Santosh Trophy: Mizoram vs Tamil Nadu Clash Turns Violent

Bhubaneswar, May 22 : On-field violence left a player injured in a quarter-final match of the Santosh Trophy National Football Championship between Tamil Nadu and Mizoram at the Kalinga stadium here on Monday.

In the 53rd minute of the match in which Tamil Nadu beat Mizoram 4-3, the referee red-carded Mizo defender Lal Chhawn Kima for intentional hand-balling to save a free-kick off V R Murugappan of Tamil Nadu and awarded a penalty in favour of the opposition.

However, the Mizos protested the decision and pulled up the referee with abuse and virtually manhandling him. As Tamil Nadu players came in support of the referee, Mizos turned their ire on the opposition and were seen coming to blows in the middle.

In the melee, one Mizo player Lalbiakulua sustained bleeding injury on his nose after being allegedly thrashed by a Tamil Nadu player.

As violence took the centre stage, the play remained suspended for 10 minutes during which the injured player was administered first-aid.

Besides Murugappan and Kima, three others - R Naveen Kumar (Namil Nadu) and Lalrinfela and F Lalrinpuia (Mizoram) - were red-carded for indulging in violence.

Mary Kom Loses in Quarters, Olympic Berth in Fate's Hands

Qinhuangdao (China), May 17 : Indian woman boxer M C Mary Kom's Olympic ticket will be decided by fate now after she lost in the quarterfinals to world number two Nicola Adams in the World Championships here today.

The five-time world champion will return empty-handed on the medal front for the first time since the event's inception in 2001 but she still has a chance to get the London berth if Adams goes on to win her semifinal bout.

Women's boxing will make its Olympic debut in three weight categories in London -- 51kg, 60kg and 75kg. Asia has two slots in the 51kg division and one of them has already been taken by Asian Games gold-medallist Ren Cancan of China.

The 29-year-old Manipuri went down 11-13 in a fiercely-contested battle in which she was tied with Adams on points in two of the four rounds.

Mary and North Korea's Hye Kim have ended up on the losing side in the quarterfinals and their respective opponents -- Adams of England and Elena Savelyeva of Russia -- will be facing off in the semis now. The winner of the bout will decide which among Mary Kom or Kim goes through to the Olympics.

Mary Kom conceded a point's lead each in the first and third round, which ultimately proved decisive in the bout.

"I gave my best but still lost, what can I say? I don't know if I have a chance or not. I don't want to think about it," a dejected Mary Kom told PTI after her bout.

"It's difficult, I have to rely on luck which is not what I wanted to. I wanted to win it all by myself," she added.  Devi (60kg) are on the same boat and will know if they have got the Olympic berth only after the semifinal stage.

There was some good news for India in the non-Olympic categories as Kavita assured herself of a medal by advancing to the +81kg division semifinals. She beat Turkey's Semsi Yarali 15-14 to make the medal round.

But there was disappointment elsewhere as Pinki Jangra (48kg) went down to world number two Svetlana Gnevanova of Russia 11-13.

In the 81kg division, former world champion RL Jenny lost 11-18 to Hungary's Timea Nagy.

In the 64kg category, Meena Rani lost to American Mikaela Mayer 10-27

'Magnificent Mary' Eyes Olympic Gold

Indian woman boxer MC Mary Kom punches a speedball during a training session at the Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune last month. She is a five-time world champion. Punit Paranjpe

India's Kom battled long odds at home and in the ring to become country's best hope for a medal
The Indian heat is searing in the gym when the power goes out. A physio hurries over with an emergency lamp and boxing star MC Mary Kom resumes battering the punching bag. It's hardly an ideal training session for an Olympic hopeful, but glory never came easily for Kom.

From her beginnings as a poor farmer's daughter in a remote and troubled corner of India, "Magnificent Mary" has fought her way up to become a five-time world boxing champion.

The mother of two is now tipped as her country's best bet to win gold at London 2012 - a position few could envisage when she began learning to box.

"People were discouraging me, saying in India there are not women boxers. That was my first challenge. I took the challenge, I had to prove myself," she said in Pune, the western Indian city where she is training.
Kom - full name Mangte Chungneijang Merykom - was born 29 years ago in the northeastern state of Manipur, the eldest of four to parents who struggled to support their family through working on the fields.

Growing up with a love of action movies, Jackie Chan and her hero Muhammad Ali, the young Kom realized her passion for sport could provide a path out of poverty if she made it big.

"So I left studying and focused on training," she said. "I did everything in athletics: running, discus, javelin, so many. I can do everything."

When she heard that women's boxing would be included in the Manipur state championships in 2000, she took to the ring and won the tournament just four months later.

She tried to keep her new activity quiet from her parents, but when her victory was revealed in the local newspaper, her sceptical father summoned her for a talk.

"He was worried about me getting injured and that he couldn't support me financially. But finally I convinced him, and at the last moment he accepted," she said.

Her determination paid off, propelling Kom to a string of international boxing titles, national honors and financial rewards to help her family.

Along the way she found time to set up a boxing academy, get married and have twin boys, who are now aged four and looked after by her husband back home in Manipur while she trains.

Despite her obvious drive and talent, Kom said sponsorship deals were a long time coming and the lack of support sometimes upset her.

"I don't know if it's because we don't look like Indians," she said of people from her home state, who live near the Myanmar border and whose facial features are often mistaken for Chinese or Southeast Asian.

Tiny Manipur is home to 2.7 million people and is one of India's "Seven Sisters", an isolated group of states surrounded by five other countries and attached to the rest of India by a thin bridge of land north of Bangladesh.

Insurgent violence has for decades been part of daily life in the region, home to numerous rebel groups whose demands range from autonomy to secession, and whose rival agendas often erupt into bloody clashes.

Kom, who lost her father-in-law to rebel gunmen, has become a hero and a rare ray of hope in Manipur, where she set up her academy to give underprivileged girls and boys the chance to follow her into the ring.
"The youngsters came to me and asked for training and I couldn't say no," she said. "Most of them are very poor."

She now hopes to make her home state even prouder.

To compete at the London Games, where women's boxing is a full Olympic medal event for the first time, Kom must qualify at the world championships in China starting on May 9.

The 157 cm (5-feet, 2-inches) fighter faces the daunting prospect of taller opponents after switching from the 48 kg to the 51 kg weight category, the lightest of three groupings to be contested in London.

In preparation, she is sparring only with taller, heavier males.

Her British coach, Charles Atkinson, who trained a succession of Thai world champion boxers, believes the set-up could work to her advantage - as shown by her triumph in the 51 kg at the Asian Championships earlier this year.

"A lot of people in that category are reducing weight which can be very, very stressful," Atkinson said. "She should be 50.8 (kg) on fight day without killing herself. It's the perfect scenario for her."

Kom is Atkinson's first female trainee after decades in the boxing business, and it is clear she hasn't failed to impress.

"If anyone beats her they'll have to fight out of their skin," he said. "To me she's a fighter, with a fighting heart greater than some guys I have handled."

As she edges towards her Olympic dream, Kom's drive to be as good as the guys seems to keep her at the top of her game, in a country where "most of the women are looked down on", she said. "If the men can do it, why can't the women do it? That's my main challenge."

Improbable Goal Stuns Europe

By Keeghann Sinanan

Chelsea are through to the Champions League final after an incredible 2-2 draw against Barcelona at Camp Nou in their semi-final second-leg encounter was enough to hand them a 3-2 aggregate victory over the holders.

Roberto Di Matteo's team defended brilliantly throughout, and will now travel to Munich on May 19 despite playing the majority of the match with 10 men.

The Catalans appeared to be home and dry after goals by Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta either side of a John Terry red card appeared to put the Blues out of the competition before half-time.

However, Ramires put the tie back into Chelsea's hands with a fantastic effort just before the interval.

Lionel Messi missed a penalty early in the second-half, and the Blues combined superb defending with a bit of luck, before Fernando Torres put the icing on the cake by finishing off a counterattack at the death.

With a 1-0 deficit to overcome after the first encounter in London, Barca coach Pep Guardiola began with an attacking 3-4-3 formation.

It took them only three minutes to carve out the first chance of the match, with Lionel Messi blasting into the side netting after rapid interplay with Alexis Sanchez.

The game plan from Di Matteo was simple as Chelsea, much as they had done in the first leg, looked to defend deep in numbers and relieve pressure on the counter whenever they could.

However, they were forced into a change after only 12 minutes as Gary Cahill was hauled off through injury for Jose Bosingwa.

Barca continued to control the game, and opened Chelsea up once more with a delightful passing move, with only the legs of Petr Cech preventing Messi from opening the scoring.

Cesc Fabregas and Didier Drogba each found the side netting before Javier Mascherano sent an unlikely 25-yard piledriver just over the bar as the home side continued to search for a way through.

The hosts were forced to bring on Dani Alves after 26 minutes for Gerard Pique, who failed to recover sufficiently from an earlier clash of heads with Victor Valdes.

The Brazilian played a part in the opener 10 minutes after his arrival, releasing Isaac Cuenca down the left, whose cutback evaded multiple bodies before Busquets tapped in.


It went from bad to worse for Chelsea, as they found themselves reduced to 10 men within two minutes. Terry appeared to knee Sanchez in the back off the ball, and was shown a straight red card by the referee.


Barca took advantage of their superior numbers, and struck again two minutes before half-time. Messi caused panic with a run at the defence before slipping in Iniesta, who slotted into the corner.

But rather than implode, as so many teams have done against the Catalans, Chelsea responded, out of nowhere, in some style.

A punt from defence by Frank Lampard was latched onto by Ramires, who guided a delightful lob over Valdes to send the Londoners into the break with the advantage on away goals.


Barca were handed a chance to regain the aggregate lead three minutes after the restart, with an apparent trip on Fabregas by Drogba in the box was spotted by the officials, leading to a penalty.

However, Chelsea’s advantage was left intact as Messi smacked the spot-kick off the crossbar.


Sanchez headed an Alves cross just wide and Cuenca was blocked at the last by Cech, as Barca set up camp in the opposition half for the remainder of the match.

But it was proving to be the same story as the first leg, as Chelsea’s doggedness at the back was just enough to keep Guardiola’s men at bay.

They were almost caught out 10 minutes before the end though, but Messi could only strike the post after being put clear with only the keeper to beat.

But the Catalans were out of ideas in attack, and were finished for good by substitute Torres in the final minute of injury time. With almost every Barca player committed in the opposition half, the Spaniard latched onto a pass from defence by Ashley Cole, rounded Valdes and fired home.

Chelsea continue their incredible renaissance under Di Matteo, and will await either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the final at the Allianz Arena on May 19.

Athletes From Northeast Ready For London Olympics

By Devesh Gupta

New Delhi, Apr 22 : After their success at the Commonwealth games, athletes from northeast are all geared up to participate in the London Olympics 2012.

Pugilist Shiva Thapa, who hails from Assam's Guwahati region made the country proud after becoming the youngest Indian boxer to qualify for the London Olympics.

The 18-year-old boxer defeated Syria's Wessam Salamana 18-11 in the 56kg weight category, in the final qualifiers of the Asian Olympic qualifiers tournament in Kazakhstan to book himself a ticket for the London Olympics along with seven other boxers.

"The journey has been really tough for me. Boxing has not been an easy sport. But if you work hard, you will be successful. My family has always supported me and I have worked hard. I wanted to box in Olympics and London was my target. And I have achieved it. I will try to win medals there," said Thapa.

Shiva was recently felicitated at a function in New Delhi where he was awarded a cash prize of Rs two lakh.

The boxer gives credit to his parents and coaches for his success.

His parents are happy and wish him success in the Olympics.

"He needs to maintain his momentum. We want the entire country to pray for him so that he brings an Olympic medal," said Padma Thapa, Shiva Thapa's father.

"My brother did it. He is just 18 and has made it to Olympics. We are proud of him and wish that he wins there," said Kavita Thapa, Shiva Thapa's sister.

Along with Shiva Thapa, hopes are also pinned on the five-time world-boxing champion MC Mary Kom. Though she is yet to go through the qualifiers, people are hopeful she will make it to the Olympics.

"Mary Kom is a fantastic athlete. She is very eager to win. Even after giving birth to two children, she came back to boxing and won the world championship. She is very committed and highly motivated about winning," said G S Sandhu, coach, Indian Olympic Boxing Team.

Shiva Thapa and Mary Kom are not just sporting icons, but they also serve as a source of inspiration to upcoming sportspersons across the country.

Both these boxers come from a humble background.

They have practiced day and night to achieve their dreams.

"We get to learn so much from Mary Kom while they train. They are one of the best boxers and I want to be like them," said Shamin Bhanu, boxer, Manipur.

"I want to tell the youth to train hard so that they can become good boxers and represent Manipur," said Dhanchandra, boxer, Manipur.

Youth from the northeast are extremely talented sportspersons. Though Baichung Bhutia and Sunil Chetri are common names, but many like Renu bala Chanu, Somdev Debburman, Sandhya Rani too have made the country proud with their success.

A Footie Spring

By Suruchi Kapur Gomes

Train the Barca way, or learn passing the Man U way or cross the Brazilian way,” is the promise that international football clubs give young guns of football. And many want a bite of this shining footie pie.

One went to Manchester United after being chosen by club scouts and is now all guns blazing in South Africa. Meet Brandon Fernandes. Another learnt at Brazilian football club Santos during a three-month training. Meet 10-and-a-half-year-old Akbar Ali Khan. Yet another trained at the Royal Antwerp Football Club in Belgium and is now under contract with the club. Meet 22-year-old Varin Mehta. Another hopeful will travel to Fulham FC for a two-day soccer camp. Meet Suraj Sawhney from Delhi. And of course, there are a bunch that will travel to Bayern Munich this May after being chosen in an Adidas contest.

These are just a few among a passionate family of football lovers aspiring to train at international clubs. And while it does cost an arm and a leg to sign up for a camp, and being chosen for their skills is very difficult, more and more children are heading the International Football Club way to learn, if not from the legends, atleast in the same battleground.

Not many are as skilful as Brandon Fernandes who not only trained at Manchester United but also got to meet Nani and Micheal Owen. Godwin Franco, a midfielder at Dempo says, “It’s definitely great to train anywhere in Europe. There is no comparison as the training is so scientific. Kids who have the money get a chance. In Dempo FC, we have tied with Danish club FC Midtjylland so two of our boys are training there too.”

Brazilian player now with Churchull FC in Goa, Roberto Mendis Silva, who is also director of BSA Academy, says, “Many boys are signing up if they can afford to pay the fees. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Legendary football clubs like Chelsea, Barcelona, Manchester United, Real Madrid, etc offer training at the professional and basic level. This has become the MO for these little Messis in the making. Who wouldn’t want to walk the path their footballing legends like Messi, Ronaldo, Rooney, Arjen Roben and Ronaldinho have tread? Silva, also called Beto, adds, “There are different types of programmes with clubs that can start at 300 euros for a week’s practice and go to 1,500 euros for a month.”

While Brandon Fernandes’ dribbling skills were noticed, Varin Mehta trained with RAFP and is now on contract with the club purely on skills and 10-year-old Akbar Ali Khan’s three-month soccer camp at Brazil’s Santos has stood him in good stead.

Brandon now trains in South Africa at the African Soccer Development Academy. He is all set to play matches with ASD in Portugal and Belgium. Brandon was chosen amongst 5,000 local lads and topped among the final 12 in Goa. “In England too, he qualified for the World Skill finals and finished in the top 10,” says former Goa Football Association assistant secretary and his proud father Jaju Fernandes. “He started playing when he was six and has played in the under-14, under-16, under-18 and under-19 nationals. He is the first to have played in all these age groups.”

Varin’s father Girish Mehta, a diamond trader, says. “From the age of six Varin has been playing for Kenkere, Mahindra, etc. In 2009, Varin went for three months to RAFC and again in 2010. Now he has a full-fledged contract. We didn’t pay any money, he was chosen for his talent. The Indian team did not even look at his talent. Why is that?”

Akbar got a chance to shake hands with all-time favourite stars Robinho and Neymar, (who is being called the second Pele) at Santos’. “I learnt so much,” Akbar says. Even Delhi-based Suraj Sawhney is excited and his eyes are set on a two-day camp at Fulham FC.

Having a football fan as a parent also helps, as is the case with most of these boys. “There are over 15 boys in my school who are going for international camps,” Suraj adds. “It was amazing to be at Manchester United and learn the finer skills,” adds Brandon.

Akbar’s Santos experience is something he will always cherish, “When I first went to Brazil, I did not have much control and after two months, I learnt coordinating and control.”

Beto offers training camps at BSA Academy where he expects atleast 200 kids (last year there were 150) for the 2012 summer, “Increasingly, many are targeting international academies but these camps don’t give a child a chance to try at a professional level as the programmes are designed for kids to garner basics,” he cautions.

The difference in training abroad is “huge. Here the training is slugglish, coaches lethargic. The coaches, climate and mentality is different. Varin has very tough practice sessions, six hours a day, seven days a week,” Girish explains.

After a flurry of airports, jet-lagged nights and hotel rooms in Russia and Brazil, Akbar now trains with BSA Academy in Goa. “He started training at a very young age and I think with football, if you have the talent, you will get noticed,” says his mother Jeeva Bhat.

Ten lucky boys have also been chosen to go to Germany through an Adidas campaign. Among them is Sayak Barai who is thrilled about going to Bayern Munich in May. He says, “We are going to Munich to represent India in the FC Bayern Youth Cup. It is a 10-day tour. We will also see the Champions League Final as it is being held in the Allianz Arena, the homeground of Bayern Munich.”

The skills
“It is more about passing the ball, dribbling and a scientific approach. Development and coaching is top notch,” explains Brandon. Akbar also did a few sessions at Zenit Pertersburg in Russia. “Indian football training concentrates too much on shooting, the international training was challenging as the focus is on passing and dribbling,” says the hotshot.


The training
“Akbar was good, so we prebooked the Santos training. We sent videos of his game and it does cost a lot of money as they identify skill. For a week’s training, the cost could be an average of Rs 5 to Rs 6 lakh,” adds Jeeva Bhat. Suraj will shell out £150 for a two-day camp at Fulham FC. Comparatively, BSA Academy in Goa charges Rs 1,300 per month and currently has 100 boys living on the premises for special programmes.

Akbar has an embarrassing memory that still makes him laugh, “I got a chance to score a goal in a game and scored with my butt. The goalie was taking a goal kick and it bounced off my butt and went in — that was funny.”

Brass tacks
There are various programmes in Europe — the professional programmes where skill and talent is sacrosanct and summer camps for basics. According to Beto, most professional programmes require a CV, a DVD and immense talent after which a trial date is set. “We don’t have bases in India to prepare the boys to compete at that level. Kids from Brazil, Argentina, France, who start training at six, will reach the trials as they are much ahead of Indian kids,” says Beto.

And Godwin Franco agrees, “It’s a great experience but to really make a difference they should train for atleast a year to hone their talents.” So, what are the positives of an international programme? The exposure of playing with children from another culture and coaches with a different vision and football mindset is the most important.

“International club experience is something the kids will never forget. If the goal is to make football a career, then you have to look for a consistent programme throughout the year. Just going abroad for a summer camp will not make a big difference,” Beto cautions, adding, “We need options in terms of football academies in India, so hope the big clubs arrive to take Indian football to the next level. During that time, we at BFA are try to do our part to give the children training,”

Mary And Her Idyll Mom

By Shivani Naik

Mumbai She's visibly uncomfortable in these surroundings - the blast of AC for starters, then the sheer number of people milling about in this Mumbai suburban hotel -- a far blaring cry from the laconic peace of the Manipur hills where she comes from. All these years, she hardly found an occasion to leave her idyllic home, let alone speak more than half a dozen sentences to inquisitive strangers. For Akham Kom, an invitation to Mumbai to attend a sponsor event with a mum-theme alongside daughter Mary Kom - who has now trained herself to speak those more than half a dozen sentences, thanks to posers on her punches - is quite a unique experience. One she might want to get used to, for the organisers are facilitating the reticent mum's presence in London where Mary Kom - should she qualify for the Olympics - will fight for a medal when women's boxing debuts at the quadrennial.

Dramatic sacrifices aren't a part of this tale, and the mother doesn't hog even a shred of credit for what her now-famous daughter achieved, or tom-tom about her own contribution. She barely understands boxing, though in recent years, while watching a movie on the sport she is prone to excitedly jump and point out a hook or an uppercut, and wait for her daughter's wry affirmation. Yet in her routine day-to-day plodding to provide the basics for her children including the famed eldest lies the story of unquestioned support for an Indian woman athlete, who London or not, has emerged the most-recognisable boxing figure for this nation.

It's an oft-quoted story of how Mary's father opposed her taking up the duelling sport; that's just half the legend. For when push came to shove, nay, a punch - and he finally relented, he did all that he could to support her: going up in the hills to bring cattle to sell to a slaughterhouse, and disappear for months deep down in the forested valleys looking to collect saleable timber. Akham Kom, as Mary says now, did the crucial bit of letting her daughter pursue precisely what she pleased. To be sure, boxing wasn't the most natural option for girls in her growing-up years. The mother simply followed football as most Manipuris do, but more so enjoyed the one sport that Manipuris rever - Kang. It's a sport that accompanies Manipuri New Year's day celebration where a 'Kang' - flat, oblong ring of lac or ivory is thrown at targets, and engaged in in the backyards in congenial groups. There's much merriment to it, and also some superstitions. So nothing could have prepared Mary's family for their daughter sneaking out, donning oversized gloves and occasionally punching a few boys in the face.

"My mother had no idea of women learning boxing. But whatever my interest, she supported," Mary remembers. Now a mother of twins herself, Mary is doubly reliant on Akham Kom to tend to the kids. "She takes care of them since I can't be home always. And she's told me to focus on competition only," the 28-year-old adds. There was something even more elementary that Mary learnt from her mum. "She taught me hard work," she says. A life of hardships in Manipur was par for the rough course, but it still needed some rule-setting in the house that saw all children share responsibility, irrespective of the gender. "She was always like a boy," Akham remembers, adding, "but she would do every work that a girl would do at home, and also what the men were expected to." Mary still cleans her house, scrubs, cooks and washes, when at home in Manipur.

The mother is appreciative of her daughter's determination. "Once she decided she wanted to do something, she wouldn't let anything come in her way," she recalls.

It wasn't just when the father found out, and threw a giant fit - eventually making peace with his daughter's wishes. Akham had to bear the sniggers of the neighbours too. "They would earlier make fun of my boxing. And mum would get very, very angry. So both of us without saying much to each other I knew I had to prove a point," Mary recalls.

"We were against it initially, but Mary promised that she would not burden us with the costs," the mother, recalls. "She told us that when her friends would spend Rs 10, she would only spend Rs 5.. we had told her earlier on that we might not be able to support her financially. But eventually I decided to support her because she was really keen," says Akham, sitting ramrod straight in her chair, a few inches taller than Mary, looking fit enough to pass off as her sister. As she instinctively puts her arm around Mary's shoulder while pictures are taken, never once preening, nor posing, the frame has the likeness of a family portrait not quite the glitzy Mumbai showy photo-op.

She's watched her fight once in 2006 at the Worlds in Talkatora stadium in Delhi, but never abroad. The sponsor event - happily - is the first time in 2-3 months that mother and daughter meet, owing to Mary's strict training stints, cocooned as she is in Patiala or Pune.

Life's changed at home, but not her mother's blinking eyes everytime one of Mary's opponents have a go at her in the ring, when her meets get televised. "Dad's not afraid, mom always scared. Though she's trying to get interested now. She keeps praying for me," Mary points out. Watching her mother cringe when bouts get a tad aggressive has been easy to comprehend now that Mary herself leaps out protectively when her own kids fight. She claims she will not encourage them to take up her craft. "I don't think I want my kids to take up boxing. I don't know how I took to it!" Mary wonders. "It's very hard," she adds softly, "When winning also, you get punched!" she laughs.

Mary - in the course of her five world championship titles - has borne all manners of punches descending on her, since she moved from 46kg to 48 and eventually 51kg now. "I'm in good shape now. There's always pressure on me. But boxers from other countries are a little scared of me," she says, not quite giving away her exact state of mind ahead of the Olympic qualifiers next month. She's up against a very competitive field in clinching her passage to London, and visibly nervous. Thankfully some things will remain unchanged. " Like the eromba my mother cooks. It's the best," Mary says, dropping all her worries briefly as she thinks of the spicy, soft vegetable stew with a smattering of red chillies - a little like her own game, and finally her personality, which she claims is a more talkative reflection of her mother's.

Mary Kom gears up for road to London Olympics

New Delhi, Apr 5 : After clinching an unprecedented five world titles, M.C. Mary Kom will make a bid for a berth in the Olympics as she spearheads the country’s 10—strong squad at the World Championships in Qinhuangdao, China – women’s boxing’s first and only qualifying event before its historic debut at the London Games.

After a two—day trial at the National Institute of Sports in Patiala, the Indian women’s team for the mega—event from May 9 to 20 was announced on Wednesday, with the country fielding boxers in all the three weight categories in which women pugilists will make their Olympic debut (51kg, 60kg and 75kg).

In the 51kg, it is the ever—reliable Mary Kom, who has dominated the World Championships with five gold medals, and is on a high after clinching the Asian Championship title just a few days ago.

The 29—year—old mother of two from Manipur would be without doubt India’s best bet for getting an Olympic slot given her unmatched international feats, which brought her the name ‘Magnificent Mary’.

The 60kg division features L Sarita Devi, another veteran who has two World Championship gold medals under her belt besides four Asian titles. The 75kg division has Pooja Rani, who had notched up a bronze medal at the recent Asian Championships.

“We have selected a strong team and hopefully we will get good results at the World Championships.

All three Olympic categories have very strong contenders in our team who have been good international performers. They were selected after elaborate trials and I am sure they will deliver,” Indian Boxing Federation Secretary General P K Muralidharan Raja told PTI.

Sumo Wrestling in Guwahati

Guwahati, Feb 22 : People of Guwahati got a chance to witness five champion sumo wrestlers in action during the 19th International Guwahati Trade Fair 2012 held here recently.

The organizers invited five champion sumo wrestlers at Maniram Dewan Trade Centre to popularize the sport in India, especially in the northeastern region.

At the Japanese-style ring installed at the venue, the wrestlers not only took part in exhibition matches but also invited the audiences to join them.

"I can see lot of potential among the youth for this sport. So I thought of promoting Sumo wrestling in the Northeast. Sumo wrestling has been seen many times during trade fairs but this is the first time we are organizing it here," said Rajesh Das, one of the organisers.

Many of the visitors who came to the match had till now only heard and seen these wrestlers on television.

"It's a very nice experience to see Sumo Wrestlers because I have been hearing and watching on TV this sport but I never get to see performing in front of me. So it's a great experience," said Nilakhi Kakati, a spectator.

The wrestling exhibition was organized to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relationships between India and Japan.

Nengneihat Kom Wins Federation Cup boxing

Guwahati, Feb 20 : Young Manipur pugilist S Nengneihat Kom (48kg) capped of a brilliant performance as she went on to beat Haryana's Neetu in the summit clash of the light fly-weight division in the 8th Federation Cup Women's Boxing Tournament on Sunday.

Kom's aggressive style coupled with her exceptional footwork proved too hot for Haryana state champion to handle.

By the end of first two rounds, the feisty 17-year-old was already leading 13:7 in what was an enthralling display of skill and agility.

Neetu tried hard to make a comeback, winning the third round 5:6 but the Manipuri boxer came back strongly in the fourth to settle the issue 27:18.

The victory led to Kom winning her first gold medal on the senior tour.

Kom, who is a product of five-time world champion MC Mary Kom's academy in Manipur, has shown great potential and hopes to follow in the footsteps of her idol and coach.

"It was a great victory for me. I have been training hard with my coaches, and all the hard work paid off. I am very happy with my performance and hope carry on the form in future tournaments as well," she said.

In the light welter-weight category, it was experience that prevailed over youth. Defending champion Suman of the All India Police team upstaged Current Youth World and National Champion Minu Basumatary of Assam 12:8 in an exciting contest.

In the feather weight division, local girl and 2011 Youth World Championship bronze medallist Pwilao Basumatary barely had to break a sweat against Pooja Pannu of Haryana.

The 18-year-old was at her menacing best as she devoured the hapless Pooja in just two rounds, winning 17:1.

Haryana's Sweety Boora successfully defended her title, drubbing bronze medallist at the 12th Senior Women National Boxing Championships, Alari Boro of Assam in closely fought contest.

In the Super Heavy weight division, former Youth National Champion Nidhi Chopra beat bronze medallist at the senior nationals B V Padmavathi of Andhra Pradesh while in the Heavy weight cadre, Darshana overpowered P Lakshmi Latha also of Andhra Pradesh.

With 4 gold medals, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals, Haryana bagged the top spot. Hosts Assam took the runners-up trophy with 2 gold medals, 3 silver and 2 bronze while AP brought up the third place with 1 gold medal 2 silver and 5 bronze medals.

Kerala Must Learn From The Northeast

Kochi, Feb 15 : Players of Josco FC (in red) and Malabar United FC vie for the ball during a tournament held in Kochi. Both the teams, which played second division last year, are now defunct.

While the football clubs from the State are groping in the dark, the country has found new champions in the North Eastern States as the teams from there have proved to be the best in the second division of the I League so far.

Exposure, skills and youth development are the fields in which Kerala lags while focus on the same has contributed to the growth of the football clubs from the States including, West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Orissa and Mizoram.

The Kerala contingent for the second division consists of just three teams whereas last season it was five teams. Three teams, Chandni FC, Malabar United and Josco FC are not playing this season in the second division while the only additional team that is playing is Kozhiikode-based Quartz FC.

While the Kerala teams were losing emphatically, the clubs from these states were making strides in the group battling for the top position. “If we consider skills, they have improved a lot. Several young and energetic players have added value to the teams.

This is one of the main reasons, they are outplaying our clubs,” said Jo Paul Ancheri, the coach of Eagles FC, which is currently playing in the second division.

“Another problem is the lack of match exposure. A team from Kolkata or Assam is coming to the second division after playing their A division leagues.

This contributes a lot to experience to the players and subsequently they will be in a better position,” he said. Several players of our teams are also wooed by sevens tournaments and after playing there most of them will be unfit to play in the regular matches, he said.

The teams from North East States are also better at spotting foreign players, that is one of the major reasons of their wins. Most of the clubs have also youth teams and training programmes that ensure good bench strength, he explained.

Meanwhile, Kerala Football Association is trying to revive the state league, which was defunct for years. “From next season onwards, we will most probably have the state league. Until now, we were not able to conduct it but we have now understood the importance of the league,” said P. Anil, KFA secretary.

“Most of the clubs are free to participate in several all-India tournaments conducted in every state. So lack of tournaments is not a real excuse of the defeats,” he said.

Marketers Bank On Football Fever in India

New Delhi, Feb 1 : Football cafes that have sprung up around the country in the past couple of years are a symptom of the growing craze for football in a cricket-mad country.

The Manchester United Cafe Bar in South Delhi is so silent that you could hear a pin drop. Man United fans in red team jerseys stare at a six-foot-wide LCD screen, not daring to blink. Four minutes into the second half of the game against Newcastle, the score is still 0-0, and Wayne Rooney has a free kick. A Newcastle player blocks it, but Man United forward Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez strikes the rebound goalwards from 20 yards away. The crowd in the cafe goes wild, nearly drowning out the DJ's music.

This is a familiar scene at the football cafes that have sprung up around the country in the past couple of years, a symptom of the growing craze for football in a cricket-mad country. Man United was the first football club to start a cafe in India. It did this by tying up with the Mumbai-based Mirah Group, a 438.6 Rs 300-crore hospitality and real estate conglomerate.

"Manchester United approached us as they were looking for a reliable partner in India," says Gaurav Goenka, Director of the Mirah Group. After setting up the first cafe in Lower Parel, Mumbai, in 2009, it launched five more over the next 18 months in various parts of the country.

"Fans used to come to Lower Parel from as far as Mulund, so we started a cafe in Mulund," Goenka says.

On a big match day, the footfall in the Lower Parel club - the biggest of the six - is around 300 to 350, and the average turnover for each cafe is Rs 4 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.

Football-themed bars and cafes are not the only symptom of India's new sports infatuation, nor is Man United the only player in the game. Many foreign football clubs are finding that merchandise does brisk business. According to Technopak Advisors, the size of the sportswear market in India is around Rs 1,300 crore, and it is growing at 15 per cent year-on-year. It grew from Rs 764 crore in 2006 to Rs 1,259 crore in 2010.

Adidas and Nike are the two major sellers of football merchandise in India. Nike sells Man United, Barcelona and Arsenal jerseys, and Adidas sells Chelsea and Liverpool. "Delhi and Mumbai are the major markets. The 14- to 19-year-old fans of Chelsea are a strong segment for us," says Tushar Goculdas, Director, Marketing & Sales, Adidas India.

In September 2011, during the friendly match between Argentina and Venezuela, held in Kolkata, Adidas did brisk business selling the blue-and-white striped jerseys of Argentina's national team. The star power of Argentine striker Lionel Messi no doubt helped sales.

"Football will be much larger than motorsports in India, no doubt," says Goculdas. That might explain why car makers are interested in sponsoring football. German club Bayern Munich played the Indian team on January 10, 2012, at the Audi Football Summit. This was also the farewell match for Sikkimese striker Baichung Bhutia.

"Audi is passionate about football, and proud to be associated with Bayern Munich," says Michael Perschke, Managing Director of the event's sponsor, Audi India. "We hope to attract and inspire the youth of India."

Could association with a club earn a company the hatred of fans of rival clubs? Bharat Bambawale, the Director, Global Brand, Bharti Airtel, does not think so. "A sports lover can love every sport," he says. "I don't think it goes to the level of hatred." Bharti Airtel is a sponsor of Man United.

Foreign clubs are also setting up official football academies in India to nurture talent and recruit for European leagues. Kolkata has kicked off the trend, with a Real Madrid Social and Sports Academy. The Real Madrid Foundation project started in April 2011. The academy - Real Madrid's first in Asia - is at a school in Kheadah village in South Kolkata. The Carnoustie Group, which has interests in real estate and hospitality and which is based in Noida, near New Delhi, has signed a deal with Liverpool Football Club to start an academy. When the deal was announced, Carnoustie Group Director Rajesh Malik said his company also planned to open cafes and lounges after the academy was set up.

"Football is getting more attention than ever," says Mahesh Ranka, an independent sports consultant based in Mumbai. "More and more people, especially youth, are drawn to it. Football merchandising is growing bigger." But he says companies need to think longterm, because Indian football talent is not developed and there is not enough.

January Transfers: The good and the bad

By Pulasta Dhar

Nemanja Vidic is one of the successful January signings of the English Premier League. Getty Images

When the season starts, everyone is on an even footing.

After a couple of gameweeks, some clubs surprisingly find themselves at the top of the table, with fans hoping for the fairytale to continue.

Probably 10 matches into the league, you may find Newcastle United fighting for a Champions League place, breaking defensive records on the way.

But by the 1st of January, every club knows where their season is heading….and more importantly, whether they need re-enforcements.

And in order to pump up their squads, sometimes because the team really needs a player and sometimes because the club’s owner has an unrealistic ambition, they dip their beaks into what we know as the Transfer Window.

The summer break is well known for protracted sagas ala Cesc Fabregas which either work or do not, but the winter market was introduced only in 2002-03, as an ideal opportunity for teams to make some wild decisions- which either end up as a business deal of genius proportions or end up in the club’s history as one of the greatest flops.

Here are some of the best and worst signings of the January Transfer Window-

THE TEN BEST WINTER DEALS-

Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra (₤12.5 combined): Sir Alex Ferguson does not really buy a lot of players in the January market unless he really needs them. Availability is also an issue with Manchester United not known to chase unless they are absolutely sure of a player. But with Chelsea winning titles under Mourinho, Fergie decided to shore up his defence with the double purchase of the relatively unknown Vidic (₤7 million from Spartak Moscow) and attacking midfielder Evra (₤5.5 million from Monaco), who was transformed into a wing-back.

Today, both players wear the armband on a regular basis.

Luis Suarez from Ajax to Liverpool (₤22.8 million): He was already a scoring sensation for Ajax, where he racked up 111 goals in 159 appearances and following Fernando Torres’ sale, Liverpool couldn’t have signed a better player. In his first season currently, he has scored 12 times in 33 appearances and has 11 assists to his name.

Javier Mascherano from West Ham to Liverpool (₤18.6 million): In one of the most complicated transfers which involved West Ham, Corinthians and Mascherano’s third party owners, Liverpool finally got their hands on one of the most highly rated defensive midfielders of South America. He rightfully became a fans’ favourite, winning Man-of-the-match awards in the big games and also when Liverpool lost to AC Milan in the Champions League final. He now plays for Barcelona.

Brede Hangeland from FC Copenhagen to Fulham (undisclosed): Roy Hodgson made the move for him in spite of the tall Norwegian being linked to bigger clubs. The Fulham manager had been in charge of him even at FC Copenhagen. He is now captain of the team and links to bigger clubs have not stopped.

Nicolas Anelka from Bolton Wanderers to Chelsea (₤15 million): Much has been said about him in the recent past and he surely features in any transfer feature a football writer may think of. His move to Chelsea was hugely successful as he partnered Didier Drogba up front, often cutting in from either flank and helping Chelsea’s many managers with his versatility. He just completed a transfer to Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua.

Theo Walcott from Southampton to Arsenal (₤9 million): Bought as a youngster touted as the brightest prospects in English football at that time. The winger/forward has gone on to make 131 appearances for the Gunners, and all at the age of just 22. Still a lot more from him to come.

Daniel Agger from Brondby to Liverpool (₤6 million): When he was bought, he was the most expensive defender that Liverpool brought in. After a tipsy-turvy start to his career, which was also marred by injuries, he is now regarded as one of the finest centre-backs in the EPL. He has a lethal left-foot and can score from distance too.

Emanuel Adebayor from Monaco to Arsenal (₤7 million): Say what you may about him, but Adebayor is surely a world-class striker and has delivered at all stages. He did come under fire from Arsenal fans at the end of his stint, but he scored tons of goals for them. It is sad his time at Manchester City has been uneventful, but loan moves to Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspurs have seen him continue hitting the back of the net.

Clint Dempsey from New England Revolution to Fulham (₤2 million): Probably one of the most consistent attacking midfielders in the EPL, Clint Dempsey’s current form overshadows even that of Frank Lampard. He has been deployed as striker and winger and has not failed with his eye for a pass, presence in the box and a fine shot. Quality player and very committed to his club.

Gary Cahill from Aston Villa to Bolton Wanderers (₤5 million): He might well feature in next year’s list with a Chelsea move on the cards in the New Year. His time at Bolton has seen him transform into a world-class defender who is now first choice even in the English set-up.

THE TEN WORST WINTER DEALS-

Fernando Torres from Liverpool to Chelsea (₤50 million): Was there any doubt about this? An unbelievable striker who was on fire at Liverpool before an injury made him a sulking, mood strutting Red, the player had a goal-less World Cup and Chelsea bought him in a desperate bid to win the Champions League. Turned out to be a sad move as they were knocked out by Manchester United from Europe and he has thus far scored only five goals in 37 appearances.

Fulham's Clint Dempsey is in fine form this season. Reuters

Eric Djemba-Djemba from Nantes to Manchester United (₤3.5 million): Probably Sir Alex’s worst signing in 26 years at United, it is also reported that he once joked, “He was so good he was named twice.” Shipped off after two years to Aston Villa, and they shipped him off in a short while too. And to think of him being the man bought to replace Roy Keane.

Franco Di-Santo from Audax Italiano to Chelsea (undisclosed): His appearances for Chelsea were highly anticipated, but it turned out that he was highly ordinary. With his 6 foot 4 inch frame, he was physically ready for the Premier League but never got a chance to impress. He cannot use that as a defence though, as he had a lot of opportunity at Blackburn, where he was equally…let’s say, bad.

Jean-Alain Boumsong from Rangers to Newcastle United (₤8 million): If you have Titus Bramble and Boumsong as your first-choice defenders, then you are doomed. Newcastle came upon exactly that idea and they did eventually get relegated in the future. He now plays at Panathinaikos after a stint at Juventus. Surprising.

Wayne Bridge from Chelsea to Manchester City (₤10 million): Ashley Cole’s arrival at Chelsea meant Bridge had to take a backseat and he was not ready to do that. A move to City followed and it turned out to be a nightmare, especially after he snubbed a handshake from England captain John Terry when they two clubs met (Terry apparently had an affair with Bridge’s girlfriend). Since then, he has been farmed out to West Ham on loan.

Andy Carroll from Newcastle United to Liverpool (₤35 million): Too much money for a player who had scored a handful of goals for the Magpies, this was Liverpool’s version of a desperate buy. Still a bit unfair to have him in this list, but five goals in 28 appearances is not a good return for 35 mill.

Afonso Alves from Herenveen to Middlesbrough (₤12.7 million): Averaged more than a goal a game for Herenveen (47 goals in 39 games), and scored 10 goals in 42 appearances in England, getting his team relegated in the process. Enough said.

Scott Parker from Charlton to Chelsea (₤10 million): Do not get this wrong, he is currently the best holding midfielder in England, but his move to Chelsea simply didn’t work out. He managed just 15 appearances and that was all.

Fernando Morientes from Real Madrid to Liverpool (undisclosed): He was top quality in Spain with the Los Meringues, but England was another cup of tea. Managed a lot of starts in his only season for Liverpool, but scored only eight goals. Result? Sold immediately.

Luis Saha from Fulham to Manchester United (₤12.8 million): Had a good first season with United, but spent a lot of time with Owen Hargreaves on the injury table. After that, he was never the same. Has shown glimpses of quality with Everton at times.

Albert Riera from Espanyol to Liverpool (₤8 million): Another Liverpool misfit and it did not go down well with the fans after they decided to give him the no.11 shirt. Very skillful in his 40 appearances, but that is as good as it got.

With the transfer window opening in a few days, this list is sure to grow.

Is The Next Bhaichung Bhutia Just Round The Corner?

By Pulasta Dhar

Sunil Chhetri rightfully won the AIFF Player of the Year with his stellar performances for India in international tournaments, but while he was banging in the goals, there was another player who was stealthily making a mark in Indian football, forcing pundits to term him as the next Bhaichung Bhutia.

Jeje Lalpekhlua may not be a household name at the moment, but if he continues his prolific start, proving to be a lurking danger for every defender, then he might well be the person stepping up to fill the gap left behind by the ex-India captain.

When one mentions that the media is hailing him as the next football prodigy, Jeje laughs it off with candour followed by silence which says a lot about his respect for Bhutia and the amount of pressure that could already be playing on his mind.

It just gets confirmed when he says, “My favourite player in India is Bhaichung Bhutia.”

This will probably be the most common answer if you asked the same question to a million Indian football fans.

Jeje Lalpekhlua in action. Reuters

But Jeje knows he still has a long way to go before he could achieve that stature. “I still need to concentrate on my practice everyday. I need to improve my performance for both my club side and the national side.”

His current overall record is sensational considering he is just 20 years old. He led the Under-19 team to the South Asian games in Sri Lanka and scored a hat-trick in the last group-stage match of the tournament.

But all those achievements are put into the shade by his senior record of scoring four goals in his first three appearances for India.

But the player, who has scored eight goals in 16 appearances for India says that it all started in Mizoram when he was spotted in the region’s most famous championship. “I was 16 when I played in the Wai-Wai tournament in Mizoram and got picked for India Under-19.

“That was also the time when Pune FC spotted me and I signed for them immediately.”

Since then, Jeje has been a regular in the squad, but it took him an impressive run of scoring 14 goals in 16 caps on a loan spell at Indian Arrows to prove his mettle.

Since then, he has been touted as the brightest prospect in Indian football.

Jeje credits most of his success to a family culture of playing sport. “My father played for the club for which I made my debut and my brother also plays football. I have had no problems in convincing them to let me take up the game as a career.”

In a country where education and degrees often act as a hindrance, Jeje and his family set an example to let youngsters excel in their field of interest.

But even though he had the skill and the penchant of playing the Beautiful Game, his coach Benjamin (Ari Academy in Mizoram) says that he was very raw when he first came to him.

“We had to work a lot on his receiving and agility — two factors which are very important for a striker but he was hard-working, determined and very healthy and that gave me confidence that he could go on and make it to the national team.”

His international career looks set to continue as India step up their efforts to make a mark in Asian football and if he keeps banging in the goals, then a bigger club may come calling very soon.

“He is at the right place right now and should not move to Kolkata before he is 23-24 years of age because it is a big city and there is a lot of pressure there,” said Benjamin.

Talking about big cities, Jeje is said to be particularly shy about his surroundings and his coach remembers how he was surprised when he first visited Aizwal.

“He was from a small town and had no knowledge about city life. But he did his best to cope up with it!”

Knowing big places may not be his forte, but Jeje’s excellence took him to one of the most famous football cities — Glasgow.

Along with Sunil Chhetri, he went for a trial at Scottish club Rangers FC and was awestruck with the facilities there. “They have eight pitches for practice! Eight pitches! And we find it hard to get even one ground here to practice.”

Surely Scotland made a great impression on him and they have apparently promised the Indian that they will keep track of his record.

But can Indians really play in Europe? “There is not much difference in the skill and technique, but they play very fast football and they are physically very strong. I still think it will take time for someone to adjust to those rigours.”

He is also of the view that Indian players need better agents to make inroads into international leagues like those in Qatar, China and Japan. “The problem also comes down to whether you have a well connected agent. We don’t have that here and it restricts our opportunities to go abroad,” he said.

India Have Adapted Well To New Style

By Novy Kapadia

Where does Indian football go from here? As expected India were comfortable winners of the Saff Championships.

Sunil Chhetri excelled scoring in every match, finishing with a record seven goals in five matches. The Savio Madeira-coached team played patient possession football to tire opponents.

So India ended 2011 with a different style of play from the Bob Houghton era (Asian Cup in January), when the long ball and quick breaks from defence were frequently used.

India played in the Saff event, with just a week’s practice. In contrast, Nepal and Maldives had trained for two months and made exposure trips abroad. This reveals that at the South Asian level, Indian football is a notch above their rivals.

Considering this overall domination, many suggested that in future Saff Championships, India should only field their U-23 team, with some senior players. However such a move would be welcome only if it is ensured that the senior national team will play 12 to 15 internationals annually. Otherwise the Saff tournament is valuable exposure for the senior squad.

This tournament also exposed some weak links in the team. Right back Samir Naik has slowed down and was dropped after one match.

His replacement Nirmal Chettri improved with each outing.
Midfielders Climax Lawrence, Steven Dias and central defender Mahesh Gawli were inconsistent and at times tentative. Arnab Mondal, Lalkamal Bhowmick (Prayag United) and Gurwinder Singh (East Bengal) are replacements worth considering.

Amongst the established players, others to excel were left back Syed Rahim Nabi, left midfielder Clifford Miranda and goalkeeper Karanjit Singh with his timely saves and remarkable presence of mind in crises situations.

Nabi’s speed, commitment and frequent overlapping were impressive. Chhetri has now scored 36 goals in 62 matches for India and should overtake Baichung Bhutia’s record tally of 43 goals.

The diminutive striker, who is still keen to play club football abroad, could become the first Indian to score 50 international goals.

Both Nabi and Chhetri have been shortlisted for the title of Indian Player of the Year, to be announced by the All India Football Federation next week.

Among the younger players Jeje Lalpekhlua’s shielding of the ball, sharp turns and work-rate were also very impressive and he has developed a telepathic understanding with Chettri.

In his first year with the senior national team he has scored eight goals in 15 matches, an impressive strike-rate. He is the most improved player in the national team and could be the next superstar of Indian football.

Other players promoted from the U-23 team to the senior team, midfielders Jewel Raja Sheikh and Lalrindka Ralte played with maturity whenever they came on as substitutes.

So the AIFF can be happy that the Youth Development Plan launched a couple of years ago is working, as Jeje, Ralte and Jewel Raja are all products of this system.

Future Bright For India And Rising Star Jeje

By Priyanka Kumar

New Delhi: The limelight in the SAFF Cup has been on Sunil Chhetri, but his young strike partner Jeje Lalpekhula is quietly building a reputation for himself.

The young star from Mizoram has found plenty of support among the 1,000-odd spectators for India’s matches at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Maybe it is his name - ‘Jeje’ is as easy a chant as any player’s name can be - or maybe those fans shouting his name and holding his banners know that the Pune FC striker is the most likely to fill the long-term void left by the talismanic Bhaichung Bhutia’s retirement.

The man himself, though, is unperturbed by the attention and unwilling to take on extra pressure. “It’s too early to compare me to Bhaichung,” said Jeje, on the eve of India’s SAFF Cup final with Afghanistan on Sunday. “He’s my idol, but I have a long way to go. It doesn’t put any pressure on me.”

Jeje’s rise to the top has been as quick as the pacy and skilful forward can be. He scored on debut for India’s Under-23 team last season, in a pre-Olympic qualifier against Myanmar, and then repeated the feat with the senior team as well, against Chinese Taipei during the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers in Malaysia in March. After scoring four goals in his first three games for India, he has taken his tally to seven goals in 14 matches going into the final.

“I owe a lot to Colm Toal (the India U-19 coach) and Bob Houghton (former India coach),” acknowledged Jeje. “They gave me a good opportunity in the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers.”

Jeje also starred in the domestic league, ending the last I-League campaign as the top-scoring Indian player with 13 goals in 15 games while on loan at Indian Arrows. His ability to score goals, as well as his movement off the ball which allows him to create chances, has seen him being labeled as India’s rising star. When asked about what sets him apart from others, however, the 20-year-old is modest. “I work very hard,” is all Jeje is willing to offer.

By his standards, however, the ongoing SAFF Cup - his first full-fledged competitive tournament with India - has not been as rewarding. Perhaps recovering from his week-long trial at Rangers that saw him arrive just a day before India played their first match, Jeje has scored only one goal so far, in a group match against Sri Lanka.

“I have to perform better,” he admitted. “This tournament has been a good experience for me. I will take a lot from these games.”

Meanwhile, senior striker Chhetri has been prolific, scoring six goals in the four games so far to top the goal-scoring charts.

“Chhetri is a great player. I played with him for the first time in the qualifiers in March,” said Jeje. “He gives me advice, tells me what to do and what not to do. He encourages me every time and tells me how to play, how to run and how to find space and take up positions on the field. We have played just about 10 matches together so far. Once we play more matches together, our partnership will get better.”

India coach Savio Medeira agrees. “Jeje is only 20 years old. He needs more time to form a partnership with Chhetri. His performances in the AFC Challenge Cup were much better than in this tournament. But I don’t want to put too much pressure on him, because he’s so young. He will mature over time. He has a lot more years to go, as compared to Chhetri."

“Whatever work he has done so far is good, and as he and Chhetri play more matches together, the understanding and combination between them will improve.”

In the immediate future, Jeje and Medeira are keen to win their first major tournament with India.

“We just have to believe in ourselves, we have to stick to the tactics and try and correct the mistakes which we made in the first game against Afghanistan (which India drew 1-1). There is nothing we can change in such a short period of time anyway. We will try our best,” said Medeira.

“I think our chances are good,” said Jeje, looking ahead to final. “The first match was very difficult for the team. Sunil and I had gone to Scotland and we came back just a day before that match. We didn’t practice together with the team, we just played directly in the game. We were a little tired. Anyway, the first match of any tournament is never easy.”

“But our performances have improved since then and we will play better in the final. It will be a different match. If we play as we have been playing and stick to our game plan, like the coach wants us too, we can win.”

However, when pressed on his own goals, the shy striker would only say, “I also have to try my best, both for India and then for Pune FC.”

Jeje, it seems, is a man of few words, who would prefer to do his talking on the field. For India though, that is a promising thought.

Northeast Has Huge Pool Of Resources in Sports: Maken

Shillong, Dec 11 : Union Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Ajay Maken today acknowledged the potentiality of huge pool of resources in sports in North-East and assured assistance from Centre.

"North East and Meghalaya (in particular) has enormous potential in sports, particularly in football," Maken said while speaking to reporters at the sideline of YES project convocation held here.

He said, "Rs 42 crore has been sanctioned for NEHU multi-purpose sports centre which will be ready by August next year."

While admitting that the project has been delayed, Maken said he had met the CPWD Superintendent engineer and asked him to complete the project within August.

Centre has sanctioned two regional sports centres - one in Assam and another in Manipur - and a SAI training centre in Shillong.

Northeast Football Premier League To Debut in 2012

Guwahati, Nov 23 : Celebrity Management Group (CMG), a leading event management organization of the country, has proposed to set up the North East Premier League (NEPL) from next year onwards.

Disclosing this here today, All India Football Federation (AIFF) vice-president and convener of NEPL Ankur Dutta said AIFF has already given the go ahead signal to the organisers. Dutta said he had submitted the proposal and AIFF agreed to the concept.

After getting the green signal, he approached the Kolkata based CMG, which was instrumental in bringing Maradona and Argentina-Venezuela international soccer friendly to Kolkata, which readily agreed to support the NEPL.

Presenting the whole project, CMG managing director, Bhaskar Goswami said it will be an eight team event.

Apart from top teams of the seven States, the second best team of the region will be picked for the championship which will last for nine weeks during which 61 matches will be played, informed Goswami.

All the teams will play in home and away basis. After the league phase among two groups, top two teams will qualify for the semifinals. No official teams like ASEB, Assam Police, etc., will be allowed as the participating teams have to be private clubs.

The vision behind the competition is to give exposure to the talented players of this region as all the matches will be telecast live. Players and teams will also be benefited with lucrative offers.

Goswami further mentioned that teams may include three overseas players and it will be mandatory to put six players of U-21 years.

The NEPL is likely to start after the ongoing I-League which is scheduled to be completed by March next. Goswami clarified that the tournament will be run by a governing council and no State associations or clubs will be allowed to conduct the matches.

Chetri And Lalpekhlua Do The Star Turn For India

By Amitabha Das Sharma

ACROBATIC: Jeje Lalpekhlua (in blue) acquitted himself admirably in the friendly against Malaysia on Wednesday. Photo: Sushanta Patronobish

With a fine display of attacking football, India outplayed Malaysia 3-2 in the last of two FIFA international football friendlies at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Wednesday.

Having drawn the previous match at Guwahati 1-1 on Sunday, India made the perfect transition savouring two goals from strikers Sunil Chetri and one from Jeje Lalpekhlua. The Malaysians replied through their gifted striker Safi Sali.

India's new coach Savio Madeira fielded eight new names in the starting line-up, compared to the side that turned out at Guwahati on Sunday. Chetri, Gourmangi Singh and Syed Rahim Nabi — named the captain for the match — were the three who were retained.

The Indians got rid of the initial sluggishness and settled to a nice rhythm by the half-hour mark. The remarkable aspect of the Indian performance remained in the novel blending in the attack that had the experienced Chetri pairing effectively with the youthful Lalpekhlua. Tipped as the two best attackers in business, after the retirement of Baichung Bhutia, they impressed with their sense of opportunism and knack for scoring.

An effective combination in the midfield added more fluidity as Lalrindika Ralte, Baldeep Singh, Rocus Lamare and Francis Fernandes, entrusted with the creative role, stuck commendably to their tasks.

The efforts paid off in the 39th minute when the reflexive Chetri, after neatly receiving a long floater from skipper Nabi, finished with a deft half-volley.

Malaysia levelled the score just before the break. It came off a fine essay of passes in the Indian box, which the host's defenders failed to check, allowing the deft Sali to slot home.

Redoubling their resolve to regain the lead, the Indians adopted a more aggressive approach after the break. It succeeded in its mission within two minutes into the second half as Chetri authored a brilliant move that Lalpekhlua finished with a deft placement.

Second strike

After Lalpekhlua missed an opportunity that came close on heels of the second goal, Chetri did the atonement for the former by finishing the next opportunity in the 52nd minute (3-1).

Medeira exhausted his quota of substitution — which is six for an international friendly — to preserve the lead but could not stop the visitor from narrowing the margin. Sali proved his class again when he caught the Indian defence on the wrong foot in the 59th minute.

The host effectively sealed up its defence hereafter.

Manny Pacquiao Defeats Juan Manuel Marquez In Controversial Fight Decision

By TIM DAHLBERG

LAS VEGAS — Manny Pacquiao was taken to the limit Saturday night before escaping with a majority decision win over Juan Manuel Marquez in their welterweight title fight.

Pacquiao won on two scorecards, while the third ringside judge had it a draw. It was a narrow escape for the Filipino congressman, who took as much punishment as he got over 12 rounds.

The third fight between the two was as close as the previous two, and by the time they finished 12 arounds the outcome was still in doubt. Pacquiao won some rounds with sheer agression, while Marquez won others with brilliant counterpunching, keeping Pacquiao from getting inside.

Marquez was a 7-1 underdog, but it was clear early he would be in this fight. He picked Pacquiao apart with right hands almost every time he tried to get inside, and landed good hard flurries throughout the fight.

Pacquiao was the aggressor throughout, and landed some sharp punches of his own. But when the decision was announced, the crowd booed roundly and, once again Marquez had lost a close fight.

One ringside judge had it a 114-114 draw, while two others favored Pacquiao by 115-113 and 116-112. The Associated Press had it 114-114.

The sellout crowd at the MGM Grand arena threw bottles and cans toward ringside after the decision was announced, with one full can hitting a ringside writer. Marquez, who had been bitter about the scoring in the first two fights, stormed out of the ring.

Pacquiao continued his remarkable run with the win, but it didn't come easy. He had trouble all night finding his range and, when he did get inside, Marquez often moved to the side and landed a counter right hand.

It was the third close fight between the two men, though this one was fought at 144 pounds instead of 125 as was their first fight seven years ago. That fight was a draw, while Pacquiao won a split decision in the second bout in 2008 at 130 pounds.

"My fans are very happy because they thought I won," Pacquiao said when asked about the crowd reaction.

Marquez fought going backward all night, and that might have been his undoing. While he landed well at times, Pacquiao was in his face most of the night.

"I got robbed," Marquez said. "I don't know what else I can do to win."

Pacquiao earned a minimum $22 million for the fight, while Marquez got $5 million

Manny Pacquiao v Juan Manuel Marquez

Manny Pacquiao celebrates his majority decision victory against Juan Manuel Marquez in the WBO world welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on November 12, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada.