INDIA: CRICKET - Political leaders, Bollywood stars arrive to watch India-Pakistan cricket match in Mohali

Record ID: 1375093

  • Title: INDIA: CRICKET - Political leaders, Bollywood stars arrive to watch India-Pakistan cricket match in Mohali
  • Date: 31st March 2011
  • Summary: MOHALI, INDIA (MARCH 30, 2011) (ANI - NO ACCESS BBC) (PART QUALITY AS INCOMING) INDIA'S MINISTER FOR HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES PRAFUL PATEL COMING OUT OF THE AIRPORT PATEL WALKING TOWARDS CAR (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) INDIA'S MINISTER FOR HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES PRAFUL PATEL SAYING: "India should win, it is a big match for us. We have to win the World Cup as well. We have to go to Mumbai from here and have to defeat Sri Lanka also. This is our aim and that is why we are here to cheer our team. And I know that our flag will fly high." BOLLYWOOD DIRECTOR MADHUR BHANDARKAR ARRIVING (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi / English) BOLLYWOOD DIRECTOR MADHUR BHANDARKAR SAYING: "I am very very happy and the whole country is supporting the team and definitely the Indian team is going to win. We are hopeful that they would win, and that is why probably the whole country is not working. Everyone has got a holiday and I am very happy that we have come over here to cheer up India. I'm sure it will be a great win." INTERNATIONAL CRICKET COUNCIL PRESIDENT SHARAD PAWAR COMING OUT OF THE AIRPORT PAWAR STANDING SECURITY PERSONNEL OUTSIDE THE AIRPORT CHAIRMAN OF KINGFISHER AIRLINES VIJAY MALLYA COMING OUT OF THE AIRPORT CARS LEAVING AIRPORT BOLLYWOOD ACTOR VIVEK OBEROI COMING OUT OF AIRPORT WITH HIS WIFE SECURITY PERSONNEL OUTSIDE THE PUNJAB CRICKET ASSOCIATION STADIUM GROUP OF SECURITY PERSONNEL POLICE OFFICER WALKING WITH A SNIFFER DOG GROUP OF CRICKET FANS DRESSED UP AS MYTHICAL CHARACTERS GROUP OF CRICKET FANS STANDING (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) CRICKET FAN RAJU SETHI SAYING: "Thousands of people across India are praying for the victory of India. So, that is why Lord Ram has sent me to bring victory to India. And he has asked me to support the fans who have come here to watch the match." CRICKET FANS SITTING OUTSIDE THE STADIUM POLICEMAN STANDING CRICKET FANS CHEERING
  • Embargoed: 15th April 2011 03:31
  • Keywords:
  • Location: India, India
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVABBKUZ02LK54JSGQ0DF5GR9BHG
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Some of the biggest names in Bollywood joined political heavyweights in Mohali on Wednesday (March 30) for India's World Cup semi final against Pakistan.
    International Cricket Council (ICC) President Sharad Pawar, Vijay Mallya, chairman of Kingfisher Airlines, and Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi were among those to arrive at Chandigarh Airport.
    "India should win, it is a big match for us," said Praful Patel, India's federal Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.
    "We have to win the World Cup as well. We have to go to Mumbai from here and have to defeat Sri Lanka also. This is our aim and that is why we are here to cheer our team. And I know that our flag will fly high."
    Bollywood director Madhur Bhandarkar added the support of India's huge population would inspire the hosts to victory.
    "I am very very happy and the whole country is supporting the team and definitely the Indian team is going to win," Bhandarkar said.
    "We are hopeful that they would win, and that is why probably the whole country is not working. Everyone has got a holiday and I am very happy that we have come over here to cheer up India. I'm sure it will be a great win."
    Police vans and beaconed vehicles patrolled the roads, which were still glistening from Tuesday (March 29) night's sporadic drizzle but nothing could dampen the spirits of the residents in the tiny north Indian town thrust under the global spotlight.
    An unprecedented security blanket has been thrown in and around the stadium with state and central security agencies joining hands to make sure the match, featuring two nuclear-armed neighbours suspicious of each other, passes without any untoward incident.
    Thousands of cricket fans from Pakistan had reached the city to watch the most awaited match of the tournament.
    Amid all these developments, a good number of Indian cricket fans in the garb of mythological characters from Indian scriptures, arrived at the stadium ushering good luck for the Indian team.
    "Thousands of people across India are praying for the victory of India. So, that is why Lord Ram has sent me to bring victory to India. And he has asked me to support the fans who have come here to watch the match," said Raju Sethi, a cricket fan.
    The high-profile match at the 28,000-seater Punjab Cricket Association Stadium has drawn, among others, Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan, numerous politicians, industrialists and celebrities.
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register