Category Archives: Leaders

India Visit Of Prince Charles

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion

Charles, Prince of Wales, the heir to the throne of United Kingdom (UK), has visited India 10 times till date. One of his visits was in 1980, and one of the States where he was a State Guest was Orissa. My father, C.M. Poonacha, was the Governor of Orissa at the time. Prince Charles stayed in the Raj Bhavan for a couple of days and my parents interacted with him as his hosts. For my father, who was a freedom fighter, this was quite an experience to host the future King of the UK, whose ancestors were his adversaries. 

Prince Charles was a 32-year-old bachelor at the time. Those who have watched ‘The Crown’ on Netflix would recall that before his foreign tour in 1980, he had started dating Diana Spencer. He took her to Balmoral Castle to meet the Queen and other members of the family and was supposedly put through the ‘Balmoral Test’ to assess if she has the right qualities to be a Windsor and a potential Queen of UK. 

Months prior to her marriage, Diana moved to Buckingham Palace to familiarise herself with the protocols to be followed as the future Princess of Wales. My father found Prince Charles to be an amiable, intelligent, and well-read young man. It is commendable that India and UK continue to have cordial relationship despite the dark colonial era. I recently found some of the photographs taken during the 1980 visit.

Mr. & Mrs. C.M. Poonacha greeting Prince Charles.

Had I known as much as I do now about Queen Victoria and her Indian God-daughter Princess Victoria Gowramma of Coorg, I would have visited Bhubaneswar for a chat with Prince Charles! An opportunity missed.

After his visit to Orissa, Prince Charles was the State Guest of Maharashtra. Wherever he went, girls were swooning over him! He was arguably the most eligible bachelor in the world at that point in time. I am sure many would remember the cheeky kiss the then 16-year-old Padmini Kolhapure of Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram-fame, stole from the Prince charming!

C.M. Poonacha and Prince Charles.

Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer were married in 1981. Their tumultuous life, divorce and the subsequent horrendous accident that took Diana’s life, are familiar to the world. The person who stole Charles’ heart was Camilla Parker Bowles (née Camilla Shand). There are several speculations about Charles becoming King and Camilla his Queen. One rumour is that Queen Elizabeth II will abdicate later this year after her 95th birthday celebrations and make way for Charles to be coronated. Another scenario is that the Queen will hold on to the crown and make Charles the Regent. Yet another speculation is that the Queen might bypass Charles and name his son Prince William her successor. If Queen Elizabeth II, after 69 years on the throne, continues as the Monarch till her demise, then by normal scheme of things UK will have King Charles and Queen Camilla. 

People in the UK are divided on the issue of continuation of the monarchy with a slight bias towards retaining the royal head of State. In any case, it is more than a couple of centuries since monarchy in the UK ‘reigns but does not rule’.

Padmini Kolhapure giving a peck on Prince Charles’ cheek.

When Padmini Kolhapure kissed Prince Charles!

Bollywood actress Padmini Kolhapure made a lot of headlines in 1980 when Prince Charles came to India and the teenage actress welcomed him with a warm kiss on his cheeks. The Prince was welcomed by Padmini during a visit to a Bollywood shooting spot and after putting the garland on his neck, she planted a kiss on his cheek. According to reports, Prince Charles was also surprised with the actress’ gesture. This became quite a topic of discussion at that time.

About the author: C.P. Belliappa is a Chemical Engineer. He is based in Coorg (Kodagu). He is known for his writings on issues pertaining to Coorg. He writes humour, history and human-interest stories. Four of his books — Tale of A Tiger’s Tail & other Yarns from Coorg, Nuggets from Coorg History, Victoria Gowramma: The Lost Princess of Coorg, and Tongue of the Slip — have been published by Rupa Publications. He presently serves as President, Coorg Institute of Technology (CIT), Ponnampet, South Kodagu.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / by C.P. Belliappa / March 03rd, 2021

Kavery Kodava Association Honours New Mayor And Her Husband

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President of Sri Kavery Kodava Association, Mysuru, P.S. Devaiah (fourth from left), Association office-bearer P.M. Praveen Chengappa (standing behind P.S. Devaiah), Treasurer K.M. Chengappa (extreme right) and other office-bearers of the Association seen greeting the newly-elected Mayor Rukmini Madegowda and her husband Madegowda at the Mayor’s residence in Vidyashankar Nagar in city this morning.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Photo News / February 28th, 2021

IRS Officer From Kodagu In Foreign Asset Investigation Unit

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Will probe undisclosed foreign assets

Mysore/Mysuru: 

Dr. Kottangada Pemmaiah, an Indian Revenue Services (IRS) (Income Tax) officer from Kodagu, currently posted in Surat, Gujarat, as the Deputy Director (Investigation), has been additionally appointed as the Deputy Director of Foreign Asset Investigation Unit (FAIU) in Surat.

Dr. Pemmaiah will work in the FAIU that has been created by the Union Government in the countrywide investigation wings of the Income Tax Department for focussed probe in cases of undisclosed assets held by Indians abroad and possession of black money in foreign shores.

FAIUs have been recently created in all the 14 Investigation Directorates of the Income Tax Department located in various parts of the country that are primarily tasked to undertake raids and seizures, and develop intelligence to check tax evasion done by various methods.

Gujarat has created two such units, one in Ahmadabad and the other in Surat. Karnataka will have one. The FAIUs have been created as new wings within the various Investigation Directorates of the Income Tax Department to bring focus on cases of undisclosed assets held abroad by Indians and black money stashed abroad, Government sources said. 

The new units will also probe cases of Indian entities named in global tax document leaks like the Panama Papers. The FAIUs will be under the authority of the jurisdictional Director General of Income Tax (investigation) rank officer and its work will be directly monitored by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).

Dr. Pemmaiah is the son of Kottangada late Devaiah. His mother Viju Devaiah is a social worker and President of Cauvery Pommakkada Koota at Gonikoppal. Before getting into Civil Services, Dr. Pemmaiah was serving as Resident Medical Officer at Gonikoppal Community Health Centre.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / February 27th, 2021

Minister seeks ₹5 cr. for Sainik School

Education, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders
Minister for Cooperation S.T. Somashekar, Minister for Urban Development B.A. Basavaraj, and Appachu Ranjan, MLA, during their visit to the Sainik School in Kushalnagar on Tuesday.   | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

It was flooded after heavy discharge from Harangi dam in 2018

A sum of ₹5 crore has been sought for the development of Sainik School at Kushalnagar that faced flooding during heavy discharge from Harangi Dam in 2018, the year when Kodagu witnessed its worst floods and landslides.

Minister for Cooperation S.T. Somashekar and Minister for Urban Development B.A. Basavaraj, along with Madikeri MLA Appachu Ranjan, on Tuesday visited the Sainik School. The school authorities told the Ministers about the problems the school faced during Kushalnagar floods.

Principal Kannan explained to Mr. Somashekar the damage caused from the floods in 2018 and sought support for the school’s development.

Mr. Somashekar immediately telephoned Additional Chief Secretary of Irrigation Rakesh Singh, and explained to him the issue.

Mr. Somashekar sought ₹5 crore for taking up development works by the school. “The ACS has responded positively to the appeal,” according to the Minister.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – February 16th, 2021

Grant Rs. 5 Crore For Kodava Hockey Festival: MP To CM

Leaders, Sports

Mysore/Mysuru:

Following various Kodava Samajas and Kodava families submitting memorandums to MLAs and MLCs from the district to urge the State Government to earmark Rs. 5 crore in the State Budget for the annual Kodava Family Hockey Festival, Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha has reiterated the demand and has written to Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa urging him to allocate at least Rs. 5 crore in the ensuing budget. 

The Kodava Hockey Festival is projected as a promotion of Kodava culture and tradition. The Government should earmark Rs. 5 crore in the budget, he urged. The rich hockey culture ingrained in Kodagu has culminated into producing an arsenal of players who have time and again represented India at global hockey tournaments and many of them had been a part of the Olympics, the MP noted. 

In Kodagu, the sport runs in the veins of Kodavas and that is why they give a befitting tribute by organising the Kodava Hockey Festival every year. The Festival has been a true revelry of the sport that has been an expression of passion. It is a celebration of the Kodava families who come together, irrespective of their age, gender and profession to simply devote time to their core value of sportsmanship, he said. 

The Kodava family hockey had even entered the world records and has been contributing to the sports arena of the country. More than 500 hockey players from this tiny district have played in the State, National and International tournaments and the festival is a platform for youngsters to display their talent and rise to State, National and International levels, the MP said. 

More than 6,000 players take part during each Kodava family hockey tournament and Kodava families spend crores of rupees to host the month-long tournament. To promote the Kodava culture and tradition, the Government should earmark Rs. 5 crore for the tournament in the budget every year, he stated. 

The festival was the brainchild of late Pandanda Kuttappa who started the tournament with just 60 teams. Now, more than 350 teams of different families participate in the tournament. This festival is recognised as one of the largest field hockey tournaments in the world that has entered the Limca Book of Records, Pratap Simha noted. 

Each year, the tournament is organised by a different Kodava family (okka) and the name of the family is given as the name of the tournament. The opening and closing ceremonies are held with pomp and splendour. Many locals set up food and merchandise stalls around the venue to do brisk business because of the large crowds that gather to watch the matches, he said. 

Kodava Samajas submit memorandum to CM

Several Kodava Samajas under the leadership of Bengaluru Kodava Samaja submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa to allocate Rs. 5 crore for Kodava Family Hockey Festival. The delegation was led by Kodagu District BJP Executive Member Thelappanda Shivakumar Nanaiah and Bengaluru Kodava Samaja President Mukkatira T. Nanaiah. The delegation also urged the CM to establish a Sports University in Kodagu.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / February 23rd, 2021

K Nidugane Premier League cricket tourney today

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, All, Sports
KPL tournament logo.

Vismaya Cricketers of Hebbettegeri will organise K Nidugane Premier League (KPL) cricket tournament at Field Marshal K M Cariappa College ground in Madikeri on February 7. 

K Nidugane Gram Panchayat member Kokkalera K Ayyappa will inaugurate the tournament, while Field Marshal K M Cariappa College lecturer Dr Major Raghav will preside. The valedictory of the tournament will be held at 5 pm. 

A total of five teams will take part in the tournament. During the valedictory, the newly-elected members of K Nidugane Gram Panchayat will be felicitated.

In addition, Covid warriors like Asha worker Nalini, staff nurse Usha and lab technician Nanditha Gonsalves will be felicitated.

The top scorer in SSLC, M G Dhanush, will also be felicitated on the occasion. 

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Madikeri / February 07th, 2021

State Election Commission Starts Process For Delimitation Of ZP, TP Constituencies

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Bengaluru:

With the Zilla Panchayat (ZP) and Taluk Panchayat (TP) polls scheduled to take place this year, the State Election Commission (SEC) has set in motion the process of delimitation of ZP and TP Constituencies in all districts of the State. The SEC, which has fixed the number of ZP and TP Constituencies in all districts, has directed the Deputy Commissioners to depute election Tahsildars and other concerned staff in their respective district to appear before the Commission on specified dates, along with maps of Constituencies and other corresponding  details. 

Accordingly, the election Tahsildars of Mysuru, Kodagu, Hassan, Mandya, Chamarajanagar, Chikkaballapur, Kolar, Chitradurga, Ramanagara and Bengaluru Rural districts are required to appear before the SEC at Bengaluru on Feb. 22.

After delimitation, Mysuru ZP will have 53 Constituencies from eight taluks and the district will have 144 TP Constituencies collectively. Of the 53 ZP seats, Mysuru, T. Narasipur, Hunsur, K.R. Nagar and Periyapatna taluks will have seven seats each, while Nanjangud taluk will have 10, H.D. Kote 5 and Saragur 3 seats.

As far as the Taluk Panchayat is concerned, Mysuru, T. Narasipur and Hunsur Taluks will have 19 seats each, K.R. Nagar and Periyapatna 18 seats each, Nanjangud 27, H.D. Kote 13 and Saragur 11.

Kodagu District with 5 taluks, will have 29 ZP seats and 52 TP seats collectively.

Regarding ZP seats, Madikeri  taluk will have 7 seats, Kushalnagar and Virajpet five seats each and Somwarpet and Ponnampet six seats each.

In respect of Taluk Panchayat, Somwarpet, Kushalnagar and Virajpet taluks will have 11 seats each, while Madikeri taluk will have 10 and Ponnampet 9 seats.

Mandya ZP will have 46 ZP Constituencies from seven taluks and 124 TP Constituencies collectively.

Regarding ZP seats, Mandya, Maddur and Malavalli taluks will have 8 seats each, while Pandavapura, Srirangapatna and Nagamangala will have 5 seats each and K.R. Pet taluk 7 seats.

In respect of Taluk Panchayat, Mandya Taluk will have 23 seats, Maddur 22, Malavalli 20, Pandavapura 14, Srirangapatna  and Nagamangala 13 seats each  and K.R. Pet 19 seats.

Chamarajanagar ZP will have 27 seats from five taluks and 75 TP Constituencies collectively .

Regarding ZP seats, Chamarajanagar taluk will have 9 seats, while Kollegal will have 4, Hanur 5, Gundlupet 6 and Yelandur 3.

In respect of Taluk Panchayat, Chamarajanagar taluk will have 24 seats, Kollegal 10, Hanur 14, Gundlupet 16 and Yelandur 11.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / February 14th, 2021

President inaugurates museum dedicated to pride of Kodagu General Thimayya in Madikeri

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Meanwhile, before taking part in the inaugural ceremony, the President alongside First Lady Savita Kovind and daughter Swati Kovind visited Talacauvery and offered puja to Goddess Cauvery

President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurates the General Thimayya Museum in Madikeri (Photo | Special arrangement)

Madikeri :

It was an ode to the pride of Kodagu as the President of India inaugurated the General Thimayya Museum in Madikeri on Saturday. The museum has been built at Sunnyside, the former residence of General KS Thimayya.

The President unveiled the inaugural stone at the General Thimayya Museum and took a tour inside the museum, which retold the story of the General. The war diary preserved inside the museum narrated the stories of various wars fought by the Indian military. The words of the first elected Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Sheikh Abdulla appreciating General KS Thimayya, the narration of the Battle of Kangaw in the war diary and the release of the ‘General Thimayya March’ battalion tune were among the numerous artefacts that retold the greatness of the erstwhile General.

“General Thimayya Museum preserves special aspects of the extraordinary character and contribution of one of the finest soldiers in the history of our army. The memorial at ‘Sunny Side’, once the residence of General Thimayya, highlights the sterling features of our brave forces. District Kodagu has the honour of having enriched our Armed forces with stalwarts like General Thimayya and Field Marshal Cariappa. I am sure that this museum will inspire our youth to carry forward the legacy of General Thimayya,” were the words inscribed by the President in the logbook at the museum.

The inaugural ceremony also witnessed participation from Chief of Defense Staff Bipin Rawat, General Officer Commanding (GOC) and Colonel of the Kumaon and Naga Regiment Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita alongside other dignitaries from the military. District in-charge minister V Somanna, Kannada Culture Department minister Aravind Limbavali alongside Kodagu MLAs took part in the inaugural ceremony. Only about 40 dignitaries were allowed to witness the inaugural ceremony.

Kovind offers puja to Goddess Cauvery at Talacauvery

Meanwhile, before taking part in the inaugural ceremony, the President alongside First Lady Savita Kovind and daughter Swati Kovind visited Talacauvery and offered puja to Goddess Cauvery. The Temple Committee and archaks offered the President a shawl and a saree each to Savitha and Swati Kovind as a token of respect.

“This is the first time that the President of our country has visited Talacauvery. We are proud that he visited the centre and this has been possible because of the greatness of General Thimayya,” shared Rajesh Achari, one of the archaks at the temple. Meanwhile, a stringent combing operation by the forest department, police and anti-naxal squad had been ordered to ensure safe visit of the president to Talacauvery.

The security was tight across Talacauvery and Madikeri. While nearly 500 police were guarding Bhagamandala-Talacauvery area, the President’s convoy route in Madikeri was guarded by nearly a hundred police. Zero traffic was ordered on the convoy route in Madikeri from 2.30 pm to 5 pm.

MLC submits memorandum seeking Bharat Ratna

MLC Veena Achaiah, who was present during the inaugural ceremony of the General Thimayya Museum, handed over a memorandum to the President. The MLC has requested the President to award Bharat Ratna posthumously to Field Marshal KM Cariappa and General KS Thimayya.

Stray cattle and dogs shifted

To ensure smooth travel of the President’s convoy, Madikeri city municipal workers along with support from police were seen herding stray cattle and street dogs on Friday at midnight. All the stray cattle were shifted to the Madikeri Market Complex without fodder or water, evoking anger among many residents.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service / February 06th, 2021

General’s‌ ‌Museum,‌ ‌Medical‌ ‌College, Heritage‌ ‌Centre

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Last Sunday, 31st January 2021, I went to Madikeri on a bore-breaking trip with my wife and two friends. It was a two-and-a-half-hour journey by car via Kushalnagar. The road being good travelling was comfortable.

Kushalnagar is the Gateway to Kodagu, with River Cauvery flowing quietly as a boundary between Mysuru and Kodagu districts. The two districts were connected with a bridge. It was a surprise for me to find the town growing enormously. It has become a huge tourist hub. There is Harangi Dam and a Garden a few kilometres away and in the city outskirts you have the famous and very popular Nisargadhama  — riverside forest safari and boating with huge shopping arcades spread over a very large area on Madikeri road. 

Another tourist attraction is the Buddhist Golden Temple on the other side of the river at Bylakuppe, a Tibetan Colony. There is a Sainik School, Engineering College and many more. It is going to be a boom city of Kodagu beforelong.

We reached Madikeri rather late at 3.30 pm keeping our schedule to just three places — Gen. K.S. Thimayya Museum, Medical College and Kodava Heritage Centre. Our President Ram Nath Kovind would inaugurate the Museum tomorrow (6.2.2021) and it was as it should be. Our President, under the Constitution, is the Commander-in-Chief of our Armed Forces.

Our first visit was to the Gen. Thimayya Museum and those in charge of arranging the artefacts, photographs, videos, audios etc., have indeed taken much time, trouble and care. Special compliments and commendation should go for this great effort to Air Marshal Kodandera C. Nanda Cariappa (retd.), Maj. Biddanda A. Nanda Nanjappa (retd.) and Col. (retd.) Kandrathanda C. Subbaiah. All residents of Kodagu.

As we were sauntering around the place, with a few Army personnel and local labourers working to get the Museum ready to receive the President, there came the most talkative man I have ever met in my life, Maj. Nanda Nanjappa. Indeed a live-wire man bursting at the seams with a zeal and enthusiasm for the work on his hand — getting the Museum ready in all aspects for the big day. I listened to him about how the Museum happened and the herculean efforts he and his friends-in-arms have made to get the place ready for the VVIP arrival. 

I am familiar with this house called “Sunnyside” where Gen. K.S. Thimayya’s mother lived. She was a very famous lady known for her riches and celebrity status. The house is on the main road, as you enter Mercara from Mysuru, on a slope. I remember, as a student in Madikeri in the 1950s, going for evening walk with fellow students and friends on this road and occasionally talk about the lady of the house with awe. There was a fountain visible from the gate with an angel perched on top. The house being at the bottom of the slope was not visible to the road.

According to my information this house was sold by Gen. Thimayya’s wife to the Government of Karnataka in the year 1972 and the RTO Office took over this house, with about 2.5 acres of land, for its use. Wonder it took over 50 years to reclaim the house for the Museum under the Kannada and Culture Department of the State Government. Thanks to the efforts of Field Marshal Cariappa – General Thimayya Forum comprising about 22 members to get the State Government to vacate the RTO and set up this Museum. However, the theme, concept and the vision of the Museum came mainly from two Army and one Air Force Veterans who are also members of the Forum — Air Marshal K.C. Nanda Cariappa, Col. K.C. Subbaiah and Maj.  B.A. Nanjappa — that I mentioned earlier. A good job well done. Sure, the Supreme Commander of Indian Armed Forces, Ram Nath Kovind, will have many good words to say about the Museum and give a big Shabash for the Forum.

I do not want to be presumptuous but I guess there is a need for a small library with books on Gen. K.S. Thimayya and other top brass in the Army, which is also a reading room for reference-seekers and book-worms.

Our next visit was to the Medical College, about five kilometres from downtown or 11 kilometres via Abbey Falls. It is located atop a hill in a village known as Karnageri. A number of high-rise buildings, washed in light pink, are visible from a distance as we manoeuvred the never-ending, serpentine, well-laid out concrete road. The construction of the road itself must have cost a fortune. A clear case of penny wise, pound foolish.

Access to city for students and staff must be a very time-consuming and tiring exercise. Specially during monsoon. In Kodagu, specially Madikeri, climate is of two kinds — monsoon and winter veiled in mist. Summer is, no doubt, severe but short.

I left the place wondering if the Government officials or the politicians could not find another place, plain land in Virajpet, Gonikoppal or Kushalnagar considering the importance of the logistics and environment for locating such an important institution. Let it be.

My next visit was to my mad obsession, the Kodava Heritage Centre at Vidyanagar in Madikeri. About this Centre I have written enough and more and our reporters of Star of   Mysore and Mysooru Mithra too have published many pictorial reports. All in vain.

The idea of a Kodava Heritage Centre may be well-meaning and also much-needed for a Vanishing Tribe, Kodavas. But, the way it was held to ransom in the past 15 years is tragic and an insult to “Kodavame”. As I saw it, I do not think it will be completed at all and seems to be in danger of being abandoned as unviable. Is it jinxed? If it is so, so be it. What cannot be cured must be endured till the end comes. There is no medicine for fate !

That way the fruition of Gen. Thimayya Museum is a miracle. Unless such miracles happen, this Heritage Centre will not come to fruition.

Pictorial journey of Madikeri By K.B. Ganapathy

A photo of Gen. K.S. Thimayya
Sunnyside: Gen. K.S. Thimayya Museum building with a portico.
The RTO had ruined the building without maintenance and it was restored. The picture shows the cast-iron ornate dwarf pillars on an open veranda which were fully buried in a protective wall by the RTO. Only when the wall was demolished, these pillars emerged.
Gen. K.S. Thimayya with the VIPs — Jawaharlal Nehru and V.K. Krishna Menon.
A cement sculpture in the open yard of the Museum.
… and the well as old as the building.
Medical College at Karnageri village in Madikeri.
A view of Kodava Heritage Centre in Vidyanagar, Madikeri, from the main road.

e-mail: voice@starofmysore.com

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Abracadabra> Columns / by K.B. Ganapathy / February 05th, 2021

BWF rankings: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Ashwini Ponnappa break into world’s top 20

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Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Ashwini Ponnappa jumped 16 places to reach a career-best ranking of world number 19.

Indian shuttler Ashwini Ponnappa (Photo | PTI)

New Delhi :

India’s mixed doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Ashwini Ponnappa was rewarded for its stupendous show at the recent-concluded Asia leg as it broke into the world’s top 20 in the latest BWF rankings announced on Tuesday.

Satwik and Ashwini, who had become the first Indian mixed doubles pair to reach the semifinals of a world tour Super 1000 event at the Toyota Thailand Open, jumped 16 places to reach a career-best ranking of world number 19.

The duo had stunned fifth seeded Malaysian combination of Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying in the quarterfinals.

In the men’s doubles, Satwik and Chirag Shetty retained their world number 10 spot after reaching the semifinals at Toyota Thailand Open.

Among others, world champion P V Sindhu remained static at world number 7, while Saina improved a place to world number 19.

In the men’s singles, Kidambi Srikanth moved up a spot to 13th, while Sameer Verma jumped four places to 27th spot after his quarterfinal showing at Toyota Thailand Open.

B Sai Praneeth, who lost in the opening round of the first event and was forced to withdraw from the second tournament after testing COVID-19 positive, slipped a spot to 17th, while Parupalli Kashyap, who struggled with a calf muscle injury, dropped two places to 26th spot.

M R Arjun and Dhruv Kapila, who started playing together in 2019, zoomed 33 places to 64th in the men’s doubles.

The BWF World Rankings reopened following the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals which concluded on Sunday.

The first tournament in the Olympic Qualifying period for the Race to Tokyo will be the Swiss Open Super 300, to be held from March 2 to 7.

The qualification period will end with the Indian Open (May 11-16), with the rankings published on May 18 to be considered for deciding the players making the cut for the Tokyo Games.

Last March, the BWF had frozen the world rankings, saying standings as on March 17 will be the basis for entry and seedings when it restarts the international calendar.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Sport> Other / by PTI / February 02nd, 2021