New Delhi: Annoyed at being treated like a "Mr Nobody" by the national federation, India's first and only individual Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra is planning to quit shooting.
"He is annoyed that his point of view is not being taken properly by the national body and he is being treated like a Mr Nobody. He needs space to do his training and prepare himself for this year's Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games the way he prepared for the Olympics," Abhinav's father A S Bindra said in Chandigarh.
Abhinav has defied NRAI in the past as well, openly criticising its functioning, and the latest standoff has been provoked by the body's insistence on his presence at national level trials.
"He has been asked to undergo trials and he even agreed to it. He came all the way from Germany for some trials on December 18 but to his dismay, the trials were postponed. He has requested that he be exempted from such trials not once but twice. He can't be harassed like this," Bindra Senior said.
"His emotional state is very low. He is planning that if 'I am subjected to such harassment then it's better to quit then confront'," he added.
The NRAI, however, dismissed Abhinav's allegations and said the body never misinformed him about the trial schedule.
Australian bar turns away three Indians
Melbourne: Three Indians were among a group of six South Asians who were denied entry by a bar in Melbourne in what is being described by them as "a case of racism", amid a slew of attacks on students from the community in Australia.
"We had gone to the bar to throw a farewell party for one of our friends, Abhishek Aggarwal, who is about to leave for India" on Wednesday, said Sujan Pathak, a Nepalese citizen who was part of the group.
However, he said the youths, all in their mid-20s, were turned away by the Melbourne Centre Lion Hotel bar without giving any explanation.
The group of friends -- three Indians and three Nepalese -- just wanted to know the reason for this and contacted police who refused to help them on the issue, Pathak said.
All bars here display a notice outside that they can turn away any customer without giving any explanation.
"We tried to get into the bar, There were so many guys in front of us and right behind us as well in the queue. They denied us (entry), said 'you guys can't get in'," Aggarwal told NDTV over phone after the late last night incident.
"We were not drunk, we were carrying our age proof, we were properly attired. But still they said 'you guys can't get in'. They didn't give us any reason. We waited there for 10 minutes. All other guys were getting in... but we were not allowed to go inside.
Basu's vital organs unstable, on maximum ventilator support, say doctors
KOLKATA: The condition of CPM patriarch Jyoti Basu turned extremely critical on Saturday with all his vital organs affected and "there is little hope of any good result".
"All five vital organs -- heart, lungs, kidney, brain and liver -- are not functioning properly," Dr Ajit Kumar Maity, Basu's personal physician and a memberof the medical board at AMRI hospital, where he is admitted, told PTI.
Asked about the chances of recovery of the 95-year-old leader, Maity said, "At this age and the complications he is suffering from, there is little hope of any good result. The doctors are doing their best."
He said Basu, who was put on Slow Low Efficiency Daily Dialysis (SLEDD) at noon has taken it well. "It will continue for eight hours if there is no problem," he said.
When a patient is unable to withstand normal dialysis, SLEDD is resorted to.
Basu was admitted to AMRI Hospital with pneumonia on January one and put on a ventilator on January six.
Meanwhile, CPM politburo member Sitaram Yechuri, who visited Basu in hospital said, "He continues to amaze me. He is such a fighter. I hope he will be able to fight this also. He is in a critical state. Let's see if he can complete the dialysis."
Asked if he was satisfied with the treatment being given to the party veteran in the hospital, he said, "He is being given the best in treatment. The procedure and manner in which he is being treated is the best."
Earlier, the medical bulletin said that Basu's condition was extremely critical and his blood pressure and urine output had dropped. The former West Bengal chief minister suffered multi-organ failure on Friday evening.
According to doctors, the level of carbon dioxide in Basu's body increased, after which he was given more ventilator support.
"He is now under round the clock medical observation," the medical report added.
The communist icon was hospitalised after a pneumonia attack and admitted in the Intensive Cardiac Care Unit (ICCU) of the Salt Lake-based private hospital Jan 1.
Born 1914 in Kolkata, Basu became chief minister of West Bengal in June 1977. He stepped down voluntarily on health grounds in November 2000.
'India faces threat of another 26/11, likely to act militarily'
Washington: Facing the "undeniable" threat of another Mumbai-type attack by Pakistan-based terror groups which may act under al-Qaeda's direction, India is most likely to retaliate militarily in such a scenario, according to a prominent US think tank.
Many of these Pakistan-based terror groups have incentives to act as spoilers, whether to disrupt efforts to improve Indo-Pak ties or to distract Islamabad from counter-terror crackdown at home, said Markey, a known South Asia expert.
"Thus the immediate risk of terrorism may actually increase if New Delhi and Islamabad make progress on resolving their differences or if Pakistan-based terrorists are effectively backed into a corner," he said in his 11-page contingency planning memorandum of the CFR.
While traditionally Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed are the two terror groups that have proven themselves the most capable and motivated to carry out attacks in India, this time al-Qaeda could don the mantle, he said.
"Al-Qaeda has historically focussed its efforts outside India, but if the group's leadership feels threatened in the Pakistan/Afghanistan border areas, it might direct and assist regional proxies to attack India as a way to ignite a distracting Indo-Pakistani confrontation."
Other regional terrorist groups, including those based in India, are improving their capacity to inflict mass-casualty violence, but because these outfits lack clear-cut connections to Pakistan-based organisations, their attacks are far less likely to spark another crisis between India and Pakistan, Markey said.
4 suspended including Allhabad DRM for Kalandi train accident
New Delhi: Railways on Saturday suspended four persons including Allahabad Divisional Railway Manager and senior Divisional Mechanical Engineer after the fourth accident in a fortnight.
The two drivers are Ram Prakash and Satpal Singh Yadav who were injured in the accident that killed three persons were killed and injured 17 near Tundla this morning. Kalandi Express rammed into stationery Shram Shakti Express in dense fog.
Earlier, ten persons were killed and 45 injured in three train accidents on January 2 in Uttar Pradesh.
Railways also issued revised safety guidelines after a review meeting held by the Chairman Railway Board S S Khurana.
As per the fresh guidelines, the driver has to stop the train for five minutes instead of two minutes at the red signal before driving at 8 km per hour speed in foggy condition.
The fresh guidelines issued to all railway zones highlighted the fact that drivers and staff must adhere to the precaution and speed restriction during the fog, said the official.
Indian Business News
Monitor rampant credit growth: President
New Delhi: President Pratibha Patil cautioned the RBI against unrestrained credit growth that may lead to bad debts, but at the same time asked it to ensure loans to productive sectors of the economy.
The Indian economy, the President was confident, will grow by over seven per cent.
"If there is a lesson that can be drawn from this (global financial) crisis is that there cannot be unbridled extension of credit. The Reserve Bank must continuously ensure that banks have proper guidelines for risk management," Patil said after releasing a commemorative stamp on the occasion of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the RBI.
The President's words of caution to the RBI came amid bankers expressing apprehensions that their non-performing assets may rise.
On January 11, the country's largest bank, SBI, Chairman O P Bhatt had said loan defaults would continue to rise for the next six months.
It may be remembered that the global financial meltdown basically emerged from defaults in the housing loans.
However, the President said, "While indiscriminate grant of credit must be avoided, credit policies should definitely not deny finance for productive enterprises."
The funding requirements of productive sectors is expected to increase with the rebound in economic recovery.
Patil expressed the hope that the economy may witness over seven per cent growth next fiscal.
"Though we did see a fall in our growth rate initially we have now risen close to 7 per cent growth rate, justifying the correctness of our policy stance. Our growth trajectory is expected to be higher in the coming year," she said.
Centre taking steps to arrest price rise: PM
Kolkata: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday assured a Congress delegation here that the Centre would take steps to arrest the rise in prices of essential commodities, according to WBPCC working President Subrata Mukherjee.
Mukherjee, who was among a 37-member PCC delegation which called on the Prime Minister at Raj Bhavan, said Singh had informed them that steps would be taken for dehoarding.
A meeting of Chief Ministers had been called to discuss the price rise issue, Mukherjee said quoting Singh.
Mukherjee, the state INTUC President, said he had also sought the Prime Minister's intervention into the month-long strike in the jute industry.
"The Prime Minister assured to take up the issue with the Union Textiles Minister."
The delegation also highlighted the law and order situation and alleged spurt in political violence in the left-ruled state.
TCS to hire 8,500 trainees in Q4
Mumbai: IT major Tata Consultancy Services is looking at hiring 8,500 trainees and around 3,000 laterals in this quarter, a top company official said in Mumbai.
"We have already employed 8,703 trainees in Q3 and expect to add 8,500 more trainees in Q4 FY 10. We have also hired 3,000 laterals in Q3 and given the growth we may continue to hire in Q4 as well," TCS Vice-President and Head, Global Human Resources, Ajoyendra Mukherjee, said in Mumbai.
During the third quarter, TCS had a gross addition of 12,854 employees, which includes a net addition of 7,692.
"We have had significant employee additions in Q3 and still have increased our talent utilisation to industry leading levels. We remain prepared to meet the growth in demand," Mukherjee said.
The company is also continuing to hire people at its development centre in the US, he said.
The attrition rate in Q3 was at 11.5 per cent with attrition in IT services at 10.8 per cent and BPO at 18.3 per cent, Mukherjee said.
Indian Sports News
Frustrated Abhinav Bindra contemplates quitting
New Delhi:Annoyed at being treated like a "Mr Nobody" by the national federation, India's first and only individual Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra is planning to quit shooting.
"He is annoyed that his point of view is not being taken properly by the national body and he is being treated like a Mr Nobody. He needs space to do his training and prepare himself for this year's Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games the way he prepared for the Olympics," Abhinav's father A S Bindra said in Chandigarh.
Abhinav has defied NRAI in the past as well, openly criticising its functioning, and the latest standoff has been provoked by the body's insistence on his presence at national level trials.
"He has been asked to undergo trials and he even agreed to it. He came all the way from Germany for some trials on December 18 but to his dismay, the trials were postponed. He has requested that he be exempted from such trials not once but twice. He can't be harassed like this," Bindra Senior said.
"His emotional state is very low. He is planning that if 'I am subjected to such harassment then it's better to quit then confront'," he added.
The NRAI, however, dismissed Abhinav's allegations and said the body never misinformed him about the trial schedule.
India need win to thwart threat on number one Test spot
CHITTAGONG: Aware that the number one spot in the ICC Test rankings can change hands after every series, top ranked India would settle for nothing more than a victory when they take on lowly Bangladesh in the first of the two-match Test series starting in Chittagong on Sunday.
Top ranked India will go into the first Test without their charismatic captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni who has been ruled out because of a back injury.
Dhoni, who has been in very good form, will sit out of the match because of back spasm, leaving Virender Sehwag with the task of leading the team.
Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik will replace Dhoni in the team which is looking to retain its number one position in the ICC Test championship by clinching the two-match series 2-0.
With India playing not many Tests this year and other teams -- including South Africa, Australia and England -- closely behind them, Indian team will have to get maximum result from the Bangladesh series.
India are expected to maintain their world number one status if they win the series against Bangladesh 2-0 as South Africa, engaged in a Test series against England at home, is left with no chance of toppling the Dhoni-led side.
Even though some of the Indian players, who were part of the just concluded tri-series squad, would be a bit low in morale after losing the final to Sri Lanka, they will have to get over the disappointment and concentrate at the job in hand.
Notwithstanding the unimpressive start in 50-over format, the Indians would be aiming to begin with a bang in Test cricket.
The complexion of the team has also changed after six players, including stalwarts Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, joining the touring squad.
A full strength India are the overwhelming favourites over Bangladesh who are ranked ninth in the world.
History also favour India as Bangladesh had never won a Test against their western neighbours out of the five they have played between themselves, the last one at the same venue being a drawn affair with rain severely affecting the game.
The Indians have won by an innings in three matches while the fourth one was won by nine wickets.
For some big names in Indian cricket, it would be a perfect platform to get into the Test mode ahead of the big Test series against South Africa at home next month.
For dashing Virender Sehwag, who has scored just 23 runs in the two innings against Bangladesh, it is a great opportunity to come up with a big knock and continue his good form after his 293 against Sri Lanka last month.
Sehwag can easily demoralise the inexperience Bangladesh bowlers with his early assault but he will have to play cautiously in the first hour if India bats first as there will be some moisture at the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury cricket stadium.
Sehwag's opening partner Gautam Gambhir would want to begin the year in Test cricket with a good performance after a phenomenal 2009 while Tendulkar, who scored a century in the drawn match at this venue in May 2007, is just 30 runs away from achieving another milestone of 13,000 runs.
Laxman is another batsman who has a poor record against Bangladesh having scored just 41 runs in two innings in his first tour in 2007.
But the stylish right-hander would be eyeing to become only the fifth Indian Test cricketer to complete 7000 runs as he is just 83 runs short of that mark.
Zaheer Khan, who is the third player along with Tendulkar and Dravid to have played all the five Tests against Bangladesh, would also want to make amends for his poor record against the home team having taken just 10 wickets against them.
While the top five batsman of the formidable batting line-up -- Sehwag, Gambhir, Dravid, Tendulkar and Laxman automatically select themselves in the playing XI, the bowling department will be spearheaded by Zaheer and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh.
The toss up for the second spinner's position would be between Amit Mishra and Pragyan Ojha, while S Sreesanth is likely to partner Zaheer in the new ball department as he enjoys an edge over Ishant Sharma and Sudeep Tyagi.
The Kerala pacer had done comparatively well in the Test series against Sri Lanka last month although he bled runs in the just-concluded tri-series.
But it is India's bowling department could be a matter of concern, especially after their inconsistent showing in the tri-series and Zaheer and Co. will definitely be eager for an improved performance in the Test series.
Bangladesh, on the other hand, are a confident lot after their Test series victory over the West Indies last July though it was a depleted Caribbean side which they beat.
Their captain Shakib Al Hasan has already said that a drawn series would make his side proud considering the prowess of Indian batting line up.
Bangladesh, however, would be much weaker in the bowling department with the unavailability of Mashrafe Mortaza due to injury though batsman Mohammad Mahmadullah said the home side still has a good attack at its disposal.
"Had Mortaza been available our bowling would have been strengthened but we still have a good bowling attack which we hope would do well against India," he said.
The home team will also hope that key batsman Mohammad Ashraful regain his touch after a poor 2009 and indifferent form in the just concluded tri-series.
Squads (from):
India: Virender Sehwag (Stand-in Captain), Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Pragyan Ojha, Amit Mishra, S Sreesanth, Sudeep Tyagi, Murali Vijay, Dinesh Karthik, Ishant Sharma.
Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan (Capt.), Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Zunaed Siddique, Mohammad Ashraful, Roqibul Hassan, Mahmudullah, Shahriar Nafees, Shahadat Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Enamul Haque (Jr.), Mahbubul Alam, Shafiul Islam.
Cue sports need image makeover: Pankaj Advani
Bangalore: Charming cueist Pankaj Advani reckons cue sport desperately needs an image makeover and it's time to bid goodbye to the traditional bow tie dress code.
The first logical step should be a change in the dress code -- from very formal to more dapper, casual and funky, says Advani, only the second cueist, after Malta's Paul Mifsud, to have won both the billiards and snooker world titles.
"While the waistcoat can remain, the bow tie definitely needs to be given a go-by. The waistcoat can be funky and we can have printed shirts which are colourful and vibrant," prescribed the 24-year go-getter who is most comfortable in his jeans and T-shirt.
Cue sport also needs better marketing and visibility and like most other disciplines, all national sports federations need to take a leaf out of the Board of Control for Cricket in India's book on how to promote a game.
Advani said since he got "hooked on" to the sport when he was just six, things have changed over the last three to five years in the way people perceive a sportsperson.
Achievements of champion sportspersons are finally being noticed now, he pointed out.
"However, the understanding that a Vishwanathan Anand works as hard as a Sachin Tendulkar still needs to seep in," he quipped.
An alumnus of the Frank Anthony Public School here, Advani was an all-rounder who was not only a good student but also dabbled in sports like cricket, table tennis and basketball as well.
Somdev fails to cross last hurdle
MELBOURNE: Somdev Devvarman missed out on a chance of featuring in his second successive Grand Slam singles main draw after losing the third and final round of the Australian Open qualifying event in straight sets to 12th seed Blaz Kavcic.
The 27th seed tried his best to make a comeback into the match but eventually lost 3-6, 6-7(4) to his Slovenian opponent, ranked 126 in the ATP chart.
Somdev had last year qualified for the US Open and reached the second round of the singles main draw.
In Saturday's two hour 22 minutes contest, Somdev broke his rival thrice including twice in the second set and dropped his serve twice in each set.
Yuki Bhambri and Prakash Amritraj had also made it to the singles qualifying draw but lost in the first and second round respectively.
Yet again, Sania Mirza will India's lone challenge in the singles when she competes in the women's main draw.
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