Players swing rackets - to swat insects (Games Sidelights)

NEW DELHI - The R.K. Khanna tennis stadium has a new kind of visitor that has been turning up in hordes - insects. So much so that players have had to swing their rackets to keep them at bay during Commonwealth Games matches!

Getting attracted by the bright floodlights around the courts, the insects, mostly moths, have been flying all over, leaving the players with no option but to use their rackets to shoo them off their faces.

A few players even found themselves kicking off crickets from the courts. At the end of the game, officials quickly cleared the ground of ‘unwanted spectators’.

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Sania has way - with Sally’s help

An animated Sania Mirza, during her tennis doubles semifinal with Rushmi Chakravarthi Saturday, walked up to the umpire to point out that after her shot, the ball did not hit the net and sail over but went out after grazing Australian Sally Peers’ arm.

The umpire who had given the points to the Australians reversed the decision after Sally admitted it went off her arm. Of course, there was roaring applause from the Indian crowds.

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Most popular player

If you thought the competition was all on court, you’re wrong. A contest of sorts is unfolding off court - with residents at the Games Village asked to vote for the most popular player there.

Athletes have been asked to e-mail details of the player they think should win to the Village News team. According to officials, the idea is to promote more interaction among all athletes.

With players and officials from 71 participating teams putting up at the Village, hold your breath till the results are declared Tuesday.

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Divine hand?

It’s not just Indian players who can be seen asking for some divine intervention to win. Samoa boxer Fata Afaese bent down on his knees and, with folded hands, prayed near the boxing ring before the start of his bout against Kidunda Seleman of Tanzania at Talkatora Stadium.

His prayers were answered. Fata won the match.

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CWG ticket instead of auto fare!

A journalist covering the Commonwealth Games here was in for a surprise when she took an auto home after an event. Having seen her accredition card, the autorickshaw driver requested her to get him a ticket for any event - instead of paying the fare!

“It’s such a pity that despite being in the city I haven’t been able to watch a single event in the Games. Forget the fare, I will be really be grateful if you can get me a ticket,” he said.

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Free food everyone

In a comical scene, every time there is an announcement at the main press centre in Pragati Maidan for “complimentary snacks” at 5 p.m., there is a buzz and the media lounge fills up. On offer is free food!

The snacks, mostly burgers and sandwiches, are complimentary for just an half hour. At other times one has to buy the food stuff at the counters.

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Avoiding paparazzi

Troubled by clicking cameras as athletes practice at the Commonwealth Games Village, officials have put a thin sheet of cloth around the steel mesh surrounding the field to hinder the view. When asked, an official said: “We were receiving complaints from athletes that photographers were distracting them… so now we have covered all openings.”

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Foreign hand!

When in India, do as the Indians do. Passengers jumping into the middle of a traffic jam to help unclog a road is a common sight in the capital. But this time two foreigners had taken the cue.

Right outside the R.K. Khanna tennis stadium, two foreigners - one in fact a redhead - could be seen standing in the thick of a jam, guiding vehicles!

–Indo-Asain News Service