J’cans bow into CommGames action
JAMAICANS will be in action in four sporting disciplines as action starts today in the 19th Commonwealth Games at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Delhi, India.
The ladies dive into action in the swimming pool early as Alia Atkinson competes in heat two of both the women’s 200m individual medley as well as the 50m breaststroke. Victoria Ho lines up in heat four of the 200m freestyle, while Alexia Royal Eatmon makes her debut in the 50m butterfly.
On the netball court, the Sunshine Girls, who finished fourth at the last tournament, will open their campaign against their Caribbean rivals Trinidad and Tobago in the final match of the day in Group A.
Also in Group A, Samoa will meet Australia in the opening game of the tournament, while Group B matches feature England against Barbados and Papua New Guinea against New Zealand.
The team men’s qualification matches in men’s table tennis should see Jamaicans Joseph Dibbs, Imani McPherson, Simon Tomlinson and Kane Watson take to the courts.
Squash players Bruce Burrowes and Chris Binnie both have matches against Pakistani opponents. Burrowes will first meet Danish Khan before Binnie takes on Yasir Butt.
Meanwhile, India showcased its culture in a spectacular Commonwealth Games opening pageant following weeks of chaotic preparations that nearly derailed the event.
The nighttime extravaganza began with the throbbing of gigantic drums — or nagada — pounded by turbaned men. Before the drum beats were silenced, a massive white helium balloon, almost the size of the stadium’s infield, rose above the stands. The sides of the oblong balloon functioned as a 360-degree screen for the crowd to watch the show.
India spent billions of dollars to showcase its capital, building a new airport, subways, highways and stadiums in the run-up to what is seen as a coming-out party to celebrate the country’s new economic clout. The games bring together more than 6,000 athletes and officials from 71 countries and territories of the Commonwealth every four years, but are being staged in Asia for only the second time.
Corruption scandals, health and security concerns, missed construction deadlines and filthy conditions at the athletes’ village became an embarrassment for India in recent months. A dengue fever diagnosis for an Indian team official who was admitted to hospital after moving into the village dominated headlines in the hours leading up to the ceremony.
— Observer/AP