National Games Organising Committee organising secretary (I) S.M. Hashmi said: "The picture will become clear on November 15."

However, neither sports minister Bandhu Tirkey, nor sports secretary R.S. Verma and director (sports) P.C. Mishra would be able to attend the meeting.

Tirkey and Mishra would have to be present in the city for the state's Foundation Day celebrations, including the inauguration of a hockey administrative complex at Morabadi in Ranchi. Verma could attend if the doctors permit him to leave Mumbai where he is undergoing treatment, Hashmi said.

IOA president Suresh Kalmadi wants the Games to be held before February 2009, as the general elections are likely to be held then, Hashmi added.

"In fact, Kalmadi wants to extend the dates by a few days, a fortnight or just a bit more, because if general elections are announced in February then it will be difficult to organise the Games because the model code of conduct will come in force," Hashmi said.

The IHF which was headed by K P S Gill earlier was disbanded by the Union Minister for sports and Youth Affairs Mahender Singh Gill, about six months ago due to various irregularities found in the functioning.

Mr Kalmadi, who is currently heading the ad-hoc body, told reporters, '''We do not want to continue in the same fashion but would like to form a new IHF for its smooth working and put the game back on the rails so that the activities could be continued''.

''Many international tournaments are on the anvil and the world body- the Federation Internationale de Hockey (FIH)-- also wanted that India get back into the fold as soon as possible'', he said.

The IOA President, who was instrumental in piping Canada to bring Commonwealth Games 2010 to the capital, in a freewheeling interview said his ultimate aim is to bring the 2020 Olympics to the country and successful hosting of the CYG and CWG would give India a strong chance when the bidding happens in 2011.

"CYG in Pune is the just the first step towards achieving Rajiv Gandhi's dream of bringing Olympics to India. I hope that CYG, where athletes from 71 countries are vying for top honours in nine disciplines becomes a roaring success so that we make a mark for a strong bidding in 2011. The distribution will be made in 2013 -- that's the ultimate dream," Kalmadi, who is also the organising committee chairman of CYG, said.

"Beating Canada to bag the CWG 2010 was a sporting milestone. Delhi is going on the right way to stage the games after two years. We have to show the foreign athletes that India is capable..."

The last time Delhi hosted such a big event was in the ninth Asian Games way back in 1982.

The seasoned sporting administrator added that India's good show at the Beijing this year has given a huge fillip to the Olympic discipline sports and hoped that the country's sporting culture gets a boost.

If the remarks of R.K. Anand, the president of the National Games Organising Committee (NGOC), are anything to go by, the state risked losing the honour of hosting the Games if it was unable to keep its promise of getting the sports infrastructure ready by then.

Anand told The Telegraph: "They (state government) are not upgrading the railway station, airport and traffic system before the Games. If the event is not organised on time it would be shifted to Uttar Pradesh."

Sports minister Bandhu Tirkey virtually conceded the state was not prepared to host the event in December -- it has already been postponed twice from its original schedule of November '07 -- but said there was no question of shifting it out of Jharkhand.

Tirkey, who returned today from New Delhi after meeting IOA president Suresh Kalmadi, said he requested the IOA chief to postpone the Games for a couple of months as the preparations were running behind the schedule. But Kalmadi is understood to have turned down the plea.

"Now we will exert pressure on contractors like Nagarjuna and Simplex to pull up their socks," said Tirkey.

A concerned minister said the National Games was allotted to Jharkhand in 2002, but the erstwhile NDA government did precious little to upgrade existing and create new sports infrastructure.

"Construction work started only in 2006 under the UPA regime. Still, we will try to meet the deadline," he said.

With IOA summarily rejecting the state's efforts to buy time till December, it was yet unclear how the state government hoped to meet the deadline.

With the festival season round the corner, the pace of work at the Games complex in Hotwar was likely to slow down further.

According to sources, NGOC officials would submit its latest progress report to IOA in October after which a final decision on whether to host the Games in Jharkhand or some elsewhere would be taken.

His expression of "satisfaction" before the reporters left many shaking their heads in disbelief, though. For, they are doubtful about completion of preparations before the schedule.

While announcing the schedule for the Games, the IOA had mandated that all facilities should be tested thoroughly at least 45 days before the start of the mega event by hosting a state-level meet.

"Today being September 28, no power on earth can make the infrastructure reach a stage so that a state-level meet can be held on or from October 15, which is 45 days before the start of the Games on December 1," a senior sports functionary said.

Kalmadi flew into the city this afternoon and spent around four hours at the main venue of the Games. The National Games Steering Committee chairman A.K. Mattoo, member S.M. Bali, member and Union minister of state for food processing Subodh Kant Sahay and state sports minister Bandhu Tirkey accompanied him. He held a meeting with the technical personnel of the construction companies and government officials working for the National Games, too.

The IOA chief rounded off his six-hour visit with a meeting of the National Games Organisation Committee (NGOC) at the NGOC secretariat. Deputy chief minister Stephen Marandi stood in for the chief minister, Shibu Soren, who is also the chairman of the NGOC.

However, like his previous "first-hand inspection of the site" during his last visit to the city in April, Kalmadi's apparent dissatisfied looks, gestures and statements at the site made it evident that he did not find much difference since his last visit.

But his despair changed to the "satisfied" statement moments before he left for the airport to board the Delhi flight.

"We have decided to go in for a foreign coach," said IOA President Suresh Kalmadi. The International Hockey Federation (FIH) would suggest three names to the ad hoc committee next week.

"We are waiting for this communication from FIH," said Mr. Kalmadi, who was distinctly uncomfortable when confronted by the media on the entire exercise of losing out M.K. Kaushik to women's hockey and also the addition of nine names to the original list of probables for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

With the Indian Women's Hockey Federation (IWHF) successfully retaining the services of Kaushik as its coach for the next two years, the ad hoc committee was left with little choice than pick former National junior coach Harendra Singh as the `coach in-charge' of the senior men's team.

Harendra would be in charge of the team till a foreign coach takes over.

Support staff
Interestingly, the ad hoc committee announced a list of support staff that will be in charge for the Commonwealth Games and the 2010 Asian Games.

Ramandeep Singh and Romeo James will assist Harendra while Rajesh Chauhan and Clarence Lobo will be assistants to A.K. Bansal in junior hockey.

Harendra's appointment came after the ad hoc committee confirmed his availability. "We are working to give Indian hockey a good foundation. We have made these appointments because we need to start work at least," said Mr. Kalmadi.

The chairman of the selection committee, Ajitpal Singh, confirmed they were looking for a foreign coach desperately.

"We always had a foreign coach in mind. Other countries also encourage this idea and we are not an exception really. We have to move with the world," he said on the necessity of looking at a coach from outside the country.

Elaborate plans
The ad hoc committee also drew up elaborate plans to train the players with some foreign exposure in place next year.

Four-nation tournament
A four-nation double-leg tournament involving India, Germany, Holland and Pakistan will be held at Chandigarh and Jalandhar in February, 2009.

"We are doing our bit for hockey. It is our national game," Mr. Kalmadi said.

India will host the first Asian Championship next year while the senior team will undertake a tour of Europe in July next year.

World champion Germany will visit India in November before the Champions Trophy. The junior team will play a three-nation tournament with Pakistan and Argentina before the World Cup to be held in Dubai in June 2009

The players added to list of probables announced earlier: Dilip Tirkey, Bimal Lakra, Deepak Thakur, Ajitesh Roy, Bharat Chhikara, Ignace Tirkey, V. S. Vinay, Kuljeet Singh, Amit Singh, Bikas Toppo and Kalu Ram.

Players shifted to juniors' list: Diwakar Ram, Innocent Kullu, Manjeet Kullu, Ranjeet Singh, Birender Lakra Jr, Amardeep Ekka, Vikas Sharma, Vivek, Jagwant Singh, Pramod Kumar and Mandeep Antil.

"No doubt Abhinav's father has played an important role in his winning the gold medal, but the contribution of others cannot be denied. Shooting Federation of India had sent Abhinav abroad and this had contributed in improving his skills," Kalmadi told reporters in Bhopal during the All Star Asian Athletics Meet.

"Everyone connected with the sport of shooting had to do something with Abhinav's gold medal winning effort," he added.

The IOA President said apart from Abhinav, there were three other medal contenders in shooting but unfortunately they failed to get any medal in Beijing.

About world-class track and field stadia in the country, Kalmadi said instead of many places in the country having a huge stadium, it would be much better to have a couple of synthetic tracks.

"This is a red letter day in the history of Goan sports and the state will develop world class infrastructure for the games, which will remain permanently and be beneficial for youth of the state," Kamat, after signing the contract yesterday, said.

"This is just the beginning as the Indian Olympic Association has reposed great faith in Goa to host the 36th edition," he added.

Earlier, Goa narrowly missed the hosting right of the National Games in 2005.

Kamat also thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi for directing the Planning Commission to expedite the clearance of funds for development of the infrastucture for the event.

"I asssure the Indian Olympic Association that the National Games in Goa will be a memorable one and said that whoever comes to Goa will carry with them some fond memories and no athlete will go back without carring back with him some fond memories of Goa and the games," Kamat said.

Kalmadi hoped that besides being a tourist destination, Goa will also become a sports destination as the infrastructure will be used to host more national and international tournaments.

IOA General Secretary Randhir Singh told on Thursday that the ad-hoc committee was not here to control the game but just an "interim" arrangement to run the hockey affairs in the country.

"We will soon hold the elections, maybe within next 3-4 months to have a formal body to run the hockey affairs," Randhir said.

"We are not here to control the game, we are not power hungry. The ad-hoc committee is just an interim arrangement to help the sport in need," he said.

"The IOA have already arranged a meeting with the state associations wherein it would discuss all the future plans and events with them," he added.

Asked if the state associations were ignoring the ad-hoc committee, Randhir said there was no substance in such talks.

"I have read some reports which have hinted on something like this but there is absolutely no truth in them," he said.

The IOA had suspended Indian Hockey Federation led by KPS Gill after the bribe scandal involving IHF General Secretary K Jothikumaran in April.

Randhir also praised the state associations like the Bengal Hockey Association for organising a seminar at a time when it was required to lift the game in the country.

"We are all happy that hockey seminars and brain-storming sessions are being organised by the state associations like Bengal's. It's very important in the current scenario," he said.

MOA secretary general Prof Balasaheb Landge told reporters here today that the sports fraternity of Pune has planned a grand reception for Mr Kalmadi, who will be arriving at the Lohegaon airport, with a traditional Maharashtrian welcome of ''Dhole and Lezim''.

''Mr Kalmadi will be brought in an open motorcade from the airport to Deccan Gymkhana ground, which will pass through the heart of the city and business centre Laxmi Road. Former Olympian grappler and Rustom-e-Hind Harishchander Birajdar will lead the cavalcade,'' Mr Landge pointed out.

Prominent among the galaxy of sportspersons to be on view will be former Olympian Balkrishan Akotkar, Ms Rekha Bhide Maruti Adkar, Arjuna awardees -- Gopal Devang, Niotin Kirtane, Sandeep Kirtane, Kaka Pawar, Dhyanchand awardee Smita Shirole Yadav, Jijamata awardee Manisha Ghate, AFI Joint Secretary Pralhad Sawant, MOA treasurer Chandrakant Shirole and Vice-President Satish Pradhan.

Athletes are not so sure, saying poor coaching, bad organisation and a lack of money will continue to hold India back.

"I'm very happy we have three individual medals and that too without hockey," Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi told Reuters after the Beijing Games ended on Sunday.

India once relied on their men's hockey team for success but the eight-times champions failed to qualify this time.

Instead, the India team won their first solo gold medal through rifle shooter Abhinav Bindra, plus bronzes for freestyle wrestler Sushil Kumar and middleweight boxer Vijender Kumar.

India had taken more than one medal only once before, at the 1952 Helsinki Games where freestyle wrestler Kashabha Jadhav took bronze alongside the victorious men's hockey team.

Kalmadi believes the Beijing success will help India to shed its image as a nation that cares only about cricket and inspire the country to greater things when New Delhi hosts the Commonwealth Games in 2010.

"We've shown our potential in various sports here which is good for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi," he said. "We will get a bagful of medals there and then we can go on to (the 2012) London (Olympics).

COACHING STANDARDS
 The Beijing medallists won praise, cash awards and overnight fame and sports chiefs, who usually struggle to explain a lack of success, predicted a rosy future.

"Normally even one medal sparks a lot of enthusiasm," Kalmadi said. "The scenario will definitely change."

Not everyone shared Kalmadi's optimism.

Gurbachan Singh Randhawa, a 110 metres hurdles finalist at the 1964 Tokyo Games, agreed the Beijing effort would boost Indian sport but criticised the standard of Indian coaches and poor planning.

The FIH and the IOA already reached an agreement in mid-July, but more meetings were held during the Olympic Games in Beijing, China to establish the best possible conditions for the 2010 Men's World Cup. FIH's most important event will be a joint venture between the FIH and the IOA and will take place from 7 to 20 March 2010 in New Delhi, India.

"We have missed chances, we have five world champions in shooting but we got only one gold but I am happy with that. At least this time the Olympics jinx is broken but three medals are not enough for a land of a billion people," Kalmadi said.

However, Kalmadi exudes confidence that with better training facilities and proper funding India will bag more medals in international events

"I am sure with minister fundings and proper training facilities we will have a bag full of medals in the coming Commonwealth Games and next Olympics," he said.

Kalmadi said it was great that the focus had finally shifted to Olympic sports from cricket but urged the industry to come forward to better the state of the Olympic sports in the country.

Wednesday was a day of high emotions. After Abhinav Bindra, grappler Sushil Kumar (left) won a bronze while boxer Vijender Kumar (right) assured of another to record three medals for the country.

A wrestler from Delhi and a pugilist from Haryana, made hundreds of Indians in the stands of the Workers Stadium stand tall on their feet.

While wrestler Sushil Kumar has already been declared winner of a bronze medal in 66 kg category, Vijender Kumar has assured himself of a bronze by winning his quarterfinal bout against Carlos Gongora of Ecuador late this evening.

Vijender has thus become the first Indian boxer to win an Olympic medal while Sushil Kumar cannot boast of that distinction. In 1952, it was wrestler K.D. Yadav,

who had won a bronze medal in bantamweight.

DOSB boss Thomas Bach and IOA head Suresh Kalmadi said the agreement was designed to bring new ideas to bilateral Olympic projects dating from the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The German know-how is intended to help India set up an Olympic Academy, which the country still lacks.

Youth sports is another big issue, with India later this year set to host the third Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune.

Olympic sports lag behind cricket in India, but could receive a boost after Abhinav Bindra won India's first ever Olympic individual gold medal Monday, in the men's air rifle event.

For the DOSB the memorandum is another part of its efforts to strengthen an international network. The DOSB has similar agreements with Senegal, Kenya, Japan and Saudi Arabia.