..Nigeria finishes 9th
A dazzling laser show and a musical extravaganza Thursday night marked the grand finale of the Commonwealth Games, the biggest sporting event hosted by India which crowned itself with sporting glory by winning an unprecedented 101 medals.

Skies over the nation’s capital lit with multi_colour laser beams as part of the 140_minute closing ceremony at the Jawarharlal Nehru stadium filled to capacity of 60,000 cheering sports lovers including Vice_President Mohammad Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi as well as other sundry VIPs.

As at the spectacular opening ceremony 13 days ago, all the controversies that had dogged the Games – corruption, filth, snakes, mismanagement __ were momentarily forgotten because some 5000 athletes from 71 countries competed for 826 medals of which India won 101, including 38 gold, its highest ever, to be the second in the tally behind Australia with a total of 177.

Prince Edward, patron of the Commonwealth Games Federation, formally declared the 19th edition closed amid thunderous cheers from the audience.

Reading out the closure statement, the Prince said: “In the name of the Commonwealth Games Federation, I proclaim the XIX Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010 closed.

“In accordance with the tradition I call upon the sportsmen and sportswomen of the Commonwealth to assemble in four years time in Glasgow, Scotland, there to celebrate the XX Games.”

FLOATING SPECTACLE......The Indian national flag is projected onto the aerostat at the closing ceremony of the XIX Commonwealth Games at Jawarharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on October 14.. AFP PHOTO

Nigeria which competed in seven sports disciplines bagged an encouraging 11 gold, 10 silver and 14 bronze medals, her best performance since Victoria ‘94 Games. Nigeria fell behind South Africa,Kenya and Malaysia who were placed sixth, seventh and eighth.

There was much excitement and euphoria in store when a tribute was paid to the India’s sporting spirit, aptly titled Agni __ a segment that featured the fiery and passionate tradition of the country’s martial arts.

Chants of Agni shloka preceded eight martial art forms – Kalaripayattu, Naga warriors, Thangta, Gatka, Silambam, Akhara, Dhan Patta, Talwar Raas __ that enthralled the audience.