General Awareness Updates

Tendulkar conferred with Order of Australia

Veteran cricketer Sachin Tendulkar was conferred with the membership of the Order of Australia (AM) for his service to India-Australia relations by promoting goodwill, friendship and sportsmanship through the sport.

The award was conferred on the 39-year-old master batsman by the Australian Arts Minister Simon Crean in Mumbai. He was presented with a medal and a cricket stump. Mr Tendulkar became only the second Indian after former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee to get the honour. Mr Sorabjee was made an Honorary Member of the Order of Australia (AM) “for service to Australia-India bilateral legal relations” in 2006.

Mr Tendulkar is the fourth non-Australian cricketer to be made an Order of Australia AM, the other three being West Indian legends – Brian Lara (2009), Sir Garfield Sobers (2003), and Clive Lloyd (1985).

Mr Crean said Tendulkar deserved the honour. “From the heart of the game in London to the streets of Mumbai and throughout the world, cricket unites people from many cultures. Cricket is Australia’s national game and one that we share a great love of with India. Our two countries embrace the game like nowhere else. Today I am proud to have this opportunity to honour a great sportsman, a great cricketer, a philanthropist, and someone who has inspired a generation Sachin Tendulkar,” Mr Crean said.

Sun TV Network has won the Hyderabad franchise of the Indian Premier League for an amount of `85.05 crore per year, putting an end to the process of finding a new team in the wake of the controversial termination of cash-strapped Deccan Chargers.

The BCCI had floated the tenders for a new IPL franchise after terminating Deccan Chargers’ contract on 15^thSeptember but the team owners Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited (DCHL) had challenged it at the Bombay High Court. The HC had ruled in favour of the BCCI after Deccan Chargers Holdings Limited failed to furnish bank guarantee of `100 crore by October 12 deadline. Later, an arbitrator had ordered for status quo but the High Court again ruled in favour of the Board. DCHL then approached the Supreme Court which, however, declined on 19^th October to interfere with the High Court decision which had set aside the status quo order passed by the arbitrator.

BADMINTON

Saina Nehwal came up with a near flawless performance to notch up an impressive 21-17, 21-8 win over Juliane Schenk of Germany in the 35-minute final of the Denmark Super Series badminton championship. With this victory, Saina has retained the 3rd position in the World Badminton Rankings.

MOTORRACING

Korean Grand Prix, Yeongam

Winner: Sebastian Vettel (Germany/Red Bull-Renault)

Second: Mark Webber (Australia/Red Bull-Renault)

Third: Fernando Alonso (Spain / Ferrari)

Indian Grand Prix, Greater Noida

Winner: Sebastian Vettel (Germany/Red Bull-Renault)

Second: Fernando Alonso (Spain/Ferrari)

Third: Mark Webber (Australia/Red Bull-Renault)

TENNIS

BNP Paribas Luxembourg Open

Winner: Venus Williams (U.S.)

Runner-up: Monica Niculescu (Romania)

Kremlin Open

Men’s Winner: Andreas Seppi (Italy)

Runner-up: Thomaz Bellucci (Brazil)

Women’s Winner: Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark)

Runner-up: Samantha Stosur (Australia)

Swiss Indoors

Winner: Juan Martin del Potro (Argentina)

Runner-up: Roger Federer (Switzerland)