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The Commonwealth Games may be over, but that doesn't mean the aftereffects are. With Prime Minister Manmohan Singh replacing sports-youth affairs minister Manohar Singh Gill, the future may be uncertain, but many are hoping that it will be one filled with less corruption. Ajay Maken, it was announced, would be taking over the position after Singh rearranged his cabinet on Wednesday. The 74-year old Gill took a lot of the blame for the corruption heavy Commonwealth Games. He was moved to the low-profile statistics and programme implementation ministry. The 47-year-old Maken, a cricket and golf enthusiast, was seen as a natural choice for replacement given the popularity of the two sports and the youthful energy he brings to the table. It is Maken's hope to see Indian athletes rise to the occasion of competing on an international level, not just in the fields of golf and cricket, but for every sport. "We have a huge population but that doesn't reflect on the medals won at the international stage. We have done well in the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games and I would like to continue the legacy. I will meet officials and then decide on priorities to work on," Maken told the Times of India. Before accepting the current position, Maken was a former speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly. He was also a Parliament Congress member out of New Delhi and held the minister of state position for home affairs. He has also served in a supervisory role as minister of state in the ministry of urban development. When asked about the corruption at a New Delhi press conference, Maken had the following to say: "I have told officials that within 10 days all legitimate payments should be made. It has been three months since the games ended. I do not want this issue to linger on, I do not want anyone to come up and point fingers at the government." While it is yet to be determined where India goes from here at the international level, Maken seems like an ideal choice for energizing the local fan base and the athletes themselves. India has long been home to some of the world's greatest athletes, as Maken indicated when he spoke to the Times, and the continuing tradition will stand to elevate India's role as an emerging world leader. How should India feel about the moves from the government to clean up their public image at the international level? That is yet to be determined. But all eyes will be on the region in the coming months as the current charges work toward completion. With Maken in the driver's seat, many India sports enthusiasts are hoping that he steers the country in the right direction.
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