XXIX Olympaid Host China wins gold medal race

BEIJING (AP) — China proved an acquisitive first-time Olympic host, topping the gold-medal chart with one of the most dominating and diverse performances ever. The United States, Britain and an array of small nations also had reasons to celebrate.

China's haul of 51 gold medals was the largest since the Soviet Union won 55 in Seoul in 1988. Fielding athletes groomed since childhood in sports academies, it won medals in 25 different sports, including its first ever in sailing, beach volleyball and field hockey.

Not since 1936, when Nazi Germany prevailed at the Berlin Olympics, had a country other than the USA or the Soviet Union/ Russia led the gold medal list.

The United States trailed well behind the Chinese in golds with 36, the first time since 1992 it didn't lead the category. But the Americans did break their own mark for total medals in a non- boycotted Olympics; they won 110 in all, two more than their previous high set in 1992 and 10 ahead of China's overall tally this year.

Welcome to Commonwealth Games 2010 web site. It's just about time that you get informed about Commonwealth Games 2010 that is to be held in India. Information that will make you a part of the international event the whole world is waiting for. The event that involves the elite of the athletes and the best of the nations. The 2010 Games also presents an opportunity for India to showcase itself as a sporting and cultural nation and economic power.
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2010 New Delhi: CWG
2010- Commonwealth Games

Abhinav Bindra Wins Gold For India: Video

Bindra makes Indian Sports History
********मेरा भारत महान************
क्या बात हे। बोहुत बादिया।

Dear Friends,
A great deal has been written and said about Abhinav's father, Dr AS Bindra, since yesterday. I thought some mention should have also been made of Dr Bindra's father; the late, Col Bir Singh. This is intended to fill that gap.
Col Bir Singh was in the ASC Center (North) at Meerut Cantt during 1962-65. Many of his close relatives were in the army. Col Bir Singh's daughter, Dolly, is married to Brig (Retd) GS Lamba (16th NDA, Engineers).
But, like most other pragmatic 'faujis' of the yesteryear, the family drifted out of military service, and in the current generation not even one of their kinsfolk has looked towards the Service Academies as a career option. However, the link with shooting seems to show out still!
Regards,
Maj Gen Surjit Singh (Retd)

India Strikes Gold at Beijing

Abhinav Bindra won India's first individual Olympic gold medal on Monday with a thrilling come-from-behind victory in the men's 10m air rifle. Bindra had been fourth after qualifying but had a brilliant final round and the Indian, the epitome of tranquillity, hit a near perfect 10.8 on his last shot to pull in front of Henri Hakkinen of Finland, who fell to bronze with a poor final shot.

That late stumble by the Finn allowed China's Zhu Qinan, the defending Olympic champion and heavy favourite, to salvage a bitter day with silver. Zhu sobbed uncontrollably on the podium and again at a news conference.

"I can't describe how happy I am," the ever-calm Bindra told journalists. "It's the thrill of my life. That's about it. It's hard to describe. I just went for it. I knew I was lying in fourth. Thankfully it went my way and I just went for it."

Bindra, who faced criticism for failing to deliver on the great promise he showed as a child, said he was not thinking about making history in India with a first individual gold medal. In fact, he said, he was "not thinking about anything".

"I was just trying to concentrate on shooting," he said. "I wasn't thinking of making history. I was two points behind the leaders. I was just trying to shoot good shots. I wanted to shoot well and shoot aggressively. And that's what I did."

His 10.8 of a possible 10.9 on his final shot sparked loud celebrations from group of fans from India. Hakkinen, who was even with Bindra before his mere 9.7 on his last shot, said that crucial shot felt like the nine before it. "It just wasn't my turn," he said. "It shows that shooting is a sport from the first to the final shot. Every one counts."

Randhir Singh, Indian Olympic Association secretary-general and former shooter who was present at the range, was stricken by nerves as the competition reached its climax. "I haven't prayed so much in my life. With the second last shot they tied together and then he (Bindra) shot a 10.8. It couldn't have got better," he told Indian television.

Bindra won the 2006 world championships and finished seventh in Athens four years ago.
Bindra shoots India to first gold
The Blog Team, all Veterans and readers extend our hearty congratulations to Abhinav Bindra.

The great indian hope trick

Victorious Hockey Team: Berlin 1936
Here's the billion rupee question to ask before you settle in front of your TV sets later today to watch the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics: will India defend its record of sending the largest Olympic contingent only to fetch the least number of medals? The answer - unless, of course, you're the sort who believes everything in this world to be maya - is a pretty resounding yes. But even if it's in hushed tones, India does have medal hopes in its star-studded shooting squad and some skillful archers and boxers.

China owes its sports superpower status to a decades-long policy aimed at gaining supremacy in world sport. While Indians half-heartedly try to clip seconds, the Chinese cut whole minutes.

To change the face of Indian sport, we must first change our mindset. Infusion of new ideas, and hiring top notch planners and coaches are crucial - as is, of course, respect for our sporting heroes long after they have hung up their spikes.

The upside: we have nothing to lose but Olympic shame. The Sports Authority of India is part of the great Indian rope trick!
The great indian hope trick

Defence Forces: From times immemorial, the soldier has always reveled in sporting activities. With the evolution of the modern army fame in the area of sports field brought prestige to the Armed Forces. In the last three decades, one has seen a steady decline in standards. The unit level sports and games has steadily taken a back seat. The reason is not difficult to fathom: The Generals and Commanders show least interest and have no time to encourage sports and games, as most of their energies are directed towards their own career profiling and enhancing their promotional avenues.

Latest Beijing 2008 Olympics NewsFind out the latest syndicated news from The Beijing 2008 Olympics. Follow the preparations and build up to the Beijing Olympics then the breaking news and results from the Games themselves. Current feeds include the BBC, ESPN and CBC (Canadian) Olympic News, plus the latest releases from the US, British and Australian Olympic Teams.

Beijing Olympics 2008

India decades of Olympic mediocrity
Resurgent China readies epic show to welcome world
Olympic Schedule
Schedules by Sport

Indian Athletes Aim for Gold on Billionaire's Buck

Young Indians are training for this summer’s Olympics with the backing of a London-based billionaire steel magnate, the Wall Street Journal reports. Lakshmi Mittal was dismayed by India’s poor showing at Athens in 2004—where the burgeoning superpower earned only a single silver, while arch rival China won 32 golds—and founded the Mittal Champions Trust to identify and support promising athletes.

Mittal, who left India as a young man, has committed $10 million so far, and 10 athletes whose training he's supported will compete in Beijing. One young archer, training in the program's camp at Bangalore, who had no means to pursue Olympic dreams, not only trains but sends money home to support his family. "I am so fired up that whatever is expected of me to win, whatever effort's expected, I will do it," he said.
Indian Athletes Aim for Gold on Billionaire's Buck
India decades of Olympic mediocrity

Cricket Crazy Country. The nation's love for cricket has sidelined all other sports and games activity to almost a diminishing zero. The Defence Forces, Veteran Organisations, Schools, Colleges and Universities need to get into the act of resurrecting the sports and games arena of the Nation.

Beijing 2008: The Games of the XXIX Olympiad

The Olympic Rings
As an image of Olympism, Coubertin thought the rings had deep significance: that of the union between men. He multiplied the image to create a total of five rings. He designed and commissioned the Olympic flag to mark the 20th anniversary of the IOC's founding, on 23rd June 1914 in Paris.

The Olympic Movement
On 23 June, 1894, Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee in a ceremony held at the University of Sorbonne in Paris. Demetrius Vikelas from Greece became the first president of the IOC. Two years later, in 1896, the first Olympic Games of the modern era were held in Athens.

Emblem
Every emblem of the Olympics tells a story. The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games emblem "Chinese Seal, Dancing Beijing" is filled with Beijing's hospitality and hopes, and carries the city's commitment to the world.

Theme
Slogan"One World One Dream" expresses the common wishes of people all over the world, inspired by the Olympic ideals, to strive for a bright future of Mankind. In spite of the differences in colors, languages and races, we share the charm and joy of the Olympic Games, and together we seek for the ideal of Mankind for peace.
IOC member: Beijing Games will be spectacular

India’s Olympic team for Beijing 2008

Archery
Dola Banerjee, Pranitha Vardhineni, L Bombayala Devi, Mangal Singh Champia.

Athletics
Anju Bobby George (Long Jump), Krishna Poonia (Discus), Harwant Kaur (Discus), Preeja Sreedharan (10,000m), Manjit Kaur (400m), Chitra Soman (4x400m relay), Sini Jose (4x400m relay), MR Poovamma (4x400m relay), Mandeep Kaur (4x400m relay), S Geeta (4x400m relay), K Mridula (4x400m relay), J J Shobha (Heptathlon), Sushmita Singh Roy (Heptathlon), G G Pramila (Heptathlon), Vikas Gowda (Discus), Renjith Maheswary (Triple Jump), Surender Singh (10000m).

Badminton
Anup Sridhar, Saina Nehwal

Boxing
Jitender (51kg), Akhil Kumar (54kg), A L Lakhra (57kg), Vijender(75kg) and Dinesh Kumar (81kg)

Judo
Khumujam Tombi Devi, Divya.

Rowing
Bajrang Lal Takhar (Single M1X), Devnder Khandwal and Manjeet Singh (Light Weight Double Scull)

Shooting
Manavjit Singh Sandhu (Clay Pigeon Trap), Mansher Singh (Clay Pigeon Trap), Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore (Clay Pigeon Double Trap), Gagan Narang (10m Air Rifle), Abhinav Bindra (10m Air Rifle), Samresh Jung (10m Air Pistol), Sanjeev Rajput (50m Rifle 3 Position), Anjali Bhagwat (50m Rifle 3 Position), Avneet Kaur Sidhu (10m Air Rifle)

Swimming
Virdawal Khade (50m, 100m, 200m Freestyle), Ankur Poseria (100m Butterfly), Sandeep Sejwal (100m, 200m Breaststrokes), Rehan Poncha (200m butterfly)

Table Tennis
Achanta Sharath Kamal, Neha Aggarwal.

Tennis
Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi (doubles), Sania Mirza (singles and doubles), Sunitha Rao (doubles)

Weightlifting
L Monika Devi (69kg)

Wrestling
Sushil Kumar (66 kg Freestyle), Yogeshwar Dutt (60 kg Freestyle), Rajiv Tomar (120 kg Freestyle)

Yachting
Major NS Johal (Heavyweight Dinghy)

All the best to Indian Olympic Team