Indian doubles star Rohan Bopanna was recently awarded the Arjuna Award and the Asian Games Gold Medalist could not have been happier. The 38-year old won the French Open Mixed Doubles title last year and the Asian Games this year would have loved to be present for the Award distribution ceremony but had to travel for the China Tournament.
“The Asian Games gold was more special, especially because of the fact that I had a tear on my Latissimus Dorsi (shoulder muscle) and was out for six weeks. To come straight back to competitions like the Asian Games and the US Open, I was extremely happy with my performance,” said Bopanna, who also reached the US Open Doubles Quarter-Finals.
Bopanna was hoping that he was in contention for India’s highest sporting honour – the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award. “It has been a long wait for me to get the Arjuna award. It truly means a lot. I was heart-broken last year when I did not get it.
I can surely keep trying in the future for the Khel Ratna,” Bopanna added. With four big events lined up in the season, Bopanna stays focussed to play his best. “Edourad (Roger-Vasselin) and [I] have an outside shot for the London Masters.
With two ATP 500 and two ATP 1000 Masters left, I still believe that we have a great chance to qualify for the year-end championship,” said Bopanna.
source: http://www.tennisworldusa.org / Tennis World / Home / by Philip Anderson / September 23rd, 2018
Robin Uthappa will continue to represent Saurashtra during the upcoming domestic cricket season.
The 32-year-old had recently expressed an interest in returning to Karnataka, for whom he played for nearly 15 years before moving up north.
His inclusion in the KPL, where he led Bengaluru Blasters to the final, was seen as a step in that direction.
Little choice
But with the State selectors providing him with no assurance, and at the same time looking to build a team for the future, Uthappa had little choice.
“I spoke to them and they said they will get back to me. But there was no communication,” he said.
“I have no issues with the administrators but in the end, it was up to the selectors. I wished to play in front of our crowd but now it’s time to move on.
“I am preparing well for the season and am eager to do well for Saurashtra,” Uthappa said.
I wished to play in front of our crowd but now it’s time to move on
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sports / by Sports Reporter / Bengaluru – September 12th, 2018
Tashma Muthappa, an International-level Throwball player who was living in a flood relief camp along with her family has now been rehabilitated. She, along with her parents, will move to a rented accommodation in Madikeri on Monday. Also, Kodagu District Minister S.R. Mahesh has promised her a government job.
It may be recalled that Star of Mysore had published a report on Aug. 30 under the title “Floods shatter sports star’s life in Kodagu.” The report had highlighted the plight of Tashma, who brought laurels to Karnataka and India by winning national and international tournaments. First she was forced to give up her sporting career and take up a data entry job to support her family and second, her house was destroyed in floods and landslides.
Tashma’s house, built just one-and-a-half-years back in Second Monnangeri at Madikeri was washed away and all her medals, certificates and hard-earned money were lost. 23-year-old Tashma was to get married in December but now her wedding has been postponed to April next year as the jewellery worth Rs. 3.5 lakh too were swept away.
Following the publication of the report that was widely shared in social media, help started pouring in to Tashma and her family. They will move to a fully-furnished house at Kannika Layout near Madikeri Race Course Road on Sept. 3. Singapore Kodava Samaja has sponsored Rs. 50,000 to be paid as advance to the house and has also sponsored the monthly rent of Rs. 10,000 for one year.
The Singapore Art of Living team has sponsored utensils, food, fuel and other requirements to the family and Chandrashekar and friends have volunteered to look after the day-to-day needs of the family till it can sustain on its own.
Meeting Tashma, Kodagu District Minister S.R. Mahesh has assured her that he will secure her a government job.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / September 01st, 2018
Both will receive the Rs 20 lakh high cash incentive earlier announced by the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa for sportspersons winning medals in international games.
Jakarta : From left to right silver medalist Chae Bonjin and Kim Dongwook of Korea, gold medalist Shingen Furuya and Shinji Hachiyama of Japan and bronze medalist Varun Ashokthakkar and Kelapanda Chengappa of India pose for a selfie with their medals during the victory ceremony for in the 49er Men of sailing event at the18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018.AP/PTI(AP8_31_2018_000227B)
Tamil Nadu government Saturday lauded state sportspersons Vikas Thakkar and Chengappa Ganapathy Kelapanda for winning the bronze medal in 49er men’s sailing event at the ongoing Asian Games in Indonesia.
Chief Minister K Palaniswami announced a high cash incentive of Rs 20 lakh each for their feat, in line with the government’s policy of promoting sporting talent from Tamil Nadu. In seperate letters to Thakkar and Kelapanda, the Chief Minister lauded them for their medal winning performance and said they had made the state and the country proud.
Both will receive the Rs 20 lakh high cash incentive earlier announced by the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa for sportspersons winning medals in international games, he said. “On behalf of the people and Government of Tamil Nadu, I once again extend my warm greetings to you and all those who supported you in this achievement and wish you bring more laurels to the country and the state in future,” he told them.
Further, the Chief Minister announced an additional Rs 20 lakh for paddler A Sharath Kamal, for winning a second bronze medal in the ongoing Asiad. “I am happy to hear that you have won your second medal in the ongoing 18th Asian Games, 2018 a Bronze Medal in Table Tennis mixed doubles event,” Palaniswami said.
The Chief Minister said Kamal was now eligible to receive a high cash incentive of Rs 20 lakhs, apart from a similar amount announced by him on August 29.
source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Sports> Asian Games / by PTI, Chennai / September 01st, 2018
MR Poovamma, spearhead and senior most member of the Asian Games gold medal winning Indian 4×400 Women’s relay team (which included Hima Das, Saritaben Gayakwad and VK Vismaya), explains the future implications of the victory in Jakarta, and reveals details behind the bold strategy that helped them upstage Salwa Naser-led Bahrain.
A gold medal is special under any circumstance, no doubt. But, when the top prize at the Asian Games — at any competition for that matter — comes after an athlete manages to upstage the best in the world, the medal attains a deeper meaning. Its significance transcends the podium, going much beyond the fervour or emotions the celebrating athletes, the fluttering flag, and the national anthem conjure up. The gold medal gets an additional gleam from a promise for the future, while dreams and aspirations of the athlete involved find new horizons.
When Hima Das, MR Poovamma, Saritaben Gayakwad and VK Vismaya climbed onto the top rung of the podium to celebrate the country’s final gold (in the women’s 4x400m relay) from athletics in Jakarta, on the last day of track and field competitions at Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Stadium on August 30, they stood tall with a realisation that could, in the coming years, take them to higher pedestals.
source:http://www.newsclick.in / News Click / Home> Sports> India / by Leslie Xavier / August 31st, 2018
Hailing from a poor family in 2nd Monnangeri — which was destroyed in a landslide — Tashma had a flair for throwball since childhood.
Tashma Muthappa
Madikeri :
The recent floods in Kodagu have altered numerous lives. Like that of Tashma Muthappa’s. Tashma (23), an international-level throwball player from Kodagu, is now staying at a relief centre after her house was washed away in the floods. And she lost her medals and trophies too. But thanks to the power of social media, help has been pouring in for her. After her story was circulated on the social media platforms, there has been a ray of hope. “I received help from 2nd Monnangeri activist Dhanjay and People for Kodagu Organisation,” Tashma said.
On Wednesday, MLC Veena Achaiah and her son Vishwas Achaiah visited Tashma and offered her help. “Vishwas Achaiah and his friends have offered to pay one year’s rent for our house and have promised to look after other expenses,” she added.
Hailing from a poor family in 2nd Monnangeri — which was destroyed in a landslide — Tashma had a flair for throwball since childhood. She has taken part in many throwball events, including those in Sri Lanka and Malaysia. She was part of the Indian throwball team that won an international championship in Bengaluru recently. However, she gave up her sporting career owing to financial constraints. Tashma, who completed her PU from Alva’s College, Mangaluru, now works as a data operator at Kodagu Medical College. Her parents Muthappa and Girija work at a homestay.
Life suddenly turned upside down for her on August 17. “At around 10 am that day, we started fleeing our homes after we noticed numerous cracks in the earth. We climbed uphill as roads were blocked owing to landslides. Walking through forests, we reached a relief centre at Cherambane at 9 pm,” she said recalling the horror. The family was later moved to a relief camp in Madikeri, where her story was learnt by many well-wishers and was circulated on social media.
Tashma hopes that the government offers her a permanent job. Though her immediate goal is to get a job and support her family, Tashma is ready to enter the throwball field and prove her mettle again … if she gets more support.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service / August 31st, 2018
Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan won 6-3, 6-4 to become the fifth men’s doubles pairing to win gold at the Asian Games.
Tennis – 2018 Asian Games – Men’s Doubles – Final – JSC Tennis Court – Palembang, Indonesia – August 24, 2018. Rohan Manchanda Bopanna and Divij Sharan of India shake hands with Aleksandr Bublik and Denis Yevseyev of Kazakhstan after winning their match. REUTERS/Edgar Su
Top seeded men’s doubles pairing of Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan won India’s second medal in tennis – after bronze for Ankita Raina in women’s singles – at Palembang in the Asian Games. The duo produced clinical display of attacking tennis to beat the Kazakhstan pairing of Aleksander Bublik and Denis Yevseyev 6-3, 6-4 in 52 minutes.
In under 20 minutes, Bopanna-Sharan had taken a 4-1 lead in the opening set with two breaks of serves under their command. Soon enough, Bopanna got the job done to wrap up the opening set thanks to his booming serves and Divij’s confident play at the net. Kazakhs did have their moments but were undone by erratic and inconsistent play – a brilliant cross-court backhand winner one moment was followed up by a powerless return buried in the net the very next minute.
Bopanna who played mostly from the back of the court was formidable in his returns. He pulled off some tough winners helped by his sheer force.
Second set was a more evenly contested affair with Bublik and Yevseyev connecting better but they couldn’t keep their unforced error count low to put pressure on the Indian pairing. At 3-3, Bopanna and Sharan clinched the all-important break to go up and despite being pushed a bit in the very next game, the top seeds held serve to grab a 5-3 lead. Kazakhs held their serve to put the onus on Bopanna to hold for the gold medal – which he did so by serving it out to love.
India have claimed the men’s doubles gold on four occasions at the Asian Games, the last pair being Somdev Devvarman and Sanam Singh in the 2010 Guangzhou edition. Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes remain the most successful Indian men’s doubles pair in the Asian Games history, having claimed back-to-back gold medals in the 2002 and 2006 Games.
Paes, however, had stunned the Indian team this time by pulling out on the eve of the Games after complaining of not getting a specialist partner of his choice.
In 2014, Saketh Myneni and Sanam had ended with a silver medal.
(With PTI inputs)
source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Sports> Asian Games 2018 / by Sports Desk / August 24th, 2018
Dipika Pallikal had beaten Japanese Kobayashi Misaki 3-0 in the quarterfinals. File | Photo Credit: Getty Images
Dipika lost to defending champion Nicol David; Joshna lost to Sivasangari Subramaniam
India’s top squash player Dipika Pallikal Karthik on Saturday, settled for a bronze medal, her second at the Asian Games, after losing her semifinal match to Malaysia’s Nicole David, one of the most formidable players the game has seen.
Later in the day, Joshna Chinappa failed to match up to the level of her 19-year-old opponent, Malaysian Sivasangari Subramaniam, losing 1-3 (10-12 6-11 11-9 7-11).
Both the losing semifinalists win a bronze and there is no bronze-medal play-off.
Saurav Ghosal is the lone Indian squash player remaining in the fray and will take on Hong Kong China’s Au Chun Ming in the men’s singles semifinals later in the day.
Dipika led 5-2 and 4-1 in the first two games but three-time defending champion Nicol had enough experience to race away with a 11-7 11-9 11-6 win in the semifinal.
Dipika, who had won a bronze at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, said playing against former world number one Nicol, currently ranked ninth, was not easy.
“She is experienced and knows how to handle every situation, thrown at her. She was world number one for 10 years for a reason. I am happy I played well. It’s unfortunate that I was in top-half to play with Nicol,” she said.
To focus on team event
The 26-year-old Dipika said she had to forget the defeat and get focused on the winning the gold in women’s team event.
“We have a gold to achieve in team event. you can’t think much about what has happened in the singles. It’s hard to regroup and comeback but we have to do it. We don’t want to celebrate as yet, we have a bigger target to achieve,” she said.
The Indian women’s team had won a silver in Incheon.
Asked if a few calls which went against her perturbed her, Dipika said, “We are used to it. It’s part and parcel of the game. She has been playing Asian Games for a long time, she is very experienced. I think you have take positives out of it. I am only 26, I have few more Asian Games to go. Hopefully I welcome back strong.”
Nicol is 35 years old and still going strong. Dipika said it’s Nicol’s time and she will have to wait for her time.
“Squash is about how fit you are, how much you enjoy the game. We can see she really enjoys the game. This is only my third Asian Games. Let the older one win here and we will comeback after four years and win.”
The Indian squash players have trained without a regular coach for some time.
The SRFI had sent Cyrus Poncha and Bhuvneshwari Kumari as coaches with the contingent but Dipika said the players prefer helping each other.
“All of us like to be coached by the players. Only the player will talk to the players, it works like that for us. It’s a silent decision taken by the players. Harry (Harinderpal Sandhu), Saurav (Ghosal), we are all training together.
The story was updated to include the results of Joshna Chinappa’s match
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sports> Other Sports / by PTI / Jakarta, August 25th, 2018
Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan of India celebrate after winning the Asian Games doubles gold against Aleksandr Bublik and Denis Yevseyev of Kazakhstan. l
Rohan Bopanna fought a wave of emotions as the Indian flag went up to the tune of the National anthem in the background. Even as he and Divij Sharan soaked in the maiden Asian Games gold triumph, his thoughts flew to home district Kodagu, which has been ravaged by floods. The 38-year-old dedicated his medal to the flood victims.
“I am really happy we could deliver a gold for India. I think more than me winning the gold medal it is sending a big, positive message from Palembang to Coorg. Everyday I have been talking to my parents, friends, seen so many people going through such hard times.
“I dedicate this medal to them, to all those who are constantly giving support. That’s why I was flooded with emotions when the national anthem was playing,” Bopanna told DH.
Bopanna was happy the way he and Divij stuck through the tough quarterfinal and semifinal matches before prevailing over Kazakhstan’s Aleksandr Bublik and Denis Yevseyev in the final.
“The way Divij has been playing this entire year, we were confident. He is a very positive person on the court. But having said that with the format of no ad scoring and super-tie breaks you never know. We played a couple of teams which you play regularly on Challengers and a few on ATP circuit. It can always get tricky. But I am really glad that we just focused on one match, and one particular opponent,” he said.
Divij, who won his second Asian Games medal, was equally thrilled. “It was very special to win, I have never experienced something like this. I have been putting in a lot of hard work and this year has been really good for me.”
Speaking on their chemistry, the 32-year-old Delhi boy said: “Rohan and I have known each other for a long time, we have both been employed at Indian Oil and have practised quite a lot together. We came through tough matches to the final which gave us the confidence and we settled into each other’s style. In the final we played the deuce points well.”
New doubles pair?
While none would comment on the last-minute pull out of Leander Paes, the two were eager to be paired up together for Davis Cup. “If we are asked to play together then nothing like it. We will surely play whenever we get the opportunity, we have combined well and done well together. So why not? I don’t see a reason why we would not play,” Bopanna admitted.
The next stop for them is the US Open as the two rushed to the airport shortly after the victory ceremony. Until then they can bask under the gleam of a hard-earned gold.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Sports> Asian Games 2018 / by Pragya Tiwari, DH News Service, New Delhi / August 24th, 2018
Team Coorg Muscat with the trophy and the Chief Guest Dr. Marwan Al Juma, President, Al Ahli Sidab Sports Club Supplied phot
Muscat :
Former hockey champions Team Coorg Muscat upset the local favourites UTSC Muscat 3-2 in a thrilling final to lift the 72nd Independence Day of India Cup which was held at the Al Seeb astro turf stadium.
The tournament organised by the Friends of Naqvi Group and Team Coorg Oman in association with Embassy of India and Oman Hockey Association, under the auspices of Chief Guest Dr. Marwan Al Juma, President, Ahli Sidab Sports Club along with Guest of Honour Yousuf Abdullah Al Wahaibi, vice-president, Seeb Club, Dr. Satish Nambiar, chairman, Indian Social Club and Hockey legend veteran S.A.S. Naqvi.
The colourful event saw all four teams namely UTSC Muscat, Team Coorg Muscat, Team Coorg UAE and Sharjah Road Masters clashing with each other in the preliminary round with the top two teams Team Coorg Muscat and UTSC had playing out the final which went into a penalty shootout after the two teams were locked 1-1 at full time.
During the second half of the game UTSC Muscat went on the rampage and converted a perfect goal and it looked like they were on their way to clinch the trophy when Team Coorg Muscat who struggled for an equalizer, saw unexpected lighting move from their star duo Moni-Nani with the former netting an equaliser at the crucial moment. However, with the equalizer came the penalty shootout in which Team Coorg Muscat kept their cool and converted three out of the five goals while, UTSC Muscat managed only two at the end of the game with the score line reading 3-2 in favour of Team Coorg Muscat who finally laid their hands on the trophy.
Team Coorg Oman and Friends of Naqvi Group thanked the Chairman of Seeb Club His Highness Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said for his great vision, the management and staff of Seeb Club for their support, teams, and the huge gathering that came to witness the wonderful event.
Team Coorg Muscat thanked S.A.S. Naqvi, former technical advisor of Oman Olympic Committee Oman Hockey Association, the sponsors FAP (construction chemicals), Masafi Water and individual sponsors Osama Rawat, Chennappanda Somaiah, Tirta Prasad for their contribution.
During the prize distribution ceremony Team Coorg Muscat honoured S.A.S. Naqvi and Osama Rawat.
source: http://www.timesofoman.com / Times of Oman / Home> Sports / by Times News Service / August 18th, 2018
WELCOME. If you like what you see "SUBSCRIBE via EMAIL" to receive FREE regular UPDATES.
Read More »
