The age-old problem of a different kind

It may be the GenNext age, but there remain age limits to most things, still. Haya Samir Jumaa was the United Arab Emirates 8216; entry in the karate events here.

It may be the GenNext age, but there remain age limits to most things, still. Haya Samir Jumaa was the United Arab Emirates 8216; entry in the karate events here. She was opening in the women8217;s individual kata quarter finals, versus Sulochana Sijakhwah of Nepal and lost, when officials stepped in. No, they said, she can go. Why because this is karate, and she is just 13!

Jumaa turned 13 in November, but as per Doha 2006 karate contest rules 8212; thse have been set by the Asian Karate Federation 8212; competitors must be 16 or older. So Jumaa was disqualified. Officials aren8217;t worried over all this. 8220;It happens all the time,8221; one official said.

Jumaa has already participated in several events internationally, including Asian Karate Championships where she has reached the quarter finals. That shows the world is getting younger.

Catching up

8226; Qatar is rich. But when it comes to awarding its gold medal winners, India can compete, sort of. Qatari gold medal winners have been presented with bonus cheques of 100,000 riyals approximately Rs 12 lakh each, 50,000 riyals for silver and 20,000 riyals for bronze winners by Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed Al-Thani, chief executive officer of Qatar Telecom, the country8217;s official telecommunications giant.

The Indian numbers compared to these are Rs 10 lakh for gold, Rs 5 lakh for silver and Rs 3 lakh for bronze. The difference, though, is in the fact that while some Indian medal winners still wait for their reward money, here the appreciation is instant. More winners will be presented during the Games, it has been said. No wonder, the common refrain is: 8220;Inshallah, we will work hard to get better results.8221; Qatar8217;s economy is booming. Some time back, all government employees were given up to 40 per cent pay hikes. Just like that!

What goes around8230;

8226; There seems to be another similarity in the two countries 8212; contractors. Are they the same all over? Some brick-laid roads at Doha8217;s pride, The Sport City, have already started breaking up under the wheels of heavy buses and trucks. There was obviously less than total honesty in the way the laying process was carried out 8212; albeit a bit of a hurry in the late stages 8212; that now sees many of the roads just cave in under the heavy tyres.

The pressure is transmitted laterally and while you can find a mid-section depressed, there will be a corresponding raised edge. That looks bad in the classy surroundings, and it8217;s pretty dangerous too. Probably, the disaster tab is going to be picked up by some, or they just might want to relay the entire long stretch.