Category Archives: Sports

Halappa makes history of sorts, named national selector

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, All, Sports

Arjun Halappa | EPS/File
Arjun Halappa | EPS/File

Arjun Halappa, who led India in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament in Malaysia in 2011, has made history of sorts by becoming the first sportsperson to be named as a national selector while still being a very active player.

Hockey India (HI) announced a panel to be headed by former star B P Govinda and which includes Arjun Halappa’s name. Arjun is still a very active player turning out for Air India in the ongoing HI nationals at Pune. Arjun made his debut for India in 2001 against Egypt in the Prime Minister’s Gold Cup. He represented the country in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. He was also in the 2010 Commonwealth Games team in New Delhi where India were the runners-up and also picked up the Asiad bronze the same year in Guangzhou, China.

“I’m not going to hang up my boots. I will continue to represent my employers Air India. Playing will help me keep up with the latest trends in the game,” Arjun said.

“This is a very big surprise and I’m very excited. I’ve been a player and captain and this is a new challenge for me. It’s just early days and I don’t want to comment much,” he added. “As a player I will be able to provide inputs to the coaching staff,” said Arjun.

So the scenario now is that a player-cum-selector will also work as an advisor to the coaches. This is the first time in the history of Indian sport that something like this has happened. Players becoming coaches once they give up playing is an accepted norm. Players taking to umpiring is also welcome. But an active player also functioning as a selector? The move has, indeed, raised eyebrows.

The closest a player has come to also being a part of the selection process is in Indian cricket. The captain is part of the selection committee’s deliberations and gives his inputs. But he is not actually on the selection committee as in the case of Arjun.

What happens if Arjun strikes great form and has to decide on his own inclusion? He has still not announced his international retirement. At 34, he may not be in contention for a place. But what if the others want him in the team? Even if he is there on sheer merit, aspersions will be cast. Should a selector select or even drop himself only because he is a selector?

“It is too early to induct someone like Arjun into the selection committee. Yes, he surely deserves to be a selector but this is not the right time for him to be on the panel as he is still a very active player,” said former India skipper, coach and selector M P Ganesh.

“I became a selector only after 26 years of playing hockey. In fact I had even given up coaching the Indian team and only then I was part of the selection process. Young people are needed but not so young and not for the job of selection,” Ganesh added.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> The Sunday Standard / by S S Shreekumar / ENS – Bangalore / June 02nd, 2013

Vikramkant to lead K’taka in National Hockey C’ship

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports, Uncategorized

Bangalore (PTI):

Vikarmkant will lead the 19-member men’s Karnataka hockey squad for the third Senior National Championship to be held at Pune from May 28 to June 10.

S K Uthappa, adjudged the best player in 2011 Senior Nationals in Bhopal where Karnataka had finished runners-up, will be the vice-captain of the state side.

The team is being coached by 1994 World Cupper K K Poonacha.

source: http://www.ptinews.com / Press Trust of India / Home> Sports / by Staff Writer / May 30th, 2013

Badminton League to start school talent hunt

Sports

New Delhi :

The newly formed Indian Badminton League and its commercial partner, Sporty Solutionz, have launched the Indian Badminton League School Programme (IBLSP) to promote badminton across India.

Under the programme, players such as Saina Nehwal, Pullela Gopichand, Jwala Gutta, Ashwini Ponnappa, Parupalli Kashyap and PV Sindhu will be visiting 120 schools across India in six cities. The programme, called ‘Shuttle Express’, will offer an incentive of Rs 10 lakh in prize money to the winners in both boys and girls single events, which will be held in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Lucknow and Pune, it stated in a release. The finalists will also get the opportunity to train at the Pullela Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad.

The League officials said the programme will take place in three phases to scout talent through intra-school competition in July, while the national finals will be held in Mumbai in August. The IBL School Partners include Genesis Global School, Expressway (Delhi NCR), Indus World School (Hyderabad), La Martiniere Boys (Lucknow), Jamnabai Narsee, Juhu Parle (Mumbai), Symbiosis Primary & Secondary School (Pune) and Jain International School (Bangalore).

Akhilesh Das Gupta, President, Badminton Association of India and Chairman IBL Governing Council, said, “As a former player who benefited enormously from an active school environment for badminton, I’m confident that Shuttle Express will provide a great platform and opportunity to thousands of badminton-loving children to fulfil their aspirations and motivate them to take the sport as a career.”

IBL will be held in six cities from August 14 to August 31 and will feature top players in the world. The League will be telecast live in more than 100 countries.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> News> Sports / by Meenakshi.v@thehindu.co.in / May 31st, 2013

Punjab register hat-trick of defeats as UP hit ground running

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports

Right after they had beaten Punjab Warriors 2-1 in their Hockey India League opener, the UP Wizards quartet of Nitin Thimmaiah, VR Raghunath, SK Uthappa and Pradhan Sommanna headed into the players’ enclosure to have coffee. The choice of beverage was easy to explain. All four hail from Coorg, famous for its coffee estates.

“All four of us studied in St. Thomas High School. The last few years have seen a lot of players coming into the national team from Coorg, and the hockey culture there is strong enough to produce even more players,” said Thimmaiah, who made his India debut in the Europe tour before the London Olympics.

Own goal

Thimmaiah and Raghunath set up the second goal for UP, an own goal from Punjab goalkeeper Jaap Stockmann that gave them an eventually decisive 2-1 lead. Raghunath, one of the experienced players of the national team, was also crucial in thwarting the likes of Jamie Dwyer and Mark Knowles. The 24-year-old was picked up for US$ 76,000 by UP and is the skipper of the team.

“It was great to be picked up for such a huge amount. A lot of our juniors in Coorg called me on the auction day and congratulated me. It was big news for hockey fans back home. Looking at the amount of players emerging from the region, I guess there will soon be a franchise from Coorg in the league,” said Raghunath.

Uttar Pradesh coach Roelant Oltmans, who was appointed Indian hockey’s high performance technical director on Thursday, said some of his youngsters would play key roles for India over the coming years. “Players like Thimmiah and Harbir Singh are the talents to look out for,” he said. “Their basics are good and they will benefit from playing alongside the likes of legends like Teun de Nooijer.”

source: http://www.indianexpress.com/ The Indian Express / Home / by Nitin Sharma / Jalandhar – Friday, January 18th, 2013

Sandalwood runs for a cause

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Sports

The 10K marathon that took place in Bangalore today saw several celebrities from the Kannada film industry participating in it. Every year we see actors from Sandalwood participating in it. But this year several actors from the industry took part.

We had actors like Pooja Gandhi, Sharmiela Mandre, Aindrita Ray, Vinayak Joshi, dancer Madhuri Upadhya and model Shubra Aiyappa, among others participating in it. Actor Puneeth Rajkumar flagged the event.

(Vinayak Joshi )
(Vinayak Joshi )

The popular RJ-turned-actor Vinayak Joshi, who once weighed as much as 121 kgs lost about 42 kgs once he took up to running. And with the actor out of Bigg Boss home, Vinayak began his new diet by giving up salt and sugar. With the TCS 10 k marathon scheduled for today morning, the actor energetically signed for the marathon today and participated in it. He tweeted, “It was an awesome run. #tcs10k was a good come back run for the running season waiting in the second half of the year. Thank u all.”

Dancer Madhuri also tweeted saying, “Ran #TCS10K ,very surreal experience!!! Thanks to @rjvinayakjoshi for introducing me to the world of running.”

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Entertainment> Regional / by Sharanya CR, TNN / May 19th, 2013

Athletics: Hat-trick for Poovamma

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports

M.R. Poovamma came up with a rare hat-trick of titles in the women’s 400 metres as India won 12 medals, including five gold, in the third and final leg of the rain-marred Asian Grand Prix athletics series in Colombo on Sunday.

India wound up with 13 gold, 10 silver and 11 bronze medals from the series.

Though the chase for the World Championship qualification proved elusive, Poovamma clocked 53.30 seconds in taking her third gold. She had run a personal best of 52.75 in the Federation Cup recently, when she missed the qualification by four hundredth of a second. She had clocked 52.97 in winning the first leg in Bangkok.

Arokia Rajiv came up with his second gold with a time of 46.63s in the men’s 400 metres, after the silver in the first leg. Jitin Thomas failed in his attempt to get his third gold despite scaling 2.21 metres in high jump. He was beaten by Manjula Pushpakumara of Sri Lanka by three centimetres. Nikhil Chittarasu also jumped 2.21m for the bronze.

Siddhant Thingalaya clocked 13.81s in winning the men’s 110m hurdles. In a photo finish, the JSW Foundation supported Thingalaya, who trains in Australia, pipped Rittidet Jamras of Thailand by one hundredth of a second. Thingalaya had hurt his hamstring in clocking a national record 13.65 seconds in Brussels in June last year while chasing the Olympic qualification standard of 13.60. Interestingly, the ‘B’ standard has been set at 13.50 seconds for the World Championship.

Arpinder Singh captured the gold in men’s triple jump with a leap of 16.70m. He had missed the qualification mark of 16.85m for the World Championship by one centimetre in the Federation Cup.

The results Indians unless specified): Men: 100m: 1. Al Harthi Barakat (Oma) 10.45; 2. Guo Fan (Chn) 10.45; 3. Yi Wei Chen (Tpe) 10.59. 400m: 1. Arokia Rajiv 46.63; 2. Seneviratne Kasun (Sri) 46.84; 3. Kalinga Kumara (Sri) 47.31. 5,000m: 1. Nitendra Singh 14:41.26; 2. Kheta Ram 14:41.91; 3. D.L. Samarajeewa (Sri) 14:43.15. 110m hurdles: 1. Siddhant Thingalaya 13.81; 2. Rittidet Jamras (Tha) 13.82; 3. Wan Sofian Rayzam Shah (Mas) 13.96. High jump: 1. Manjula Pushpakumara (Sri) 2.24; 2. Jitin Thomas 2.21; 3. Nikhil Chittarasu 2.21. Triple jump: 1. Arpinder Singh 16.70; 2. Roman Valiyev (Kaz) 16.42; 3. Renjith Maheswary 16.41. Shot put: 1. Wang Li Ke (Chn) 19.20; 2. Guo Yan Xiang (Chn) 19.03; 3. Grigoriy Kamulya (Uzb) 18.87; 4. Om Prakash Singh 18.20. Javelin: 1. Huang Shih Feng (Tpe) 75.85; 2. Sachith Maduranga (Sri) 73.99; 3. Jiang Xing Yu (Chn) 73.43; 7. Davinder Singh 69.33. 4x100m relay: 1. China 39.63; 2. Chinese Taipei 39.89; 3. Hong Kong 39.91; 5. India 40.14. Women: 100m: 1. Zyabikina Viktoria (Kaz) 11.69; 2. Khubbieva Guzel (Uzb) 11.70; 3. Klomdee Neeranuch (Tha) 11.90. 400m: 1. M.R. Poovamma 53.30; 2. Rakhmanova (Kaz) 53.85; 3. Anu Mariam Jose 54.63. 800m: 1. W.K.L.A. Nimali (Sri) 2:05.90; 2. Do Thi thao (Vie) 2:06.38; 3. Liliya Bazyaruk (Kaz) 2:06.68. 100m hurdles: 1. Anastasiya Soprunova (Kaz) 13.61; 2. Erawati Dedeh (Ina) 13.62; 3. Natalia Ivoniskaya (Kaz) 13.64. High jump: 1. Nadiya Dusanova (Uzb) 1.93; 2. Wang Yang (Chn) 1.89; 3. Sahana Kumari 1.79. Long jump: 1. Darya Rezmehnenko (Uzb) 6.34; 2. Yuliya Tarasova (Uzb) 6.20; 3. Katherine Kay Santos (Phi) 6.04. Javelin: 1. Lakmali B.L. Nadeeka (Sri) 58.41; 2. Chang Chunfeng (Chn) 54.05; 3. Lekamge Dilhani (Sri) 53.67; 6. Mukesh Kumari 48.34. Discus: 1. Liang Yan (Chn) 57.67; 2. Jiang Fengjing (Chn) 57.59; 3. Krishna Poonia 55.41. 4x100m relay: 1. Thailand 45.33; 2. China 45.41; 3. Sri Lanka 46.21.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sports> Other Sports / New Delhi – May 13th, 2013

Anjaparavanda family wins Madanda cup Kodava hockey fest

Records, All, Sports

MadandaCupKF19may2013
Virajpet (Kodagu),(KBM&KMC) :

In the 17th edition of the Kodava Hockey Festival hosted by the Madanda family at the Kodava Sports and Cultural Grounds at Balugodu, Anjaparavanda team lifted the winner’s trophy in the final match played yesterday.

The Anjaparavanda team defeated Palanganda team — who were hat-trick winners of the trophy by 2-0 goals.

Anjaparavanda, which ruled the game from the beginning, succeeded in defeating the strong opponent Palanganda team, which drastically failed to convert six penalty corner options into goals.

The Hockey Festival ended on a colourful note with the valedictory programme marked by a music recital, followed by a body-builders’ show and Kolaat by Kodava artistes. Founder of the Kodava families Hockey Festival Pandanda Kuttani Kuttappa inaugurated the final match by hitting a silver ball with silver hockey stick. Virajpet MLA K.G. Bopaiah, MLC M.C. Nanaiah and other dignitaries viewed the final match in which 225 teams participated. Next year the festival will be hosted by Thathanda family.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / May 13th, 2013

Len to train Project 2013 squad to improve on penalty corners

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports

Kuala Lumpur :

India’s former penalty corner specialist Len Aiyappa is in town to help the Project 2013 squad players improve on their penalty corner drag flicks.

The 34-year-old Len, of Bangalore, was one of the top penalty corner drag flickers in the world during his playing days from 1999 to 2005.

Len also trained the Spain National Under-21 drag flickers in 2010 and was also attached to Italian clubs for four years from 2007.

The defender, who plays for Air India in the Indian League, was also the top scorer in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) for three consecutive years in 2003, 2004 and 2005 – and for three different clubs (Ernst & Young, Bank Simpanan Nasional and Telekom respectively).

He was the last foreign player to win the MHL top scorer’s award in 2006.

Len, who arrived here on Wednesday, said that he was more than happy to help the Project squad drag flickers prepare for the Junior World Cup in Chandigarh, India, in December.

“Penalty corners are crucial during matches … a good drag flicker can help his team win matches. I am here to help fine-tune their flicks so that they are accurate and powerful,” said Len, who will be here for 12 days.

The five drag flickers in the Project squad are Mohd Shahril Saabah, Mohd Nor Aqmal Abdul Ghaffar, G. Kavin Kartik, Mohd Zulhairi Hashim and Mohd Aminudin Mohd Zain.

Len said he would return to KL “another four of five times” to train the Project squad drag flickers.

“My aim is to produce a good drag flicker for Malaysia for the Junior World Cup in December,” said Len.

Project squad coach K. Dharmaraj believes that Len is the perfect choice to guide and turn his youngsters into deadly penalty corner flickers.

source: http://www.thestar.com.my / The Star Online, Malaysia / Home> Sports / Friday, May 17th, 2013

Indian Tennis Players’ Association: Forum for the players, by the players

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, All, Sports

Somdev Devvarman and Rohan Bopanna -- File Photo
Somdev Devvarman and Rohan Bopanna — File Photo

Bengaluru:

Indian tennis is playing out like a long-running soap opera.

Seasons have rolled by but the central characters have remained the same and so has the plot. A power-hungry negative but central character in the form of the All India Tennis Association and a group of protagonists, who although united in the cause of the sport, have for long differed in their opinions.

But come April 6, we could witness the end of the opera which in turn could usher a new beginning for the sport, which has a strong following in the country.

This Saturday, the newly-formed Indian Tennis Players’ Association will hold its first Annual General Body meeting in Bengaluru, following its launch in February.

The ITPA, by itself, is a model for sportspersons in the country who for long have been ruled by the whims and fancies of federation honchos, for most of whom players’ welfare is a very low priority.

Although the ITPA came into existence last month, the indications to the effect have been around for a while now. Until recently, unity was never a strong point of Indian tennis. Internal bickering and ego clashes have always been a part of the sport’s culture.

Last year, when Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna took on the men, who wield power and supposedly know what is best for the sport in the run-up to the London Olympics, a significant glimpse of unity in times of crisis proved to be shining beacon.

The next show of strength came when 11 players made themselves unavailable for the Davis Cup tie against Korea after the AITA chose not to take up the players’ suggestions.

The players are back in the fold, on their terms, and determined to bring about a positive change in the tennis scene in the county. But they take pains to maintain that they are not a rival body to the AITA, but a “forum for the players, by the players.”

Speaking about the players’ unity, one of the primary factors behind the formation of the ITPA, India’s singles ace Somdev Devvaraman said, “All the players are sticking together and that’s a positive sign and it’s not going to change anytime soon. It’s very evident to all of us that we are doing what is correct and what is right for the sport in the country.

“We are always going to support each other. It’s rare and it’s a beautiful group to be a part of,” said the undisputed leader of the young generation.

The 28-year-old pro, who is on a comeback trail, further stated, “It’s our right to voice our opinion, India is a free country where people have always voiced their opinion if we don’t like it, we’ll say it. That’s the way I have been brought up.”

While AITA may beg to differ, Bhupathi rightly points out that they have only the interest of sport in mind. “What we are trying to do is call for better process in tennis and make it a better sport for everyone.”

All these players show passion and commitment on the court and it’s no surprise the same comes out when they speak of the way forward for Indian tennis.

“The ultimate thing is a lot of players who have played in the past and most of the present players are all on the same page. One thing is for sure, all of us want the exact same thing as an outcome. We just want the best for the players and for the future of the game. I think all of us are tennis enthusiasts, and we just want the best for it,” said the strappy Somdev.

A new beginning beckons Indian tennis, and the fact that the ushers are men and women who are passionate about the sport may well bring the bang back into Indian tennis. We will have the AGM on Saturday. Trust me, we are going to be there in full force supporting the team during the Davis Cup tie and we will be there in full force to make sure what changes we set out to do in Indian tennis happens.”

Mahesh Bhupathi “I’m glad the ITPA is formed and I’m looking forward to the first meeting. It is great to have a platform where people who are truly connected to the sport have a chance to discuss the future and identity the best way forward for the sport.”

Key founding members: Jaideep Mukerjea, Mahesh Bhupathi, Karti Chidambaram, Somdev Devvarman, Rohan Bopanna, Enrico Piperno, Manisha Malhotra, Prahalad Srinath, Aditya Sachdeva and Mustafa Ghouse.

WHAT IS ITPA?

Modelled around the ATP (the Association of Tennis Professionals), the ITPA, a Section 25 Company, a non-profit association, is a body floated as a platform to represent the professional interests of tennis players across the country.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Sports> Tennis / by Manjula Veerappa / DC / March 31st, 2013

Saina and Co. sizzle on the ramp

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports, World Opinion

New Delhi, (IANS):

Star Indian shuttlers lit up the hall as they walked the ramp in a gala opening ceremony here on the eve of the India Open.

Displaying designer clothes, Parupalli Kashyap, Jwala Gutta, Ashwini Ponnappa, P.V. Sindhu, Pullela Gopichand and Saina Nehwal took to the ramp Monday night as the entire Indian badminton contingent cheered them on. Olympian Kashyap got the loudest cheer from his fellow players.

Shuttlers who played in the London Olympics were felicitated and presented with prize money as had been promised by the Badminton Association of India (BAI).

Saina got Rs.25 lakh for winning the bronze medal in London last year. Women’s doubles specialists Jwala and Ashwini got Rs.2.5 lakh while Jwala’s mixed doubles partner V. Diju was awarded Rs.1 lakh.

source: http://www.vancouverdesi.com / Vancouver Desi.com / Home> Sports / by IANS / New Delhi, April 23rd, 2013

IANS 2013-04-23 12:46:53