Sardar to be flag-bearer
Hockey team captain Sardar Singh has been chosen as India’s flag-bearer for the Asian Games opening ceremony to be held at the main stadium here on Friday. Athletics Federation of India (AFI) president Adille Sumariwalla, the Chef-de-mission of the Indian contingent announced the decision at the main press centre (MPC). “It was a unanimous decision. There were several options but all of them refused to become the flag-bearer since they have their events within one or two days after the opening ceremony and they wanted to concentrate on their events,” Sumariwalla said. The maximum size of the contingents for the opening ceremony has been set at 130 but Sumariwalla said it would be difficult for India to complete even the 130 mark as most of the athletes want to rest before their events start in a couple of days.
No buzz
When you enter a city that is hosting a big event where athletes from 45 countries are participating, you expect every nook and corner to be screaming with the banners welcoming the guests. Strangely, there is no such buzz here in Incheon (South Korea), the 17th Asian Games host city. Apart from the Incheon airport and the venues, it is difficult to detect the signs that may suggest that an event of Asian Games’ magnitude is being organized in the city.
Even a day before the Games, the city seems uninterested. There are reports that the ticket sales have been sluggish — only 18 per cent tickets have been sold so far. But the sale is expected to pick up once the action starts with a grand opening ceremony on Friday at the main stadium.
Bindra used to the disappointment
Incheon: India’s only individual Olympic gold medallist, Abhinav Bindra has expressed anguish and disappointment over the seeming apathy of the country’s sports administrators, saying he has “got used” to such things. He wanted to check into the Asiad Games Village here early but could not make it till yesterday evening, two days after his preferred date, as the event organisers were unable to send accreditation cards for Bindra and other members of the Indian shooting squad because the national federation had not sent their entries on time. The rifle ace was in for disappointment on arrival too, as no Indian official was at the airport to receive him and hand over his accreditation card. He had to complete customs formalities for the release of his equipment on his own. “What can I doIJ But it would have been nice to come in early,” Bindra said. He added: “I have got used to these things. Nothing surprises me anymore.”
Johny, Renjith in, men’s team dropped
Patiala: The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) on Wednesday cleared triple jumpers Mayookha Johny and Renjith Maheshwary for the Incheon Asian Games after they were cleared in the trials held at NIS, here on Wednesday. However, the men’s 4x400m relay team couldn’t make it to Incheon after they again performed below-par at the final trials today. Renjith, who got six attempts had the best leap of 16.61m in his fifth attempt as he crossed the 16m barrier during his last three attempts. As far as Mayookha is concerned, her first attempt of the three was her best at 13.56m.