IPL 2012 Playoffs and Finals

<br /><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is the final week of the DLF IPL 2012 season. After a marathon run of 72 matches played across the length and breadth of India(9 teams playing each other twice), the playoff line up is decided. T</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">he last match is under progress as I write this piece.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It promises to be an exciting play off week, especially after lots of off-field action. Nonetheless, it has been a super tournament, loaded with cliff hangers and heart breakers.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let us look at the teams who are in fray in the final week (and who couldn't make it to the last week).</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The Also Rans</b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pune Warriors finished last in the table. Under the leadership of Ganguly, and in the absence of Yuvraj, the team could not do much - winning just 4 matches. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Deccan Chargers also finished with 4 wins, and 9 points. The stand out point for DC in this year's tournament was Dayle Styen. He bowled like a champion and affirmed his place as the best fast bowler in the world today.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(58, 0, 204); color: black; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsPast2bAsBbGGn-o8MT4st4etqAZhy_koSbctgO_NhmW2bcvHhO_Tf_QxO6WxC07A7AY7ZK90HkVrJMPJv7qJVHMqovj5VpvE0Jcnd1ZAsO6M_5nqYtCUBdqTSowqQ0SksWoYCFsawuJ/s1600/Dale+Steyn+Dalai+Lama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #990000; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsPast2bAsBbGGn-o8MT4st4etqAZhy_koSbctgO_NhmW2bcvHhO_Tf_QxO6WxC07A7AY7ZK90HkVrJMPJv7qJVHMqovj5VpvE0Jcnd1ZAsO6M_5nqYtCUBdqTSowqQ0SksWoYCFsawuJ/s320/Dale+Steyn+Dalai+Lama.jpg" style="border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="272" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dale Steyn Dalai Lama</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rajasthan Royals, under Rahul Dravid and Kings XI Punjab, under Adam Gilchrist did a respectable job by finishing in the middle of the table. They were in the fray to go into the playoffs but couldn't give the final push. RR didn't miss Shane Warne this year, and did well under Rahul.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">RCB, whose fortunes were guided by Vettori and Virat Kohli fell at the final hurdle. They couldn't score 130 odd runs against DC in their last group match and failed to progress into the playoffs. It would be a huge disappointment for Chris Gayle, who played like a champion all season.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The Potential Champions</b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4 teams across India hold the key to be the champions of IPL 2012. They are - Delhi Daredevils (DD), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK).</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has been an extremely sucessful tournament for DD and KKR. Under the leadership of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, both of them have excelled from the moment go. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They do not have any star player akin Chris Gayle of RCB. Yet, they have gelled well as a team and come out with flying colors. If there were any teams who were sure to be in the playoffs based on the results of the initial matches, it was DD and KKR.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(58, 0, 204); color: black; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimEwF7NVdpyaO-WfCcKVChhylQr9Q5RmDAF8FbU2Q6KiojL0thyiJ5lfp-mtvDZY8uICcyAMIdAa7DGgKwYYIVMHZ7PZMEdWgW93FuplrD31qdJRlGFckQd-Oy6kZfVIoN5c_ucZV8qW5R/s1600/Virender+Sehwag+Gautam+Gambhir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #990000; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimEwF7NVdpyaO-WfCcKVChhylQr9Q5RmDAF8FbU2Q6KiojL0thyiJ5lfp-mtvDZY8uICcyAMIdAa7DGgKwYYIVMHZ7PZMEdWgW93FuplrD31qdJRlGFckQd-Oy6kZfVIoN5c_ucZV8qW5R/s320/Virender+Sehwag+Gautam+Gambhir.jpg" style="border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Virender Sehwag Gautam Gambhir</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mumbai Indian has also made its way into the playoffs at the number 3 spot. Led by Harbhajan Singh, backed by Sachin Tendulkar, and with the likes of Keiron Pollard and Dwayne Smith in their team, they have chugged into the final 4.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One thing that unites RCB, KKR and MI is that they are led by players who were not considered worthwhile for the post of vice-captain of the Indian cricket team. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Virat Kohli was chosen over Sehwag and Gambhir, and both these players have proved a point with this IPL. Harbhajan was even dropped from the team, and here he is leading a million $ team in the playoffs.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last but not the least is Chennai Super King. Under the leadership of the Indian captain, Mahender Singh Dhoni, CSK got a back door entry into the playoffs when RCB lost to DC in the penultimate match of the group stage today.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The Playoff Schedule</b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first qualifier is scheduled in Pune between DD and KKR on 22nd May 2012. The winner of this match goes directly into the finals.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">MI and CSK play the eliminator on 23rd May 2012 in Bangalore. The winner of this match plays the loser of the first qualifier, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">on 25th May 2012,</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> in Chennai, for a shot in the finals.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The final is scheduled in Chennai on 27th May 2012. Let the best team win. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The Off Field Antics</b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The IPL 2012 was loaded with lots of off-field antics. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It started with Pune Warriors pulling out of the IPL, only to join the party later. Disappointingly, they finished last.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />A week or so earlier, 5 players were caught on camera willing to accept a bribe for spot fixing. The players were not known names. However, spot fixing had cast its shadow and threatened to open a Pandora's box.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just a few days later, Shahrukh Khan (SRK), owner of KKR, had a fracas with the security after the match against MI. This story became a national headline, and almost become a battle against a super star, who claimed just to be a proud parent preventing his kids from being man handled.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(58, 0, 204); color: black; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIptxd2R3FYFAX9jBNb94czylmAY7o4U9sgDLPjQpjIPlSSji48KFq5ZxGvXcuvkoC7l96uFSaVDXaFcKWR4vcbUB8YZQdoF2dZNRXwU3OxluwBiLdlOkZLamHKSGDJCgZ0qgPCVz6pGxU/s1600/SRK+MCA+Scuffle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #990000; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIptxd2R3FYFAX9jBNb94czylmAY7o4U9sgDLPjQpjIPlSSji48KFq5ZxGvXcuvkoC7l96uFSaVDXaFcKWR4vcbUB8YZQdoF2dZNRXwU3OxluwBiLdlOkZLamHKSGDJCgZ0qgPCVz6pGxU/s320/SRK+MCA+Scuffle.jpg" style="border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="233" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">SRK Scuffle at MCA</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(58, 0, 204); color: black; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjHh5zwv042yTiRjgbDJi1E6uB-CE-hA6bRK2hXtftuLhHuougYKvF7iPYcSd_pxKbDkxfwQR99-_L5lpNR0wJwUkVxCaSJGCNPmyymHYB0NlO8Ok1st5Zm3MMfuW7NpmITSouL-E2IDO/s1600/SRK+Off+Field+Antics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #990000; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjHh5zwv042yTiRjgbDJi1E6uB-CE-hA6bRK2hXtftuLhHuougYKvF7iPYcSd_pxKbDkxfwQR99-_L5lpNR0wJwUkVxCaSJGCNPmyymHYB0NlO8Ok1st5Zm3MMfuW7NpmITSouL-E2IDO/s320/SRK+Off+Field+Antics.jpg" style="border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">SRK Off Field Antics</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If this was not enough, a RCB player - Aussie </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Luke Pomersbach - was accused by a lady of molesting her and hitting her boyfriend. This incident snowballed when Siddarth Mallya was served a legal notice for questioning the lady's character with some loose comments on Twitter. </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Summary</b></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All in all, it has been an exciting IPL. I couldn't follow much it. However, it has been an intense topic of discussions during tea and lunch breaks. The off-field antics notwithstanding, it is cricket that promises to come up as a winner in the next week.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has been a heady mix of Politics, Religion, Entertainment, Business and Sports. </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Going by the form book, I think KKR would win the DLF IPL 2012.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Who is your choice for the IPL 2012 Champions Tag??</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>

IPL 2012 Playoffs and Finals

It is the final week of the DLF IPL 2012 season. After a marathon run of 72 matches played across the length and breadth of India(9 teams pl...

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IPL 2012 Finals

<br /><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border: 1px solid rgb(58, 0, 204); margin: 0px auto 5px; padding: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlChPgxjXB6zPQZsJqeLC7KLkrNSXul0PYtVGx-61-jy9MnjpxetGLCihI_X7eIYIDRBMlAWw6aSkbRgVOBhhBgG0bZoVe7cu7Q07Co39YTM8jOtd7_NDLVb2ZuipPiF6-7I8EA5RkRbtO/s1600/IPL+2012+Finals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #990000; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="IPL 2012 Finals" border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlChPgxjXB6zPQZsJqeLC7KLkrNSXul0PYtVGx-61-jy9MnjpxetGLCihI_X7eIYIDRBMlAWw6aSkbRgVOBhhBgG0bZoVe7cu7Q07Co39YTM8jOtd7_NDLVb2ZuipPiF6-7I8EA5RkRbtO/s320/IPL+2012+Finals.jpg" style="border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" title="IPL 2012 Finals" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px;">IPL 2012 Finals</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">It is a super Sunday for sports today. And few exciting weeks for sports buff ahead. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The Monaco Grand Prix will flag off today at 5.30 PM Indian time. And just as it is about to conclude a hour and a half later, the finals of the IPL 2012 will be underway in Chennai, India. The action will be back to Paris, France tomorrow - for the start of the French Open. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">And a week or so down the line, the best teams in Europe will be pitted against each other in the biggest football tournament in Europe - Euro 2012. And a month from today will see the likes of Federer and Nadal square off against each other on the grass courts of Wimbledon.<br /><br />Back to IPL 2012 Finals. The two best teams of IPL 2012 Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders will be playing against each other at Chepauk, Chennai, India.<br /><br />KKR will be lead by Gautam Gambhir, India's man Friday. CSK will be playing under the uber-cool captain, MSD.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border: 1px solid rgb(58, 0, 204); margin: 0px auto 5px; padding: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu6yIhH4htvKMicBrpwcYKSdrBkiTtyFwEfJWSb0lBX2aawGQ-_XmPs981gPsKKqSC3w_L7RVLkmflz2deIgWRfvmypkcluimJzjZxAX8ZW_QJXSHN_wIBiQc1IP43D3foAdQJjGWPoWRY/s1600/Dhoni+Gambhir+with+IPL+2012+Cup.jpg" style="color: #990000; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Dhoni Gambhir with IPL 2012 Cup" border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu6yIhH4htvKMicBrpwcYKSdrBkiTtyFwEfJWSb0lBX2aawGQ-_XmPs981gPsKKqSC3w_L7RVLkmflz2deIgWRfvmypkcluimJzjZxAX8ZW_QJXSHN_wIBiQc1IP43D3foAdQJjGWPoWRY/s320/Dhoni+Gambhir+with+IPL+2012+Cup.jpg" style="border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" title="Dhoni Gambhir with IPL 2012 Cup" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dhoni Gambhir with IPL 2012 Cup</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">CSK have been riding on a stroke of good luck and awesome power play. They were on the verge off being knocked out of the tournament in the group stages. However, three losses for the three competitors for the last slot of the playoffs meant that they were back in the reckoning.<br /><br />And MSD is a man who loves to grab his chances with both hands. In the first eliminator, CSK overran a pedestrian Mumbai Indian side. Bhajji, Sachin, Powell couldn't fire and CSK was one step away from the finals. In the second eliminator, they took on Delhi Daredevils and overpowered them by a huge margin.<br /><br />People are once again talking about Dhoni's luck. But as they say - Work hard, and you will be lucky. Probably, this is the key behind his success. Nevertheless, they are in the finals - for the 4th time in the 5 editions of the IPL - and start as the favorite to win the cup.<br /><br />Chennai have a superb team - consisting of Albie Morkel, Dwayne Bravo, Ben Hilfenhaus, and Michael Hussey. And if the likes of Raina, Ashwin, Murali Vijay, and Jadeja join the party, it would be a carnival atmosphere on the streets of Chennai tonight. Dhoni's fan following would reach the levels of Rajnikant for all practical purposes.<br /><br />However, his task is not as easy as it seems to be be. CSK would be playing against KKR - led by Gautam Gambhir. Gautam was stripped of his role of the vice captain of India recently. However, with this show, he has shown that he has the mettle to be India's future captain.<br /><br />On a personal note, he has scored a plethora of runs. His team mates too have excelled. Sunil Narine has flummoxed the best of the players, and can win the Purple Cap if he takes 2 more wickets today. It would give him 26 wickets in the entire tournament, a great feat in itself.<br /><br />You have Lee who could fire his missiles at the Chennai batsmen. McCullum would look to repeat his century knock, as he did in the first match of IPL1. Kallis, Balaji, Shakib and Yusuf Pathan also add strength to the team and would play a vital role. Kallis, with all his experience, can take the team past the finish line.<br /><br />All in all, it promises to be an exciting game. With Chennai in the finals, the stands at Chepauk promise to be full (except for the 3 which couldn't get an environmental clearance). Folks across Kolkata and Chennai would have their hearts on the line as their team takes on each other in a battle royale.<br /><br />MSD and GG would be cheered on by their respective ladies, and would be more than eager to do their best. Dhoni would rally his team with his calm demeanor, while Gambhir would lead with his recently seen aggressive style (much acknowledged by MSD).<br /><br />SRK would be making the trip to Chennai with his camp to cheer for his team. KKR were never in the reckoning in the first 4 IPLs. However, SRKs persistence with the team has paid off and the team promises to reward him suitably.<br /><br />On the paper, both teams are equally strong. It would be difficult to separate the two. The bowling for Chennai looks stronger. The batting also looks stronger for Chennai. However, KKR have played like champions all along in the tournament. They entered the playoffs in style, and looked like a composed unit making a move towards the pedestal.<br /><br />With these considerations, in my view, it will be KKR who would triumph tonight at Chennai. Chennai would run them close, and a finish in the last over would be an icing on the IPL 5 cake.<br /><br />Sit back and enjoy the IPL5 2012 finals today. Don't miss any action. It promises to be the best match cricket has seen in recent times. May the best team win.</div><div><br /></div></div>

IPL 2012 Finals

IPL 2012 Finals It is a super Sunday for sports today. And few exciting weeks for sports buff ahead.  The Monaco Grand Prix will flag off to...

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London Olympics 2012 Review

<br /><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;">The showcase event in the world of sports - Olympics 2012 - is drawing to a close in the coming few days. Hosted in London, The London Olympics 2012 has proved to be a phenomenal attraction over the past few weeks - attracting eyeballs and attentions like nothing else.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;">Well, I caught on to the Olympics buzz quite late into the second week - watching it every day from 11 in the night. However, I followed it regularly over the news papers and the internet.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;">Here are some moments from the Olympics which caught my attention this year.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;">Let me start with Michael Phelps of the USA. Michael, the champion swimmer, won a total of 6 medals at London 2012, including 4 golds and 2 silvers. What puts him at the top of the pedestal is the fact that he has won a total of 22 medals at the Olympics, making him the most decorated Olympian of all time.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(58, 0, 204); color: black; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97uTrkPZ2dYFSe8GjBjhhTCmELGbCdJR28k6qu1HjW_M_p12YZ02QIG3wL-79riUEaOFt44iz7IUgReQFbVKfxOvfK21Hodt4V4YWqBPUcJDrPuUpfx_qzhkoWgIxkFMJ2JBu4gfwjA-T/s1600/Michael+Phelps+London+Olympics+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #990000; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Michael Phelps London Olympics 2012" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97uTrkPZ2dYFSe8GjBjhhTCmELGbCdJR28k6qu1HjW_M_p12YZ02QIG3wL-79riUEaOFt44iz7IUgReQFbVKfxOvfK21Hodt4V4YWqBPUcJDrPuUpfx_qzhkoWgIxkFMJ2JBu4gfwjA-T/s320/Michael+Phelps+London+Olympics+2012.jpg" style="border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" title="Michael Phelps London Olympics 2012" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px;">Michael Phelps London Olympics 2012</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;">He retired after London 2012, and he can take happiness from the fact that he gave his best shot at swimming, winning accolades all the way.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;">Next one is known as The Lightning. Yes, I am talking about Usain Bolt of Jamaica. The star sprinter was the defending champion from the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and several questions were raised on his ability to defend his titles in London.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(58, 0, 204); color: black; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2J2LQ7wWOnzD78AJ1uuLW5h6ig4Ec8cifOa5qFCfrVJg4A_65TolKjuKgFwQz5dunJFh-Hm08_uUE3nG4siFc5S-t81HJ3wKXrFgYN4SbcVfmpvlb4gvYCkmBH4w8-PoimHC4LINwLMD/s1600/100m+Dash+Olympics+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #990000; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="100m Dash Olympics 2012" border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2J2LQ7wWOnzD78AJ1uuLW5h6ig4Ec8cifOa5qFCfrVJg4A_65TolKjuKgFwQz5dunJFh-Hm08_uUE3nG4siFc5S-t81HJ3wKXrFgYN4SbcVfmpvlb4gvYCkmBH4w8-PoimHC4LINwLMD/s320/100m+Dash+Olympics+2012.jpg" style="border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" title="100m Dash Olympics 2012" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px;">100m Dash Olympics 2012</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;">However, cometh the day, cometh the man. Usain Bolt ran like a champion when it mattered and won the 100m dash and 200m sprint in style. He celebrated in his customary style on the track after the dash.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(58, 0, 204); color: black; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHF6SiqDZqE-WeSZ5MUs3Kiz4kh71k9s89EoImXsJ1iv-4dT34I6F2kiB_PTc6NMmaWQQgqageor8lZmW3YoTbtb7jLlZXndT9-09rn-GpgzJdIPV80ELYixf-hzDdJXnRttI8JZ8rcsxl/s1600/Usain+Bolt+The+Crowned+King+of+Sprint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #990000; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Usain Bolt The Crowned King of Sprint" border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHF6SiqDZqE-WeSZ5MUs3Kiz4kh71k9s89EoImXsJ1iv-4dT34I6F2kiB_PTc6NMmaWQQgqageor8lZmW3YoTbtb7jLlZXndT9-09rn-GpgzJdIPV80ELYixf-hzDdJXnRttI8JZ8rcsxl/s320/Usain+Bolt+The+Crowned+King+of+Sprint.jpg" style="border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" title="Usain Bolt The Crowned King of Sprint" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Usain Bolt The Crowned King of Sprint</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;">He is the first man to win both the 100m and 200m in back to back Olympics on the track. And if the after hours party with fellow Olympians was anything to go by, Usain would have to be on the moon. </div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(58, 0, 204); color: black; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJuc4xSPcmlNNaF2QSQ7mAt8fFxJ_w_TYSEHKXP0BEJC8YNHoLdZjT7g2k5scO17ZXA0AfCzEx04rTGXZ78MCSAhRWcgegCRygNH53vTwfwUa1ZlmHYv03zUL1w26O9rj6av99YR1q7V2/s1600/Usain+Bolt+Celebrating+Olympic+100m+Win.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #990000; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Usain Bolt Celebrating Olympic 100m Win" border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJuc4xSPcmlNNaF2QSQ7mAt8fFxJ_w_TYSEHKXP0BEJC8YNHoLdZjT7g2k5scO17ZXA0AfCzEx04rTGXZ78MCSAhRWcgegCRygNH53vTwfwUa1ZlmHYv03zUL1w26O9rj6av99YR1q7V2/s320/Usain+Bolt+Celebrating+Olympic+100m+Win.jpg" style="border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" title="Usain Bolt Celebrating Olympic 100m Win" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px;">Usain Bolt Celebrating Olympic 100m Win</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;">With this being just his second Olympics, will he make history 4 years later and be crowned as a triple crown winner?</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;">Let us move onto the Indians. Indian athletes have struggled to win medals at every Olympics, with India ending up with only a medal or two at every Olympics. This time, it was different.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;">At the moment of writing, India has won a total of 5 medals - 1 silver and 4 bronze. It has been a proud moment for Indian sports. Making them proud include Vijay Kumar, who won the lone silver for India in shooting and Mary Kom, who won the bronze in boxing. </div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(58, 0, 204); color: black; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLCLLWP-xHUcpdnG-9vmQo1MhhlB-zseB4Y50Y2Ctt8CJtUUPPoEfIsreR9DjBxDED5rxE9adsNp9f1VyismSnQzUGgq1EtohkPhKuKQOSEdkHP8GhBRnH2mMNcjq0-uvbq1S9X86JHEC/s1600/Vijay+Kumar+Olympics+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #990000; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vijay Kumar Olympics 2012" border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLCLLWP-xHUcpdnG-9vmQo1MhhlB-zseB4Y50Y2Ctt8CJtUUPPoEfIsreR9DjBxDED5rxE9adsNp9f1VyismSnQzUGgq1EtohkPhKuKQOSEdkHP8GhBRnH2mMNcjq0-uvbq1S9X86JHEC/s320/Vijay+Kumar+Olympics+2012.jpg" style="border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" title="Vijay Kumar Olympics 2012" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px;">Vijay Kumar Olympics 2012</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;">Gagan Narang won a bronze in the air rifle event, and Yogeshwar Dutt won a bronze in wrestling. Indian shuttler, Saina Nehwal, did the country proud by winning the bronze medal in Badminton.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(58, 0, 204); color: black; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTM0FkeCrnZcpc7vl1sy86u2lQCe6KrnURtQ4bSGnGiGmBnz4hp4lLPWD_zqPnGnPLywQE6YYDt5cf94zpSuO2rlRkSi74zcIk2To4V5vJNFBgDtqvQ0414YOMythhNOCV7g-qrOuPzc4/s1600/Saina+Nehwal+Bronze+Medal+Olympics+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #990000; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Saina Nehwal Bronze Medal Olympics 2012" border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTM0FkeCrnZcpc7vl1sy86u2lQCe6KrnURtQ4bSGnGiGmBnz4hp4lLPWD_zqPnGnPLywQE6YYDt5cf94zpSuO2rlRkSi74zcIk2To4V5vJNFBgDtqvQ0414YOMythhNOCV7g-qrOuPzc4/s320/Saina+Nehwal+Bronze+Medal+Olympics+2012.jpg" style="border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" title="Saina Nehwal Bronze Medal Olympics 2012" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px;">Saina Nehwal Bronze Medal Olympics 2012</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;">At a time, when the country is struggling with female foeticide, and growning crime against women, Mary and Saina have showcased what a girl can do on the international stage. The women have done the country proud and it's up to us to nurture this talent and make them winners, by giving them adequate opportunities.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;">Moving onto one of the most significant moments of London Olympics 2012. Saudi Arabia, a conservative nation from the Middle East, was not planning to let its women to participate at London 2012. Ultimately, it let two of its gals to participate. And didn't they do the country proud!!</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(58, 0, 204); color: black; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixoyCMr6Pa8MsT4zlKSJo9FOY3ae-Jv6mQemJ_vVABOF5FhdOpvw_TbqJihfst_e6cQNvcjJZ2Apfi2RUAJ7oSauvw1RkjyTlHT_UlsxRWYp0vOIV38_YeaxnHO_zvJ7C2xV8wF7tzk3NR/s1600/Sarah+Attar+Olympics+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #990000; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sarah Attar Olympics 2012" border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixoyCMr6Pa8MsT4zlKSJo9FOY3ae-Jv6mQemJ_vVABOF5FhdOpvw_TbqJihfst_e6cQNvcjJZ2Apfi2RUAJ7oSauvw1RkjyTlHT_UlsxRWYp0vOIV38_YeaxnHO_zvJ7C2xV8wF7tzk3NR/s320/Sarah+Attar+Olympics+2012.jpg" style="border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" title="Sarah Attar Olympics 2012" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px;">Sarah Attar Olympics 2012</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;">Sarah Attar, ran the 800m race, in full clothes - a significant contrast against other runners who ran in shorts and tees. She respected her country's conservative dressing style. She finished last, almost a lap behind the winner. </div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;">However, her determination in running the race and the difficult conditions where she came from, drew a standing ovation from the Olympic goers. I trust this breaks a few mental barriers in the Saudi kingdom and we can see more women athletes from the country in the next Olympics.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;">Moving onto Tennis. Andy Murray, long held as the British hope on the tennis turf, left his Wimbledon disappointment behind to beat Roger Federer and win the Gold Medals in Tennis. Great Britain was ecstatic.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(58, 0, 204); color: black; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDZDwBHZlmpfFWElfGhOjhc000RGzxQUyEP-TffQeClDNG6C7hGrlVym8h7seBw-hRE7VaSWSqKsjrowCbE60YjdiiL8LuU-Xn-tL_yBPXUByoLCFLsJBHB0axc8FpCI0qFqpmHU9Y5e80/s1600/Andy+Murray+Olympics+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #990000; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Andy Murray Olympics 2012" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDZDwBHZlmpfFWElfGhOjhc000RGzxQUyEP-TffQeClDNG6C7hGrlVym8h7seBw-hRE7VaSWSqKsjrowCbE60YjdiiL8LuU-Xn-tL_yBPXUByoLCFLsJBHB0axc8FpCI0qFqpmHU9Y5e80/s320/Andy+Murray+Olympics+2012.jpg" style="border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" title="Andy Murray Olympics 2012" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px;">Andy Murray Olympics 2012</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;">Lastly, it was London, a city which is long considered as a oldest turf of aristocracy and royalty. And the Royal family made its presence. Princess Zara participated in the Equestrian event and won a silver medal. </div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(58, 0, 204); color: black; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGe42wOl4gmG0er9jiJAGsSTLQpJi3g3hEEZkwhsotedGK4sDskxc8q0IONWCzAxHTofCzEQp77Lfv1bekbENfjpoIflUPjJYl5vwSjjmXXU_o5yBAb9V9T9LFaAVRlLCvefyCiaKLPhW/s1600/Zara+Phillips+Olympics+2012.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #990000; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Zara Phillips Olympics 2012" border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGe42wOl4gmG0er9jiJAGsSTLQpJi3g3hEEZkwhsotedGK4sDskxc8q0IONWCzAxHTofCzEQp77Lfv1bekbENfjpoIflUPjJYl5vwSjjmXXU_o5yBAb9V9T9LFaAVRlLCvefyCiaKLPhW/s320/Zara+Phillips+Olympics+2012.jpeg" style="border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" title="Zara Phillips Olympics 2012" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px;">Zara Phillips Olympics 2012</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;">The Royal Family - William, Kate, and Harry - were in full force to cheer for GB across various events.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid rgb(58, 0, 204); color: black; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiJXaYsATujUUplhMjfHBLMopiOR1F_ezwYF4pSC6isKleQFUseOABOcS45Kv-8Z3rAY9LFsd-qsDdlqYKEc2ExbLsyVXsa5Z1WlC5SJfA2WHLsWHdDk73MytL591VXGQRLTo51FJX8r4/s1600/The+Royal+Family+Olympics+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #990000; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Royal Family Olympics 2012" border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiJXaYsATujUUplhMjfHBLMopiOR1F_ezwYF4pSC6isKleQFUseOABOcS45Kv-8Z3rAY9LFsd-qsDdlqYKEc2ExbLsyVXsa5Z1WlC5SJfA2WHLsWHdDk73MytL591VXGQRLTo51FJX8r4/s320/The+Royal+Family+Olympics+2012.jpg" style="border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" title="The Royal Family Olympics 2012" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12px;">The Royal Family Olympics 2012</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;">All in all, it has been a special Olympics. Its great to see that the Olympic spirit living on, a hundred and more years after the start in Greece.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.316667556762695px; text-align: justify;">In 4 years time, Olympics will travel to Rio, Brazil, in South America. And I am assured that once again, the Games will take the spirit of global inclusivity to greater heights.</div><div><br /></div>

London Olympics 2012 Review

The showcase event in the world of sports - Olympics 2012 - is drawing to a close in the coming few days. Hosted in London, The London Olymp...

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