Laureus Sports Awards 2008

Just got this news,

Roger Federer and Justin Henin are the Laureaus Sportsman and Sportswoman of the year...

Waw! both prizes went to Tennis this time!!

Federer had captured his fifth straight Wimbledon title last season to equal Bjorn Borg's record. He just finished fourth successive year at number one. I liked what he said after recieving the Prestigeous Award for a record fourth time- "I am thankful the jury didn't think three was enough" So sweet! :D

Henin had a very tough last season. She skipped the 2007 Australian Open after splitting with her husband. Despite that, she won 10 titles in the season and became only women to do it after Martina Hingis.

Besides, Louis Hamilton, the rookie Formula One driver, who finished second in the F1 drivers' standings, won the World Breakthrough of the Year award.

British marathon runner Paula Radcliffe, who won the New York Marathon after two years away from competition following childbirth, got the World Comeback of the Year award.

South Africa's rugby team won the World Team of the Year award after going unbeaten to win the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Montreal lawyer Dick Pound, the Head of the World Anti-Doping Agency(WADA) since last eight years was given the Spirit of Sport Award.

The winners were selected by members of the Laureus Sports Academy.

Kosovo declares Sovereignty

A few days back I said that it’s small states that create big troubles. Well, there’s another such incidence coming up. Once again Balkan states are at the center of attention.

Kosovo, The autonomous province of Serbia, has declared it's sovereignt. The statement came late in the night on 17th Feb, i.e. on 18th according to Indian Time.

To be frank, it doesn’t matter much to me personally If Kosovo really becomes a state. Every people have a right to self decision. But what concerns me is the way they got their Freedom. (well, they've not yet got official recognition from UN. Even European Communities are divided over it.)

The UN guided negotiations about Kosovo problem had failed and so, the territory declare Independence with support from the US and other big states of Europe. something that might send wrong signals. One can not forget the fact that Pakistan has provided its hand to Kosovo to get recognization. There are many divisive forces in India, and they might get a boost. I'm really waiting for India's official reaction to this.

Kosovo to declare Independence

When in 2006, Montenegro Seceded from Serbia, it was supposed to be the final state to break away from the Former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. But now it might be proved wrong. I just read the news that Kosovo is about to declare independence anytime soon. The UN administered territory is all set to secede from Serbia.

I wonder how the World especially EU and UN will react to this. I’m not sure if Kosovo’s sovereignty will get recognition from all of the international community. Serbia will not accept it- that’s I’m damn sure. The Serbs consider Kosovo as the birth-place of their civilization.

Kosovo has been a part of Serbia since a long time. But in the last decade it came into light because of the ethnic conflict between Serbs and Albanians. The territory has seen genocide under the rule of Slobodan Milosevic. Milosevic had imposed areal attacks on Kosovo and NATO forces came to the rescue. After his rule came to an end, the Territory is under control from UN administered Forces. The Albanians had been demanding a separate state of their own. And now, as the UN sponsored negotiations have failed to reach any conclusion, Kosovo is going to declare unilateral Independence.

Obviously, Serbia would never accept it. So will Russia, who has always supported the Serbs. Even, China would not recognize Kosovo’s Sovereignty, because of their specific interests. China has claimed Taiwan- the tiny neighbouring to be a part of Chinese Territory. But Taiwan has declared its independence and Chinese support to Kosovo will eventually take the power away from their claim on Taiwan. And I doubt if India will pay any attention to it?

Seles Retires

Monica Seles has announced her retirement today, and with it, comes to an official end of another era. Seles had a fabulous carrier turned into pieces by a knife that was pierced in her back in 1993. She was a victim of her own popularity.

Seles was a champion in women’s tennis who climbed the ranks very early in her carrier. From a young Tennis Player from former SFR Yougoslavia (in today’s Serbia), she rose to challenge the big names of the game and dominated the game in 1991 and 1992. She won her first Grand Slam title– French open at the age of 16 and became the youngest player to win the tournament. And went on to win 7 more till 1993.

Such was her rivalry with Steffi Graf that she overtook Steffi in 1993. Bewildered by the thought that Steffi had lost her top spot a mad fan of her stabbed Seles in her back during a Match in Hamburg. The incidence left the Tennis World stunned and Seles didn’t return to the circuit for more than two years. And after she did return, she couldn’t gain her top ranking again.

Tennis doesn’t consider, what- if- buts. Still People argue what would have happened if that incident had not happened. To me, as far as I had seen Seles play, her game was not changed after 1993. It was more or less the same. What was changed was Steffi. She had overcome all her personal trauma and dominated the Game again.

Still, Seles’ legacy can not be forgotten. Although she naturalized as an American Citizen, Seles has inspired a whole generation in her homeland. Today’s Women’s World no. 2 Ana Ivanovic took the racket after watching Seles on TV.

Not just Ana, but Jelena Jankovic, Novak Djokovic and a bunch of Serbian Players are all successors of her. She was often criticized for her grunts on the court, something which she started and a lot of Gen-next followed with increased decibels. She was a girl with a high ambition and was ready to give everything for it. She set her own standards and never agreed on anything bellow it.

Emergency in Timor

East Timor is facing Emergency situation after rebel soldiers critically wounded the Nobel Peace Prize-winning president and fired at the prime minister's convoy. Armored U.N. vehicles are quickly on work in the tiny Indian Ocean State.

It's a tiny state in South East asia, to be precise near Indonesia. If I'm not wrong, it's the first independent state of the new millenium. Timor is a very tiny state. But it's relatively important in the region. because, Timor is one of the only two Roman Catholic states in the region- Phillipines being the other. The recent things going on in this state are a proof of the fact that a religious state has an unstable future- let it be Israel (Religion- Jew) Palestine and other Arab Nations (Religion Islam), Nepal (of two years back- now it's not a Hindu state) or let it Timor. (To me, this shows, Religion is a sentiment and business of Government can not smoothly on sentiments. )

I won't be surprised if we come to know that Indonesia might have a hand in ared rebel in Timor. And I'm not surprised to see how little attention India has given to these happenings.

I believe small states and their small problems are always not attended until they get bigger. There is always a plenty of discussions on US, West, Afghanistan, iran et el.... But it's always small pieces of land that can shatter the world order. Remember? Two World Wars started over the small pieces of land. And I don't want another one.

I really feel sory when I see people not taking the inciedences in such states seriously. Look at Myanmar (Burma) it's in trouble for many years now. but not much of attention is paid to the proble of people over there. and I really regret over the fact coz, Even Indian leaders are not so willing to take any initiative.

फेडरर नाबाद २०९

शिखरावर पोहोचणं सोपं असतं, तिथं टिकून राहणं मात्र कठीण असतं. उंचावरचे वारे सगळ्यांनाच सोसवत नाहीत. पण रॉजर फेडररची गोष्टच निराळी. टेनिसमधल्या सर्वोच्च शिखरावर तो नुसता पोहोचलाच नाही तर तब्बल २०९ आठवडे तिथं फक्त त्याचंच वास्तव्य आहे. 2 फेब्रुवारी 2004 रोजी फेडररनं टेनिसच्या जागतिक क्रमवारीत अव्वल स्थान मिळवलं आणि तेव्हापासून ते फक्त त्याचंच आहे. विशेष म्हणजे सलग चार वर्ष नंबर वन असूनही त्याच्यातली विनम्रता जराही कमी झालेली नाही.

चार वर्षांच्या काळात टेनिसविश्वातले अनेक विक्रम मोडीत निघाले. अनेकदा इतिहास नव्यानं रचला गेला. आणि काही थोडे अपवाद वगळता तो इतिहास लिहीणारा फेडररच होता. त्याचा कट्टर प्रतिस्पर्धी राफेल नदाल सोडला तर इतर कोणीही फेडररवर वरचढ ठरला नाही. नदालनंही केवळ क्ले कोर्टवरच फेडररला रोखून धरलंय. एक फ्रेन्च ओपन आणि दुसरं ऑलिम्पिक सुवर्णपदक यांचा अपवाद वगळला तर बाकी सगळ्या मोठ्या स्पर्धांवर फेडररनं ताबा मिळवला. आणि यंदा या दोन्ही स्पर्धा जिंकायचाच त्याचा इरादा आहे.

मात्र फेडररसाठी या पुढचं आव्हान सोपं नाही. याची जाणीव गेल्या वर्षीच्या यू एस ओपनमध्येच झाली होती. स्पर्धेचं जेतेपद अर्थातच फेडररनं मिळवलं पण अंतिम फेरीच्या सामन्यात सर्बियन सुपरस्टार नोवाक ज्योकोविचनं त्याला चांगलंच सतावलं होतं. त्या पराभवाची परतफेड ज्योकोविचनं यंदाच्या ऑस्ट्रेलियन ओपनच्या सेमीफायनलमध्ये केली. आणि गेल्या चार वर्षात फेडररवर एकापेक्षा जास्त वेळा विजय मिळवणारा तो केवळ चैथा खेळाडू ठरलाय. (फेब्रुवारी 2004 नंतर नोवॅक ज्योकोविच आणि गियेर्मो कनास यांनी प्रत्येकी दोनदा, डेव्हिड नॅलबॅन्डियननं तीनवेळा तर राफेल नदालनं आठ वेळा फेडररला पराभूत केलंय.)

खरंतर ऑस्ट्रेलियन ओपनमध्ये खेळण्याआधी फेडररला व्हायरल इन्फेक्शनचा त्रास जाणवत होता. अवघ्या दोन-तीन दिवसांत त्याचं वजनही तीन किलोनं कमी झालं. त्यामुळं त्यानं कुयाँग क्लासिक स्पर्धेतनं माघार घेतली. कोणत्याही सरावाशिवाय ऑस्ट्रेलियन ओपनमध्ये खेळताना आजारातून उठलेल्या फेडररचा खेळ बराच मंदावल्यासारखा वाटला. फेडररला हरवता येऊ शकतं अशी कुजबूज मेलबर्न पार्कवर सुरू झाली आणि ज्योकोविचनं ती प्रत्यक्षात आणली. चार वर्षांत पहिल्यांदाच फेडररच्या अव्वल स्थानाला धोका निर्माण झालाय.

तरीही तो मेलबर्नमध्ये सेमीफायनलपर्यंत पोहोचू शकला याचं कारण एकच – तो रॉजर फेडरर आहे. टेनिसच्या सर्वोच्च शिखरावर तो सध्या राज्य करतोय. अव्वल स्थानावर टिकून राहण्याचा मंत्र त्याला अगदी पुरेपुर माहीत आहे आणि हा मंत्र आहे मेहनत, मेहनत आणि अखंड मेहनत....

Happy Republic Day!

58 Years ago, We the People of India became the citizens of a republic...


58 years on, We're still far away from the Dream of a "Real Republic"...

On this day, I pledge again to do my best to make that dream come true...

Happy Republican Day!

Federer has lost the Semifinal battle against Novak Djokovic...

I don't want to say anything. :( :( :(

Hi! After a long time again!

I had promised myself to write here more often. But like most other New Year Resolutions, this one is not yet followed completely.My computer is down with Virus.

The Only option I have is use Office Computer, which I don't think ethical.. So I'm not sure if I'd be able to blog for a few days more. hope to be here soon..

Happy New Year!

It's been a year since I promised myself so may things, like everyone does it... And as the Year 2007 came to an End, I'm glad to have fulfilled them all (except only one, which in the coming year I will).

Oh! What a year it had been! So many things have happened, in my world, it’s a totally different me at the end of this year. Yet I’m quite the same one- a curious little girl in search of meaning of her life. I’m still to find it but I believe I’ll soon find it- my ultimate aim of life.

I know it’s going to be a long tiresome journey and I’m aware I may not get there where I want to, but I’ll try because I have to… and I will, because I must. However tiresome it may be but it’s a beautiful journey, we call it life. And for us all, every year is a fresh start to a new journey… Let this year everyone will reach where they ought to.

Happy New Year! Welcome 2008!

708, 709, 710 And Counting- Murali takes over Warney!

Even before the race started,

Everyone knew he'll win it,

The only question was when and where?

And the Answer is here...

Muttiah Muralitharan the greatest off-spinner of the time has finally done it. He has walked past the mark that was created by another great spinner, perhaps greatest leg-spinner of all times, Shane Warne. Murali has now taken 710 wickets surpassing Warne's 708 and He's now the leading wicket taker in Test Cricket.