India’s most successful tennis player, Sania Mirza, has kept her date with the city by deciding to launch her eagerly-awaited book ‘Ace Against Odds’ in Hyderabad on July 13.
In attendance will be family members and close relatives who have been part of her journey in the world of tennis in Hyderabad and Mumbai (where the launch is on July 16).
The book has already created interest in the world of sports as the big achiever is most likely to give an insight of what she felt on various subjects relating to her growth from a teenager into a World No. 1 women’s doubles player on the tennis court and how she felt during those turbulent times – both on and off the court.
Clearly, Sania quote in the book – “My legs felt heavy. My arms were numb. I could see the blurry tennis ball as it crossed the net and hit the surface on the court. Fault. Just missed the line” – should be an apt reminder of her intense desire to put the record straight on many subjects including one of the most critical phases of her life when she was forced to take a six-month lay-off due to a career-threatening wrist injury when she could not even hold a tennis racket.
“Essentially, I sincerely hope that it will be some sort of a guide and inspiration too for the modern day generation.
“Well, the kind of struggle the Mirzas (father Imran and mother Nasima) had gone through in shaping my career will also be a key subject in it,” was Sania’s quote on the book.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V.V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – June 23rd, 2016
City’s upcoming tennis player Mustafa Raja, a product of the R. Nagaraj’s Tennis Centre, Mysuru, won the Boys U-10 KSLTA-AITA Tennis Tournament at the KSLTA Courts in Bengaluru on Sunday.
In the final, Mustafa Raja beat Jason D Michael 4-2, 4-1 to clinch the title. By virtue of his wins this year he now claims to be the No. 1 player in his category in the State, according to a release.
Mustafa played well throughout the tournament and defeated his rival Jason in the finals with a comfortable margin.
Mustafa has won tournaments this year including AITA Nationals. Among them are:
1. AITA Mysore Open in January.
2. AITA Wadiyar Memorial Tournament at Palace Grounds Bengaluru in April.
3. AITA KSLTA Tournament at Cubbon Park, Bengaluru in May.
4. AITA KSLTA Tournament at Cubbon Park, Bengaluru, in June.
Mustafa Raja’s journey in the tournament
Round 1 – Bye; Round 2 – 7-0; Round 3 – 7-1; Quarter Final: – 7-4; Semi Final: 4-0, 4-0 and Finals against Jason: 4-2 and 4-1.
Mustafa Raja is a student of Excel Public School and trains at Nagaraja Tennis Centre at SJCE campus.
He is the son of Murtuza Raja and Farida Raja.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / June 16th, 2016
Chairs progress review meeting; Refuses to answer queries on Hublot watch issue
ACB IGP Dr. M.A. Saleem (extreme riht) is seen during the meeting at the ACB Office in city this morning. Mysuru ACB SP B.T. Kavitha and others are seen.
Mysuru :
Dr. M.A. Saleem, the first Inspector General of Police (IGP) of the recently formed Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB), who arrived in the city from Bengaluru by road this noon, chaired a progress review meeting at the ACB Office located opposite Jail Quarters near Fountain Circle on Mysuru-Bengaluru Road here.
Speaking to Star of Mysore prior to the meeting, Dr. Saleem said that a total of 224 cases across the State including 40 in Mysuru, eight in Ramanagaram and seven in Mandya had been filed so far. ACB Mysuru Range covers Mysuru, Mandya, Chamarajanagar, Kodagu and Hassan districts.
Stating that the ACB Offices had been set up at all the District Headquarters in the State excluding Karwar and Udupi, he said that each Office had been provided with three vehicles, three computers, one laptop, one Dy.SP, two Inspectors, five Constables and a First Division Assistant (FDA) to carry out their duties in an effective manner.
Dr. Saleem, who said that he had earlier visited Ramanagaram and Mandya, added that he would meet Southern Range IGP B.K.Singh, KPA Director Vipul Kumar, City Police Commissioner B. Dayananda, SP Abhinav Khare and other senior officials to discuss the issue of providing training to cops attached to the ACB to ensure that they discharge their duties to fight against corruption.
When SOM reporter asked Dr. Saleem for information on the progress made with regard to the CM’s Hublot watch issue, he refused to comment saying that the investigation was on and he could not divulge the details.
Dr. Saleem is slated to leave for Bengaluru after meeting senior officials of the Department later in the evening.
ACB Mysuru Division SP B.T. Kavitha, Dy. SP Gajendra Prasad, Dy.SPs of Mandya and Chamarajanagar were among those present at the meeting.
Plants a sapling: Marking his visit, Dr. Saleem, who is also the former Police Commissioner of Mysuru, planted a sapling at the ACB Office premises.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / June 16th, 2016
“I have served as Labour Minister in former Chief Minister Dharam Singh’s Cabinet and in future too I would like to strive for the welfare of the labour class,” said Minister- designate Tanveer Sait who has got a ministerial berth in the Cabinet reshuffle.
Speaking to press persons who called on him at his residence in Udayagiri here yesterday Tanveer Sait thanked Chief Minister Siddharamaiah and party senior leaders for inducting him into the Cabinet for the second time in recognition of his good work. He further said that success and failure were part of public life and power and authority were not eternal. He pointed out that the support of the party activists and public in general was vital.
Tanveer Sait continuing said that the Chief Minister and Party High Command not to exclude the party activists, with a lot of faith had entrusted the responsibility of a Minister now and he assured to live up to expectations thus bringing a good name to the party.
With the news of Tanveer Sait’s name getting announced in the list of new Ministers, party leaders of N.R. Mohalla greeted Sait at his house, burst crackers in front of his house and distributed sweets.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / June 19th, 2016
Narasimharaja MLA Tanveer Sait, who had served as the Minister of State for Haj and Labour in the N. Dharam Singh Cabinet, is among the 13 who will be sworn-in as Ministers on the lawns of Raj Bhavan at 4 pm today in the re-jigged council of Ministers led by Chief Minister Siddharamaiah.
The swearing-in of these Ministers comes a day after AICC President Sonia Gandhi gave her nod to the reshuffle after a prolonged meeting with CM Siddharamaiah, Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwar, leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha M. Mallikarjuna Kharge, AICC General Secretary and Party ‘s Karnataka in-Charge Digvijay Singh, Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka Oscar Fernandes and others at her 10 Janpath residence in the national capital.
In his bid to bring in new faces into the Cabinet as a prelude to the party’s efforts to retain power in the 2018 Assembly elections, Siddharamaiah has decided to shunt out 14 Ministers and induct new Ministers, which needless to say has drawn flak from supporters of out-going Ministers, who have taken to streets.
Those in the list of Ministers in the Siddharamaiah Cabinet who are on their way out are: V. Sreenivasa Prasad, M.H. Amarnath (Ambarish), Kimmane Rathnakar, Shamanur Shivashankarappa, Babu Rao Chinchansur, Qamarul Islam, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Vinay Kumar Sorake, Sathish Jarakiholi, Abhay Chandra Jain, P.T. Parameshwar Nayak, S.R. Patil and Krishna Byregowda.
Those who are likely to be inducted into the Siddharamaiah Cabinet at Raj Bhavan with Governor Vajubhai R. Vala administering the oath of office and secrecy this evening are:
Blend of caste, region: Many political analysts have described the new Siddu Cabinet as perfect blend of caste and region factors, but maintained that it was too early to assess as how effective the new Cabinet would be. It is reliably learnt that the portfolios for the newly inducted Ministers would be announced soon.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / June 19th, 2016
The medal winners are seen with coach M.S. Suresh.
Mysuru :
The following candidates trained at Mysore District Rifle Association (MDRA), Ramakrishnanagar, have won medals in various categories (both individual and team) at the competitions organised by Bangalore Rifle Shooters Academy (BRSA) recently:
Individual category
• Rakshit Shastry – Silver in 10 mts Air Pistol National Rule (Men) & Bronze in 10 mts Air Pistol ISSF.
• Krishna Rajendra – Gold in 10 mts Air Rifle (Open Sight).
• K. Shankar Shetty – 10 mts Air Rifle (Open Sight).
• Mohammed Jaffer – Bronze in 10 mts Air Rifle (Open Sight).
• Manjesh Mandanna – Bronze in 10 mts Air Pistol ISSF.
Team category
• Gold in 10 mts Air Rifle (Open Sight – Men) – Team: Krishna Rajendra, K. Shankar Shetty and G. Balu.
• Silver in 10 mts Air Pistol ISSF (Men) – Team: Rakshit Shastry, Manjunath Prasad and P. Jayanth.
• Bronze in 10 mts Air Pistol National Rule (Men) – Team: Rakshit Shastry, P. Jayanth and Dr. H.B. Yojan.
• Bronze in 10 mts Air Rifle (Open Sight – Women) – Team: Geetha, Keerthi Rajeshwari and Deepashree.
• Bronze in 10 mts Air Pistol ISSF (Men) – Team: D. Punith Kumar, R. Vinod and Manjesh Mandanna.
• Bronze in 10 mts Air Pistol NR (Men) – Team: D. Punith Kumar, R. Vinod and Syed Ishaq.
Ex-Indian Army Coach M.S. Suresh and Ekalavya awardee Anand C.K. Shashidhar imparted training to the medallists at MDRA.
For details, contact Mob: 99454-03444 or 99869-33324.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / June 15th, 2016
If you thought only guys can do wheelies, twirl in the air on their bikes and land on the ground, only to take off for another stunt, think again. For here’s a young woman who’s sure to give all those men, who brag about great stunts, a run for their money.
Probably the youngest professional bike stunt performer and rider in the country, Anam Hashim says she knew her heart lay in riding when she was barely 11.
In 2015, she became the youngest Indian female rider to scale the Khardung La Pass on a 110cc TVS Scooty, a record-breaking feat which has entered the India Book of Records.
In an interview with Nina C George, Anam talks about what got her hooked to riding and how it felt to be atop one of the country’s highest points.
When did you first discover your love for bikes?
As a child, I used to run behind my father whenever he rode the bike and tried to get a hold of the handle bar. In fact, it is my father who gave me my first ride and a feel of what it is like to handle the machine. He would make me sit in front and give me a chance to hold the handle bar and control the bike.
Have you undergone any formal training in performing bike stunts?
I began learning on my own and slowly, I started taking lessons from a few well-known bikers across the country. I would spend a lot of time reading, researching and understanding what bike stunts are about and the safety measures involved. You can’t suddenly wake up one morning and want to do bike stunts. There’s a certain logic and principle behind the whole process.
Is bike stunt riding a popular sport?
No, it wasn’t popular until recently. Bike stunt riders are aplenty in the West but we don’t find many here. In an effort to introduce a championship for stunt riding in India, I had recently organised the ‘India Bike Week’ Stunt Championships and the response was truly encouraging.
What was it like to scale the Khardung La Pass on a scooty?
At first, it seemed like an impossible task but when I began riding, I not only found the whole process quite challenging but also an enjoyable one. There were places where there were no roads or even a path to ride on. I had to negotiate really rough terrains to reach the top but the excitement of getting atop was irresistible.
Being a woman, do you find stunt riding tough?
I believe nothing is impossible. Every rider has to keep himself or herself extremely fit physically, emotionally and mentally. Bike stunts are not for the weak-hearted. I eat every three hours and exercise to build strength.
How do you keep yourself motivated?
I keep myself updated about the latest developments in the world of stunt riding. I watch a lot of videos and interact with riders who have been in the field for a long time. Sometimes, I look at my own videos to keep my spirits high.
Have you ever experienced fear during your rides?
I’ve certainly experienced fear but I try and overcome it and move on. I try to focus on the task at hand and concentrate on achieving it.
We hear you are a good cook…
Yes. I mustn’t brag about myself, but I make the most amazing ‘Nawabi biryani’ and ‘khichdi’.
What’s next?
I will soon be leading a group of 10 women, riding the TVS Scooty Zest 110cc, to Khardung La Pass in August 2016. The riders will be chosen through an all-India competition named ‘Himalayan High Season 2’. The 10 shortlisted riders will undergo training before the final ride.
Health Minister U.T. Khader felicitated blood donors (sitting from left) T.K. Suresh, M. Naveen and S. Shivakumar during the World Blood Donor Day held in city this morning. Others seen are JSS Medical College Principal Dr. Basavana Gowdappa, JSS Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. M. Guruswamy, Mayor B.L. Bhyrappa, Star of Mysore Managing Editor Vikram Muthanna, JSS Hospital Director Dr. M.D. Ravi and JSS University Director (Academics) Dr. P.A. Kushalappa.
Mysuru :
The State Government will soon start Blood Banks in all districts and taluks, said Health and Family Welfare Minister U.T. Khader here this morning. He was speaking after inaugurating the World Blood Donor Day celebrations organised by Dept. of Transfusion Medicine, JSS Medical College & Hospital and JSS College of Nursing, at Sri Rajendra Centenary Auditorium in JSS Hospital premises.
There is a strong network of Blood Banks in Mysuru, Mangaluru and Bengaluru but certain areas in North Karnataka lack such network and government hopes to develop Blood Banks in these areas, said Khader.
Encouraging citizens to donate blood, the Health Minister said “when you are born you only have your breath but no name. But when you die, you have no breath but your name lives on.”
He then gave the example of Harish Nanjappa, a youth who met with an accident while returning to Bengaluru from Tumakuru and who decided to donate his organs when he had only a few minutes to live. Khader added that Harish’s name now lives on as the State Government has started Mukhyamantri Santwana Harish Yojana and said that Harish is a great example to follow.
Stating that sometimes Government does not get credit for the work it does, Khader recited a story to drive home this point. The story reads as follows:
“Once a broke man wrote a letter to God asking for Rs. 2,000 and posted it. The Post Master, who saw the address, thought it was written by a mentally-challenged person and threw the letter away. A few weeks later since there was no reply from God, the broke man wrote a letter again. This time the Post Master felt bad and thought he needed to help this desperate man. So the Post Master put Rs. 1,000 of his own money and sent it to the broke man. On receiving it, the broke man was very happy and his neighbour asked him how he got this money, to which the broke man replied, “I had asked God for Rs. 2,000 but the corrupt Post Master swallowed Rs. 1,000 and sent me only Rs. 1,000.”
Khader then requested people to give credit to Government where it deserved and not blindly criticise it.
Mayor B. L. Bhyrappa, Star of Mysore Managing Editor Vikram Muthanna and others spoke on the occasion. JSS University Director (Academics) Dr. P.A. Kushalappa presided over the event. JSS Medical College Principal Dr. H. Basasvana Gowdappa, JSS Nursing College Principal Dr. Sheela Williams, JSS Hospital Director Dr. M.D. Ravi and Medical Superintendent Dr. M. Guruswamy were present. The hospital also conducted blood donation camp on the occasion.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / June 14th, 2016
The Kakkat family has always been a big one. During marriages and other functions the ancestral house fills up with relatives. It is these past few years that the sons and daughters of the family have started living separately.
This family has always stressed on the importance of living in harmony and with generations together. In the Kakkat house it is a normal thing to see grandchildren and great grandchildren of the same age playing together. Four generations sit together and reminisce about their childhood and their fathers.
The great grandfather
Leaning heavily on a walking stick is eighty-year-old Moideenkutty Haji who loves spinning tales of the past. Stories mostly about his father Alippu Haji, and his grandfather, who was killed in the wagon tragedy. His favourite pastime include gathering all the young ones and regaling them with all kinds of anecdotes.
“There are so many stories that I can tell you,” he says with a twinkle in his eyes. “My father was a good man, very brave. He used to have this business (malancharakku), where he would take the goods from home (Kattuppara in Malappuram) to Ponnani Sea port. I was the eldest and he would often take me with him.”
The grandfather
Like his father before him, Ashraf Ali, now at 56, began dabbling in business at a very early age. “By the time we were 15, we started accompanying vappa (father) to different places as he went about with his business. He used to travel a lot, but when he came home he used to make sure that we knew about his experiences and such.” Though he had a job in the Gulf as a marketing manager in a watch company, he was keen on starting his own business. “Vappa is not a very educated man. He learned what he did during his travels. He taught us that. To seek knowledge from the world around us,” says Ashraf.
The Father
“Uppa (father) never told me outright what to do. Sometimes he would not answer all of my queries but made me find the answers myself,” Mohammed Thabith talks about his father. “This used to frustrate me a lot. But his discipline and his penchant of pushing me to find solutions myself helped me find my independence later in life.”
Great onus was put on the need for education. Thabith recalls how his father used to be adamant that all of his children be highly educated.
“We were all pushed to do the best we could. And that didn’t stop with education. I’m thirty-year-old. Even now he gives us practical pieces of advises from time to time. Now that I have a son, I will definitely ape my father and teach him how to question things and learn the truth by himself, while being a strong person for him.”
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Hana Ashraf / June 16th, 2016
The quartet who are part of the start-up Toe-Up | Express Photo
Hyderabad :
Concerned over the plight of farmers, whose fortunes depend on the vagaries of weather, four engineers have shouldered the task of developing an app to help them out.
S Saquibuddin, Shaik Mukheet, Neha Bandari and Asma Fatima, working at the T-hub in Hyderabad are in the process of developing ‘Niyantran’, an app to provide crop related information to the farmers and help them seek help of experts for better yield.
“Initially we wanted to create an identity for ourselves and decided to take the startup route instead of a waiting for a job. As agriculture is the most neglected sector in spite of being the most important one, we decided to concentrate on this area. As we came to know about the plight of farmers, who land in debt-trap due to vagaries of weather, we decided to develop an app for the farming community,” said S Saquibuddin, CEO and co-founder of the startup christened ‘Toe-Up’.
Saquibuddin, Mukheet and Neha have graduated from Institute of Aeronautical Engineering, Dundigal and being aeronautical engineers they have experimented the use of drones to monitor crops. But as it proved unviable due to practical difficulties and cost factor, they have decided to come up with a more convenient and easy tool for farmers.
“After downloading the ‘Niyantran’ app, farmers can seek expert opinion regarding the problems they face in farming. They can click the picture of the plant or crop affected by pest or other problems and send it to the experts. He will immediately receive guidance from experts regarding pest control. They can even record their voice and send it like in WhatsApp for information and guidance,” explained Neha.
The quartet has been working on the app for the past eight months and it will be ready for launch in a month.
While these youngsters are not keen about financial returns through this app, they are ambitious about building a profile to catch the attention of venture capitalists and investors. The start up received a shot in the arm as NASA selected it to conduct its space app challenge in Hyderabad.
“Besides being selected for T-Hub we are also part of Collab House, co-working space launched by Mozilla in Hyderabad. This has given us good mentors and exposure. Our focus is on developing apps that will bring out a positive change and Niyantran is part of that effort. Once we add value and bring in a positive change, we believe that success will follow,” stated Saquibuddin.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by J. Deepti Nandan Reddy / Express News Service / June 16th, 2016
