The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Shimla rink set for century of sessions this year
by Rakesh Lohumi

THE prolonged dry spell, which has created a drought-like situation in the state, may be causing anxiety to farmers, but it has turned out to be a blessing for the ice-skating enthusiasts.

Asia’s only natural ice-skating rink here is all set to complete a century of skating sessions for the second time over the past three decades. Already 97 sessions have been completed and if the dry spell continues it may break the record of 110 session set four years ago. There was a time when the ice-skating season extended almost upto 15 weeks and over 150 sessions were possible. However, the sharp changes in the weather pattern due to degradation of environment over the years have reduced the effective ice-skating season almost to half. Skating is possible only for eight to ten weeks now-a-days.

The uncertain weather conditions had also curtailed the number of sessions over the past four decades as the number of sessions seldom crossed the three figure mark. In fact, the record of 108 sessions held in 1963 stood until 1997 when 110 sessions were possible and the session extended upto February 24.

This year the evening sessions have been discontinued from February 1 as a large portion of the rink has now been exposed to sun rays during the day. The cluster of trees on the hillside which provided shade to the rink has all but vanished. However, morning sessions are still continuing.

If the weather god keeps smiling the record of 110 sessions may as well be shattered, says Mr Bhuvanesh Banga, secretary of the Shimla Ice-skating Clubs. Apart from favourable weather, there have been other positive developments which augur well for the future of this fascinating winter sport. The perennial shortage of ice-skates is over with the availability of very reasonably priced Chinese skates. While the club has procured 32 pairs of skates, two private companies, a Jalandhar based and a local, have imported 200 pairs each which were more than the demand.

Mr Banga himself visited Zurich and requested the International Ice Hockey Federation to supply ice hockey sticks to the club. The federation has acceded to the request and some ice hockey sticks are likely to be received later in the year. The Winter Games Federation of India has already gifted 12 hockey sticks to the club.

Mr Banga feels the availability of basic gear like skates and ice hockey sticks after a gap of over two decades will give the much needed boost to the sport. The club had been turning down requests for enrolling new members every year as it did not have the gear for the sport. The membership, he hopes, may increase from 550 to 800 next year.

The club, which introduced indoor games like billiards and table tennis to tide over the financial crisis three years ago, plans to start lawn tennis in the ensuing summer. In fact the ice skating rink was originally a tennis court and its total area was equal to five tennis courts. The effort of the club will be to revive the game for which there are no facilities at present in the state.

National Games colossal waste
by Ramu Sharma

CONSIDERING the money spent and the time consumed it is well worth debating whether the National Games are worth the effort at all. When talking about National Games in India one must remember that it requires a tremendous amount of effort, space and money and facilities to cater to thousands of sportspersons from a country of such vast proportions. The sheer magnitude of the project is daunting.

It is a challenging task and would have been worth if it produced improved performances. That has generally not been the case. In fact not all the top sports personalities take part in the National Games. The reasons are obvious. All the National Games have generally clashed with the dates of major events, more important in many ways, sometimes held too close to the National Games or scheduled to be held a little after the games.

The timing is always a problem with most sports. Winter is the only time the centres can hold major meets and it is also the only time when the National Games can be held. Unless the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) reverts to the old pattern of doing away with all national championships during the year of the National Games, the problems will always be there. This unfortunately does not happen. Not all the federations can be persuaded to sacrifice their annual nationals and concentrate on the National Games.

Thus in the absence of total compliance by the all the federations and with the continued disinterest by a number of leading stars, the National Games are never fully representative of the country’s top sports personalities and thereby is not a barometer of the standards which can be attained.

One cannot blame the federations for not taking the National Games seriously. The reasons are obvious. The Athletics Federation which is one of the more active bodies because of its international commitments, has a calendar to follow and cannot force all the top rankers to take part in the National Games which may sometimes tend to interrupt the preparation for the more important events. Hockey and football have similar problems, football more so because of its own tight schedules. It will now be even more difficult for the All-India Football Federation in view of the increasing importance given to the National League. And a National Games with starless athletics, football and hockey is not worth holding. These federations concerned and the IOA must get their act together before planning for a National Games worth the name.

One other reason against the National Games is the near total idleness the infrastructure is subjected to once the games are complete. Bangalore may be an exception because of the nature of the city and its importance as a venue for major sporting events, but one cannot say the same of the others. It must be remembered that these structures are meant to be there for all times and meant to be used. They must also be maintained even if it means handing over to private bodies to do so. The Punjab Government must try and use the National Games to revitalise sports in the State. Punjab was one of the champion States in most of the disciplines and some of the finest sports personalities have emerged from the Sport College, the hostel buildings of which were in a dilapidated state till a few months ago.

Now things have changed and the athletics mantle has been taken over by the southern States of Kerala and Tamil Nadu at the junior level. Other States have forged ahead in some of the team games, once dominated by boys from Punjab. There is no reason why Punjab cannot regain its lost status, making the maximum use of the facilities available after the National Games are eventually held later in the year.

Money has not really been a problem in Punjab and of talent there is no dearth. All that is needed is better management and a will to succeed. After all the State has the champion university in Guru Nanak Dev University and can boast of a number of top class sports personalities, particularly in the sphere of coaching.

One sincerely hopes that the National Games are held in the new dates and later the Government is able to use the facilities to provide the necessary impetus to the lot of youngsters who are keen to do well in sports. This is an opportunity which Punjab should not lose.

Moroccan sports hero turns villain
by Nicholas Pelham in London

ONE of the world’s greatest athletes, Hicham El Guerrouj, until recently a hero in his homeland of Morocco, has provoked a storm of anger by accepting a gift from the king that has prompted accusations of feudalism.

Moroccans revered El Guerrouj for being the fastest middle-distance runner on earth. His skinny, smiling face adorns billboards, magazine covers and television advertisements. A symbol of national pride and the country’s biggest hero, he was Morocco’s man who could do no wrong.

But the popularity of the people’s champion has now collapsed. El Guerrouj - world record holder at 1,500 metres, the mile and 3,000 metres — is under fire for accepting a large gift of orange groves from King Mohammed VI in recognition of his sporting achievements. The runner is accused of forgetting his roots, betraying his countrymen and giving credibility to a feudal system of land ownership.

Thousands of El Guerrouj’s former fans have denounced him for taking control of 750 acres of prized clementine orchards near his home town of Berkane, close to the Algerian border. State-employed farmers have threatened to strike unless he hands back the land.

The dispute has prompted new questions about King Mohammed’s commitment to reforming his father’s corrupt rule. Hassan II, the late monarch, nationalised all 520,000 acres of French colonial farms in the name of the Moroccan people, but then gave parcels of land away to hand-kissing army officers and oily politicians. But while Hassan II initially granted El Guerrouj poorer uncultivated land, it was his son who upgraded the offer to 750 acres of orange groves.

“Are we in the medieval ages to consider the nation’s land at the disposal of kings?’ asked Mohammed Zian, a Minister under Hassan II. But El Guerrouj spurns his critics. “I flew the flag for Morocco, don’t I deserve a reward?” he responds. “Other countries have sponsorship. We have gifts from the king.”

His response has not gone down well in Berkane, where the working-class hero is condemned as a turncoat. “It could have helped dozens of qualified but unemployed engineers,” said Salem Chibane, a jobless graduate of an agricultural college. “El Guerrouj is a super-rich athlete, not a farmer.”

The row is proving uncomfortable for Morocco’s two most popular men. Like most Moroccans, 26-year-old El Guerrouj was raised eating the poor man’s diet of couscous. When his triumphs began, the nation celebrated. But now he has turned from hero to villian. He has insisted he will pay for the farms, which come with a 99-year lease, by putting almost $ 4 million of his prize money into the latest farming techniques for his orchards. Usually the millions he receives annually in endorsements and appearance fees are stashed abroad.

Mohammed, hailed as “the king of the poor” when he took the throne 18 months ago amid bold promises of radical reform, has also come under attack. He was initially lauded as a “citizen king” who stopped at traffic lights and began dismantling his father’s ancient regime.

But the El Guerrouj affair has sparked questions about his commitment to implementing change. Democrats who hoped Mohammed would usher in a new era in which Moroccans were citizens and not subjects are aghast.

Pro-democracy newspapers have fanned the uproar and used the incident to criticise royal powers they hoped would be consigned to the past.

The country’s best-selling newspaper, Al Ahdath Al Magrebia, railed against the “corruption” of the deal. “The lands plundered by colonialism should be returned to their rightful owners,” it declared. “They are meant to benefit the Moroccan masses, not be parcelled out piece-meal as kickbacks.”

The row has forged a rare alliance between Morocco’s left-wing and Islamist movements. Union leaders rallied with thousands of young radicals from the banned Islamist Justice and Charity group at Berkane’s municipal gates. Their spiritual mentor, Abdessalame Yassine, has called on the king to distribute his multi-billion-dollar inheritance to his impoverished people and “atone for his father’s crime”. The king’s religious council denounced Yassine as a heretic.

The gift to El Guerrouj illustrates the direction of Mohammed’s rule. Within months of taking power he sacked his father’s brutally efficient chief vizier and persuaded dissidents to come home from exile; hopes rose of real progress. But the resistance of an old guard of generals and mandarins, fearful that change will cost them their privileges, has seen the transformation shudder to a halt. — By arrangement with The Guardian

TEEING-OFF
Kahlon has not fully settled down
by K. R. Wadhwaney

THE life of a professional golfer is tough; it is tougher than many visualise. It is however, not as demanding when golfers are in circuit in their own country. The overhead expenses in the competitions are negligible and when players fail to make a “cut,” they are able to sustain.

The lack of sustaining cushion is the only major reason for many caddy-turned professionals are unable to make a mark in competitions held abroad. The player failing to make a “cut” returns pauper and it renders the life of the caddy-turned-professional all the move difficult.

Cricket’s falling from grace has been a boon for golf but sponsors are still finding it difficult to come forward to support poor golfers. The sponsors continue to be very choosy and they go for known horses to secure mileage instead of caddy-turned-professionals. The more the sponsors the better will be for the game, which is thriving unlike many other disciplines that are sulking.

Several organisations, private and public, have contributed a lot to promoting sports in the county. The one that has served cause of sports immensely is Petroleum Sports Control Board (PSCB). All the oil outlets are its affiliates. The body is run professionally with Dinesh Khanna, first Asian Badminton Confederation champion, as secretary. Khanna is a genuine lover of sports who considers golf as important as badminton. Golfers were among many who were honoured at the annual function recently. There are quite a few women golfers who are on the rolls of this or that oil company. They are provided all the facilities. But their progress has not been according to their potential. It is because they carry their golf worries to the course. The sooner they come out of this anxiety the better will be for their golf.

As an amateur, Harmeet Kahlon showed a lot of promise. On the professional circuit he began well but as not yet fully settled down. He seems to take his swing, technique and golf on the whole too seriously. He has to become a robust contestant. He has to begin every round afresh. Worry is a sure medicine to go downhill.

Delhi Golf Club
The Delhi Golf Club (DGC) is the most prestigious club in the capital, but it does not seem to be managing its affairs as professionally as it should. A few “high and mighty” officials granted an out-of-turn membership to some. This was bad. The worse was that it refused membership to one “excise” bureaucrat who, while displaying his vulgar power, had “bars” closed for a day or two.

It is not understood why the DGC management should “monkey” with rules and bestow favours on some. All these uncalled for favours lead to bickering and resentment and the DGC gets a bad name in the bargain.

Bureaucrats, like politicians, are highly scheming and egoistic. They want to play a round of golf without spending and also have a rewarding social evening. They are discreetly making an attempt to take over the golf club. The club enjoys lease till 2010, but one senior politician has misled Parliament that the government has not given the lease to the club.

The DGC authorities will have to function unitedly and shrewdly otherwise they will be sandwiched between politicians and bureaucrats.

Perfect ten by Mohanty
by S. Pervez Qaiser

PACEMAN Debasish Mohanty became the fifth Indian bowler to take all 10 wickets in an innings of a first class match. Mohanty grabbed 10 wickets for East Zone in a Duleep Trophy match against South Zone at Agartala on January 25, 2000. The bowler from Orissa finished with figures of 19-5-46-10.

Mohanty who was played two Tests and 41 one-day internationals for India is the 72nd bowler in the world and it was the 77th instance when a bowler took all 10 wickets in an innings of a first class match.

Middlesex and England’s V.E. Walker, Surrey and England’s Jim Laker and Yorkshire’s H.Verity achieved and sam twice while Kent’s A.P. Freeman is the only bowler to take all 10 wickets in an innings of a first class match on three occasions — vs Lancashire at Maidstone in 1929, vs Essex at Southend in 1930 and vs Lancashire at Manchester in 1931.

Leg spinner Subhash Gupta was the first Indian bowler to take all 10 wickets in an innings for a first class match. Gupta who played 36 Test matches achieved this feat for Bombay against Pakistan Service and Bhawalpur XI at Bombay in 1954-55 by taking 10 for 78 off 24.2 overs.

Bengal’s P.M. Chatterjee became the second Indian bowler to achieve this feat. Chatterjee took 10 wickets for 20 runs off 19 overs against Vidarvha in a Ranji Trophy match at Jodhpur in 1985-86.

Leg-spinner Anil Kumble who took 10 wickets for 74 runs off 26.3 overs against Pakistan at Delhi in 1998-99 was the fourth Indian to achieve this feat. By achieving this in a Test match Kumble also became only the second bowler after England’s Jim Laker to perform this feat. Jim Laker took 10 Australian wickets for 53 runs at Manchester in 1956.

Animal events at meets distressing

THE Kila Raipur rural sports festival which originated in 1933 with hockey and kabbadi as the main events, now comprises more than 40 events. Events such as bullock-cart races, ram and cock fights and dog races are blatant violation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and are surprisingly performed in the presence of persons of eminence from government and public sectors. This has been continuing with impunity for the past many years. Actually the spirit of rural sports meets finds its true expression in competitors testing their might, skill and will to win. The dog races are distressing and tiresome. A rabbit is set free in the open and seconds later two dogs are in pursuit. If the rabbit is not swift enough it faces death and is often ripped to pieces by the dogs. It is alleged that bullocks taking part in the bullock-cart races are administered liquor, opium or tea to make them panicky. These are classic examples of torture to animals. The managements outcry, poor turnout and dwindling enthusiasm among villagers do not outweigh the cruel nature of animal events. The statement of the Deputy Commissioner to get the Act examined in the context of animal events from the legal remembrancer is not pleasant for animal lovers and those concerned with prevention of cruelty to animals.

DR SOSHIL RATTAN
Amritsar

Dharmani’s exclusion

The exclusion of Pankaj Dharmani, dashing batsman from Punjab, from the Duleep Trophy is very strange. During the league match against West Zone at SAS Nagar, it was his century partnership with Virender Sehwag that enabled North Zone to take the crucial first innings lead. It may be recalled that he was the top scorer from Punjab in the zonal matches of Ranji Trophy of the current season and had scored two centuries in five matches. During the Duleep Trophy last year, his performance was excellent. He scored more than 400 runs. It was due to his excellent performance that North Zone secured the first position. He scored 120 not out and 93 in the semifinal and final last year. He has been giving an excellent performance after his exclusion from the national side where he was given only one chance against South Africa. What criteria do the selectors from North Zone adopt? Instead of pressing the national selection committee to include this dashing batsman, they are ignoring him in their own zone.

PRITPAL SINGH
Patiala

Kudos to Aussies

Australia deserve all praise for registering the 14th consecutive win against West Indies and other countries. West Indies were invincible in the eighties. Australia have overshadowed West Indies completely in all parts of the game despite the presence of Brian Lara and Courtney Walsh. While Australia are reigning supreme, West Indies are on the slide suffering their 18th defeat. The dawn of the new millennium has witnessed the mighty Australians reaching the top.

PROF Y.L. CHOPRA
Bathinda