Hockey: National Game on Death Row

Gen VK Singh launches Col Balbir’s autobiography. Tuesday, 29 May 2012 13:51
New Delhi: Indian Army Chief General V K Singh, on Monday launched the autobiography of 1968 Mexico Olympic medallist, Col. (Retd) Balbir Singh Kular in the city. Christened as ‘Sansarpur to London Olympics’, by 1968 Mexico Olympic medallist and current national selector Col. (Retd) Balbir Singh Kular becomes, first book to be available for both computer and mobile downloads.
Published by Indian Sports Books and by using the technological brilliance of handygo Techcnologies, this book attempts to reach out to Indian hockey fans world across through online and digital formats as well.
“Sansarpur to London Olympics”, co-authored by sports film maker Sunil Yash Kalra, is a unique book of personal memoir, with interesting compilation of stories, funny anecdotes, sensational revelations and heart-warming vignettes of his life in the Army and as a hockey player and coach. The book is a treasure-trove of rare photographs, some of which date back to the days of the ‘Wizard of Hockey’, Maj Dhyan Chand. In places it reads like a thriller, at others like an intimate autobiography. All in all a thunderously good read, almost unputdownable!
1968 Olympic medalist, Col Balbir Singh Kular hails from Sansarpur, a village in Punjab that has produced 14 Olympic medallists since 1932 US Olympics. Right from an early age, Col Balbir Singh was obviously marked for greatness; his upbringing at Sansarpur – the matrix of Indian hockey in the halcyon days of global supremacy – aided by his inimitable genes, burning desire to emulate his forefathers, and his induction into the Indian Army all combined to catapult him to stardom.
Gen VK Singh launches Col Balbir’s autobiography

The best opening ceremony in sport ever!

If the CWG opening ceremony in Delhi stunned the world last month, the Chinese took the concept of ceremonies to an altogether new level with a display that not only left the world speechless but even breathless. The Asian Games Opening Ceremony was truly the most wonderful ever on earth.

Guangzhou: Two years after the spectacular success of the Beijing Olympics, China dazzled the world once again by unveiling the 16th Asian Games with a spell-binding opening ceremony in which water was the overwhelming theme and athletes were ushered in a unique boat parade on Pearl River.

The theme was water and the main part of the ceremony was held at Hai Xinsha, an island located on China's third longest river, which is the life-giver to the southern part of the world's most populous nation.

The four-and-a-half-hour ceremony started with trademark fireworks and the 37,000 capacity crowd was up on its feet when 1320 artists from the city's oldest kung fu school descended with giant LED screens in the backdrop.

The mesmerisingly choreographed act had the artists performing breathtaking acrobatics while being several feet above the ground. The LED screens flashed the cityscapes and the artists formed formations to look like eagles flying through the sky.
click here for full report
The 16th Asian Games sets sail on Pearl River: The Official Website of the 16th Asian Games

Indian Soldier is the biggest winner for the Country

The Indian soldier is the biggest winner for the country in the Commonwealth Games
Soldier firepower at Games
OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
New Delhi, Oct 11: The Indian soldier is the biggest winner for the country in the Commonwealth Games.

Indian Army soldiers and Indian Navy sailors have won 23 medals between them so far. They are all havildars, subedars, petty officers and cadets — called PBOR for “Personnel Below Officer Rank”. None of the medal winners is a commissioned officer.

Rajyavardhan Rathore, who had brought laurels for the country in shooting, is a colonel in the army. He has not qualified to be part of the Indian shooting contingent in the CWG this time.

Staff of the Indian Railways has also won 17 medals between them in the CWG.

Chief petty officer Omkar Singh of the navy has won three golds and a silver in different categories of air pistol shooting. Subedar Vijay Kumar has won three golds and a silver in different categories of rifle shooting.

The soldiers and sailors have won medals in five disciplines: shooting, weightlifting, wrestling, archery and athletics (20km walk).

A total of 41 soldiers are part of the 600-plus strong Indian contingent at the CWG. The army began a “Mission Olympics” programme in 2001 aiming at podium finish at the world-level in select disciplines.

If soldiers must necessarily be good marksmen, India’s armed forces have reason to be proud. In shooting alone, the soldiers and sailors have won 15 medals — 11 golds, two silvers and two bronze.

K. Ravi Kumar, Sukhan Dey and V.S. Rao — all havildars in the army — have won three medals in weightlifting. Master chief petty officer-II Sudhir Kumar of the navy took the bronze in 77kg weightlifting.

The sportsmen were trained in the Army Sports Institute, Pune, and the Army Marksmen Unit in Mhow.

Even off the field, the armed forces are being applauded for their contribution to the CWG. Army engineers put up a foot overbridge in four days after the one built by a Chandigarh-based company collapsed, injuring 23 workmen 12 days before the Games were to begin. The bridge is connected to the main venue in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Soldier firepower at Games

Defence Minister Announces Cash Bonanza for Services Sportspersons

The Defence Minister, Shri A. K. Antony felicitated the Armed Forces sportspersons who won Medals at the Commonwealth Games 2010, at a function, in New Delhi on October 15, 2010. The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. M.M. Pallam Raju, the Defence Secretary, Shri Pradeep Kumar, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik and the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. V.K. Singh are also seen.
Photo no.CNR - 34051

18:54 IST Friday, October 15, 2010
The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony has announced a cash bonanza for Armed Forces Sportsmen who excelled in the 19th Commonwealth Games (CWG) that concluded yesterday. Felicitating 19 Armed Forces Sportsmen at a function here today, Shri Antony declared a cash award of Rupees 12 lakhs each to the Gold Medal winning Services Sportspersons, seven lakhs for those who won Silver and five lakhs to the Bronze Medal winners.

The Armed Forces Sportsmen have won 25 Medals out of India’s total tally of 101. Out of the 25 Medals the Services Sportspersons have won, as many as 10 are Gold, seven Silver and eight Bronze. They make up more than 25 percent of India’s overall tally and represent 30 percent of the Medals claimed by the Men in India’s tally. There were 50 Sportspersons drawn from the three Services representing India, who competed in 10 Games events.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Antony commended the contribution of the Armed Forces in making the Commonwealth Games a success. Besides participating in the competitions, the Services were involved in the day-to-day management of the Queen’s Baton Relay during its over 100-day journey across the country, Armed Forces Bands participating in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Flag Hoisting during the Medals presentations and in the erection of the Bailey Bridge at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium complex at the eleventh hour.

Shri Antony lauded the Armed Forces for having organised the 4th Military World Games (MWG) at Hyderabad in 2007 at a cost of Rupees 50 crores, a fraction of the whopping budget of the CWG Games. He hoped that the Indian Armed Forces Sportspersons would bring glory to the nation at the 5th MWG to be held in Brazil in July next year.

The Minister of State for Defence Shri MM Pallam Raju, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal PV Naik and Chief of Army Staff Gen VK Singh were present at the function. PK/SR
Defence Minister Announces Cash Bonanza for Services Sportspersons
Army sportspersons do India proud by Prabhjot Singh Tribune News Service

India creates history in athletics, Gold after 52 yrs

India created history by breaking the 52-year-old Commonwealth Games gold medal jinx with Krishna Poonia winning the yellow metal in women's discus throw to become the first woman from the country to win a Commowealth Games gold in New Delhi on Monday.

India swept the event with Harwant Kaur and national record holder Seema Antil also winning the silver and bronze respectively.

Poonia's gold, which she won by throwing the discus to 61.51m, was the first gold after 'Flying Sikh' Milkha Singh's 440 yard race gold in the 1958 edition of the Games in Cardiff, Wales.

Harwant came up with an effort of 60.61m, a tad below her season's best of 60.66m, while national record holder Seema Antil threw the discus to a distance of 58.46m. (BJ-12/10)
India creates history in athletics, Gold after 52 yrs

Scripting the amazing Milkha Singh story

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra is working on one of his most ambitious projects 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' and says he wants to break linguistic barriers with the film on the greatest Indian athlete Milkha Singh so that the whole world will know his story.

"I want Milkha's story told in Hindi-Punjabi, to be dubbed in French, Polish, etc. This would be my most ambitious project striving to break linguistic barriers. Milkha's story has a universal resonance. It's an Indian story but very universal. We want Milkha Singh's story to go out to the world," Director Mehra told us in an interview.

"The theme is - 'zindagi se bhago nahin, zindagi ke saath bhago' (don't run away from life, run with life). It's very relevant to today's life."

Mehra says he hasn't finalised any actor to play the role of the legendary runner who made history by coming fourth in the Rome Olympic Games in 1960.
Excerpts from an interview: Click here

Military Skill Sets in great demand

Why Ex- Servicemen?
Candidates who have a military background possess outstanding skill sets and a strong work ethic and generally in the age goup 38 to 55.

Why employ Ex- Servicemen?
They have great leadership ability, initiative, and self-discipline. ESM have received an excellent education and have been well trained. They are prime candidates for positions requiring security clearances and are highly diverse with regard to region, religion and ethnicity.

Character
To enter the military, an individual must have at least a high school education or an equivalent, an indicator of self-discipline. The individual also must pass a screening for negative behavior such as drug or alcohol abuse and criminal activity. Once in the military, the individual must complete a highly demanding initial phase of training. Advanced training develops teamwork and initiative. As a result of all these factors, military veterans possess character traits that help make them outstanding civilian employees.

Skills
Military skill sets of the active duty component range from "Construction" and "Engineering, Science, and Technical" to "Transportation and Material Handling", "Vehicle Machinery Mechanic" and "Communication, Radio Systems and Network Engineering."

Typical Trade Structure: Corps of Signals
Supervisory Roles
Foreman of Signals (FoS)
Supervisor Radio
Supervisor Information Systems
Yeoman of Signals (YoS)

Trades
Technician Electronics and Systems
Technician Electronics and Radio
Operator Communication Console
EW systems operator
Area Systems Operator
Information Systems Engineer
Installation Technician
Systems Engineer Technician
Driver Lineman
Technical Supply Specialist
Radio Systems Operator
Specialist Operator
Signals Electrician

If military life is almost behind you, it is most certainly not forgotten. You possess a unique skill set that only a small portion of the workforce shares with you. Many of the non- veteran careerists out there have grown accustomed to a routine, become comfortable, have stopped learning and therefore overlook the wealth of skills that have been accumulated over the years. This may be your most valuable asset, as no one can devalue the skills and experience you possess. The golden opportunities in the civil world is abundant...one needs the drive to find the right job that suits your passion.

Statistics
Percent of the population that are Ex- Servicemen: 24/130= 0.18%
Percentage annual increase of ESM : 60/25= 2.4%
Percentage of employed Ex- Servicemen in relation to total population= 0.02 (approx)
Percentage of employed Ex- Servicemen in relation to total population of Ex- Servicemen= 10% (approx)

How to Be a Veteran Leader

Want to know how to be an awesome Ex Servicemen leader that people can look up to? Here's your chance to find out. Our Retiring Jawans need more attention in civilian life. Who better qualifies to lead them?

1. Be very dedicated to what you are doing. Being a leader is a lot of responsibility and hard work, and you have to be up to it. Truly understand the field in which you are leading and be willing to spend a lot of time with whoever you're working with.
2. Help out others as much as you can. Spend quality time with those that need you.
3. Know right from wrong. Be cooperative as much as you can but also realize when you need to be assertive. Let people know when they are doing something that is not right.
4. Lead from the front. Put yourself on the front lines with your people, instead of trying to lead by just barking orders.
5. Be a good role model. Support those you are working with and do all you can to show everyone the strength of your team/ group.
6. Have confidence and be positive. A good leader never lets their team down. The meaning of the word team is "Together Everyone Achieves More". Work with everyone you can and have a good attitude.

Tips
Give everything all you've got. Just remember that people are relying on you.
Encourage those who follow you and build alliances.
Your example will set the tone. If you are patient and optimistic, ESM will learn to follow your example.

Warnings
Don't get too carried away. Being a leader doesn't mean you need to be cracking a whip over others constantly.
Don't be overly critical, but constructive.