Happy Holi!

Happy Holi! May our lives be full of colours!

F1 Season Starts

The Action begins again! The 2008 Formula One season is starting... The Stage is all set for it...

who'll win? will it be the Ferraris, or the Mc-Larens or will it be Renaults? Who'll be the Champion- Raikonnen, Alonso or Hamilton?

or would we be having another surprise winner?

But Most importantly, what will Force India do? All Eyes are on the First ever F1 team from India. All the Best Force India!

India wins over Australia

Oh, One more moment of pride for Indian Cricket. We've beaten Australia in their homeland. and I'm out of words, used them all for today's bulletines.. I need some rest now.

India lifts under19 cup

Oh what a special time for Indian Cricket! Months ago, we won the T20 World Cup and this time we have the Under Ninetin World Cup...!!!!

Time To Celebrate, but also to think again. it's a fact that our youngesters do very well at U19 levels, but they can't keep it on to the senior leve. let's hope this new generation will break this jinx! Congrats, Young Team India!

Oh So much is happening around! But I find it hard to come here everyday and report. :( :(

I've my Exams coming up, and may not be able to come here more often. It's time to go blank from net for a few days....

See you soon, My World!

Who is Roger Federer?

Who is Roger Federer? Once again this question thumped upon me.

Like every time, I felt angry and humiliated. Then I felt miserable. I remembered all those times when people crossed me with this question. (And I laughed coz whenever anyone asks me "Who's this Roger Federer?", my brother gets a reason to tease me- “See, nobody knows your Federer, he he he “. He’d surely be happy to know that somebody has asked me that question again.)

But today, to be frank, this question made me think- who is Roger Federer?

Records will tell you that this guy holds a lot of them. Stats will tell you that he has grabbed 12 Grand Slam Titles which includes 5 consecutive Wimbledons and 4 successive US Opens and that he’s just two of Pete Sampras’ all time record of 14.

Experts will praise his all-court game and his ability to produce shots from nowhere. Critics will speak on why he has not yet won the French Open even after reaching the Final twice.

One can not resist appreciating his elegance on the court and off of it, his grace with which he accepts the things- he’s crying a tear of joy when he wins and he’s plain and unmoved when he’s defeated. Such is his charm that even his acrh-rivals admire him. (Oh! that famous quote by Andy Roddick, "Roger, I'd have loved to hate you, but I can't" ) Not just that he has admirers in the world outside Tennis -from Rahul Dravid to Tiger Woods.

To the World, he’s an athlete with paramount capabilities. To Sports maniac, he’s a tennis player- one of the finest the game has ever produced. To Tennis fraternity, he’s their numero uno, a milestone that everyone seeks to surpass. To his Fans, Tennis is Roger and Roger means Tennis and I am a big Fan of him.

But really for me, Who Is ROGER FEDERER???

He’s my ultimate inspiration. Somebody whose manners and story made me realize that anger should be controlled. As a child he used to throw the racket around when he lost a game. But then he realized that he should use extra bit of energy on his game instead of spending it on smashing the racket. And knowing this has helped me overcome my short-temperedness.

I still remember how I was stunned to see his game for the first time- he was not running behind the ball, he was simply floating at it- that was way back in 2001 when he outclassed Sampras in the Wimbledon- the only official clash between the two. That match marked the end of an era and beginning of the other. And that day this little boy from Switzerland had the game that bowled me over. And since then his consistency and dedication always motivated me to do better. There’s a lot that I’ve learned from him and a lot is yet to be learned.

Still I may never know who is Roger Federer? But may be the children in Africa and Tsunami torned Tamil Nadu know it better than me.

He is different, way ahead from the rest, in whatever he does. He plays without a coach. His love of life, Mirka- a former Tennis player, acts as his manager. His Family never tries to seek attention, something that is uncommon to other Star Players, mostly Footballers. Really, Federer has a persona that no western Star Sportsman has. (The only example, I feel, that goes closer to his is Rahul Dravid)

I understand not everyone knows about him but he really is someone that everyone must know about. Not because he’s at the pinnacle of the Sports world, but because he’s ruling over it like noone else has done before in any other sport. On the Court he is a true champion with the game that will match only to divine and away from it, he is a true human being. Emperor without conceit, Aggression without arrogance, that is Roger Federer. He is him and he is like nobody else...

Pakistan has been witnessing a lot of things since few months- a lot is happening in political and social corridors of Islamabad. And recent Elections reflect this trend.

No Party has got clear majority. The PML(Q) that backs President Musharraf was trounced in parliamentary elections. However, Musharraf said he intends to remain in office and work with the new government. The Question is, will the government be formed at all?

I just got this update- Asif Zardari have joined hands with Nawaz Sharif to form the government. So there is a hope for change.

But it'll be the fact, the New Government in Pakistan, if it really comes into existence, won’t be powerful enough to remove President Pervez Musharraf.

Oh God! My thoughts are running so fast and it's all messed up in my brain.... I think I need to keep away from computer for some time....

Indian "Premium" League

It's very very late in the night, more than half past 12. I just got home after a very busy day-

The Players Auction of IPL. Great auction, it was. It’s something that has changed the game’s economy forever. Now I won’t be surprised, if players would prefer playing in Twenty-20 leagues like IPL and earn a premium of life-time instead of playing for their national side.

Never felt that speaking of crores of Rs. will be so boring! It was not just boring but meaningless. No I'm not saying this out of frustration. But I really don't see any good in it- barring the fact that Cricketrs will also get a chance to make money.

As for the teams and players sold and bought, everyone has said a lot today, and everyone will say a lot in coming days. So, I’ll stop here and get a nice Sleep… Good Night, World!

Pak Elections

The Results are out in Pakistan and as it was anticipated, nobody has a clear majority. But it's clear that people have rejected Musharraf's regim. The pro- Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League has got a severe beating in the polls.

The Pakistan People's Party under leadership of Asif Ali Zardari, late. Benazir Bhutto's widower, had not reaped a mass sympathy vote, as it was espected. On the other Hand, Former Prime Minister Nawaz Shariff's Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) produced a surprise result. And small parties have got small sections. So, Nobody has got a chance to make the Government.

Now this has raised a whole new bunch of questions. Will the President step down? will a coillition come into existance? and will the coillition really last long? will Pakistan have a new Government? will that Government be able to solve the problems of inflation, power cuts and food shortages?

We'll see this in coming times. But markets in Pakistan are showing optimism since the results came, with a rise of more than three percent, as it's reported.

Next few days are going to be very crucial.From what it seems, there is one possibility. PPP Leader Asif Zardari might join hands with Shariff's PML(N) .

There's another thing- the results in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) are quite interesting. Here, a secular ethnic Pashtun nationalist party has, beaten Islamist parties. The area is known to be conservative.

But in light of these results, there is a basic thing one needs to keep in mind- only around 40 % . In many areas like NWFP, women were banned from voting. But still, 40% is not bad to start with, for a country deprived of Democracy for past nine years, and many more before that.

India Reacts to Kosovo Freedom

I was waiting for India's official reaction to the Kosovo problem. and it's not differen than what I had anticipated, if it came.

Just check this link:

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/19/stories/2008021959721000.htm

India has always supported a solution through bilateral talks let it be any problem from any part of the world. As a Free Nation and Republic Democracy, India has always respected territorial integrity and sovereignty of all countries.

So wheneveer there is any dispute between two countries or between a country and it's subsidiary, India must treat it as an internal problem between the two bodies- a problem that must be resolved through consultation and dialogue. So, India is not agreeing the way Kosovo has tried to be Sovereign.

That sums up India’s reaction to Kosovo’s declaration of Freedom.

* It was a very long day- the IPL auction, and I must stop here.

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.