Seema flag-bearer for closing
Woman discus thrower Seema Punia, who won a silver for India at the 20th Commonwealth Games here, will be the flag-bearer for the country during its closing ceremony. Seema had on Friday won a silver medal in the women’s discus throw competition. All members of the Indian contingent who will take part in the ceremony at Hampden Park here will wear track suits, Chef-de-Mission of the Indian contingent, Raj Singh said. Seema, who had won a bronze in 2010 Delhi Games and a silver in 2006 Melbourne, threw the discus to 61.61 m, her season’s best to bag the medal.
Vijender misses gold
A gold medal eluded the Indian boxers through the evening and the four pugilists in fray for the top prize, including Olympic bronze winner Vijender Singh, had to be content with a silver each in the 20th Commonwealth Games here on Saturday. Vijender, a bronze medallist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, was comprehensively beaten 3-0 by England’s Antony Fowler in men’s middleweight 75kg bout at the SSE Hydro. The star Indian pugilist suffered a knockdown against Fowler as India ended their boxing campaign at the Games on a rather disappointing note. As many as four Indians made it to the final in their respective weight categories but all of them suffered defeats. Apart from the four silver, India have brought home a bronze. Besides Vijender, Mandeep Jangra (men’s 69kg), laishram Devendro Singh (men’s 46-49kg) and laishram Sarita Devi (women’s 57-60kg) lost their final bouts today. Pinki Jangra had won a bronze in women’s 51kg after losing her semifinal match on Friday.
Rahelu wins silver
Indian powerlifters Rajinder Rahelu clinched a silver in men’s heavyweight powerlifting competition here on Saturday. Rahelu picked up a total of 180.5 kg to get the silver while Nigerian Abdulazeez Ibrahim clinched the gold with a lift of 197 kg. Malaysian Jong Yee Khie got the bronze with a lift of 178 kg at the Clyde Auditorium.
‘stern action if charges true’
New Delhi: Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday said if the charges against IOA Secretary General Rajeev Mehta and an unattached wrestling referee Virender Malik turn out to be true, stern action would be taken against the two officials. Mehta and Malik were arrested on different charges by the Scotland police. According to reports, Mehta has been arrested for drunken driving, while Malik is facing a more serious charge of sexual assault. “The detailed information of the incident is not available with us right now. Our officials have been instructed to communicate with the High Commission and also the local police of Scotland. Whatever information is available with us, they will be provided in the court of law tomorrow and in the court if they (two officials) are proved wrong, law will take its own course,” said Sonowal. “Whatever the media has reported so far, if these are proved to be right, then definitely we will condemn it... because our athletes are putting in their hard work and dedication for the cause of the country. But this kind of incidents definitely hurt every Indian. Stern action will be taken if the allegations are true,” he added. The two will be produced in the court on Monday. The duo was, however, not staying with the official 215-strong contingent, which is putting up at the Games village. Both of them were reportedly lodged at a local hotel. India’s Chef-de-mission Raj Singh termed the incident “shameful”.