Kalmadi, who was also the Chairman of CYG organising committee said the week-long event in which about 2000 athletes from 71 Commonwealth countries participated, would augur well to establish the city's reputation as a well equipped stage for international tournaments.

One of the positives of the Pune Games was the availability of world class sports complex in the form of Chhatrapati Shivaji Sport City that came up for CYG with an investment of around Rs 3000 crore, Kalmadi, told reporters in an interview.

For instance, Pune can boast of the best international badminton complex in the Sport City which showcased as many as nine disciplines, he added.

President of International Olympic Committee (IOC), Jaques Rogge and President of Commonwealth Games Federation, Michael Fennel who saw for themselves the CYG venue were immensely impressed, said Kalmadi.

Many countries have already approached us to avail of the training facilities at the Sports City which promises to be a good source of income, he added.

The CYG crack team will be deputed to handle a bigger challenge in hosting the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi which would be on a larger scale covering around 20 disciplines.

The Pune event is a trailer for the bigger event in the national capital.

A lot of acrimony at civic political level was witnessed in the run-up to the CYG fixture in this cultural capital of Maharashtra and IT Automobile hub of the country.

It reached a feverish pitch when Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar supported the decision of the NCP-Shiv Sena-BJP ruled Pune Municipal Corporations (PMC) decision to veto Kalmadi's proposal seeking a grant of an additional Rs five crore from the civic body for cultural display at the Games venue.

"Why should we spend city tax payers money on this when sufficient funding is being made at government level?" was the question asked by those opposing the proposal.

The ruling Pune Pattern combination of parties denoting the odd coming together of secular NCP and saffron brigade also accused Kalmadi of trying to derive a political mileage out of the prestigious sporting event with a personal projection in its organisation and propagation.

And, the high tea organised by the Maharashtra Institute of Technology on the successful conclusion of Robocon 2008 witnessed the participation of city biggies like City MP Suresh Kalmadi, Narendra Jadhav (Vice Chancellor of University of Pune), Dr Vijay Bhatkar, Abdul Rahman Hamid from Malaysia, and B S Lali (CEO, Broadcasting Corporation of India).

Dr Vishwanath D Karad (executive president and director general, MIT Group of Institutions) and Sunil Karad (chief convener, Robocon 2008, and executive director, MIT Group of Institutes) played the gracious hosts.

MIT hosted the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) Asia Pacific Robot Contest 2008, Robocon, at their campus to coincide with the Dahi Handi festival. And, expectedly, the theme `Mission Govinda'. The act of stealing curds from a pot tied high up was symbolically done by robots of teams from 16 different countries, including India. The only difference being, the curds were replaced by yellow and white cubes which the contesting robots picked up. Each team had built their robots in such a way that they stood out from each other in terms of technology and design.

The seminar was inaugurated by lighting the ceremonial lamp by Olympians Mr. Keshav Dutt and Cmdr. Nandi Singh in the presence of Mr. J.B. Roy, President, Bengal Hockey Association and several other noted hockey personalities of India.

The seminar was graced by the Guest of Honor Mr. Suresh Kalmadi, Member of Parliament & President of IOA and special guest was Mr. Suniel Shetty, noted Bollywood actor.

Addressing the seminar, Mr. Suresh Kalmadi, M.P & President of IOA said "I am concerned with the present state of affairs of Indian Hockey but the learning from this seminar will certainly help in providing a highly successful and glorious dimension to the game in the coming days."

He also emphasized that the IHF has to be run by a professional CEO which will enhance the overall performance of the federation.

The officials travelled in an air-conditioned Volvo bus to the Saturday evening felicitation organised by the Pune Municipal Corporation at the Bal Gandharva Rang Manch here, where Patil was accorded a warm welcome on her maiden visit to the city after assuming office.

"Mumbai may be the financial capital of the country, but Pune continues to be the cultural capital of Maharashtra," said Patil, who wore a white saree with a red border.

"Pune is known for its rich Maharashtrian culture, literature and social movements. The city has played a very important role in the country's freedom struggle," she added.

"The city has now moved from being a pensioner's paradise to an industrial and business centre," Patil pointed out.

She also complimented the city's institutions for their women's empowerment and educational initiatives.

Maharashtra Governor S.C. Jamir, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, Water Resource Minister Ajit Pawar, Pune's Congress MP Suresh Kalmadi, former chief minister Manohar Joshi and Patil's husband Devi Singh Shekhawat were among those present at the function.

The 16-member Indian squad claimed two gold and five bronze medals in the championship held from May 31 to June one. Incidentally, all the medal winners are from Maharashtra in the under 10 years category.

Kalmadi, while lauding the efforts of the boys and girls, asked them to continue their good work in world championship event to be held in Greece in the first week of July. Though IOA has recognised the sport, it has bore fruits after three decades.

The AIKF has a lot to do for the promotion and proliferation of the sport and also advocated them to have total transperancy in their work to avoid in-fighting, he said.

AIKF president R Thiagrajan accompanied the team as chef de mission, Sensai Vispy Kapadia, AIKF vice-president and sensai Salauddin Ansari were the coaches.

The Medal winners are: Gold Medals: Boys Under-10 (Kata) (Individual): Aniruddha Sakpal.

Girls Under-10 (Kata) (Individual): Seeta Patel.

Bronze Medals: Boys Under 10 (Kumite) (Individual): Aniruddha Sakpal.

Team: Behram Kapadia, Annirudha Sakpal, Ayaan Ansari Team (Open Girls): Natalia Dalal, Monali Roy, Shisti Godbole Girls Under-10 (Kata) (Individual): Arzoo Jain.

India's woman weightlifter Kunjum Rani Devi kicked off the relay of the Olympic flame, which arrived here late on Wednesday under a thick security blanket and was kept overnight at the Le Meridien Hotel.

Amongst the others who carried the flame from Raisina Hill, with the presidential palace in the background, to the India Gate monument were former track queen P T Usha, hockey stars Aslam Sher Khan, Zafar Iqbad and Dhanraj Pillai, film stars Saif Ali Khan and Aamir Khan and cricketer Bishen Singh Bedi.

CNN-IBN's Digvijay Singh Deo was the only Indian journalist to carry the torch.

The India Gate lawns were mostly empty, except for officials, sponsors, swarming security personnel and the Olympic Holy Flame Protection Group that formed the inner circle protecting the flame.

Kalmadi was felicitated here by the Maharashtra Olympic Association (MOA) for his yeomen services to the nation and the Olympic movement. Kalmadi had received a citation from the World Association of National Olympic Committee held in Beijing recently.

Kalmadi said that India would be bidding for the 2020 Olympics in 2013. However, it all depends upon the success of organising the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune and 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

The award was received from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, Jacques Rogge, and ANOC President, Mario Vasquez Rana, by a representative of the Indian delegation in the absence of Mr. Kalmadi.

Mr. Kalmadi was honoured for his contribution to the Olympic movement in India.

Amid fears that the event has been postponed in the Capital due to security problems, Kalmadi said all necessary arrangements have been made to ensure the smooth conduct of the event.

"Regarding the relay, we have also had a discussion with the officials of the Chinese Embassy. We are also going ahead with the cultural programme by the Chinese troupe on the occasion," he added.

Earlier, the torch relay was suppose to arrive in Mumbai, but due to unavoidable circumstances, the function was shifted to the Capital, which is also the venue for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

The Olympic torch was lit on Monday at Greece. After passing through various nations, the final-leg of relay will be on August 6 to 8 at Beijing. And the slogan of the relay is "Light the Passion Share the Dream".

Apart from eminent sports personalities, distinguish people from other walks of life are also expected to grace the occasion.

Email

suresh@skalmadi.com

Pune

Kalmadi House,
42/8, Dr. Ketkar Road
Ervandavane, Pune - 411 004

New Delhi

2, K. Kamraj Lane
New Delhi, 110 011