Category Archives: Sports

Dasara Sports : Five new records set as B’lore athletes continue to dominate

Sports
Winners of the 4x100 m individual medley relay (gold) at University Swimming Pool as part of Dasara Sports yesterday are: Bangalore City Men’s team — S.V. Likith, Rakshit U. Shetty, Mohammed Makarab Salim and M. Aravind — and Bangalore City Women’s team — G. Monisha, D.A. Charu Hamsini, U.S. Utthare and V. Malavika.
Winners of the 4×100 m individual medley relay (gold) at University Swimming Pool as part of Dasara Sports yesterday are: Bangalore City Men’s team — S.V. Likith, Rakshit U. Shetty, Mohammed Makarab Salim and M. Aravind — and Bangalore City Women’s team — G. Monisha, D.A. Charu Hamsini, U.S. Utthare and V. Malavika.

Mysore :

Five new meet records were set (three in the men’s and two in the women’s section) on the second day of the Dasara Games athletic events at the Chamundi Vihar Stadium yesterday.

Bangalore city continued their fine run with their athletes setting two new meet records in the women’s section while Belgaum, Mysore and Bangalore Rural athletes accounted one each.

Bangalore city athletes dominate:  Out of the 10 gold medals which were at stake in athletics (both men & women), on the second day, Bangalore city won five golds, Mysore two, Belgaum two and Bangalore Rural claimed the other gold.

Bangalore city’s athletes top the medal’s tally in athletics with 9 golds, 6 silver and 5 bronze medals (Men’s section – 3 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze; Women’s section – 6 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze). Mysore is placed second with 6 gold, 12 silver & 8 bronze (Men’s – 2 gold, 7 silver and 4 bronze; Women’s – 4 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze).

In the day’s first event, Railway athlete Vishwambhar Kolekar of Belgaum won gold in the men’s 800m event with a new meet record timing of 1:50.04s, erasing the six-year-old record of 1:52.7s set by V. Rohith of Bangalore city in 2008. K.A. Bharath of Bangalore Rural also bettered the old record by bagging the silver with a timing of 1:52.6s. Mysore Division’s Suraj Pujar bagged the bronze with a timing of 1:53.15s.

Samarth sparkles:  Udupi’s Samarth representing Mysore Division impressed with his clean strides and clearances of the hurdles to win the men’s 110m hurdles event. He set a new meet record timing of 14.2s, erasing the previous record of 14.9s, set by Sreekanth Madyastha of Mysore Division in 2013. Srikanth Madhyastha finished second and bettered his own record with a timing of 14.3s. M.K. Sumanth of Bangalore Rural also bettered the old mark and bagged the bronze with a timing of 14.6s.

B. Chethan of Bangalore Rural, the Bangalore University record holder, jumped to a new height of 2.10m and set a new meet record. Chethan broke his own record of 2.07m set in 2013.

The day’s fourth record came from Priyanka of Mysore division who threw the discus to a new mark of 41.42m and set a new meet record. Priyanka erased the 21-year-old mark of 39.69m set by Mysore Division’s K.G. Kavitha in 1993. Likitha of Mysore (38.55m) and S. Nividetha (36.92m) secured the silver and bronze medals respectively.

National-level athlete M. Arpitha of Bangalore City ran a fast paced race and set a new meet record in the women’s 200m event with a timing of 24.01s, erasing the previous mark of 24.5s set by Mysore Division’s Reena George in 2013. Reena George of Mysore also bettered the mark and secured the silver medal with a timing of 24.03s. M.G. Padmini of Bangalore City won the bronze (25.04s).

G.N. Boppanna of Bangalore city who had won 100m on the first day, also won the 200m event in style in the men’s section with a timing of 21.2s. Keerthikumar Benke of Belgaum won the discus gold in the men’s section with a throw of 45.16m.

K.C. Shruthi of Bangalore City who had won the gold in the women’s 1500m event on the first day, continued her good run and clinched the 800m gold with a timing of 2:18.07s. Harshinikumari and Prajna S. Prakash (both from Bangalore City) struck gold in the women’s High Jump and 110m hurdles events respectively.

In the team events, Mysore Division won the men’s tennis title beating Bangalore Rural 2-0 in the final. Suraj R. Prabodh and Prashanth of Mysore Division won their singles matches to clinch the gold. Belgaum beat Bangalore Rural 2-1 to clinch the bronze. In Table tennis, Mysore Division and Bangalore City have entred the final. In throwball, Mysore Division has won all their mathes in the league and will take on Bangalore City in the final to decide the winner. In the Kho-Kho matches, Mysore Division beat Bangalore City 16-14 (by two points0 in the league to emerge on top.

In the women’s section, Bangalore City beat Mysore 2-1 to clinch the gold. Bangalore Rural took the third place. In the women’s throwball section, Mysore Division will meet Bangalore City in the final. In Kho-Kho, Mysore beat Bangalore Rural (10-1) and also beat Belgaum 8-1 to set up a title clash with Bangalore City.

In basketball, Mysore beat Bangalore rural 59-31 with Savitha (15) playing well for the winner. Mysore drubbed Bangalore rural 1-0 in their hockey league tie, while Gulbarga beat Bangalore City 1-0 in a closely contested tie in which the winning goal was scored by Vijayalakshmi.

Jeelani of Davanagere was adjudged as the ‘Dasara Shree 2014’ in the Body-building competition (weight class) held at the Chamundivihar stadium on Friday evening. Jeelani also topped the 65kg section and excelled in the body show to clinch the title.

Md. Yakoob Salim and M. Aravind of Bangalore City with 15 points each won the Individual championship title in the men’s swimming championships. Bangalore City won the men’s team title with 88 points. V. Malavika of Bangalore City with 15 points won the Individual title in the women’s swimming championships. Bangalore City won the team title with 57 points.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / Sunday,  September 28th,  2014

Dasara Games 2014: Four new records tumble on day one

Sports
The victorious Bangalore City’s 4x400 men’s relay quartet (from left) Jayaprakash Shetty, Raghu, Sachin Gowda and Ashwin who set a New meet record at Chamundivihar Stadium yesterday.
The victorious Bangalore City’s 4×400 men’s relay quartet (from left) Jayaprakash Shetty, Raghu, Sachin Gowda and Ashwin who set a New meet record at Chamundivihar Stadium yesterday.

Mysore :

The inaugural day of the Dasara Games athletic events witnessed 4 new meet records being set (three in the women’s section and one in the men’s section), Chamundi Vihar Stadium on Friday.

Bangalore City’s athletes hogged the limelight by being involved in three of the four new meet records set. Mysore claimed the top honours in the other. Out of the 10 gold medals at stake in athletics (both men & women), hosts Mysore and Bangalore City won four golds each, while Belgaum and Bangalore Rural won a gold each.

23-year old record erased

In the day’s second event in the women’s 1500m, K.C. Shruthi, South Western Railway employee from Bangalore City’s ran a fast paced race from the beginning and led from the front and finished well to set a new meet record with a timing of 4:43.09s erasing the 23 year old previous record of 4:44.8s set by B.S. Sujatha of Mysore Division in 1991. R. Mahalakshmi of Bangalore City( 4:53.08s) and B. K. Supreetha (Mysore-4:54.05s) secured the second and third places respectively.

Praneetha Pradeep, a Junior National medalist from Bangalore City who trains with L. Mathai leapt to a new meet record of 5.79 mts in the women’s long jump event, erasing the previous mark of 5.76 mts set by G.N. Aishwarya of Bangalore City in 2011. V.M. Jolly (B’lore city-5.24 mts) and B. Aishwarya (Mysore-5.15 mts) won the silver and bronze medals.

Bangalore City’s men’s 4x400m quatret comprising of A.K. Raghu, Sachin Gowda, M.J. Ashwin and Jayaprakash Shetty set a new meet record with a timing of 3:16.4 sec erasing the old mark of 3:17.7 sec set by Mysore Division in 2013. Mysore Division and Bangalore Rural secured the silver and bronze medals.

In the last event for the day in athletics, the hosts brought some cheer when their women’s 4×400 mts relay quatret comprising of Afsana, Megha, H.R. Navami and Reena George set a new meet record with a timing of 3:50.00 sec erasing the old mark of 3:59.57 sec set by Mysore Division in 2013.

Bopanna of Bangalore City emerged as the fastest man of the meet by winning the 100 mts sprint with a timing of 10.07 sec. Reena George of Mysore Div. emerged as the fastest women of the meet by breasting the tape with a timing of 11.09 sec.

L. Bharath of Bangalore Rural won the gold in the men’s 1500 mts event with a timing of 4:15.08 sec. Atish Gagan Raju of Mysore Division won the gold medal in Shot Put with a throw of 15.80 mts. V. Sathyanarayan V.N. of Belgaum won the gold in the men’s long Jump event with a leap of 7.36 mts.

In the team events, Mysore division entered the semi-finals in the men’s tennis event with a 2-1 win over Belgaum. In Table Tennis, Mysore Division beat Bangalore Rural 3-0 to enter the quarter-finals. In Throwball, Mysore’s men beat Bangalore city 25-17, 19-25, 25-14 and also beat Belgaum 25-16, 25-16 with Supreeth playing well for them.

In football, Mysore Division beat Bangalore City 2-1, while Bangalore Rural drubbed Gulbarga 7-2. In Kabaddi, Mysore division beat Belgaum 24-11 while Bangalore City and Mysore City were involved in a 15-15 exciting drawn encounter. In Basketball, Bangalore city beat Gulbarga 64-36 while Mysore Division beat Belgaum 66-38. In Volleyball, Bangalore City beat Gulbarga 3-0 while Belgaum beat Mysore 3-1. In Kho-Kho Bangalore City beat Belgaum by one turn and 6 points (21-15), while Bangalore Rural beat Gulbarga by an innings and two points (10-8).

In swimming, Bangalore City’s swimmers in the men’s and women’s section dominated the pool by winning nine out of the 12 golds at stake on the first day. Md. Yaqub Saleem of Bangalore City won two golds in the men’s 200 mts & 400 mts freestyle events. V. Malvika of Bangalore City also won the 200 mts & 400 mts golds in freestyle event to hog the limelight in the women’s section.

The results: Athletics: Men: 100 mts: 1. G.N. Bopanna (B’lore City-10.07 sec); 2. N. Vaishak (Mysore-10.09 sec); 3. V. Sanjay. (B’lore City)-11.00 sec); 1500m: 1. L. Bharath (B’lore Rural-4:15.08 sec); 2. Suraj (Mys -4:16.23 sec); 3. N. Vinay (B’lore City)-4:16.35s); Shot Put: 1. Atish Gagan Raju (Mys-15.80m); 2. Jason Rebuin Salins (Mys-15.33m); 3. Kumar Naik (B’lore Rural-14.48 mts); Long Jump: 1. V.N. Sathyanarayan (Bgm-7.36 mts); 2. K. Avin Kumar (Mys-7.32 mts); 3. H.P. Siddarth (Mys-7.14 mts); 4x400m relay: 1. B’lore City (NMR- A.K. Raghu, Sachin Gowda, M.J. Ashwin, Jayaprakash Shetty-3m:16.4 sec); 2. Mysore ; 3. Bangalore Rural.

Women: 100 mts: 1. Reena George (Mys-11.09 sec); 2. M.G. Padmini (B’lore City-12.02 sec); 3. Bhuvi B. Shankar (Mys-12.04 sec); 1500m: 1. K.C. Shruthi (B’lore City-NMR-4:43.09s); 2. R. Mahalakshmi (B’lore City-4:53.08s); 3. B.K. Supreetha (Mys-4:54.05s); Long Jump: 1. Praneetha Pradeep (B’lore,City-NMR-5.79mts); 2. V.M. Jolly (Mys- 5.24 mts); 3. B. Aishwarya (Mys-5.15mts); Shot Put: 1. G.K. Namitha (Mys-12.07 mts); 2. P.S. Uma (Mys-11.86 mts); 3. Niveditha Samanth (Bgm-11.45 mts); 4×400 mts Relay: 1. Mysore Division (NMR-3:50.00s-Old-Mysore Division-2013-3:59.57s).

Team Games: Men: Kho-Kho: B’lore City bt Belgaum 21-15; B’lore Rural bt Gulbarga 10-8; Kabaddi: Mysore bt Belgaum 24-11; B’lore Rural bt Gulbarga 31-15; B’lore City drew Mysore 15-15; Belgaum bt Gulbarga 23-13; Hockey: Belgaum bt Mysore 3-1; B’lore City bt Gulbarga 6-1; Football: B’lore Rural bt Gulbarga 7-2; Mysore bt B’lore City 2-1; Net Ball: Mysore bt Belgaum 13-11; B’lore Rural bt Gulbarga 25-21; B’lore City bt Belgaum 13-7; Tennis: Mysore beat Belgum 2-1; Throwball: Mysore bt Belgaum 25-16, 25-16; B’lore Rural bt Gulbarga 25-14, 25-13; Mysore bt B’lore City 25-17, 19-25, 25-14; Table Tennis: Mysore bt B’lore Rural 3-0; Basketball: B’lore City bt Gulbarga 64-36; Mysore bt Belgaum 66-38; Volleyball: B’lore City bt Gulbarga 3-0; Belgaum bt Mysore 3-1.

Women: Kho-Kho: B’lore Rural bt Gulbarga 10-6; B’lore City bt Belgaum 7-6; Kabaddi: Mysore bt Gulbarga 40-10; B’lore City bt Belgaum 50-18; B’lore Rural bt Gulbarga 57-17; Mysore bt Belgaum 46-28; Hockey: Gulbarga bt B’lore Rural 11-0; Bangalore City bt Belgaum 3-1; Net ball: B’lore City bt Mysore 20-6; Tennis: B’lore Rural bt Belgaum 2-1; Throwball: B’lore City bt Gulbarga 25-3; 25-5; B’lore Rural bt Belgaum 25-16, 25-15; Mysore bt Gulbarga 25-6, 25-3; Table Tennis: B’lore City bt B’lore Rural 3-2; Basketball: B’lore City bt Belgaum 51-29; Volleyball: Mysore bt Gulbarga 3-0; B’lore City bt Belgaum 3-1; B’lore Rural bt Gulbarga 3-0.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News  / Saturday  , September 27th,  2014

City Kick-Boxers haul 16 medals at Natl. Championship

Sports
Seen in the picture are the medal winners (from left - back row) Madhusudhan, L. Srihari, Suleman, N. Vinay, M. Rakesh, Coach Vikram, C. Chethan, Naveen Shetty, Aditya Bhat, M.J. Chethan and Mohammed Zulkharnain; (front row) Sidhan Chengappa, Naveen Kumar, Prakyath Bhat, G. Rajesh, Nachappa, Chidambaram and Amit.
Seen in the picture are the medal winners (from left – back row) Madhusudhan, L. Srihari, Suleman, N. Vinay, M. Rakesh, Coach Vikram, C. Chethan, Naveen Shetty, Aditya Bhat, M.J. Chethan and Mohammed Zulkharnain; (front row) Sidhan Chengappa, Naveen Kumar, Prakyath Bhat, G. Rajesh, Nachappa, Chidambaram and Amit.

Mysore :

A total of 16 fighters of The Academy of Martial Science, Mysore, affiliated to Mysore District Muay Thai Association and Muay Thai Association, Karnataka, have bagged two gold, six silver and eight bronze medals at the 15th Amateur Senior Muay Thai Kick-Boxing National Championships held at Lalbahadur Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad recently.

Light Heavy Weight Champion C. Chethan defended his title for the third consecutive time, while Mohammed Zulkharnain became the new Heavy Weight Champion of India.

Other medal winners: G. Rajesh (Pin Weight – Silver Medal), L. Srihari (Light Welter Weight – Silver Medal in A Division), Suleman (Bantam Weight – Silver Medal), N. Vinay (Light Middle Weight – Bronze Medal), M. Rakesh (Cruiser Weight – Silver Medal), Naveen Shetty (Bantam Weight – Bronze Medal in A Division), Aditya Bhat (Light Heavy Weight – Bronze Medal), M.J. Chethan (Middle Weight – Silver Medal), Sidhan (Light Welter Weight – Silver Medal), Naveen Kumar (Light Weight – Bronze Medal), Prakyath Bhat (Fly Weight – Bronze Medal), Chidambaram (Fly Weight – Bronze Medal), Amit (Bantam Weight – Bronze Medal), Nachappa (Light Weight – Quarter Finalist) and G. Madhusudhan (Heavy Weight – Silver Medal).

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News  / Saturday  , September 27th,  2014

Indian hockey umpire Javed officiates 100th match

Amazing Feats, Sports, World Opinion

Indian hockey umpire Javed Shaikh earned an unique distinction Thursday by officiating in his 100th international match at the 17th Asian Games in Incheon.

The 39-year-old achieved the milestone during the men’s bronze medal match between South Korea and Malaysia at the Seonhak Hockey Stadium.

“Umpire Javed Shaikh has brought recognition to the country by umpiring his 100th match at the 17th Asian Games. His remarkable achievement gives me immense delight and I congratulate him on behalf of Hockey India (HI) and look forward to seeing more of him on the field,” HI secretary general Narinder Batra said.

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> News-IANS> Sports / IANS / New Delhi – October 02nd, 2014

Hockey India Congratulates Umpire Javed Shaikh For Umpiring In His 100th International Match Today At The 17th Asian Games 2014

Amazing Feats, Sports, World Opinion

IncheonMPOs03oct2014

New Delhi :

While the Indian Women Hockey team won the bronze medal at the 17th Asian Games 2014 yesterday, the Indian Hockey Umpire Javed Shaikh gave India another proud moment at the international platform by umpiring in his 100th international match between Korea and Malaysia for the bronze medal at the ongoing Games.

Javed-ShaikhMPOs03oct2014

39-year old Javed Shaikh started officiating hockey matches in the year 2003 and has dedicated over a decade of hard work to the game.

Congratulating Javed on his celebratory achievement, Dr. Narinder Batra, Secretary General, Hockey India said, “Umpire Javed Shaikh has brought recognition to the country in the field of hockey by umpiring his 100th match today at the 17th Asian Games 2014. His remarkable achievement gives me immense delight and I congratulate him on behalf of Hockey India and look forward to seeing more of him on the field.”

FIH World Development Panel Umpire Javed, currently works with the Mumbai Port Trust Sports Club, Mumbai (Maharashtra). He has umpired matches in the Rabobank Hockey World Cup this year at The Hague, Netherlands. Javed has also officiated in the FIH Junior Men World Cup 2013 in New Delhi, FIH World League Round 2 in 2013 in New Delhi, FIH Champions Challenge 1 held in Argentina, 2012 Olympic Qualifiers held in New Delhi 2012, Asia Cup 2009, Commonwealth Games 2006 and Asian Games played at Doha in the year 2006.

source: http://www.hockeyindia.org / Hockey India / Home> News / New Delhi – October 02nd, 2014

Success from very first appearance

Sports, World Opinion
Mohammed Ahmed with his coach Ismail Baig. Photo: V.V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu
Mohammed Ahmed with his coach Ismail Baig. Photo: V.V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu

The 20-year-old Mohammad Ahmed has every reason to look back with a sense of pride after winning the bronze medal being part of the Indian coxed eights team in the Asian Games in his very first appearance.

“It was an unforgettable experience for me. To win a medal in my first Asiad is something which I never dreamt off. I am grateful to Ismail Sir (pointing to coach),” exclaims the young CPRF constable.

“We all enjoyed every moment of the race. It could have been great if only we had won a gold for which we were all confident,” says Ahmed, who incidentally picked his third medal at the Asian level.

‘My dream’

“My dream is to be part of the Indian rowing team for the 2016 Olympics. I am confident I will realise that goal too,” says the smiling young rower, who loves watching soccer and also plays gully cricket whenever he finds time.

The youngest of all the Indian rowers in the Incheon Asian Games is born in a family which survives on his father Mohammad Ismail’s meat shop in the by-lanes of Kavadiguda.

This enterprising young rower took to the sport during one of the routine trips with his father who supplies meat to the rowing contingent as part of their daily diet.

India’s chief national coach and Dronacharya Ismail Baig was quick to spot the spark in the young boy and coaxed him to rowing.

The rest is history. Ahmed won gold in the Kolkata Senior Nationals in the coxed four event, bronze in the Hyderabad Nationals in the coxed eight team and later a silver in the Asian championship later on in Korea.

Later on, he has been groomed as the ‘cox’ in the Indian eights team which also has the 2010 Asiad gold medallist Bajrang Lal Thakkar. Technically, he is supposed to give direction to the team to be straight and keep track of the wind conditions and guide the rowers accordingly.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V.V.Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – September 29th, 2014

Asian Games: To win five medals is pretty good show, says Sania Mirza

Sports, World Opinion
Sania Mirza has lauded Indian tennis team's performance at the 17th Asian Games, given that the country did not come with the best unit possible for the event. Photo: PTI/ File
Sania Mirza has lauded Indian tennis team’s performance at the 17th Asian Games, given that the country did not come with the best unit possible for the event. Photo: PTI/ File

Incheon:

Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza feels the five medals that the team has managed to grab at the ongoing Asian Games is a pretty good performance given that the country did not come with the best unit possible for the event.

“It has been a pretty good week. We (she and Prarthana Thombare) got a medal (bronze) in women’s doubleswhich is huge because it’s something that we never did. I had to be the leader. It’s a young team we came here with, didn’t come with the best team possible, especially with the guys. Five medals (including today’s) is pretty good,” she said ahead of the mixed doubles semifinals with Saket Myneni at the Yeorumul Tennis Centre.

Hyderabad and Dubai-based Sania spoke to reporters as the matches for the day had been put off due to continuous rains at Incheon since Sunday night. The 27-year-old Indian tennis star, who was initially inclined towards skipping the Games to gain doubles points on the WTA tour before changing her mind, said the reason was to provide the country with its best shot at picking up more medals in these Games, her fourth on the trot.

Before the current Games she had won a gold (in mixed doubles in 2006 in Doha), three silver medals (women’s singles and team in 2006 and in mixed doubles in 2010 at Guangzhou) and two bronze medals (women’s singles and doubles in Guangzhou). Besides, she also won silver (singles) and bronze (doubles) in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

“The minute I made the decision to come here, I knew it was the right decision. For me the most important thing was to give India the best chance of winning as many medals as possible. I did what I could and I got two in the two events I played (women’s doubles and mixed doubles where she and Myneni will fight for the gold). “I am happy that there was my contribution. Personally it’s my fourth Asian Games in a row and I have got medals in every single Asian Games I have been to. For me to get eight medals in the last four editions is pretty good,” she remarked.

Sania said she has played her part as a mentor to her women teammates here who are of the same age as her younger sister and is hoping they win medals on their own in the next Games which are scheduled at Jakarta in 2018.

“I have a good rapport with these girls and I am always there to help if they ask. They are all of my sister’s age, like babies for me. They are 7-8 years younger than me. I am sharing a room with one of them.”

“Most definitely these are the best youngsters we have had in a while. My doubles partner (Prarthana) has some potential and is still pretty young. We need to build on this. I hope this gives them a lot of confidence that they can achieve certain things,” Sania said.

“I have held this flag for a long time. It will be great to pass it on to someone else. Hopefully by the next Asian Games, they will be ready to win a medal by themselves,” she added.

Sania, who was the world no 23 at her peak in singles, pointed out quite a few factors like lack of guidance and proper coaching as reasons for the other Indian women being unable to break into even the top 200 In singles.

“There are a few reasons. I definitely think planning is one of them, lack of knowledge and lack of maybe even coaching abilities at certain levels. I think a lot of coaches in India haven’t seen what it takes to really make it because they have not produced anyone nor have they been at that level. “I am not saying you need to be a great tennis player to be a coach, but you need to have watched at the highest level to be a good coach. The best they might have watched is the WTA event a few years ago.”

She also said that most of the women players are content to play at the USD 25,000 level which was simply not enough to go places in the world. “Tennis is very competitive these days. Physically as well they struggle a bit, there are a bunch of reasons. I have been trying to help them with scheduling, trying to tell them which tournament to take part in.”

“First of all they need to come out of the USD 25000 tournaments try and believe they can do better at the bigger tournaments. That’s one of the main things. That’s where they have to perform,” Sania said.

“You are not going to play these for the rest of your life. If you do so you will remain in the 300 rankings for the rest of your career. That’s what they have been doing, go for the easier options. It’s not because they want to but because of lack of guidance at certain levels. About her own career and her immediate plans she said she was leaving Tuesday morning to play in the September 27-October 5 China Open with Cara Black, and would probably play Tuesday afternoon.

“It’s been rough last couple of weeks. Since the US open I have not had any time really. I came back after New York and had literally three days at home. I was not even over jetlag when I left for Tokyo and then came here. It’s a good problem to have, it has been busy. After that I go to Singapore (for the WTA season-ending finals),” she said.

Sania said her season so far, especially the second half, has been pretty good and she wanted to finish it on a high. “It’s been a great year and especially the second half of the season has been unbelievable. Hopefully we (she and Black) can finish on a high, can win here (with Thombare) and hopefully go to Singapore which has been the highlight of my career. I want to do well there,” she said.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Sports> Tennis / PTI / September 29th, 2014

Sania Mirza climbs to world No. 6 in doubles

Leaders, Sports, World Opinion
A file photo of Sania Mirza (Photo: AFP)
A file photo of Sania Mirza (Photo: AFP)

New Delhi: 

Touching a new high, India’s tennis ace Sania Mirza on Monday became World No.6 in doubles, her career-best ranking, as the new chart was released following the conclusion of the French Open. Courtesy a quarterfinals appearance at the Roland Garros, Sania earned 430 ranking points along with partner Cara Black to jump eight places in the ranking charts.

Sania and Cara had lost to eventual champions Shuai Peng and Su-Wei Hsieh. “When I started the season this year in January, one of my goals was to better my career-best world ranking. I am happy to have achieved this today,” Sania said from Birmingham, where she is gearing up for the grass court season, leading to the Wimbledon championships.

Sania’s father and coach Imran Mirza said, “Sania has played very consistently this season and has been rewarded. I believe she has the potential to go further.” India’s No.1 singles player Ankita Raina also achieved her career-best rank, 262, with a jump of 28 places. Ankita had ended runner-up at a $25,000 event in Indonesia to earn 30 points. In the ATP rankings, Somdev Devvarman dropped out of top-100 as he lot 23 places to be 119 in the singles chart. He had made a first round exit at the French Open.

In the doubles Leander Paes continued to be the highest ranked player at number 13.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Sports> Tennis / PTI / June 10th, 2014

Punching above her weight

Sports, World Opinion

Sakina Khatum talks about her weightlifting career and her route to success at the Commonwealth Games

Such a long journey Sakina Khatum courted success after many trials including being struck by polio / The Hindu
Such a long journey Sakina Khatum courted success after many trials including being struck by polio / The Hindu

Sakina Khatum hit the headlines with a bronze-winning effort at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, last month. But the 25-year-old promises to do even better at the Incheon Asian Games, come October.

An irony, or call it fate, as polio struck Sakina, one of the four siblings when she was just a year and half old, and since then, it has been a story of determination and fighting all odds.

Four operations below the knee on the right leg helped her to walk, rather than crawl on fours. A doctor advised Sakina to take up swimming to strengthen the leg, and thus began her tryst with sports.

“I was national champion a year after taking up swimming, and for the next four years, ruled the pool in my category. I did not get any recognition or an international call up,” says the girl, who comes from a poor family. “My father is ailing. My brother does not stay with my family.”

She adds, “I came to Bangalore for the selection camp, ahead of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

After three months away from home, I was not picked despite impressing coach Dabas, who referred me to ace para power-lifter Farman Basha. And the rest is history.” Farman, himself restricted to a wheelchair says, “She was lifting only 25 to 26 kgs. To turn her into an international star was a challenge, but with coach Dabas insisting, I agreed. I had no money to spare but asked her to train under me. I found her a small accommodation near K.R. Puram.. Four years down and she has won two international medals (both bronze) for her country,” says Farman.

The journey has not been easy.

“One Mr. Majumdar, from Kolkata used to send Rs. 5000 initially and then increased it to Rs. 10,000 per month for her basic expenses (though that has now stopped after her Commonwealth Games success). He supported her financially, till last month. He even procured her tickets to the Hungary Open, early this year where she won her first international medal. We don’t spend our money (on international tours) and save up to buy supplements – a must for every lifter. When I am short of money, we fall back on local produce,” adds Farman.

“I asked Sakina to move into my place to save up on rent and travel time for training. We train for about four-five days a week,” says the gritty lifter.

For more successes, it is important that the state government and the numerous corporates that endorses sports step forward and make it easy for them to travel and perform at the highest level. Is anyone listening?

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Avinash Nair / September 29th, 2014

Karthik aims to be a Grandmaster

Sports, World Opinion
City chess player K.V.K. Karthik receiving FIDE Master title from IPCA president Pilimon Zbigniew at Serbia. Also seen is Karthik's coach Shaik Khasim. Photo: By Arrangement / The Hindu
City chess player K.V.K. Karthik receiving FIDE Master title from IPCA president Pilimon Zbigniew at Serbia. Also seen is Karthik’s coach Shaik Khasim. Photo: By Arrangement / The Hindu

The Andhra Pradesh Chess Association will felicitate Karthik during the State Open tournament which will be held at Chennupati Ramakotaiah Stadium on September 27

A gold medal at Commonwealth chess championship at Glasgow (Scotland) and a bronze at the World championship at Apatin – Banja Junakovic, Serbia. Twenty-seven-year-old K. Venkata Krishna Karthik is on cloud nine as 2014 is proving to be lucky to him.

The youngster, who is down with a peculiar orthopaedic disorder and poor vision, these two titles in the international tournaments in the physically challenged category has made him realise that his dream of becoming a Grandmaster is not far away.

“We need to thank all those people who stood by Karthik by offering their support both financially and emotionally. Associations like Andhra Cricket Association, Sri Chaitanya Educational Institutes, ARKS Group based at United Kingdom and parents of several players pitched in to give a new dimension to Karthik’s life,” said coach Sk. Khasim of Global Chess Academy.

Karthik not only won FIDE Master title but also earned his first International Master (IM) norm. The chess fraternity went into raptures as Karthik set a fine example to the able-bodied players that what was required to success was hard work and dedication.

“Had Karthik won the eighth round he would have won the title,” felt D. Srihari, secretary of Krishna District Chess Association. Dronacharya Koneru Ashok, Grandmaster Lalith Babu, senior coach and administrator V. R. Bobba and others congratulated the tenacity of Karthik despite his failing health.

Karthik won the hearts of many in the 14 International Physically Challenged World Chess Championship for he played against six talented and higher-rated Russians. A total of 36 players, including International Masters and FIDE Masters from 15 countries, participated in this tournament in which Karthik is seeded the 19th player.

The Andhra Pradesh Chess Association will felicitate Karthik during the State Open tournament which will be held at Chennupati Ramakotaiah Stadium on September 27.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by J.R.Sridharan / Vijayawada – September 25th, 2014