Accounts of games open to public: HC

The accounts of the Indian Olympic Association ( IOA) and the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee ( CGOC) will be open for public scrutiny under the RTI Act.

The Delhi High Court on Thursday said information on them could not be kept under wraps. The judgement is a rebuff to Suresh Kalmadi's efforts - he leads the two bodies - to keep them out of the ambit of the Act.

With the two organisations attempting to stall steps to open their accounts for public scrutiny, Justice S. Ravindra Bhat said, " The crucial role of access to information here cannot be understated." The court said the IOA and the CGOC received substantial funds from the government and were accordingly bound to furnish information about them under the RTI Act.

Justice Bhat pointed out that the IOA received substantial funds from the government and depended heavily on them.

" Without such funding, the IOA would perhaps not be able to work effectively. Taking into consideration all these factors, it is held that the IOA is a ' public authority' under the meaning of that expression under the ( RTI) Act," he said.

The development puts an end to the standoff between the two bodies and the sports ministry on the issue - the government wanted the accounts to be up for scrutiny.

The judge took note of the argument that the two bodies were not under the control of the government. He said to ensure transparency and to make democracy " responsive and meaningful", these non- state actors may have to take the responsibility of " disclosing information which would be useful and necessary for the people they serve". This, he said, furthered the process of empowerment.

The IOA had approached the high court against a Central Information Commission ( CIC) order holding that the sports body discharged a public function and came within the ambit of the RTI Act.

The CGOC, on the other hand, had moved the high court after the sports ministry asked it to disclose payments made to actors Aishwarya Rai and Saif Ali Khan and others for taking them to Australia for the Commonwealth Games ceremony in 2006. The ministry had the sought information in order to respond to an RTI query in the matter.

The high court decided to hear together the petitions by the IOA, CGOC and a school that had made similar claims.

The CGOC had claimed that there was no direct or indirect control over it by the government. The government also did not fund it to manage the day- to- day affairs or to run the office, the committee said.

However, the sports ministry submitted that these claims had no basis as the committee had received substantial funds from it and owed its birth to it.

The high court also rejected the IOA contention that it was not answerable to the people because it was not a public authority under the control of the government.

" It is the national face of the Olympic movement in India. Its word determines the fate of the sport and the sportspersons who are to attend and participate in Olympic events," Justice Bhat observed.

He pointed out that the IOA gave affiliation to and recognised sports bodies. " Its approval is essential for any sport in India." The games committee, on its part, argued that it had an autonomous administration and the government had no role in it. Belittling the role of the government, it said the involvement of the Centre and the Delhi government was only to popularise the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

The government rebutted this and said the committee depended on its funds and had already been committed Rs 767 crore as advance to prepare for the event.

Responding to the contention that the government was merely acting like a bank to give loan to the committee, the Centre said it could not be treated as a financier because it had provided a substantial amount without any security to an organisation without any assets.

The Centre dismissed the CGOC's claim that it would generate funds on its own. It pointed out that the Delhi government, the Sports Authority of India and the DDA would provide infrastructure without any user charges for the Commonwealth Games. But, this will generate revenue for the committee. Besides, the staff of the committee is paid from its account, which is entirely funded by the government, the Centre said.

Refuting the charge that it was encroaching upon the role and responsibility of the committee, the government said it only intended to ensure accountability of the committee to the public exchequer.

Taking exception to the fact that the CGOC had approached the court against its decision, the government went on to request the court to levy exemplary costs on the committee.

Taking note of the submissions of the government, Justice Bhat said in his 57- page judgment that the funds provided by the Centre were not an ordinary loan transaction. " In these circumstances, the court concludes that the financing or funding of the games committee, concededly a nongovernmental organisation, is substantial; it is therefore, a public authority, within the meaning of Section 2( h) of the Act," he said.

Bhupathi: Paes and I best CWG gold hope

Doubles ace Mahesh Bhupathi firmly believes that the combination of him and Leander Paes still remains India’s best chance for a gold in the doubles of the Commonwealth Games that is to be held in New Delhi later this year.

Speaking to The Telegraph on Thursday, after pairing up with Rohan Bopanna to outclass the Americans James Cerretani and Travis Rettenmaier 6-3, 7-6 in a first round doubles match at the Nungambakkam tennis stadium, Bhupathi sounded excited about the Commonwealth Games.

“It has become big for us because it is being played in our backyard for the first time. Personally, I feel India have a huge chance of winning quite a few medals at the Commonwealth Games,” said Bhupathi.

“Actually, we can sweep all the medals at stake (in tennis), but for that we have to play well and plan properly,” he said.

Asked whether he would partner Bopanna instead of Paes, Bhupathi said: “I don’t think so. It is still me and Leander who have the best chance of winning gold.”

But then, what about the controversy they generate whenever they play together? Bhupathi smiled: “Look, there has been no controversy in the past two years. So let’s not start one now. We all will be playing for the nation in the Commonwealth Games.”

Bhupathi said he was focusing on the new season and that his aim was to win the Australian Open doubles, a trophy missing from his cabinet.

Bhupathi said Bopanna had a bright future and should soon emerge as a top doubles player. As to whether doubles was hampering Bopanna’s chances in singles, Bhupathi said it was part of the game and a player should be able to balance the two.

“I know he (Bopanna) is playing both singles and doubles and trying to find a balance between the two. He is a good player and needs to take care of his singles as well. I understand it sometimes becomes difficult to maintain the singles ranking, but that’s part of the game. One has to live with it in tennis,” said the seasoned campaigner.

For the ongoing meet, he and Bopanna are taking things match by match. “We have just started playing together, so far we have a hundred per cent record from one match (laughs). We are at the moment taking it match by match. At the same time, we are careful as well. We can’t take anything for granted. It’s a tough tournament.”

Bhupathi said it was wrong to suggest that the absence of qualifiers in the doubles event of ATP tournaments had made it difficult for youngsters to play at top meets.

“It is not exactly like that,” he said. “One can still make it to bigger events by doing well in the Challengers. Look at the pair we play next (Colin Fleming and Ker Skupski). Last year they played in Challengers and, I believe, won a couple of them. And now they are playing here. If one starts playing well, he will definitely get a chance.”

On Yuki Bhambri, Mahesh said: “He has been doing well. Everybody around is impressed with him. He is still young and by the time he is 21, I am sure he would have grown as an athlete. Hopefully, he will be a strong player for India.”

NDMC’s digging frenzy in CP stalls traffic, hits trade

After making a mess of Connaught Place by starting digging work in Middle Circle to transfer all cables and pipelines underground before Commonwealth Games and Outer Circle to upgrade eight subways New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) officials are now saying they might not be able to complete the work in Middle Circle before the Games.

This has hit CP's traders hard. They say sales have dropped by more than 50% and that they might be forced to hold protests against the ongoing work. Construction of the CP Metro station had earlier given them a setback and they are just recovering from it.

NDMC had started digging work in Middle Circle to carry out service ducting to place all cables and pipelines underground before the Games. But NDMC sources say that while tunnelling will be completed before the Games, they will not be able to transfer the service lines underground by then. Then why the hurry?

Said an NDMC official: "We will complete tunnelling before the Games but cables and pipelines will be placed underground only after the Commonwealth Games. Once tunnelling is complete, we will re-lay the road and beautify the area. The tunnel had to be made before carrying out beautification of the area and we will be ready with the tunnel before the Games. No further digging will be needed later as the service lines will be transferred underground through openings that will be made overground.''

At present, facade restoration work is going on in 16 blocks of CP. It has already eaten into footpaths, making it difficult for pedestrians to walk in the area. Around 30-40% of restoration work has been completed till now. Besides this, NDMC has also begun construction of eight subways in Outer Circle, which has completely choked traffic in the area as only half the carriageway is available for traffic.

The traders are also sceptical about the subway work which has an August 2010 deadline getting completed before the Games as the monsoon is likely to delay work for at least two months.

Said president of New Delhi Traders' Association, Atul Bharghav: "They are holding CP to ransom. We cannot continue to bear losses for six months. Sales have dropped by more than 50% and this is peak business time for us. I have been getting calls from agitated shopkeepers. In such a scenario, we might have to hold protests. NDMC shouldn't have started work on the project like this. They are cutting it too close to the deadline. We are going to hold a meeting on this matter on Friday to chart our course of action.''

Says Sneha Singh, who works in a bank in CP: "It is complete madness. It takes me an hour just to get to CP and there are constant traffic jams on Panchkuian Road, Minto Road etc. I have to get out of my house in Lajpat Nagar at least two hours before office hours in order to get to office on time. Finding parking is also impossible with no parking now available in Outer Circle and Middle Circle.''

Federation opts for tender process

Buoyed by the success of its boxers, the national federation has opted to go for a tender process to identify the promoter to take the sport to the next level in the country.

The Secretary-General of the Indian Boxing Federation (IBF), Col. Muralidharan Raja, said a few marketing agents had already shown interest, and it was decided to go for a democratic process to get the best deal for the sport.

“Many companies like Sahara, IMG and Percept are interested in promoting the sport. We are going to release a tender soon. A minimum guarantee is being sought from the bidder by the federation. We will give 21 days for the companies to make their offer. Thereafter, we will make the best choice,” said Col. Raja, while addressing a press conference regarding the Commonwealth boxing championship in the Capital from March 10 to 18.

“We could have identified the title sponsor, etc by now, but we thought it better to give the marketing agent a chance to get an event of this stature straightaway,” said Col. Raja.

The IBF secretary-general also revealed that the organising committee of the Commonwealth Games would extend support in select areas like accommodation, as it would be a test event before the mega show.

Strong field

Except for Australia which had expressed its inability to make it for the Commonwealth championship owing to other commitments back home, the rest of the countries like England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Kenya, Samoa and Singapore are scheduled to field their teams.

“England will have a full team of 10 boxers. There are many other countries which are in the process of confirming their participation,” said Col. Raja.

National coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu said leading countries might not reveal all their cards, and possibly preserve the best for the Commonwealth Games. However, it would be a good opportunity for everyone concerned to get a feel of the infrastructure before the real show in October.

“I cannot comment or commit about our team, as I am only one of many selectors. We will study the performance of the boxers in the Super Cup inter-zone competition in Mumbai, apart from the trials. The selection would be done towards the end of February or early March,” said the coach.

Keen to improve

Though he was not ready to be drawn into a discussion about the prospects of the Indian boxers, Sandhu was quick to say that the Indian boxing team would be keen to improve on the five medals it had won in the last Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006 when Akhil Kumar bagged the gold.

Meanwhile, the International Boxing Association (IBA) has nominated Pat McCrory of Ireland as technical delegate for the Commonwealth championship and Keither Walker of New Zealand, Nieva Embuldenia of Sri Lanka and Eduard Abdulmanov of Russia as jury members.

The championship is scheduled to be held at the NDMC Indoor Stadium, which is expected to be ready by the end of January.

My life in sport: Jan Khan

This is a surprise, but Jan Khan wasn't drawn to lawn bowls on the back lawn, so to speak.

The daughter of one of this country's most famous bowlers, Millie Khan, took up bowls relatively late and only after a health crisis.

A Commonwealth Games and world bowls bronze medallist, the 51-year-old Jan finally claimed the prized national singles title at Lower Hutt in the New Year.

Millie Khan won 12 national titles including four singles, and memories of her mother - who died suddenly in 2003 - helped inspired Jan to a mammoth 21-5 win over another Cantabrian, Jan Shirley, in the final.

Jan Khan answers a few questions from the Herald.

Let's start by getting the name right. Jan is pronounced as Jarn ...

It should have been spelt Jahn, but mum and dad spelt it Jan ... I'm named after my great-great-great grandmother, with Dad of course having the Pakistani blood. Maraea is actually my first name. Everyone calls me Chilli. I was playing a test series in the UK when the New Zealand men started calling me Chilli ... I'm always chasing my bowls, talking to them, saying "Come on big boy, get in there". They went hot stuff Chilli, as in "chilli con Kahn".

How long have you been dreaming of the national singles title and what was the key to winning the final?

It's not dreaming so much - you want to play decent bowls and make the quarter-finals of any tournament you play. I arrived early at the greens to watch how the wind was affecting the bowls. Normally I play up and down the same side, but I decided to play around the clock as we call it - I just played the backhand from both ends. I found a nice rhythm doing that.

What inspired you to take up bowls?

My partner at that time and I were one of eight couples who decided to move to Australia together. I was 29 and had just arrived on the Gold Coast when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had a full mastectomy there and couldn't have a blood transfusion - the HIV virus was rife and they couldn't test the blood with 100 per cent accuracy. It was a frightening time especially as I'd had a full medical clearance before leaving New Zealand. I've got five sisters and no one else in the family had had breast cancer. I came straight home after the operation. I just wanted to be with mum and the family.

The doctor told me to take it easy for a year - I'd always played netball and indoor basketball, fast-paced games. Mum said to me: "You've had those bowls in the wardrobe for six years - why not give bowls a go?" So I did, just to keep my hand in with a sport. I'd go for roll ups with the local members and then mum started entering me into centre events. I thought "oh well, might as well" and it went from there.

Were you green on the greens?

When I first went to the Matamata club mum was away with the New Zealand team. I could see the bowlers lining up the mat, but I didn't know what they were doing. One of them said to me that I must have known because I'd watched a lot of bowls, but there is a big difference between playing and watching. The skip asked me to change hands because a bowl was in the way, and I put my bowl in the left hand. How embarrassing. Once I started playing, I loved the game. I had never realised what a challenge bowls was. I would ring mum and say I'll pick you up, we're off to the club, and she'd say "oh my God - I'm all bowled out". I was so keen. I'm mainly self-taught.

Your high point?

Definitely playing with mum and my sister Marina. We won two national fours ... we always called it our working holiday. Have fun, just enjoy the moment together. We were brought up to be a close family.

Your low point?

The breast cancer and operation. I've moved on, and I get yearly clearances. But gosh, I was just so happy to get through it. Russell Broadbent, an ex-Kiwi, was my surgeon at the Allamanda Private Hospital in Southport. He was brilliant. When I woke up I just thought I'm alive, I'm alive. I thought all my Christmases had come at once. I came home and stayed home - it made me realise how much I missed my family.

What is your major career ambition?

To get selected for the Commonwealth Games in India. I'll go in any discipline - just to be selected would be lovely.

Who has been your toughest opponent?

Back then, it was mum. I put her out in a champion of champions semifinal - that was a tough game. She said to me: "Bubs, you are bowling lovely, carry on like that, and just keep going." Every time I drew the jack she would run or drive my bowl off. People said later that mum threw the game, but how dare people surmise that? They had no right. We were both fighting for the game all the way - that is what sport is all about. Anyone who saw the game knew it was bowl for bowl. It was disgusting what some people said.

Your first sporting heroes?

I suppose cricketers, Richard Hadlee certainly was. Then of course there were the rugby guys. We were a rugby family. Players like Sid Going were my heroes, back then.

What is your best coaching tip for bowlers?

Be yourself, relax and enjoy. If you are tensed up and worried about an opponent, you will have beaten yourself up before you start. People ask who I am about to play and most of the time all I know is what rink I am on. I never worry about who I am playing.

Your biggest bowls disappointment?

My sister Marina was dropped from the New Zealand squad last year and we just can't fathom why. We won a medal in the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, and we were in a triple with Sharon Sims which won a medal at the world bowls. I was gutted about Marina being dropped. You can imagine how she felt. There are people selected who haven't proven themselves - we have asked the selectors why, but you don't get an answer. I nearly resigned over it, but Marina told me to keep going.

We hear you have a very hectic schedule between bowls and work?

I'm a caregiver and team leader at a rest home near Riccarton. There are three of us on the night shift - I get there at 11.30pm and finish at 7.15 in the morning. I realised that I couldn't have a day job if I wanted to progress in bowls. If a championship is on I rush home to have a shower and then off to a green somewhere by 8.30am or 9 o'clock. Often I'll head home, organise the housework, prepare dinner, go for a roll-up and then come home and have a sleep before doing it all again. My partner Trevor Todd is an indoor bowler. I've tried to get him playing outdoor bowls, but he says there's enough with me bowling all the time ...

Any superstitions?

Mum always said "Fly big bird, go for gold". If you found a feather on your rink, you picked it up and put it in your pocket or bra for good luck. It couldn't be a white one, it had to be dark. Every time at the nationals, mum would give us a little massage and then draw a bird on our shoulder or back with her finger - Marina and I still do it to each other now. There were a lot of pigeons near where I was staying at the nationals so I thought that was a good omen. You wouldn't believe it - Gazza [Gary Lawson] came over to me before the fours final and said "Chilli, I want a bird on my back," so I did one for him. Mum always did that for the guys when they were away on the internationals. Gary said to me: "Millie isn't here but Chilli, I need a bird from you."

Fly well Jan, and good luck for Commonwealth Games selection.

Guernsey athletes are in a 'golden era', says president

President of the Guernsey Athletics Club Alun Williams is expecting the next five years to herald a 'golden era' at the club.

Williams told BBC Guernsey that a host of promising youngsters are just starting to show their potential.

He said: "We've got great prospects for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, and we're also looking ahead to 2014.

"We haven't come up with the idea that we're moving into a 'golden era' lightly, it's based on evidence."

In recent years, Guernsey's most consistent performers have been Dale Garland and Lee Merrien, who have both put in strong performances in international competitions.

Garland has appeared at both the Olympic and Commonwealth Games in the 400m hurdles, whilst Merrien has represented Great Britain at the European Cross Country Championships.

Williams said: "We've got so many good youngsters who could step up to the plate in the same way Lee and Dale have done.

"It really is a privilege to be involved with them and they're setting the standard for the club."

The 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi will provide the next worldwide platform for Guernsey's athletes to shine, and Williams is predicting a vintage year for the team that go to India.

He said: "We'll hopefully send over a team of six, seven or eight athletes to Delhi.

"The standards that we've set to get to Delhi are really high so we know they'll be mixing it with the other competitors."

Oz opt out of Commonwealth Boxing Ch'mpshp

The CW Boxing Championship would present a massive challenge for Indian pugilists as they brace up to square off against glovesmen from 13 nations despite Australia's pull-out.

Close to 120 boxers are expected to participate in the event at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium, which is still undergoing renovation for the Commonwealth Games in October.

"The stadium would be ready. Even if it is not ready completely, the part that we need, which is the arena and the lounge area for boxers and officials, would be ready," Indian Boxing Federation secretary general P K Muralidharan Raja told reporters here today.

The championships were postponed last year due to the non-completion of the construction work at the venue.

India, which won a gold, two silver and six bronze medals in the fifth edition, will host boxers from England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Mauritius, kenya, Samoa and Singapore.

The IBF is still awaiting confirmation from Canada while Australia has turned down the invitation citing previous commitments.

"Australia regretted not being able to participate due to prior commitments and didn't specify anything else. We are awaiting confirmation from Canada and hopefully it will come soon," Raja said.

"All the remaining top Commonwealth nations are coming.

So, we expect a tough competition," he added.

The event will be the first to feature boxers in the new weight categories announced last year. The AIBA reshuffled the divisions to abolish featherweight (57kg) and increase the bantam weight from 54kg to 56kg.

2005 Commonwealth Championship and the 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Akhil Kumar, also an Olympian, said India can look forward to best-ever results in the event this time.

"The team has not yet been selected but I can tell you, the results are going to be excellent. All the boxers have trained very hard and we will get a good haul of medals," he said.

The Indian team for the event would be selected on the basis of the boxers' performance in this month's Super Cup and the trials to be held a couple of weeks ahead of the Championships.

"The Super Cup would allow us to identify upcoming names and during the trials, those who do not participate in Super Cup will get their chance to prove their worth," Raja said.