Cricket as an Olympic sport has been discussed in the news off and on for many years. Logistics for organizing a sport like cricket were complicated, the number of teams requiring the number of grounds and the time taken for a cricket match in the traditional format was overwhelming. With the introduction of Twenty20 format, things look a little different and time constraints seem to have been overcome for cricket to make a comeback as an Olympic sport, after 120 years when ignorant players, not knowing they were Olympians, played …

Abhinav Bindra, returned home not only a hero but also a target, so he say on his blog. [Bindra blog] [via]
“Chooooo chweeeeeet”, says President Prathiba Patilimg: via Hindu
After Abhinav won the first gold medal ever for India, life was supposed to be all hunky dory. Then he met the President of India who insisted on pulling his cheeks like a true desi aunty. In fact, this photo captures something so desi, yet so common in the des and abroad even Presidents and world champion gold medalists are not immune to …

The Olympics is not all about medals. It’s also about competing, and upsets. The world of boxing saw one today as Indian pugilist Akhil Kumar defeated world champion Russian Sergey Vodapoyanov in the 54 kg category to enter the medal round. The two other Kumars of the boxing contingent, Vijender and Jitender are also still in the hunt. [Sify]
In-depth coverage of the boxing contingent. [UD]

For all the praise (deservedly) heaped on Abhinav Bindra, this statement by his father disturbs me. [TOI]
Silent killer, as described by his father, he is the one who spotted his son’s talent when Abhinav was 5 years old. “He kept a water balloon on our maid’s head and began shooting, knowing little that a slight mistake could have proved fatal. But his aim was so perfect that I couldn’t think about anything else but make him a pro,” says AS Bindra.
While one cannot fault a 5 year old for …

The U.S. men’s gymnasts team was not expected to win a medal but came away with a bronze after almost leading the contest at one stage. [Chron]
Bhavsar solid in medal performanceimg: via Chron
In the absence of stars Paul Hamm and Morgan Hamm because of injury, the US men’s gymnasts team was not expected to compete for a medal. It was Paul Hamm’s injury that put Raj Bhavsar through to the Olympics. [UD Link]
The US team was actually in the lead in the beginning stages.
The U.S. men, fueled by an early …

This will probably change by the time our West Coast readers wake up on Tuesday so savor this while it lasts. India, thanks to Abhinav Bindra’s gold, is among the top 15 spots in the medal tally – higher than other traditional powers like Russia, France and Germany. [BBC]

India’s Olympic medal drought ended with Abhinav Bindra’s win in the 1om air rifle event.(link)

Abhinav Bindra won the gold medal in men’s 10 metre air rifle event of the shooting competition at Beijing Olympics.
The gold medal is India’s first since 1980, when the hockey team emerged triumphant in Moscow.

Update: Bindra’s gold medal is the first gold by an Indian individual in the Olympics, ever. Bindra made clutch shot after clutch shot in the final round to zoom ahead of the two favorites, Henri Hakkinen of Finland and China’s …

I’m supposed to be getting into the “Olympic spirit”. Unfortunately (or otherwise, depending on your perspective), I lack the attention span/patience to sit through a clothing, dancing and firework extravaganza showcasing China or any other nation for that matter. This embarrassing presentation at the opening ceremony doesn’t help either. Perhaps, they were too busy preparing to care how they looked in front of the entire world. One can only hope…..

Tonight in celebration of the countries participating in the 2008 Beijing Olympic games, the Empire state building will be decked in the following colors by country: [Official page] [via]
North side:
Red/White/Blue – France
West side:
Red/Blue/White – Great Britain
South side:
Red/Red/Green – Portugal
East side:
Green/White/Orange – India
This display started yesterday with the four sides alternating between U.S. and Chinese colors. By official accounts 38 countries will be honored this way over a period of 10 days.
If any inquisitive readers happen to get a picture or video of this unique tribute, we will gladly feature it …

Monica Devi, the only weightlifter chosen to represent India for the Beijing Olympics will not be in Beijing at all. Rather, she will be cooling her heels back home, after she failed a drug test (Hat Tip: Tony via email) and tested positive for “anabolic salt”.
Anonymous sources told PTI that the drug test was conducted on June 29 and was revealed hours before the squad was to leave for Beijing.
She has proven to be a winner and her three medals (one silver and two bronze) in the Asian Championship earlier …

Indian sharpshooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore was featured among Time magazine’s 100 olympic athletes to watch. [Time]
Will Rathore be on target?img: via Time
In fact, the entire contingent of sharp shooters have high hopes going into the games. [IBN]
Headed by Rathore, the team consists of Samresh Jung who was pretty successful at the Commonwealth games, former shooting champ Anjali Bhagwat and another Commonwealth games success story, Avneet Kaur Sidhu.
Rathore and another shooter Abhinav Bindra will also be part of a blogging initiative by Lenovo and will be frequently blogging during the games. …

BBC’s Against the Odds series features an Indian athlete who made it to Olympics in the face of overwhelming odds. [BBC]
The desi Rocky Balboasimg: via Hindu
Most professional sports in India, with the lone exception of cricket, offer little incentives for budding youngsters to follow that sport. Boxing is one such neglected sport in India. So pretty much any athlete not belonging to cricket probably belongs in the “Against the Odds” series.
The Indian boxing squad as a whole deserves special mention. [Hindu]
For starters, India has an unprecedented number of boxers qualify …

Update: Per latest reports from Chron, Raj Bhavsar has been selected to replace Paul Hamm on the US Olympics gymnastics team. [Chron]
“This is a tremendous honor and the first feeling that comes to mind is that dreams can come true,” said Bhavsar, 27. “You never know when it will happen, but with enough positive intention and belief, it can. I am ready, willing and able to take on this great opportunity.
“Unfortunately, this comes at the expense of a great athlete, Paul Hamm. My heart goes out to him. He did …

Much has been said about the Olympic torch relays and the fact that some people are calling for the torch bearers to boycott it to express solidarity with the Tibetans. I have a couple of things to say, things that seem to have been conveniently forgotten in all the politics and events of the past two weeks. And I will take the risk of being labeled heartless (and possibly leftist/communist etc., if the trolls get here).
I have constantly seen three stakeholders in this issue – the Chinese and the Tibetans …