NEW DELHI: Ace marksman Jaspal Rana will be the flag bearer of the Indian contingent at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at Kuala Lumpur on Sept 10.

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi told newspersons here this afternoon that cricket players selected for the Games will undergo a doping test at Chennai today. He said with the inclusion of the cricket team the total strength of the Indian contingent for the Games has gone up to 116.

He said the contingent will comprise of 88 sportspersons including 29 women,13 coaches and 15 officials. Mr BS Ojha will be the Chef de Mission and SM Bali will be his deputy.

The IOA chief said India will participate in 7 out of 16 disciplines at the Games including boxing, cricket, hockey (men and women), shooting and weightlifting.

Chennai not Mumbai

MUMBAI: The Ajay Jadeja-led 14-member Indian cricket team for the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games would leave from Chennaiand not from Mumbai on Sept 7.

The team is to leave at 2350 on Sept 7 by Malaysian Airlines from Chennai as there is no flight from here to Kuala Lumpur on that day, according to sources in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

BCCI secretary Jaywant Lele had announced in Chennai that the team would leave from Mumbai.

Cricketing charity

CHENNAI: In an off the field act all the 22-Indian cricketers, volunteered to help the Spastic Society of India here to raise funds for the society.

The entire team turned up at a charity dinner hosted by Thompson Electronics at a star hotel here last night.

Krishnamachari Srikkanth, the Master at the function, announced at the gathering that Mohd Azharuddin had donated Rs 25,000 to the Society followed by Tendulkar (Rs 50,000) and Ajit Agarkar (Rs10,000). Srikkanth also auctioned three bats autographed by the Indian players, the West Indies and Australia (1990-91 tours) each fetching Rs 25,000.

Sr National aquatics

BANGALORE:
Over 650 swimmers and divers from 20 States and three Boards -- Services, Railways and Police -- would be seen in action in the 53rd Senior National Aquatic championships begin at the Basavanagudi and Jayanagar pools in the City on Sept 5.

Karnataka Swimming Association Secretary T D Vijayaraghavan said swimming events for men and women, totalling 38 events would be held at Basavanagudi, six diving events at Jayanagar while the water polo matches would be held at both venues.

Leading swimmers in the country like Sebastian Xavier, Elvis Ali Hazarika, Hakimuddin, J Abhijit, Suresh Kumar, Nisha Millet, Meghana Narayan and Abhinaya Shetty had confirmed their participation in an event that will serve as selection for the Bangkok Asian Games.

Roller hockey

NEW DELHI: A 22-member Indian team will participate in the 33rd roller hockey World Championship to be held in Macau from Sept 5-12.

The Indian contingent includes Rajesh Anand, PS Manhas, Simranjit Singh, Bhupinder Singh, Rajesh Kumar, PKambhoj, A Rattanpai, A Ahmed, Jaswinder Singh, Swarnjit Singh and A Kohli and AVS Jamwal in reserve.

Coaches Sanjeev Dutta, Nandkishore Bamboo, Harpreet Singh Kirti and Harpreet Singh.

Usha bereaved

KOZHIKODE: EPM Paithal, father of renowed athlete and sprint queen PT Usha, died at his home town Payyoli, early this morning after a brief illness.

He was 74 and is survived by his wife, five daughters and a son.