Bolt in controversy
Glasgow: Even before stepping on the track, Usain Bolt is causing a stir at the Commonwealth Games. A day after mingling with British royalty at the Glasgow athletes' village, Bolt scrambled Wednesday to deny that he made derogatory comments about the so-called "Friendly Games." The Jamaican sprint star, who is only competing in the 4x100 relay here, was quoted as telling The Times of london on Tuesday that he was "not really" having fun in Glasgow and the games were "a bit s***." Bolt took to Twitter to complain about the comments attributed to him, writing: "I'm waking up to this nonsense..journalist please don't create lies to make headlines." The Times story remained unchanged Wednesday on its website, and reporter Katie Gibbons tweeted that the "full conversation" would be published in Thursday's paper.
Pallikal-Chinappa stun Malaysia
Glasgow: Glasgow: After her giant-killing act against World No.1 Nicol David and her partner in women's doubles, India's Dipika Pallikal teamed up with Sourav Ghosal to notch up a straight-game win over Canada's Sam Cornett and Shawn Delierre in a mixed doubles Pool E match of squash event at the 20th Commonwealth Games, here on Wednesday. The 22-year-old Pallikal and Ghosal thrashed the 12th seeds from Canada 11-3 11-2 to top pool E, which also has Sri lanka, at Scotstoun Campus here. In Pool G, Harinder Pal Sandhu and Joshna Chinappa defeated New Zealand's Paul Coll and Amanda landers-Murphy 11-8 11-10. Earlier in the day, Pallikal and Joshana Chinappa made a big stride towards ending India's medal drought at the Commonwealth Games by beating the mighty Malaysian pair of Nicol David and low Wee Wern in the women's doubles. The fifth seeds from India brushed aside David and Wee Wern 11-8 11-5 for their second win in as many matches in Pool D. David is a legend of the game and on Monday had retained her singles title at the Commonwealth Games.
‘CWG athletes will be paid in full’
New Delhi: Sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday assured that Indian athletes, competing at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, will soon be paid their full daily allowance. Sonowal's reaction came in the wake of athletes' claims that they have not been paid their daily allowance which was last week increased to $50 from $25. While squash players have not been paid at all, the table tennis squad has got half of their entitlement. "As clarified by the sports secretary (Ajit Sharan), the issue will be sorted out soon. The allowance indeed has been doubled. The ministry has done what it needed to," Sonowal said. "The Indian Olympic Association is handling the affairs in Glasgow. Part of funds could not be transferred as IOA doesn't have an account there. We have already asked the IOA to do the needful at the earliest. Our athletes has been performing well at the Games and they must get the best of the facilities," added the minister.
Nigerian fails dope test, India get medal
Glasgow: India got one more medal in women's 53kg weightlifting after Swati Singh was handed the bronze while Matsha Santoshi was upgraded to silver after 16-year-old Nigerian gold winner Chika Amalaha tested positive for a banned substance in the Commonwealth Games here on Wednesday. Santoshi had finished third and Swati fourth in the women's 53kg weightlifting competition held on July 25. They will now get a silver and bronze, respectively. "We have got official intimation from the Glasgow 2014 organisers that Santoshi's bronze will be upgraded to silver, while 4th placed Swati will get the bronze," Indian Weightlifting Federation vice-president Sahdev Yadav said here on Wednesday. "Now we will get 12 medals (three gold, four silver, five bronze) from weightlifting in the Games, two medals more than in 2010 Delhi. It is a huge achievement for us," he added. "This remarkable achievement surpassed the medal tally of previous two editions of Commonwealth Games (nine medals in 2006 and eight in 2010)."
One and only Kiribati boxer makes debut
Glasgow: Taoriba Biniati spends most of her practice time whacking a punching bag hanging from a breadfruit tree by the road side in the Pacific island nation of Kiribati. "I spar with the boys but the boys will not hit me which is a problem," the 18-year-old Biniati said. "I don't get real hard training because they won't hit me." Finding a female sparring partner close to home on Tabiteuea, one of Kiribati's string of 33 coral atolls, has proved impossible. It has taken a journey to the other side of the world for Biniati to enter a bout for the first time to fight a woman — at theCommonwealth Games. "There is no qualifying," she said. "I am the best female boxer in the country ... I am the only one."