The situation – Last day of the Ranji Trophy 2003 semi-final, Delhi against Tamil Nadu; Delhi are 159 for 5 chasing 332 to win. The likelihood – Looks tough for Delhi. The “But…” factor – Virender Sehwag. Overnight 98 not out off 108 balls. 19 hits to the fence and one mighty one over. The scene, as should be – A buzz around. Sehwag, playing an important Ranji game after 3 seasons, nearing his century. Will he carry Delhi across into the final? Will he do it in one session, or finish them off in the second? The scene, as it was – there were 14 spectators. Buzzzzzzzzzz… The game – Sehwag got bowled for 99 and Delhi was bowled out for 200. And this is an important cricket match. The situation for volleyball, shooting, squash and other sport are just as disappointing if not more. Why don’t people come to support sport, not international events but our domestic competitions, across various disciplines?

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GUANGZHOU, China – The 16^th Asian Games, part of the worldwide Olympic movement and governed by the Olympic Council of Asia is presenting two torch designs for next year’s Games.

Two designs entitled The Tide and Exploit have been have been shortlisted for the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games. The torch is an important symbol of an Asian Games, embodying its vision and the host city’s image. Since launching the solicitation of torch design proposals, GAGOC has engaged a number of expert teams experienced in design and development in the project. After rounds of selection, two designs have been shortlisted for the Games Torch

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The company planning to bring Formula One motor racing to South Korea said on Tuesday it has signed loan deals with local banks to help finance the construction of Asia’s longest racetrack.

The Korea Auto Valley Operation (KAVO) said in a statement it has secured agreements for loans totalling 198 billion won (159 million dollars), enough to cover about 46 percent of the cost of building and operating the track.
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The Indian cricket board will no longer use the services of IMG, the sports management firm, for conducting the IPL, following a disagreement over payments for the league’s second season in South Africa.

N Srinivasan, the BCCI secretary, conveyed the decision to Andrew Wildblood, the IMG vice-president, on Friday through a letter in which he explained that the Indian board’s working committee felt that IMG’s fee was “disproportionate to the service rendered”. Srinivasan did not disclose IMG’s fee for conducting and managing the IPL’s second season but claimed that the BCCI has paid Rs 42.92 crore to the firm for the first edition in 2008.

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The 2011 Indian Grand Prix has hit a roadblock with the promoters of the event failing to get the government nod for remitting the money they owe to the UK-based Formula One Administration.

With the Sports Ministry denying JPSK Sports, promoters of the Indian Grand Prix, the approval to remit USD 36.5 million to the Formula One management, speculation is rife about the fate of the event and the hushed silence of the organisers are not helping their cause either.

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The Associated Press reports women’s ski jumping will be included in the inaugural Winter Youth Olympics in 2012 and, according to International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge, has a “very strong case” to be part of future Olympics.

Rogge sent a letter dated August 21 to the group of women who have appealed for women’s ski jumping to be added to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games program. He reiterated the IOC’s position that women’s ski jumping was “not ready” for Vancouver because it does not meet the necessary requirements and said the decision was made “on a technical basis and absolutely not on gender grounds”.

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Sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe has assured India of full support when they host the Commonwealth Games next year and expressed regret at pulling out of the badminton world championships, local media reported.

Badminton England (BE) withdrew from the tournament in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad earlier this month, citing a “specific terrorist threat.”

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Three years ahead of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, the London Organising Committee announced that a series of London 2012 themed stamps, including Paralympic sports, will be issued over the next three years in a licensing deal with Royal Mail.

The first set of ten 1st class stamps will be issued October 22 with illustrations of Olympic and Paralympic sports, followed by further issues of sports stamps during 2010 and 2011.

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Sports minister Manohar Singh Gill has dismissed fears that venues for the Commonwealth Games wil not be ready in time, despite a government report suggesting many of the projects are running late.

Indian media reported last week that an evaluation audit of the venues suggested “serious delay” in the planning and implementation of 13 of the 19 sports venues either under construction or renovation for the October 2010 Games.

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Indonesia has slashed its Asian Indoor Games team by more than 80 percent to stay within tight budgets.

The Southeast Asian nation plans to send just 20 competitors to Hanoi for the Oct. 30-Nov. 8 multi-sport event — down from a team of 112 at the 2007 Games in Macau.

“We can only provide 2 billion rupiah ($200,000) to send a contingent to the Asian Indoor Games and 2 billion for the Islamic Solidarity Games,” Indonesian Olympic committee (KOI) sports development chief Djoko Pramono said.

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