Basketball players from Karnataka have waited ever so long for an indoor stadium facility. And once the dream came true with the National Games, there was no holding them back. Two former India captains have come out of retirement just to have a go in the indoor stadium in front of home crowds. One is R Rajan Joel Joseph and the other is Jayavanthi Shyam.

Rajan runs the Burn Basketball Academy, while Jayavanthi, who has a four-year-old daughter is into the hotel business. ``National Games in Bangalore, that too indoors and me stay away ? No way,'' she remarked.

Schedule trouble

If basketball officials here had their way, they would gladly redefine the meaning of the word `schedule' from the dictionary. The press were given a complete schedule of the competition yesterday. But, after matches began running behind the clock, the schedule was apparently changed late last night. There was another alteration this morning when one women's match was not held and a men's match was ordered to be held according to the initial schedule. To top the confusion, there is yet another revision in the schedule of matches, released for Tuesday.

Stifling security

WHAT does Monica Seles have to do with the National Games? Lots, if the scene at the KSLTA Stadium, venue of the tennis event, is any indication. For television viewers, it is reminiscent of the one in Hamburg after Monica Seles was stabbed by a maniac, on court. In the event, regulars here were shocked to see an overwhelming sea of khaki colours on the first day of competition. Right from the car park to the metal detectors at the entrance of the stadium, hand-held metal detectors and police personnel sprawled on the chairs in the various stands, the atmosphere was stifling, to say the least.

Age-old gap

He is the youngest gymnast on show at the Games, and, naturally, 11-year-old N Ramesh was the darling of the motley crowd, yesterday. This teenager from Andhra Pradesh enthralled the gathering in Mysore with a sprightly performance in the floor exercises. On the other hand, the oldest gymnast is 32-year-old Lakhbir Singh of Rajasthan. In women, the contrast is not so galing as only nine years separate the youngest competitor, Sowsilavati of Andhra Pradesh and 21-year-old BK Roopa of Karnataka.

Kazakh touch

The most conspicuous face in the Gymnastics arena in Mysore was that of a 36-year-old from Kazakhstan, Hussahjan Karbunov. This diploma holder from the Kazakhstan Institute of Physical Training is here as part of the Uttar Pradesh team. Karbunov was invited to India by the Allahabad District Gymnastics Association and he is here on his own as his trainees from Allahabad form a major chunk of the team.

Free to pass

The most freely available commodity during the Games in Mysore seems to be the media pass. But, today morning, when an outstation journalist contacted a person sporting the prized yellow tag around his neck, the reply was a revelation. ``We are technical staff for gymnastics.''

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.