New Delhi :
London Olympics selection controversy is a thing of past at least for Rohan Bopanna as the doubles ace is keen to wear the India cap again and represent the nation in the Davis Cup.

Bopanna and his then partner Mahesh Bhupathi were banned by All India Tennis Association (AITA) for not abiding by the selection decision for the Olympics although the court had stayed that decision later on.

India are set to take on South Korea in the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group I tie in February next year.

“What has been done in the past, it’s over and let us just look at the future and keep moving ahead. I mean tomorrow if I am called to represent India for the Davis Cup which I have always have said yes to, I will go ahead and represent India at the Davis Cup,” Bopanna said in an interview.

“There are a lot of things as a sportsperson you look back and could have taken some positives out of that. There are a lot of things which could have been better not said or done. It’s past. That’s been done and dusted.

“That’s over now and as a professional I believe we have all moved on from it. Now it’s time to concentrate on the future events with a new partner. 2012 is behind me,” said the 32-year-old Bangalorean.

Bopanna, who parted ways with his long-term mentor and doubles partner Bhupathi after the season-ending ATP Tour Finals last month, said that he will definitely “miss” him.

“He is the best doubles player out there in the world. No doubt, I have learnt a lot from him in my career not only as a partner but he also helped me, guided me right from the Challengers, Tour levels and Grand Slams. No doubt, he will be missed.”

“We had decided in the beginning of this year that we will be playing for a year since it’s been an Olympic year and at the US Open itself we decided that since I have few more years to go I need a partner who I can build a relationship with, try and get a solid partnership going. That’s the reason why we decided to change partners and see how it goes,” said Bopanna.

Bopanna, along with Bhupathi, had compiled an impressive 34-22 match record and 2-3 in finals, and in the past also teamed up with players like Pakistan’s Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi and American Eric Butorac.

Bopanna has decided to pair up with the US-based Rajeev Ram at the upcoming Chennai Open and for the 2013 season.

Asked about whom did he find as his best partner, Bopanna said, “My best results came with Aisam, reaching the finals of a Grand slam. This year with Mahesh also, we had a great end to the season winning the Paris Masters. I had a great success with them. Looking forward to take few positives from both the partnerships.”

Talking about Rajeev as his new partner on the ATP circuit, Bopanna said they have the potential to be one of the top doubles teams in the world.

“100 per cent. We both have big styles of game and definitely we both have what it takes to be top eight doubles team in the world,” he said.

“I am really looking forward to the new season. Rajeev and I have known each other for few years now. 2008 we played together at the Australian Open and reached the third round.

“He is technically a serve and volley player and his experience will definitely help in the doubles. He is a big guy, actually one inch taller than me also. His is a big big game. So, we both will complement each other playing together,” he added.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> Sports> Tennis / by PTI / December 28th, 2012

Minister for Youth Services and Sports Appachu Ranjan has said that sports policy will be given final touches within 45 days.

Speaking to presspersons after inspecting the Sullia taluk stadium work which has been stopped for various reasons here on Tuesday, he said that 25 taluks in the State do not have stadiums. “The government is proposing to start sports hostels in every district.

Sports hostel has already been started in 22 districts. Earlier, the admission to sports hostel was for the students from eighth to tenth standard. However, it will be extended to fifth to tenth standard.”

Stating that youth policy has been formulated to utilise the youth power, the Minister said that the youth policy will be implemented on January 12, to mark 151st birth anniversary of Swamy Vivekananda. Other states are planning to formulate similar youth policy.

To a query on incomplete stadium, he said that the work on 400-metre track, walking track, gallery needs to be taken up. An action plan of Rs 95 lakh has been prepared, said Assistant Director Subhash.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> District / DHNS, Sullia / December 25th, 2012

Bhopal:
Air India team captain Arjun Halappa, Shivendra Singh and other players in jubilant after won the Obedullah Khan Gold Cup Hockey Tournament in Bhopal on Tuesday. Air India beat last year winner Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) 4-3 Goals. PTI

Last year’s runners-up Air India (AI) lifted the International Obaidullah Khan Gold Cup hockey tournament title by defeating holders Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) 4-3 in the final.

For Air India, Shivendra Singh and captain Arjun Halappa scored two goals each last night.

AI played an attacking game from the start, and led 2-1 at the half time.

Olympian Shivendra scored his first goal in the seventh minute before Halappa doubled the lead for AI in the 24th minute.

Four minutes later, Gurjinder Singh reduced the margin for IOC, scoring from a penalty corner.

But after the breather Shivendra scored from a penalty corner before Gurjinder converted another set piece for IOC to make the scoreline 2-3.

In the 59th minute, Halappa scored his second to make the scoreline 4-2 in favour of AI.

Even though Gurjinder completed his hat-trick in the 64th minute, it was not enough for IOC to defend the title.

In the third-fourth place play-off match, Punjab and Sindh Bank beat ONGC 3-2.

Madhya Pradesh Governor Ram Naresh Yadav and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan gave away the awards.

Winner AI returned home with a cash prize of Rs 21 lakh and a trophy while runners-up IOC received a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh.

AI’s Shivendra was adjudged man-of-the-match, while Gurjinder was declared man-of-the-tournament.

Abdul Samad of Bhopal Red was adjudged best goal-keeper, his teammate Affan Yuosuf as best forward, Diwakar Ram of ONGC as best defender and Vikram Pillai of AI as best mid-fielder.

Several former players and Olympians including Aslam Sher Khan, Sameer Dad, Dhanraj Pillai, Ashok Dhyanchand, Jalaludding Rizvi, Inamur Rahman, Mumtaz Malik, Saleem Abbasi, Khursheed Ali and Altafur Rahman were felicitated on this occasion.

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> Sports> Other Sports / by PTI / December 26th, 2012

New Delhi:
India’s captain and one of the marquee players, Sardar Singh was sold to Delhi Wave Riders for the highest price of $78,000 while Bangalore’s V.R. Raghunath fetched the second highest price of $76,000 for Uttar Pradesh Wizards here at the Hockey India League (HIL) players’ auction Sunday.

Raghunath’s reserve price was $13,900 before the Lucknow-based outfit snapped him up for the second highest figure at the auction.

Other marquee players sold at the auction were German Moritz Suertse for $75,500 to Ranchi Rhinos, world’s most capped player Teun de Nooijer of the Netherlands to Lucknow-based Uttar Pradesh Wizards for $66,000, and Australian Jamie Dwyer to Jaypee Punjab Warriors at $60,000.

India’s second marquee player and drag-flick specialist Sandeep Singh, who was touted to be sold for the highest price, went for his reserve price of $27,800 to Mumbai Magicians.

Other important Indian players sold at the auction were S.V. Sunil (Punjab for $42,000), Yuvraj Walmiki (Delhi for $18,000), and Shivendra Singh (Punjab for $27,500).

Mumbai’s Tushar Khandekar was sold for only $100 more than his reserve price of $13,900 to Uttar Pradesh while S.K. Uthappa went to Uttar Pradesh for $25,000 and Gurbaj Singh to Delhi for $36,000.

Ignace Tirkey, who had a reserve price of $13,900, went to Punjab for $31,000 while Rupinder Pal Singh, with a base price of $9,250, was sold to Uttar Pradesh for $56000.

Unlike cricket’s Indian Premier League (IPL), there were no problems with the auction of Pakistani players as the Mumbai franchisee bought Fareed Ahmed for $21,000 and Mohammed Rashid for $41,000.

On being sold for the highest price, Sardar said: “It feels very good. I am enjoying the moment. Hopefully all players will get a good deal. There will a banter among the national team players about who are sold for what.”

source: http://www.aajkikhabar.com / Aaj Ki Khabar / Home> Sports / Tuesday, December 18th, 2012

Tennis players Rohan Bopanna and Mahesh Bhupathi recently announced their decision to part ways and partner with other players. This announcement came close on the heels of their defeat at the ATP World Tour. The duo had a good run this year, the pre-Olympic tennis row notwithstanding.

In fact, Rohan, who played with Mahesh with a special focus on preparing for the London Olympics, says, “Playing with Mahesh was a great learning experience for me and we had a good year on the tour. We won two events — at Dubai and Paris, were finalists at the ATP World Tour Finals, and were consistently ranked within the top 10 teams of the world.” Plus, he reached his career-highest doubles ranking, so it’s been a great year for him.

And, to add to all the cheer, Rohan will be tying the knot with fiancee Supriya Annaiah very soon. While he keeps mum on the exact wedding date (we hear it will be in the coming week), he admits that preparations for D-Day are on in full swing. Says he, “All the preparations are coming along well. It will be a traditional Kodava wedding in Coorg and my close family and friends from the tour will be part of all the celebrations.”

Rohan and Supriya got engaged earlier this year. His excitement at taking this big step is palpable. “I met Supriya through some common friends, and I have known her for a while now,” he says. Is she game to deal with all the pressures of his sport? “Supriya is very supportive of my choices, and very understanding of my demanding schedule. She keeps me grounded, and she knows exactly when I need my own space. She respects my priorities and lets me handle them the way I am used to,” he shares.

Post his wedding, Rohan will be back on court with his new partner American Rajeev Ram. “I am looking at building a strong and sustainable partnership on the tour and Rajeev is a great player,” he says.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> Sports> Tennis> Interviews / by Nupur Chaudhuri, TNN / November 18th, 2012