Japan follow Korea in top five finishes. The Indian women's team is placed sixth.
In this background, India can at best expect the men's team, Talukdar and Deepika Kumari to be among the medals.
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Guangdong orders hunting ban

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National emblem of the People's Republic of ChinaImage via Wikipedia
By Deng Jingyin
During the Asian Games in Guangdong Province next month, one sport will be prohibited: the hunting of civet cats and other wild animals.
Authorities will implement a ban during the games to improve the image of the province, which is busy preparing for the opening ceremony on November 12.
The Guangdong Provincial Forestry Bureau issued a notice Tuesday saying that 14 departments are working together to prohibit the hunting of wild animals in the province from October 1 to December 31.
The ban will fulfill its international conventions during the Asian Games.
According to the regulations, authorities will inspect nature conservation areas, wild life sanctuaries, areas where hunting is banned, major wildlife habitats and breeding grounds in Guangdong.
They will focus on the western and eastern coastal areas to provide a safe environment for wild animals.
"November is a month that focuses on the protection of wildlife and the theme of 2010 is protecting wildlife to welcome the Asian Games, so we will carry out a series of activities to protect our wild animals," a Guangdong Provincial Forestry Bureau worker told the Global Times Wednesday.
Furthermore, they will remove illegal traps such as bird clips and bird nets. Related departments will investigate the trafficking, trading and use of wild animals.
"It's a good move to impose a ban on wild animal hunting, but why just ban it during the Asian Games? Is it just a show for the world? I suggest we make laws and rules on wild animal hunting in China," Long Zhendong, a Guangzhou resident, told the Global Times Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Yang Shu'an, deputy head of the General Administration of Sport and the games' organizing committee's vice president, said preparation for the games will be completed soon.
Test runs of all 53 competition venues will be held simultaneously on October 16, 23 and 29, which will mark the completion of the preparation work, Yang said.
All the competition and 17 training venues have passed functionality tests. Athletes will be able to train in the venues from November 5, Yang said, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
A total of 10,156 athletes from 45 Asian countries and regions will compete in 476 events in 42 sports.
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MAAU take chance on Yuvaraaj to shine in Guangzhou

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Olympic Council of MalaysiaImage via Wikipedia
KUALA LUMPUR: National 400m runner P. Yuvaraaj did not qualify on merit for the Asian Games but he will get to compete in Guangzhou as a Category B athlete in the Malaysian contingent.
National chief coach Harun Rasheed said that the Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU) were willing to bear the expenses for Yuvaraaj’s participation in the Games because of his potential to become a good athlete in the event.
The MAAU will get a reimbursement for the expenses from the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) if the 21-year-old Kedahan, who is training in Jamaica under former world 400m champion Bert Cameron since August, win a medal in Guangzhou.
“He showed progress in local competitions since last year and has a personal best of 47.24. And with the three months of high level of training and competitions in Jamaica, I believe he has the chance to clock a good time in Guangzhou,” said Harun, who expects Yuvaraaj to dip below 47 seconds.
Yuvaraaj was to compete in the Delhi Commonwealth Games but he withdrew to concentrate on his preparations for the Asiad.
With the inclusion of Yuvaraaj, Malaysia will have a seven-member athletics team for the Asiad.
The others have qualified on merit. They are high jumper Lee Hup Wei, pole vaulter Roslinda Samsu and the women’s 4x100m team comprising Norjannah Hafiszah Jamaluddin, Siti Sarah Abdul Kadir, Yee Yi Ling and Siti Zubaidah Adabi.
Harun added that all the athletes except for Yuvaraaj, would compete in the national championships at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Oct 30 and 31.
“This will be their last competition before they leave for Guangzhou on Nov 17,” said Harun.
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Asian Games torch relay begins in Beijing

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Chinese President Hu Jintao launched the Asian Games torch relay in central Beijing on Wednesday, kicking off a 21-city nationwide trek that will end in Guangzhou for the start of the event on 12th November.
Hu handed the Games flame to the first of 2,010 torch bearers at an elaborate and colourful ceremony outside the Temple of Heaven in the capital.

"The torch relay is an important part of the build-up to the Games which spreads the Olympic spirit as well as the message of peace and friendship to Asia and even the world," the Games organising committee said in a statement.

Nearly 12,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions will compete for 476 sports titles at the 12th -27th November Games in Guangzhou, which sits in the Pearl River Delta, the hub of China's huge export-oriented "workshop of the world".

Organisers say they hope the 2010 Asiad -- the world's second-largest sporting event after the Olympics -- will help the booming southern metropolis once known as Canton to join the ranks of the world's elite cities.

The Asiad torch relay will be only held in China and will not be extended to other nations in Asia, organisers announced earlier.

The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay was riddled with controversy after anti-China protests erupted in Europe and the United States during the international legs of the event.

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Competition schedule confirmed, more than 10000 athletes to attend

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XVI Asian GamesImage via Wikipedia
GUANGZHOU, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- The schedule of the Guangzhou Asian Games has been finally determined and confirmed by Olympic Council of Asia and technical representatives, a top official of the Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Commitee (GAGOC) said on Wednesday.
Data shows that GAGOC has received sports entry forms from 45 countries and regions in Asia, including 10,156 for athletes, 4202 team officials.
Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games will feature a record 476 disciplines and events from 42 sports.

Editor: Fang Yang
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