Sportolysis – The World Sports Blog

The Commonwealth Games were always going to be a failure. With a lack of direct initiative like Indira Gandhi showed in Asiad 1982, it was left to honorary government officials to make hay.

The sports structure in India is dire. Barring the BCCI the other sports organisations are managed by the government and herein lies the problem. People like Suresh Kalmadi head offices for years despite a very poor track record. Accountability is lackong.

In all this sports suffers. Despite this we are progressing now in sports like shooting, boxing, tennis and that in itself is a miracle. It shows the huge potential which remains untapped in sports.

Sports and sports business can thrive in India. We need a rehauling and given the shame India is facing over the Commonwealth Games, it is time to corporatise it NOW. PLEASE do it.

Rafael Nadal becomes the 7th man ever to win all four grandslams, the third youngest ever. Nadal has had a great year winning three of the four grandslam titles this year and it has been sheer ‘greatness’ on display. The level of tennis he is playing right now, it makes you gasp in awe.

Picture this – Nadal committed just two unforced errors in the 4th set. Djokovic has been playing a superb level of tennis and is a top champion and player. You have to love him. It was seen with the crowds at Arthur Ashe cheering for him enmasse in the third set.

What makes Nadal better than ever? He is fitter, stronger, faster and his service is now really potent. He has increased his service speed by 12 mph which is just phenomenal.

Given the improved service, it will be impossible for any one to beat him on clay when he is playing at his best. He is the greatest clay court player ever now in my opinion. Also I don’t think any one will be able to win five Roland Garros titles – the toughest major at 24.

All time players, he is in the top five now in my opinion along with Laver, McEnroe, Sampras, Federer (in no particular order).

What I loved most was the emotions he displayed as he crashed to the court floor after winning the title. Always love to see such images. To Nadal, Nadal fans and people of Spain, a huge congratulations!

Round of 16 finished yesterday with the match I enjoyed watching the most so far in this tournament – Spain v Portugal. Spain played possession football and in a style I enjoy watching the most passing beautifully. Both teams created chances but Portugal fell off the boil in the second half. Iniesta and David Villa – both will be considered all time great footballers once their career is all said and done. The better teams went through with possibly the only (slight) upset in Ghana defeating USA. Ghana weren’t all that flash in Round 1 but passed superbly and played at a fast pace against the US playing much better.

From what I find so far, there are two kinds of teams left in the last 8 and there is a big difference between them –

1) The great which have a real chance of winning the tournament – Brazil, Spain, Argentina and Germany
2) The good teams who are a notch below and I hope they don’t create any upsets – Uruguay, Holland, Paraguay, Ghana.

On Ghana, I have fallen in love with them. Their jersey is bloody awesome and I am tempted to buy it. If they defeat Uruguay (which would be tough and unexpected – Uruguay is by far the better side), I will rejoice as one of the things I hoped before this tournament was an African team reaching the semis.

Some people will be surprised I don’t rate Holland that highly but I think that despite being a very good team, it lacks the flare and character of Dutch teams of the past.

One major topic of eternal distress – penalties. The Japan-Paraguay match was riveting. Two evenly matched sides giving it their all. These two teams aren’t as gifted as Brazil or Argentina and have literally no chance of winning the tournament but it was an awesome game of football to watch because the teams gave it their all. It didn’t deserve to end in penalties. Play 30 minutes over times for eternity till a team out does another in a knock out scenario like the world cup of domestic Cup matches. Let football have it’s own Isner-Mahut classic. It is never going to happen but one can hope.

Regarding the technology debate, I have always held the view you should use it in all sports where possible. It is stupid not to.

Given the draw, 99% Brazil will reach the final. Whether they play Argentina or Spain, either ways, it is going to be great to watch. I have really enjoyed this tournament so far and the deeper it goes, the more pulsating it becomes.

The nominations for the Indibloggies, the annual Indian blog awards, have been announced. Sportolysis – The World Sports Blog has been nominated as well in the sports category!

Do take part in the poll and submit your votes, regardless of whether you think you should vote for this blog or not..

Whom am I kidding? Vote for me!!

PS – Voting closes on the 20th of February (US time).

I have been critical of ESPN-Star in the past. I was gaining back my love for them because of excellent set of previews ahead of the English Premier League and the classy presenter John Dykes.

They disappoint me again. To a degree, it is understandable that you show cricket on ESPN, India being cricket mad. However, what is the logic of showing a delayed telecast of an ATP event over live premiership football (Sheffield Utd. vs Liverpool) on opening day of the season on Star Sports?

I just don’t get it.

This one was quite tough. Thank you for participating and congratulations to the top three finishers. Thank you to Nirav for hosting the quiz as well.

The results of Sports Quiz 4:

Top 3 (Prize Winners) (scores out of 9)

Srinath Sridharan 8
Ravi Gurnani 7
Vijay Jeedigunta 7

(more…)

If you haven’t heard already, Blogspot among various other sites have been mysteriously blocked by many Indian ISPs.

You can add one of the two icons in the sidebars of your blogs with a link to the Bloggers against censorship wiki.

Icons made by my brother, Abhinav.

For more latest info, keep a track of the Bloggers Collective Google Group.

Dhoomketu’s post here.

Update: The ban maybe lifted according to this report by Shivam Vij.

China’s Liu Xiang, the country’s first men’s track gold medalist has created the 110 metres world record. On another day, you would have gone deeper into the rivalry in 110 metres hurdles or pondered over Chinese sports or the great night in Lusanne.

Today, as the morning sun rises, you are still angry. The Mumbai blasts were no hang over which would go away the next day. The innocent lives lost barbarically murdered cannot be brought back.

The simple joys we enjoy each day – sports, movies, music seem insignificant as lives are lost. That was the aim of the terrorists as well. So don’t stop dear Indians and continue with your normal lives while doing as much as you can to help the victims even though it will seem difficult.

As the Mumbai train started again today morning, the people cheered. Like that train, we have to carry on, if only to stand tall against cowardly people who attack innocents.

The previous post contains accounts and views of people here.