SPORTS AUGUST 2012

SPORTS AUGUST 2012

• India defeated host and defending champion Australia to win ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. In the final match played at Townsville in Australia on 26 August 2012, the Indian under -19 squad led by Unmukt Chand beat Australian side by 6 wickets. Skipper Unmukt Chand scored unbeaten 111 runs leading his team to a glorious victory.William Bosisto, the Australian skipper received the Man of the Tournament award. Anamul Haque of Bangladesh scored 365 runs, highest in the tournament. Reece Topley of England claimed 19 wickets and remained the leading wicket taker of the tournament. This victory marked third under-19 world cup title for India after Mohammad Kaif in 2000 and Virat Kohli in 2008 had led the team to the tournament victory. Meanwhile in Mumbai, the BCCI announced a cash prize of Rs. 20 lakh each for members of the team.
  
• Queen Elizabeth officially opened the London Paralympic games, on 29 August 2012. Britain's first Paralympic Games gold medallist, Margaret Maughan hit the cauldron.The opening ceremony signalled the start of 11 days of competition by 4200 athletes from 164 countries.
  
• Delhi won the 23rd Federation Cup Throw Ball Championship-2012 in both the male and female categories. The Championship which was held on 23-25 August 2012, in Srinagar. Delhi beat Tamil Nadu in the women’s final while, in the men’s final, Delhi beat Andhra Pradesh.
  
• England’s test team captain Andrew Strauss announced his retirement from international cricket on 29 August 2012. Under Strauss’ captaincy the England team witnessed back-to-back Ashes wins over Australia and reached to the top of the test rankings. A left-hand batsman, Strauss made his first class debut in year 1998 and one-day international debut in 2003 against Sri Lanka. Strauss made his test debut against New Zealand at Lord’s in 2004, where he scored 112 and 83 runs in two innings and received Man of the Match award. In a nine-year long international career, Strauss played 100 tests and 127 one-day internationals. Strauss has to his credit 7037 and 4205 runs in test and ODIs respectively.
  
• The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) erased 14 years of Lance Armstrong’s career on 24 august, including his record seven Tour de France titles, and banned him for life from the sportthat made him the hero of millions of cancer survivors, after concluding he used banned substances. The USADA said it expected cycling’s governing body to take similar action, but the International Cycling Union (ICU) was measured in its response, saying it first wanted a full explanation on why Armstrong should relinquish the Tour de France titles he won between 1999 and 2005.Armstrong, who retired a year ago, said on that he would no longer challenge USADA and declined to exercise his option of entering arbitration. While announcing the decision, he again denied taking banned substances during his career and called the USADA’s investigation a “witch hunt” .The International Olympic Committee said it would await the USADA’s and the ICU’s decisions before taking any step against Armstrong, who won a bronze medal at the 2000 Sydney Games.
  
• Veteran Indian batsman VVS Laxman announced on 18 August that he would be retiring from international cricket with immediate effect."It's been 16 years since I have made my international debut for India and I think it is the right time to move on," said an emotional Laxman after announcing his retirement in Hyderabad. Laxman was also picked for the forthcoming India-New Zealand two-Test series but the stylish Hyderabadi stunned the cricket fraternity by calling it quits with immediate effect. Laxman has played 134 Tests, amassing 8,781 runs at an average of 45.97 and hitting 17 hundreds. The Hyderabadi has pouched 135 Test catches too.
  
• Test debut: vs South Africa at Ahmedabad, 1996 M - 134; Runs - 8,781; Avg - 45.97; 100s - 17; Top Score - 281
  
• ODI debut: vs Zimbabwe at Cuttack, 1998 M - 81; Runs - 2,338; Avg - 30.76; 100s - 6; Top Score – 131
  
• Union government announced the Arjuna awards on 19 August in New Delhi.25 sportsperson will be awarded Arjuna Awards this year, while Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna will be jointly given to vijay kumar and yogeshwar dutt.President of India will grant them awards at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on August 29. Selection committee was headed by Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore. Vijay Kumar won a silver in the 25m rapid fire event and Yogeshwar won a bronze in 60kg free style event. They both will be awarded with cash prize of Rs. 7.5 lakh each along with medal and a citation. Yuvraj Singh will be awarded with the Arjuna Award.Arjuna Awardees will receive statuettes, citations and cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh each.Normally only 1 Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award is given every year to an individual sportsperson and for the Arjuna Awards not more than 15 awards are to be given in any calendar year.However in certain conditions the rules can be relaxed. 25 sportsperson for Arjuna Awards 2012 are: Deepika Kumari (Archery), Laishram Bombayla Devi (Archery), Sudha Singh (Athletics),Kavita Ramdas Raut (Athletics), Ashwani Ponnappa (Badminton), Parupalli Kashyap (Badminton), Aditya S Mehta (Billiards and Snooker), Vikas Krishan (Boxing), Yuvraj Singh (cricket),Sardar Singh (Hockey), Yashpal Solanki (Judo), Anup Kumar (Kabaddi), Samir Suhag (Polo), Annu Raj Singh (Shooting), Omkar Singh (Shooting), Joydeep Karmakar (Shooting), Dipika Pallikal (Squash), Sandeep Sejwal (Swimming), Ng. Sonia Chanu (Weightlifting), Narsingh Yadav (Wrestling), Rajinder Kumar (Wrestling), Geeta Phogat (Wrestling), M. Bimoljit Singh (Wushu), Deepa Mallick (Athletics Paralympics), Ramkaran Singh (Athletics Paralympics).
  
• Six sporting coaches were recommended for the Dronacharya Awards 2012. Wrestling coach Yashvir Singh, Boxing Coach BI Fernandez, Athletics Coach Virender Poonia, Kabaddi Coach Sunil Davas, Parathletics Coach Dr. Satyapaul and Hockey Coach Harinder Singh are the six names who have been selected for the coveted award.The Dronacharya Award was instituted by the government of India in 1985. The award carries five lakh rupees and a citation and is conferred to coaches of different sports for their noteworthy contribution. The awards will be presented by President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhawan on 29 August 2012, the National Sports Day.
  
• World number one Roger Federer defeated Novak Djokovic 6-0 7-6 to win his sixth ATP Cincinnati Msters title of the year. In the women’s singles China's Li Na defeated German Angelique Kerber 1-6 6-3 6-1 to win the title.The sixth seeded Indian pair of Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna lost in the finals by Sweden's Robert Lindstedt and Romania's Horia Tecau 4-6, 4-6 in straight sets.
  
• South Africa stood as the World’s Number One Test Cricket team replacing England. The feat was achieved after its 2-0 victory over England in the three Test-match series, which ended at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on 21 August 2012. Australia and Pakistan stood at third and forth positions. India stands on fifth position.
• The London Olympics 2012 concluded in London on 12 August 2012. The 30th summer Olympic event was inaugurated at Olympic Stadium at the Olympic Park in East London on 27 July 2012. Nearly 10500 athletes were participated in 26 sports events in this Olympics. At the end of the game US topped the medal tally with a total of 104 medals (46 Gold+29 Silver+ 29 Silver) followed by China with 88 medals (38 Gold+27 Silver+23 Bronze). Great Britain with 65 medals (29 Gold+17 Silver+19 Bronze), Russia with 82 medals (24 Gold+26 Silver+32 Bronze) and South Korea with 27 medals (13 Gold+8 Silver+6 Bronze) finished third, fourth and fifth respectively. India with 6 medals (2 Silver+4Bronze) finished 55th on the medal tally.
  
• The mascots of London Games-2012 were Wenlock and Mandeville. While Wenlock is a mascot of Olympics, Mandeville is mascot for Paralympics. These are two ultra-modern one- eyed creatures. Total 4700 medals ( Gold, Silver, Bronze) were there at the London Olympics 2012. The Olympic medals weigh between 375-400 grams. The gold medals are not actually made of solid gold. They are in fact 92.5 percent silver and 1.34 percent gold, while the rest is copper. On every medal there is the image of Nike, the Greek Goddess of victory. The 31st edition of Summer Olympics will be held in Reo de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016.
  
• Some of the winners at London Olympics 2012:
  1. Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt won three gold in three separate events (100 meter race, 200 meter race and 4X100 meter relay team race). With a storming victory in both 100 and 200 meters race he became the only sprinter in the history to defend both Olympic titles.
  2. Dan Lin of China beat Malaysian Chong Wei Lee to clinch Badminton men’s singles gold
  3. Germany beat Netherlands 2-1 to win men’s hockey gold.
  4. Mexico beat Brazil 2-1 to win Soccer gold
  5. United States defeated Spain to win men’s Basketball gold
  6. Andy Murray of Great Britain beat Roger Federer of Switzerland to win tennis men’s singles gold
  7. Michael Phelps bagged 6 medals(4 Gold+2 Silver) in swimming, becoming the most decorated Olympian ever with 22 medals.
  8. Russia defeated Brazil to win men’s volleyball gold.
  
  
• India’s performance-India had sent 83-member team to the London Olympics 2012, which is the largest ever contingent sent by Indian Olympic Association in the Olympics. Shooter Vijay Kumar bagged the silver medal in the 25 m Rapid Fire event, while MC Mary Kom, five-time world women's boxing champion, ace shuttler Saina Nehwal and rifle shooter Gagan Narang won India bronze medals. Gagan Narang opened India’s account at the medal tally after he won bronze in shooting event on 30 July 2012.
  
• The London Olympics 2012 concluded in London on 12 August 2012. The 30th summer Olympic event was inaugurated at Olympic Stadium at the Olympic Park in East London on 27 July 2012. Nearly 10500 athletes were participated in 26 sports events in this Olympics. At the end of the game US topped the medal tally with a total of 104 medals (46 Gold+29 Silver+ 29 Silver) followed by China with 88 medals (38 Gold+27 Silver+23 Bronze). Great Britain with 65 medals (29 Gold+17 Silver+19 Bronze), Russia with 82 medals (24 Gold+26 Silver+32 Bronze) and South Korea with 27 medals (13 Gold+8 Silver+6 Bronze) finished third, fourth and fifth respectively. India with 6 medals (2 Silver+4Bronze) finished 55th on the medal tally.
  
• The mascots of London Games-2012 were Wenlock and Mandeville. While Wenlock is a mascot of Olympics, Mandeville is mascot for Paralympics. These are two ultra-modern one- eyed creatures. Total 4700 medals ( Gold, Silver, Bronze) were there at the London Olympics 2012. The Olympic medals weigh between 375-400 grams. The gold medals are not actually made of solid gold. They are in fact 92.5 percent silver and 1.34 percent gold, while the rest is copper. On every medal there is the image of Nike, the Greek Goddess of victory. The 31st edition of Summer Olympics will be held in Reo de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016.
  
• Britain’s Andy Murray defeated Roger Federer 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 in the men’s final on 5 August to win his first Olympic gold medal and avenge his Wimbledon final defeat against the World No.1.
  
• Top Indian shuttler Saina Nehawal won India its third medal at London Olympics 2012 after she won a bronze in women's singles badminton event played at Wembley Arena on 4 August 2012. Saina bagged the bronze after her Chinese opponent Xin Wang conceded the match due to a knee injury. The previous two medals came in shooting events. While Gagan Narang won India its first bronze in the London Olympics on 30 July 2012, Vijay Kumar clinched silver on 3 August 2012. With this victory, Saina became the second Indian woman after Karanam Malleshwari to win a medal in the history of Olympics. Karnam Malleshwari had earned India a bronze in weight lifting event in 2000 Sydney Olympics.
  
• Mary Kom defeated Maroua Rahali of Tunisia in the Quarterfinals 15-6, securing one medal for the country. This was the first time when the women boxing event was introduced in the Olympic games. Later, Mary kom was knocked out of the Olympic Games flyweight (51 kg) semi-finals after she suffered an 11-6 defeat in the hand of Britain’s Nicola Adams, with that Mary satisfied with the Bronze medal. om has total 5 world boxing championship titles in his name. The government of India had awarded her with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, country’s highest award given to sports persons, in 2009. Besides she was also given the Arjuna Award in 2003 and Padma Shree Award in 2006. She was also appointed the International Boxing Association’s Ambassador for Women’s Boxing in 2009.
  
• Sushil Kumar, the star Indian wrestler, won India its sixth medal on the very last day in London Olympics 2012. Sushil bagged the silver after his Japanese opponent Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu defeated him 3-1 in the gold medal bout in the 66-kg freestyle category on 12 August 2012.He became the first ever Indian sportsperson to win individual medals in two successive Olympic Games. He had won a bronze at the 2008 Beijing Games. In a separate 60- kg wrestling event, Yogeshwar Dutt, another Indian wrestler won India a bronze medal. Dutt defeated North Korea's Ri Jong Myong in the bronze medal bout on 9 August 2012. With the two medals in wrestling, India took the total number of its medals in London Olympics 2012 at a record haul of six medals. Shooter Vijay Kumar bagged the silver medal in the 25 m Rapid Fire event, while MC Mary Kom, five-time world women's boxing champion, ace shuttler Saina Nehwal and rifle shooter Gagan Narang won India bronze medals. Gagan Narang opened India’s account at the medal tally after he won bronze in shooting event on 30 July 2012.
  
• China made an unprecedented sweep of all five Olympic badminton gold medals on 4 August after Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng won the men's doubles at the London Games.Before that, Lin Dan of China had defeated Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei to win the men’s singles title. Lin’s victory gave China its fourth gold medal in badminton.
  
• Michael Phelps, the greatest swimmer of all time became the most decorated Olympian of all time when he won a record 19th Olympic medal at the London Games on 1 August. Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina, who won the last of her 18 Olympic medals at Tokyo in 1964, held the record Phelps broke. Until Phelps surfaced, no-one had come close to breaking her record in almost half a century but now the torch has been passed to the 27-year-old from Baltimore.
  
• Vijay Kumar (26) of India, won with a silver medal in 25m rapid fire pistol at the Royal Artillery Barracks in the London Olympics on 3 August. The 26-year-old Vijay has given a tough fight in the final in which the reigning world champion Alexei Klimov of Russia went without a medal despite shooting a world record 592 in qualification.
  
• Eight badminton players at the London Olympics have been dramatically disqualified on 1 August, after being charged with trying to throw their matches. The Badminton World Federation said that it had charged the players, from China, South Korea and Indonesia, with not giving their best efforts to win a match and “conducting oneself in a manner that is clearly abusive or detrimental to the sport.”
  
• Michael Phelps won the 100 metres butterfly gold at the London Olympics on 4 August. The American, whose list of achievements in the Olympic pool is already beyond comparison, and wins his 17th gold and 21 overall medals.
  
• Saina Nehwal won the badminton bronze in the women’s singles as Wang Xin of China retired with a painful knee while leading 21-18, 1-0. Nevertheless, Saina became only the second Indian woman after weightlifter Karnam Malleswari in Sydney in 2000, to win an Olympic medal for India. She is the third Indian to win a medal in the London Games behind shooters Gagan Narang (bronze) and Vijay Kumar (silver).