NEW DELHI: Used condoms, clogged toilets and safe sex.
This time around, the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games (CWG) Games Village is in the news for a different reason.
Thousands of used condoms were found to have clogged drains in the games village after athletes flushed them down the toilet.
Irked maintenance staff had to call in the plumber to clear the mess in toilets when athletes complained of clogged toilets.
They discovered that condoms were the cause, reported a daily newspaper.
Asked to comment on the issue, Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) chief Mike Fennell replied: "Shows athletes are responsible."
"Hope they (staff) clean up the toilets. If that is the story, then it is very positive.
"It shows the use of condoms, athletes are getting more responsible. Earlier, there were lot of controversies to promote safe sex," Fennnell told the media today.
Organisers have installed nearly 200 condom-vending machines at the games village, and about 100,000 condoms would be distributed free of charge for athletes throughout the games.
And, the brand name of the free condom is -- get this -- ''Play Safe''!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Malaysian women feel robbed
WOMEN'S HOCKEY: Malaysia 1 Wales 2....
THE Malaysian women were left seething over the absence of video-referrals when they were edged 2-1 by Wales at the Major Dhyan Chand stadium yesterday.
Wales, ranked 27 to Malaysia’s 22, took the lead in the 24th minute off a penalty stroke which saw Leah Wilkinson’s powerful drive zip through the goalkeeper’s legs.
Malaysia, who have now lost two of their three matches in Group B, equalised through a penalty by captain Nadia Rahman but ended up conceding a goal in the 56th minute to Welsh full-back Claire Lowry.
Nadia insisted her team had been let down by poor umpiring.
“We are very disappointed by the decision of the umpire to award a penalty stroke,” she said.
“At best, it warranted a penalty corner. But this is what happens when you don’t have video referrals.
“It is fair to both teams when you have the referrals. But this is the way it is. We will try to leave the disappointment behind and give our best against England in the next match.”
The video referral system, which has been in place at all major tournaments since 2006, is not being used for the Delhi Games as the organisers reportedly made a late request to the FIH, the game’s world governing body.
THE Malaysian women were left seething over the absence of video-referrals when they were edged 2-1 by Wales at the Major Dhyan Chand stadium yesterday.
Wales, ranked 27 to Malaysia’s 22, took the lead in the 24th minute off a penalty stroke which saw Leah Wilkinson’s powerful drive zip through the goalkeeper’s legs.
Malaysia, who have now lost two of their three matches in Group B, equalised through a penalty by captain Nadia Rahman but ended up conceding a goal in the 56th minute to Welsh full-back Claire Lowry.
Nadia insisted her team had been let down by poor umpiring.
“We are very disappointed by the decision of the umpire to award a penalty stroke,” she said.
“At best, it warranted a penalty corner. But this is what happens when you don’t have video referrals.
“It is fair to both teams when you have the referrals. But this is the way it is. We will try to leave the disappointment behind and give our best against England in the next match.”
The video referral system, which has been in place at all major tournaments since 2006, is not being used for the Delhi Games as the organisers reportedly made a late request to the FIH, the game’s world governing body.
No excuse against Scotland
By Vijesh Rai
AFTER two matches, knives have been sharpened but national hockey coach Stephen Van Huizen has called on critics to view Malaysia's Commonwealth Games positively.
The team's target, Van Huizen argued, is the Guangzhou Asian Games next month and New Delhi is all about getting the players ready.
Though he admitted that Malaysia have been below par, especially in the 4-1 defeat to Pakistan on Wednesday, he said the matches in New Delhi are proving several insights to the coaching panel.
"We are trying to build up for the Asian Games and we have to take the performances here in a positive light. We may have lost to India (3-2) and Pakistan but what we will take back from here is indications of how they are going to play in Guangzhou," said Van Huizen yesterday.
India or Pakistan are likely to be Malaysia's semi-final opponents in the Asian Games, provided the national team don't stumble as they have been doing in New Delhi.
But with an automatic slot into the 2012 London Olympics available to the Asian Games champions, Van Huizen doesn't want his men to impress in New Delhi only to fail in Guangzhou.
"We are scrutinising the performances of all the players and we will work on their weaknesses once the Commonwealth Games are over."
Van Huizen, however, admitted that Malaysia were poor against Pakistan.
"We were fine when the score was 1-1 but when Pakistan scored their second, our performance dropped and the defence, especially, had an off day.
"We play Scotland tomorrow (today) and it is a must win game for it will set us nicely for the clash against Australia (tomorrow)."
Losing to Scotland isn't an option, even if Malaysia are focused on the Asian Games for there are some matches they simply have to win.
AFTER two matches, knives have been sharpened but national hockey coach Stephen Van Huizen has called on critics to view Malaysia's Commonwealth Games positively.
The team's target, Van Huizen argued, is the Guangzhou Asian Games next month and New Delhi is all about getting the players ready.
Though he admitted that Malaysia have been below par, especially in the 4-1 defeat to Pakistan on Wednesday, he said the matches in New Delhi are proving several insights to the coaching panel.
"We are trying to build up for the Asian Games and we have to take the performances here in a positive light. We may have lost to India (3-2) and Pakistan but what we will take back from here is indications of how they are going to play in Guangzhou," said Van Huizen yesterday.
India or Pakistan are likely to be Malaysia's semi-final opponents in the Asian Games, provided the national team don't stumble as they have been doing in New Delhi.
But with an automatic slot into the 2012 London Olympics available to the Asian Games champions, Van Huizen doesn't want his men to impress in New Delhi only to fail in Guangzhou.
"We are scrutinising the performances of all the players and we will work on their weaknesses once the Commonwealth Games are over."
Van Huizen, however, admitted that Malaysia were poor against Pakistan.
"We were fine when the score was 1-1 but when Pakistan scored their second, our performance dropped and the defence, especially, had an off day.
"We play Scotland tomorrow (today) and it is a must win game for it will set us nicely for the clash against Australia (tomorrow)."
Losing to Scotland isn't an option, even if Malaysia are focused on the Asian Games for there are some matches they simply have to win.
Learn from defeats
By S.S. Dhaliwal
NOT being able to utilise their chances is the best way to sum up Malaysia's two performances thus far in the Commonwealth Games as Malaysia went down 1-4 to Pakistan today.
NOT being able to utilise their chances is the best way to sum up Malaysia's two performances thus far in the Commonwealth Games as Malaysia went down 1-4 to Pakistan today.
After the defeat against India on Tuesday, much was expected from Malaysia, but the punishing pace of the Indians took their toll as Pakistan turned on the power to score three goals in the second half, after the two teams were tied 1-1 going into the breather.
However the Malaysian team ought to look at these two defeats as a learning process towards the Asian Games as Malaysia could well meet either India or Pakistan in the semi final stage at the Asian Games next month.
And that 70 minutes against either of these two teams will determine if Malaysia will then get within another 70 minutes of a place in the 2012 London Olympics.
Coach Stephen van Huizen was neitther happy with the performance nor with the result as he tries to whip up a decent team, capable of Making Olympics on the merit, as he did in Japan in 1999 where they made the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
"We matched Pakistan in the first 35 minutes but conceded an early goal in the second half and that somewhat eroded the confidence of the players," said Stephen.
"After that Pakistan knew we had to attack to get a positive result and they duly punished us for our mistakes in defence.
"There are several aspects of our game that I am not too happy about and this is something that we must address within the next month to have arealistic chance going into the Asian Games.
"Finishing off chances has been a problem and we need to be sharper in the semi circle. We have two more matches here and the players know that they have to perform as not all are assured of a place in the Asian Games squad."
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