(Thursday, November 11, 2010)
The ICC rang in the 100 day countdown of the ICC Cricket World Cup, 2011, by announcing the appointment of cricketing legend, Sachin Tendulkar, as the official event ambassador.
Throughout his long and successful career to date, Tendulkar has inspired hundreds of millions of cricket lovers around the world with his personality, skill, temperament and love for the game.
Since making his debut for India in 1989 at the tender age of 16, on the field he has scored more international runs than anyone else in the history while also adhering faithfully to the spirit of cricket.
Off the field he has always carried himself as a true champion, making him a perfect role model and one of the most recognizable and popular sportsmen of his generation.
In his role as ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 ambassador he will be called upon to promote and support a variety of ICC initiatives for the tournament, which is the third biggest sporting event in the world and will take place in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka from 19 February to 2 April next year.
"There are just 100 days to go and I am really looking forward to playing in another Cricket World Cup," said Tendulkar, who will join Pakistan's Javed Miandad as the only other player to take part in six World Cups.
"In terms of limited-overs cricket, the ICC Cricket World Cup is the highest level you can play so it is always a thrill to take part in such an important and widely followed event."
"The fact that the 2011 event will be staged here in the sub-continent makes it even more special for me and I am keen to ensure we play well. As a team we would be doing everything we can to win the World Cup on home soil " he said.
ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said, "We are very lucky to have such an extraordinary player as Sachin supporting our flagship event."
"I don't think any other player has inspired a nation like he has and the respect and affection he enjoys goes way beyond his native India. Many other athletes and sports fans around the globe admire what he consistently achieves and what he does for cricket."
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sachin tendulkar
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VIDYA SHANKER PANDEY
at
3:31 PM
(Monday, October 25, 2010)
जो बीत गई सो बात गई (Jo Beet gayi so baat gayi)
जीवन में एक सितारा था
माना वह बेहद प्यारा था
वह डूब गया तो डूब गया
अंबर के आंगन को देखो
कितने इसके तारे टूटे
कितने इसके प्यारे छूटे
जो छूट गए फ़िर कहाँ मिले
पर बोलो टूटे तारों पर
कब अंबर शोक मनाता है
जो बीत गई सो बात गई
जीवन में वह था एक कुसुम
थे उस पर नित्य निछावर तुम
वह सूख गया तो सूख गया
मधुबन की छाती को देखो
सूखी कितनी इसकी कलियाँ
मुरझाईं कितनी वल्लरियाँ
जो मुरझाईं फ़िर कहाँ खिलीं
पर बोलो सूखे फूलों पर
कब मधुबन शोर मचाता है
जो बीत गई सो बात गई
जीवन में मधु का प्याला था
तुमने तन मन दे डाला था
वह टूट गया तो टूट गया
मदिरालय का आंगन देखो
कितने प्याले हिल जाते हैं
गिर मिट्टी में मिल जाते हैं
जो गिरते हैं कब उठते हैं
पर बोलो टूटे प्यालों पर
कब मदिरालय पछताता है
जो बीत गई सो बात गई
मृदु मिट्टी के बने हुए हैं
मधु घट फूटा ही करते हैं
लघु जीवन ले कर आए हैं
प्याले टूटा ही करते हैं
फ़िर भी मदिरालय के अन्दर
मधु के घट हैं,मधु प्याले हैं
जो मादकता के मारे हैं
वे मधु लूटा ही करते हैं
वह कच्चा पीने वाला है
जिसकी ममता घट प्यालों पर
जो सच्चे मधु से जला हुआ
कब रोता है चिल्लाता है
जो बीत गई सो बात गई
— हरिवंशराय बच्चन
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VIDYA SHANKER PANDEY
at
2:30 PM
(Friday, October 15, 2010)
New Delhi, Oct 14 (IANS) If there was dramatic display of martial arts and foot-tapping patriotic music from military bands, then there was also spontaneous bonhomie and cheer from thousands of athletes and volunteers who had their final moment of glory in the 19th Commonwealth Games at the closing ceremony here Thursday.
The 60,000 spectators who had packed into the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium roared and burst into applause every now and then as Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the guest of honour, looked on. Accompanying him were Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
Also sitting in the VIP box was Prince Edward, younger brother of Prince Charles, who was at the opening ceremony.
As a helium aerostat crowned the venue, drawing a thousand eyes to its dazzling images, on the ground over 500 martial artists from the far corners of India put up a striking display of the country's traditional craft. Carrying swords, sticks and other traditional weapons, they performed 'Agni', the glory of sports.
The martial music that followed, with booming drums and lilting bagpipes, struck a patriotic chord among the Indian crowds. When the military bands belted out popular tunes like 'Kadam kadam badhaye ja' and 'Sare jahan se accha', many spectators could be heard singing along with pride.
But the stage soon softened as schoolchildren smeared the stage in the colours of the Indian flag as national song 'Vande Mataram' played in the backdrop. Moments of spontaneous applause then filled the air - for it was time for the many volunteers who had toiled hard to make the Games a success - to flood the stage.
The loudest cheer though was reserved for the real heroes - the athletes and officials of the Games, especially the Indian contingent. There were smiles, waving of hands and flags from the players, many of whom put up banners thanking India for pulling off a spectacular Games.
The closing ceremony capped 12 days of sporting glory that saw Australia take home the biggest haul of medals at 177, including 74 gold. For the first time in the history of the Games, India took the second slot with a rich haul of 101 medals, including 38 gold. England ended up with 143 medals, including 37 gold.
The gala was also a tribute to the 6,700 athletes of the 71 participating teams (54 countries and territories) from Africa, the Americas, Asia, the Caribbean, 10 from Europe and 13 from Oceania.
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VIDYA SHANKER PANDEY
at
11:00 AM
(Wednesday, September 29, 2010)
Delighted to get his maiden call-up to the Indian Test team, Saurashtra batsman Cheteshwar Pujara on Monday said the selection for the two-match series against Australia did not come as a surprise to him but it was a dream-come-true moment of his career.
"It's a dream-come-true for any cricketer. I was hoping for the call after my recent performances. I am really happy at my selection," said Pujara, who is currently playing in a tournament here.
Pujara made his way into the Indian Test squad in place of out-of-form Yuvraj Singh, who was today dropped from the two-Test series starting October 1 in Mohali because of his poor form and fitness.
Pujara, who was the lone new face in the team announced by the Cricket Board selection committee in Chennai, said making debut against Australia would a great challenge for him.
"It's going to be a challenge. They (Australia) have been the world's best team for years. I will try to deliver my best," he said.
Pujara has been a prolific run-getter in the domestic circuit and also for India 'A' in the last couple of seasons.
"I owe it to my parents and want to thank them, especially my father, who is my coach too," he said.
The right-hander said that he would like to fine-tune his skills and learn more tricks of the game from his seniors in the national team during the Australia series.
"I will try to deliver my best and perform according to the best of my ability and to my team's requirement," Pujara said.
Australia is scheduled to play a three-day practice match against the Board President's XI at Sector 16 cricket stadium here followed by the opening Test to be played at Mohali from October 1.
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VIDYA SHANKER PANDEY
at
10:07 AM
(Tuesday, September 28, 2010)
The Election Commission has announced the elections to the 243-member Bihar Legislative Assembly in six phases — on October 21, 24, 28, November 1, 9 and 20. Votes will be counted on November 24.
Over 5,50,88,402 electors were eligible to exercise their franchise through 56,943 polling stations. The model code of conduct comes into effect immediately and would apply to all candidates, political parties, the Union and the State governments. The notification for the first phase would be issued on September 27 and that for the sixth phase on October 27. The election process would end by November 26 and the term of the present Assembly would expire on November 27. Thirty-eight seats were reserved for the Scheduled Castes and two for the Scheduled Tribes.
The election would be held between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. In the naxal-infested areas and other sensitive segments, the closing of the poll hour is 3 p.m. Over 89 per cent of the voters were covered in the photo electoral rolls and 82.65 per cent issued Electoral Photo Identity Cards.
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Bihar Assembly Elections
Posted by
VIDYA SHANKER PANDEY
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2:42 PM
