Wednesday, December 31, 2008

AIFF Executive Committee

Ankur Dutta VP; Ranjith, Larsing members
Following is the AIFF Executive Committee members for 2009-2012:
Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi - President
Praful M. Patel (WIFA) - Vice President (West Zone)
A.R. Khaleel (Karnataka) - Vice President (South)
Subarata Dutta (IFA) - Vice President (East)
Venod Sharma (Chandigarh) - Vice President (North)
Ankur Dutta (Assam) - Vice President (North Nast)
Hardev Jadeja (Gujarat) - Treasurer
Joaquim Alemao (Goa; West) - Member Executive Committee
A.R Dev (Madhya Pradesh; West) - Member Executive Committee
K.M.I Mather (Kerala; South) - Member Executive Committee
C.R Visswanathan (Tamilnadu; South) – Member Executive Committee
Inder Singh (Punjab; North) - Member Executive Committee
Sunil Bhardwaj (Haryana; North) - Member Executive Committee
M.A. Alam (Orissa; East) - Member Executive Committee
Tempo Bhutia (Sikkim; East) - Member Executive Committee
L. Ranjith Roy (Manipur; North East) - Member Executive Committee
Larsing M. Sawyan (Meghalaya; North East) - Member Executive Committee`
Rakesh Yadav (Railways ) - Nominated

Dingko's Bangkok Asiad Feat Revisited


I miss running with the tricolour, says Dingko

Chennai: The country has forgotten Dingko Singh, who won India a gold medal in Bangkok Games in 1998. A week after New Year's Day, Dingko will only turned 30 and that probably compounds the romance and the tragedy of the boxer's story - Akhil Kumar, the current braveheart, is 27, and by no means a late bloomer.
A maverick boxer far ahead of his time in terms of technique, it was the Dingko's talent and audacious arrogance in the ring that set him apart from the rest. A technical catalyst, his boxing serves as the reference point for the change in Indian technical approach that was adopted post-Athens 2004, benefits of which are being reaped by the current lot.
"What he did came naturally to him, but all the boxers today are trained to fight like Dingko," said a boxing federation official, adding that there was no better method to adopt to score than Dingko's technique.
"Suddenly, in four years time, we began winning," he adds.
Coaches at SAI centres across the country still turn eloquent over his famed reaction time and speed, but temperamental to the point of disbelief, Dingko probably could not have burned brighter. Injuries began to take a toll and four years ago he made his exit.
As the country prepared for the Athens Olympics, a brief news item said he had lost in the first round of the Hissar Nationals - an event in which he would usually sleepwalk to victory.
Today, a much-mellowed Dingko himself is busy completing a National Institute of Sports (NIS) coach diploma.
"Only he can impart that speed and the locked elbow punch," says a fellow coach, adding, "We can't lose him anymore."
Sent to an orphange in Imphal as a kid since his mother couldn't raise six children, Dingko took to boxing to channelise his anger. Back home in Imphal, he caused scores of girls and boys alike to suddenly throng the Zen-master-like Imbocha Singh's boxing classes at the sprawling Khuman Lampak SAI Centre of Excellence, making it the cradle of the sport before Bhiwani replaced it.
Dingko remains the reason why multi-world champion, Mary Kom still dissolves into giggles at the every mention of her hero's name, like a schoolgirl talking about her favourite movie star. The Manipuri unabashedly admits that it was Dingko's 1998 gold that spurred her to take up boxing.
"I miss running with the tricolour after winning boxing tournaments," says Dingko, adding, "Maybe one day my son Dingson will do it. He's only eight, but seems keen."
There is a pause on the phone line, and then he asks. "Do you know what Dingson means? Son of Dingko," he laughs. Dingko Singh is much-mellowed now but the arrogance remains. Good to know some things don't change.
Source: The Times Of India

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Mary Kom Exploits


Manipuri gets 4th consecutive World Championship gold

Ningbo City (China), Nov 29: India's M C Mary Kom (46kg) re-asserted her status as the world's most successful woman boxer clinching an unprecedented fourth successive gold medal but India failed to retain the team crown at the fifth AIBA World Championships here on Saturday.

In a repeat of the previous World Championship final in New Delhi, the 25-year-old out-punched Romania's Steluta Duta 7-1 to grab India's only gold medal at the event.

The other Indian finalist, N Usha (57kg) had to be content with a silver for the second successive time after she lost 1-6 to Chinese Qin Jian.

The defending champions, who were here with a small seven-member contingent, thus finished the tournament with a haul of one gold, a silver and two bronze medals -- through Chhoto Laura (50kg) and L Sarita Devi (52kg), who lost in the semifinals yesterday.

Though she couldn't ensure that the team retained the overall title, Mary Kom was once again the star of the show for India.

The Manipuri boxer remained away from the ring for two years to take care of her twin babies after completing a hat-trick of World Championship golds in New Delhi.

The pint-sized pugilist returned to don the gloves this year at the Asian Championships in September where she failed to retain her gold and settled for a silver.

She claimed the National title earlier this month before leaving for the World Championship to achieve the spectacular feat.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Justice for Monika

Don't disclose B sample result: Delhi HC
Imphal, Dec 4: The Delhi High Court has ruled that the B sample test result of weightlifter L Monika Devi should not be disclosed without the permission of the court.
An order to this effect was passed by Chief Justice AP Shah and Justice S Muralidhar on November 26 cting a petition jointly filed by Monika Devi, Ex-MLA L Ibomcha Singh and retired Medical Director Dr Th Suresh Singh.
The joint petition prayed for the intervention of the High Court in taking up necessary action against the officials responsible for the last minute exclusion of Monika Devi from the Beijing Olympics and for giving compensation by the Union of India for the mental harassment caused to the lifter.
The petition also contended the report of the urine sample of Monika taken during the Olympic trial as invalid.
Jan 7, 2009 has been fixed for the the next hearing.
The Sangai Express

Court issues notice on Monika plea

Monday, October 6, 2008

Eastern India Bodybuilding

Assam bodybuilder wins title:
Guwahati, Oct 5: Shyamal Debnath of Assam emerged champion in the 55kg category in the Mr Eastern India Bodybuilding Championship held at Asansol in West Bengal recently.
At the same venue Mr North East Bodybuilding Championship was also held where Shyamal won the title in his group. Other competitors from Assam, Trailukya Das, Dhrubajyoti Barik, Jitumoni Das, Nipananda Hazarika, Mnoj Kr Boro, Dulal Gogoi, Mubarak Hussain and Mridu Paban Dutta also won medals in their respective weight groups.
Shyamal also was placed among top 10 competitors in the 47th Senior National Bodybuilding Championship for the Mr India title held at Pune from September 24 to 26.

Assam Netball Teams Named

Nazira, Oct 5: The senior men and women Netball teams of Assam have been selected for taking part in 34th National Games to be held at Jharkhand and for the national selection camp in New Delhi from October 4. The India netball team will be selected for Common Wealth Games from the New Delhi camp.
The Assam team’s selection was made after the five-days camp held at Rohiteswar Saikia Memorial Indoor Stadium, here recently where players from Tinsukia, Sivasagar, Nazira, Jorhat, Baksa, Guwahati, Orang and Mariani districts took part.
The teams: (Men) Dipak Gogoi (Sivasagar, Captain), Dipu Deka (Baksa), Atul Boru (Baksa), Pinku Borgohain (Nazira), Siladitya Bhattacharya (Nazira), Devajit Dihingia (Nazira), Jamal Ali (Nazira), Dipankar Gosh (Tinsukia), Sunil Senapati (Tinsukia), Guneswar Sonuwal (Sivasagar), Manash Sonuwal (Jorhat).
Women: Lolita Deka (Baksa), Trishna Mahanta (Baksa, Captain), Maidangshree Boru (Baksa), Nayanmoni Deka (Guwahati), Rumi Chetia (Sivasagar), Kripa Doimari (Orang), Jumashree Musahari (Orang), Rumila Basumatari (Orang), Simi Chetia (Nazira), Boby Baishya (Nazira) and Rita Bora (Nazira).

Sub-Junior National Football

Punjab, Mizoram set up title clash
Hoshiarpur: Hosts Punjab and Mizoram will meet in the final of the 31st Sub-Junior National Football Championship for Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy in Mahilpur on October 6.
In the semifinals played on October 4 at the Principal Harbhajan Stadium here, hosts Punjab eked out a hard-fought 1-0 verdict over Goa.
After a barren first session, Punjab managed to score a goal in the 46th minute. Sarbjit pounced on a rebound off the Goa goalkeeper and shot into the goal which turned out to be the winner.
In the second semifinal, Mizoram got the better of Assam 2-1. The Assamese opened the account through Hitler in the 7th minute. Mizoram restored parity in the 17th minute through Lalnunmawia.
Lalnunmawia again scored in the 64th minute to steer his team into the finals.
Source: United News of India (UNI)

Justice for Monika

Sit-in-protest staged on Monika issue:
Imphal, Oct 4: Functionaries and volunteers of North East Students' Organisation's constituent bodies as well as former and present-day sportspersons staged sit-in-protest at Latasil ground in Guwahati in denunciation for preventing weightlifter L Monika Devi from participating at the recently concluded Beijing Olympic Games as well as in demand for making public the investigation report on the said issue.
An AMSU statement further maintained that the protest was organised to condemn exclusion of Monika Devi from the Beijing Games which is akin to discriminating against the people of North East region and to demand punitive action against the guilty persons responsible to denying the weightlifter an opportunity to compete with the world's best.
While AMSU president Khamba Laishram along with hockey Olympians Thoiba, Tiken and body-builder Kh Pradipkumar represented Manipur at the protest, NESO's functionaries led by its chairman Dr Samujjal Bhattacharya and a number of sportsperson also took part at the sit-in-protes.
In their remarks at the demonstration site, representatives of NE States un-equivocally expressed that preventing Monika from the Beijing Games clearly reflects discriminatory attitude of the Central authorities against the people of the region and pledged to work in unison to eradicate such step-motherly treatment.
Source: The Sangai Express

Thoiba Singh Speaks Out

IHF should give proper attention to junior level: Thoiba
Guwahati: The former star of the Indian hockey team Thoiba Singh, who was in the city to join a sit-in-strike organized by North East Student Organization (NESO) to seek justice for weightlifter Monika Devi, said that lack of proper training facilities to the junior players is the reason behind the downfall of Indian hockey. Here is the excerpt.
Q: This time India failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympics. Your reaction.

A: I was really hurt by the episode. You know, hockey is the game where once India dominated totally and also won the Olympics title for eight occasions. But we have lost the past glory and it is really very unfortunate for us that we didn't qualify for the recently concluded Beijing Olympics.
Q: Why such things are happening in the Indian hockey? Do you feel we don’t have quality players?

A: No, there is no dearth of talent in our country but we are still far away from proper planning. We failed to qualify for the recently concluded Beijing Olympics for several reasons. We are continuously ignoring to develop our junior players and as long as this type of system would be continued in our country I feel we will see such type of failure in the future also.
Q: Your suggestion in this regard.

A: We have to give equal attention to the junior players and should give them all type of training facilities. Unfortunately Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) failed to do so. Federation should play a vital role in this regard if they really want to bring back the golden day of the Indian hockey.
Q: Few experts feel that proper attention to be given at the time of selecting junior players. Do you feel it so?

A: I agree. Nowadays hockey is played in the astro turf and to play on that surface you need both physical fitness and speed. So during the selection we should keep both the points in our mind and special attention should be given on the speed.
Q: Are you actively involved with coaching nowadays?

A: Earlier, I did coaching regularly but due to different reasons it is not possible for me to continue coaching.
Q: Would you like to involve yourself for the development of hockey in the NE region?

A: I am always ready to do that. You would be glad to know that in the recent past, I had a talked with the officials of the Assam Hockey Association also regarding the development of the hockey in this region. I am always ready to help the game whenever my service would be sought.
Q: You know everything about the incident of Monika Devi. Would you tell us whether this type of incident did occur in Indian sports during your days?

A: It would be little bit difficult for me to give reply as I played the team game and Monika is associated with individual game. In the team game, it is difficult to do this type of injustice with a player.
Q: From a player’s points of view what will be the effect on Monika after the entire episode?

A; There will be a big impact on Monika after the incident. A player has to sacrifice a lot to reach a respectable position. After got selection in the team for a event like Olympics and all of a sudden if you dropped out from the team for a wrong reason then I feel that it is enough to finish a bright career.
Source: The Sentinel

NE hockey from Oct 21

Guwahati: The second edition of the North East Hockey Championship will get under way at the Vetapara Hockey Stadium from October 21.

All the States of the North East are expecting to take part in the championship. The secretary of the Assam Hockey Association, Tapan Das said that this time they are trying to organize the tournament in a different way and if everything go according to plan then the participating team would get appearance money.

He added that they are in touch with two big companies and they would be the main sponsor of the tournament.
Source: The Sentinel