CWG fever grips Deepika Padukone (Games Sidelights)

NEW DELHI - Guess who is tweeting on Commonwealth Games? None other than Bollywood heartthrob Deepika Padukone.

An excited Deepika Padukone tweeted: “On my way to watch the badminton finals of the commonwealth games…india plays Malaysia! can’t wait!”

She then tweeted: :”Malaysia currently leading 2-0. Saina Nehwal playing right now. we need to win this and 2 more to win the gold!”

With so much of support, Saina won the match.

But Deepika, who was accompanied by her equally famous tennis player father Prakash Padukone - he was All England badminton champion in 1980 - is not the only one tweeting on CWG.

Ace shooting star Rajyavardhan Rathore, who is not playing in CWG, has been tweeting non-stop from all the matches that he has been visiting daily. “Boxer Vijender’s father n brother waiting for his boxing match to start at # CWG.”

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Cheers for Pakistani boxers

Pakistani boxers got cheers from some unusual quarter - Indian spectators. It was a repeat of the loud roar from the crowd when the Pakistani contingent walked in the marchpast of the Opening Ceremony.

In a jam-packed stadium at Talkatora Stadium, Indian spectators rooted for Pakistani boxer Nisar Khan who playing against Seychelles Jean Jovette in middle 75 kilogram category.

With good wishes from Indian fans, it was but natural that Khan won the match.

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CWG merchandise a hit among journos too

When the Commonwealth Games merchandise fever seems to have gripped everyone, how can the media be left behind?

To cater to the growing demand of mugs, water bottles, t-shirts and other items with the imprint of Shera, the games mascot, a merchandise shop has been set up right outside the main press centre at Pragati Maidan.

According to an official, while t-shirts, priced at Rs.275, are the biggest hit, mugs and bottles are also selling fast. Aloe Vera health drinks - in green apple and litchi flavour - oil and shampoos are also popular.

“The demand is good and we have in fact been asking for more orders, but it hasn’t come,” the official complained.

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When the whole Haryana village came to cheer

Wrestling has become one of the most sought after sports in the Games. And guess who all are the audience - vocal citizens of Haryana.

At the K.D Yadav Wrestling Arena in the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, hundreds of people from Haryana are lining up to cheer Indian athletes.

After boxing, wrestling is the most popular sport in Haryana. In fact, majority of wrestlers in Indian contingent are also from Haryana. We have come here to support them, said Mahender Kadyan, who had come to the stadium with a number of his friends.

Another enthusiast said : I have taken five-day leave from my office to see wrestling matches daily. I am coming here everyday since Tuesday. Like me, many people from my locality are also coming here everyday.

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Long wait for athletes irks journalists

Journalists waiting to cover the press conference of the Indian women wrestlers Saturday threatened a walk-out after waiting for the team for an hour. The conference which was scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. did not start until 3 p.m.

Those handling press operations along with an army of volunteers were immediately on their feet trying to pacify a few journalists who started getting angry at the long wait.

But as luck would have it, the wrestlers arrived soon after - prompting the photographers to take their place in a jiffy and start taking pictures - putting aside all the drama.

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Dont talk to officials!

After Kavita Raut won the bronze in women’s 10,000-metre run at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, many scribes turned towards the athletics federation officials for their bytes on the win.

Perhaps, not liking the fact that the athlete is not getting her due, many volunteers pleaded with other scribes to instead talk to Raut.

Why are you talking to them? What have they done to deserve your attention? Don’t talk to them sir, said some volunteers at the stadium.

You talk to the athletes, sir. You talk to Kavita, but not to these officials, please. What have they done? They only come when its its time for photo sessions or media conferences. We are seeing all these things from close sir all these days, they said.