Dipika Pallikal and Joshna Chinappa being felicitated by MCC President Ajit Kumbhat. / Photo : M.Vedhan / The Hindu
Madras Cricket Club (MCC) on Saturday honoured two of its “own children” — Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal — for having won the squash doubles gold at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
MCC president Ajit Kumbhat, hailed Joshna and Dipika as “role models for future generations.”
Tamil Nadu Squash Rackets Association founder member Dr. Ravi Santosham described the duo as “world champions”. Also, Joshna’s comeback from a grave knee surgery a few years ago was the stuff of legends, he said.
Former men’s National squash champion Ali Ispahani urged Joshna and Dipika “to stay out of the country for eight months (in a year)” if they wished to succeed. “If they stay out of India (and practice abroad) they can reach the top 5 (in the world),” he said. The day is not far off when the “girls from our club” will become world champions, he added.
The Hindu Sports Editor Nirmal Shekar said the growth of squash had a lot do with “N. Ramachandran (World Squash Federation president) and clubs like MCC.” He added: “they (Joshna & Dipika) will be right on top (in world rankings) in the next few years.”
Former World women’s champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald, now coach of Dipika, said both the players had “the ability to go higher.”
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sport> Other Sports / by Special Correspondent / Chennai – August 31st, 2014
The following athletes have been selected by the Mysore District Athletic Association to represent the Mysore District team in the Karnataka State Junior and Senior Athletics Championship to be held at Bangalore from Sept 18 to 20:
Girls U-14 yrs: D. Varshini; Sinchana Ganesh; Chaithra (T.N. Pura), S. Anushka; S.N. Pallavi (H.D. Kote); Annupa Ekka; M.A. Anagha and Deepashree
Girls U-16 yrs: Jannavi; Jayashree; Mercy Joyner ;Pallavi (T.N. Pura); Veena (T.N. Pura); P. Sindhu (T.N. Pura); Ashwini; D. Devika (T.N. Pura); B. Pallavi (T.N. Pura); V. Ambika; P. Namratha; K.J. Chandana; H. Anupama; Abhigna D. Nayaka and Virdhya Aiyappa.
Girls U-18 yrs: M. Manjula (T.N. Pura); K.S. Megha (T.N. Pura); C. Lathashree (T.N. Pura); D.S. Neethu; S. Preethi; Anchal and H.N. Sukanya.
Girls U-20 yrs: Navya Shetty
Boys U-14 yrs: S. Chethan Kumar (Beechanalli, H.D. Kote); Ajin; R. Shashank; Mohit Jain; M. Manjunath; Mohith N. Raj; Lakhon; I. Tabreaz; Bharath and Manjunath.
Boys U-16 yrs: Rishab Cariappa; Rahul Ambat; S. Neeraj; Bopaiah; B.K. Nilesh; Surya (Hadinaru); M. Nandakumar; K. Sagar; G. Ullas; Sharath Gowda; Mohammed Saqulain; Sarvesh G. Mallaiah; B. Manush; Chinni Pavan Krishna; Suraj and G.S. Tanveer Pasha.
Boys U-18 yrs: Noorulla; Rohith Karan; B. Poursh; Bibin Thomas; Nikhil Mathew; M.R. Mithun; V.P. Pavan Kumar; H.B. Vishwas; Roshan (Chikka Hunsur); C. Sharath Kumar; Dattatreya; C. Rakshit; Rahul and H.R. Chinmaya Murthy.
Boys U-20 yrs: Mohith Kumar Chauhan; M.V. Deeraj; Utsav Ramesh; Pruthivi Raj Naik; Shubham Poojari; Harsha; N.V. Chandan and Nagendra.
Men: Suhas S. Gowda; Mahendra Rao; Sumanth; Vijayasamaraksh; Vishwa; T.S. Ravi and Nandish.
Women:Shahejahani
For details, contact Association Secretary V. Srikanth on Mob: 97318-08008.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / Septemeer 01st, 2014
Bruno Soares, left, and Sania Mirza pose for photos with the championship trophy after defeating Abigail Spears and Santiago Gonzalez in the mixed doubles final of the 2014 U.S. Open tennis tournament
New York:
Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza clinched her third mixed doubles Grand Slam title as she and her partner Bruno Soares overcame a few anxiuous moments in the Match Tie break to win the US Open, here today. The top seeded Indo-Brazilian pair squandered five straight championship points before scoring a 6-1 2-6 11-9 win over Abigail Spears from the USA and Santiago Gonzalez from Mexico in exactly 60 minutes.
Spears sent a backhand volley long after making it 9-9from 4-9, as Sania and Soares heaved a sigh of relief. It was first time that Sania and Soares were playing together as a pair.
“Playing with him is a lot of fun. He did not play withme all these years not sure why?,” Sania gushed after the win and confirmed that the pairing will continue for the
Australian Open. Sania’s previous titles came with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi. They won Australian Open in 2009 and French Open in 2012.
The 27-year old had reached the Australian Open mixed doubles final this year also but ended runners-up with Romanian partner Horea Tecau. Sania played well in the women’s doubles also, making the semifinals with Zimbabwe’s Cara Black.
Alisha Abdullah is one of India’s very few women bike racers. / by Special Arrangement / The Hindu
Champion racer Alisha Abdullah is in top gear as she dons new roles
“The guys, after every race, used to put me down. I would be one among the last. They would tell me that I am a girl and that I couldn’t do it, say things like girls should get married. I took it up as a challenge. And with every race I worked hard and I improved my position,” says Alisha Abdullah. She went on to prove the ‘guys’ wrong.
One of India’s very few professional women bike racers Alisha inched her way up, competing with men, to be one among the best in the circuit. “Today guys come up to me asking me for tips for the track.” She is also a car racer. She recently won the Toyota Vios Cup, a street car race held in Thailand, where she competed with the best women racers in Asia. “These women are much stronger and tougher racers and I won competing against them.” She says over phone from Chennai where she is based. She said she is scheduled to visit the city for the inauguration of Lap 47, a performance studio for vehicles.
At a time when little girls dreamt of becoming princesses or at least a Miss Universe, Alisha was on the race track wanting to be a biker like her father, R.A. Abdullah, a seven-time national biking champion. Go-karting, bikes and car racing…the petite Alisha has done it all – won prizes and broken records. At 13 she won the national go-karting championship and the best Novice Award in the open class of Formula car racing. She was all of 15 when she got to bike racing.
It is not easy being a professional car or bike racer ‘irrespective of gender’, she says. “As a racer you have to extremely alert. There are many things you need to monitor – check if the RPM is going down or if there is some other suspicious blip and this at speeds exceeding 160 kmph.” A profession which demands physical and mental strength, it keeps her on her toes constantly. She works out intensely, “focussing on strength training than cardio. I never do any cardio. The physical demands of car and bike racing are different. For the former, neck and lower back are the areas of focus. And I train only with men because, I mean no offense, but their workouts are much more intense when compared to how women workout. I can do between 50 to 60 push-ups in a minute.”
With all talk of RPM, bikes, cars and racing tracks one would think this is all the 25 year-old does. She is consumed by it but there is more to her. She is a model and an actor too. She debuted in the recently released Tamil film Irumbu Kuthirai. She plays the villain’s (a biker) girlfriend. “The story was based on bike-racing and, like everything else in my life; I wanted to do a role different from the usual run-of-the-mill characters.” This was a guest role, soon she is to start shooting for a yet-to-be named project she is the lead actor, “I play a psycho.”
Any offers from the Malayalam film industry? “None yet!”
Films and racing, isn’t the plate loaded? “No. My role model is Danica Patrick, she is an actor and a car racer. She is married, has a family and multi-tasks. It’s not that I am doing a 100 things. Just two things and that’s fine.”
She is a car racer, model and actor, too. / by Special Arrangement / The Hindu
Films and modelling are an aside, her focus is racing. She plans to start an academy for racing for women at Chennai. Her dream is fuelled by a desire to see more women competing in motor sport. “There are so many talented sportswomen, but almost none in motorsport. I want to change that trend. And if a man wants to come he can come wearing a wig!” she signs off.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> Society / by Shilpa Nair Anand / August 31st, 2014
Elections to the top post being held after a gap of 50 years, following an amendment to the association constitution
Arshad Ayub / V_V_SUBRAHMANYAM
It will be a straight contest for the post of presidentship between former India off-spinner Arshad Ayub and incumbent chief G. Vinod when the Annual General Meeting and the elections will be held to various posts in the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) on September 7.
G. Vinod / The Hindu
With the withdrawals coming to an end on Saturday, the presidential battle has a tinge of history. Former HCA secretary P. R. Man Singh reminds this will be the first time there will be an election for the president’s post after 1964. “Then, the battle was between Maj. N. K. Guruswamy and J. Ramakrishna Rao, the latter being one of the youngest (in late 20s) to contest the post which the former won,” recalls Man Singh in a chat.
Interestingly, after that 1964 elections, the HCA constitution was amended stating the senior most vice-president will automatically be the next president and it continued till 2012 when another amendment made a contest mandatory for presidentship. By coincidence it was Mr. Vinod who was declared elected president after Mr. Ayub withdrew from the race just before the election day.
“I am fortunate, I can say, that I was there in 1964 elections and now will be a witness to the September 7 polls. Incidentally, I along with Mr. Ramakrishna Rao and Mr. K. S. Iyengar, are the only survivors of that AGM,” recalls Mr. Singh.
For the secretaryship, it will be another straight fight between incumbent joint secretary Seshadri Venkateshwaran and John Manoj. Others in the fray for posts include ex-MP G. Vivekanand, M.V. Sridhar for the post of vice-presidentship from the ruling panel.
Following is the final list of contestants left in the fray for some key posts: Arshad Ayub group: president – Arshad Ayub, secretary – John Manoj, treasurer – Devaraj, joint-secretaries – Purushotham Agarwal and Vijayanand, vice-presidents – Narender Goud, P. Yadgiri, Prakash Chand Jain, Surender Agarwal, Moizuddin.
Ruling group: president – G. Vinod, secretary – S. Venkateshwaran, treasurer – Naresh Sharma, joint secretaries – Basavaraju (commercial taxes) and Gerard Carr, vice-presidents – G. Vivekanand, M.V. Sridhar, E. Venkatram Reddy, T. Seshnarayan, Kishen Rao.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / V. V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – August 31st, 2014
Nagaraj (second from left) of Govt. First Grade College, Siddarthnagar, Mysore was crowned as the “Mr. MCICT 2014” in the Best Physique Competitions 2014, conducted by the Department of Physical Education, UoM at the University Gymnasium Hall on Thursday. Seen in the picture from left are B.D. Kantharaj, Dr. C Krishna, Director, DPE, UoM (third from left), Prof. Seshanna, Anthony Moses and Lohith, Physical Education Director, GFGC, Siddarthanagar, Mysore.
Mysore:
Nagaraj of GFGC, Siddartha Layout, Mysore, hogged the limelight by winning the ‘Mr. MCICIT 2014’ title, in the Mysore City Inter-Collegiate Best Physique competition 2014, conducted by the Department of Physical Education, University of Mysore at the University Gymnasium hall here on Thursday.
Nagaraj had earlier won the first place in the 60kg category and later in the title round excelled with his display of triceps and biceps to bag the title. Government First Grade College, Siddarthnagar, Mysore won the team championship title with 15 points.
Global chess Academy K.Venkata Krishna Karthik and his coach Shaik khasim met Chief Minister Nara Chandra Babu Naidu at Hyderabad on Assembly premises. / The Hindu
Commonwealth chess gold medallist under physically challenged category K.V. Krishna Karthik along with his coach Shaik Khasim of Global Chess Academy called on Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu at Hyderabad on Tuesday.
Mr. Naidu appreciated the medal-winning achievement of Mr. Karthik, who suffers from an acute orthopaedic disorder and assured all assistance to him in the future. Later, Mr. Khasim narrated Mr. Karthik’s on-board exploits at Glasgow to the Chief Minister and also explained him about his unflinching commitment towards promoting and playing chess, said a press release.
Mr. Khasim said that the Chief Minister had enquired about the support offered by the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh and the benefits Mr. Karthik was getting from it. “We told him the fact that SAAP was not financially helping the physically challenged players for which he asked us to put a note with his personal secretary.”
Incidentally, Mr. Karthik is qualified to participate in the World Physically Challenged Chess Championship to be held in Serbia later this year.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / Special Correspondent / Vijayawada – August 20th, 2014
Bodybuilder Syed Siddiq talks about his journey from a scrawny lad to winning the Mr.Asia title
Mr Asia – Syed Siddique / Photo: G.P. Sampath Kumar / The Hindu
It is hard to miss Syed Siddiq. As he strolls down the road, passersby stop and stare. It would take a brave man, however, to pass a smart-alec comment in his direction, or to antagonise him in any way.
Siddiq is the closest thing to the superhuman comic figure ‘Hulk’ you can hope to see.
Massive muscles seem to rip through every inch of his 105 kilogram body – a truly intimidating sight when he ‘flexes’’ to strike a pose.
Ace bodybuilder
The ripped physique of India’s ace bodybuilder, of course, did not take shape overnight. Siddiq, who recently won the Mr. Asia title at Manila (Philippines), takes out a dusty photo of a scrawny lad. “That was me, eight years ago. I weighed just 48 kilos,” he says with a grin.
That photo is a reminder of his first tryst with the sport. “I was 17 and I enjoyed watching World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on television. I admired The Rock , and wanted to be like him. That pushed me to the gym, for the first time,” he says.
Around a year later, Siddiq witnessed a State-level bodybuilding competition, which sparked his desire to take up the sport seriously.
“I saw the crowd’s reaction to the competitors, and I decided that I wanted to be on stage one day. I drew inspiration from Arnold Schwarzenegger. He is an icon for all of us.”
In the documentary Pumping Iron, which chronicles Schwarzenegger’s path-breaking route to stardom, the Hollywood star talks about one of the turning points of his career.
The introduction of big quantities of meat in his regimen, after years of ignoring his diet, finally allowed Schwarzenegger to put on much-needed mass. This aspect is not lost on Siddiq.
The 25-year-old states that he consumes 30 egg whites and two kilos of boiled chicken in a day, apart from large servings of fruits and vegetables.
And three months prior to competition, rice, bread, salt and oil are off the table.
“I don’t drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes. Ever. A strict diet overall must be maintained to succeed as a bodybuilder.”
Acting with Vikram
Director Shankar cast Siddiq in his to-be-released flick, Ai. Siddiq will feature in a few fight scenes with lead actor Vikram, and recalls the experience with excitement.
“It was great fun to be on a movie set. I have been approached to act in Bollywood movies as well, but I think I will focus on bodybuilding for now.”
With the Mr. Universe event coming up in Germany later this year, Siddiq clearly has his hands full.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Ashwin Achal / Monday – August 25th, 2014
A view of the swimmers in the men’s section in action in the Mysore City Inter-collegiate swimming competitions 2014-15, conducted by the DPE, University of Mysore at the University swimming pool, Saraswathipuram, in city on Monday.
Mysore :
A.Thejas of Maharaja’s Govt. PU College, Mysore, (four golds and four silver medals) with 31 points and Akshatha N. Gowda of Sankalpa PU College, Mysore with 24 points bagged the top honours by clinching the individual titles in the men’s and women’s sections respectively in the Mysore City Inter-collegiate swimming Competitions 2014-15, conducted by the DPE, UoM at the University Swimming Pool, Saraswathipuram here on Monday.
National Institute of Engineering, Mysore bagged the Overall Team championship title in the men’s section with 53 points.
The results:
Men:
200mts Breast Stroke: 1.R.Karthik -V.V.C.E (3:20.90 ); 2. V.S. Vipul (NIE- 3:22.31); 3. S. Sudarshan (Vijaya Vittala PUC-3:31.01); 100mts Back Stroke: 1.Shreyank P. Swamy ( AIISH – 1:26.05); 2. A. Thejas (Maharaja Govt. PUC-1:27.88); 3.R. Karthik (V.V.C.E- 1:29.52); 400mtsFree Style: A.Thejas ( Maharaja Govt. PUC- 6:05.23); 2. S. Sudarshan. (Vijaya Vittala PUC- 6:05.92); 3.V.N. Varun (NIE IT -7:20.31); 100mts Butter Fly: Abhishek R.Das- (SBRR MFGC -1:41.02 ); 2. M.R. Shashanksimha (Maharaja Govt. PUC-1:51.63); 3. K.Vignesh Mallya (Amritha School of A&S- 2:13.32); 200mts Free Style: 1. V.S.Vipul(NIE -2:44.55); 2. A. Thejas( Maharaja Govt. PUC -2:44.56 ); 3.Shreyank P. Swamy (AIISH- 2:51.55); 200mts Individual Med Lay: 1. R. Karthik. (VVCE -3:17.91); 2. Shreyank P. Swamy -AIISH- 3:46.70); 3. M.C. Prajwal (Vijaya Vittala PUC – 6:00.82); 50 mts Back Stroke: 1. V.S. Vipul (NIE -0:37.74); 2. A.Thejas (Maharaja Govt. PUC 0:38.85); 3. Shreyank P. Swamy (AIISH- 0:39.13); 100 mts Breast Stroke: 1.R. Karthik (V.V.C.E -1:32.57); 2. V.S. Vipul(N.I.E -1:34.49); 3. R. Sudarshan(Vijaya Vittala PUC -1:37.06 ); 200 mts Back Stroke: 1.Shreyank P Swamy (AIISH -3:29.24); 2. Thejas A (Maharaja Govt. PUC -3:30.35) ;3. Shashank Simha M.R (Maharaja Govt. PUC -4:23.11); 50mts Breast Stroke: 1. V.S. Vipul (N.I.E -0:40.22 ); 2. R. Karthik V.V.C.E -0:40.90); 3. Shreyank P Swamy (AIISH -0:42.72); 200mts Butterfly : 1.A. Thejas (Maharaja Govt. PUC -3:39.28); 2. M.R Shashank Simha (Maharaja Govt. PUC -5:11.96 ); 3. Nagendra L (GFGC Siddharthalayout -9:19.20 ); 100mtsFree Style : 1.V.S. Vipul (N.I.E- 1:13.67); 2. Shreyank P Swamy (AIISH- 1:15.83); 3. R. Karthik (V.V.C.E -1:15.94); 50mts Butterfly: 1. A. Thejas (Maharaja Govt. PUC- 0:34.89 ); 2. M. Prajwal Prasad (NIE -0:37.58); 3. Abhishek R Das (SBRR MFGC -3:38.34); 400mts IndividualMedley: 1. S. Sudarshan (Vijaya Vittala PUC -7:40.33) ;2.M.R. Shashank Simha (Maharaja Govt. PUC -9:13.69); 3. M.C. Prajwal (Vijaya Vittala PUC -13:03.63);
50mts Free Style: 1.Shreyank P Swamy (AIISH -0:29.94); 2. Abhishek R Das (SBRR MFGC -0:31.44); 3. V.S Vipul. (N.I.E -0:32.10);
Individual Championship – A.Thejas -Maharaja Govt. PU College with 31 Points
Overall championship – NIE, Mysore with 53 Points.
Women :
200mts Breast Stroke : 1. C. Swetha(Teresian College -4:48.31); 2. Meenaz Ahamed(PGSC, MGM -4:53.94); 3.Akshatha N Gowda (Sankalpa PU College – 4:54.88); 100mtsBack Stroke: 1. Meenaz Ahamed ( PGSC, MGM -2:16.51); 2. Arpitha N Gowda (Sharadavilas College – 2:33.79); 3. C. Swetha (Teresian College -2:45.37); 200mts FreeStyle: 1.C. Swetha (Teresian College -4:19.40); 2. Meenaz Ahamed (PGSC, MGM-4:31.05) ; 3. Arpitha N Gowda (Sharadavilas College -5:32.30); 50mts Back Stroke: 1.Akshatha N Gowda (Sankalpa PU College – 0:58.66); 2. Meenaz Ahamed (PGSC, MGM-1:02.38); 3. Arpitha N Gowda (Sharadavilas College -1:12.79); 100mts Breast Stroke: 1. C. Swetha (Teresian College -2:18.86); 2. Akshatha N Gowda (Sankalpa PU College -2:21.24); 3. Meenaz Ahamed (PGSC, MGM -2:21.82); 50mts Breast Stroke: 1.Akshatha N Gowda (Sankalpa PU College -0:59.49);2.C. Swetha (Teresian College-1:01.32); 3.Meenaz Ahamed (PGSC, MGM-1:04.05);100mts Free Style : 1. Akshatha N Gowda ( Sankalpa PU College- 1:50.38);2. C. Swetha (Teresian College -2:04.70); 3. Arpitha N Gowda (Sharadavilas College – 2:15.77); 50mts Free Style: Akshatha N Gowda (Sankalpa PU College -0:42.29); 2. Sanjana Prasad( NIE IT- 0:48.39); 3. Meenaz Ahamed (PGSC, MGM -0:52.93 ).
Individual Championship – Akshatha N Gowda, Sakalpa PU College, Mysore-24 points.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / August 19th, 2014
To mark the 68th Independence Day of India, under the patronage of Indian Embassy in Oman and Oman Hockey Association (OHA), the Friends of Naqvi Group and Team Coorg organised an exciting hockey festivity at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on August 8.
Two festival matches, one for the Ambassadors Cup and the other for the seventh edition of Independence Day of India 2014 Cup, were played under the flood light at the lush green hockey astro turf. JS Mukul, Indian Ambassador to the Sultanate, was the chief guest and Shaikh Mahfood Ali Juma al Juma was the guest of honour.
The other sports dignitaries present were the OHA- secretary-general Redha Taqi Lawati, the Secretary-General of Oman Cricket Madhu Jesrani and the former Indian hockey player Sultan Abbas Naqvi.
The Indian Embassy XI lifted the Ambassadors Cup defeating Indian School Al Seeb 2-1 and the Oman Veterans XI lifted the Independence Day Of India 2014 Cup defeating Team Coorg Muscat 6-3 in the presence of hockey lovers of all ages.
“We got ample chance to score but could not capitalise it in the absence of our star forward Zaman,” said Team Coorg manager Belu Kuttappa.
The prizes and other citations were given away by JS Mukul, Madhu Jesrani and Redha Taqi Lawati.
The excitement of evening for the children below 10 years of age was the Indian national anthem recitation competition which was judged by Kanchan Bijlani and Farheen Khan.
This patriotic activity will now be a regular feature in years to come.
“I am quite pleased and charged to see such a massive attendance of the hockey lovers of Oman from all communities at the stadium, who have turned in such a large number to mark the independence celebration of India through this hockey festivity,” said veteran hockey ace SAS Naqvi who has indeed pledged his entire life for the promotion hockey in India and Oman.
The event was supported by Khimji Ramdas, Raha Poly products and Pokari (Muscat Pharmacy) and BG.
The vote of Thanks was given by Mohammad Osama Rawat.
source: http://www.main.omanobserver.om / Oman Daily Observer / Home> Sports / by Oman Observer / Sunday – August 10th, 2014
