PM to watch hockey final, wife to cheer Saina

NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be among the VVIPS watching the India-Australia hockey final at the Commonwealth Games here Thursday while his wife will cheer badminton star Saina Nehwal, an official said.

“The prime minister will be cheering the Indian hockey team tomorrow (Thursday) morning in the company of India’s hockey greats like Zafar Iqbal, Balbir Singh, Ajitpal Singh, Ashok Kumar and others,” an official in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.

Several former hockey Olympians and officials of Indian sports associations will also be present at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, an official said.

Manmohan Singh’s wife Gursharan Kaur will watch badminton ace Saina Nehwal play the women’s singles final.

“Mrs. Kaur will at the same time be cheering Saina Nehwal in Siri Fort auditorium during the women’s badminton singles final,” the PMO official said.

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi, known for his surprise visits to the Games venues, could also be among the visitors, he added.

“But there is no confirmation about Rahul Gandhi’s visit,” he said.

On Sunday, United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi watched the last Pool ‘A’ match between India and Pakistan.

Rahul Gandhi, himself a shooter and a boxer, also watched boxing and wrestling competitions during the Games.

The prime minister, who attended the Games inaugural ceremony Oct 3, and Sonia Gandhi are also scheduled to watch the sporting events’ closing ceremony Thursday evening, the official said.

Around 6,700 athletes and officials from 71 countries and territories have been participating in the Games, the biggest sports event organised by India since the 1982 Asian Games.