Untold story

Sehwag’s biography

In times when fame comes fast and furious, biographies can’t wait till the age of retirement. And, in the order of things, Virender Sehwag, barely five years into international cricket, now has one to his name. Simply titled, The Virender Sehwag Story, — launched at a five star hotel in New Delhi on Friday — has been penned by Vijay Lokapally, The Hindu's senior cricket correspondent. Says the writer, who has watched the Nawab of Najafgarh evolve from a callow, hard-hitting club cricketer to one of the most destructive batsmen in the game, 'Some of his teammates have let success go to their head. But Sehwag has his feet firmly on the ground.' Any guesses who has written the foreword? Well, his initials are SG. And he lives in Calcutta.

 

 

Papa I’m gonna bare it

For teens raring to join a nudist camp in Virginia, US, it’s time to run for cover. It was the court that played spoilsport, with a federal judge ruling last week that every participant at the local camp would have to be accompanied by a guardian. This year was to be the second edition of the event after a successful stint last summer. But the state’s General Assembly got cold feet when it got wind of the camp’s popularity last year. The Assembly passed a law this July forbidding youngsters from joining such camps if they were unaccompanied. Camp supporters screamed ‘rights to privacy’ and moved court against the law, but to no avail. After the ruling, kids might have to wait a bit longer for the fun and games to begin.

You probably remember him playing Prince Charming opposite Jennifer Lopez in Maid in Manhattan, but Ralph Fiennes is all set to play Lord Voldemort in the fourth movie instalment of Harry Potter. He must not be named anymore...

Stammer cure

Stammering adolescents, take heart. British scientists have designed an Internet-based library which has over a hundred different speech recordings taken over the past decade. Researchers think that the library will go a long way in helping to find a cure for the speech impediment.

Soaring high

Mohini Bhardwaj

Her pictures have started making it to the sports pages, and be sure you’ll hear more of Mohini Bhardwaj in the coming days. This girl, born of an Indian father and a Russian mother, has been named the captain of the women’s gymnastics team of the US Olympic squad. Her story is topsy-turvy — she failed to break into the 1996 team and an injury in 2002 almost ended her career. But she fought back, studying for a double degree in sociology and history, working as a waitress at bars and pizza joints. With her training funded by Baybabe Pamela Anderson, Mohini is ready for a shot at the gold at Athens. Three cheers to that!

AWARD OF THE WEEK

Goes to the students of Sainik School in Balachadi, Gujarat. The school has received an award from the President for showing outstanding computer literacy in the state.