Ludhiana, Nov 21 (IANS) Hosts India lifted the winners title in the men's and women's section of the second World Cup Kabaddi tournament here.
The India men team easily beat the Canada side 59-25 in the final match played at the Guru Nanak Dev stadium here late Sunday. India was the winner of the inaugural edition of the World Cup Kabaddi last year also.
The winners were given a cheque of Rs.2 crore while runners-up Canada got a prize money of Rs.1 crore. The total prize money in the tournament was Rs.4.11 crore for the 14 men's and four women's participating teams.
Neighbouring Pakistan, which was the runners-up in the first edition of the Kabaddi tournament last year and was expected to reach the finals this time also, finished third in the tournament. They beat Italy 60-22 in the match to decide the third position played here Sunday.
In the women's section, hosts India won comfortably against the British women Kabaddi team. They beat their rivals 44-17.
The prizes were given away by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
He announced that all players of the winning teams would be given government jobs.
Former Pakistan prime minister Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain specially came Sunday through the Wagah-Attari land route for the closing ceremony of the event held before a packed stadium here.
The closing ceremony of the 20-day event was a glittering affair with several performances and fireworks display.
Actors Akshay Kumar and Deepika Padukone took to the stage to enthrall the audience.
Akshay Kumar drove into the stadium and the stage on a superbike. He later took a round of the stadium on a convertible Mercedes with Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.
Jagapatibabu and Kalyani earned a good name as a hit pair and films like 'Kabaddi Kabaddi', 'Pedababu' and 'Pandem' proved it. After a long gap, these two are pairing up again for a film to be produced by none other than Ram Gopal Varma. Akella Vamsikrishna, who scripted dialogues for 'Anumanaspadam' is being introduced as director through this film. 'Gaali' and 'Raksha' are the titles under consideration for the movie. The shooting of the film was launched in Hyderabad recently.
2011/11/19 11:33:54 Bathinda (Punjab), Nov 19 (IANS) A spirited Canada pulled off a surprise win over Pakistan to set up a clash with hosts India in the finals of the second World Cup Kabaddi to be played at Ludhiana Sunday.
India reached the finals of the 20-day tournament easily, defeating the Italian team 74-15 in their semi-final match played at the flood-lit multi-purpose stadium here Friday evening.
But the big upset was in the second semi-final match between Pakistan and Canada late Friday. The Canadian side finally won 44-39 in a closely fought match.
The aggressive Canadian side kept up the pressure on the Pakistani side all through the game with both teams locked in a neck and neck fight. At half time, both teams were at 20-20 points.
The Pakistani side, which was the runners up in the first edition of the tournament last year, was expected to reach the finals this time also but the Canadian side, which also comprised Punjabi-origin youth settled in the country, got the better of them.
The final match of the men's Kabaddi, in which the winner team takes home the prize money of Rs.2 crore and the runner-up takes Rs.1 crore, will be played at industrial city Ludhiana's Guru Nanak Dev stadium Sunday evening.
In the women's section, in which four teams are participating for the first time, hosts India trounced the US team 57-7 in the last league match Friday evening.
Both teams have already reached the finals of the women's event. The finals will also be played in Ludhiana Sunday.
The India women's team overcame the trauma of Thursday evening's accident in which their team bus caught fire in an accident with an Army truck near Bathinda town.
The drivers of the bus and a Punjab Police gypsy piloting the bus were killed in the accident.
Some of the women team members also received injuries and burns in the incident as people broke the bus window-panes to rescue them.
2011/11/16 12:30:56 Chandigarh, Nov 16 (IANS) The US men kabaddi team has been banned from the ongoing World Cup in Punjab after the players refused to take doping tests, an official said Wednesday.
The disciplinary action has been taken after the refusal of US team players to give urine samples to National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) officials in Hoshiarpur Monday.
"Taking a serious note of the refusal by the players, the technical committee (of World Cup kabaddi) held a meeting and decided to impose ban on the US team for rest of the matches," a spokesman of the organising committee said.
The US team is leading Pool-B of the tournament in the men's section and the ban imposed on it will have a bearing on the event. The team is in line to make it to the semi-finals of the tournament.
Five players from the team have been suspended after they tested positive in dope tests conducted randomly on players of various teams from 14 countries.
So far, over 30 players have tested positive in doping tests in the 20-day tournament which ends Nov 20.
Hosts India and Canada have already made it to the semi-final. Neighbouring Pakistan is also likely to reach the next round.
The opening ceremony was held in south-west Punjab town of Bathinda while the final match and the closing ceremony will be organised at Ludhiana.
Katrina Kaif voted the Sexiest Woman in the World 2011
2011/6/8 5:21:43
Katrina Kaif yet again tops the list of the Sexiest Women 2011 conducted by the world’s largest men’s lifestyle magazine –FHM. The FHM 100 Sexiest Women poll is based entirely on online polls and SMS with a whopping number of over 35,000 entries being cast this year. Katrina Kaif has previously been voted the Sexiest Woman in the World by FHM India in 2008 and 2009.
Kabeer Sharma, Executive Editor of FHM India says “We’d love to say 2011 was a close contest…only Sheila made sure it was far from. A feat that becomes even more significant because no woman in the world across all 28 editions of FHM has ever won the Sexiest Woman in the World title three times in the last 17 years that we've been making the list. Her average is higher than Sachin Tendulkar’s and she replaces Deepika Padukone who won the crown in 2010,”
Katrina Kaif is the toast of the season as not too long ago she was the only Bollywood Actress to feature on the India Today’s Elite Power list and has the most Google searches than any other Indian celebrity.If that wasn’t all Katrina was immortalized by Mattel who created a one-of a-kind ‘I Can Be a Movie Star’ Barbie Doll sketched on her image.
Hema Malini has extended her full support to Women's Baseball Federation of India (WBFI). The film actress-turned-politician has also accepted the post of chief patron of the federation on Sunday.
WBFI chairman Deepak Joshi echoed the sentiments of Hema Malini that there was a need to change the mindset of society towards women
The organisers are confident that with Hema Malini joining WBFI, the sport would give a boost to women across all sports disciplines, all which have been facing neglect so far.
The WBFI has started the first ever Baseball Academy for providing training to players from March 14 in Chandigarh. The WBFI has branched out of the Baseball Federation of India (BFI).
The WBFI and the BFI will be holding Baseball Nationals for men and women from Feburary 21 in Chandigarh and will hold the World Women Baseball Championship in October. Eight countries are expected to take part in the event.
The Tiffin's at this Tiffin center are not only hot but even the lady running the centre is steaming hot. The film Mangatayaru Tiffin Centre has completed postproduction work and is now ready for release on February 29.
Mumaith has been shown in the sexiest way as possible in the film. She has gone a step ahead for this film and has done some bold scenes. A wet water scene is said to be so hot that the unit members are not sure if it would clear the censor.
Venky (Kabaddi Kabaddi fame) is the director. The entire film has been set in the picturesque backdrop of Konaseema.
2011/11/2 5:15:21 Chennai, Nov 2 (IANS) India are placed 10th and 13th among men and women in the latest International Hockey Federation World rankings released Tuesday.
World champions Australia (men) and 2008 Olympic gold medalists the Netherlands (women) occupy the top spots in the rankings.
The Indian men's team has had a dismal run during the ranking cycle. In 2007, they finished third in the Champions Challenge; in 2008, runners-up to Britain in the Olympic qualifier and thus failed to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Games; in 2009, third in Champions Challenge; in 2010, eighth in the World Cup that they hosted in New Delhi.
In the Asian region, India are currently ranked fourth behind Pakistan, Malaysia and Korea following regional competitions.
The women's team's performance during the same four-year period runs parallel to that of the men's.
Ranked fourth behind China, Korea and Japan in the Asian region, the Indians were third in 2007 Champions Challenge; failed to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics; first in 2009 Champions Challenge - II; ninth at the 2010 World Cup and seventh in 2011 Champions Challenge - I.
The top 10 rankings are: Men - Australia 1 (2,620 points); Germany 2 (2,470); The Netherlands 3 (2,213); Spain 4 (1,990); England 5 (1,947); Korea 6 (1,788); New Zealand 7 (1,610); Argentina 8 (1,470); Pakistan 9 (1,460); India 10 (1,385).
Women - The Netherlands 1 (2,063 points); Argentina 2 (2,030); Germany 3 (1,765); England 4 (1,696); China 5 (1,675); New Zealand 6 (1,615); Australia 7 (1,548); Korea 8 (1,423); Japan 9 (1,318); United States 10 (1,233).
Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi, is unhappy that the tax exemption he granted out to Tamil films is being misused, by the producers, directors and actors. Ever since the success of films like Pokkiri, Adavaadi, Thiruttu Payale, Kedi etc, more films with provocative titles are in the offing.
So to curb this tendency to coin uncouth titles ( Thitugira Varthai), the Tamilnadu government has constituted a committee to recommend films, suitable for tax exemption. In future films with titles that go against Tamil culture, will not be given tax exemption!
It clearly means, Dhanush's Pollathavan, Silambarasan's Kettavan, Sundar.C's Porikki will have to change their titles if they are to get tax exemption. In a way it is bad news for the makers of these films, as the re-call value for their film will be lost!
Vamsikrishna, who had provided story for 'Anumanaspadam' directed by Vamsi, turned director for a film, 'Gaali' being produced by Ramgopal Varma on the banner of Varma Film Corporation. Jagapatibabu and Kalyani, who proved a hit pair with films like 'Pandem, Pedababu, Kabaddi Kabaddi and Lakshyam' are pairing up again for 'Gaali'. The film had completed its first schedule recently. The second schedule is likely to begin from May 15. It is worth mentioning here that Varma is also producing 'Sarkari Raj' with Amitabh Bachchan simultaneously.
2011/9/25 11:25:36 It was a fabulous double for K Srikanth, the second seeded player from Guntur. He scored a double by bagging the singles and doubles crowns. D Sudha Kalyani from Nalgonda was the best woman on show in the Andhra Pradesh State men and women badminton championship, which concluded at Chimakurthy on Sunday.
Srikanth put it across Ajay Kumar at 21-8, 21-11 while Kalyani overcame J Meghana with a 23-21, 21-17 margin.
Results-All finals-Men Singles: K Srikanth(2)GNT)bt Ajay Kumar(3)RR) 21-8, 21-11.
Men's Doubles: K Srikanth/T Hema Nagendra Babu(1)(SKLM)bt K Tanishk/N N Vinayak (2)(HYD) 21-19, 21-19.
Women's Singles: D Sudha Kalyani(1)(NLG)bt J Meghana(3)(RR)23-21, 21-17.
Women's Doubles: J Meghna(RR)/Sidha Kalyani(1)bt P Lavanya/P Sonika Sai KNA) 21-16, 21-12.(INN)
The latest trend in Tamil cinema is to keep titles of old hit films for new films. It seems to have worked big time for Dhanush whose Thiruvilayadal, Pollathavan were old film titles. His next film to be directed by Sooraj, has been tentatively titled as Padikathavan, an old Rajinikanth film title.
Similarly new films with old titles like Aayirathil Oruvan, Malaikallan, Marmayogi, Nadodi Mannan, are on the anvil. A lot of film makers are approaching the Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC) seeking their help to register old hit films or names of yester year actors and Tamil legends.
The most wanted names for new films are "MGR", "Anna", "Jayashankar", "Kamaraj", etc. All MGR, Sivaji, Rajinikanth old titles have also become hot in the market. Some of these titles are available free as the original title right holders have not bothered to re-register the name after the mandatory 10 years.
According to sources in TFPC, the old timers in the industry are not keen on giving old titles to newcomers who want to cash on it. The purity of the original and its brand value is diluted and the Tamilnadu government itself is not very happy with the use of the old titles for new films.
The TFPC is now trying to curtail it by asking the producer who wants such titles to pay hefty amount to old time producers or their legal heirs who owned the original title. The idea is to curb this menace and retain the purity of the original.
We are aware that, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has announced that he is launching a new political party very soon. He has chosen three titles for his new party- ‘YSR Party’, ‘YSR Congress party’ and YSR Praja party.’ Out of three he said to prefers the first one ‘YSR party’ which always reminds the people about his late father and his popularity.
But, surprising news is waiting for him at EC office in New Delhi. Yesterday, when his representatives in New Delhi went to Election Commission to register these three titles for Jagan’s upcoming party, the concerned officials have told them that, already all the three titles were registered by some unknown persons and it’s difficult to find out the whereabouts of the persons who registered those titles. Unless, they were found and convinced to transfer their registered name for Jagan’s party, it’s not possible to allot any of those three titles for Jagan’s party.
The state congress party which claims of owning late YSR and his popularity, might have cooked this idea of registering all the probable titles that Jagan plans to have it for his new party. At the same time, this will detaches him from his father’s name and his influence. Is this not a congress mark politics?
DJ Jenny D, a Goa-born Mumbai based actress and DJ has posed nude for a NGO campaign- supporting reservation for women on the occasion of the country’s 65th Independence Day.
The Mumbai- based NGO Citizen Action Forum has launched an awareness campaign on India’s Independence Day titled ‘Are Women in India really Independent?’
Bollywood and fashion photographer Vickky Idnaani shot a special poster and print shoot for the campaign.
The campaign focuses on creating more jobs for women in areas like judiciary, local-self government and allied areas.
As reported by a daily, DJ Jenny D said, "We demand more jobs for women particularly in villages and smaller towns. Jobs for women in important positions of government, judiciary, police, local self government and financial institutions will reduce corruption in India and crimes against women will come down drastically.
Women should have the freedom to choose their partner, choose the job or profession they want to or feel inclined to and even choose their dress code or the outfits they want to wear.”
“Women should be at par with men not just in the cities, but also in the smallest and remotest villages and small towns of India. On Independence Day after 64 years of independence, women are still raped every day in India. Teenage girls are forced into marriages that they are against," the outspoken DJ said.
When asked about the nude shoot, DJ Jenny D said, "The photograph is very artistically shot and is very aesthetic and glamorous. It is not vulgar at all."
Over two lakh poor women workers to get stoves, lanterns
2011/11/19 19:13:33 New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) The International Finance Corp (IFC) will provide energy-efficient cooking stoves and solar lanterns to over two lakh women in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
A member of the World Bank Group, the IFC will guarantee a loan from local banks to NGO Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA) members and the distribution will take place over the next three years, a statement said Saturday.
"This is one of the world's largest clean-energy projects aimed at the $5 trillion market of consumers, distributors and entrepreneurs that forms the base of the economic pyramid," IFC CEO Lars Thunell said.
"By expanding the availability of energy-efficient cook stoves and lanterns, we can help low-income households increase savings and cut expenses for firewood, kerosene and electricity."
SEWA, a trade union registered in 1972, is an organisation of poor, self-employed women workers. Its membership of 1.3 million women comes from across nine Indian states.
"This project called Hariyali will provide green livelihoods to poor rural women members," said SEWA director Reema Nanavaty.
"SEWA's self-employed women work in the informal sector, spend 35 percent of their income on fuel and walk long distances for firewood spending precious time unproductively," she added.
A Canadian police officer’s suggestion to women not to wear revealing costumes that tempts the men has irked the Canadian women and it leads to Slut-Walk in the last April. Later, the Slut-Walk movement has fast spreads to neighboring America and Australia and then across the globe. Now, it hits India too. The Slut-Walk is a parade by women in protest against the male chauvinism and to safe guard the women’s rights in all aspects. It also asks the male-society not to see their clothes or their womanhood in it, instead to treat them as fellow human beings.
Delhi women also have marched for ‘Slut-Walk -Ardhath Besharmi Morcha’ at Jantar Mantar on Sunday morning. The women who have participated in the march have blamed that the male society in the country is still in the grip of orthodox feelings, which makes them feel superior to the women. They are eyeing the women more like sexual partners rather than fellow human beings. That’s why they are talking about the dress code of women. The women should be treated as equal and be honored. There are laws to define and to protect the women in the country, but when it comes to practical it didn’t work at all. The organizers of the Walk has demanded justice for women in all aspects.
2008/3/3 7:07:51 The number of women filmmakers may have risen over the years but Bollywood is in no danger of being swamped by films on women's issues.
With blockbusters "Main Hoon Naa" and "Om Shanti Om" under her belt, Farah Khan leads a select list of women who wield the directorial baton in India - a group that includes the likes of Reema Kagti, Tanuja Chandra and Revathy Menon.
While Indian-origin filmmakers Deepa Mehta and Mira Nair do the country proud abroad, celebrities such as Sushmita Sen, Zoya Akhtar and Neelima Azim are set to make their debut as directors in the coming months.
But apart from veterans Kalpani Lajmi and Aparna Sen, rarely have women filmmakers in India used the camera to focus on women's issues.
"They are a confused lot. Every one of them wants to be a feminist and claims to be sensitive, but ultimately makes a shallow multiplex film," Bollywood historian Derek Bose told Reuters.
"The feminine gaze which characterises women's filmmaking as in Aparna Sen or Kalpana Lajmi is missing in the present crop," he said. Kagti, director of the romantic comedy "Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd." (2007), admits that sensitive films about women are in short supply. "Previously, women directors used to make films on women issues and their emotions but now things have changed, less films are being made for sure," said Kagti.
"It's not because making a film on women will not be commercially beneficial but making a film on women is entirely a subjective matter for women directors."
Filmmakers agree the dearth is not because the Indian film industry is yet to accept women as directors.
"There is no bias in the industry, I got equal opportunity as other filmmakers to do my job," said Revathy Menon, director of "Mitr - My Friend" (2002).
"Our industry is very cooperative and you will not be pushed around just because you are a woman," said Kagti.
India makes it to top five at Miss Asia Pacific World
2011/10/16 11:04:55
New Delhi, Oct 16 (IANS) India's Tanvi Singla was one of the top five finalists at the Miss Asia Pacific World pageant held in Busan, with the crown going to South Korea's Park Sae Byul.
"Yippppeeeeeee!! INDIA made top 5 out of 57!! Tanvi Singla is 4th runners up!!! Korea won the Miss Asia pacific world 2011! We are Back!!!" actress Sushmita Sen wrote on microblogging site Twitter.
Sushmita, who has acquired rights to choose India's official entry for the Miss Universe and Miss Asia Pacific World pageants through her I AM SHE pageant, is quite excited at the 19-year-old's achievement Saturday as India could make it so far after a long time.
"Tanvi truly made us proud..she was amazing!!! Thank you friends for all your prayers...Congratulations INDIA!! well done 'I AM she' team. There she is..TANVI SINGLA!! Her crowning moment!To see INDIA being crowned..I cried! What a feeling!" she added.
Clinical drug trials on poor women: two mediators held
2011/6/17 6:08:09 Piduguralla police on Friday arrested two women on charges of luring poor women to serve as ‘guinea pigs’ for clincal trials of drugs for a Hyderabad–based pharmaceutical company.
The police said that the two mediators, identified as Jamila and Karunamma, had lured 20 women to undergo clinical trials for a drug being develop to treat breast cancer by the Hyderabad based pharmaceutical company. The human ‘guinea pigs’ were paid nearly Rs 10,000 each.
The women, who were administered injections and subjected to blood tests after being taken to Hyderabad by the mediators, developed swelling in the joints, severe body pains and extreme weakness.
The case came to light late on Thursday and District Medical and Health Officer M Gopi Naik ordered an inquiry into the incident.
The 20 women were admitted to government hospitals where their condition is being monitored.
Meanwhile, activists of the Communist Party of India organized a huge rally protesting against the clinical trials on the poor women.
The activsts demanded stern action against the pharmaceutical company and compensation to the 20 women.(INN)
2011/11/6 12:29:44 Mahaakshay Chakraborty, son of veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty, has revealed that he is a huge fan of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) star John Cena.
"John Cena has always been one of my role models. More than his physique and personality, it is his attitude which I salute. Every week when he goes out there and faces the people, he hears, 'Let's go Cena! Cena Sucks!' But he never quits! He always keeps fighting because he knows how to Rise Above The Hate!" Mahaaskhay, who was recently seen in "Loot", wrote on his blog.
Cena is a professional wrestler and is currently signed to WWE as a member of its WWE Raw brand. In WWE, Cena has won 19 championships, including 12 world titles.(IANS)
Delhi women also have marched for ‘Slut-Walk -Ardhath Besharmi Morcha’ at Jantar Mantar on Sunday morning. The women who have participated in the march have blamed that the male society in the country is still in the grip of orthodox feelings, which makes them feel superior to the women. They are eyeing the women more like sexual partners rather than fellow human beings. That’s why they are talking about the dress code of women. The women should be treated as equal and be honored. There are laws to define and to protect the women in the country, but when it comes to practical it didn’t work at all. The organizers of the Walk has demanded justice for women in all aspects. 
