Indo-Nippon Golf Cup 2010

Report and Pix By Deepak Arora

GURGAON, Nov 14: While Indian Golfer J S Naurath and Japanese Golfer Shinya Watanabe were adjudged the Winner Best Score Gross, the Indian Golfer Dr. Kashmir Singh and the Japanese Golfer Yusuke Kato were declared Winner Best Score Nett at the Indo-Nippon Golf cup 2010 held at Golden Green Golf Resort in Gurgaon on Sunday. The Runners Up Nett were Indian Golfer Subbaiah and Japanese Golfer Yasunobu Fukuda.

About 70 Japanese and 36 Indian players, representing a cross section of Japanese and Indian businessmen, took part in the Fifth Indo-Nippon Golf Cup 2010.

The Ladies Winner of the Indo-Nippon Golf Tournament was Ms Monica Jajoo and Runners Up was Ms Satoe Tsutsui.

The prestigious event was jointly supported by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM), Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in India (JCCI) and the Embassy of Japan.

The Platinum sponsor of the event was Sri City and the Gold sponsor was Mahindra World City Jaipur.

Japanese Ambassador Hideaki Domichi teed Off the tournament with a theme of “General Development of Japanese Industries to India especially SME”.

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Domichi said the Indo-Nippon Golf Cup was organized to promote Japan India focus and to invite Indian investment in Japan.

He said that at present as many as 4,000 Japanese personnel were working in India. “We would like this figure to grow many fold in the coming years,” he added.

Union minister of state for water resources Vincent Pala, who was the chief guest at the function, stressed on the need to further enhance Indo-Japan economic cooperation to benefit the people of the two countries.

Several other eminent persons, including Deepak Gupta, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Amitabh Kant, CEO & Managing Director of Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIIDC), Kensaku Konishi, President & CEO of Canon India, Takewaka, Minister Economic, Embassy of Japan,Shinya Watanabe, President of JCCI and CMD of Marubeni,Subbaiah, President of Mahindra World City Jaipur, Ravi Sanareddy, Managing Director of Sri City, and Charles Morris, President of the Leela Palace Kempinski New Delhi, were also present on the occasion.

Also present on the occasion were senior officials from Honda, Hitachi, Daikan, Nippon Express, Marubeni and Sojitz.

President of the Indo-Nippon Golf Cup Rahull Sharma thanked the Embassy of Japan in India and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in India (JCCII) for their dedicated support to the tournament for the last five years.

He also thanked Mr Amitabh Kant the CEO and the Managing Director of the DMIIDC for its support to the tournament.

He also appreciated the efforts made by the ASSOCHAM in promoting the Cup with a view to enhance the economic and social activities during the year by sending six business delegations and participating in two exhibitions in Japan.

President & CEO of Canon India Kensaku Konishi presented a special prize -- a Canon life style camera -- to Yuki Inanaga of Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ.

The other winners of the tournament were:

@ Winner Closest To Pin (H.No. 8) - Ankur Sachdeva – 5 feet

@ Winner Closest To Pin (H.No.16) – Tsutsui Tatsuo – 4 feet

@ Winner Longest Drive (H.No. 5 ) – J S Naurath – 285 yds

@ Winner Longest Drive (H.No.11) – Rohit Jhawar - 275 yds

@ Winner Straightest Drive (H.No.9) – Charles Morris - 3 Inches

@ Winner Straightest Drive (H. No. 14) – Ms. Neelam Rudy
and Yuki Inanaga - On the Line

Indo-Nippon Golf Cup was first held in 2006 with the objective of building a cordial working relationship between the Japanese and the Indian community both in Government and Business. The then Japanese Ambassador Y Enoki graced the inaugural tournament with his presence and it was a great success. The Japan desk was inaugurated with the event. The chief guest representing the Indian side was Cabinet Secretary B K Chaturvedi.

In 2007, the tournament was held to promote the “India-Japan Tourism Year”. The Chief Guest representing Japan was K Takewaka, Minister Economic, Embassy of Japan and from India P V Bhide, the Revenue Secretary. Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) and JNTO lead to promote tourism between the two countries.

The Indo-Nippon Golf Cup 2008 was organized amidst much fan fare. The Chief Guest representing Japan was H Domichi, Ambassador of Japan and form India Special Secretary Dinesh Jain, Ministry of External Affairs.

The theme was “Cool the Earth – initiative of ASSOCHAM” for promoting environmental technologies of Japan to India.

Indo-Nippon Golf Cup 2009 promoted the theme of “New and Renewable Energy”. It accounted for the Japanese companies introducing their latest technologies on renewable energy in India which are in process. The chief guest representing Japan was H Domichi, Ambassador of Japan and from India Deepak Gupta, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

...And the winners are:

Enjoying Golf

Enjoying Lunch

India win Durban test

DURBAN, Dec 29: An inspired India made amends for the drubbing at Centurion with a sensational 87-run victory against South Africa in the low-scoring second cricket Test to level the three-match series 1-1 at Durban on Wednesday.

After setting a target of 303, the Indian bowlers put up a disciplined show to dismiss the hosts for 215 in 72.3 overs about an hour after the lunch break to record only their second Test triumph on South African soil.

It turned out to be an extraordinary Test with fortune fluctuating from one team to the other but the Indians eventually tilted the balance in their favour on a bouncy Kingsmead track which saw 40 wickets fall in three and half days.

The Indians, who had lost the first Test at Centurion by an innings and 25 runs, showed great character and resilience to demolish the Proteas in their own den and in conditions tailor-made to suit the home team.

The Indians players jumped in joy and hugged each other after last man Lonwabo Tsotsobe was run out to bring about the moment of glory while coach Gary Kirsten and the other support staff stood up at the dressing room to applaud the players.

S Sreesanth (3/45), Zaheer Khan (3/53) and Harbhajan Singh (2/70) were the pick of the bowlers for India while Ashwell Prince was the top scorer for the South Africans with an unbeaten 39.

It was India's second Test triumph in South Africa. The 123-run victory in the first Test at Johannesburg in 2006 was their first Test victory on South African soil.

The two teams will now travel to Cape Town for the third and final Test starting on Sunday.

Polo Match for a Cause

By Deepak Arora

NEW DELHI, Dec 19: Cdr C P Sharma, President of Neptune Foundation, a NGO committed to the cause of the girl child and the aged presented a "Charity Polo Match" here on Sunday at Jaipur Polo Grounds, which marked the confluence of tradition and glamour with a noble cause.

The Players who played for this noble cause included Mr David Bellamy, Mr Angad Singh, Mr Navin Khanna, Mr Jai Shergill, Dr Pawandeep Singh Kohli, Cdr Akhil Sirohi, Mr Baljinder Dhillon, Capt Arjun Patil, Mr Amir Singh Pasrich and Monica Saxena.

Accompanied with Delhi’s top socialites guest namely Ms. Shivani Wazir Pasrich, Dr.Ferdinand Maultaschl( Ambassador of Austria), Mr Dhananjay Chaturvedi Managing Director Miele India Pvt Ltd, Model Binita, DJ Ashish Nagpal and Rajnish Kohli.

The Match was followed by a Neptune Cup Ceremony. Through this match the foundation hopes to raise funds as well as spread awareness about the girl child.

The Neptune Cup was played between team Parlkland and team Neptune. Neptune won the match. Akhil Sirohi was given the trophy for the most valuable player instituted by Visit London

Cdr C P Sharma, President of Neptune Foundation, registered the foundation under the Societies Registration Act 1860. This Foundation is an endeavor at making a difference, an effort at bridging the gap and awakening the sensibilities of today's materialistic individual; it is an initiative to make this world a better place where basic dignity is not privileged of a blessed few, whether human or animals.

Meant to aid those less fortunate, Neptune Foundation's initiative is focused at caring for the girl child.

Neptune Foundation pledges for your support to make the dream a reality and this world a better place to live. Donations made to our NGO are exempt under Section 80G of the Income tax Act.

Tendulkar hits 50th Test ton

CENTURION, Dec 19: Sachin Tendulkar today created history by becoming the first cricketer to score 50 Test centuries but India found themselves staring at defeat on the fourth day of the opening cricket Test against South Africa at Centurion today.

Tendulkar (107 not out) played a sublime chanceless innings and shared a 172-run stand for the seventh wicket with his captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (90) to lead a spirited fight back by India before the visitors slumped to 454 for eight when stumps were drawn early due to rain on a historic day at SuperSport Park.

With an entire final day remaining, India's chances of saving the match depends on Tendulkar and how the elements play a role in the high-profile series opener. But it appears almost impossible for India to save the game with just two wickets remaining.

Tendulkar and Dhoni, who joined forces when an innings defeat was staring on India at 277 for six just before lunch, were never in discomfort while facing the South African bowlers throughout their innings. They denied any success to the South African bowlers for more than three hours while adding runs at a brisk pace.

Tendulkar reached the historic moment with a single off Steyn, a perfectly placed drive that pierced through cover and extra cover midway into the final session.

But, the joy of the iconic batsman reaching the milestone did not last long as just four overs later, Dhoni perished to a rising delivery from Steyn. The Indian captain was caught in an awkward position and fended it to Boucher, who took a neat catch, diving to his right.

Once the big partnership between Tendulkar and Dhoni was broken with the latter falling victim to Steyn, India lost Harbhajan Singh who could score just one run from two balls just before rain interruption.

Earlier, Tendulkar and Dhoni denied the South Africans any success in the post-lunch session as India reached 394 for six at the tea break.

The duo, who added 117 runs from 28.1 overs, were in no trouble facing the South African bowlers as they scored at a brisked pace and reducing the deficit to 90 runs.

Tendulkar, who came in at the fall of night watchman Ishant Sharma at 214 for three in the morning session stood rock solid while Dhoni was even more aggressive than his senior partner at one stage.

Dhoni gave Dale Steyn some special treatment by hitting the South African strike bowler for a flurry of fours, that too after the home side had taken the new ball.

South Africa took the new ball after 2.1 overs in the post-lunch session but Tendulkar and Dhoni were undeterred as they punished Morne Morkel with three fours in the same over -- two of them coming from the Indian captain's blade.

Tendulkar raised his fifty, his 60th in Test cricket, with a cracking four off Steyn, a slap through extra cover. He had faced 94 balls for his fifty.

Dhoni also punished Steyn for a four in the same over and then hit three boundaries off Jacques Kallis as he raced to his 20th Test fifty in quick time, from just 41 balls with the help of nine fours.

Surprisingly, the Indian duo did not take much chance against left-arm spinner Paul Harris who was hit for just a four -- by Dhoni.