Maidens Set for Successful Innings

By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 09.12.2007 (Women’s Feature Service): The gentlemen’s game is catching the fancy of women, who are wielding the willow with élan. Cricket Australia, the governing body for professional and amateur cricket in the country and formally known as the Australian Cricket Board, is going all out to change the perception of cricket amongst women as an old fashioned and male-dominated game.

Announcing the first ‘Females in Cricket Strategy’, James Sutherland, Chief Executive Officer of Cricket Australia, said, “We must recognize that engaging women and girls is the key to growing the game.” The strategy provides a framework to evolve cricket to the needs of women and girls and increase their participation in all areas of the game – playing, volunteering and watching.

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Calculating Breast Cancer

By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 18.11.2007 (Women’s Feature Service): The reminder for a mammogram had been staring her in the face for a while now. There was no pain or lump in her breast so she had been ignoring the reminders for a free mammogram, sent to all women above 60 years of age. When Gladys Roach finally, decided to get it done five years ago, she was in for a rude shock.

After the mammogram, the doctors conducted an ultrasound, but were still concerned and so performed a biopsy. After four hours of various tests, Gladys says, “I was told I had breast cancer. I was stunned and cried my heart out as I took the train home.”

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Asian cinema should be properly recognised: Shabana Azmi

By Neena Bhandari

Gold Coast (Australia), 12.11.2007 (IANS):  “Asia Pacific Screen Awards is an idea whose time has come, both politically and culturally. It is only fair that Asian cinema which comprises nearly three-fourths of the world cinema is properly recognised and represented”, says acclaimed actress and activist Shabana Azmi.

Shabana is in Gold Coast, one of the favourite tourist destination for Indians, as president of the international jury for the inaugural Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) being held here.

In an exclusive interview to IANS in the plush Sheraton Mirage, where the awards will be presented on Tuesday, Shabana said, “What has happened with Oscars, assuming the importance that they have over the years, the Oscar awards seems to be the definitive award filmmakers aspire for. We are going to create in the times to come an alternative to that so that Asian cinema gets the recognition it deserves,”

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