Modi in NY; Yogeshwar Dutt notches gold; Khushbir Kaur wins silver ...

The Indians who draw crowds of adoring fans are usually tall and sultry, with washboard abs and elaborate outfits, Bollywood stars like Shah Rukh Khan — described by some as the Brad Pitt of India — or Priyanka Chopra, the bombshell actress, singer and model. But this time it is a teetotaler and bachelor who has boasted of his 56-inch chest and wears a simple cotton shirt. Narendra Modi, India’s new prime minister, will receive a rally fit for a rock star at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.  

………..writes NY Times….. another tidbit is while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join President Obama for dinner on Monday and attend a State Department lunch the next day – there is a hitch – as Mr Modi will not have any of the food.   He  is in the midst of a nine-day fast dedicated to the Hindu goddess Durga and consumes only water or lemon water.

At Incheon, Star wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt notched up India's fourth gold medal, while Khushbir Kaur became the first woman from the country to win a medal in 20km Race Walking by clinching a silver as India shot up to ninth in overall standings on the ninth day.  Besides, tennis players accounted for three bronze medals through Yuki Bhambri (men's singles and men's doubles with Divij Sharan) and Sania Mirza and Prarthana Thombare (women's doubles). M R Poovamma and Rajiv Arokia won a bronze each in men's and women's 400m race respectively while Manju Bala added another medal of same hue in women's hammer throw.

India made a resounding start in kabaddi competition of the 17th Asian Games with both the men's and women's teams thrashing Bangladesh in their opening preliminary round matches at the Songdo Global University Gymnasium. Indian women's team was the first to get across their Bangladeshi counterparts as they trounced their neighbours 29-18 in a Pool A match.  The men's team then brushed aside the Bangladeshi men 30-15 to start their campaign on a positive note in Pool A, which also consists of Thailand and Pakistan.

In India, people are following CLT20 ….. another disciplined effort from Hobart Hurricanes' bowlers put the side into the semi-finals, with a six-wicket win over Barbados Tridents. Tridents' score of 113 was the lowest by a side batting first in a full game.  Yesterday, CSK which had to compulsorily win found the runs too hard to come by. After 18 they were only 115 for 5.  In what should have been the 5^th ball,  Yasir Arafat delivered a high full-toss from around the wicket. Dhoni swivelled, met the ball with the meat of the bat, and sent it soaring into the top tier of the stands behind the deep backward square leg boundary. Next ball was another full-toss, which was despatched  over deep square leg, over the roof of the stands, and into the city beyond. Another six and in the end CSK had set a reasonable target and won too…… Lahore Lions offspinner Mohammad Hafeez has been reported for a suspect bowling action by the umpires, following the team's Champions League T20 match against Dolphins in Bangalore on Saturday evening. Dolphins offspinner Prenelan Subrayen was also reported.

Indians may not be following Cricket at Incheon as the Board decided against sending teams (and concentrate in CLT20 !!!)  Pakistan team captain, Sana Mir, won the toss and elected to bat first.  Pak women won Gold by  defeating Bangladesh by 4 runs in a rain-reduced match. Sri Lanka won the Bronze medal by defeating China in the play-off for third place.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

28^th Sept. 2014.