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Team India winners of 2007 Twenty20 World Cup and Misbah’s mistake
Congratulations to Team India for this wonderful achievement.
While joining the celebrations, we are proving once again that Cricket Victory is the only real sporting victory that is counted in India. This can be seen by the barrage of gifts and prize money that is flowing and that will flow on and on to the
players. Dhoni did a great thing and as he rightly talked to the press during the presentation ceremony – “I opted to give an opportunity to a player who wants to prove in front of the International Cricketing Community. Win or Fail did not matter me.”
It was the best possible leadership example alive and online in front of millions of viewers. Very seldom you will find a leader taking a courageous decision such as this one in a crunch situation. He was well supported through out by his team members. This is Team Spirit at its best. Many more prizes await you Team India when you return tomorrow.
And the joke part of this victory is expressed below here by an email forward just now received by me. It goes like this:
T20 FINAL – MISBAH’S MISTAKE!!
MISBAH THOUGHT HE WAS SENDING THE BALL TO A PLACE WHERE THERE WAS NO ONE. HE DID NOT KNOW THAT THERE IS A MALAYALI IN EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLD!!!
Have a great day and God Bless,
Ramesh Menon
25092007
Abu Dhabi to Durban, Sharma on a roll
Abu Dhabi to Durban, Sharma on a roll
By K.R. Nayar, Staff Reporter GULF NEWS Published: September 21, 2007, 23:15
Dubai: Abu Dhabi was the launching pad for India’s latest hero who knocked out South Africa from the Twenty20 World Championship on Thursday.
Rohit Sharma, representing India ‘A’, had cracked a 56 against UAE and a sparkling 62 against Pakistan at the Zayed Cricket Stadium to walk away with the Best Batsman award.
It were these knocks that fetched him a place among the probables for the Champions Trophy and later won him a place in the Indian team for the tour of Ireland in June 2007.
Speaking about Sharma’s superb knock in Abu Dhabi, UAE wicketkeeper Abdul Rahman said: “Sharma exhibited his fine talent during his knock against us for the India ‘A’ team. I found him the most talented batsman among the youngsters that played for India ‘A’ in the match.”
Incidentally, it was Rahman who caught him off the bowling of Zahid Shah for 56.
“Sharma possessed lovely drives. His on-drives were a treat to watch. It was evident that he would soon make it to the Indian senior team,” added Rahman.
Stunning knock
On Thursday, in Durban, Sharma stunned the South Africans with a 50 off 40 balls with 7 fours and 2 sixes. He also brilliantly ran out Justin Kemp to walk away with the Man-of-the-Match award.
Speaking to Gulf News in November 2006, Kiran More, the former Indian selector, had said: “Sharma is one of the finest batsmen in the country today and will soon clinch a top spot in Indian batting line-up.”
Sharma, though born in Nagpur, lives in Borivli, a Mumbai suburb. He is a product of tennis ball cricket who went on to play for the Mumbai under-14 and under-17 teams, before making it to the Indian under-19 and India ‘A’ teams.
Sharma is also considered as a specialist batsman for the Twenty20 format. He became the first Indian batsman to hit a century in this shortest version of the game.
In the first ever official Twenty20 match played at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, between Mumbai and Gujarat, Sharma had cracked an unbeaten 101.
World’s fastest bowler is an Indian
World’s fastest woman bowler is an Indian
TNN / Partha Bhaduri & Sumit Mukherjee
JOHANNESBURG/KOLKATA, September 11: When the jet-lagged Indian men’s cricket team landed in Jo’burg and realised they had to attend the ICC awards function, a groan went up. They’d have preferred to rest, especially since not one of them was in the running for any of the awards.
Then the big night came around. Skipper MS Dhoni was called to present a trophy, and suddenly he was applauding. The other members of Team India were up on their feet too, putting their hands together for a player who played a key role in India’s historic Test series win in England – Jhulan Goswami.
Jhulan who? Never heard the name? Few have. In a country that’s cricket-mad, the world’s fastest bowler in women’s cricket has gone largely unrecognised. Till Monday night, when the strapping 24-year-old from the backwaters of Chakdah (in West Bengal’s Nadia district) was declared ICC’s Woman Player of the Year.
“Everyone thinks women should not play cricket. I just hope this award which I got when no cricketer from the men’s team was nominated makes news,” she told TOI after her acceptance speech.
Clear shades of Chak De. While the men’s team was feted for its Test series triumph in England, a similar feat by the women last year went unnoticed. That series had presented the rare sight of opposing batsmen backing away as an Indian pacer charged in. 
In fact, England captain Charlotte Edwards, who had become Jhulan’s bunny, dropped herself down the order so she wouldn’t have to face her nemesis straightaway.
Edwards’s woes can be traced back to the boys in Jhulan’s neighbourhood when she was growing up. They wouldn’t let her bowl in their matches, because she was too slow. Edwards paid the price years later.
Bin Shafya strikes gold for the UAE
Bin Shafya strikes gold for the UAE
By M. Satya Narayan, Staff Reporter GULF NEWS Published: September 08, 2007, 23:14
Alcochette, Portugal: Mubarak Khalifa Bin Shafya gave the UAE its fourth successive individual gold medal in the European Open Championship which concluded in dramatic fashion late yesterday.
The UAE’s Asian Games bronze medallist Sultan Bin Sulayem crossed the finish line, first but had the misfortune of seeing his horse failing to clear the final vet check.
Mubarak’s triumph follows the wins in 2001 by Shaikh Rashid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, 2003 gold medal by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and in 2005 by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Finishing second was French rider Jean Phillipe Francas while the Dubai-based Spanish couple of Jaume Punti Dachs and Maria Alcarez were third and fourth, respectively.
Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum finished fifth.
Earlier, Shaikh Mayed Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s horse Kevin De Narthou slipped and fell just half a kilometre from the end while Shaikh Rashid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s horse was eliminated in the penultimate stage with 27 kms remaining for the finish.
Earlier in the day, the UAE riders looked set for a comfortable golden double after completing four of the six stages.
Five of the six-member UAE team claimed the top five positions after the first stage in the 160-km ride which has attracted a strong field of 88 competitors from 20 countries.
The UAE came close to capturing all six positions at the top, but Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the 2002 world champion, suffered a setback when his horse lost one of its shoes early in the ride. Shaikh Ahmad lost crucial time until a farrier was rushed to the scene. He finished in 78th place but soon progressed to 12th place.
In the team event, the UAE had then mustered a healthy lead of 60 minutes over traditional rivals France and looked headed for a double triumph in the individual and open categories of the Championship.
While some leading riders from the host country Portugal fell by the wayside in the first half of the ride, Bahrain’s Shaikh Duaij Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Saudi Arabia’s Prince Abdullah and France’s Sophie Arnaud also made an early exit.Earlier in the morning, the 88 riders battled foggy conditions and a light drizzle to start the four-star event in which the UAE were the defending champions.
POSITIONS
1. Mubarak Khalifa Al Shafya (UAE) Horse: Zakah Zahara 8:22.30
2. Jean Phillippe Francas (France/ Hanaba du Bois) 8:23.12
3. Jaume Punti Dachs (Spain/ Elvis Ahb) 8:23.18
4. Maria Alvarez Ponton (Spain/ Nobby) 8:23.43
5. Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Kaysand Farrazah) 8:25.07.
UAE the team to beat in endurance event
Shaikh Rashid Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum , Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum and Shaikh Mayed Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum will lead the UAE’s challenge, along with Sultan Bin Sulayem in tomorrow’s 160-km endurance ride in the World Endurance Games.
UAE the team to beat in endurance event
By M. Satya Narayan, Staff Reporter GULF NEWS Published: September 06, 2007, 23:53
Alcochette, Portugal: Nearly 90 riders from 20 countries will start tomorrow’s 160-km FEI European Open Endurance Championship here about 25 kms away from the capital Lisbon and the team to beat will be the United Arab Emirates.
Ever since the UAE won its first-ever international championship, which was here in Portugal when the 1999 European Open championship was jointly held with Spain, the UAE riders have dominated the open category.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, was the architect of that first win in 1999 when the UAE won the team gold and after that the UAE has virtually dominated the Open championships.
Shaikh Mohammad himself won the 2003 individual gold in 2003 while Shaikh Rashid Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum won the individual gold in 2001 and now Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum starts as defending champion having won the gold in Compiegne, France in 2005.
Medal fight
Shaikh Mohammad announced the team last month which includes Shaikh Rashid Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum, Shaikh Mayed Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum, Sultan Bin Sulayem and Mubarak Khalifa Bin Shafya. The 160-km European Championship will have medals on offer for the Open event as well as the European event and the UAE will be challenged by traditional European powers France, Italy, Germany and hosts Portugal while two other GCC countries, Bahrain and Qatar along with the US add another dimension to the medal fight.
Ali Moosa, Endurance Head at the Dubai Equestrian Club said the UAE horses have been based in Newmarket through the summer and have been well prepared for the event.
The UAE, who last swept honours in the Doha Asiad winning the team gold and the individual gold and bronze are once again expected to be a strong force here.
Strong advantage
While the final team composition and the horses will be known today after the final pre-event veterinary check, the championship has attracted a strong field of 90 entries with at least 14 countries in the team championship.
Hosts Portugal will have a strong advantage as they will have 12 runners in the fray while all other countries will have just six.
Italian and former world silver medallist Fausto Fiorucci, who won a 160-km event at the same venue last year is back on the same horse Jaifar.
“It is really hot and one can expect a fast race. When I won we averaged around 18 kmph and you can expect a faster race tomorrow. The UAE will be the team to beat.”
Paul Branco, Vice President of the Portuguese Equestrian Federation said, “The venue is one of the best. With the river Tejo along with its estuary and marshes, large stretches of paddy field with cattle and the famous cork-oak trees all make it a scenic venue.”
Tomorrow’s ride will get off to a mass start and will be run in six phases of 34.5 kms, 21.75kms, 27.50kms, 21.75kms, 27.50kms and 27kms.
The art of keeping cool, 300,000 & 10 cents goal and taxi taxi where are you?
I am happy this evening. There are several reasons behind. First one is the fact that I was able to complete a topic which was supposed to be published a few days before. Although the idea was there in my mind for this long, the flow of thoughts was not there. I was able to post it and email you that yesterday.
The second one was the fighting performance of the Indian Team in the 6th One Day International match at Oval stadium in England. Indian Team played excellent cricket and kept their cool till the last over. Sachin Tendulkar and Saurav Ganguly played well to give India a good start and took India into to a comfort zone. It was sad to see Tendulkar getting out in the 90s for the second time in this series. Those who play cricket, competitive cricket knows the feeling and hard work required to make those many runs. However, it was Robin Uthappa, who was the hero of the game for India. Not many times, we see players showing the guts to attack at times of crisis and he showed that he has tremendous determination in him. Each of his shots were examples of it. Power, placement and guts. This is what we lacked in the games before and which was there in this game through Uthappa today. Not even for a second, he showed panic in his eyes and throughout it was glowing with optimism and focus. Well done Uthappa. You set the series to a thriller and we all look forward now to the final match of the series at the Lords stadium. I am sure that there is one person who is waiting patiently to play in that game. It is none other than Sreesanth. I feel he will get the opportunity to play in that crucial game. It is also my wish to see many active people within the team than docile ones. It is my gut feeling and I am waiting to see that happen. It’s a place where the ball seems and I am sure he will be able to utilise the situation, keeps his cool and do establish a permanent position in the team if given this opportunity. Saurav Ganguly also deserves extra praise in his determination and fighting spirit. What a come back he has made from his time of elimination to now! With the bat and the ball, he is showing leading examples to all youngsters. In one of the matches, his bowling average at one stage were looking like 7 overs 4 maiden 3 runs and 2 wickets or something like that. Well done, you set the right example to all those who get sidelined at times due to various reasons and remind them that if you stay focussed, victory will be yours. If not today, definitely tomorrow.
300,000 and 10 cents goal
I was writing about the status of Indian Football team members in comparison with the cricketers in my write up of yesterday. Just read that the Kerala government has awarded Rs.300,000 and 10 cents of lands for the striker of Indian team N. Pradeep for his Nehru Cup winning goal in the tournament final. That is a good sign. But it should not remain there. We should promote all other games so that more and more youth get interested to come out and participate in competitive sports.
Taxi, taxi where are you?
The taxi problems and my pursuit to find a solution for Abu Dhabi road users continues…. If you wish to support me in this, log on to Gulf News (http://www.gulfnews.com/opinion/letters/letters.html) page and express your own comments. Pass it on to any of your colleagues or friends who is experiencing this situation these days while coming and going to office. If we don’t express our problems, no one will realise it.
God Bless and have a great day,
Ramesh Menon
06092007
Military precision
Military precision
Kelly Crane, Staff Reporter/GULF NEWS Published: August 29, 2007, 23:46
The term “bootcamp” generally conjures up images of outdoor, military-style fitness training, with sergeants barking orders at, more often than not, unfit new recruits who, by the looks on their faces, are already totally regretting what they signed up for.
Well, you wouldn’t be far wrong.
So remind me, why do people enrol to be a part of this madness? The answer is simple – it’s torture, but it works.
Bootcamp training is certainly not for the faint-hearted, but advocates are effusive about the fitness benefits and the entire experience, and this style of training is growing in popularity.
But being Dubai we have to go that one step further. Instead of just a decision as to whether you’d like someone to yell at you and make you do sit-ups at a time even before you normally wake up, Dubai gives you the opportunity to pick whether you’d like to partake in this madness in either the hot or the cold. Well, sit tight for just a minute while tabloid! does the research for you by checking out boot camp in the snow and sand right here in the city.
The verdict
Admittedly, I didn’t do somersaults when my alarm went off at 5.20am on a Sunday morning and I knew what lay ahead. But at 7am, when it was all over, it was worth the pain (or at least I think it was – I may have been so exhausted, I was delirious).
I reluctantly signed up for the Military Bootcamp and met Corey Oliver (who is too fit for words) at the Open Beach, behind the Village shopping mall on Beach Road in Jumeirah.
That’s when it really hit me: there wasn’t just one stupidly-energetic and overly-fit person to bark at me – there were four. I nearly died on the spot.
So, is it hard?
Yes, but not impossible. The thing which first struck me about bootcamp was the fact there were people of all levels of fitness involved.
From super-fit rugby players getting super, super fit in the run-up to the start of the new season, to guys and girls who have not lifted a finger nor got out of breath for years.
It was wake-up time and it happened in a flash. Somehow, these guys seem to whip you into a state of utter denial, where you really do believe in yourself and what your body is capable of.
Even the guys who said they would normally cook up a million excuses as to why they can’t work out – “my back is stiff”, “I’m too busy” or “too old” – found themselves immersed in the passion for the team-building exercise that bootcamps promote.
Don’t be afraid
Although the team pulls together as one, bootcamp works for each individual because you all push yourself to your own personal breaking point, whether that is 10 sit-ups or 100.
Everyone encourages each other and the sessions are broken down to work on different aspects of fitness across the week, so you are never working the same muscles too much.
T-shirts are issued according to rank – solider, commando or elite – and the guys are always on hand to offer advice.
Sessions involve a warm-up and cool-down, bodyweight exercises, running, stretching, relays and exercises with a partner.
Boxing and all the old basics, like sit-ups and push-ups, lunges, along with rope running, rifle carrying and a good old run, certainly keep your heart racing throughout.
Training “al fresco” is also invigorating, especially when your team pick up penalties along the way which result in you having to do the usual routine in the puddles at the beach. Yes, be warned – Corey and the boys will ensure results but they won’t let you get away with much.
Military Bootcamp
Who: Physical Advantage (fitness solutions).
Where: Open beach (behind the Village), sunset beach (next to the Burj Al Arab) and Safa Park.
When: Starting from September 2: Course One: Sunday 6am, Tuesday 6am, Thursday 6am.
Course Two: Sunday 8pm, Tuesday 8pm, Thursday 8pm.
Course Three: Monday 6am, Wednesday 6am, Friday 6am.
Course Four: Monday 8pm, Wednesday 8pm, Friday 6pm.
What: Physical Advantage, based at The Fairmont Dubai, began bootcamps in Dubai on January 29, 2007.
Military Bootcamp has been scientifically designed to achieve optimum results in the minimum time, no matter what your current fitness level is. The basic programme consists of three 60-minute sessions a week over four weeks.
Why: To lose weight, get fit and tone every muscle in your body.
Contact: Corey on 050-8487940, email corey@physicaladvantage.ae or visit http://www.physicaladvantage.ae
Cost: Dh950 for 12 sessions.
There’s snow way
The Renegade Bootcamp team has just introduced sessions which take place in the snow at Ski Dubai. Personal trainer Ziggy Darwish said the sessions have been well received and can offer some clients welcome relief from the summer heat.
He said: “The sessions can only be described as refreshing even though they are still hard work because it is a great deal of uphill work.
“It is cold at first but the body works harder in the cold so you soon warm up.”
Ski Dubai courses are priced at Dh650 for six sessions or Dh120 for one.
Nutrition
Athletes who want a winning edge should take in the right nutrition. When you drink enough water and eat a balanced diet, your body can make energy efficiently and fuel top performance. It also enables you to make the most of your athletic talents and gain more strength, power and endurance when you train. Base your diet on a variety of factors including your age, size and physical condition, and the type of exercise you are doing.
Hydration
Water is the most important factor in sport nutrition. It makes up about 60 per cent of body weight and is involved in almost every bodily process.
Your body cannot make or store water, so you must replace what you eliminate (through urine and sweat).
Everyone should drink at least two quarts (eight cups) of water each day and athletes need more. Drink plenty of fluids before, during and after sport to stay hydrated and avoid overheating. When you work out or compete, especially in hot weather, try to closely match the amount of fluid you drink with the amount you lose to sweat.
Impressive show by UAE girls in karate championship
Impressive show by UAE girls in karate championship
By Alaric Gomes, Staff Reporter/GULF NEWS Published: August 29, 2007, 23:46
Dubai: The UAE girls karate team walked away with six medals at the end of the open karate meet that concluded in Grado, Italy yesterday.
Led by UAE skipper, Shaikha Maitha Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the team picked up one gold, four silver and one bronze at the day-long competition.
Nearly 650 athletes from 16 countries participated in the competition that was held to mark the end of a ten-day camp.
More than 150 athletes took part in the Kata competition, while the rest participated in the Kumite competition.
The UAE’s medal hunt was led by young Haya Juma, who won the individual gold in the Kata competition.
She also picked up a silver medal in the individual Kumite in the under 45 kgs category for beginners.
Inspirational role
Shaikha Maitha herself was inspirational, winning the silver in the over 60 kgs category.
Two more silver medals came from Lana Ali in the under 51 kgs Cadets category and Mai Omran in the under 70 kgs Cadets category, while Noor Nasser bagged a bronze in the under 55kgs beginners category.
The UAE team attended special training sessions with the Italian national squad at the end of the competition. The team is scheduled to arrive in Dubai today.
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