Happy that I didn’t let Bob down: Paul
It is difficult to associate such a pleasant person who believes in god and destiny with the sad accident on a football field leading to the demise of Brazilian Cristiano Junior five years ago.
Apart from having to live down that tragic incident, Paul had to face a lot of hurdles in his career. The two well-known Kolkata clubs Mohun Bagan and East Bengal would not look at him.
Paul was charged by Mohun Bagan coach Amal Dutta for allegedly taking bribe in 2006 while he was thrown out of East Bengal this season allegedly for unbelievably poor performance.
But the one man who noticed immense potential in Paul is India’s chief coach Bob Houghton who thought he is the right man to tend the India goal.
“I have no grudge against East Bengal and Mohun Bagan. I had nothing to prove tonight. I always felt that we could win against Syria. But for me I didn’t want to let down Bob sir. He had a lot of faith in me and I am happy that I made my contribution in the win,” said the 23-year-old, after making three stupendous saves in the penalty shoot-out.
Paul also remembered his coach and former India goalkeeper Debashish Mukherjee. The former goalie played a crucial role in bringing a change in his behaviour after the Cristiano episode.
“Had it not been for Debashish da, I wouldn’t have been playing at the Ambedkar Stadium on Monday. I shall always be grateful to him,” said Paul, who has been signed for newly promoted I-League team, Pune FC.
India skipper Bhaichung Bhutia and Houghton were all praise for Paul and felt that his best was yet to come.
“Subrata has been in an outstanding form and I have always maintained that he is the No.1 goalkeeper in the country.”
Source: IANS
Devvarman, Mirza reach secound round of US Open
In action on the first day of the 2009 Open, the recently engaged Mirza defeated Olga Govortsova of Belarus 6-2 3-6 6-3; while qualifier Devvarman beat Portugal’s Frederico Gil 6-3 6-4 6-3.
After her win, Mirza told Reuters it was wonderful few days for Indian sport as the milestone in New York followed the success of the Force India Formula One team, which secured pole position for last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix before the outfit’s Giancarlo Fisichella finished the race in second place. “It’s great,” she said. “Things are looking up. They have been for awhile now, but I guess they’re looking further up.”
Mirza, who missed most of the 2008 season because of a career-threatening wrist injury, said this is her comeback year adding she is currently at the peak of her physical fitness.
Mirza also had words of praise for Devvarman after he defeated his higher-ranked opponent in under two hours. “For a long time… I was the only one (from India) playing singles in the main draw of the Grand Slams. It’s great that Somdev is playing so well since the beginning of the year and getting better,” Reuters quotes Mirza as saying.
In the second round, Mirza will be up against 10th seed Flavia Pennetta of Italy, while Devvarman is likely to face 22nd seed Philipp Kohlschreiber in the next round.
Source: IS
Devvarman, Mirza reach secound round of US Open
In action on the first day of the 2009 Open, the recently engaged Mirza defeated Olga Govortsova of Belarus 6-2 3-6 6-3; while qualifier Devvarman beat Portugal’s Frederico Gil 6-3 6-4 6-3.
After her win, Mirza told Reuters it was wonderful few days for Indian sport as the milestone in New York followed the success of the Force India Formula One team, which secured pole position for last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix before the outfit’s Giancarlo Fisichella finished the race in second place. “It’s great,” she said. “Things are looking up. They have been for awhile now, but I guess they’re looking further up.”
Mirza, who missed most of the 2008 season because of a career-threatening wrist injury, said this is her comeback year adding she is currently at the peak of her physical fitness.
Mirza also had words of praise for Devvarman after he defeated his higher-ranked opponent in under two hours. “For a long time… I was the only one (from India) playing singles in the main draw of the Grand Slams. It’s great that Somdev is playing so well since the beginning of the year and getting better,” Reuters quotes Mirza as saying.
In the second round, Mirza will be up against 10th seed Flavia Pennetta of Italy, while Devvarman is likely to face 22nd seed Philipp Kohlschreiber in the next round.
Source: IS
Birthday Suite: Mumaith Khan
The Pakistan-born Mumbaikar is one of the hottest item dancers Indian screen has ever seen. Mumaith Khan, who debuted with “Dekh Le”, that peppy item number in ‘Munna Bhai MBBS’, symbolises oomph for movie buffs all over India. A great dancer and a passable actor, Mumaith has been getting many offers to act in the lead these days.
Mumaith completes yet another successful year in tinsel town on September 1, her birthday. Happy B’day, Ms Khan!
Source: www.filmysouth.com
Mammootty has huge expectations from ‘Pazhassi Raja’
“Of course, I’m really waiting for it because it is one Malayalam film which is likely to have a national release as it is dubbed in Hindi, Telegu and Tamil. Lot of hard work has gone into the film by each one associated with it,” Mammootty said.
It’s a Ramadan month and despite being a devout Muslim, the veteran actor is busy moving from one set to another and running from one dubbing studio to another.
“Rain or sun, I have a job in hand and I do it with all my sincerity. Right now I’m driving towards Chennai to complete the dubbing of the Tamil version of ‘Pazhassi Raja’. Due to lack of time I’m not doing the Telegu and Hindi dubbing,” said Mammootty.
Scripted by M.T. Vasudevan Nair and directed by Hariharan, the film is set in the 18th century and is about Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja of the Padinjare Kovilakom of the Kottayam family. Irked by the revenue policy of East India Company in Malabar, he threatened to cut down all the pepper vines if the British persisted in revenue collection. It is releasing in September.
In short, Pazhassi Raja’s was one of the first voices to be raised against British rule in India and he was one of the first freedom fighters, but not many people are aware of this outside Kerala.
After a gap of 20 years, Nair, Hariharan and Mammootty have come together for the film. The trio last time teamed up for “Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha” and created magic on celluloid. The film fetched the actor his first of the three national awards.
“Since I’m the hero of the film, I will certainly be involved in all sort of promotion of the film. This is the first Malayalam film which will have a national release and of course, I’m excited. But I’m certainly being apprehensive too, because too much expectation is not a good thing,” said Mammootty.
“Resul Pookutty has designed the sound and we were together last week and he too appears to be happy. Any way, now we will wait,” said Mammootty.
Source: IANS
