Commonwealth Games 2010: Indian swimmers qualify for 4×100m freestyle relay final

Indian swimming today made Commonwealth Games history when the quartet of Virdhawal Khade, Anshul Kothari, Arjun Jayaprakash and Aaron D’Souza finished sixth to make the cut in men’s 4×100m freestyle relay.

India also qualified for the semifinals when Badrinath Melkote (men’s 50m backstroke) and Shubha Chittaranjan (women’s 50m butterfly) finished 14th and 16th in their respective events.

Led by its biggest hope, Khade, the Indian team clocked 3:28.06s at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Aquatics Complex to make its maiden cut in the event.

Excited at the results, national chief coach S Pradeep Kumar said, that the boys have made history. He said, we have made history by reaching the final for the first time in Commonwealth competition.

Timing wise, the Indian quartet finished 12.87s behind preliminary round toppers- the Australian team of Kyle Morgan Richardson, Cameron Colin Prosser, James Magnussen and Tommaso William D’Orsogna.

World media dazzled by CWG opening ceremony

New Delhi: The spectacular opening ceremony for the XIXth Commonwealth Games on Sunday put the spotlight back on to the Games.  And for a change, the media that had largely been critical of Delhi's efforts in the build up to the Games, showered praises for the wonderful show and effort.

The Guardian said, "Concerns of recent weeks forgotten as dazzling event launches games amid atmosphere of national pride and celebrations change."

The Telegraph, also published from London, described the events as, "The biggest sporting spectacle India has ever hosted kicked off in typically colourful fashion... And there we were thinking it might never happen."

The Herald Sun that comes out from Melbourne went a step ahead comparing the opening ceremony to that of the Beijing Olympics stating, "Indian Games officials should feel proud of the opening ceremony, classy and showy but somehow warmer and less contrived than the Beijing experience."

The Australian, published from New South Wales, wrote, "After weeks dominated by the old India of corruption, poverty and chaos the new "Incredible India" of diversity and cultural pride showed its face."

Commonwealth Games 2010 : Opening ceremony Video

Commonwealth Games Exclusive : Inaugural Ceremony

Commonwealth Games 2010 Exclusive: Inaugural Function Photos

COMMONWEALTH GAMES DELHI 2010 :
INAUGURAL CEREMONY EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS

President Prathibha Patil declares Delhi CWG open

The nineteenth Commonwealth Games have been inaugurated by Prince Charles and President Pratibha Patil at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi.

Singer Hariharan is performing the ‘Swagatam’ song with school children forming the ‘namaste’ on the ground.

Around 7,000 men, women and children will take part in the gala opening, which is divided into 6 sections: Rhythm of India, Swagatam, Tree of Knowledge, Yoga, Great Indian Journey and AR Rahman`s rendition of the CWG anthem "Jiyo Utho Badho Jeeto".

The 619-member strong Indian contingent will be led by Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra who will carry the Indian flag during the ceremony.

Followed by the song, the ‘tree of knowledge’ segment will showcase India`s ‘guru shishya’ tradition with folk dancers and musicians.

A yoga performance will raise the bar, while the great Indian journey will showcase the spirit of India.

The grand finale will be Oscar winner AR Rahman performing live CWG anthem "Jiyo Utho Badho Jeeto".

Australia will lead out the teams, while hosts India will be led out by Beijing Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra.

The aerostat, or helium-balloon, touted to be the star attraction at the opening ceremony of the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games, will give an unprecedented view of the sights being offered for a truly Indian experience.

Delhi metro inaugurates link to JLN Games stadium

The Delhi metro rail's link to the main venue of Commonwealth Games, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the Central Secretariat-Sarita Vihar corridor was opened on Sunday, Oct 3.

The inauguration of the new 15-km corridor was attended by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) Managing Director E Sreedharan. A brand-new Standard Gauge train began its journey from the Central Secretariat station at 8 am on Sunday.


E Sreedharan told the media that the Delhi Metro will run 29 trains on the new link till the end of the Games at an all- time high frequency 2.40 minutes. He also added that the new link was sanctioned only in 2007 and it has been completed in record time of just 3 years and 4 months.

This is the second Standard Gauge line to come up in the country after the Delhi Metro's Inderlok-Mundka corridor. The new link will facilitate the travel of people attending the opening ceremony of the Games, which will begin at 7.00 pm on Sunday Oct 3.