Upbeat boxers eye Commonwealth glory

On a high after its best ever performance at the Asian Boxing Championships in 27 years, Indian boxers expressed a lot of confidence.

Talking to the media after his arrival with the rest of the team in New Delhi on Tuesday, Suranjoy Singh, the sole gold medallist at the Zhuhai meet, said, "I will win gold at the Commonwealth Games."

India won one gold, two silver and four bronze medals at the meet, finishing third behind China and Uzbekistan.

Chief coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu was visibly upbeat. "Boxers who had been written off have made excellent comebacks," he said, "The youngsters have also made a mark."

On whether the contingent should be expected to bag gold at the Commonwealth Games, he said, "100 per cent."

Beijing Olympics bronze medallist Vijender Kumar was also optimistic about India's future prospects.

"We have a number of juniors like Balwinder (Beniwal), Nanao (Singh) and Suranjoy who will definitely brighten our chances of winning more medals in future," he said.

On being asked if the gold medal was expected, Suranjoy said, "Yes, I was hoping to win after bagging gold in a previous competition in the Czech Republic."

"I have to now prepare and work even harder for the forthcoming World Championships and Commonwealth Games," Suranjoy added.

He admitted that his short stature was a bit of a problem but said it wasn't a big factor.
Suranjoy's gold is India's first since 1994, when Rajkumar Sangwan had triumphed in Tehran.
"Suranjoy is very aggressive and strong-willed," remarked Sandhu.

"He was confident of and committed to winning the gold medal. He has snatched the medal from the Chinese."

Sandhu also expressed satisfaction at the team's overall showing. "It was a morale-building performance.

In fact, Vijender was also expected to win gold, but had a bit of bad luck, losing to a boxer from the host nation. The crowd's raucous cheering put him off a little."

Although he had to settle for bronze at Zhuhai, Vijender didn't sound overly disappointed. "Beating the world champion (Uzbek Atoev Abbos) in such an important tournament was extremely gratifying," he said.

Sandhu thanked the support staff for the contingent's improved display. "The entire team's coordinated efforts, in addition to the support from the sports ministry under Mr MS Gill, are bearing fruits."

Source: www.espnstar.com

Justice for Monika

Krishnamurthy report blames none

New Delhi, Sep 12: The one-man inquiry committee to probe the Monika Devi controversy on Friday ruled out any malafide intentions by the authorities to bar the Manipuri lifter from Beijing Olympics on dope charges but came down heavily for the delay in communicating the test results to the lifter.
Former Chief Election Commissioner TS Krishnamurthy, who submitted the probe report to the Sports Ministry on Friday, did not find any violation of procedure in the whole testing process but stated the delay in conveying the test results was "unpardonable".
He also said the controversy could have been avoided had there been unity of purpose among the authorities concerned.
"I must state that I did not come across any concrete evidence of any malafides on the part of any individual although it is very clear that there was lack of unity of purpose among all these persons... it had no direct nexus to the issue of dope testing of the athlete," Krishnamurthy said in his 18-page report.
"I am quite clear in my mind that the whole controversy surrounding this episode could have very well been avoided had there been a better management of the procedures," he said in the report, which was prepared after recording the versions of SAI, Ministry, IOA, NDTL and Monika.
The report said Monika was subjected to four sample tests out of which two results -- of the first on June 6 and of the last on July 28 -- were found to have returned with "adverse analytical findings".
After the disclosure of the dope test results, Monika had alleged the Sports Authority of India had "deliberate and malafide" intentions behind preventing her participating in the Beijing Olympics.
Krishnamurthy also suggested to rename SAI to Sports Development and Regulatory Authority for better coordination so that such instances of lapses and delay could be avoided in future.
Krishnamurthy particularly found fault in the delay in conveying the result of the first sample taken on June 6 in Pune and for not communicating the same to the lifter.
"The July 10 report of the first sample (of June 6) mentioned 'suspicious case' and 'report to be submitted'. This was conveyed by SAI to the IWF but there is no indication of it having been communicated to the athlete.
"The same sample was subject to CG-IRMS analysis (for confirmation). This analysis report dated July 25 stated 'there is likelihood of exogenous (synthetic) origin and recommended for follow-up/longitudinal studies'.
"Two other samples dated June 29 and July 15 sent by SAI centre, Bangalore to NDTL found 'No banned substance detected'.
"Another sample taken on July 28... and the report on this on August 5 with the finding 'adverse analytical finding for use of endogenous steroid or its precursors'," it said.
"There is no doubt that there has been a considerable delay in completing the test taken on June 6 and in communicating the same to the athlete. Had the testing been done within the stipulated time and the result thereof been communicated immediately thereafter, the disappointment and the mental shock the athlete had by the sudden and abrupt communication could have been easily avoided," it said.
"Such a delay (in the dope result of first test) is indeed unpardonable as it is not in any case in the spirit of WADA code even assuming that NDTL was not aware that the sample related to a priority case relating to an international competition."

Source: Press Trust of India (PTI)

Full Report

Ministry to take action based on findings

Report rules out mala fide intent

Probe panel flays delays in Monika case

Probe panel advised Monika to test B sample

Monika keeps mum

'Controversy could have been avoided’

Monika Issue

Ban on national, international meets suspended:

Imphal, Sep 8: Giving a breather to the sportspersons of the state, the Coordinating Committee Against the Conspiracy to Exclude Monika from Beijing Olympics by Government of India has temporarily lifted the ban on participating in Zonal, National and International level competitions.
The decision was taken after a meeting of the Co-ordinating Committee at Khuman Lampak sports complex here on Monday, announced Manipur Olympic Association (MOA) president and the Co-ordinating Committee's convener Elangbam Binoy Singh while talking to mediapersons after the meeting.
"Since the Centre has responded to the people's demand by entrusting CBI to begin inquiry into the matter related to deliberate exclusion of Manipuri weightlifter Laishram Monika Devi from the Beijing Olympic squad, we have resolved to lift the restriction so that the State athletes can continue excel in sports and bring more laurels' Binoy said adding "Our players will fight for the sake of justice".
Stating that sports has become a mass movement and that it survives because of the people's contribution, the MOA president said the whole people of Manipur have shown their united strength in demanding justice.
However, the Committee may resume its restriction if the guilty officials involved in pulling out Monika from the Olympics are not punished, Binoy informed.
The whole of Northeastern region and Manipur in particular has been in turmoil after Laishram Monika Devi, who hails from remote Nachou village of Bishnupur district, was withdrawn from the just concluded Beijing Olympics on doping charge, though the charge was cleared afterward.
On August 11 last a public meeting organized by the Committee at Khuman Lampak sports complex here and the meeting resolved that athletes of the State should stop participating in all sporting competitions beyond the State until the Centre tenders an apology to the people of Manipur, stops all forms of discrimination against sportspersons and punishment of the guilty officials.
Endorsing to meeting resolution, sportspersons of the State skipped from various Zonal and National sports competitions in different disciplines including Hockey ( sub-junior), athletes (zonal), Judo ( national), Kabadi ( zonal at Imphal), weight lifting ( National) and Sepak Tekraw ( National) and Subroto under 14, Binoy said.
The State athletes will, however, get the chance to take part in the Eastern Zone Badminton Championship to be held at Meghalaya, the MOA president added.
Monika, who is currently in Manipur, has expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the Committee for struggling for her cause.
A rally will be staged at Imphal by representatives of various sports and students bodies in addition to Meira Paibi (women vigil groups) on Wednesday to exert pressure for bringing justice in the CBI probe and book the errant officials, the MOA chief informed.
On Wednesday last around one hundred womenfolk picketed Manipur Youth Affairs and Sports (YAS) office at Khuman Lampak sports complex demanding announcement of the Krishnamurthy probe report and punishment of the guilty officials.

Source: The Sangai Express

Other Stories:

Manipur to resume participation

Boycott withdrawal comes too late for junior lifters

Justice for Monika

CBI launches probe into Monika allegations
New Delhi, Sep 7: The CBI has launched an enquiry into allegations by weightlifter Monika Devi that she was barred from taking part in the Beijing Games because of deliberate lapses on part of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

The CBI registered the Preliminary Enquiry (PE) against "unknown persons" after a request was made by the Manipur Government to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for a thorough probe into the entire incident.

While during the PE, the CBI will summon records of IOA, Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the statement of Monika in front of the one-man commission set up by the Sports Ministry, it cannot go in for questioning of any individual till the case was converted into a regular case.

Monika, in her deposition before the T S Krishnamurthy Commission, had alleged that the actions of SAI as "unreasonable and malafide" and also that she failed to go to Beijing Olympics because of the "deliberate lapse" on the part of the IOA.

The weightlifter hailing from Manipur, in her petition had blamed the SAI for the whole controversy which led to her withdrawal from the Indian Olympic contingent just hours before her scheduled departure to Beijing.

"If the report (dope test) was at all positive, why did the SAI not inform the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) 48-72 hours prior to the departure as required under the provisions of WADA?" she questioned.

Monika said the SAI, being an institution, ought to have acted reasonably and fairly and the sports body's "ill treatment" to her was "highly condemnable".

"The actions of SAI were unreasonable, malafide as a result of which my reputation and career had been damaged for which SAI is to be blamed," she told Krishnamurthy in her written submission.

The weightlifter said a day after the news of her dope test report being found positive was published by media, the IWF on August 6 had received a letter from SAI which stated that out of the four tests conducted during the training period on June 6, June 29, July 15 and July 28, the report of the test conducted on June 6 was found to be positive without mentioning the name of any prohibited drug.

The CBI would be examining all the test reports during its probe before deciding on whether the case could be converted into a regular case or not.
Source: Press Trust of India (PTI)

Earlier Stories:

Northeast sportspersons neglected: Monika

Monika's name not on 2010 CWG list

IWF chief denies probables list release

Biren seeks to allay fear

Remembering Assam's First Arjuna Awardee

Monika flags off run:

Guwahati, Sep. 3: Manipur weightlifter L. Monika Devi on Wednesday urged people to be alert against any move to deprive players from the region of representing the nation at the international level.
Flagging off the annual Abhiruchi Sports Day mass jogging from Chandmari flyover here to Nehru Stadium, a tearful Monika said she fell “victim to some nasty politics.”
Monika Devi was deprived of a berth in the Indian contingent to the Beijing Olympics last month after allegedly testing positive in a dope test. Though she was subsequently cleared of the allegation, it was too late for her to join the contingent.
Later, an apparently disturbed Monika said she was still undecided about participating in any national meet in the near future.
Manipur’s sports organisations will be boycotting all national events till former Chief Election Commissioner T.S. Krishnamurthy, who is conducting a probe into the issue, submits the report to sports minister M.S. Gill and justice is meted out.
The weightlifter also took part in a felicitation ceremony where 56 heads of educational institutions were honoured for their contribution towards organising this particular sports day for the past 25 years.
The day marks the birthday of Arjuna awardee Bhogeswar Barua.
The mass jogging today was dampened by a morning drizzle, which reduced the turnout to a little over 3,000, including contingents from about 35 schools in the city.
Bhaskar Vidyapith emerged winners in the mass jogging and were trailed by teams from LOG English School and Disneyland High School.
Among the sports establishments, Manchuria Kung-fu Academy finished first, followed by Guwahati Kho-kho Coaching Centre, Lutuma, and Sarusajai Sports Coaching Centre.
Disneyland High School, represented by about 250 students, were awarded the O.P. Nayar Trophy for having the highest number of participants.
The jogging was followed by a dance competition among schoolchildren where St Stephen’s High School team emerged champions while Disneyland High School and Maharishi Vidya Mandir, Kalipur, finished as first and second runners-up respectively. In the aerobics competition, teams from Maharishi Vidya Mandir, Rajgarh, Maharishi Vidya Mandir, Sixth Mile, and T.C. Girls’ H.S. & M.P. School were declared the top three.
Although the day is marked by felicitation of noted sports personalities, this being the silver jubilee year, the main function will be held in December. The felicitation ceremony is likely to be attended by Australian cricketer Steve Waugh or Brett Lee, along with another Asian Olympian.

Source: The Telegraph

Arjuna Awardee Manipuri

Judoka Tombi Devi does Manipur proud:

Imphal, Sept. 2: Manipur judoka Kh. Tombi Devi has done the state proud once again. She was one of the two sportspersons from the Northeast to take part in the Beijing Olympics. Now she has been conferred the Arjuna Award for the year 2007.
Tombi has added another feather to Mayai Lambi Sports Academy’s cap after being named among the 11 sportspersons selected for the prestigious award.
The 26-year-old soft-spoken judoka was ousted in the first round of the Olympics at Beijing, but she made history by becoming one of the nine Olympians the state has so far seen being honoured with the Arjuna Award. The only other sportsperson from the region to take part in the Beijing Olympics is archer L. Bombayla Devi of Manipur, who had an early exit.
The announcement has come as a matter of pride for the Mayai Lambi Sports Academy here, of which Tombi is a product. The academy specialises in judo coaching, and has groomed several talented judokas.
In fact, Tombi is among the two judokas from the academy, after A. Anita Chanu in 2004, to be honoured with the Arjuna Award.
Mayai Lambi Sports Academy president Th. Bijoy Singh described it a “very joyous and happy moment” for the academy. “It is a great achievement for Tombi as well as for the academy,” he said.
In a short span of 10 years, the academy has witnessed two Arjuna awardees and several more are in the making, he added.
Singh said six judokas, including two boys and four girls, of the academy were now being trained in Patiala for the next South Asian Games.
Manipur Olympic Association president E. Binoykumar Singh said, “The gentle and positive Tombi Devi deserved the Arjuna award and we feel proud of her”.
Devi bagged a gold in the 48-kg category of the Commonwealth Judo Championship in January this year and won another gold in the 21st Bosfors Judo Championship in Turkey last year. She also garnered a silver in the India Cup International Judo Championship held in 2006 in Orissa. Last year she won a bronze medal in the Asian Judo Championship in Kuwait.

Source: The Telegraph

Kh. Tombi links:

Tombi K Devi loses to H Ana in Judo

Tombi Devi out of Olympics in two and half minutes

National sports awards given away

Great feeling to be conferred Arjuna Award

Show of Solidarity

Monika Devi to Lead Abhiruchi Run:

Guwahati, Sept. 1: Manipur weightlifter L. Monika Devi will lead Abhiruchi Sports Day’s silver jubilee run in Guwahati on Wednesday. The organisers of the run invited her to take part as a mark of solidarity with neighbouring Manipur's fight against vested interests that allegedly dashed the ace sportsperson’s Olympics dream last month.
“Today it is Monika Devi from our neighbouring Manipur, tomorrow it could be somebody from Assam. Hence, it is time we joined Manipur’s fightback against vested interests from mainland India which have conspired against the weightlifting prodigy from the Northeast. She is reaching Guwahati on Tuesday to lead the run. We will accord her a warm welcome,” the chairman of the organising committee of the run, Balendra Mohan Chakravarty, said on Monday.
The day is celebrated statewide at over 100 places on September 3 every year to celebrate the birthday of the first Asian Games gold medallist as well as the state’s first Arjuna award winner Bhogeswar Barua.
Monika Devi will lead the run from Chandmari flyover here.
On the day’s programme, Chakravarty said unlike the earlier editions, outstanding sports personalities would not be felicitated on Wednesday but during the main silver jubilee function in December.
This time, the run that will culminate in Nehru Stadium will be followed by a dance and aerobics competition among children from nearly 50 schools in the city.
Besides, the heads of about 70 educational institutions in the city will be felicitated to express gratitude for their service to make the event a success every year.
On the silver jubilee function in December, Chakravarty said an Australian cricketer and an Olympian from any Asian country would be invited as special guests. He hinted that Steve Waugh or Brett Lee would be contacted for their availability.
The main function here will also comprise a two-day seminar on the importance of physical education as a subject in school curriculum and a daylong indigenous sports festival.
Source: The Telegraph

Monika Devi Links (in chronological order):
Monika fails dope test
Monika tests positive, withdrawn from Games
I am innocent, I have been framed: Monika
I am innocent, says Monika
IOA relieved Monica tested positive in India: deputy chef-de-mission
Coach stands by Monika Devi
Kalmadi praises SAI
Monika questions SAI's dope test norms
SAI dope test on Monika illegal: IWF
L Monika case shocks Manipur
CM, MP assure interventions
Conspiracy, cries Manipur
What did Monika test positive for?
Weighlifting Federation boss insists Monika clean
'Monika case attempt to defame Northeast'
Protests in Manipur over Monika Devi's dope report
Ex-weightlifting champ blames IWF for dope taint
Monika to seek ‘B’ sample test
Manipur erupts over Monika exit
24-hr general strike called today to protest Monika exclusion
Northeast footballers appeal for Monika
Boycott threat over Monika
MOA decides to boycott natl championships and Natl Games over Monika issue
Monika cleared, but won't be able to compete in Games
No entry for Monika in Olympics: IOA
SAI clears, but Monika won’t go to Beijing
International weightlifting body says 'no' to Monika
IOA, SAI ruined Monika's career: Ibobi
Monika Devi issue: Manipur CM seeks CBI probe
Monika’s village mourns death of sport
State parties demand resignation of IOA president and Union sports minister
MSF announces boycott of national leaders as protests continue in state
Monika accuses fellow lifters, demands probe
Manipur sends request for CBI probe into Monika episode
Manipur sets apology deadline
Public meeting seeks apology from GOI on Monika issue
Protests over Monika
Big conspiracy to end my career: Monika
Sports minister orders probe in Monika Devi doping case
Advani wants probe into Monika's doping episode
Manipur opts out: Athletics team returns as a mark of protest for Monika
Rousing welcome for Monika, bandh on Aug 19 to stay
Monika puts foot down on competitions
PA Sangma to take up matter with PM
General strike cripples life in state; schools, colleges spared
Battle headed for court- Panel for Monika consults legal experts
Krishna Murthy to submit Monika dope report
NESO demands CBI probe into Monika case
Panel urges PM to book conspirators- Monika places statement
IOA deliberately didn’t allow me to go to Beijing: Monika

Pride of Manipur

Manipuri lifter Monika Devi selected for Beijing Olympics

New Delhi, July 15: Manipuri weightlifter L Monika Devi was today unanimously chosen ahead of Shailaja Pujari to represent the country in the Beijing Olympic Games after a selection trial in Bangalore, bringing to an end a selection controversy and allegations of bribery.

Monika, who won a silver and two bronze in the Asian Championship in Japan in April-May to help book the lone berth for India, will compete in the 69kg category while Shailaja (75kg) would be the reserve lifter.

"Monika was chosen for the Olympics by an unanimous decision of the Selection Committee. I am happy that everything went off smoothly during the trials," Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) President Harbhajan Singh said.

"Dev Dutt Sharma will accompany Monika as coach in Beijing," he added.

Monika and Shailaja were shortlisted for the final selection after an earlier trial in Pune on June 29 was followed by allegations of bribery on IWF General Secreatry B R Gulati to select Shailaja. Gulati had rubbished the allegations as "baseless".

Shailaja was also alleged to have used kneeguards, which were not permitted under IWF rules, in the Pune trial. This led to the Sports Ministry ordering probe into the bribery scandal and asking to cancel the trials besides directing to shift the trial venue from Pune to NIS, Patiala.

IWF stuck to its guns on the repeat selection trials though it shifted the venue of trial to SAI Centre, Bangalore.

Sharma's selection as coach was also against Ministry directive that a woman coach should accompany a woman lifter in Beijing.

Source: Press Trust of India

Other Stories:
Monika gets the nod
IWF selects Monika ahead of Shailaja

Asian Weightlifting

Monika wins silver, two bronze:

New Delhi, Apr 29: Laishram Monika Devi fetched the first medals for India in the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Kanazawa, Japan on Tuesday by finishing overall third in women's 69 kg category.
Monika lifted a total weight of 222 kg (100 in snatch and 122 in clean and jerk) to finish behind Liu Chunhong of China (262: 117+145) and Kao Ya-chun of Chinese Taipei (222: 98+124) respectively.
The Manipuri girl added a silver and bronze as she was second in snatch and third in clean and jerk.
Compatriot Srishti Singh finished last in the 10-lifter field with a total of 168 kg (78+90).
In the men's 56 kg category, Valluri Srinavasa Rao came a cropper lifting a total of 237 kg (102+135) to end a disappointing eighth in a 13-lifter field.
In the men's 69 kg class, Govindan Elumalai and Katulu Ravi Kumar stood overall 10th and 11th with total lifts of 288 (130+158) and 285 (128+157) respectively.
On Monday, Kailas Pujari ended a disappointing 15th in the men's 62 kg category with a total lift of 253 kg (110+143).
Kavita Devi and Shailaja Pujari will compete in the women's 75 kg category while Geeta Rani and K Tulsi will feature in the women's +75 kg class on Wednesday.
The tournament is the final qualifying event for the Beijing Olympics.
Source: Press Trust of India

Bombayla Devi wins gold in Asian Archery Grand Prix

Manipur’s Laishram Bombayla Devi bagged a gold in the FITA Olympic Round competition of the 3rd Asian Grand Prix Archery Championship in Tehran on October 25.

Bombayla tallied 110 points in the final round to pip her nearest rival from Jordan by seven points for the title triumph in the competition which began on October 20.

She had already earned a Beijing Olympic berth in the FITA recurve individual event as well in the team event along with Nagaland’s Chekrovolu Swuro and Bengal’s Dola Banerjee.

Bombayla became the first Manipuri girl to have won a senior national archery title in February 2006.

Source: The Sangai Express

Image courtesy: telegraphindia.com