Mangaluru  :

Power lifters from Karnataka who participated in Subrata Classic International Power lifting Championship 2014 held at Jamshedpur in Jharkhand from December 16 to 21 bagged several medals in various body weight and age group categories.

The Power lifters reached Mangaluru Central railway station on Thursday. Karnataka Power Lifting Association officials and sports lovers welcomed them. Six countries took part in the above event.

The medal winners are:

 Mahammad Rameez – 1 gold, 1 silver;  Pradeep Kumar – 1 gold, 1 silver; G V Ashok -1 gold;  Krishna Devadiga – 2 gold;  Yadava Suvarna – 2 gold, 1 bronze;  Ashwin – 1 silver, 1 bronze;  Mohammed Haneef – 1 Gold, 1 Bronze;  Merina Devi – 1 gold;  Usha B N – 2 gold; G R Mahesh – 1 Gold, 1 Silver; and  Suresh Padukone – 1 silver, and 1 bronze.  Sathish Kumar Kudroli from Mangaluru was the coach of the Indian team.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Mangaluru / TNN / December 25th, 2014

Noida:

Amardip Sinh Malik of Greater Noida clinched his maiden title at the Rs. 40 lakh PGTI Noida Masters after a playoff win against Md Zamal Hossain Mollah of Bangladesh at the Noida Golf Course. Chikkarangappa S of Bangalore won the Super Series title to earn a bonus prize of Rs. 30 lakh after ending top of the table at the seventh and final Super Series event of 2014.

Amardip Sinh Malik (70-67-70-78) and Md Zamal Hossain Mollah (72-69-73-71) ended the regulation 72 holes with matching totals of three-under-285 and thus proceeded for the playoff on the 18th hole. Malik sealed it with a par on the first playoff hole even as Zamal dropped a bogey. While Malik was two on the green and two-putted for par, Zamal found the green in four shots after landing it in the bunker.

The 29-year-old Amardip Sinh Malik, the overnight leader by four shots, seemed to be losing grip of the match as he made four bogeys and a double-bogey on the first 14 holes to be six-over for the day. He then made two birdies and two bogeys on the last four holes to end the day with a six-over-78. Malik was a picture of grit and determination in the playoff as he wrapped it up with a five-feet par putt.

Amardip, who climbed from 49th place to 23rd place in the Rolex Rankings after his win on Friday, said, “I’m delighted to post my first win. I’ve come close to winning on quite a few occasions in the past. But it was great to finally cross the line. I had a forgettable fourth round as I missed a lot of short putts and found myself in tough situations. However, I hung in there with two birdies towards the end. My perseverance paid off in the playoff. This win has boosted my confidence for the last two events of the season.”

Md Zamal Hossain Mollah mixed three birdies with two bogeys in his final round of one-under-71 before losing out in the playoff.

Noida’s Vikrant Chopra shot a final round of even-par-72 to finish third at two-under-286.

Chikkarangappa became the Super Series champion after finishing tied fourth at one-under-287. He fired a 71 in the final round on Friday. Chikka, a winner of two Super Series events in 2014, ended on top of the Super Series Points Table with a total of 3837.61 to earn the bonus prize of Rs. 30 lakh. The 21-year-old also continues to lead the Rolex Rankings with earnings of Rs. 36,89,711.

Kapil Kumar of Delhi and Mukesh Kumar of Mhow shared fourth place with Chikkarangappa.

Delhi’s Rashid Khan, who finished tied 12th at Noida at three-over-291, claimed second place with 3394 points.

Amardip Sinh Malik finished third in the Super Series with 2252.19 points.

source: http://www.indiansportsnews.com / Indian Sports News / Home> Golf / Monday – December 15th, 2014

As Atletico de Kolkata won the first edition of the Indian Super League with a last-gasp goal in Mumbai on Saturday evening, the 17-year-old sat transfixed in front of the television, grateful to be playing football at a time when the game has finally gone international in India.

The Class XII student at Frank Anthony Public School, who captains his team and wears the No. 10 jersey, writes for Metro what the ISL and Atletico de Kolkata’s victory meant to him.

The nail-biting football that had the nation hooked for 90-odd minutes on Saturday night was not only a fitting finale to the first edition of the ISL but also a big triumph for Calcutta, which is the place to be for any sports fan like me.

Atletico de Kolkata’s victory completed a rare double for the city – 2014 IPL and ISL champions – while our home-grown forward Mohammed Rafique’s winning goal made me believe that perseverance and dedication matter the most in the quest for glory.

ATK’s never-say-die attitude in the final was inspiring too. I have won and lost many finals and I know how mentally draining it can be. But the ATK players were calm. Your instincts and talent matter but your mindset can make or break you. Big matches are nerve-wracking and brutal to lose.

Super-sub Rafique’s 95th-minute header reminded me of two occasions where I have been in a similar position. During my training at Club Atletico Boca Juniors, I had come on as a substitute in a friendly and scored a late goal that gave my side a 1-0 win. In the quarter-finals of the Keventer Cup 2014, my school team was awarded a last-minute penalty, which I calmly converted.

On the flip side, I have been in the boots of Kerala’s Michael Chopra, who thought he had scored the winner, only to discover that his shot had been saved by the brilliant Edel Bete.

Like Michael, my heartbreak moment had come in the dying moments of a final of the inter-Frank Anthony schools’ tournament, which cost us the match. That’s the harsh reality of sport.

Saturday’s final taught me how a strategy like keeping a defender at the first post (which Kerala goalkeeper David James should have done) or a brilliant save (like Edel’s) can be the fine line between triumph and misery.

Without Luis Garcia in the starting XI and Fikru out of the match, ATK had their backs to the wall from the beginning. They initially lacked creativity in the midfield and Kerala looked a much better team. But Kerala failed to convert chances and I was amazed how Arnab Mondal and Josemi, the defensive stalwarts, and goalkeeper Edel kept ATK alive in the game.

With missed chances at both ends, each side was almost resigned to 30 minutes of extra time until, astonishingly, ATK found a way out of it!

In the end, I think, India was the real winner of the ISL, opening up so many avenues for the growth of football in the country.

The ISL also gave young footballers like me the much-needed push to dream of making it big. It gave me new heroes like Sandesh Jhingan, who makes match-winning tackles; Elano Blumer, whose free kicks I would like to emulate; Luis Garcia, whose skills and leadership qualities I have tried to embrace; and Iain Hume and Steven Pearson, whose stamina and perseverance inspire me.

source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph, Calcutta / Front Page> Calcutta> Story / Monday – December 22nd, 2014

Mysuru  :

The following students have been selected to represent the State in the National Level Sports Meet based on their performance at the State Level Sports Meet held recently.

Under 14 category: Long Jump: Tabrez (Srikanteshwara High School) & Sinchana Ganesh (Marimallappa High School).

100 mts and 200 mts run: Varshini (SVEI School).

Under 17 category: Shot Put: Ambika (Kaveri School)

Javelin Throw: Nagma (Govt. PU College, People’s Park)

Shot Put: Mohammed Saqlain Ahmed (Geeta Bharathi School) and Manush (CFTRI School).

800 mts and 3000 mts run: M. Veena (Sri Nirvanaswamy High School, Kurubur, T.N. Pur).

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News /  Wedesday , December 10th, 2014

Lucknow:

Old wisdom suggests dogs are man’s best friend, but ask Lt Col Faiz Siddiqui (35), one of the youngest national-level polo players in the country and he will give you a different answer.

After spending more than eight years with his favorite 12-year-old half-bred bay colored horse ‘Awesome’, he believes horses are one of the most loyal, interactive and steadfast companions one can ever have.

An accomplished polo player, Lt Col Faiz Siddiqui is just back from England after playing a Polo tournament. He is in the city competing for the Awadh Polo Sunshine Cup at Surya Parisar ground. Representing Torpedos (the Army Service Corps team from Bangalore) Faiz has been one of the top scorers in all the league matches but for every achievement on the ground, the players gives credit to Awesome.

Despite knowing that Awesome, being an Army horse, can never be permanently owned by him, Faiz has developed a very special bond with him. He makes sure even after the training session he spends quality time with Awesome, understanding his needs, mood swings and treating him with his favourite food, jaggery.

Recalling his first encounter with Awesome, Faiz, said Awesome was one of the naughtiest polo ponies he had ever come across and to tame him was one of the most tedious tasks for him. But for Faiz, the initial one and a half years of the training period during which he got to know Awesome is one of the most cherished periods of his life.

“Awesome is equally dear to my family. He is especially attached to my six-year-old daughter who loves to ride on him. Each time Awesome makes her sit on him he takes immense care truly acting as a responsible elder brother,” he added.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / by Uzma Talha, TNN / December 13th, 2014

Dr. NGP College of Arts and Science and Nirmala College, with 63 points apiece, emerged the overall champions in the men and women’s sections respectively in the Bharathiar University inter-collegiate athletic meet at the Nehru Stadium here on Friday.

Three records fell on the final day and all came in the men’s section. A. Deepan Chakravarthi of STC (Pollachi), who shattered the 400m mark on Thursday, doubled his effort winning the 200m gold with a record timing of 21.7s.

A. Dharun of Dr. NGP College followed it up with a new record time of 53.5s in the men’s 400m hurdles. Later in the day, the STC men ran a brilliant last two legs to set a new 4x400m record.

Triple jumpers S.N. Mohammed Salahuddin (PSGCAS) and M.A. Sivanbarasi (PSGR Krishnammal) were declared the best athletes.

The results: Men: 200m: 1. A. Deepan Chakravarthi (STC, Pollachi) 21.7s (NMR); 2. K. Kevin Rinalldo (Dr. GRD); 3. P. Arul Prakash (Dr. NGP). 400m hurdles: 1. A. Dharun (Dr. NGP) 53.5s (NMR); 2. M. Parthiban (STC); 3. J. Balaji (Sri Krishna). Long jump: 1. S.N. Mohammed Salahuddin (PSGCAS) 7.27m; 2. S.P. Laxman (Dr. NGP); 3. S. Bharathiraj (STC). 10,000m: 1. T.M. Shaheer Ali (Dr. NGP) 34:48.6s; 2. K. Thangavel Murugan (Dr. NGP); 3. G. Gopa Kumar (PSGCAS). Discus: 1. R. Ashwin (Sri Krishna) 38.04m; 2. S. Bharathi Raj (STC); 3. S. Durai Murugan (Dr. NGP). Pole vault: 1. G. Krishna Vishnu (PSGCAS) 3.60m; 2. A. Khassan Khan (Dr. NGP); 3. R. Saravana Kumar (STC).4x400m: 1. STC Pollachi 3:22.0s (NMR); 2. PSGCAS; 3. Sri Krishna. Best athlete: S.N. Mohammed Salahuddin (PSGCAS) 1003 pts. Overall champion: 1. Dr. NGP CAS 63 pts; 2. PSGCAS 55.

Women: 200m: 1. D. Anitha (Dr. NGP) 26.1s; 2. R. Mohana (Nirmala); 3. A. Manjusri (Nirmala).400m hurdles: 1. P. Iniya (PSGR Krishnammal) 1:07.3s; 2. G. Sathya (Nirmala); 3. P. Vinosha (Nirmala). Long jump: 1. M.A. Sivanbarasi (PSGR Krishnammal) 5.50m; 2. P. Monisha (Nirmala); 3. U. Sukithra (PSGR Krishnammal). 10,000m: 1. R. Poongodi (Gobi Arts) 37:34.8s; 2. E. Vasanthamani (Gobi Arts); 3. S. Vidya (Dr. NGP). Pole vault: 1. M. Deebika (Nirmala) 2.00m; 2. R. Geetha (Nirmala).Heptathlon: 1. P. Jayanthi (Dr. NGP) 3487pts; 2. G. Sathya (Nirmala); 3. M. Vetrivel Vigneshwari (Sri Krishna). Best athlete: M.A. Sivanbarasi (PSGR Krishnammal) 928 pts. Overall champion: 1. Nirmala 63 pts; 2. PSGR Krishnammal 56.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sport> Other Sports / by Special Correspondent / Coimbatore – December 13th, 2014

After defeating 40 time winners Mumbai at the Wankhede, allrounder feels that the great feat would do a world of good for the people of his state.

Allrounder Parveez Rasool is not likely to forget 10 December 2014 for the rest of his life. For that was the day when he led minnows Jammu and Kashmir to their greatest triumph over 40-time Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai at the Wandkhede Stadium. For Rasool, this victory went beyond a mere statistic — he said it was it was a tribute to the flood hit people of his state.

“I will thank God first that I can dedicate this win to all the flood stricken people of my state. For I believe that adversities bring out the best out in someone. And believe me, I will dedicate this fantastic win to all those people who suffered during the devastating floods during the month of September,” he said.

What makes Rasool and his team’s win even more significant is the fact that due to the floods the Jammu and Kashmir team had virtually no practice before their match against Mumbai. “The devastation caused by the floods was such that we did not get to practice at all. Not only that with so much devastation around, it was very difficult for us to focus on cricket. But we were determined to do something for thepeople of our ravaged state,” he said.

He said that the damage suffered by some of this teammates made them more determined than ever to defeat Mumbai. “Some of the members of our team have gone through quite bad times in terms of loss of property. This only added to their resolve to something special for their brethren in the state.  For they felt that the people back home had suffered was a great deal more than a Ranji Trophy match,” said Rasool.

Coming back to the game against Mumbai, Rasool felt that the J&K team started believing themselves. “We knew beating Mumbai at the Wankhede was a really tall ask. But then a win for us was also possible. To achieve that we told ourselves that we had to play out of our skin. And mind you nothing less than that would help us to beat the 40-time champions in their backyard,” he said.

Rasool said that Sandeep Patil, chairman of the selection committee had congratulated him after his team’s win over Mumbai. “I thought that was a great gesture. He (Sandeep) has been a good player during his time. I thought his gesture was a great one. I was very thrilled after I got to talk to him following our win,” said Rasool.

Rasool was also quick to credit former coach and spin great Bishen Singh Bedi. Bedi who was the former coach of the Jammu and Kashmir team for a couple of years has been a great inspiration to the team. And Rasool was quick to point out that factor. “It was Bedi sir who told us that there is nothing called strong and weak on a cricket field. The upward graph of J&K cricket started with Bedi sir’s arrival. Our quarter-final appearance in the Ranji Trophy last season, is a testimony that this victory is not a one-off thing,” he said.

He also said Bedi had played a big role in evolving him as a better bowler. “Bedi sir was always supportive of whatever I did. He always wanted me to try new things. And that is where I feel I have really evolved as a better spinner. I can tell you that for the encouragement from Bedi sir I would not have been the player that I am today. I owe a great deal to him,” he added.

There were glad tidings for Rasool when he was shortlisted for the World Cup probables list last week, making him the first player from Jammu and Kashmir to be shortlisted for the World Cup. “I know it is the dream of every cricketer to play in the World Cup. It would be really great if I get to play for Team India Down Under,” he said. The pragmatic cricketer that Rasool is right now is real concern is to score as many runs and take as many wickets for Jammu and Kashmir. “I feel the top priority for me right now is now to perform my best for the Jammu and Kashmir team in the Ranji Trophy,” he said.

source: http://www.sunday-guardian.com / The Sunday Guardian / Home> Sports / by Saji Chacko / New Delhi – October 13th, 2014