CNR Rao and Sachin Tendulkar receive India's highest civilian award - Bharat Ratna

CNR Rao with prime minister of india

Veteran Scientist C.N.R. Rao and Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar on Tuesday joined the list of 41 eminent personalities who have received India's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna. President Pranab Mukherjee conferred Sachin and Rao with Bharat Ratna at a glittering ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. The two have been given the award in recognition for their contribution to the society.
Tendulkar, 40,  nominated to the Rajya Sabha last year, is the first sport person and the youngest recipient of the award. The government last year changed the nomination criteria for Bharat Ratna to include sportspersons. After receiving the Award Tendulkar wrote on social networking site- "I dedicate this recognition to my mother and millions of mothers across India who have silently sacrificed their wishes and aspirations to support the dreams of their children". "I am very proud of being the son of this wonderful country and express my gratitude for all the love and support," he added. Rao, 79, is the fourth scientist after C.V. Raman, M. Visvesvaraya and former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to get the Bharat Ratna.

Sachin Tendulkar with prime minister of india

Tendulkar is the most accomplished cricketer in the world, finishing his illustrious career with a fair clutch of records. He has 15,921 runs from a record 200 Test matches at an average of 53.58 and 51 centuries. He scored 18,426 runs from 463 ODIs with an average of 44.83 including 49 centuries. He was also the first to score a double hundred in the 50-over format. Tendulkar quit the one-day form of cricket in 2012 and Tests last year. Rao is one of India's most renowned scientists and is known for his work in solid state and structural chemistry. He is the honorary president of Bangalore's Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, which he founded in 1989. Rao was appointed chairman of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister in January 2005. He is also the director of the International Centre for Materials Science. Source: Article, Images sources flicker.com

Read More........ → February 10, 2014

New Zealand's Corey Anderson smashes fastest-ever ODI century

West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo (L) congratulates Corey Anderson of New Zealand after Anderson scored the fastest century in history during the third ODI between New Zealand and the West Indies in Queenstown. (AFP Photo)

New Zealand's Corey Anderson clubbed the fastest century in the history of one-day international cricket - from 36 balls - as the hosts reached 283-4 from only 21 overs in Wednesday's rain-shortened third one-dayer against the West Indies. The young allrounder hit 12 sixes and four fours in his 100, beating, by one delivery, the 37-ball record of Pakistan's Shahid Afridi against Sri Lanka which has stood for almost 18 years. Anderson finished on 131 not out from 47 balls, as New Zealand scored at an extraordinary 13 runs per over. He put on 191 for the fourth wicket with Jesse Ryder who made 104 from 51 balls - the sixth-fastest century in one-day internationals. Ryder is in his comeback to international cricket after a two-year absence. Captain Brendon McCullum set the momentum of the New Zealand innings when he smashed 33 from 11 balls, coming in following the dismissal of opener Martin Guptill for 1 after the home team was sent in to bat. McCullum plundered 24 runs from his first five balls, and Ryder joined in, hitting consecutive sixes from Jason Holder as the pair raced to a 50-run partnership from 18 deliveries. Ryder took over when McCullum was out caught in the deep, and dashed to his half century in 24 balls with four fours and four sixes. Ryder, who was for a duck in his comeback game at the start of this series, was back to his most belligerent form on Wednesday, but was overshadowed by Anderson who played one of the most remarkable innings in the history of one-day cricket. Anderson reached 50 from only 30 balls, with two fours and six sixes and after hitting four consecutive sixes from the bowling on of Sunil Narine. He then repeated the feat and hit four sixes in an over from Rampaul whose three overs conceded 64 runs. Anderson was 95 not out after 35 balls, needing a six off the next ball to break Afridi's record. Though unaware of the beckoning record, he swatted the next ball from spinner Nikita Miller out of the ground to break the world record. He hit another six from the next ball to raise a 150-run partnership with Ryder in only 36 minutes. Ryder reached his century from 46 balls and was out five balls from the end of the New Zealand innings for 104, which included five sixes and 12 fours. Source: Hindustan Times

Read More........ → January 02, 2014

Mum, Dad, I hope I have made you proud: Kallis

paid handsome tributes to his late parents for all the support they gave to make him a cricketer and hoped he did them proud. Kallis, who retired from Test cricket as South Africa wrapped up the two-match series 1-0 against India, also said he was fortunate to have some great coaches. "I`ve been fortunate to have had great coaches throughout the career, my friends and family have put up with me being away, will be nice to catch up with them. So many people to thank. Two of the most important people, who aren`t there, so `Mum, Dad I hope I`ve made you proud`," said Kallis. Kallis, 38, said it was a tough decision for him to retire from Tests. "Tough call (to retire from Tests). It`s been incredible, the way people have come out to support me, the way CSA and my team-mates have made it a special game. I still had the same butterflies ahead of this game, thanks to MS (Dhoni) and the team for the guard of honour, I was glad I didn`t face the next ball then," he said. Source: Article, Image: flickr.com

Read More........ → December 31, 2013