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BANGALORE IT.BIZ 2012
The 15th edition of the event will be held from 17th to 19th October, 2012 at the Karnataka Trade Promotion Organization’s Trade Centre at Whitefield, Bangalore.
The function to formally launch the Govt of Karnataka’s flagship ICT/ITES annual event, the IT.Biz 2012 organized in collaboration with STPI and the Industry, was attended by Shri I S N Prasad (IAS), Principal Secretary, IT, BT and S&T, Government of Karnataka. Sri Onkar Rai, Director General-STPI, Sri Anup Pujari, IAS, Director General-Foreign Trade, Government of India and Sri Parthasarathy, Director, STPI-Bangalore & Chennai. Sri Prasad said that Karnataka has been a preferred destination for investment and business from industries in the ICT and allied sectors. Many companies in the ICT and related sectors from different parts of the Country have chosen to set up operations in Karnataka mainly owing to the pro-active role of the successive Governments, excellent human resources and salubrious climate. The IT.Biz event has been one of the primary initiatives of the Karnataka State Government, in collaboration with the stake-holders, to support and enhance the development of the ICT Sector to further the country’s premier position Globally.
Bangalore IT.Biz 2012 focuses on identifying talent among the future entrepreneurs and partnering with various stakeholders in the areas of R & D, new product development, ESDM, AVGC etc. Shri Prasad added, “With emphasis on Innovation, be it setting up R & D units or outsourcing, companies in the Sector have tremendous growth potential in Karnataka. The theme – “Future of ICT – India’s Big Shift To Innovation”, Bangalore IT.biz 2012 has been evolved in consultation with the stakeholders to encourage participation from different segments viz. ICT, ITES, ESDM, Animation, Gaming etc.
The Bangalore IT.biz 2012 Conference sessions are poised to provide meaningful knowledge exchange platforms to develop a comprehensive perspective of the critical technical, business and policy issues facing the ICT industry .
In an effort to make the event more pro-active, this year its composition will have a special Launch Galleria where entrepreneurs will get the perfect platform to launch their product / service during the festive season and give it a worthy introduction to the market.
For the rich talent pool in the state of Karnataka, this year’s Bangalore IT.biz will pilot the “ ImpressIT “ , a platform for young engineering students in the State to bring forward their ideas and their relevance in today’s world, in the space of IT solutions and showcase the same to academicians and industry practitioners, under the aegis of the Department of IT / BT and SAP.
The YESSS forum meant for Startups with business ideas who are looking for partnerships, collaboration, investment and mentoring will also provide opportunities for innovative ideas to blossom into a complete growth plan, in the presence of IT Veterans and Investors. YESSS Forum is a must attend for Investors and Companies looking for innovative products and technologies.
The event will also feature the IT Excellence Awards to felicitate and recognize Creativity, Hard Work and Out of the Box Thinking. The prestigious IT Export Awards, Exhibitor Awards and Awards by Industry Associations will be presented.
Leveraging on the technological advancements in the era of communication, this year the IT.biz will feature interlinx, a powerful internet platform which will be the event’s own online networking tool for delegates and exhibitors to maximise partnering opportunities with the ICT Community for Business and is ideal for facilitating Buyer-Seller Meets and One-on-One Meetings with prospective partners. This tool will enable the users to arrange many meetings over a span of three days at one location- Bangalore IT.biz 2012.
Another important addition to this year’s Bangalore IT.biz is a conference track on smart phones. This focused track will cover the era of mobility and the development of Mobile Applications across platforms. It is designed for developers to discuss technical insights in these platforms and the pros and cons of the envisioned strategies for the future.
To present and promote their products and services, this year the event will have exclusive ‘demo stations’ which will allow entrepreneurs to spread awareness and knowledge about their product / services.
The event will have a tradeshow featuring the ICT and ITES sectors.
Posted just now by Press Confere
Debate and Q&A on Modernisation of Indian Army in Parliament
Modernisation of Artillery
The modernization of Artillery is being undertaken on a continuous
basis. The following equipment has been inducted / upgraded into the
Artillery:-
(i) Pinaka Rocket System;
(ii) Smerch Rocket System.
(iii) BrahMos Missile System.
(iv) Upgradation of 130mm gun to 155mm /145 calibre.
Procurement action is ongoing for the following gun systems:
(i) 155mm / 39 calibreUltra Light Howitzer.
(ii) 155/45Calibre Gun from Ordnance Factory Board (OFB).
(iii) 155mm / 52 calibre Towed Gun.
(iv) 155mm / 52 calibre Tracked (Self Propelled) Gun.
(v) 155mm / 52 calibre Mounted Gun System.
Acquisition of weapons and equipment for Armed forces is a complex
activity and is carried out in accordance with the provisions of Defence
Procurement Procedure (DPP). The procurement cycle takes about 2-3
years for finalization of contracts, but can vary depending on the
complexity of the issues involved.
This information was given by Minister of Defence Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Dr.Ratna De (Nag) in Lok Sabha today.
Purchase of Trainer Aircraft
A contract for procurement of 75 Basic Trainer Aircraft was signed
with M/s Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., Switzerland on 24th May 2012 at a cost
of Rs.2895.63 Crore. The HPT-32 was the basic trainer aircraft in the
Indian Air Force (IAF) till July 2009. The HPT-32 aircraft had
persistent problems of engine cuts. The aircraft was grounded due to
safety reasons on 31st July, 2009 after a fatal accident due to engine
cut. This information was given by Minister of Defence Shri AK Antony in
a written reply to Shri Sugumar K. in Lok Sabha today.
Prithvi-II Missile
Prithvi-II missile has undergone several successful tests.
Development of work with pre-fragmented & composite warhead along
with complete ground system has been completed. The system has been
deployed in Army & Air Force. A training salvo flight trial was
undertaken on 21st December, 2011 by Users in collaboration with DRDO.
This information was given by Minister of Defence Shri AK Antony in a
written reply to Shri RayapatiSambasivaRao and Shri Suresh Kumar
Shetkar in Lok Sabha today.
Coastal Security
A coastal security ring all along our coast is provided by Indian
Navy, Indian Coast Guard and Marine Police. Review and monitoring of
coastal security mechanism is a continuous process. Government has
initiated several measures to strengthen Coastal Security, which include
improving surveillance mechanism and enhanced patrolling by following
an integrated approach. Joint operational exercises are conducted on
regular basis among Navy, Coast Guard, Coastal Police, Customs and
others to check the effectiveness of this approach adopted for security
of coastal areas including island territories. The intelligence
mechanism has also been streamlined through the creation of Joint
Operation Centers and multi- agency coordination mechanism. Installation
of radars covering the country`s entire coastline and islands is also
an essential part of this process.
This information was given by Minister of Defence Shri AK Antony in a
written reply to ShrimatiBotchaJhanshi Lakshmi and Shri Ganesh Singhin
Lok Sabha today.
Defence Budget
Total Defence spending of Rs.1,70,913.28crores during 2011-12
constitutes 1.92% of the GDP [(Advance Estimates) as per Economic Survey
2011-12]. Defence Budget of Rs.1,93,407.29crores as approved under BE
2012-13 would be 1.90% of GDP projected by Ministry of Finance. On the
basis of unauthenticated data available, it is assessed that the Defence
Budget as a percentage of GDP in Pakistan and China, is as under:-
Country
|
2010
|
2009
|
2008
|
2007
|
China
|
1.4
|
1.43
|
1.39
|
1.38
|
Pakistan
|
3.1
|
2.4
|
2.56
|
3.21
|
There is no basis for Government to certify the accuracy, or
otherwise, of official defence budgets of foreign countries. Comparison
of the data on defence spending vis-a-vis that of other countries is
difficult due to lack of uniformity in treatment of different components
of the expenditure and non-availability of accurate and latest
published data. Nevertheless, the Government continues to monitor all
developments in the immediate and extended neighbourhood which have an
impact on national security.
The details of allocation for Defence Budget under
Budget Estimates (BE) 2012-13 are as given in the following table:
(Rs. in crores)
Service
|
BE 2012-13
|
||
Revenue
|
Capital
|
Total
|
|
Army
|
77327.03
|
19237.80
|
96564.83
|
Navy
|
12548.02
|
24766.42
|
37314.44
|
Air Force
|
17705.81
|
30514.45
|
48220.26
|
Sub-total
|
107580.86
|
74518.67
|
182099.53
|
SERVICES
|
|||
DGOF
|
-535.09
|
399.96
|
-135.13
|
R&D
|
5995.56
|
4640.00
|
10635.56
|
DGQA
|
787.33
|
20.00
|
807.33
|
Sub-total Deptts
|
6247.80
|
5059.96
|
11307.76
|
TOTAL
|
113828.66
|
79578.63
|
193407.29
|
This budgetary provision has been allocated taking into account the
requirement to meet the roles and responsibilities of the defence
forces and national security imperatives. Additional requirement of
funds as necessary will be projected depending on pace of utilization of
allocation, progress of ongoing and new modernization schemes and other
priority requirements.
All aspects of the geostrategic environment in the immediate and
extended neighbourhood, which have a bearing on the country`s security,
are taken into account in defence budget and expenditure related
decision.
This information was given by Minister of Defence Shri AK Antony in
a written reply to Shri Om PrakashYadavand others in Lok Sabha today.
Special Clothing for Personnel
Special Clothing and mountaineering equipments are authorized to
Army Personnel deployed in super high altitudes like Siachen/Kargil. Of
the 55 items, 36 items are being procured indigenously and only 19 are
being imported. In order to streamline the procedure, an Empowered
Committee is in existence under the Chairman of Master General of
Ordnance (MGO) of Army Headquarters with full powers of Competent
Financial Authority. Sufficient quantities of these items are kept as
reserve to avoid any shortage. Improvement in quality and development of
indigenous resources for these items is a continuous process.
This information was given by Minister of Defence Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri A.K.S. Vijayan in Lok Sabha today.
Delivery of AJT Hawk
The Hawk Mk-132 Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) was inducted into the
Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2008 as a fighter trainer with the aim to
replace the Kiran Mk-ll/MiG-21 route of training. Keeping in view the
delay in delivery of Hawk by HAL due to receipt of defective components,
Jigs and fixtures from the foreign manufacturer on whom liquidated
damages of 6.5 million GBP were levied, the original training plan by
Hawk for 2010-11 was modified and pilots of the IAF were trained on the
MiG-21 aircraft.
This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Shri MM
PallamRaju in a written reply to Shri PonnamPrabhakar in Lok Sabha today
Missile Development Programme
Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) was started
in 1983 and completed in March 2012. IGMDP was sanctioned to develop
Prithvi, Trishul, Akash, Nag and a Technology Demonstrator Agni Missile.
Achieved targets are:-
• Prithvi series of missile has been inducted.
• Akash missile is under production and induction.
• Nag with re-configured Nag Missile Carrier (NAMICA) cross country trial has been undertaken.
• Trishul missile system has been completed as “Technology
Demonstrator” due to delay in development of state-of-the-art technology
and change in requirement of Armed Forces.
Agni re-entry “Technology Demonstrator” project has been completed
successfully and technology is used for Agni series of missile.
This information was given by Minister of Defence Shri AK Antony in
a written reply to Shri WakchaureBhausahebRajaram in Lok Sabha today.
Purchase of Transport Aircraft
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) accorded Acceptance of
Necessity (AoN) for procurement of 56 aircraft as replacement of Avro
aircraft under `Buy and Make` category on 23rd July 2012.
The aircraft to replace Avro aircraft are proposed to be procured
through the `Buy and Make` route as per the Defence Procurement
Procedure – 2011, with the stipulation that the Original Equipment
Manufacturer (OEM) will select a private Indian Production Agency for
manufacturing 40 aircraft in India. The estimated cost of the project is
Rs.11,897crore. This will encourage development of the Indian private
sector in aircraft manufacture.
The deliveries of aircraft would commence within 24 months from the date of signing the contract and would be completed over a period of eight years.
This information was given by Minister of Defence Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri A. Ganeshamurthi in Lok Sabha today.
The deliveries of aircraft would commence within 24 months from the date of signing the contract and would be completed over a period of eight years.
This information was given by Minister of Defence Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri A. Ganeshamurthi in Lok Sabha today.
International Symposium on Accelerating India’s Response to Research for a Preventive HIV Vaccine
An International Science Symposium on Accelerating India’s Response to Research for a Preventive HIV Vaccine is being hosted by the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology with the partnership of Forum of Parliamentarians for HIV/AIDS, Department of AIDS Control Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of Health Research Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Translational Health Sciences and Technology Institute, Research Centre for Biotechnology and International AIDS Vaccine Initiative. In the last decade, India has steadily emerged in the area of science, technology and innovation and made a successful transition from imitator to innovator. In its Decade of Innovation: 2010-20, India is also attracting global R&D activities in upstream research even as scientific research and international collaboration becomes an integral part of the economic and innovation policy cycle in the country’s globalization strategy. A dynamic regulatory and policy environment is helping expand capacity as new centers of excellence provide platforms for the development of vaccines for other critical diseases. India is now beginning to extend the gains achieved from its global primacy in the area of vaccine manufacturing to its innovative work on other crucial aspects of vaccine research and development and beginning to indigenously research and develop several novel vaccines that have either been commercialised or are nearing commercialisation. In the area of HIV Vaccine research, in particular, India’s rich pool of skilled scientists, medical professionals and a thriving pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry are allowing the nation to play a much larger role in global HIV Vaccine research and development. The Government of India has taken several initiatives—including key collaborative programs—to take India to the forefront of HIV Vaccine research in the field of biomedical tools such as Microbicides, ARTs and Vaccines. The Government of India (GOI) recognizes that an effective vaccine against AIDS must be a part of an integrated program for prevention, care, support and treatment. Given the country’s growing disease burden, HIV Vaccine research is a priority. The Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) has been one of the key enablers in this effort and has taken several initiatives to link scientists, students, teachers, industry and the public at large, to find creative solutions to fill funding shortfalls, to provide expert scientific knowledge to facilitate breakthroughs, and to partner with the international scientific community. While much of India’s measurable growth in health and biotech research in the recent past has taken place in numerous and scattered small institutions across the nation, the Government is today bringing together numerous autonomous and small centers into research in clusters of excellence.
HIV infections have declined by 56% during the last decade from 2.7 lakh in 2000 to 1.2 lakh in 2009 in our country. This was stated by Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, Minister of Health and Family Welfare at the International HIV Vaccine Symposium in New Delhi today.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Shri Azad said that HIV was detected in India over 25 years ago. Valuable knowledge and experience has been accumulated as a result of extensive interventions for control of the epidemic and it seems to be stabilizing now. India is among the few countries which have made significant reductions in HIV infections.
The national response to HIV/AIDS in India is implemented through the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) and “Prevention and Care” as well as “Support & Treatment” form the two key pillars of all HIV/AIDS control efforts in India. This strategy has yielded encouraging outcomes over the last decade. New evidence from the latest round of HIV Sentinel Surveillance shows further decline in the HIV Prevalence among general population as well as high risk groups. This has been possible due to political support at the highest levels to the various interventions under National AIDS Control Programme, including from Parliamentarians and elected leaders at the State and Local Levels and cooperation received from NGOs, civil society and the Media.
One of the successful interventions of the national AIDS control programme has been the Targeted Interventions (TIs), whose main objective is to improve health seeking behavior of high risk groups and reducing their vulnerability and risk to acquire Sexually Transmitted and HIV infections. There are 1,821 Targeted Interventions providing prevention services covering 81% Female Sex Workers, 80% Injecting Drug Users, 64% Men having sex with Men, 40% Migrants and 57% Truckers.
Shri Azad said that the trend of annual AIDS- related deaths is showing a steady decline since the roll out of free ART programme in India in 2004. Besides the domestic programme, India has been providing around 80% of global ARV drug demand. Vaccines have been frequently cited as one of the most equitable low-cost, high-impact public health measures.
Historically, vaccines have impacted significantly the spread of infectious diseases such as smallpox, polio, measles, and yellow fever. The eradication of smallpox was an outstanding display of concerted global action in a war against microbial invaders. The progress in expanding polio and measles vaccination efforts and their elimination from many regions further demonstrated that vaccines are among the most powerful public health tools.
Shri Azad said that India is committed to new forms of partnership with low-income countries through innovative support mechanisms and South–South cooperation. He hoped that this joint venture will collectively shape the future of India’s inputs into the global HIV vaccine development attempts.
Symposium Objectives
The main objectives of the Symposium include:
· Sustain the momentum India has achieved so far in its emergence as a Center of Excellence in HIV Research
· Complement its global leadership in vaccines as a
whole by organising a scientific deliberation to enable a better
understanding of the complexities of working in the field and recent
advances and also help identify the future programmatic content and
conduct in India in the field of HIV vaccine research and development.
· Provide a common platform to the participants from
varied fields of basic and translational research from both academia
and industry to deliberate on recent advances and identify approaches
for end point research through collaborations and innovative concepts
for vaccine development for HIV/AIDS.
· Deliberate the need for an environment that
promotes sustained, well funded, innovative research to capitalize on
new scientific insights.
Symposium Attendees (Approximately 300 in Nos)
· The meeting intends to be a unique blend of
executive and legislative leadership with policymakers and key opinion
leaders from
o Ministry of Science and Technology and its various Departments like Department of Biotechnology, DST and CSIR
o Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and its key relevant
Departments like the Department of Health Research and The Department of
AIDS Control
o Members of the Forum of Parliamentarians on HIV/AIDS
o Representatives from:
§ International Governments
§ Multilateral agencies like UNAIDS, USAID, WHO etc
§ Key civil society organizations working in India in the area of HIV/ AIDS
§ Key scientists from Public and Private Sector Institutions from India working in the area of Vaccine Research and HIV/AIDS
o 12 key global scientific experts.
Expected Outcomes
· Encourage deliberations and work towards
articulating a road map amongst policy makers, scientists, researchers,
multilateral organizations and community experts on the multifaceted
approach to HIV vaccine development, and prioritize an Indian Roadmap
for research in Prevention Tools of HIV especially a preventive HIV
vaccine
· Highlight the continuous efforts taken by India in
HIV Vaccine research and associated technologies, which has facilitated
its emergence as a leader in this field
· Serve as a platform to engage Executive leadership
and Legislature at the meeting towards prevention efforts needed in
India for this disease. It shall also empower the community through
consensus building with knowledge and a clear strategic mandate on
current and future R&D efforts needed in discovery, technology
development, product development and clinical development, which are
relevant for India.
· Facilitate National and international co-operation
and collaborations to harness modern scientific and technological
advances for an HIV vaccine
· Facilitate future HIV vaccine design efforts
globally and accelerate development of platform technologies, which can
be translated to other infectious disease areas of public health
importance in India through discussions among scientists and developers
from both public and private sectors in India and globally,
policymakers, key opinion leaders.
Minister of State for Planning , Science & Technology and earth
Sciences Mr. Ashwani Kumar in his addresse said,” Althoughthe right to
health is a universal aspiration, the key barrier to ensuring the
fulfillment of this aspiration is the inadequate development of
technologies to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease. The challenges
at the same time are enormous.For Instance,
· Even if the number of new HIV infections continues to
decline at current rates, there will still be more than 22 million new
infections by 2015.
· Fewer than one in five people at greatest risk of
infection have access to effective prevention programs, such as
education, condom distribution, prevention of mother to child HIV
transmission, and HIV testing.
We believe that the new HIV infections could be
significantly reduced if effective prevention programs are expanded and
reach those at greatest risk of HIV infection.
· The global momentum behind the call to find a cure for
AIDS epidemic has reinforced the case for the use of a combination of
prevention strategies. The past ten years of HIV prevention activities
are beginning to show results. Despite the enormity of the challenge we
still face , the number of new cases of HIV / AIDS annually have shown a
substantial decline from about 2,70,000 cases earlier to about 120000
cases. Research efforts and technological solutions need to be
significantly accelerated, particularly with a view to extend our
outreach to those who have still no access to the treatment.
· If scaled with resources and a sense of urgency, a
preventive strategy, supported by other key interventions, can save
lives, prevent new infections and lower the cost to fund the global
fight against AIDS. Significant recent research breakthroughs in
the area of HIV-prevention, particularly in terms of ARV-based
prevention methods such as pre-exposure prophylaxis and the provision of
early treatment to prevent HIV transmission are important contributions
of ongoing research.
· We must find ways of developing vaccines
that help us overcome the difficulties posed by nature. Insights and
lessons from recent advances in the field of HIV Vaccine R&D,
particularly the findings of the RV-144 and the discovery of the broadly neutralizing antibodies give us hope and a sense of optimism.
· Given the complexity of the task, the best minds must
work together in furtherance of the objective of collaborative science
.India remains committed to working towards the development of new
technologies and we will provide necessary support to scientists and
clinicians for this purpose.
· We are delighted to learn that some of the leaders in
research are participating in the science symposium being organized as a
part of this meeting. I am sure that this meeting will instill great
hope in the people of India and worldwide who are looking toward science
for evidence-based prevention interventions for HIV, such as a Vaccine.
· It is noteworthy that all research agencies be it in the
Ministry of Science & Technology and Ministry of Health & Family
Welfare are working together and have established close and effective collaborative efforts for accelerating our research work and that this national effort is closely networked with leading AIDS research institutes in the world.
· The Union Ministry of Science and Technology, is
encouraging our best scientists and technologists to engage in finding
solutions to major public health challenges such as AIDS, TB, and
Malaria etc. We have also floated many novel mechanisms by which
academia, industry and public health experts can work together to
develop effective preventive and therapeutic technologies. We are
establishing a large number of centers of excellence where science,
medicine and engineering can be linked to design novel solutions and
technologies.
· A fine example is the HIV Vaccine Design
Programme, which has been established by our Department of
Biotechnology, in a collaborative partnership between the Translational
Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) and the International
AIDS Vaccine Initiative. The research work will aim to
understand the biological processes connected to the HIV infection to
design a novel vaccine. The focus will be on the subtype-C of HIV found
in India predominantly.
· Let me take the opportunity to once again express our
immense pleasure in hosting this conference. May I congratulate the
local organizing committee, distinguished guests, and representatives
from various backgrounds who are participating in the deliberations . I
wish the conference well as it progresses over these two days. I am sure
that novel presentations and debates will indicate new ways of
enhancing the work in the field of HIV research. I am delighted that
professionals, political leaders, scientists and many other stakeholders
are engaging with each other through conferences like these.”
Shri APJ Abdul Kalam, Former
President of India, Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, Minister of Health and Family
Welfare, Shri Oscar Fernandes, Chairman of Forum of Parliamentarians on
HIV AIDS also addressed the Symposium.
Hyundai Launches the neo Fluidic Elantra
New Delhi, August 13, 2012: Hyundai Motor India Ltd,
country’s largest passenger car exporter and second largest manufacturer
today announced the launch of the neo Fluidic Elantra in India. The neo
Fluidic Elantra boasts of futuristic design, luxurious interiors,
advanced High-end features and cutting-edge technology.
Speaking at the launch, Mr. B S Seo, Managing Director & CEO,
HMIL said, “The Elantra has received an overwhelming response worldwide.
We are confident that it will raise the bar and set a new benchmark in
the executive car segment in India. With contemporary styling, design
and all the advanced features the neo Fluidic Elantra will give an
immense driving pleasure and comfort to the customers in India.”
“The launch of the neo Fluidic Elantra in the executive segment makes Hyundai a full line-up manufacturer,” he added.
The Elantra is a globally successful sedan and has received much international recognition. It has been awarded the “2012 North American Car of the Year” at the Detroit Auto Show.
DYNAMIC AND FUTURISTIC DESIGN:
“Fluidic Sculpture” is Hyundai’s new design philosophy which embodies a flowing and dynamic form execution. This Philosophy embraces the harmony of human co-existence and the wisdom of sustainable growth from nature’s endless evolution to create a vision of progressive and passionate design. Embracing “Fluidic Sculpture” design principles, Elantra artfully combines the interplay of wind with rigid surfaces to create the impression of continuous motion.
FEATURES:
The 5th generation neo Fluidic Elantra comes with various segment unique features like Front ventilated seats, Rear parking camera, Advanced safety features like Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Silica tyre and Solar glass.
Additionally the neo Fluidic Elantra also sports a number of high tech features like smart key with push button start, 10-way adjustable power driver seat with lumbar support, Dual zone FATC, Auto Cruise control, Automatic Headlight control, 16” Alloy wheels and so on.
To ensure enhanced Comfort and Convenience, the neo Fluidic Elantra offers features like electrically adjustable, foldable and heated outside mirrors with turn indicators, Rear AC vents, Cooled glove box, Eco driving indicators, 2 DIN MP3 audio with USB, Aux-in and iPod cable for unlimited music access together with combination of Audio and Bluetooth control on Steering. The Audio control on the rear armrest is a delight for the rear passenger.
Hyundai has always led the way when it comes to ensuring safety and security in its vehicles. The neo Fluidic Elantra is packed with an array of Hi-end safety features like VSM (Vehicle Stability Management), ESP (Electronic Stability Program), ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), 6 Airbags, HAC (Hill-Start Assist Control), Speed sensing auto door lock and impact sensing auto door unlock to ensure complete safety of the occupants. To assist safe and easy parking, the Elantra also offers Rear Parking Camera with display on Electro Chromic Mirror (ECM) along with the parking sensors.
ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION:
The neo Fluidic Elantra will be available with two engine options – 1.8 L Petrol Dual VTVT delivering 149.5PS@6500rpm of maximum power and 18.1Kgm@4700rpm of peak torque and the 1.6 L Diesel VGT CRDi delivering 128PS@4000rpm of maximum power and 26.5Kgm@1900-2750rpm of peak torque.
Both the Petrol and Diesel versions offer the segment unique choice of 6-speed Manual Transmission and 6-speed Automatic Transmission. The super-efficient 1.6 L Diesel engine offers a mileage of 22.7 KMPL (ARAI figure) while the 1.8 L Petrol version clocks 16.3 Kmpl (ARAI figure), making the neo Fluidic Elantra the most fuel-efficient car in the segment in both petrol and diesel.
The Elantra will be available with India’s best Warranty with a Period of 4 years/100,000Kms with Road Side Assistance. The Elantra goes on sale immediately and will be available with choice of 7 variants in a range of 6 exciting colours.
About HMIL
Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company (HMC). HMIL is the largest passenger car exporter and the second largest car manufacturer in India. It currently markets eight passenger car models across segments — in the A2 segment it has the Eon, Santro, i10 and the i20, in the A3 segment the Accent and the Verna, in the A4 segment the Elantra, in the A5 segment Sonata and in the SUV segment the Santa Fe.
HMIL’s fully integrated state-of-the-art manufacturing plant near Chennai boasts of advanced production, quality and testing capabilities. HMIL forms a critical part of HMC’s global export hub, it touched 1.5 million in exports in March 2012. It currently exports to more than 120 countries across EU, Africa, Middle East, Latin America and the Asia Pacific. HMIL has been India’s number one exporter for seven years in a row. To cater to rising demand the company commissioned its second plant in February 2008 having an installed capacity of 330,000 units per annum. To support its growth and expansion plans HMIL currently has 348 dealers and more than 800 service points across India. In its commitment to provide customers with cutting-edge global technology, HMIL set up a modern multi-million dollar R&D facility in Hyderabad. The R&D centre endeavors to be a center of excellence in automobile engineering.
Elantra in executive segment makes Hyundai a full line-up manufacturer
The Petrol Elantra is available in 3 variants:
S M/T- Rs. 12,51,000/-,
SX M/T- Rs. 13,74,000/-,
SX A/T- Rs. 14,74,000/-
Diesel Elantra has 4 variants:
Base- Rs. 12,91,000/-,
S M/T- Rs. 13,64,000/-,
SX M/T- Rs. 14, 85,000/-,
SX A/T- Rs. 15,85,000/-
“The launch of the neo Fluidic Elantra in the executive segment makes Hyundai a full line-up manufacturer,” he added.
The Elantra is a globally successful sedan and has received much international recognition. It has been awarded the “2012 North American Car of the Year” at the Detroit Auto Show.
DYNAMIC AND FUTURISTIC DESIGN:
“Fluidic Sculpture” is Hyundai’s new design philosophy which embodies a flowing and dynamic form execution. This Philosophy embraces the harmony of human co-existence and the wisdom of sustainable growth from nature’s endless evolution to create a vision of progressive and passionate design. Embracing “Fluidic Sculpture” design principles, Elantra artfully combines the interplay of wind with rigid surfaces to create the impression of continuous motion.
FEATURES:
The 5th generation neo Fluidic Elantra comes with various segment unique features like Front ventilated seats, Rear parking camera, Advanced safety features like Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Silica tyre and Solar glass.
Additionally the neo Fluidic Elantra also sports a number of high tech features like smart key with push button start, 10-way adjustable power driver seat with lumbar support, Dual zone FATC, Auto Cruise control, Automatic Headlight control, 16” Alloy wheels and so on.
To ensure enhanced Comfort and Convenience, the neo Fluidic Elantra offers features like electrically adjustable, foldable and heated outside mirrors with turn indicators, Rear AC vents, Cooled glove box, Eco driving indicators, 2 DIN MP3 audio with USB, Aux-in and iPod cable for unlimited music access together with combination of Audio and Bluetooth control on Steering. The Audio control on the rear armrest is a delight for the rear passenger.
Hyundai has always led the way when it comes to ensuring safety and security in its vehicles. The neo Fluidic Elantra is packed with an array of Hi-end safety features like VSM (Vehicle Stability Management), ESP (Electronic Stability Program), ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), 6 Airbags, HAC (Hill-Start Assist Control), Speed sensing auto door lock and impact sensing auto door unlock to ensure complete safety of the occupants. To assist safe and easy parking, the Elantra also offers Rear Parking Camera with display on Electro Chromic Mirror (ECM) along with the parking sensors.
ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION:
The neo Fluidic Elantra will be available with two engine options – 1.8 L Petrol Dual VTVT delivering 149.5PS@6500rpm of maximum power and 18.1Kgm@4700rpm of peak torque and the 1.6 L Diesel VGT CRDi delivering 128PS@4000rpm of maximum power and 26.5Kgm@1900-2750rpm of peak torque.
Both the Petrol and Diesel versions offer the segment unique choice of 6-speed Manual Transmission and 6-speed Automatic Transmission. The super-efficient 1.6 L Diesel engine offers a mileage of 22.7 KMPL (ARAI figure) while the 1.8 L Petrol version clocks 16.3 Kmpl (ARAI figure), making the neo Fluidic Elantra the most fuel-efficient car in the segment in both petrol and diesel.
The Elantra will be available with India’s best Warranty with a Period of 4 years/100,000Kms with Road Side Assistance. The Elantra goes on sale immediately and will be available with choice of 7 variants in a range of 6 exciting colours.
About HMIL
Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company (HMC). HMIL is the largest passenger car exporter and the second largest car manufacturer in India. It currently markets eight passenger car models across segments — in the A2 segment it has the Eon, Santro, i10 and the i20, in the A3 segment the Accent and the Verna, in the A4 segment the Elantra, in the A5 segment Sonata and in the SUV segment the Santa Fe.
HMIL’s fully integrated state-of-the-art manufacturing plant near Chennai boasts of advanced production, quality and testing capabilities. HMIL forms a critical part of HMC’s global export hub, it touched 1.5 million in exports in March 2012. It currently exports to more than 120 countries across EU, Africa, Middle East, Latin America and the Asia Pacific. HMIL has been India’s number one exporter for seven years in a row. To cater to rising demand the company commissioned its second plant in February 2008 having an installed capacity of 330,000 units per annum. To support its growth and expansion plans HMIL currently has 348 dealers and more than 800 service points across India. In its commitment to provide customers with cutting-edge global technology, HMIL set up a modern multi-million dollar R&D facility in Hyderabad. The R&D centre endeavors to be a center of excellence in automobile engineering.
Elantra in executive segment makes Hyundai a full line-up manufacturer
The Petrol Elantra is available in 3 variants:
S M/T- Rs. 12,51,000/-,
SX M/T- Rs. 13,74,000/-,
SX A/T- Rs. 14,74,000/-
Diesel Elantra has 4 variants:
Base- Rs. 12,91,000/-,
S M/T- Rs. 13,64,000/-,
SX M/T- Rs. 14, 85,000/-,
SX A/T- Rs. 15,85,000/-
Mexican mayor-elect shot dead
A mayor-elect was found shot dead Sunday with an aide in the
northern Mexican state of San Luis Potosi, recently the scene of rising
drug violence, prosecutors said.
Police received a report overnight Sunday leading them to the vehicle in the town of Matehuala, in the northern part of the state, where they found the two bodies and a survivor of the attack, according a statement by the state prosecutors office.
“The lifeless body of mayor-elect Edgar Morales was found in a van this morning,” a spokesman for prosecutors told AFP by telephone. The second body was identified as Juan Francisco Hernandez, Morales’ campaign manager.
The survivor, who escaped injury, told police the three men were attacked as they left a party. He said he did not know who or how many attackers there were.
San Luis Potosi has been rocked in recent days by a wave of violence attributed to drug cartels, including the discovery of 14 bodies inside a van on Thursday.
Morales would not be the first mayor targeted by drug gangs seeking to dominate local affairs. At least six were killed across Mexico last year, and 15 the year before.
Morales had been elected in the July 1 elections that also earned Enrique Pena Nieto the presidency. Both hail from the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, which ruled Mexico under an authoritarian regime for more than seven decades, until it was voted out in 2000.
More than 50,000 people have been murdered since December 2006 when outgoing President Felipe Calderon launched a military offensive against drug cartels — a failure analysts link to Calderon’s defeat in the July polls.
Pena Nieto has promised a “new strategy” and also pledged to wage his battle “without pacts or truces” — a nod to the tactic his party was previously known for, of looking the other way while drugs were sent north of the border as long as the cartels did not commit violence within Mexico.Media agencies
Police received a report overnight Sunday leading them to the vehicle in the town of Matehuala, in the northern part of the state, where they found the two bodies and a survivor of the attack, according a statement by the state prosecutors office.
“The lifeless body of mayor-elect Edgar Morales was found in a van this morning,” a spokesman for prosecutors told AFP by telephone. The second body was identified as Juan Francisco Hernandez, Morales’ campaign manager.
The survivor, who escaped injury, told police the three men were attacked as they left a party. He said he did not know who or how many attackers there were.
San Luis Potosi has been rocked in recent days by a wave of violence attributed to drug cartels, including the discovery of 14 bodies inside a van on Thursday.
Morales would not be the first mayor targeted by drug gangs seeking to dominate local affairs. At least six were killed across Mexico last year, and 15 the year before.
Morales had been elected in the July 1 elections that also earned Enrique Pena Nieto the presidency. Both hail from the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, which ruled Mexico under an authoritarian regime for more than seven decades, until it was voted out in 2000.
More than 50,000 people have been murdered since December 2006 when outgoing President Felipe Calderon launched a military offensive against drug cartels — a failure analysts link to Calderon’s defeat in the July polls.
Pena Nieto has promised a “new strategy” and also pledged to wage his battle “without pacts or truces” — a nod to the tactic his party was previously known for, of looking the other way while drugs were sent north of the border as long as the cartels did not commit violence within Mexico.Media agencies
Russian gold rush before first winter Olympics in Sochi
RIA Novosti report:Seven days after the opening ceremony, the
Russians were faced with a nightmare scenario.Three gold medals in the
first week left one of the great sporting powers languishing behind the
likes of Kazakhstan and North Korea in the medal table.
Embarrassingly for a country keen to hype its first Winter Olympics in Sochi in 2014, the president of the Russian Olympic Committee spent his time on damage control, reminding the Russian public that they should not expect the sporting success of the Soviet Union.
Even reaching the 23 goals medals won in a disappointing performance in Beijing seemed out of reach, but a flurry of wins at the Olympic Stadium kickstarted a revival that left Russia with more medals than in 2008, although a record low fourth in the medals table.
The last gold was also the most dramatic, the men’s volleyball team storming back from match point down to beat runaway favorites Brazil.
Russia’s record athletics haul of eight gold medals included some memorable moments as Ivan Ukhov and Anna Chicherova won both gold medals in the high jump, while Mariya Savinova beat South Africa’s Caster Semenya to take the 800 meters title.
In a development likely to please President Vladimir Putin, the world’s most famous judo fan, the Russian team went from obscurity four years ago to become the most successful country, displacing even Japan.
Putin watched from the stands as Tagir Khaibulaev won Russia’s third judo gold before posing for photographers with the newly crowned champion, a product of a new system that matches the wrestling talent of Russia’s North Caucasus regions with top-notch international coaching talent.
There was even a triumph for one of Russia’s best-loved Americans as Boston-born David Blatt led the men’s basketball team to its first Olympic medal.
The thrilling 81-77 win over Argentina saw two new signings for the Minnesota Timberwolves, forward Andrei Kirilenko and guard Alexey Shved, combine for 45 points, just a month after the team had suffered the ignominy of having to qualify for the Olympics at a tournament in Venezuela, unlike most top-tier countries.
Despite the gold medal crescendo in the second week, Russians were also-rans in many finals, or failed to reach the finals at all in many sports – worrying signs for Sochi 2014.
Swimming, cycling, weightlifting and shooting, all traditionally strong areas for Russia, failed to produce a single gold medal, and the country’s team as a whole boasted worryingly few breakout stars.
There was also an unpleasant reminder Russia’s checkered Olympic past as Victoria Baranova, the world’s No. 2-ranked track sprint cyclist, was thrown out of the Games after testing positive for a banned substance, and later admitted to buying synthetic testosterone.
Elsewhere, Russia’s weightlifting squad saw an unusually large number of late withdrawals through injury or unspecified “medical reasons,” although none of the athletes was ever accused of wrongdoing.
As Russia prepares to host its first Olympic Games since the collapse of the Soviet Union, London has already been an example in one respect.
London’s much-praised army of 70,000 volunteer guides, stewards and greeters forms the blueprint for Sochi, where the organizers say they are inundated with applications, despite Russia having no real history of mass volunteering in modern times.
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev hinted that Danny Boyle’s acclaimed opening ceremony could inspire the Sochi effort – he suggested it would have a similarly idiosyncratic national character and could feature music stars, repeating a suggestion from an Internet fan that former Eurovision Song Contest winner Dima Bilan be drafted in.
For Russia, London offers signposts for organizing the Winter Olympics and inspiring examples of how to break into new sports – Russia’s well-funded short-track speed skating effort is importing foreign talent, much as the successful judo squad did.
Russia’s performance in London, with so many sports failing to deliver, also shows how things can go wrong. The fencing and shooting coaches both resigned shortly after their events finished and there may yet be more changes elsewhere, especially with an amendment to the law being debated that would allow the government to hire and fire the management of many sports federations.
Embarrassingly for a country keen to hype its first Winter Olympics in Sochi in 2014, the president of the Russian Olympic Committee spent his time on damage control, reminding the Russian public that they should not expect the sporting success of the Soviet Union.
Even reaching the 23 goals medals won in a disappointing performance in Beijing seemed out of reach, but a flurry of wins at the Olympic Stadium kickstarted a revival that left Russia with more medals than in 2008, although a record low fourth in the medals table.
The last gold was also the most dramatic, the men’s volleyball team storming back from match point down to beat runaway favorites Brazil.
Russia’s record athletics haul of eight gold medals included some memorable moments as Ivan Ukhov and Anna Chicherova won both gold medals in the high jump, while Mariya Savinova beat South Africa’s Caster Semenya to take the 800 meters title.
In a development likely to please President Vladimir Putin, the world’s most famous judo fan, the Russian team went from obscurity four years ago to become the most successful country, displacing even Japan.
Putin watched from the stands as Tagir Khaibulaev won Russia’s third judo gold before posing for photographers with the newly crowned champion, a product of a new system that matches the wrestling talent of Russia’s North Caucasus regions with top-notch international coaching talent.
There was even a triumph for one of Russia’s best-loved Americans as Boston-born David Blatt led the men’s basketball team to its first Olympic medal.
The thrilling 81-77 win over Argentina saw two new signings for the Minnesota Timberwolves, forward Andrei Kirilenko and guard Alexey Shved, combine for 45 points, just a month after the team had suffered the ignominy of having to qualify for the Olympics at a tournament in Venezuela, unlike most top-tier countries.
Despite the gold medal crescendo in the second week, Russians were also-rans in many finals, or failed to reach the finals at all in many sports – worrying signs for Sochi 2014.
Swimming, cycling, weightlifting and shooting, all traditionally strong areas for Russia, failed to produce a single gold medal, and the country’s team as a whole boasted worryingly few breakout stars.
There was also an unpleasant reminder Russia’s checkered Olympic past as Victoria Baranova, the world’s No. 2-ranked track sprint cyclist, was thrown out of the Games after testing positive for a banned substance, and later admitted to buying synthetic testosterone.
Elsewhere, Russia’s weightlifting squad saw an unusually large number of late withdrawals through injury or unspecified “medical reasons,” although none of the athletes was ever accused of wrongdoing.
As Russia prepares to host its first Olympic Games since the collapse of the Soviet Union, London has already been an example in one respect.
London’s much-praised army of 70,000 volunteer guides, stewards and greeters forms the blueprint for Sochi, where the organizers say they are inundated with applications, despite Russia having no real history of mass volunteering in modern times.
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev hinted that Danny Boyle’s acclaimed opening ceremony could inspire the Sochi effort – he suggested it would have a similarly idiosyncratic national character and could feature music stars, repeating a suggestion from an Internet fan that former Eurovision Song Contest winner Dima Bilan be drafted in.
For Russia, London offers signposts for organizing the Winter Olympics and inspiring examples of how to break into new sports – Russia’s well-funded short-track speed skating effort is importing foreign talent, much as the successful judo squad did.
Russia’s performance in London, with so many sports failing to deliver, also shows how things can go wrong. The fencing and shooting coaches both resigned shortly after their events finished and there may yet be more changes elsewhere, especially with an amendment to the law being debated that would allow the government to hire and fire the management of many sports federations.
Iran quake displaced 16,000 people to camps
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ordered officials to start rebuilding
immediately but the work may be difficult due to the widespread
destruction, in order to affected people immediate need of dwelling
units are people shifted to temporary camps.Official reports put quake
hit area displaced 16,000 people and are living in camps, temporary
tents amid aftershocks.
Iranian officials said the death toll from Saturday’s earthquakes will rise to nearly 300 people.Iranian government officials are shifting from rescue operations to rebuilding in the disaster-affected areas.The magnitude 6.4 and 6.3 earthquakes hit the northwestern province of East Azerbaijan. 20 villages were devastated in the mountainous area near the focus, with many of the buildings destroyed.
Iran’s interior minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar announced earlier that 227 people were killed in the quakes. But local authorities say the death toll will reach about 300.
Chinese activists leave for Senkaku Islands
A group of Chinese activists has left Hong Kong for the Senkaku
Islands in the Japanese southernmost prefecture of Okinawa. They aim to
land on them.
Thirteen members of the group held a departure ceremony at a Hong Kong port on Sunday and boarded a fishing boat. The group includes members of “The Action Committee for Defending the Diaoyu Islands” in Hong Kong, and activists from mainland China.China and Taiwan call the islands Diaoyu, and claim sovereignty over them.
The activists told NHK Sunday evening that Hong Kong’s Coast Guard ordered them to cancel the trip but it did not prevent them from leaving.The activists said they are already on the open sea.They are expected to arrive near the Senkaku Islands as early as Wednesday.In January, Hong Kong’s Coast Guard made the group cancel a similar plan 3 hours after departing from Hong Kong.NHK reports
Thirteen members of the group held a departure ceremony at a Hong Kong port on Sunday and boarded a fishing boat. The group includes members of “The Action Committee for Defending the Diaoyu Islands” in Hong Kong, and activists from mainland China.China and Taiwan call the islands Diaoyu, and claim sovereignty over them.
The activists told NHK Sunday evening that Hong Kong’s Coast Guard ordered them to cancel the trip but it did not prevent them from leaving.The activists said they are already on the open sea.They are expected to arrive near the Senkaku Islands as early as Wednesday.In January, Hong Kong’s Coast Guard made the group cancel a similar plan 3 hours after departing from Hong Kong.NHK reports
London Olympic 2012 closing shots
The 23-year-old
world champion pulled five metres clear of Nijel Amos of Botswana after
taking control of the race from an early stage on a warm night in the
Olympic Stadium in east London.
He charged down
the home straight as the capacity crowd rose to their feet and crossed
the line in a time which shaved a tenth of a second off the world record
he set two years ago.
Amos timed 1:41.73
– a world junior record for the 18-year-old – to win Botswana’s first
ever Olympic medal in athletics while another Kenyan Timothy Kitum took
the bronze in a personal best of 1:42.53.
It was the first world record in an 800m Olympic final since Cuba’s Alberto Juantorena set the mark in the 1976 final.
Rudisha revealed
he had visited the Olympic Stadium earlier this year and was shown
around by the London Games chief organiser Sebastian Coe, whose world
record in the event set in 1981 lasted for 16 years.
“Lord Coe is a
very good friend of mine and I was here early in February and he took me
round the stadium and I said I would come here and run to make him
proud,” said Rudisha.
“To come here and
break the world record is something unbelievable. I was well-prepared
this year and I had no doubt about winning. But I was waiting for
perfect conditions to break the world record because I knew this year I
was in the shape to run 1.40.”
“But today the weather was beautiful so I decided just to go for it.”
When asked whether
he was the greatest 800m runner in history, he said: “Yeah, I’m still
running so I believe I’m going to maintain for a couple of years. I want
to become a legend in 800.”
He said he would attempt to break the world again this year “I get good weather”.
Marathon man Stephen Kiprotich delivered only Uganda’s
second ever Olympics gold medal on Sunday, celebrating victory in the
shadow of Buckingham Palace as the curtain slowly dropped on the 2012
Games.Kiprotich timed 2hr 08min 01sec on the spectacular course around the streets of central London, with two-time defending world champion Abel Kirui claiming silver in 2:08.27. Another Kenyan, long-time leader Wilson Kipsang, took bronze in 2:09.37.”I am very happy to win a medal for my country. I love my people. Uganda are very happy because we haven’t won a medal,” said Kiprotich.
United States stands on top of the gold medal ranking with 46,
followed by China with 38 and the host country Britain with 29.Japan is
tied with Australia and Kazakhstan in 10th place.Japan has wrapped up
the London Olympic Games with a record haul of 38 medals.
Japan increased its number of golds to 7 with Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu’s victory in the men’s 66-kilogram freestyle wrestling on the final day on Sunday.
Japanese athletes won 14 silver medals and 17 bronze.
Japan’s previous medal record was 37, set at the Athens Games 8 years ago.
Nicola Adams of Britain secured the first-ever women’s
boxing gold medal on the sport’s Olympic debut at London 2012 while
Katie Taylor delivered Ireland its first gold of the Games on Thursday.
The U.S. women’s soccer team won its third straight
Olympic gold medal Thursday, beating Japan 2-1 in a rematch of last
year’s World Cup final and avenging the most painful loss in its
history.
Japan increased its number of golds to 7 with Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu’s victory in the men’s 66-kilogram freestyle wrestling on the final day on Sunday.
Japanese athletes won 14 silver medals and 17 bronze.
Japan’s previous medal record was 37, set at the Athens Games 8 years ago.
In the
first of three women’s finals at the ExCel centre, Adams outboxed
China’s Ren Cancan in the 51 kilogramme flyweight division.
Adams
had three-time world champion Ren on the canvas midway through the
second round with a left and right combination on her way to a
comprehensive 16-7 points win.
“It’s a
dream come true. I am so happy and overwhelmed with joy right now,” said
Adams, who had twice lost in world championship finals to Ren. “I have
wanted this all my life and I have done it.”
Urged on
by a huge Irish contingent in the 10,000-strong crowd, Taylor gave
Ireland its first boxing gold since Michael Carruth at Barcelona 1992
with victory over Russia’s Sofya Ochigava by a 10-8 scoreline.
Carli Lloyd scored
early in both halves, Solo leaped and dived to make saves, and the
entire roster found the redemption it had been seeking since that
penalty kick shootout loss in Germany last summer.
Before 80,203 at
Wembley Stadium, a record crowd for a women’s soccer game at the
Olympics, the teams put on a back-and-forth, don’t-turn-your-head soccer
showcase, proving again that these are the two premier teams in the
world.
Women’s soccer is
still in its formative stages in Britain, but the match proved more than
worthy for the hallowed grounds of the beautiful game.
And the Japanese
perhaps played just as beautifully as the Americans, using their speed
and discipline to dominate possession and scoring chances for long
stretches before finally cutting a 2-0 deficit in half with about a
half-hour to go.
Back home, America was paying attention — just as it was last year and despite the rest of the Olympic events.
Even President
Barack Obama, during a campaign speech at Colorado College during the
second half of the game, noted that, “The women are doing pretty good
right now in soccer.”
Lloyd’s goals came
in eighth and 54th minutes, making it four goals in the tournament for
the midfielder who lost her long-held starting job weeks before the
Olympics.
She got back on the pitch when Shannon Boxx injured her hamstring in the opening game and started every game since.
Yuki Ogimi
answered in the 63rd minute, and Asuna Tanaka nearly had the equalizer
in the 83rd — only to be thwarted when Solo flung her entire body to the
left to push the ball away.
The U.S. team has
won four of the five Olympic titles since women’s soccer was introduced
at the 1996 Atlanta Games, settling for mere silver at the 2000 Games in
Sydney.
In the first half,
Japan was unfortunate not to have a penalty kick awarded for a clear
hand ball by U.S. midfielder Tobin Heath, who stuck out her left arm to
stop a free kick inside the area.
Japan also had two
shots hit the crossbar, one off the left hand of a leaping Solo, who
was kept consistently busy for the first time this tournament.
The closest the
U.S. came to doubling the lead in the first 45 minutes came when Azusa
Iwashimizu attempted to clear a routine ball played in front of the net —
and headed it off the post.
The U.S. goal in
the eighth minute began with a run by Heath down the left side. She fed
Alex Morgan, who settled the ball near the goal line, spun and chipped
it toward Wambach.
Wambach raised her
left foot for the shot, but Lloyd charged in and got to it first, her
strong running header beating goalkeeper Miho Fukumoto from 6 yards out.
Lloyd extended the
lead with a 20-yard right-footer just inside the left post after a long
run with the ball through the middle of the Japanese defense.
Ogimi soon cut the
deficit to one after a mad scramble in front of the net. Captain
Christie Rampone saved a shot off the line, but the ball went to Homare
Sawa, who fed Ogimi for the tap-in.
Another scramble
followed after U.S. defender Amy LePeilbet saved yet another shot off
the line in the 74th minute, but this time her teammates were able to
corral the ball before a Japanese player could pounce on it.
Boxx was back into the starting lineup after the missing four games with the hamstring injury.
Lauren Cheney, who
injured an ankle in the semifinals, began the game on the bench for the
first time this tournament.Canada won the bronze earlier Thursday,
beating France 1-0 at Coventry.
US women smash 4x100m world record
Pointing the baton at the clock showing the world record time of 40.82 seconds, Carmelita Jeter anchored the United States on Friday night to its first Olympic gold medal in the women’s 4x100m relay since 1996.
US women smash 4x100m world record
Pointing the baton at the clock showing the world record time of 40.82 seconds, Carmelita Jeter anchored the United States on Friday night to its first Olympic gold medal in the women’s 4x100m relay since 1996.
Tianna
Madison, 200m Allyson Felix and Bianca Knight gave the U.S. a big lead
heading into the anchor leg by Jeter, who already owned a silver medal
from the 100 and a bronze from the 200 in London.
Their final time cut more than a half second off the old record of 41.37 run by East Germany in 1985.
Jamaica
won the silver medal in a national record of 41.41 seconds, with 100m
champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Sherone Simpson, Veronica
Campbell-Brown and Kerron Stewart bringing the baton around.
The bronze went to the Ukraine in 42.04.
With Knight approaching for the final handoff, Jeter took nine strides, reached her hand back and took a perfect exchange.
Jeter
was staring at the clock as she covered the final 10 metres and used the
stick in her left hand to make sure everyone else also had their eyes
trained on the bright orange numbers on the trackside clock.
Afterward,
the quartet of champions paused to watch a replay of their record
performance on the scoreboard at the 80,000-seat Olympic Stadium. When
Jeter was shown crossing the finish line, Knight punched the air.
The perfect trip around the track ended a string of disappointments for the U.S. in the event.
At
Beijing four years ago, the Americans didn’t even reach the final
because Torri Edwards and Lauryn Williams bobbled the last exchange in
the semifinals.
That marked the first time since 1948 that the U.S. wasn’t involved in the women’s 4×100 medal race at the Summer Games.
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