icon bookmark-bicon bookmarkicon cameraicon checkicon chevron downicon chevron lefticon chevron righticon chevron upicon closeicon v-compressicon downloadicon editicon v-expandicon fbicon fileicon filtericon flag ruicon full chevron downicon full chevron lefticon full chevron righticon full chevron upicon gpicon insicon mailicon moveicon-musicicon mutedicon nomutedicon okicon v-pauseicon v-playicon searchicon shareicon sign inicon sign upicon stepbackicon stepforicon swipe downicon tagicon tagsicon tgicon trashicon twicon vkicon yticon wticon fm
15 Oct, 2010 10:14

Commonwealth Games herald new era for Indian sport

Despite the problems that plagued the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, the event came to a spectacular end, with organizers claiming the Games marked a new era for Indian sport.

The security concerns and construction problems that had dogged the Games at the start were forgotten about. The closing ceremony in the main stadium brought together all the competitors. Among them, a very proud team India, who finished second in the medals table behind Australia – the best ever finish for India at the Games, who picked up a couple of golds on the final day.

Looking back at the last bit of action, in the men's marathon, it was the Kenyan athletes who took the early lead.

Throughout the whole race John Kelai was closely followed by his compatriot Amos Tirop Matui. However, it was the third runner from Kenya, John Ekiru Kelai, who finished first in 2 hours 14 minutes and 35 seconds.

In the women's event, Kenya's Irene Jerotich Kosgei suffered a mishap at a drink station, but then showed great determination to get back on her feet, and snatched the lead from compatriot Irene Mogake, and crossed the line first to take the gold.

In the men's hockey decider, hosts India took on three-time champions Australia.

A full house at the stadium awaited a tight battle, but the Australians dominated from the start. The Kookaburras, however, had to wait until the 19th minute for Jason Wilson to break the deadlock.

And, once they scored the opener, there was only going to be one result. Chris Chiriello made it 2-0 in the 21st minute, after a penalty corner.

And the Australians added two more to make it 4-0 at the break. The former champions then completed the route, scoring four more goals in the second half to settle the final score, 8-0.

Meanwhile, in badminton, world number one Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia took on Rajiv Ouseph of England in the men's singles final. And Lee completely thrashed his rival in straight games, 21-10, 21-8 in just half an hour.

Malaysia also grabbed gold in the men's doubles and mixed events, and India crowned their overall success by winning both the women's singles and doubles.

Podcasts
0:00
24:55
0:00
28:50