Sachin Lier and bad Sport

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) finally announced the Credit Policy. All key rates including the CRR, repo rate and reverse repo rate were kept unchanged. The GDP growth forecast was lowered to 7.5%. The RBI admitted that moderating growth remains a concern. the Central Bank expects resumption of export growth during the next quarter. It also hopes that net capital flow will meet the external financial requirements. The RBI has decided to enhance liquidity if pressure on the market persists. Here are the key features of RBI’s Credit Policy: All key rates including CRR, repo rate and reverse repo rate unchanged SLR norms unchanged GDP Growth Forecast lowered to 7.5% Inflation target was unchanged at 7% Credit Growth target lowered to 20% from 29%

In a shocking development, former Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist, who can’t even be compared with the great Sachin Tendulkar, accused him of lying during the Sydney Test to save his team mate Harbhajan Singh. In his latest autobiography, “True Colors of My Life”, Adam Gilchrist has called Sachin Tendulkar “dishonest”, “liar” and “bad sport”. It could be a publicity stunt by Gilchrist to gain publicity for his book

The Indian Rupee continued to slide further, as it opened at an all-time-low of 50.15 against the US Dollar. Yesterday, it was closed at 49.81 against the USD. For the first time in history, the Rupee breached the psychological barrier of 50.00, causing panic in the market. As the trading progresses today, Rupee is feared to dip further.

Angry students protesting against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and its chief Raj Thackeray, set Motihari Railway Station on fire. Ironically, the mob fury was so high that GRP (Government Railway Police), RPF (Railway Protection Force) and police personnel fled from the spot, leaving the Railways Station at the mercy of rampaging students. Later, CRPF intervened and fired several rounds in the air to disperse the mob. The CRPF personnel had to resort to lathicharge and lobbed teargas shells to control the mob violence. Railway properties have been attacked elsewhere in Bihar for the third consecutive day. According to Railways, properties worth Rs. 5 – 7 crore have been destroyed by angry students. Several Bihar-bound trains including Rajdhani, Sampark Kranti and others have been cancelled, causing high inconvenience to the passengers. The passengers are not even able to get correct information regarding the cancellation, departure or reschedule of trains.

Even as the global economy has reached a bottom low, the Asia-Europe meeting will begin in Beijing to discuss important issues including the economic cooperation. India makes its debut at the ASEM with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh (an Economist himself) representing India. Dr. Manmohan Singh is expected to provide vital suggestion on how to handle the global economic crisis. The ASEM has 45 countries with China taking the centre stage. The ASEM group includes 27 EU countries, the European Commission, ASEAN (10 countries), India, Pakistan, Mongolia and ASEAN Secretariat.

A sport-loving country of over 1.3 billion people and great cricketers across the world are outraged over the latest remarks made by former Australian wicket keeper Adam Gilchrist. Adam Gilchrist, who was considered as a “saint” in modern day cricket, called legendary Sachin Tendulkar as “dishonest” and “bad sport” in his latest autobiography, “True Colours My Life” which will be released next week. In his book, “True Colours of My Life”, Adam Gilchrist showed his true colours by raking up the racism row between Harbhajan and Symnonds during the Sydney Test. He accused Sachin Tendulkar of lying and being dishonest. According to Adam Gilchrist, Harbhajan Singh had made a racial remark against Andrew Symonds, but was let off with mild punishment only because of Sachin Tendulkar’s “false testimony”. Adam Gilchrist, who retired from test cricket recently, not only questioned Sachin Tendulkar’s honesty, but also criticised Harbhajan, Indian team, Indian Board (BCCI) and Australian Board (Cricket Australia) over this issue. Gilchrist’s latest tirade against Sachin Tendulkar has upset millions of cricket fans across the globe. Since Gilchrist is the skipper of Hyderabad Deccan Chargers in the IPL, it would be interesting to see, what price he will have to pay for his “irresponsible” and “condemnable” outburst against a legend, who has nothing to prove in cricket.

 

Mission Olympic 2008

India Won 3 medals in Beijing 2008 olympic. Winners are Abhinav Bindra (Gold), Shushil Kumar (Bronze), Vijendra Singh (Bronze). The three great north Indians make a history aging in India.

Abhinav Bindra (Gold medalist): Men’s 10m Air Rifle.

Shushil Kumar (Bronze medalist): Men’s 66kg freestyle wrestling.

Vijendra Singh (Bronze Medalist): Men’s 75kg category Boxer.

Abhinav Bindra gave India its first individual Olympic gold medal, and ninth overall, when he won the 10 metres air rifle event at the Beijing Olympics on Monday morning. Before his feat India had won eight gold medals in hockey, six of them at successive Games, three silver medals (two in athletics and one in hockey) and five bronze medals from the Olympics. On Monday, Bindra was fourth after qualifying but had a brilliant final round and even hit a near perfect 10.8 on his last visit to pull in front of Henri Hakkinen of Finland, who dropped to bronze with a poor final shot of 9.7. A look at India’s medal winners at the Olympics: Medal Name Olympics Sport Event Silver Norman Pritchard 1900 Paris Athletics Men’s 200 metres Silver Norman Pritchard 1900 Paris Athletics Men’s 200 metres hurdles Gold National team 1928 Amsterdam Field hockey Men’s competition Gold National team 1932 Los Angeles Field hockey Men’s competition Gold National team 1936 Berlin Field hockey Men’s competition Gold National team 1948 London Field hockey Men’s competition Gold National team 1952 Helsinki Field hockey Men’s competition Bronze Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav 1952 Helsinki Wrestling Men’s freestyle bantamweight Gold National team 1956 Melbourne Field hockey Men’s competition Silver National team 1960 Rome Field hockey Men’s competition Gold National team 1964 Tokyo Field hockey Men’s competition Bronze National team 1968 Mexico Field hockey Men’s competition Bronze National team 1972 Munich Field hockey Men’s competition Gold National team 1980 Moscow Field hockey Men’s competition Bronze Leander Paes 1996 Atlanta Tennis Men’s singles Bronze Karnam Malleswari 2000 Sydney Weightlifting Women’s 69 kg Silver Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore 2004 Athens Shooting Men’s double trap Gold Abhinav Bindra 2008 Beijing Shooting Men’s 10m Air Rifle Bronze Sushil Kumar 2008 Beijing wrestling Men’s 66kg freestyle Bronze Vijendra Singh 2008 Beijing Boxing Men’s 75kg category

Low-cost airlines SpiceJet on Friday announced boxer Vijender Kumar can fly for life in their domestic flights in recognition of his historic feat of winning a bronze in Beijing Olympics. Vijender became the first ever Indian to win an Olympic medal, a bronze in 75kg category in Beijing Olympics. The airlines has earlier honoured Abhinav Bindra and Sushil Kumar with the same offers after their gold (in shooting) and bronze (in wrestling) winning feats respectively. Vijender can now travel free on SpiceJet’s domestic network all his life, SpiceJet Chief Commercial Officer Samyukth Sridharan said in a release. “We are delighted to welcome Vijender into our family of SpiceJetters by offering him unlimited free personal travel for life along with Abhinav Bindra and Sushil Kumar. Sportsmen like Vijender Kumar, Sushil Kumar and Abhinav Bindra have made us proud and will help more people to focus on their dream,” Sridharan said.

 

Vijender kumar punched out

India gets another bronze after loosing Vijendra Kumar in semi-final boxing ring 75 kg category.

Indian boxer Vijender Kumar settled for a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics after being out-punched by Cuban Emilio Correa Bayeaux in the semi-finals of the 75 kg category in Beijing on Friday.

The 22-year-old was simply out-thought by his Cuban rival who negated the height and reach advantage of Vijender by fighting from a long range to score an 8-5 win.
The world is now scared to face Indian boxers: Vijender

But even in defeat, Vijender has made history, becoming the only Indian boxer to clinch an Olympic medal.

Vijender, who also won bronze at the Doha Asian Games, struggled to connect his punches and was trailing from the very start.

In fact he failed to score a single point in the opening round, which ended 2-0 in the Cuban’s favour.

Forced to play the catch-up game, Vijender managed a slight recovery in the second round as he reduced the deficit to just one point ending the second round 3-4 behind.
Sushil Kumar grapples to glory

Bayeaux stuck to his strategy of back-paddling after landing punches, most of which were straight and more importantly precise.

The Cuban’s lightening fast reflexes thwarted Vijender’s attacks and the Indian once again failed to score in the third round.

The decider saw a desperate Vijender on the offensive but the Cuban survived the brief assault, although earning a two-point penalty for committing a foul, leaving the scoreline 8-5.

 

Medal tally 21 August

Beware if you see Airtel (Bharti Tele-Ventures Limited (BTVL))

I am using Airtel mobile prepaid connection. But after a year I am really frustrated with the service of Airtel. On the midnight of 20 August Airtel automatically activate Value Added Service (VAS) and deducted 30 Rupees from my account and when I try to talk customer care executive they disconnect the phone but after trying several times I am able to talk with one executive but this time mother*uker put me on hold, and after that my call is bard. So I am not able to communicate with customer care executive. They never told what the service was activated last night. In the mid July Airtel suffers with some problem (Still we don’t know what the actual cause is) and hence the result is that all outgoing and incoming calls are bard by the Airtel in Mumbai region since 17 July to 28 July 2008. All Airtel consumers suffers for this f**king action (Airtel consumers didn’t get any compensation against these fault. Because these fault is Airtels internal fault not by the consumers so Airtel need to be compensate all consumers in Mumbai Region). But during this period I bought new MTNL card. One example: Suppose that If my validity expires today then after 12 O’clock midnight all incoming and outgoing calls are bard by Airtel they didn’t wait for next morning. After thinking lot I choose MTNL. I think IDEA and Reliance is also good service provider. Hutch (Vodafone) and Airtel are worse service provider in the world. So I suggest my entire known and unknown person to think 1000 times when you are going to buy a new Airtel (prepaid or Postpaid) connection… Your Valuable comment is appreciated…

Rank	NOC Name	Men				Women				Open/Mixed				Total
		G	S	B	T	G	S	B	T	G	S	B	T	G	S	B	T
1	CHN – China	20	7	5	32	25	8	15	48			1	1	45	15	21	81
2	USA – United States	14	8	14	36	12	18	14	44	1	2		3	27	28	28	83
3	GBR – Great Britain	9	7	4	20	7	4	5	16	1		2	3	17	11	11	39
4	RUS – Russian Fed.	7	5	14	26	7	9	4	20					14	14	18	46
5	AUS – Australia	3	5	7	15	8	6	6	20		2		2	11	13	13	37
6	GER – Germany	5	5	4	14	3	2	4	9	3	1	2	6	11	8	10	29
7	KOR – Korea	5	6	3	14	2	4	3	9	1			1	8	10	6	24
8	JPN – Japan	4	4	4	12	4	2	5	11					8	6	9	23
9	ITA – Italy	2	5	4	11	4	2	4	10					6	7	8	21
10	UKR – Ukraine	3	3	4	10	2	2	4	8					5	5	8	18
11	NED – Netherlands	1		2	3	3	4	2	9	1	1		2	5	5	4	14
12	FRA – France	4	11	11	26		1	2	3			1	1	4	12	14	30
13	ESP – Spain	3	2	1	6		2	1	3	1	1		2	4	5	2	11
14	JAM – Jamaica	2			2	2	3		5					4	3		7
15	ROU – Romania			1	1	4	1	2	7					4	1	3	8
16	POL – Poland	3	4		7			1	1					3	4	1	8
17	NZL – New Zealand	1	1	5	7	2			2					3	1	5	9
18	SVK – Slovakia	2			2	1	1		2					3	1		4
19	CAN – Canada	1	4	2	7	1	1	3	5		1		1	2	6	5	13
20	KEN – Kenya	1	1	2	4	1	3		4					2	4	2	8
21	BLR – Belarus	1	2	4	7	1	1	4	6					2	3	8	13
22	CZE – Czech Republic	1	2		3	1	1		2					2	3		5
23	DEN – Denmark	1	1	1	3			1	1	1		1	2	2	1	3	6
23	PRK – DPR Korea			1	1	2	1	2	5					2	1	3	6
25	ETH – Ethiopia	1	1		2	1			1					2	1		3
26	SUI – Switzerland	2		2	4			1	1					2		3	5
27	GEO – Georgia	2		1	3			1	1					2		2	4
28	CUB – Cuba	1		3	4		6	3	9					1	6	6	13
29	KAZ – Kazakhstan	1	1	2	4		2	2	4					1	3	4	8
30	NOR – Norway	1	2		3		1	1	2			1	1	1	3	2	6
31	ZIM – Zimbabwe					1	3		4					1	3		4
32	AZE – Azerbaijan	1	2	1	4			1	1					1	2	2	5
32	SLO – Slovenia	1	1	1	3		1	1	2					1	2	2	5
34	TUR – Turkey	1		1	2		2		2					1	2	1	4
35	BRA – Brazil	1	1	3	5			2	2					1	1	5	7
36	BUL – Bulgaria			3	3	1	1		2					1	1	3	5
36	INA – Indonesia	1		2	3			1	1		1		1	1	1	3	5
38	FIN – Finland			1	1	1	1		2					1	1	1	3
39	EST – Estonia	1	1		2									1	1		2
39	MGL – Mongolia	1			1		1		1					1	1		2
39	THA – Thailand					1	1		2					1	1		2
42	ARG – Argentina	1			1			1	1			1	1	1		2	3
43	IND – India	1		1	2									1		1	2
43	MEX – Mexico	1			1			1	1					1		1	2
45	BRN – Bahrain	1			1									1			1
45	CMR – Cameroon					1			1					1			1
45	PAN – Panama	1			1									1			1
45	TUN – Tunisia	1			1									1			1
49	HUN – Hungary		4		4			1	1						4	1	5
50	SWE – Sweden		2	1	3		1		1						3	1	4
51	UZB – Uzbekistan		2	2	4			1	1						2	3	5
52	AUT – Austria		1		1			2	2						1	2	3
52	GRE – Greece		1		1			2	2						1	2	3
52	LTU – Lithuania			2	2		1		1						1	2	3
55	ALG – Algeria		1		1			1	1						1	1	2
55	COL – Colombia		1		1			1	1						1	1	2
55	CRO – Croatia		1		1			1	1						1	1	2
55	KGZ – Kyrgyzstan		1	1	2										1	1	2
55	SRB – Serbia		1	1	2										1	1	2
60	CHI – Chile		1		1										1		1
60	DOM – Dominican Rep.		1		1										1		1
60	ECU – Ecuador		1		1										1		1
60	MAS – Malaysia		1		1										1		1
60	POR – Portugal						1		1						1		1
60	RSA – South Africa		1		1										1		1
60	SIN – Singapore						1		1						1		1
60	TRI – Trinidad/Tobago		1		1										1		1
60	VIE – Vietnam		1		1										1		1
69	ARM – Armenia			5	5											5	5
70	TPE – Chinese Taipei			1	1			2	2							3	3
71	AFG – Afghanistan			1	1											1	1
71	EGY – Egypt			1	1											1	1
71	IRI – Iran			1	1											1	1
71	ISR – Israel			1	1											1	1
71	LAT – Latvia			1	1											1	1
71	MAR – Morocco							1	1							1	1
71	TJK – Tajikistan			1	1											1	1
71	TOG – Togo			1	1											1	1
71	VEN – Venezuela							1	1							1	1
Total:		114	114	134	362	98	99	110	307	9	9	9	27	221	222	253	696

 

Boxer Vijender ensures another medal for India

Boxer Vijender ensures another medal for India

Vijender Kumar ensured another medal for India at the Beijing Olympics when he beat Carlos Gongora of Ecuador in the quarter-finals of the 75 kg category in the boxing competition on Wednesday. The victory assures him and India at least a bronze medal. Earlier in the evening, just as the country celebrated wrestler Sushil Kumar’s bronze medal victory in men’s 66kg freestyle event, another Indian pugilist, Jitender Kumar, went down fighting to Russia’s Georgy Balakshin in the quarter-finals of the 51 kg category. ‘The world is now scared to face Indian boxers’ The Bhiwani pugilist, one of India’s best medal hopes at the Games, was ahead in all the four rounds and deservedly clinched a 9-4 verdict. The Ecuadorean had no answer to the Indian’s flurry of punches and trailed 1-4 in the second round. Vijender repeatedly scored with left-hand jabs and uppercuts to which Carlos had no answer. With the score reading 7-2 in Vijender’s favour after the penultimate round, the Ecuadorean needed to go all out in the fourth and final round. Though he did narrow the gap, Vijender’s evading tactics and good defence clinched him victory. Vijender won the opening round 2-0, the second round 2-1, the third 3-2 and 2-1. He made it to the last eight stage after overwhelming Angkhan Chomphuphuang of Thailand 13-3 in a lop-sided pre-quarter-final on Saturday night. Earlier in the competition, he thoroughly dominated his opening bout against Gambia’s Jack Badou, scoring a facile 13-2 win. If his recent performances are anything go by then expecting a medal from Vijender Singh at the Beijing Olympics should not come as a big surprise. After all, it was only a couple of months that the 22-year-old boxer thrashed reigning Olympic champion Bakhtiyar Artayev of Kazakhstan (12:7) in the quarter-finals of the President’s Cup. The 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne saw Vijender come to the fore, as he won the silver medal. He followed it up with a silver medal at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha. A back injury threatened to put his preparations off track, but the youngster recovered in time to strike gold at the Olympics qualifier in Kazakhstan. With as many as four boxers having qualified for the Olympics, Vijender believes that the pugilists could be India’s best bet for a medal at next month’s Games. He lost in the first round at the 2004 Olympics at Athens, but is confident of erasing that nightmare with a top-notch performance. ‘I believe this time we boxers have the best chance to win a medal at the Olympics,’ Vijender claims. Tell us about your preparations for the Olympics? The preparations are going on quite well. The climate is very hot here in Patiala, where the boxers going to the Olympics are having a camp, but it does not bothering us. We are preparing well. All the boys are fit and training well. Can you tell us in detail what exactly is going on at the camp, since there are only a couple of weeks left for the mega event? We are following a rigorous training schedule leading up the Olympics. All our coaches and officials from the Indian Boxing Federation are giving us good support and looking after us well. We have been having sparring fights amongst ourselves everyday, since the last three weeks. We have three sessions of training daily to ensure that our intensity level is always high. We all have our individual coaches, who give us personal attention. At the same time, we also look to guard against injury or any type of sickness. We take care on the food we intake and water we drink. Care has to be taken in everything we do. Any injury at this time will be very harmful. What are your targets for the Games? My target is to do well at the Olympics. I am hoping to do well, because I have the necessary experience. I believe this time we have the best chance for us to win a medal at the Olympics. That is why all the boxers are extra-motivated in training and looking forward to it. You did not do well at the last Olympics in 2004. What went wrong? I did not do well the last time because then I was young and did not have the experience. I have just made it to the senior level and qualified for the Olympics. Now I have the experience. I have won medals at major tournaments like the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. Recently, I also beat the 2004 Olympic Games gold medallist [Bakhtiyar] Artayev [in the AIBA President’s Cup], so I have done quite well at the international level. So, definitely, everyone can expect a good showing from me in Beijing. How has your journey been since that disappointing showing in Athens? Now I have quite a lot of experience after competing at the international level regularly. I just want to say that Indian boxers are no longer a weak lot; all are doing well at the international level. Our boxing graph is going up all the time and the rest of the world is now scared to face Indian boxers. Did you ever think that you would register such an easy victory (12-7) against the current Olympic champion Atrayev at the President’s Cup recently? It is never easy against any boxer when you step in the ring, because they can also punch. There is nothing like an easy opponent, but definitely there is the question of confidence that makes you believe that you can beat your opponent. Against Atrayev, I was quite confident going into the match and it helped. In fact, I was gunning for revenge against him because I lost to him at the [2006] Asian Games. So, it was quite special to beat him. I think that victory is the biggest achievement of my career so far. You won bronze in the 2006 Asian Games and then lost in the semi-finals of the President’s Cup despite beating the current Olympic champion in the previous round. Do you feel nerves get the better of you ahead of important matches? There is definitely some nervousness, but it is mainly the quarter-final matches, when you are fighting to get into the medal round; those are real tough matches. Once you enter the semi-final stages, and are assured of a medal, you get a bit relaxed. The bouts which I have lost in important tournaments have all been quite close ones. So you cannot say that nervousness was the only reason, because I have performed well but lost by just a couple of points. If you see that semi-final bout in the President’s Cup, which I lost, it was definitely interesting. At one stage I was leading by around four points, but somehow I was made to drop those four points and I still don’t know why. If you do not believe me, you can ask our chief coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu. People can stand outside the ring and make analysis, but only if one enters the rings can they know how tough it is. So have you been working on your mental toughness? Yes, I have been preparing to get mentally tough. I have been doing meditation and visualisation of my fights. I am doing everything I can to get my mental focus on track. How was the stint you underwent in Germany recently, when you practiced with German boxers and also took part in a few tournaments? All the top boxers from around Europe participated in the tournament in Germany. It was a good experience. There also I did well and won a gold in one of the events. In the process I also beat a German boxer. Overall, the experience in Germany was quite helpful. How would rate the Indian boxing team? We will have four boxers fighting for medals. I am very confident that they will do well. Where there is hope, there is definitely a way to achieve it. We are under pressure as we are also trying to live up to the expectations of the Indian public. Indian boxers are doing well, making a name on the world stage, so it becomes necessary that we win a medal in Beijing. The cream of the boxing world will be at the Olympics, but we are prepared to do well against them. Our main opponents will be from Kazakhstan, Cuba and Russia ; we will need to guard against them. Vijender stuns Olympic champion Artayev India’s Vijender Singh stunned the boxing fraternity by comprehensively defeating Olympic gold medallist Bakhtiyar Artayev of Kazakhstan in the quarter-finals of the AIBA President’s Cup boxing tournament in Taipei on Tuesday. Vijender won the bout on points 12:7 in the 75-kg category, thus proving that his recent performances have not been a flash in the pan. The first AIBA President’s Cup opened on Sunday in the Hsinchuang Stadium Taipei County in Sinjhuang City, Taipei. Only those who have qualified for the Beijing Olympics are eligible to participate. Many of the world’s top boxers are participating in the event, which finishes on May 31, some using the tournament as a final hit-out prior to the Olympic Games in Beijing, China. A total of 126 boxers from 26 countries are competing across the 11 weight categories with the semifinals and finals to be held after Thursday’s rest day on Friday and Saturday respectively. The Indian Contingent of four Olympic Qualified boxers had mixed fortunes at this prestigious run up to the Olympics. On the opening day Anthresh Lalit Lakra lost to Dmytro Bulenkov of Ukraine in the 57-kg category. On Tuesday, Jitender lost to Yunusov Anvar of Tajkistan on points 5:9 in a hard hitting exciting encounter. Dinesh Kumar is slated to meet Abbos Atoeve of Uzbekistan on Wednesday, who is the current world champion in 81-kg category. Vijender’s victory against the Olympic Gold Medalist is all the more sweet revenge as he had lost a very close bout against Artayev at the Doha Asian Games in December 2006 in the semi finals. However on Tuesday it was a different story. Vijender was leading throughout the four rounds and coach G S Sandhu was exuberant while describing Vijender’s victory. He stated that Vijender was as cool as a cucumber and flustered his famed opponent with deft movements and lightning fast straight punches and jabs to the front of the face and side of the body. The Kazakh could not read Vijender’s style and despite a last minute flurry and hectic trade of punches could not match Vijender in the ring. Vijender now meets Angkhan Chomphuphuang of Thailand in the semi-finals on Friday.

 

Medal Tally 20 August

Rank	NOC Name	Men				Women				Open/Mixed				Total
		G	S	B	T	G	S	B	T	G	S	B	T	G	S	B	T
1	CHN – China	20	7	5	32	23	7	13	43			1	1	43	14	19	76
2	USA – United States	14	7	13	34	11	17	14	42	1	2		3	26	26	27	79
3	GBR – Great Britain	8	6	4	18	7	4	3	14	1		2	3	16	10	9	35
4	RUS – Russian Fed.	6	5	14	25	5	9	4	18					11	14	18	43
5	AUS – Australia	3	5	7	15	8	6	5	19		1		1	11	12	12	35
6	GER – Germany	5	5	3	13	3	2	4	9	3	1	2	6	11	8	9	28
7	KOR – Korea	5	6	3	14	2	4	3	9	1			1	8	10	6	24
8	JPN – Japan	4	4	4	12	4	2	4	10					8	6	8	22
9	ITA – Italy	2	5	4	11	4	1	3	8					6	6	7	19
10	UKR – Ukraine	3	2	4	9	2	2	4	8					5	4	8	17
11	FRA – France	4	10	11	25		1	2	3			1	1	4	11	14	29
12	NED – Netherlands			2	2	3	4	2	9	1	1		2	4	5	4	13
13	ROU – Romania			1	1	4	1	2	7					4	1	3	8
14	ESP – Spain	3	2	1	6		1	1	2		1		1	3	4	2	9
15	POL – Poland	3	4		7			1	1					3	4	1	8
16	SVK – Slovakia	2			2	1	1		2					3	1		4
17	CAN – Canada	1	4	2	7	1	1	3	5		1		1	2	6	5	13
18	KEN – Kenya	1	1	2	4	1	3		4					2	4	2	8
19	CZE – Czech Republic	1	2		3	1	1		2					2	3		5
19	JAM – Jamaica	1			1	1	3		4					2	3		5
21	NZL – New Zealand		1	5	6	2			2					2	1	5	8
22	DEN – Denmark	1	1	1	3			1	1	1		1	2	2	1	3	6
22	PRK – DPR Korea			1	1	2	1	2	5					2	1	3	6
24	ETH – Ethiopia	1	1		2	1			1					2	1		3
25	SUI – Switzerland	2		2	4			1	1					2		3	5
26	GEO – Georgia	2			2			1	1					2		1	3
27	CUB – Cuba	1		3	4		5	2	7					1	5	5	11
28	BLR – Belarus	1	2	3	6		1	4	5					1	3	7	11
29	KAZ – Kazakhstan	1	1	2	4		2	2	4					1	3	4	8
30	ZIM – Zimbabwe					1	3		4					1	3		4
31	AZE – Azerbaijan	1	2	1	4			1	1					1	2	2	5
31	NOR – Norway	1	2		3			1	1			1	1	1	2	2	5
31	SLO – Slovenia	1	1	1	3		1	1	2					1	2	2	5
34	INA – Indonesia	1		2	3			1	1		1		1	1	1	3	5
35	BUL – Bulgaria			2	2	1	1		2					1	1	2	4
36	FIN – Finland			1	1	1	1		2					1	1	1	3
37	EST – Estonia	1	1		2									1	1		2
37	MGL – Mongolia	1			1		1		1					1	1		2
39	BRA – Brazil	1		3	4			2	2					1		5	6
40	ARG – Argentina	1			1			1	1					1		1	2
41	BRN – Bahrain	1			1									1			1
41	CMR – Cameroon					1			1					1			1
41	IND – India	1			1									1			1
41	PAN – Panama	1			1									1			1
41	THA – Thailand					1			1					1			1
41	TUN – Tunisia	1			1									1			1
47	HUN – Hungary		4		4			1	1						4	1	5
48	SWE – Sweden		2		2		1		1						3		3
49	TUR – Turkey			1	1		2		2						2	1	3
50	UZB – Uzbekistan		1	2	3			1	1						1	3	4
51	AUT – Austria		1		1			2	2						1	2	3
51	GRE – Greece		1		1			2	2						1	2	3
51	LTU – Lithuania			2	2		1		1						1	2	3
54	ALG – Algeria		1		1			1	1						1	1	2
54	COL – Colombia		1		1			1	1						1	1	2
54	CRO – Croatia		1		1			1	1						1	1	2
54	KGZ – Kyrgyzstan		1	1	2										1	1	2
54	SRB – Serbia		1	1	2										1	1	2
59	CHI – Chile		1		1										1		1
59	ECU – Ecuador		1		1										1		1
59	MAS – Malaysia		1		1										1		1
59	POR – Portugal						1		1						1		1
59	RSA – South Africa		1		1										1		1
59	SIN – Singapore						1		1						1		1
59	TRI – Trinidad/Tobago		1		1										1		1
59	VIE – Vietnam		1		1										1		1
67	ARM – Armenia			5	5											5	5
68	TPE – Chinese Taipei							2	2							2	2
69	EGY – Egypt			1	1											1	1
69	IRI – Iran			1	1											1	1
69	LAT – Latvia			1	1											1	1
69	MAR – Morocco							1	1							1	1
69	MEX – Mexico							1	1							1	1
69	TJK – Tajikistan			1	1											1	1
69	TOG – Togo			1	1											1	1
Total:		107	107	124	338	91	92	101	284	8	8	8	24	206	207	233	646

 

Beijing 2008: Medal tally

Rk	NOC Name	Men				Women				Open/Mixed				Total
		G	S	B	T	G	S	B	T	G	S	B	T	G	S	B	T
1	CHN – China	8	3	3	14	9	1	2	12	0	0	0	0	17	4	5	26
2	USA – United States	7	1	5	13	3	6	6	15	0	1	0	1	10	8	11	29
3	KOR – Korea	4	4	1	9	1	2	0	3	0	0	0	0	5	6	1	12
4	ITA – Italy	1	4	0	5	3	0	2	5	0	0	0	0	4	4	2	10
5	AUS – Australia	0	0	4	4	4	1	2	7	0	1	0	1	4	2	6	12
6	JPN – Japan	2	1	1	4	2	0	2	4	0	0	0	0	4	1	3	8
7	GER – Germany	2	1	0	3	0	0	2	2	2	0	0	2	4	1	2	7
8	RUS – Russian Fed.	2	2	3	7	0	5	0	5	0	0	0	0	2	7	3	12
9	GBR – Great Britain	0	1	0	1	2	1	1	4	0	0	2	2	2	2	3	7
10	GEO – Georgia	2	0	0	2	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	1	3
11	CZE – Czech Republic	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	2
12	FRA – France	1	6	2	9	0	1	1	2	0	0	0	0	1	7	3	11
13	PRK – DPR Korea	0	1	2	3	1	1	2	4	0	0	0	0	1	2	4	7
14	AZE – Azerbaijan	1	2	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	0	3
15	NED – Netherlands	0	0	1	1	1	1	2	4	0	0	0	0	1	1	3	5
16	SVK – Slovakia	1	0	0	1	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	2
17	SUI – Switzerland	1	0	2	3	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	3	4
18	ROU – Romania	0	0	1	1	1	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	3
19	ESP – Spain	1	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	2
19	FIN – Finland	0	0	1	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	2
21	IND – India	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1
21	THA – Thailand	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1
23	ZIM – Zimbabwe	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	3
24	CUB – Cuba	0	0	1	1	0	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	3
25	HUN – Hungary	0	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	2
25	SWE – Sweden	0	1	0	1	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	2
27	ALG – Algeria	0	1	0	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	2
27	AUT – Austria	0	1	0	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	2
27	KAZ – Kazakhstan	0	0	1	1	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	2
27	KGZ – Kyrgyzstan	0	1	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	2
31	COL – Colombia	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
31	MGL – Mongolia	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
31	NOR – Norway	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
31	SLO – Slovenia	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
31	TUR – Turkey	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
31	VIE – Vietnam	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
37	UKR – Ukraine	0	0	3	3	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	4
38	BRA – Brazil	0	0	2	2	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	3
39	ARM – Armenia	0	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2
39	BLR – Belarus	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2
39	INA – Indonesia	0	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2
39	TPE – Chinese Taipei	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2
43	ARG – Argentina	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
43	BUL – Bulgaria	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
43	CRO – Croatia	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
43	EGY – Egypt	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
43	MEX – Mexico	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
43	TJK – Tajikistan	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
43	TOG – Togo	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
43	UZB – Uzbekistan	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
Total:		35	35	45	115	30	30	35	95	2	2	2	6	67	67	82	216

 

Beijing 2008: Medal tally

Rk	NOC Name	Men				Women				Open/Mixed				Total
		G	S	B	T	G	S	B	T	G	S	B	T	G	S	B	T
1	CHN – China	8	3	3	14	9	1	2	12	0	0	0	0	17	4	5	26
2	USA – United States	7	1	5	13	3	6	6	15	0	1	0	1	10	8	11	29
3	KOR – Korea	4	4	1	9	1	2	0	3	0	0	0	0	5	6	1	12
4	ITA – Italy	1	4	0	5	3	0	2	5	0	0	0	0	4	4	2	10
5	AUS – Australia	0	0	4	4	4	1	2	7	0	1	0	1	4	2	6	12
6	JPN – Japan	2	1	1	4	2	0	2	4	0	0	0	0	4	1	3	8
7	GER – Germany	2	1	0	3	0	0	2	2	2	0	0	2	4	1	2	7
8	RUS – Russian Fed.	2	2	3	7	0	5	0	5	0	0	0	0	2	7	3	12
9	GBR – Great Britain	0	1	0	1	2	1	1	4	0	0	2	2	2	2	3	7
10	GEO – Georgia	2	0	0	2	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	1	3
11	CZE – Czech Republic	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	2
12	FRA – France	1	6	2	9	0	1	1	2	0	0	0	0	1	7	3	11
13	PRK – DPR Korea	0	1	2	3	1	1	2	4	0	0	0	0	1	2	4	7
14	AZE – Azerbaijan	1	2	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	0	3
15	NED – Netherlands	0	0	1	1	1	1	2	4	0	0	0	0	1	1	3	5
16	SVK – Slovakia	1	0	0	1	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	2
17	SUI – Switzerland	1	0	2	3	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	3	4
18	ROU – Romania	0	0	1	1	1	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	3
19	ESP – Spain	1	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	2
19	FIN – Finland	0	0	1	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	2
21	IND – India	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1
21	THA – Thailand	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1
23	ZIM – Zimbabwe	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	3
24	CUB – Cuba	0	0	1	1	0	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	3
25	HUN – Hungary	0	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	2
25	SWE – Sweden	0	1	0	1	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	2
27	ALG – Algeria	0	1	0	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	2
27	AUT – Austria	0	1	0	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	2
27	KAZ – Kazakhstan	0	0	1	1	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	2
27	KGZ – Kyrgyzstan	0	1	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	2
31	COL – Colombia	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
31	MGL – Mongolia	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
31	NOR – Norway	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
31	SLO – Slovenia	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
31	TUR – Turkey	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
31	VIE – Vietnam	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
37	UKR – Ukraine	0	0	3	3	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	4
38	BRA – Brazil	0	0	2	2	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	3
39	ARM – Armenia	0	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2
39	BLR – Belarus	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2
39	INA – Indonesia	0	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2
39	TPE – Chinese Taipei	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2
43	ARG – Argentina	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
43	BUL – Bulgaria	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
43	CRO – Croatia	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
43	EGY – Egypt	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
43	MEX – Mexico	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
43	TJK – Tajikistan	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
43	TOG – Togo	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
43	UZB – Uzbekistan	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
Total:		35	35	45	115	30	30	35	95	2	2	2	6	67	67	82	216

 

Beijing approves Olympics ‘cheer’

Beijing Olympic chiefs are introducing an official cheer for patriotic spectators to spur on Team China at the Games, Chinese media reports. The authoritative, four-part Olympic cheer, accompanied by detailed instructions, will be promoted on TV, in schools and with a poster campaign. It involves clapping twice, giving the thumbs-up, clapping twice more and then punching the air with both arms. The cheer is accompanied by chants of “Olympics”, “Let’s go” and “China”. The Beijing Olympic Organising Committee has hired 30 cheering squads who will show spectators how it is done at Games stadia, reports Xinhua state media. ‘Civilized cheering’ A committee official said the simple chants and gestures were designed to help spectators cheer for their favourite athletes in a smooth, civilized manner. The Ministry of Education is also arranging special training sessions in schools for the 800,000 students who are expected to attend the Games. Li Ning, president of the Beijing Etiquette Institute, told the Beijing News that the cheer was in line with general international principles for cheering, while at the same time possessing characteristics of Chinese culture.

 

Police out as torch hits Xinjiang

Security was tight as the Olympic torch began passing through China’s mainly Muslim Xinjiang region, on a highly sensitive part of its trip to Beijing. Police were out in force as the flame left People’s Square in the capital, Urumqi, on its run around the city. The torch will spend three days in the region, which is home to around eight million Muslim Uighur people. Ties between Chinese authorities and the Uighurs are tense. Officials fear separatists could target the relay. The relay has been moved forward by a week, in an apparent attempt to avoid unrest. The torch’s visit to another potential hotspot, Tibet’s main city, Lhasa, has also been moved up. Terror allegations In Urumqi, very tight security was put in place ahead of the relay. Police carried out vehicle checks and set up checkpoints in the normally busy city. Firecrackers were banned and many local people asked to stay away, reports said. People entering People’s Square had to pass through metal detectors while police searched their bags, AFP news agency reported. The majority of the crowd that gathered in the square were Han Chinese, the agency said. Many Uighurs resent the large-scale influx of Han Chinese settlers into the resource-rich region. Some groups are fighting to establish an independent Islamic nation, leading to periodic violence in Xinjiang. Beijing accuses the groups of links to al-Qaeda and this year claims to have foiled at least two Xinjiang-based plots targeting the Olympic Games. But human rights groups accuse the Chinese authorities of using the alleged terror links as a way of cracking down on the independence movement.

CHINA’S UIGHURS Ethnically Turkic Muslims, mainly in Xinjiang Made bid for independent state in 1940s Sporadic violence in Xinjiang since 1991 Uighurs worried about Chinese immigration and erosion of traditional culture