Vettel Wins Indian Grand Prix Crown

German double world champion Sebastian Vettel took the Indian Grand Prix crown at the Buddh International Circuit on 30 October. This was Vettel’s 11th win this season. He also became the youngest driver at 24 years of age to achieve the grand slam by winning the race, achieving the pole position, completing the fastest lap and by leading in every lap. This was only the second grand slam by any driver in the last seven years.
Home team Sahara Force India earned two points through Adrian Sutil’s ninth-place finish. His teammate Paul di Resta finished 13th, with the only Indian driver on the grid Narain Karthikeyan was 17th.
Red Bull’s Indian GP Vettel chalked up his 13th pole position of the year. He is now one short of the record set by Nigel Mansell in 1992. However, Vettel has two more races to go this season. Red Bull's 16 poles put them ahead of McLaren and Williams who have 15 poles each to their credit for a season. There are hushed whispers. Will Vettel take the Indian GP? If so, he will equal Michael Schumacher's record of 13 wins in a year. What are team orders? Will Webber. The other Red Bull driver, be told to stay as number two?
All this amid the euphoria of the Red Bull drivers starting from the first two positions on the grid. As a prelude to the grand finale, the drivers were driven around the track in some of the most delectable vintage and classic cars. For once, the crowds could see what the drivers looked like. It also gave the drivers a chance to go over the track one final time before the race and etch it into the mind’s memory card.
Well-Organized Event
Despite the massive line of cars converging on the Buddh International Circuit, the event went off with clockwork smoothness. Other than the clog-ged Noida-Greater Noida Expressway — caused mostly by lack of lane discipline — it was plain sailing on most fronts. Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar made himself part of Indian motorsport history, flagging home the finishers as teammates Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh graced the paddock too. For once the attention was rarely on them and a flock of other celebrities.As 24 V-8, 2.4 litre engines howled into life and went screaming off for the first of 60 laps, covering 300 km, it signalled India’s entry into one of the two most exclusive (and expensive) sporting clubs. Estimates of how much it cost vary between `1,200cr and `1,700cr.
Future Potential
Amid criticism that an expensive motor sport like Formula One (JP group spent Rs 2,000 crore to just develop the 875-acre race course and each car is believed to have burned 15,000 litres of fuel) had no place in India, an Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) study claimed that Formula One had the potential of generating Rs 90,000 crore and provide employment for several lakh people in the next 10 years. According to one estimate, several thousand people will be required to maintain the track alone. The ubiquitous ‘dust’ on the North Indian plains did play spoilsport but the drivers magnanimously chose not to mention it. The new track and the dust did tend to slow down the cars but next year it could be very different. The death of two drivers, Dan Wheldon and Marco Simoncelli, following crashes on tracks in Las Vegas and Malyasia respectively in the last fortnight, would also have weighed heavily. Jenson Button, who came second, dedicated the Indian Grand Prix to the duo even as other drivers emotionally recalled their association with the deceased.
Driver Standings
Following is the driver standing at the Indian Grand Prix:
1. Sebastian Vettel 374
2. Jenson Button 240
3. Fernando Alonso 227
4. Mark Webber 221
5.Lewis Hamilton 202
6. Felipe Massa 98
7. Nico Rosberg 75
8. Michael Schumacher 70
9. Vitaly Petrov 36
10. Nick Heidfeld 34

India Wins ICC Cricket World Cup 2011

Chasing, the victory target set by the Lankan team, 274 runs to win, the host India lost its two opening batsman, Master and Blaster, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar early on but Gautam Gambhir and Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni rebuilt the innings and sealed the victory in India's favour by six wickets with 10 balls to spare. With the victory India crowned itself with the prestigious 'World Cup Trophy' at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on 2 April, business capital of India. Pre-tournament favorites India spectacularly broke the jinx of the nation hosting the final of the World Cup not clinching cricket's most treasured prize in earlier editions.

India rewrote history -- a piece of which they had first scripted 28 years ago -- capping a run that got better and better as the 2011 World Cup progressed.

Clash of Asian Giants

Two Asian teams faced each other in ODI World Cup Cricket final for the first time ever. Since 1992, every final of the World Cup tournament has had one Asian team but never had both finalists been from South Asia. Moreover, this is first time in the ICC Cricket World Cup history that the host country has won the title of 'Championship.' This was the second consecutive final for Sri Lanka, who lost out to Australia in 2007. The country has won the title by defeating Australia in 1996. While India also entered third time in the final of the tournament. After winning the silverware in 1983, India on second time had entered in the final in 2003, but lost to Australia that time. As the victory shot was hit by the Indian captain, frenzied celebrations erupted across the country with people bursting firecrackers, distributing sweets and dancing in the streets waving the tricolour. Ecstatic fans, who had been glued to TV sets since afternoon, spilled into the roads, greeting each other, honking cars and dancing to the beats of drums, choking key street intersections and main thoroughfares. A festive atmosphere prevailed across the country. India's President, Pratibha Patil watched the pulsating final with his Sri Lankan counterpart, Mahinda Rajapaksa. With this, the six weeks journey of the tournament of the 10th edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup-2011 came to an end.

Yuvraj Singh, who strode in to strike some imperious blows, was declared Man of the Series for his stupendous all-round effort for the triumphant Indian team. His two wickets in the final made his total tally of wickets soar up to 15, making him the sixth highest wicket-taker in the tournament. He also has scored 362 runs in the World Cup. Indian captain Dhoni was Man of the Match.

Memorable Moments

The tournament has helped create some of the most memorable moments in the history of the sport, including one of the most dramatic games of all time, when Australia and South Africa tied the Cricket World Cup 1999 semifinal, and one of the greatest shocks, when India defeated West Indies in the final of the 1983 event. India's star batsman, Sachin Tendulkar was the official event ambassador for the International Cricket Council World Cup 2011. In his role as ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 ambassador he was called upon to promote and support a variety of ICC initiatives for the tournament. Tendulkar’s sixth World Cup campaign finally turned out to be the one he will remember for the rest of his life — 19 long years since the day he played his first Cup match back in 1992.

Semifinals

Chasing, the target set by India, 261 to win, Pakistan fell short by 29 runs in a high-voltage second semi-final match, played at Mohali in Chandigarh. With this win, India not only qualified for the final, but its World Cup record remain intact (India have won all five encounters against Pakistan in World Cup).

The enabled India to maintain its unbeaten record against the arch rivals in 36 years of World Cup history, was the result of some brilliant bowling and fielding show by the home side after its much-vaunted batting line-up had posted a modest 260 for nine to which Man of the Match Sachin Tendulkar made a lucky 85-run contribution.

Sri Lankan team entered for the title clash, outclassing New Zealand by 10 wickets at the Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on 29 March. New Zealand were dismissed for 217 in 48.5 overs. After the way Sri Lanka demolished England in the last match, New Zealand needed to post a score in excess of at least 250 to have a realistic chance of stopping the home team from storming into their second straight World Cup final.

After winning the silverware in 1983, India on second time had entered in the final in 2003, but lost to Australia that time. Two Asian teams will face each other in ODI World Cup Cricket final for the first time ever. Since 1992, every final of the World Cup tournament has had one Asian team but never have both finalists been from South Asia.

End of Murali's Magic

One of the finest and at the same time controversial spinners of all time, Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan bowed out of international cricket as highest wicket-taker in both Tests and ODIs though he failed to make any impact in his swansong match -- the World Cup summit clash against India. The 38-year-old off-spinner walked into sunset after an illustrious 19-year career as Sri Lanka lost to India in the World Cup final by six wickets. Muralitharan has already quit Test cricket with a record 800 wickets.

Muralitharan's swansong appearance on home soil could not have been better as he scalped a wicket of his last ball in international cricket, a similar feat that happened in his final Test, in the World Cup semifinal.

Other Highlights

The opening match of the ongoing tournament was played between India and Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla national stadium in Mirpur in Bangladesh on 19th February, while the Final match of the world cup was held on 2 April, 2011 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai city, business capital of India. The tenth edition of cricket's quadrennial showpiece, featured 14 teams, played in India, a dozen in Sri Lanka and eight in Bangladesh. Nine editions of the tournament have taken place to date, with the event being won by Australia on four occasions (1987, 1999, 2003 and 2007), West Indies twice (1975 and 1979), and India (1983), Pakistan (1992) and Sri Lanka (1996) on one occasion. The 2011 Cricket World Cup winning team took home a prize money of US$ 3 million and US$ 1.5 million for runner-up. The 43 days (19 February to 2 April 2011) event returned to the subcontinent after 15 years, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are jointly hosting this world cup. Pakistan was also to host the world cup but lost the opportunity because of security reasons. India hosted cricket world cup in 1987 along with Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 1996. The Current world cup is the third world cup for India. India is the second country to host cricket world cup for more times after England, which hosted world cup for four times.

Sri Lankan opener was just three runs ahead of Sachin Tendulkar on the list of the highest run-scorers in the current World Cup, but he took his tally to 500 runs with what was not exactly his most fluent innings in the tournament.

Indian seam bowler Zaheer Khan is the joint highest wicket taker in the World Cup along with Shahid Afridi of Pakistan. Zaheer ended up with a tally of 21 wickets.

Gary Kirsten ended his term as the Indian cricket team coach on a euphoric note, guiding the country to an historic World Cup triumph.

Yet Another Defeat of Shiv Sena

The people of Maharashtra have frustrated the Shiv Sena's attempts yet again. The Shiv Sena had been striving to come to the limelight in politics. At all cinema halls where Shah Rukh Khan's movie My Name is Khan was released, huge crowds turned up to watch the movie. It is strong evidence that people of Mumbai have come to realize that both Bal Thackerey and Udhav Thackerey have lost their mental equilibrium because of continuous defeats. The best reply to their threat is what Sachin Tendulkar had given, followed by Rahul Gandhi and now people of Mumbai.

Bal Thackerey's Politics
The kind of politics indulged in by persons like Bal Thackerey, Udhav Thackeray, and Raj Thackerey has become well-known to people of Maharashtra. They are fed up with that kind of politics. That is why during the last parliamentary elections and later the state assembly elections, people had made them to bite the dust, and thereby gave a clear indication that Bal Thackerey's politics has become outdated as Bal Thackerey has also become old. The people had made them to realize that the masses would not let Maharashtra turn into a den of vagabonds and hoodlums, but Bal Thackerey failed to read the writing on the wall.
What the Shiv Sena did after Sachin Tendulkar and Mukesh Ambani said they are Indians and that Mumbai belongs to all Indians, is before people. People paid no heed to what the Shiv Sena said on the issue and gave it a most befitting reply. Thackerey has gone berserk with that reply because of which he made yet another political move by extending the threat to the Australian cricket team that they would not be allowed to play in Mumbai because of attacks on Indians in that country. The dispute was still on when Shah Rukh Khan made a statement on the non-inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in the IPL that he favors Pakistani cricketers to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
This plain talk by Shah Rukh Khan was not liked by Bal Thackerey and his followers who began to make derogatory statements against him. They also extended threats that they would not allow his movie My Name is Khan, to be released in Maharashtra. Yet, not only was the film released in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra, and elsewhere in country, but also huge crowds thronged the cinema halls to see the film without any fear. It, infact, is a befitting reply to the unconstitutional activities indulged in by the Shiv Sena and Bal Thackerey.

Sharad Pawar-Bal Thackerey Meeting
A couple of days ago, a large number of people had thronged Rahul Gandhi when he visited Mumbai. It had been made clear that people like Bal Thackerey and his followers have lost their voice in Maharashtra. As for the release of the film, Bal Thackerey had indicated a slight change on his stand, yet lest one calls it the impact of Sharad Pawar-Bal Thackerey meeting or something else, the Shiv Sena again began to extend threats to the film. Afraid of these threats, theatre owners had to stop advance booking and hinted not to screen the film in their halls.
Yet, the people of Mumbai and some organizations came out in support of Shah Rukh Khan and, consequently, the film was released. It is not important that the film was released but more important it is that people thronged cinema halls in large numbers to see the film. These crowds included people from all sections, elderly and children alike. All this makes it clear that the threats extended by the Shiv Sena have lost their sting and gone are the days of their policies of provocation.

Role of Government
It further makes it abundantly clear that should the government adopt a strong stand against mischief mongers and provocateurs, it is not a difficult task to rein them in. The fact is that had the Maharashtra Government adopted a strong stand against the Shiv Sena or Raj Thackereky's MNS, had it not given a long rope to a daily like "The Samna" to spread hatred in the name of journalism and had it conveyed a strong message to the goons and hoodlums that their activities would cost them heavily, things today would not have slipped out of hand.
The successful release of My Name is Khan in the world and in India goes to prove that if Mumbai and Maharashtra were to be saved of jungle raj, people there would have to play a more significant role than the government there. The defeat of the Shiv Sena signals the victory of the courage displayed by the people.