CELEBRATE 5 YEARS OF EBTC IN BRUSSELS !

A GREEN FUTURE FOR CLEANTECH IN INDIA   7th November 2013, Brussels   Dear Sir / Madam,   5 years have passed since the establishment of the European Business and Technology Centre (EBTC), which makes it the right moment to organise the first public conference in Brussels dedicated to cleantech in India in the 5 year history of EBTC, to share the achievements reached during this period, and plan for the future. We would like to take this opportunity to invite you, as well as your colleagues, to a conference on ‘A Green Future for Cleantech in India’ to be held in Brussels on the afternoon of Thursday 7th November. There will be speakers and over 50 participants from different Directorates-General of the European Commission, EU Member State Representations and the European business as well as research communities, including several of EBTC’s partner organisations.  The conference is free of charge, and to register, please RSVP by Monday 28th October at the latest toebtc@eurochambres.eu, mentioning your name, your organisation and the title of the event you wish to attend. ‘A GREEN FUTURE FOR CLEANTECH IN INDIA’ 3.30pm Registration and welcome coffee  [Renaissance Brussels Hotel] 4.00pm Welcome address  –  Arnaldo ABRUZZINI,  EUROCHAMBRES Secretary-General 4.10pm Introductory speeches on EU-India trade relations –  MEP Jo Leinen, European Parliament Delegation to India (tbc) –  HE Dinkar Khullar, Ambassador of India to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union (tbc) –  Senior representative, European Commission (tbc) 4.30pm Presentation of publication: “Market access challenges in Indian cleantech sectors” – by EBTC Sector Experts –  IPR – Arvind Chopra –  Biotech – Geetha Swamilingiah –  Energy – Vittalkumar Dhage –  Environment – Monish Verma –  Transport – Dibyendu Sengupta 5.15pm Commentary: “Needs of Cleantech Companies going International” – by David Dornbusch, CEO of Cleantuesday, and Martin Garratt, CEO of Cambridge Cleantech 5.30pm Remarks on overcoming challenges & producing success stories (including publication on ‘5 years of EBTC achievements’) – by Poul V. Jensen, EBTC Director 5.45pm Open Discussion with stakeholders 6.00pm Networking Cocktail   We look forward to your participation, and please do contact us should you have any further questions. Please do share this invitation with interested parties in your network as well.   Kind regards,   The EBTC and EUROCHAMBRES teams

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Franchise India 2013 on October 19-20, 2013, at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

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Dear NK,

Greetings from Franchise India!

It is my great pleasure to invite you as my Special Guest to our flagship show – Franchise India 2013 on October 19-20, 2013, at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

Franchise India started its journey 16 years ago on the premise that franchising can build partnerships between entrepreneurs and business enterprise. At Franchise India we feel that for true blood entrepreneurs, better results, stronger relationships and life’s deeper rewards, all come from learning to think bigger and to persevere despite all odds. Today at a time when most of us have been running our business for several years, we still feel restless and curious for new ideas, we are on the look out for creative opportunities and remain tempted to stretch out and try new things. We are all scanning across diverse business propositions and opportunities, in pursuit of the question: How we can do more with our core business and form alliances that ensure we could offer more to our customers.

In its 11th year Franchise India 2013 is the marquee business event that combines India’s biggest business and trade show with a leading set of conferences on Entrepreneurship, Franchise and Brand Licensing. Franchise India is greatly patronized both by domestic and international business fraternity including entrepreneurs, investors, franchisors, franchisees, retailers and licensors, manufacturers and distributors. Everybody is coming together, under one roof, to connect and create new businesses associations. With over 500+ businesses opportunities, 100+ master franchise and multi-unit franchise ideas, 50+ new international concepts getting launched, licensing and distribution opportunities – Franchise India 2013  enables start-ups and builds growth in mature business by  sharing business best practices around raising capital and getting business loans, experts advising on real estate solutions and much more. Please visit www.expo.franchiseindia.com to get full impact of the show and the conference and other Business initiatives.

In our years of Association and Knowing you as a growth focused business person, I am confident that the scope of business networking at Franchise India 2013 would create new Business avenues for you . I invite you and would warmly welcome you to spend some time across the two days of the show. Please Plan to at least a couple of hours to derive optimum benefit from your visit.

I would request you to please RSVP your confirmation to Hema Arora at hema.arora@franchiseindia.netor call her at 07838888759  so we could send you a VIP All Access Show pass for hassle free entry to the show.

I look forward to welcoming you and meeting you at the event.

Thanks & Regards

Gaurav Marya
Chairman, Franchise India 

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MIGUEL AND MAHINDRA MAKE RACING HISTORY IN MALAYSIA

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Sepang, Malaysia, October 13, 2013: Portuguese rider Miguel Oliveira made history for India’s first and only motorcycle constructor in international motorcycle racing today, fighting back from a weak start to claim a first-ever top-three podium finish for Mahindra’s MGP3O Moto3™ racer.

 

The 18-year-old from Pragal qualified on the second row, but bogged down off the line, near the back of 32 riders into the first turn, and finished the first lap in 14th place. But he was already cutting his way through, and by lap five was with the big leading group and still gaining places. On lap three, he set a new lap record, for the third time this year.

By the mid-point of the 18-lap, 99.864-km race at the Sepang circuit outside the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, Miguel was moving to fourth in a fearsome close group, and then to third. But positions were changing from corner to corner as the top championship contenders fought tooth and nail.

 

There were still six in contention as they started a thrilling last lap. Oliveira fought like a tiger to retain third place, the first rostrum for the MGP3O in its first season of racing. The 250cc single-cylinder machine, still in its first year of development, was designed and built in record time over the winter, and has threatened the top machines ever since its debut.

 

Miguel was just 0.408 seconds behind winner Luis Salom (KTM). The first six crossed the line within just over one second.

 

The podium has been tantalising the team all season. Oliveira has qualified on pole position at earlier races, and has been fourth on three occasions.

 

Team-mate Efrén Vázquez made a flying start from eighth on the grid, and was holding his own in the leading pack, and fighting for position when he slipped off on a slow corner, remounting only to retire.

 

The result is a historic achievement for Mahindra and for India, and a valuable boost for the championship. Miguel has closed to within six points of a top-five position. Mahindra has also gained ground on second place in the Constructors’ championship, just five points off second place.

 

The next race, the second of three in a row, is the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island next Sunday.

In another important step for the team, Mahindra Racing has also signed a new agreement to add another pair of Mahindra MGP3O machines to the Moto3™ grid in 2014. French team CIP Moto3 will run two of the Swiss-built, Indian racers in the ultra-competitive grand-prix class.

 

 

The deal means that six of the competitive prototype 250cc single-cylinder Mahindra race bikes are scheduled to be on the grid in 2014, with CIP joining the official Mahindra Racing entry as well as Ambrogio Racing. The Ambrogio team became Mahindra’s first racing customer in September when South African Brad Binder and Germany’s Luca Amato switched to the MGP3O for the remainder of this season.

 

MIGUEL OLIVEIRA – Third Place

“After the start I made I didn’t expect the podium! I knew I could do it, but I had to recover a lot of time, and take a lot of risks in the first laps, in the braking areas and also with corner speed. This is not easy on the tyres, so in the last laps it was really hard to control the bike. I think Mahindra and the team deserve this podium, and I think more. With the end of the championship coming up the leading riders will feel the pressure, and we can try to take advantage of that.

“Phillip Island is a nice track, where you don’t need so much engine power. It’s always windy, and it depends on the compromise you can make with the frame and on aerodynamics, my position on the bike. There are a lot of long corners and banked corners and also hard braking, and I can gain time there. I was second there last year, so I’m looking forward to going back.”

 

EFRÉN VÁZQUEZ – Did Not Finish

“I had a good start and I was trying to push from the beginning. This is a difficult track because the other bikes are much slower on corner entry, they block the way so you lose speed on the straights. I was trying to brake a little harder to gain places, and I lost the front wheel. It was a little crash, but unfortunately something on the bike broke, and I couldn’t restart.

“We’ll see in the next race: I think Phillip Island should be good for Mahindra – our bike is very good in fast corners.”

 

MUFADDAL CHOONIA – CEO, Mahindra Racing

“This is a red-letter day in Indian motor sport history – the first time ever that a motorcycle developed by an Indian company has finished on the podium at the highest level of motor sport. I sincerely congratulate and appreciate the efforts of Miguel and the entire Mahindra Racing team, who played a leading part in creating this moment of racing history.

“Now the next goal: we look forward to winning grand prix races.”

 

 

About Mahindra Racing

Mahindra Racing became the first Indian team to participate in the FIM MotoGP™ World Motorcycle Racing Championship in 2011 and the Italian National Motorcycle Racing Championship (CIV) in 2012.

Competing in the Moto3™ class in MotoGP, Mahindra Racing entered the 2013 season with its own new 4-stroke, single-cylinder, 250cc, motorcycle: the Mahindra MGP3O developed with respected Swiss firm Suter Racing Technology AG. Experienced Spanish rider Efrén Vázquez (27, from Bilbao) is teamed with exciting Portuguese teenager Miguel Oliveira (18, from Pragal near Lisbon). The team has been recording consistent Top 5 finishes and has already achieved a pole position and two circuit lap records in the World Championship. The team continues to be in the Top 3 in the Constructors’ rankings.

 

In the 2012 CIV season, Mahindra Racing competed in the 125 GP Class and became the first team from India to win an international motorsport event, eventually recording six victories from eight races and securing the Constructors’ Title. In the 2013 CIV season, the team entered the Moto3 (250cc – 4 stroke) class with talented riders Andrea Locatelli (16, from Alzano Lombardo) and Michael Rinaldi (17, from Rimini, Emilia-Romagna) and made motorsport history by winning the prestigious Constructors’ Title for the second consecutive year. Both Locatelli and Rinaldi finished the season in first and second place with 167 and 145 points respectively.

 

Breaking new ground as an Indian Constructor, Mahindra Racing made history in Indian automotive engineering, when Ambrogio Racing – a team in the Moto3TM World Championship decided to switch to the MGP3O racing bikes, becoming Mahindra Racing’s first customer.

 

Mahindra’s bold decision to take on the world’s best at the highest level of motorcycle racing won the team prestigious awards such as the ‘ZigWheels Motorsport Award of the Year, 2012’, and the NDTV Car and Bike Awards ‘Mobil 1 Motorsport Award of the Year, 2012’.

 

For further information please visit: www.mahindraracing.com.

 

About Mahindra

The Mahindra Group focuses on enabling people to rise through solutions that power mobility, drive rural prosperity, enhance urban lifestyles and increase business efficiency.

A USD 16.2 billion multinational group based in Mumbai, India, Mahindra employs more than 155,000 people in over 100 countries. Mahindra operates in the key industries that drive economic growth, enjoying a leadership position in tractors, utility vehicles, after-market, information technology and vacation ownership. In addition, Mahindra enjoys a strong presence in the agribusiness, aerospace, components, consulting services, defence, energy, financial services, industrial equipment, logistics, real estate, retail, steel, commercial vehicles and two wheeler industries.

 

In 2012, Mahindra featured on the Forbes Global 2000 list, a listing of the biggest and most powerful listed companies in the world. In 2013, the Mahindra Group received the Financial Times ‘Boldness in Business’ Award in the ‘Emerging Markets’ category.

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Orlando Theme Parks Join Florida Huddle 2014

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VISIT FLORIDA re-energizes state’s premier travel trade show

India, 14^th October 2013– Florida’s world-renowned theme parks in Orlando will return in 2014 to the state’s premier travel trade show, Florida Huddle, now owned and operated by VISIT FLORIDA.

The expanded, redesigned show, set for Jan. 14-16, 2014, in Palm Beach County, is gaining new and former participants enthused about revised platforms allowing buyers and suppliers to schedule their meetings earlier and more effectively than ever before — a popular improvement implemented by VISIT FLORIDA.

Will Seccombe, VISIT FLORIDA President and CEO, announced that Walt Disney World Reosrt, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando will all be participating in the 38^th annual Florida Huddle for the first time in several years.

“With our reinvention of Florida Huddle, we’re proud to welcome back these three Strategic Alliance Partners to help showcase Florida to the world,” Seccombe said.

Since acquiring the trade show last year, VISIT FLORIDA has been assembling new functionality to better serve the needs of buyers, suppliers and travel media.

Key points about VISIT FLORIDA’s Florida Huddle:

n  Expanded opportunities for appointments, allowing two full days of one-on-one meetings between buyers and suppliers

n  Appointment scheduling to begin weeks earlier than in years past, for more effective planning

n  New platform for media to schedule appointments with buyers and suppliers

n  Increased attention to niche buyers, such as destination weddings and incentive travel

n  State-of-the-art conference site at the Palm Beach County Convention Center

n  Full range of digital and support services provided by VISIT FLORIDA

n  Opening night festivities at The Breakers Palm Beach, a Florida icon built by tycoon Henry Flagler, father of Florida tourism

For more information about Florida Huddle 2014:

n  www.FloridaHuddle.com

n  facebook.com/FloridaHuddle

n  @FloridaHuddle

Media contact at VISIT FLORIDA headquarters:
Laura Cassels, lcassels@VISITFLORIDA.org 

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Visit Portugal

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• nksagar_1@yahoo.com

October 2013 Dear travel partner, Saudacoes from Visit Portugal team in India! We sincerely hope that the ongoing seasonal changes have kept you in the best of health. Travellers who would like to escape from stress and rediscover their inner balance, Portugal welcomes you to relax and spend a few fancy and luxurious days in harmony with nature. This issue of October focuses on the ‘Luxury Holidays in Portugal’ where we have provided some ideas of luxury properties with stunning ocean views surrounded by scenic mountain views. From North to South of Portugal and the Atlantic islands, immerse yourself to experience Portugal’s excellent hotels, craft and jewellery shops, exotic spas, fashion accessories with a wide range of clothing and footwear. Come and be a part of all these amazing experiences and ‘live it up’ in a home away from home. Thank you for supporting Portugal. Happy reading & selling! Sincerely, Visit Portugal Team India Representative Office ABOUT LUXURY TOURISM IN PORTUGAL Experience true Portuguese luxury and style on your fabulous tour as you could venture from the city of Lisbon to the countryside’s vineyards and seaside towns. You will experience authentic Portuguese living and the diversity of this rich region with guided private tours, medieval villages, a cooking class, luxury shopping, art galleries, jewelers, private visits to prestigious wineries and an opportunity to taste some of the wonderful Portuguese foods. Experience the beauty and traditions of Lisbon, including historic Moorish architecture covered in exquisite tiles, fascinating museums, boutiques specializing in handmade luxury crafts, and the best local club to hear the melancholy strains of Fado music. Beyond Lisbon, feature essential wine touring in the Douro Valley and explore historic Jewish sites in whitewashed medieval villages, meeting artisans in local studios, touring Roman ruins and archaeological sites and also take an excursion into the rustic Alentejo region and walk among the castles and gardens of beautiful Sintra. Continue your journey to the Centre of Portugal, where the University of Coimbra, one of the oldest in Europe, will guide you through this student city. A TASTE OF PORTUGAL Discover some of the best locations for Portuguese cuisine FANGAS MERCEARIA: is just one of those cool bars of Coimbra that you can’t possibly miss. Providing its guests a truly family-like ambiance, this restaurant is famous for its delicious   Portuguese  specialties. Located in the vibrant uptown quarter Quebra Costas, Fangas Mercearia Bar has won for the second time in a row Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence! FEITORIA: is a signature cuisine restaurant, with one Michelin star, where traditional flavors and the best national products predominate and mould around contemporary tastes. Starter: Ricotta, spinach and egg yolk ravioli with oxtail stew Fish dish: Grilled golden sea bream with organic tomatoes and fresh oreganos Dessert: Custard tart with lime cream and cinnamon ice cream The journey culminates in a varied selection of fine wines, including hundreds of national and international vintages as well as olive oils and mineral waters. CHARCUTARIA LISBOA: Charcutaria comes to Rua do Alecrim, one of the most dynamic centers of the city, and with all due respect, took the name LISBON. That is how CHARCUTARIA de LISBOA came about. We offer chicken pies, considered by many the best of Lisbon and serve pork feet with coriander, as to the like of those who have tasted them, serve grouper in coriander sauce, stewed partridge, hare with beans, pork with creamed asparagus – a meal that takes time to cook, but is largely preferred. MUST VISIT EL CORTE INGLES Located in the heart of V N Gaia, El Corte Ingles is the greatest fashion icon in all the Iberian Peninsula. Relax and have a great shopping experience! We invite you to visit the thirteen floors of the biggest store in Porto and Lisbon, where you can find a great variety of products and services in fashion, accessories, home, leisure time, sport food and regional products, including access to famous brands such as Hugo Boss, Armani Collezioni, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Gant, la Matina, Escada Sport, Lacoste, Max Mara Weekend, Timberland, Fred Perry, Ralph Lauren, DKNY, Chloe, Cartier, Cerruti and many more. Enjoy all this in a unique and special place, your best shopping! WRONG WEATHER Fashion and lifestyle shop for the contemporary man located in Porto. A selection of accessories, objects and art is carefully crafted to make men dress and feel better. The gallery is a space where love, in all art forms, from architecture to photography, design to painting, is permanently on show. The goal is to interact with the brand which they offer to provide clients with unique experiences. ZOORB Zoorb is a store in Porto with urban style clothes and fashion accessories, where you can buy brands such as UMM – Underground Music Movement, ZenSpirit, Xibiouz and Zwei, but it also provides music accessories, equipment for DJ’s (Stanton), decorative design objects. PROMETEU ARTESANATO Handicrafts store in Lisbon where you can find Alentejo ceramics, tiles, costume jewellery, cast iron designs, wood carvings and Barcelos handicrafts. VISIT FARO Faro’s old town consists of three distinct areas – Vila-Adentro, Mouraria and Bairro Ribeirinho – each of which marks a separate stage in the city’s development from the Christian reconquest. The walls that surrounded the town in Moorish and medieval times; the vestiges of the past still to be seen in churches and museums; narrow streets of whitewashed houses that recall the town’s Moorish heritage: these are among the sights to be savoured on a walk around Faro, a city where there is lots to see, to enjoy and to remember. ART NOUVEAU MUSEUM AND TEA HOUSE The Museum of Art Nouveau (Museu Arte Nova) in Aveiro is the coolest new stop on the Portugal cultural scene. The museum resides in the Casa Major Pessoa, one of the most architecturally admired buildings in the city. Equally awesome is the Casa de Cha tearoom on the first level, also in Aveiro. A huge range of teas are available, as are specialty coffees such as cappuccino. UPCOMING EVENTS ANGRAJAZZ In October, the Angra do Heroismo International Jazz Festival, has progressively affirmed its position as one of the leading jazz festivals in Portugal. Counting on the participation of well/known North-American and European jazz musicians, Angrajazz obligatorily includes at least one national group and one regional group, thus fulfilling one of its main objectives – the innovation and development of interest in jazz in the Azores. NATIONAL HORSE FAIR Witness the National Horse Fair in November in Golega, a region where the equestrian tradition is deeply rooted. This is one of the country’s most typical fairs, attracting thousands of people to the various events featuring the magnificent Lusitanian thoroughbred horse. LISBON & ESTORIL FILM FESTIVAL Friday, 8th – Monday, 18th November, 2013 The Festival’s primary goals are to provide the convergence of diverse cultural experiences: from cinema to literature to music to the visual arts. Promoting dialogue between filmmakers, thinkers, artists and audiences, it has grown into an ideal place to reflect and discuss contemporary themes. NATIONAL GASTRONOMY FESTIVAL Wednesday, 23rd October – Friday, 8th November, 2013 Enjoy Portuguese gastronomy at the country’s main fair – the National Gastronomy Festival, held in Santarem in October and November. Aromatic herbs, spices, cheeses, fresh fish and convent sweets are some of the delicacies that you will find here. ENHANCE YOUR PORTUGAL TOURS For this month, we have provided a few ideas to enhance your luxury tour in Portugal: L’AND Vineyards, Wine Resort, Alentejo Portugal L’AND Vineyards was developed around a central valley of vineyards, olive trees and a lake. With both architectural and hospitality highlights, the resort’s central hub features a cellar and wine club, a spa, a restaurant with an outdoor patio, a living room, a library and a shop that offers exclusive products created by L’AND – the L’AND MADE products. Combining architecture and natural beauty, the five-star L’AND Vineyards Resort relies on only 22 suites in an atmosphere of quiet luxury. All of the suites include a private terrace with a fireplace, a view of the lake, direct access to the pool, iPad and iPod technology and other details. The ten L’AND Sky View Suites allow for the unique experience of sleeping “under the stars”, through a natural skylight in the bedroom for night observation, as well as a plunge pool located in the private courtyard. Thetwelve L’AND View Suites treat visitors to a private, outdoor jaccuzzi and an extra room in the suite. Ballon Ride Come and discover the Alentejo landscape and sky in a magical ride in a hot air balloon. The balloon takes off early in the morning or at sunset. Land offers you a one-hour flight, departing from L’AND Vineyards Resort. Avenida de Liberdade For those who enjoy luxury and good taste in the literal sense of the word, then Avenida de Liberdade is a must. It is the 10th most luxurious avenue in the world for shopping. Considered among the most expensive and luxurious avenues, Avenida da Liberdade attracts the best and most prestigious international brands such as Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Miu Miu, Dolce & Gabbana, TOD’s, Gucci, Burberry, Carolina Herrera, Hugo Boss, Emporio Armani, Loewe; Trussardi; Montblanc; Porche Design; among other leading international luxury brands, with a wide range of clothing, including footwear (Fly London), jewelery and high quality accessories. Vila Monte – An Exotic SpaHidden in the Vila Monte garden, the Kasbah Spa invites guests to a pampering experience in an atmosphere of floral scents, exotic massages and relaxing treatments for mind and body. The spa offers a true cocoon for the senses, with several massage rooms, an Arab bath and a hamman. The luring fragrance of mint tea will be a permanent companion in this haven of peace and tranquility. STAY UPDATED INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP OF RELIGIOUS TOURISM After the success of the first International Workshop, held in 2012, the Business Association Ourem-Fatima, in collaboration with the Municipality of Ourem and with the support of Tourism of Portugal, is organizing the second edition of the International Workshop on Religious Tourism, on the 8th November the Paul VI Pastoral Center in Fatima. This event is aimed at national tour operators, travel agents and hoteliers, and other tourism entrepreneurs, especially focused on Religious Tourism. The main aim is to promote business contacts between participants, reinforce the importance of religious tourism in the context of the tourism industry worldwide, Affirm Portugal internationally as a preferred destination of religious tourism, promoting internationally Fatima and the Region, highlighting the tourism resources complementary to Religious Tourism. DID YOU KNOW √ It is a great pleasure to announce that Portugal wins three ‘oscars’ for tourism. TAP Air Portugal wins two awards. √ Have You Considered Owning A House In Portugal? Imagine living in a country where you can find a huge diversity of landscapes and environments in a small area: sandy beaches as far as the eye can see golden plains and mountains, vibrant and cosmopolitan cities and a millennial heritage. Portugal is recognised internationally for the high quality of the work done by its architects. Likewise, very attractive prices have made real estate in Portugal into a competitive and trustworthy sector. For more information, kindly visit: http://www.livinginportugal.com/en/

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Quake of M6.4 – CRETE, GREECE

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Preliminary Earthquake Report

Magnitude	6.4
Date-Time	12 Oct 2013 13:11:52 UTC 12 Oct 2013 15:11:52 near epicenter 12 Oct 2013 17:11:52 standard time in your timezone
Location	35.487N 23.261E
Depth	36 km
Distances	30 km (18 mi) W of Platanos, Greece 68 km (42 mi) W of Chania, Greece 110 km (68 mi) W of Rethymnon, Greece 171 km (106 mi) W of Irakleion, Greece 279 km (172 mi) S of Athens, Greece
Location Uncertainty	Horizontal: 0.0 km; Vertical 5.8 km

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Incredible India win 2nd straight Shield at HSBC Asian Sevens Series

13102013

The India National Sevens team beat UAE to win the Shield at its home tournament, the HSBC Asian Sevens Series’ India Sevens, at the Bombay Gymkhana.

It was the second Shield win for India after their HSBC A7S series debut last month in Thailand.  India also beat the UAE on that occasion, winning 31-10 and this time bettered its margin of victory by a single point, winning 22-0.

India captain Hrishikesh Pendse, who has played rugby professionally in New Zealand and Japan, commented on the win saying:

“It was a great win considering we had to play an unprecedented four matches on day one in the round robin with Pakistan not being able to attend.

“We were a bit tired after yesterday and I think that was the difference in our opening loss in the Bowl quarter final to Kazakhstan. But we regrouped after that match and I’m proud that we finished with a win,” added Pendse.

India then had a bye in the first shield semi final while UAE beat Afghanistan 19-0 to advance to the final.

“I’m really proud because for a second time we have beaten one of the core international teams on the Series in the United Arab Emirates. They play at every event on the Series and for us to beat them after making only sporadic appearances on the Series shows our potential.

“To win in front of our friends and families who were here today is always sweet and I want to thank everyone who showed up to support us over the last two days.

“I hope that all of the participating teams enjoyed our Indian hospitality, but it’s a pity that the conditions were not more conducive to running rugby. Still I think the teams enjoyed themselves and we look forward to welcoming back Asia’s top sevens teams next year.

“I hope by then that India will be a full-time participant on the Sevens Series as with more experience our results can only improve,” concluded Pendse.

Rugby India will now focus on its hosting of the second and final leg of the 2013 Asian Women’s Sevens Series which will be held in Pune on November 9-10, 2013.

India Scorers in the Shield Final:

Hrishikesh Pendse Try

Bikash Kumar Jena – Try

Sukhdeep Singh – Try

Vikas Khatri – Try

Conversions:

Sujai Lama, Conversion (1)