Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi declared open the meet. He said that organisation of this prestigious championship at Bhopal was a matter of pride for Madhya Pradesh. He praised the state Sports Department for meticulous arrangements for the championship during which players would have no inconvenience. Kalmadi said that this championship would prove to be useful for preparations for Commonwealth Games to be held in October 2010.

In his welcome address, Madhya Pradesh Sports Council vice-president Om Yadav said that organisation of this championship is a matter of pride for not only Bhopal but for Madhya Pradesh also. He thanked All-India Olympic Association for holding this championship. He said that the state government had undertaken all out efforts to make this meet successful. Yadav said that every possible effort was being made by Madhya Pradesh government to encourage and promote sports as well as sports persons. On the behalf of Madhya Pradesh government, Yadav thanked all the athletes and visitors from various countries.

The Indian contingent, led by IOA President Suresh Kalmadi, made a detailed presentation about its proposed infrastrucure and facilities for the games at a special meeting of the Olympic Council of Asia.

Incheon, South Korea, the only other bidder for the games, also made a presentation.

In his address, Kalmadi stressed that the bid had the support of the Indian government, which had also sent Sports Secretary Madhukar Gupta as a part of the delegation.

"It is the bid of a billion people. The whole of India wants the games to be held there. Therefore, we can expect a bigger participation and involvement," Kalmadi said.

Kalmadi asked the OCA members if they had any queries or clarifications regarding India's bid, but none of them raised any questions. This has been interpreted by IOA officials as a virtual clean chit.

New Delhi hosted the inaugural Asian Games in 1951 and also staged the ninth edition of the sporting extravaganza in 1982.

India will host the 2010 Commonwealth Games which should help to get the Asian Games too when the OCA's General Assembly takes a final decision on the host venue next April.

However, the bidders from Incheon launched a scathing attack on New Delhi's bid.

I am Mrs Indira Jayaraman, age - 50, wife of Lt. Col. V. Jayaraman. I participated in the Pune International marathon 26th Nov '06 in the 3km run in the 'Women's Veteran' category, and stood second.

Member of Parliament Mr. Kalmadi said even if it was a city bid, the Government of India was fully supporting them to win the confidence of the Bid Evaluation Committee of the Olympic Council of Asia, which arrived here on Thursday night.

Kalmadi said India was a more deserving bidder vis-à-vis their only competitor Incheon, since Korea hosted the last Games in Busan.

There was a packed itinerary for the delegates from the Olympic council of Asia (OCA), as they saw for themselves what New Delhi has to offer.

The Indian Olympic association (IOA) clearly wanted to put on a big show but the best they could manage by way of the glamour quotient was former actress and model Pooja Batra.

But the IOA is hoping that their facilities will be their trump card.

"We have our infrastructure in place," said Suresh Kalmadi, President IOA.

While work for the 2010 Commonwealth games may be beginning, the IOA seems to have bigger plans in mind with the 2014 Asian games as its next target.

"We are looking for good stadium facilities, accommodation, transport," said Celso Dayrit, Chairman, Evaluation committee.

The IOA Bid committee submitted blueprints of the infrastructure that would be in place by the Commonwealth games in 2010, an exercise that is costing the government about a Rs 1000 crore.

Improving performance

It would however build on that investment if New Delhi wins the bid for the 2014 Asiad but what are our chances of winning the bid.

"99.99 per cent, we will have the games," said Kalmadi.

The IOA seems confident of getting the 2014 Asian Games, especially with their expertise at selling India to the international sports fraternities.

But the major challenge now will be to improve the performance of Indian athletes in multidiscipline events.

Asian Games torch arrives in Delhi

The torch of the Doha Asian Games arrived on Tuesday on the first stop in its journey across the continent, which will take it to 22 cities in 15 countries and regions.

The flame, which was lit at Doha's Khalifa Stadium on Sunday, was received at the airport by Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi and would be taken on a five km route on the streets of Delhi on Wednesday as part of the torch relay.

The flame would be taken to Agra the next day before it moves to South Korea for the next stop on its journey, which will end in the Qatari capital on December 1, when the fortnight-long sporting extravaganza kicks off.

Covering a distance of 50,000 km, the flame for the 15th Asian Games will undertake the longest journey in the history of the Games.

The election of the new office-bearers to the continental association is actually scheduled to be held in the South Korean town of Incheon on 31 August this year prior to the 16th edition of the Asian Athletics Championships. However, the Asian AA received no other candidature for the President as of yesterday and hence announced that Mr. Kalmadi was re-elected unanimously for another four year term (2005-09).

According to AFI, Mr. Kalmadi's re-election was in recognition of the work he has done in the last term to develop athletics in the continent. "He was also instrumental in initiating the Asian Grand Prix and taking it to several nations in the region besides India and Sri Lanka," the release said.