Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Chopsticks in Manipur

T
he move to ban Hindi films and serials in Manipur has had an unexpected consequence: the Koreans have moved in.

Manisha Koirala looked resplendent in a white kurta and an angelic smile, her orange dupatta flying as she swung back and forth to the tune of “Pyar hua chupke se”. The scene is from 1942: A Love Story, the last Hindi film I remember watching on the big screen in Manipur. That day my friends and I had skipped school, where I usually sat comfortably in the back row; in the theatre, sitting in the front row and watching Manisha tower over us, was painful on the neck. But who could have known that this was to be the last Bollywood-induced neck strain I was to feel in Manipur?

This was back in 1995, at a time when the cinema halls in Manipur showed mostly Bollywood and a few Hollywood films. A Manipuri film was also released around that time, Madhabee, and became a big hit. Yet the vast majority of the time it was posters of Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Raveena Tandon, with an occasional Sylvester Stallone or Arnold Schwarzenegger, that occupied the hoardings and public walls. Over the following decade, however, the Bollywood posters slowly began to vanish, followed by the Hollywood posters. The last I heard about a Hindi film being shown in a Manipur theatre was Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, in 1999.

The following year, in September 2000, a separatist group known as the Revolutionary People’s Front banned the screening of Hindi films in the state, along with the distribution of all Hindi satellite channels. Terming Hindi films to be a form of cultural imperialism, the group said that Bollywood was undermining the culture of Manipur. Soon there was no trace of Hindi films, television serials, song sequences or even songs on radio stations in Manipur. Except for the government-controlled Doordarshan, all satellite channels broadcasting Hindi films and Hindi serials quickly disappeared.

The ban had a significant immediate impact on the local culture, at least that which had sprung up in recent decades. During Holi in Manipur, where it is celebrated over five days, the final day’s chitrahaar had always been a wildly popular event, at which the youth would dance to current hit Hindi songs. (Many years back, my brother met his soon-to-be wife at such a festivity, while she was dancing to “Mere haathon mei nau nau churiya”.) At this event during the years after the ban took hold, the vacuum was temporarily filled by songs in South Indian languages, as well as Bengali, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, etc. On television, too, serials and whole channels in these languages were briefly screened. But these proved unable to sustain the interest of the Manipuri audience.

Today, some of this vacuum has been filled by the digital film industry. This has allowed a new, local industry to evolve by taking advantage of the low cost of producing digital films, giving rise to such stars as Sadananda, Kaiku, Kamala, Maya Choudhuri and Olen. One might have though that Manipuri culture had been put on a firm footing, but, in fact, a whole new media – and cultural – invasion was waiting to take place.
Arirang Imperialism

The primary source of entertainment – television – took a long while looking for a replacement. Eventually, this void was energetically filled by a Korean satellite channel, Arirang TV. Indeed, the public response to Arirang soon grew to be a true craze, as the 1990s popular fixations with the Ramayana and Mahabharata were soon replaced by Korean serials. To this day, every weekday night, Manipuris all over the state sit at home, glued to Korean serials and films such as My Sassy Girl, The Classic, Moments to Remember, Full House and the like – films and serials that come with English subtitles, and have simple and easy-to-understand plot lines. When my nephew was barely two years old, he picked up a word from one of these serials, which was about kings and warriors. Every time he wanted something, he would say “San-ga-mama”, Korean for Your Majesty.

Understandably, the serials have led to significant and multiple impacts on the daily lives of Manipuris, to the extent that the ‘cultural imperialism’ argument that initially led to the banning of Hindi entertainment looks even more pertinent today. This starts on the mornings following certain serials, when related discussions continue on whom the good-looking doctor should marry, for instance, or whether a long-ailing character will die. An interesting process of identification has also taken place, with many noting that Korean traits seem similar to those of Manipur; today, there is a clear trend towards eating with chopsticks from bowls. Likewise, excitement ripples through the room any time Korean actors display a manner or expression that seems familiar. Given that the channel also airs lessons on the Korean language, many people have even started using snatches of Korean on the streets. It has become quite commonplace for young girls to gossip openly in Korean – though not fluent, they are thus able to communicate with a level of secrecy. It has also become fashionable to greet or thank someone in Korean.

Youngsters have begun to look up to Korean actors as role models. Many find it easier, and more sensible, to fashion their looks on the Mongoloid features of a Korean actor, rather than to try to emulate a Deepika Padukone or a Saif Ali Khan; it has proven far easier to look like the Korean actress Jang Nara than Kareena Kapoor. In addition, today no upwardly mobile young girl would be seen wearing a salwaar-kameez, preferring instead trendy skirts and dresses. Similarly, older sections of the society have found Korean mannerisms to be far closer to their own than the bejewelled kanjeevaram-clad daughters-in-law and mothers-in-law engaged in family duels in the popular saas-bahu soaps. Meanwhile, young crowds have begun to find the Manipuri films’ aping of Hindi films to be less than attractive. The impact of Korean fashion has truly transformed the way that young Manipuris dress and style their hair – to the point that many youths look surprisingly similar, and Korean! There have also been noticeable changes in body language, and there is a casual flirtatiousness among youth never seen on Manipur streets, even a decade ago.

All of this has evolved into a way of being hip and fashionable without getting on the wrong side of the rebels who manage Manipur’s parallel governance structures. This has given the people a sense of freedom to aspire for something without feeling as though they are inviting trouble. Indeed, for a society that has long been marked by suppression (and a lack of entertainment), coupled with having had to pay a heavy price due to the ongoing violence, the outlet created by the ‘Korean wave’ seems to have offered a much-needed distraction.

For now, the ironies seem to be accepted with an amused detachment, in a state that had long forgotten the term ‘normalcy’. In the midst of continuing daily killings, extortion, protests, failed infrastructure and ill-maintained law and order, the new generation is studiously identifying itself with a country that is both developed and peaceful. Whether positive or negative, this dramatic sea change in ‘local culture’ has certainly forced Manipuris living outside of the state to work hard to catch up with the new face of the hip crowd.

No question of returning to BJP: Jaswant

N
o signs of any thaw in the freeze between BJP and the man it expelled earlier this month, Jaswant Singh.

Singh has categorically refused to resign as the Chairman of the Political Accounts Committee (PAC) in Parliament. The request was made to Singh by Sushma Swaraj on Monday in a meeting at his house. The BJP claims that this prestigious position belongs to the opposition party. Since Singh is now an independent MP, it wants him to surrender the position. Singh says only the Speaker of the Lok Sabha can ask him to resign.

"The decision is that of Speaker, not of political party," he said.

Technically, he's correct. The Speaker alone has the right to remove him, and for that, it would have to be proved that Singh had failed to perform his duties as chairman of the PAC.

As for whether there's any chance of a reconciliation with the party he served for 30 years, Singh says, "That door is closed. There is no intention of going back".

Singh was expelled by the BJP for his controversial book in which he praises Mohammed Ali Jinnah. The book has been banned in Gujarat by Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

"I don't know whether Gujarat government read the book. I would have liked senior most leader of party Lal Krishna Advani and party president Rajnath Singh discussed the book," said Jaswant.

"The ban amounts to curbing my Freedom of Expression," he added.

Singh has appealed against the ban in the Supreme Court. The Gujarat government has been asked to explain its stand on the September 8.

Pak official suspended for writing love letter to minister

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Pakistani official has been suspended from service for writing a love letter in blood to a minister in the southern Sindh province and harassing her.

Iliyas Hulio, an official from the horticulture department in Sindh, wrote the love letter and sent around 100 emails to provincial Minister Sassui Palijo, who belongs to President Asif Ali Zardari's Pakistan People's Party.

After receiving a complaint from Palijo, the horticulture department conducted an inquiry, during which Hulio confessed writing the letter and emails to the minister, a TV news channel reported.

Singur cost us Rs 500 crore: Tata

T
ata Group chairman Ratan Tata says the failed Nano plant at Singur cost him about 500 crore rupees, but he's willing to return the land if the government compensates Tata Motors.

Tata is in Kolkata where he has sought an appointment with West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and state Commerce and Industry Minister Nirupam Sen to discuss the Singur issue.

"I have sought an appointment for a courtesy call with two leaders I have great respect for," he said.

Tata said he had no plans to invest in Singur, but was open to any plan from the government. "We have no plans for Singur but will cooperate with the government if they have a plan that makes sense to the government and us. We do not wish to sit on the land."

"West Bengal remains in our heart. One incident or one year does not matter in the life of a corporation," he said.

At Tata Motors' annual general meeting in Mumbai recently, Tata had said that he could return to Singur if the situation improved.

Today's declaration puts to rest recent speculation about the possibility of Tata reviving the project in future.

However, when reminded of Mamata Banerjee's demand to return the Singur land, he retorted, "but it is not her land".

It may be recalled that Tata Motors exited Singur last October after a fierce agitation by Mamata Banerjee over compensation for farmers. The company relocated the Nano project to Sanand in Gujarat. But it had already invested around Rs 1500 crore in the plant.

The overall investment was Rs 1700 crore. Much of it has been recovered. The 'sunk' cost is estimated to be about Rs 500 crore.

Phoenix pastor who prays for Obama’s death faces flak

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ASHINGTON - Protestors have started voicing their opposition outside the congregation of a Phoenix-based pastor, who tells his parishioners that he prays for President Obama’s death.

Phoenix-based Pastor Steven Anderson attracted widespread attention after he delivered a sermon titled, “Why I Hate Barack Obama,” and encouraged his parishioners to join him in praying for the president’s death.

“I hope that God strikes Barack Obama with brain cancer so he can die like Ted Kennedy and I hope it happens today,” Fox News quoted him, as saying.

He called his message “spiritual warfare” and said he does not condone killing.

However, some protesters gathered around his church on Sunday, calling Anderson’s words “incomprehensible.”

According to the report, Anderson has also received some death threats.

Anderson’s provocative message stems from Obama’s abortion-rights stance.

In his controversial sermon, delivered at his Faithful Word Baptist Church in Tempe before Obama arrived for a speech in Phoenix earlier in the month, the pastor had said he wants the president to “melt like a snail” with salt on it.

“I’m gonna pray that he dies and goes to hell when I go to bed tonight. That’s what I’m gonna pray,” he told his congregation.

The last time fierce opposition to Obama’s abortion position drew widespread attention was when Obama delivered the commencement address at the University of Notre Dame, the report said.

The Anderson sermon was also in news after it was reported that one man carrying an assault rifle outside the Phoenix arena where Obama spoke was a member of Anderson’s church, the report added. (ANI)

India concerned over Pak modifying Harpoon missiles

I
ndia on Monday expressed concern over Pakistan illegally modifying U.S.-supplied Harpoon anti-ship missiles to hit land-based targets, saying this was “against India’s national interest.” Outgoing Navy chief Admiral Suresh Mehta on Monday expressed concern over the reports of Pakistan modifying a US missile to target India. Talking to reporters outdisde his office on Monday, Mehta, wjho retired on Monday said the modification of the Harpoon missile has nothing to do with self defence and is against India’s national interestA U.S. media report on Sunday said that Pakistan had illegally modified the Harpoon missiles to allow them strike land-based targets, making them a potential threat to India. Mehta and Navy Chief designate Nirmal Verma attended the handing over parade ahead of Verma taking charge. Mehta while addressing the gathering said that eastern and western navy fleet have recently participated in several overseas exercises, which in turn helps in improving the image of the country.

Arunachal to go on polls on October 13

T
he poll process for the elections to the 60-member Arunacha assembly began on Monday with the announcement of the poll dates on Monday. The polls to the 60-member Arunachal Pradesh assembly will be held on October 13 along with two other states-Haryana and Maharashtra. The counting will be held on October 22. Three states will go into Assembly election on October 13 this year after either their term expired or the legislative bodies were dissolved by the government there. Elections will be held in all the three states on October 13. Filing of nomination papers in all three states will begin on September 18 and the last date of filing nominations will be September 25. Nominations can be withdrawn till September 29. Counting of votes will take place on October 22. The state has a total of 7 lakh 50 thousand 575 electorates of which 82.42 per cent are Epic holders. The elections wull held in 2061 polling stations across the 60 constituencies of the state. Altogether The Election Commission's model code of conduct has now come into force in the three states. The Commission also announced that special instructions have been passed on for facilitating conditions for physically challenged voters. Despite the ongoing controversy over Electronic Voting Machines, the same will be used for casting vote in all three states. Video cameras will be placed in sensitive polling booths. These elections are important, as it would be the first major test of the popularity of the second United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government which completed its 100 days in power last week. The Congress is in power in all three states which where elections are scheduled. Rising food prices and drought remain as main issues before the electorate.

India diarrhoea outbreak kills 26

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n outbreak of diarrhoea in the eastern Indian state of Orissa has claimed 26 lives, a state minister has said.

The deaths have been reported in several villages in Kalahandi district, Health Minister Prasanna Acharya said.

Local newspapers put the death toll at 38. Health officials say 237 people suffering from the disease have been admitted to hospitals.

Diarrhoea is a major killer in the world and is thought to be responsible for around 4% of all deaths.

Remote villages

A team of doctors from the federal National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) has travelled to the affected villages and begun an investigation into the causes of the outbreak.
Consumption of contaminated water and rotting food by local people may have led to the deaths, health officials say.

Doctors and paramedics are struggling to reach the remote villages, often having to walk five to seven kilometres in the absence of any roads.


Health Minister Prasanna Acharya said 100 doctors travelling in mobile medical vans had been deployed to fight the outbreak.

There is an acute shortage of doctors in Kalahandi district - against the government-sanctioned 173 doctors in local hospitals, only 101 have been employed.

Many doctors are unwilling to serve in remote areas in India.

Kalahandi is one of the poorest parts of India and hunger and starvation deaths have been reported from this district in the past.

Drinking water here often comes from waterfalls and drains, which are usually contaminated.

More than 100 people died in a major outbreak of cholera two years ago in the Kalahandi, Bolangir and Koraput districts of Orissa.

Award for jailed S Lankan editor

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Sri Lankan Tamil journalist sentenced to 20 years in prison on Monday has now been given an award for courageous and ethical journalism.

JS Tissainayagam has been named the first recipient of the Peter Mackler Award by the Paris-based group Reporters Without Borders.

He was found guilty of "causing communal disharmony".

Mr Tissainayagam was arrested in 2008 and charged with inciting violence in articles in his magazine.

He was also accused of receiving funds from Tamil Tiger rebels. He has denied supporting violence.

The world's largest organisation of journalists, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), has condemned the judgement - which also sentences Mr Tissainayagam to hard labour while in prison - and described it as "disproportionate, brutal and inhumane".


The Tamil journalist has already been in detention for a year-and-a-half and was one of a handful of journalists mentioned in May by US President Barack Obama, who called them "emblematic examples" of reporters jailed for their work.

The Sri Lankan government said Mr Obama had been misinformed.

The case of JS Tissainayagam has received widespread attention in Sri Lanka, and international rights group have been campaigning for his release - they say Sri Lanka is using anti-terror laws to silence peaceful critics.

Indian swine flu deaths top 100

T
he number of people to die of swine flu in India has crossed 100, health officials say.

The new deaths have been reported from the states of Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and the worst-hit Maharashtra state.

Deaths have now been reported in at least eight Indian cities, with the death toll highest in the city of Pune.

There are nearly 4,000 cases of the H1N1 virus in India. Some schools have closed temporarily because of the outbreak of the disease.

Reports say some 15 patients are undergoing treatment for the flu in various hospitals in Pune, where 31 people have died of the infection.

Maharashtra state has recorded the highest number of deaths (48) followed by Tamil Nadu (15) and capital Delhi (12), the reports say.

Last month, colleges and cinemas in Mumbai were temporarily closed because of fears about the spread of flu.

The virus is thought to have killed more than 1,700 people around the world.


The swine flu (H1N1) virus first emerged in Mexico in April and has since spread to many countries.

Many of India's confirmed cases of swine flu have been among people who have returned from overseas travel.

Passenger screening has been introduced across India's main 22 international airports.

Tripura editors agitate against low ad rates, arrested

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GARTALA: Editors of all newspapers published from Tripura were arrested on Monday for staging a demonstration in front of the Assembly. They
were seeking a change in the advertisement guidelines introduced by the state government in 2009.

No sooner had the House begun its business for the first day of its monsoon session than the editors and newspaper executives, under the banner of the Tripura Newspaper Society (TNS), gathered outside it and started shouting slogans against the advertisement guidelines, which they described as "anti-media".

The editors were later sent to court, which granted them bail. This was for the first time that editors were arrested in the Communist-ruled state.

The new guidelines that came into effect from January 1 curtailed 40 per cent of advertisements to newspapers. TNS officials claimed that advertisement rates in Tripura were perhaps the lowest in the country. "In Assam, the highest rate is Rs 139 per column cm, while in Tripura it's only Rs 22," said Arun Nath, editor of a local daily and secretary of the TNS.

He said, "In the absence of industries and corporate sectors in Tripura, newspapers both dailies and weeklies depend heavily on government advertisements. But with the new guidelines, the government wants to curtail the flow of advertisements to newspapers. This will severely affect the revenue and thousands of families who are dependent on the newspaper industry."

The arrests of the editors caused ruffles in the media circles. Many of their colleagues were seen gathering at the West Agartala police station where a group of Congress MLAs went to meet them. In the second half of the session, the Congress raised the issue in the Assembly and staged a walk-out.

N-E shaken by third tremor in 20 days

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UWAHATI: A moderate earthquake shook the North-East early on Monday, around 12.58 am, to be precise. Though no damage has been reported so far,
seismologists warned that a high-intensity tremor may jolt Guwahati anytime. Incidentally, this is the third tremor in 20 days.

"Three tremors in such a short span of time is really a matter of concern. We are sitting on such a seismically sensitive zone that a high-intensity quake may hit the region any moment. I'm really worried," said Basab Das, a Guwahati resident.

According to the Central Seismological Observatory in Shillong, Monday's quake measured 5.3 on Richter Scale with its epicentre at 25.4?N latitude and 94.8?E longitude along the Manipur-Nagaland-Myanmar border. The entire North-East is in the seismically active zone V, making it one of the most earthquake-prone areas in the world.

On August 19, an earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter Scale had rocked parts of the North-East. The epicentre of the quake was located at Sonitpur in Assam between 26.6?N latitude and 92.5?E longitude. Another quake measuring 5.6 on the Richter Scale was recorded on August 12. This quake had its epicentre along the India-Myanmar border in Manipur.

The last time Assam experienced high-intensity quakes were in 1950 and 1897. These two earthquakes have caused major topographical changes, including a diversion in the course of some major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, in the state.

The Chandobi Lake near the city still stands testimony to the trail of the 1897 devastation. In R D Odham's memoirs of The Geological Survey of India, it is stated that, "At about quarter past five in the afternoon of 12th June, 1897, there burst on the Western portion of Assam an earthquake which for violence and extent has not been surpassed by any of which we have in historic record. Lasting about two and a half minutes, it had not ceased Shillong before an area of 150,000 square miles had been laid in ruins, all means of communications interrupted, the hills rent and cast down in landslips, and plains fissured and riddled with vents, from which sand and water poured in most astounding quantities......."

However, in both 1897 and 1950, human casualty and damage to property were less owing to a sparser population and the virtual absence of high-rises. Seismologists warned that if an earthquake of high magnitude strike now, the human casualty figure would be much higher as the population has increased manifold in comparison to 1897 and 1950.

Last year's seismic risk assessment under the microzonation studies in the icty had found its western part to be a seismically active zone. The study had been carried out with the involvement of multiple agencies, including Geological Survey of India, Central Ground Water Board, IIT-Roorkee, IIT-Kharagpur, and IIT-Guwahati among other. The report had been prepared after five years of extensive scientific investigation. The city's seismically high-hazard zone covers Lachitpur, Teteliya, Mirzapur, and Dekapara areas, including the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport.

Orphaned in wilderness

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UWAHATI: It's always the children who bear the wrath of conflict, whether it's human or animal strife. Just as decades of insurgency have
orphaned thousands of kids
in terror-riddled Assam, relentless human-tusker conflicts have also taken a steady toll on the live of wild pachyderms, leaving behind scores of their young ones alone and vulnerable in the process.

Many of these calves have had to be rescued by human intervention. Though the number of orphaned elephant calves is comparatively lower than human children left parentless in the state, experts said the increasing number of unsheltered calves indicate that the man-animal strife has taken a viscious turn. According to Assam Police's welfare project "Aashwas" for militancy-hit children, 2206 civilians have been killed by different armed outfits in the state in the past ten years, which had left in its wake over 1200 orphaned children.

As for the tusker count, a study by B Choudhury, A Talukdar, P K Boro and R Barman of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) showed that 55 elephant calves had to be rescued between 2000 and January 2009. These calves had been orphaned and had to be rescued by WTI, IFAW and the forest department, mainly from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

However, according to the study, 85.5 per cent of these calves were from Assam, with nearly 84 per cent not even a year old and 60 per cent being male calves. WTI's P K Boro said that two more calves had been recently rescued from Mariani in Jorhat district and Burapahar in Nagaon.

The maximum number of orphaned calves has been reported from the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong-Intaki elephant reserves in Golaghat district, followed by Sonitpur-Kameng elephant reserves in Sonitpur. Golaghat and Sonitpur are the two main spheres of human-elephant conflict in the state.

"The rising number of orphaned elephant calves are a clear indication to how serious the conflict has become in the state. Most of the orphaned cases can be attributed to the man-tusker strife. The number of orphaned calves have increased between September and December," Boro added.

Experts said the number of orphans become higher between September and December, mainly because the conflict intensifies during the crop harvesting season around this time. They said the figure of orphaned calves would be higher if the entire state's figure is taken into account.

"Those orphaned are mostly saved by human intervention. But, in many cases, the young ones are even mercilessly killed by irate mobs. Last year, a barely three-month-old elephant calf was burnt to death in Bargaon area of Biswanath Chariali in Sonitpur district," Boro said, adding that the other reasons for the calves being orphaned were separation from the main herd, getting injured or being left behind during the floods by parent herds, in their hurry to reach higher ground.

Fashion designer Anand Jon sentenced to 59 years in jail

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os Angeles, Sept 1 (PTI) Celebrity Indian-American fashion designer Anand Jon was today sentenced to 59 years in prison by a court here for sexually assaulting aspiring models.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Wesley announced the judgement following a day-long passionate argument by 35-year-old Jon himself seeking a fresh trial.

In his ruling, Wesley said there were no new grounds for granting such a motion.

Jon showed no reaction as Judge Wesley said he should be incarcerated as long as possible for preying upon young girls and women.

Jon was convicted in November of 14 counts including forcible rape.

Wesley said Jon must serve 14 years in state prison -- before he begins to serve a 45-year-to-life sentence. He was denied bail while he prepares his appeal. Soon thereafter Jon was immediately remanded to the custody of the state Department of Corrections.

India beat Syria to win Nehru Cup tournament

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ew Delhi, Aug 31(ANI): Defending champion India beat Syria by 5-4 in a penalty shootout in a thrilling final match to win the ONGC Nehru Cup football tournament held at the Ambedkar Stadium here on Monday.



The win came after a nail-biting finish as no goals could be scored in the normal time, and had to be decided on penalty shoots, where India missed just two shots, while Syria missed three of the seven shots.



Goalkeeper Subroto Paul was awarded the man of the match for his superb performance in the match.



Led by its star striker Bhaichung Bhutia, India entered the third consecutive final of the Nehru Cup and anticipations were high, as they had defeated Syria in the 2007 final.



Indian team had strikers in the form of Bhutia and Sunil Chettri, while Anthony Pereira, N.P. Pradeep, Climax Lawrence and Steven Dias handled midfield.



Defence was well held by Mahesh Gawli, Anwar, Gourmangi Singh and Surkumar Singh.



The tournament had been quite difficult for the home team, as they had won two and lost two league matches, including one against Syria. On the other hand Syria, with a strong defence, had won all their league matches. (ANI)