Commonwealth Games venues behind schedule

Commonwealth Games Federation president Michael Fennell is disappointed two major venues for the 2010 games have missed construction deadlines.

All venues being built for the Games in New Delhi are supposed to be completed by March 31 next year, but the coordination commission says the venues for athletics and swimming will not be ready until June.

The games are due to begin on October 3.

Fennell says the delays will have an impact on the organising committee's operational planning.

Delhi gets its first rail terminal

Delhi got its first railway terminal with Union railway minister Mamata Banerjee flagging off the Lucknow Winter Special from the swanky Anand Vihar station on Saturday.

Rakesh Chopra, railway board (engineering), said the terminal was the railways' first attempt to create a world-class facility. With a separate parcel loading facility, two escalators and six lifts, the station will have a special heritage gallery and custom-made subways which can be used by physically-challenged passengers.

Banerjee stressed on the need to decongest stations."A huge number of trains enter Delhi and this terminal will help in easing traffic,'' she said. The minister said the terminal was "a New Year gift'' to Delhiites and designed keeping in mind the Commonwealth Games. "For all those who reside on this side of the Yamuna, it is time to proclaim that you too own a modern railway station. Anand Vihar, being strategically located, will serve the needs of NCR,'' Banerjee said.

The minister said a special Commonwealth Express will be flagged off which will travel across the country to popularise the sporting event. "The Vision 2020 plan for Delhi includes completion of two dedicated freight corridors and construction of an auto hub on a railway land near the capital."Delhi has seen only 10% of our work. The remaining 90% will be completed before the Commonwealth Games,'' Banerjee said.

Chief minister Sheila Dikshit thanked Banerjee for the terminal."It was Banerjee who was instrumental in passing the Metro project for Delhi in her earlier stint as railway minister. This new terminal will be of immense help to the 10 lakh people coming to the capital each day since the trains will take load off road traffic. The Anand Vihar terminal is also another feather in our cap. After the Metro, the rest of Delhi is envying people residing in the east.

Banerjee also flagged off a winter special train to Lucknow from Anand Vihar and a 15-coach EMU from Delhi to Panipat (through remote control). The second ladies' special train to Ghaziabad was also flagged off. "Since the UPA chairperson, the President, the speaker and now even the leader of opposition is a woman, we may soon need a male special train for commuters," Banerjee said.

The Rs 85-crore terminal project was originally scheduled for inauguration in 2007, but skipped many deadlines. "The new terminal will cater to over three lakh people in full capacity and handle over 250-odd trains," a railway official said.

Northern Railway also plans to develop two other railway terminals at Holambi Kalan, Shakurbasti and Bijwasan."For all those who reside on this side of the Yamuna, it is time to say that you too own a modern railway station. Anand Vihar, being strategically located, will serve the needs of NCR,'' Banerjee said."For all those who reside on this side of the Yamuna, it is time to say that you too own a modern railway station. Anand Vihar, being strategically located, will serve the needs of NCR,'' Banerjee said.

Good news finally for Commonwealth Games officials

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) President, Michael Fennell, not only had positive things to say about the progress in preparation for next year's games, he also announced a move that pleased Indian officials.

hough Fennell was concerned over the slow progress of certain venues, his announcement to do away with the proposed Technical Review Committee (TRC) complimented his generally positive tone.

The CGF, to ensure speedy work, was to institute the TRC in January. However, an alternative approach was worked out with Organising Committee (OC) Chairman Suresh Kalmadi after studying a report of the Co-Ordination Committee (CoCom) that was in the city over the past few days. "In view of the current improved status, we have agreed it is now more appropriate for the CGF to provide additional on-going support to the OC," Fennell said. "While I note improvement in operational areas, the OC and its partners must maintain the momentum that they have now gained across all functional areas," Fennell said, but added that the delay of a few venues, particularly Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (JNS) and the SP Mukherjee swimming complex had been disappointing.

"We have continuously received assurances on the delivery timelines for these projects, and to now hear that there are further delays is distressing. These delays will have an impact upon the OC's operational planning, particularly in relation to the conduct of test events and overlay installation," said Fennell.

Fennell said the TRC would be replaced by a twin system of working whereby the CoCom would make two further visits to oversee progress, while the CWG CEO, Mike Hooper, would work in tandem with the OC. "We will provide the OC with access to appropriate expertise to assist them with these three key areas," Fennell said about 'venue operations', 'volunteer programme' & 'games readiness.

Kalmadi termed the meetings with the visiting delegates 'the best so far' and promised that there would be no slackening in the pace of work.

CWG chief ‘disappointed’ by stadium delay

‘‘Great disappointment!’’ That’s how Commonwealth Games Federation president Mike Fennell reacted to the delay in delivery of venues for the 2010 Games scheduled for October next year.

After a series of meetings on Saturday, Fennell said in a statement that he was distressed to hear that despite promises of delivery according to timelines, there were further delays in completion of certain venues, particularly

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and SP Mukherjee Swimming

Complex. However, in a move that brought the smile back to the face of organizing committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi, Fennell announced scrapping of the Technical Review Committee (TRC) that he had proposed during his stormy visit in October for the CGF general assembly. This, he said, he was doing in view of the draft report of the CGF coordination commission which had mentioned ‘‘significant progress in operational planning’’.

The CGF chief spent all of Saturday holding meetings. After a meeting of the organising committee, Fennell stepped out with CGF CEO Micheal Hooper and OC chairperson Suresh Kalmadi to address the media. The body language indicated that there was a clear attempt to wipe out memories of the cold vibes evident at the Commonwealth games general assembly in October.

Fennel began on a soft note saying that the draft report had pointed to real progress in the organisation of the Games. But he was quick to point out that there was much ground to be covered.

‘Haryana to provide 7,000 rooms for Games’

Union Tourism, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Selja on Saturday said that 7,000 rooms would be made available by Haryana Tourism in the National Capital Region during the Commonwealth Games 2010, out of which the construction work of 4,438 rooms had already been completed.

Inaugurating the first Gurgaon Tourism Mela -2009 organised by Haryana Tourism Mart in Gurgaon, Kumari Selja disclosed that the Tourism Department had started online reservation system to bring transparency and efficiency in the reservation of these rooms.

While lauding the efforts of the Haryana Government towards the ‘preparation’ for the Commonwealth Games, she said decision regarding proposal to set up two projects at Surajkund and Dundaheda would be taken soon.

The Central Government was ready to extend all possible help to Haryana to promote tourism, she added.

Haryana Tourism Minister O.P. Jain said that the development of the tourism sector was a priority area for the Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led regime.

The State Government had announced its first Tourism Policy under which Tourism Development Council had been constituted for the planned development of this sector. Tourism and hotel projects had been given the status of industry so that this sector could get similar relaxations and incentives as other industries. Adventure tourism was also being developed besides heritage and religious tourism.

Haryana Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary Keshani Arora and Additional Secretary, Union Tourism Ministry Sanjay Kothari were also present.

Delay in venue completion distressing, says Fennell

Having put its house in order, the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (OC) succeeded in having the controversial Technical Review Committee (TRC) scrapped. The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) announced on Saturday that it was dropping the institution of TRC after reviewing the ‘improved progress’ in the last two months since the CGF general assembly met in October.

The Games body had announced that the Review Committee would visit Delhi every month from January 2010 for monitoring the progress.

The CGF, however, will continue to provide additional support to the OC through its existing Commonwealth Games Knowledge Management Programme.

“In October, I announced the CGF would be instituting a TRC. However, in view of the current improved status we have agreed it is now more appropriate for the CGF to provide additional ongoing support to the OC through its Games Knowledge Management Programme,” CGF President Michael Fennell said.

However, Fennell called the COCOM's report on the delay in venue completion “distressing.”

Citing the Nehru Stadium and the SPM Aquatics Complex as examples, Fennell said, “Any further delays in venue completion will have an impact upon the conduct of test events and overlay installation.”

Sports minister M S Gill has reassured the CGF president that there would be no more delays and the venues would be delivered by the final deadlines — the Nehru Stadium will be finished by June 2010 and the other sites by March.

Fennell also mentioned that the CGF's support programme would help out the OC in three key areas — venue operations, volunteer programme and Games readiness.

Fennell also said that sufficient resources had been allocated to address the security concerns to ensure the safety of the athletes. OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi was a relieved man. “We will not slacken and will do our best," he said. OC vice-chairman Randhir Singh, who was entrusted with the job of coordinating with the COCOM members sounded satisfied. “The presentation went off well,” said Singh, who was brought in after the OC had a spat with CGF in October.

Commonwealth Games venues reach finish lines

Besides stadia, all metro rail links are also likely to be ready for use by Sep 2010

The stage seems to be set for the Commonwealth Games, scheduled to be hosted in October 2010, with the venues getting ready to be handed over to committees from January. About Rs 3,500 crore worth of repair and renovation works at Delhi stadia are expected to be completed by June.

Besides stadia, all metro rail links being planned to facilitate the movement during the Games are also likely to be ready for use by September 2010. “The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and Central Public Works Department (CPWD) have carried out civil and electrical repair works at eight venues that will host 13 events during the Games. Discussions are now on to arrive at an agreement on handing over each of these venues to a venue committee,” said Urban Development Secretary M Ramachandran.

CPWD was working on five stadia — Jawaharlal Nehru, Major Dhyanchand, Indira Gandhi Indoor, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and Karnail Singh. Of these, Karnail Singh and Major Dhyanchand stadia would be handed over in January, while work on Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium was expected to be completed by February. While Shyama Prasad Mukherjee stadium would be ready in March, the last one to be handed over would be Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, as an additional trench was being constructed there, said Ramachandran.

DDA, a civic body under the urban development ministry, is responsible for works at the Games Village, coming up on the Yamuna banks and Siri Fort and Yamuna Sports Complexes. All the three venues will be ready by March. CPWD is spending about Rs 2,500 crore on the job, while DDA projects involve an expenditure of Rs 1,000 crore, excluding the Games Village, which is being constructed under the public private partnership (PPP) model. Besides these two bodies, the Delhi government is working on Tyagraj stadium, while New Delhi Municipal Corporation is in charge of the Talkatora Indoor Stadium. Delhi Lawn Tennis Association and the University of Delhi are undertaking works at two more venues that will be used for the Games.

Speaking about the metro links, Ramachandran said the Yamuna Bank-Anand Vihar link in East Delhi was expected to start operations this month, while the Qutab Minar-Gurgaon link in the south would be ready by March 2010.

2010 Commonwealth Game venue delay disappoints CGF chief

Commonwealth Games Federation president Michael Fennell says he is disappointed that two major venues for the 2010 games have missed construction deadlines.

All venues being built for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi are supposed to be completed by March 31 next year, but the CGF coordination commission recently said the venues for athletics and swimming will not be ready until June.

The games are due to begin on Oct. 3.

"We have continuously received assurances on the delivery timelines for these projects, and to now hear that there are further delays is distressing," Fennell said Saturday.

"These delays will have an impact upon the Organizing Committee's operational planning," Fennel said. "There can be no further delays."

New Delhi's 2010 Organizing Committee's chairman, Suresh Kalmadi said all other stadiums would be ready by the March deadline.

Fennell said the recent inspection visit "was the best to date, citing significant progress with operational planning."

"While I note improvement in operational areas, the Organizing Committee and its partners must maintain the momentum that they have now gained across all functional areas," he added.

Fennell said he was happy that India had given "security a very high priority and allocated resources to make adequate security arrangements."

The Commonwealth Games are set to be the biggest multiple-sport event staged in India since the 1982 Asian Games. It is expected to feature more than 5,000 athletes and officials from 71 nations and territories which comprised or were linked to the former British empire.

Projects sanctioned to accomodate CWG tourists in Gurgaon

The Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned two projects for camping sites at Surajkund and Dundahera which will be of great use for tourists during next year's Commonwealth Games in Delhi, Union Minister for Tourism, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Kumari Shelja said today.

Speaking at the inauguration of the First Tourism Fair-2009 organised by the Haryana Tourism Mart in association with Haryana Tourism and Hotel and Restaurant Association of Haryana at the Ambience mall here, Ms Selja said that at the camping sites large tents can be put up to accommodate the tourists during the games which will be helpful in overcoming the shortage of rooms. She said during the 10th Plan Haryana was given Rs 45.51 Crore and in the 11th Plan the Union Ministry for Tourism has so far sanctioned projects worth Rs 54.29 Crores. It includes a mega project called Panipat-Kurukshetra-Pinjore Circuit. Ms Shelja said Haryana overtook Delhi which could not avail of the grants under this scheme. She said that in Haryana, project implementation is good as far as construction of rooms for the Commonwealth Games is concerned for which the state government needs to be complemented. As per the reports, out of 6647 rooms, 4438 rooms were made available so far in Haryana and these rooms are functional.

She said this fair would present a one stop exhibition for domestic and international tourism organisations, travel and tour operators, hotels and resorts, airlines, railways and cruises, travel portals and travel writers, reservation and several other stake holders. She observed that it could prove to be an effective platform for exchange of ideas and business promotion apart from highlighting the tourist potential of the state. The Union Minister said that over the years, Haryana Tourism has earned a name in developing Highway Tourism, Recreation Tourism and Heritage Tourism and the successful launch of the concept of Farm Tourism, Adventure Tourism and Golf Tourism as well as Eco Tourism. She hoped that the Travel Mart would be permanent feature and evolve to be an annual event competing with the best in the world such as World Travel Mart.

Speaking on the occasion, Haryana Minister of Tourism O P Jain said Haryana Tourism has joined hands with the travel trade and hospitality sector and constituted Haryana Tourism Mart with the motive of promoting Haryana as a tourism destination. He said the Mart proposes to host the Gurgaon Shopping Festival in February next as the pre games event and again in October to coincide with the CommonWealth Games. This is a positive initiative to make Gurgaon a major shopping destination in addition to being the world leader in IT and ITES destination, Mr O P Jain said.

Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary Tourism Haryana, Kesni Anand Arora, said Gurgaon has come up as a major center of corporate houses and keeping in view the facilities available in and around, this city has large potential of being developed as convention and exhibition hub. The main objective of organising the Tourism Fair was to promote Gurgaon as new tourism hub and give a platform to the traders and tourists.

We have no security issues: CGF chief

Commonwealth Games Federation on Saturday said some countries have expressed general concerns about the security of their athletes during the 2010 Commonwealth Games but it had advised them India was capable of providing safety to all participants in the Games.

"Security has been the concern and it has been expressed generally by some countries. We are happy to say that India as a country has number one priority in security and they are doing, say heightened intelligence monitoring, or other things required to be done," CGF chief Michael Fennell told a press conference.

"Moreover, the OC has assured us that India is geared up to provide foolproof security to all the participants. We believe in what they say and so our advice to the participating countries is that India is capable of providing security to all during the Games," he added.

Asked specifically what the CGF itself feels about India providing foolproof security to the athletes and officials, Fennell said, "Firstly we are no security experts. Our (CGF) security experts visit India every three months and see the security aspect of the Games and we have no issues."

4,438 Haryana tourism rooms ready for Commonwealth Games

Union Tourism Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Kumari Selja today said 7,000 rooms will be made available by Haryana Tourism in the National Capital Region during the Commonwealth Games 2010, out of which the construction work of as many as 4438 rooms had already been completed.

The Tourism Department has started the online reservation system to bring transparency and efficiency in the reservation for these rooms, Kumari Selja said at the inauguration of the Gurgaon Tourism Mela -2009 organised by Haryana Tourism Mart here.

She lauded the efforts of the Haryana Government in its preparation for the Commonwealth Games-2010. She said a decision would soon be taken to set up two projects at Surajkund and Dundaheda under an ambitious scheme of the Government.

She said splendid Tourist Centers have been set up at the National Highways by the Tourism Department for the comfort and convenience of the tourists. Apart from this, such Tourist Centers have also been set up at the district headquarters and other important places. Along with the Highways, roadside eateries or 'Dhabas' had also been developed and stress laid to develop Tourism Hub in the state.

She said the work on 7,000 rooms, to be made available during the Commonwealth Games, was on a fast track and almsot 80 per cent work on these rooms was complete. The Central Government was ready to extend all possible help to the Haryana Government to promote tourism specific highway and heritage tourism, she added.

Haryana Tourism Minister O P Jain said the state Government had announced its first Tourism Policy under which Tourism Development Council has been constituted for the planned development of the sector, so that it could get similar relaxations and incentives as enoyed by of other industries. Under the Tourism Policy-2008, adventures tourism was also being developed besides heritage and religious tourism. Melas were being organised at selected tourist places under heritage tourism.

The Minister said Haryana Tourism had achieved success at many fronts and it had bagged two national awards.

Panipat-Kurukshetra-Pinjore was being developed as Tourism Circuit.

Karnal Tourist Centre was being extended for which 32 acre of land had been acquired.

Fennell scraps technical committee, Kalmadi happy

Commonwealth Games Federation president Michael Fennell on Saturday scrapped the Technical Review Committee (TRC) which the Games Organising Committee (OC) headed by Suresh Kalmadi was bitterly opposed to.

Fennell, who two months ago had slammed the OC for the lack of preparedness for the 2010 Games, announced that there was no need for an independent TRC as "we are closer to where we should be".

Kalmadi expressed happiness over the development and assured Fennel that all projects would meet their deadlines.

The panel, comprising foreign experts, was to come into force post Christmas.

"When I announced the formation of the TRC just two months ago, I noted that this group would monitor progress against promise. So the first part, of monitoring of progress against promise, will now be delivered in two ways," Fennell said.

"Firstly, it will be through our now expanded Coordination Committee (CoCom) which is scheduled for two more inspections ahead of the Games. Secondly, it will through our CEO Mike Hooper who is based in Delhi."

'Naughty' English upset 2014 host

English cities have been described as "naughty" after using the London 2012 Olympics to pre-book holding camps for Glasgow's Commonwealth Games in 2014.

Over 20 Commonwealth countries have already booked into English regions for 2012 and many could stay for 2014.

Scotland has yet to book any countries for the London Olympics.

"One or two of the cities in England have been a little bit naughty in terms of the lobbying they've done," said Glasgow councillor Archie Graham.

"Not so much for the Olympic Games but also for the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and that's a little bit concerning from our point of view.

"We are working very hard to try and make sure that we can get Commonwealth countries, in particular, to come here to train for 2012 and we hope to be able to make an announcement in that regard soon.

"I don't know if they've broken any rules or not but certainly they've been keen to encourage countries to come and train for 2012 and following that on by saying things like 'oh, you might as well come back here again to train for 2014.'

"But actually the Commonwealth Games are Scotland's Games, they're not Britain's Games in 2014. So, in that sense, it's a little bit naughty.

"It has caused problems, it would be churlish to say anything else."

Manchester, who hosted the 2002 Commonwealth Games, are one of those regions to have organised for 2012 guests to return in 2014.

"We've signed an agreement with Australia Swimming in Manchester with the city council," said Rob Young of the North-West Regional Development Agency.

"We've also got Thailand Olympic and Paralympic teams training in Manchester and then the 15 Pacific Islands within Oceania will be training all across the north-west and, with the Commonwealth countries, they will be through till 2014."

Glasgow have earmarked £90,000 to spend on attracting countries to the city in 2012.

"I'm quite sure that the other cities in England, the other regions that have not behaved in that way are as upset as we are here in Scotland so it's not a Scotland-England thing, it's more to do with some cities and regions in England really being ahead of the game," added Councillor Graham.

"We don't have the capacity to have all 71 Commonwealth federations here. It's OK in a sense but Glasgow's commitment is to put something back into the Commonwealth.

"We were the second city of the Empire, we took an awful lot out of the Commonwealth and we want to put something back. So, in that sense, it's better for us to host as many nations as we possibly can here for both 2012 and 2014.

"We're particularly committed to trying to work with African nations, the nations in south-east Asia and so on because that's where, really, we built the Empire and that's where we want to put something back.

"We've learned an awful lot from Manchester because they hosted the Commonwealth Games fairly recently. They've got fabulous facilities in place.

"But one of the main reasons why we were awarded the Commonwealth Games in the first place was because of the fact that we've got 80% of the facilities already built in the city of Glasgow.

"So, the Commonwealth countries know that we've got the facilities here, that's why they voted for us to get the games but it's our job now to convince them that London really isn't all that far away from here and that they can come here and train quite easily and then get to London to participate in the games themselves in 2012.

"If people come here then they will spend money. That will help the economy, absolutely."

Commonwealth Games Federation drops plans to form monitoring panel

Bowing to strong opposition from the Organising Committee, the Commonwealth Games Federation on Saturday dropped its controversial proposal of constituting a monitoring panel to oversee the preparation of the 2010 Delhi Games.

The CGF said it had decided not to go ahead with its Technical Review Committee in view of the current improved status but would provide additional support to the OC through its existing Commonwealth Games Knowledge Management Programme.

"In October, I announced the CGF would be instituting a TRC that would visit monthly. However, in view of the current improved status we have agreed it is now more appropriate for the CGF to provide additional ongoing support to the OC through its Games Knowledge Management Programme," CGF president Michael Fennell said.

The decision to drop TRC is widely seen as a thumbs up to the OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi who and his team had vehemently opposed such a proposal.

The development is also likely to bring about a temporary truce between the OC and its parent body who had been engaged in a public spat a few months back over organisational issues relating to the October 3-14 Games.

While Fennell lauded the positive progress made on mainly operational fronts, he warned the organisers that further delays in the construction of stadia would seriously impact on the conduct of test events.

"We have continuously received assurances on the delivery timelines for these projects, and to now hear that there are further delays is distressing," Fennell, who is here on an inspection tour, said.

"These delays will have impact upon the OC's operational planning, particularly in relation to conduct of test events and overlay installation.

"There can be no further delays and I was pleased to receive directly from the sports minster Dr Gill, his assurance today, that the venues will not encounter any further delays," he said.

Fennell expressed great disappointment at the Coordination Commission's report on the delayed delivery of the venues and in particular how the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and SP Mukherjee Swimming Complex were so far behind schedule.

"While I note improvement in operational areas, the OC and its partners must maintain the momentum that they have now gained across all functional areas," Fennel said.

The CGF chief said that in the backdrop of the CoCom's draft report and the "positive progress" made in operational planning, he and Kalmadi have agreed to an alternative approach to interaction and monitoring work.

"This approach will provide the OC with a constant access to specific expertise in areas where both the CGF and the OC agree additional support is required. The CGF will through expansion of its support programme assist the OC and its delivery partners to maintain the necessary momentum," he said.

"When I announced the formation of the TRC just over two months ago, I noted that these group would monitor 'progress against promise'. I also said this group would be empowered to call in other technical experts as required," Fennell said.

"So the first part of this progress against promise will now be delivered in two ways. Firstly it will through the work of now expanded Coordination Commission (with the addition of four members) which as scheduled will visit Delhi on two further occasions ahead of the Games. Secondly, it will be through the ongoing work with the OC of our CEO Michael Hooper who is predominantly based in Delhi," Fennell said.

"The second aspect which was to come under the TRC - assisting the OC through access to functional area Games expertise in specific areas - will now be provided through the expansion of our existing support programme with the OC. The cost associated with providing the OC with access to such support will be met by the CGF," he explained.

Fennell also thanked the Indian government for their unequivocal support for the Games including the recent approvals of the revised budgets.

"We will provide the OC access to appropriate expertise to assist them with three key areas - venue operations, volunteer programme and Games readiness.

OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi admitted there were delays in the construction of venues but promised Fennell that the increased tempo of the preparation work will be sustained to ensure a successful Games.

ITDC to temporarily hire 700 students for Commonwealth Games

State-run hospitality group Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) said on Friday that it would temporarily recruit 700 college students for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in the city.

These students will be recruited for a period of five months starting June from top colleges in Delhi and other tourism institutes, and placed in ITDC operated properties including Hotel Ashok, Hotel Janpath and Hotel Samrat, the company said.

The students will be hired for various responsibilities during the games and will be provided stipend for the duration of the contract.

"The students will be recruited by ITDC through on-campus interviews and group discussions, and will work with ITDC for a period of five months starting June 2009," it said.

Baljit eyeing India comeback in 2010 Commonwealth Games

A freak eye injury might have cast a shadow over his career but a determined Indian hockey goalkeeper Baljit Singh is eyeing a comeback in the national side to play in the Commonwealth Games in October next year.

Baljit said his vision has recovered 55 per cent following treatment in United States and after another surgery he is hoping to be fit to play again by March end next year.

"My eye is better than before and I now have 55 per cent vision. I am using contact lens which was fitted in Alabama. Presently, my progress is being monitored by a local doctor in Chandigarh. I go to him for routine check up to ensure there is no infection but further treatment and a surgery is required," Baljit said.

"I am sure by March end I will make myself fit. I will do everything step by step and I am now trying to regain fitness. My target is the Commonwealth Games," he said.

Baljit damaged his right eye after a golf ball sneaked through his helmet's visor while training in the national camp in Pune in July after which he was sent to Alabama, United States for treatment at the expense of Indian government.

For the further treatment and the surgery, Baljit is hoping that the Indian government will foot the bill again.

"I will have to request the Sports Minister MS Gill to extend his helping hand once again. I am trying to meet him and request him to send me back to the United States for further treatment and I am confident that my request will be considered," he said.

If everything goes well at the treatment front, he is aiming to start playing for domestic tournaments by next month itself.

"I am consistently doing workouts and hope to start playing hockey in about a month with my team Indian Oil Corporation and then only I will talk to AK Mattoo (Hockey India President) to enlist me in Indian camp," Baljit said.

"I am yet to start coordination exercise with a specialist coach as I am still searching for the right person. I will soon start practice with Jasbeer Singh Bajwa, who was my first hockey coach," he said.

Compound archers, shinning spot of Indian archery in 2009

A historical performance by compound archers in the Asian Championship, followed by young Deepika Kumari's Youth World crown and mixed success in the fancied recurve section summed up Indian archery's exploits in 2009, a year seen as the preparation stage for next year's Commonwealth Games.

With main thrust on the high-profile Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi in October next year, Indian archers began the year with full of promise and optimism, bringing in former Olympian Limba Ram as the national coach.

To add to it, the Archery Association of India (AAI) also roped in former Australian coach Peter Feeney to lift the performance in compound section. But Feeney's association with India lasted for only six months as the compound archers did not have a desired show under the Australian.

But, ironically, after Feeney's exit, India's compound archers grew in stature and the best came in the Asian Archery Championship in Bali, Indonesia in November when the men's compound archers created history.

Andhra Pradesh lad Isiah Rajendra Sanam became the cynosure of all eyes in Bali when he helped India win the team compound gold before making it a double by clinching the yellow metal in the individual section.

Sanam alongwith C Srither, KH Ratan Singh won the men's team compound gold beating Iran 231-230 in a thrilling finish. Sanam, ranked 15th, continued his winning run in the event and upset number four ranked Nyoman Puruhito of Indonesia 106-103 to win individual compound gold, the best ever show by India at the world stage after compound bow archery made its debut in the country in early 2003.

Overall, India ended the Asian Championship with two gold, two silver and two bronze medals as against one gold, one silver and two bronze medals in the last edition in Xi'an, China two years back.

As a matter of fact, the compound archers overshadowed the famed recurve trio of Rahul Banerjee, Jayanta Talukdar and Mangal Singh Champia, who lost to Korea to settle for the silver.

However, the biggest disappointment came from the women recurve archers who had won the team bronze medal at Xi'an but the four-member team drew a blank this time around.

Earlier in July, Indian archery got a new talent in 15-year-old Deepika, who won thegold in the cadet recurve section in the Youth World Archery Championship at Ogden in the US, thereby giving India its second world junior title.

Apart from the Jharkhand girl, Sanjay Boro shone in the boys category by winning the bronze in the cadet recurve. However, the famed Indian recurve archers had a mixed result in 2009, a cause of concern ahead of the Delhi Games.

The men's recurve team, seeded third, failed to go past the quarterfinals stage in the 45th World Archery Championship in Ulsan in September. There was more disappointment in store when the women's recurve team comprising veteran Dola Banerjee, Pratima Boro and Rimil Biruly failed to qualify for the team championship.

Even though the the recurve archers missed out on a medal in the fourth stage, they had a good outing in the opening three stages of the World Cup. Recurve ace Talukdar earned himself three gold, one silver and a bronze in the first three stages of the World Cup to get top billing for the World finals in Copenhagan.

But a gold in the World finals eluded Talukdar for a second time, when the Indian lost to fourth-seeded Italian Marco Galiazzo in the semifinals 103-111 and later was beaten by third seeded Romain Girouille of France 110-113 in the bronze medal play-off match.

Overall, India bagged one men's recurve team gold, one woman individual bronze and a women's compound team bronze in the World Cup Stage I in Santo Domnig. In stage II in Porec the Indians bagged one men's recurve individual gold and one men's recurve team gold.

India won one men's recurve team silver, men's recurve individual bronze and women's recurve team bronze in stage III in Antalya, while they returned empty handed from stage IV in Shanghai.

All in all notwithstanding a few misses, Indian archers will count on the positives in the year gone to come out with flying colours in the CWG which will have eight gold and equal number of silver and bronze medals up for grab.

Volunteer scheme relaunched for Delhi university students to be a part of commonwealth games 2010

All of you who want to participate in the games as volunteer and lost previous chances, here come the second chance for all Delhi university students to be a part of commonwealth games 2010. See below for the timings and schedule at different colleges.