Some of the officials who will not be able to vote in the April 6 elections under the latest directive are IOA vice-president Anurag Thakur from Himachal Pradesh, Punjab Olympic Association's secretary, Raja Sidhu and Tripura association's Rupak Deb Roy.

"The opening and closing ceremonies will be remarkable and those who witnessed the Beijing's Olympics would have us to make comparisons," boasted Kalmadi, flanked by BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu, Punjab Olympics Association general secretary Raja Sidhu, MP and Games' Media Committee Chairman Tarlochan Singh. After receiving the Baton, it would be handed over to the winner of the Olympics bronze medal Vijender Singh and women world boxing champion Mary Kom to start the Indian leg of the relay, said Raja Sidhu.

"The first-ever Indo-Pak Punjab Games, which concluded on December 11 at Patiala, were organised only with the purpose of goodwill, friendship and exposure to players, said Raja K.S. Sidhu, organising secretary of the games and secretary of the Punjab Olympic Association. Sidhu said since the games involved teams from provinces of two nations and saw the participation of only a limited number of players, they could not consider it as a big meet and consequently could not hold sports gradation of players for the meet. He said under the rules "a minimum of seven international teams or participants were needed for any sportsperson to be accorded gradation for the highest level". Raja Sidhu said the games had otherwise opened new vistas of cooperation between two neighbours in sports and both could think of sharing technical sports exchange programme in various disciplines in future. Sidhu said in disciplines like wrestling, hockey, kabaddi and boxing, Indian players could go across the border or vice-versa to learn more. He felt that it was unreasonable to send hockey players to Europe and the USA for training by spending a lot of money.He said both India and Pakistan had seasoned hockey players, turfs and other experts in the sport. "Hockey fraternity could always benefit from exchange programmes," he opined. Sidhu said the games had given a new dimension to Indo-Pak sport relations and officials from Pakistan had discussed the possibility of hiring Indian coaches in different disciplines. He said Pak officials were also impressed with various sports science programme being run here in India. Sidhu added that it was economical for players to go to Pakistan as travel by road involved cheaper transportation costs.

Raja Sidhu appointed as Chef-de-Mission for Asian Beach Games Raja Sidhu appointed as Chef-de-Mission for Asian Beach Game... Chandigarh: Joint Secretary of Indian Olympic Association and Secretary General, Punjab Olympic Association Raja K S Sidhu has been appointed the Chef-de-Mission for the second edition of Asian Beach Games to be held at Muscat in Oman fr [...]