Category Archives: Sports

‘Mentor’ Ashwini Ponnappa finds solace in fresh challenges

Amazing Feats, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Sports, Women/Girls (wef. Sept 03rd, 2022), World Opinion, , ,

Ashwini Ponnappa, who has achieved many firsts for Indian badminton, is drawing new energy from her 20-year-old partner Tanisha Crasto. But the 33-year-old says her biggest challenge is to stay motivated.

Mentor Ashwini Ponnappa finds solace in fresh challenges
Ashwini Ponnappa poses for a photo among shuttles at a badminton court. (Photo credit: Ashwini Ponnappa/Instagram)

Ashwini Ponnappa is unbothered about her age. An average female shuttler retires at 28, but Ashwini, even at 33, does not see any reason for slowing down. She does not let the thought of retirement sneak into her mind either. Having recently taken up the fresh challenge of playing two intense and physically demanding disciplines – women’s and mixed doubles – instead of one, Ashwini says she ‘finds solace’ in distributing her priorities. “It is not easy to play two events, but it is something that I want to do at this point, I kind of find solace in playing two events rather than one,” Ashwini told The Bridge.

Ashwini broke her long-standing and rather futile partnership with N. Sikki Reddy last year, following her highly successful one with Jwala Gutta which ended in 2016. She tried her hands at pottery and commentary before embarking on a fresh challenge by pairing up with Tanisha Crasto, 13 years younger than her. To put the matter into perspective, when Ashiwni had won her first title – the national sub-junior girls’ doubles gold in 2004 – Tanisha had been in her nappies.

A partner in the mould of a mentor

Ashwin admitted that the trickiest thing for her now is to stay motivated. But Tanisha’s exuberant presence is not allowing her to lag behind. “As you get older, things get tricker. When you are young, you have time on your side, enthusiasm. For me, the challenge right now is to look after my body and keep my mind fresh. And to keep going, keep pushing and keep having that belief and hope that ‘yes, you are going to get that result, again’,” Ashwini said. “It’s tricky, especially when it comes to getting to the stadium and training every single day. The glimmer of hope is that I always believe something good is going to come my way. And starting over with a young partner is a motivating,” she stated.

Being a senior player, Ashwini is more than just a partner in this new partnership. “I love the energy and enthusiasm that she (Tanisha) brings in to the court. Partnering with her is quite fun, because she always wants to do well. And she is very gritty on court. Our age gap does not matter on court. Of course, since I have played for such a long time, I tend to be more like a mentor,” she said. But Ashwini ruled out having any seniority complex. “But having said that, when you are on board, you cannot have a seniority complex. At the end of the day, you are in a partnership irrespective of how big the age gap is,” added the shuttler.

Even though the Ashwini-Tanisha partnership is at a nascent stage now, the combination has started clicking. They claimed their first International Challenge title in Nantes, France, in June. They were also part of India’s mixed team silver medal-winning squad at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Ranked 56th in the world, Ashwini-Tanisha is the second-choice women’s doubles pair for India after Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand. The pair will next be seen in action at the Asian Games in Hangzhou in September. However, Ashwini is no longer in the reckoning for the Olympics or BWF World Championships, as she has slipped out of the top 32. “We just started playing in January. Unfortunately, we have not played too many tournaments. But I am very happy with the fact that we won the Nantes International Challenge. We are just getting started, we have a long way to go,” Ashwini asserted.

Juggling between challenges Her women’s doubles career is already legendary, but Ashwini’s transition to mixed doubles has always been challenging. “Switching to mixed doubles has always been a challenge. It is easier to have a woman on your side and also one at the back of the court. I have been a women’s doubles specialist in my career so far. I have always been known as a player who is predominantly at the back of the court rather than front,” explained Ashwini. “The most obvious difference is that in mixed doubles, you always find the girl at the net,” she said.

But, Ashwini, like always, is not willing to give up. “I think I have adapted over the years, which also requires me to move into the net. It’s not natural for me, but I have learnt to make the transition to the back of the court,” she said about the challenge of playing mixed doubles. This challenge is precisely the reason her partnership with B. Sumeeth Reddy has not taken off yet. In the mixed-gender event, they are ranked 64th and are yet to taste success. This is the latest of Ashwini’s many attempts to make her mixed doubles career fly. She had previously paired up with Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, to whom she attributed the speed and power of her smash. But that partnership was severed soon as Satwik specialised in men’s doubles and gave up on mixed doubles.

As she is ranked outside the top rung, Ashwini is no longer a sure shot on the World Tour; she features regularly in the qualifiers. This makes her newest journey more strenuous, as she has had to juggle between smaller tournaments for ranking points, where she often plays too many matches in a day. “If I am playing the bigger tournaments, it is not much of an issue because there is enough time. But if I am playing the smaller tournaments, which we have to since we do not really have a good ranking, there are times when you could end up playing three to four matches in a day,” said Ashwini.

Pride of Indian women’s doubles

Ashwini has been a trailblazer in Indian women’s doubles along with Jwala. The duo achieved many firsts for Indian doubles, by winning Commonwealth Games gold and BWF World Championships bronze. In fact, for 11 years, Ashwini and Jwala were India’s only doubles pair to win a medal at the Worlds before Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty – pioneers in men’s doubles – matched their feat in 2022 in Tokyo.

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“We were the first to win the bronze medal at the World Championships. And we were the first ones to win a bronze medal overall in 28 years. It was a very special moment for us. The best part for me was that we enjoyed the entire tournament. The icing on the cake was the bronze medal,” Ashwini said.

Ashwini welcomes changes in women’s doubles

Though she finds herself out of favour in the Indian badminton contingent in top-notch events, the seasoned star is delighted with the changes in Indian women’s doubles, which has emerged from an earlier archaic philosophy to become an attractive discipline for youngsters.

“When I started, I did not want to play doubles. I was more interested in women’s singles. I was asked to choose it. But over the years, I have proved myself as a women’s doubles specialist,” said Ashwini.

She welcomes the recent trend where more players are taking up the discipline and sponsors are supporting their bids. India now has two women’s doubles pairings in the top 50. There are five more in the top 100, including Ashwini-Tanisha at 56.

“It has evolved quite a bit in the last decade, especially the last few years. Especially after the Covid-19 pandemic. Youngsters are being pushed towards doubles and sponsors are supporting them. In the past, only one or two pairs were sent and not a lot of pairs went on their own. This has changed drastically,” observed Ashwini.

However, Ashwini finds the latest BWF World Tour hectic, where shuttlers are forced to compete for ranking and Olympic qualification points round the year.

“It gets really overwhelming at times. It is hard to find the right gap for a break. It would be nice if we have a streamlined year, where we would also get an off season. But I would say the sport is growing the way it should grow. There’s always good and bad, it depends on how you look at it,” opined Ashwini.

source: http://www.thebridge.in / The Bridge / Home> Badminton / by Sudipta Biswas / August 27th, 2023


Coffee, family, and perseverance: How a Coorg boy became a tennis champion

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‘It’s having the right people around—that is crucial. To stop a negative mindset and have the team encouraging and moving you forward, that helps one grow,’ says Rohan Bopanna.

Coffee, family, and perseverance: How a Coorg boy became a tennis champion
Rohan Bopanna

Twenty years in the making, the legacy of tennis champion Rohan Bopanna has been strong and sublime. The oldest player on the masters’ circuit at 43, the lone Indian winning matches, tennis is ingrained in his soul. Now, the champion turns his aggressive play, ball plucking, and serve-oriented game to the 2023 US Open doubles draw with Australian Matthew Ebden, all the while also embracing his first love coffee – as Coffee Board of India’s coffee ambassador. But, more on that later.

At a time when the rigours of age force one to hang their boots, Coorg and Bangalore boy Rohan Bopanna perseveres. Playing his best tennis yet, 2023 saw him win an ATP master’s title, reach a major final and semi-final, making it back onto the doubles ranked No. 8. This resilience, perseverance, discipline and insatiable urge to compete has been his lode star. From a “not-scholarship worthy teen” who paid for coaching and board in Pune, the years have only transformed his game and resolve into the Indian tennis juggernaut he is today. Aware of the constant battle with age, Rohan’s 2023 Davis Cup appearance will be his last, international tennis continues though.

“I am retiring from Davis Cup, not general tennis. Having played Davis Cup for 20-plus years, it is the right time to make the call. It is based in India, and I see a few younger players upping their ranking. Thus, I was aware that I will be replaced by another Indian, unlike on the tour where if I retire, it is not guaranteed that the spot will go to an Indian,” explains Rohan, adding, “Playing my last match in India will be special. So proud and happy about my 20-year journey at the Davis Cup,” adds the player currently in the US.

Brushing aside his age, he feels, “Age is truly a number. The mind limits us, it defines if you can or can’t push the limit. If you manage the demands on the body, anything is possible. The right time for recovery, sleep, food, strength and mobility is key.”
There are no off days for the grand slammer – an hour of mobility, exercise bands, strength work for his legs, agility and Iyengar yoga before practice. The gym for a cool down, he adds, “Doing squats is extremely painful for me as I don’t have cartilage. I focus on small muscles. Cooling down and stretching, and an ice bath is key. Investing and traveling with a physio helps me take care of my body as maintaining muscle is important.”

Loving simple home cooked fare, he admits being partial to rice, and no yeast. Not a stickler, if the urge strikes, in Rome, a pizza slice is welcome, even a rare dessert, and in Coorg his mom’s Pandi curry. Fruits, eggs, cereal for breakfast, his favourite filter coffee, salmon or chicken with white rice and vegetables for a meal, the most essential is, “Proper sleep – seven to eight hours, recovery is sacrosanct. Having a personal physio at Wimbledon helped me reach the doubles semi-finals after playing back to back matches on four consecutive days,” adds Bopanna.

Oh partner my partner

Bopanna and Matthew Ebden have been clinching tough matches on the doubles circuit since January 2023. A player who achieved a doubles career-high No. 3 in 2013, and earned 400th doubles win of his career in 2021, has over the relentless tournament-hopping, and match-playing found many partners – Imran Qureshi, Matwe Middelkoop, etc, and now Ebden. It’s about focusing on the relationship and evolving. “Camaraderie has to develop off the court too, which aids in tight matches. You need to trust each other, understand the need for space, when to take charge or change tactics. Ebden brings a calmness on court, and we both don’t get flustered,” mulls Rohan.

A Coorg at heart

Spending his formative years (till 14) at the family coffee estate Raja Prabha Estate at Madhapur (named after Raja his uncle, and Prabha his dad), one can easily picture a little Rohan running amok amid greenery, climbing and swinging from trees – even today, the outdoorsy persona thrives. “Being a part of coffee picking, harvesting, packaging – the estate has given me amazing memories. Tennis, I picked up much later, at 10. Till then, I was a naughty brat!” he smiles.

That tennis requires deep pockets, it’s Rohan’s parents’ unwavering support that has seen his fortunes rise. “When you are paying for so many tickets, it’s not easy – my coach, physio, wife and daughter. The hardest part is that from a young age one has to pay all the expenses. Even today, I pay for my coach, physio, travel, and unfortunately not many people know this, they think the federation helps,” he says.

Attributing his father for pushing his limits, and his mother for ensuring he was focused, today he realises the crucial role they played. “Not once did they say, ‘ok, tennis is going nowhere, let’s stop it.’ They encouraged me, gave me a chance to learn and excel. They wanted me to represent India one day. From 2002, now playing for 20 years has been a blessing,” he adds.

“Dad learnt and taught himself tennis in Coorg, he got eight members together, built a tennis court – formed a club, and they taught each other, even the wives! Appreciating this journey from basics – even today the club has no gym – my dad had built two poles with a rope to help strengthen my grip. Those days, often, there was no electricity, I would study under a candlelight, that was normal,” chuckles Rohan.

Gifted a bicycle in Pune, for four years, the grand slam winner would pedal 14-15 km every day, then at 19, he got a 1999 Hero Honda Splendour, which is there even today!

Many tennis players visited the estate for his wedding to Supriya, and loved it. “Mahesh, Sania and Rishi have come there – and yes, they played tennis on that basic court where I started my journey,” he says.

Dad’s biggest fan is Tridha

Rohan thrives on competition. But tennis can be a lonely endeavour. Respite with family helps, and Rohan is grateful his daughter can witness him play. “Our daughter Tridha is four. She watches me play – which is an amazing feeling. I am happy she can witness my live tennis instead of saying, ‘Oh, my dad used to play.’ It makes a world of difference. Having Supriya and her around is a blessing. She might not understand the game but is thrilled to watch me practice, picks up balls, she even brings a racket for fun – When I lose a match, she has now learnt to muster the courage, to say ‘bad luck’,” says the doting father.

The inner circle plays a significant role in an athlete’s journey, and his robust support system includes coach Scott Davidoff who has worked with players like Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza. Bringing a new energy to Rohan’s steadfast game, he adds, “Scott has been travelling with me for over 12 years. We are able to push and play at a higher level. He brings stability. When overwhelmed, Scott understands my struggles, is succinct, and helps manage the mind. It could be a suggestion on slowing down my first serves if I am not accurate, or using a kick serve – his perspective comes from years of experience.”

Brewing the coffee narrative

His love affair with coffee has come full circle as coffee ambassador for the Coffee Board of India. A rite of passage with the ubiquitous seed, the World Coffee Conference to be held in Bangalore from September 25-28, and Rohan is embracing this role whole heartedly. “The Coffee Board CEO recognised that I was doing my bit for Indian coffee. I’d love to showcase Indian coffee, its rich culture – which many are unaware about. To bring India onto the world map. Indian coffee is uniquely grown under shade, compared to others grown in direct sunlight,” pipes the guy always carries his coffee filter and roast on tour.

On awakening, a ritual steeped in love, the welcome brew and aroma is a camaraderie that is special. “My coffee love came way before tennis,” chuckles Rohan who is touring with gifts of his own artisan coffee blend. Many tennis players love coffee, thus the Rohan Bopanna blend in a tie up with Maverick and Farmer is quite the rage. “The beans are from my estate, roasted, and packaged – a medium roast 100 percent Arabica blend,” says the filter coffee aficionado who feels a medium roast enhances flavour, and is fascinated by the innumerable brewing methods.

Indian tennis needs structure

Indian tennis has been mercurial. While doubles has seen successes, the dearth of singles, Rohan feels, is because India currently does not have a structure to help its growth. “We need tournaments and opportunities for players based on rankings, more futures and challengers. Foresight too – each state tennis association should hold at least one of each per year. We have many junior tournaments, but after that, it’s zero – KSLTA, and MSLTA are trying to host tournaments which is great. If the other 15-20 states did that too, Indian tennis will get a full calendar. And Indian tennis will grow,” stresses Bopanna citing the example of US-based Ben Shelton (19) who is wowing fans and is in the top 100. “We don’t have that opportunity, we need to create it first before even asking where the players are,” he affirms.

Perseverance above all

From a dismal 2020 where he went five months without a win, a stellar 2022, and 2023, “It’s mental strength to constantly manage situations no matter what, that is important.” A calmer Bopanna now understands the reality of effort, how to stop the mind rambles. “It’s having the right people around – that is crucial. To stop a negative mindset, and have the team encouraging and moving you forward, that helps one grow.”

The writer is a senior journalist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.

source: http://www.firstpost.com / First Post / Home> Opinion / by Suruchi Kapur-Gomes / August 27th, 2023

Sulthanpalya bags overall championship in inter-sangha shuttle badminton tournament

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Sulthanpalya bags overall championship in inter-sangha shuttle badminton tournament

Bengaluru:

Vijaya Ganapathy Kodava Sangha, Sulthanpalya, clinched the overall championship with 30 points in the 17th annual inter-sangha shuttle badminton.

As many as 16 sanghas of Kodava Samaja, Bengaluru, participated in the month-long tourney. Vidyaranyapuram and Pragati Kodava Sangha, Bytrayanapura, emerged as the second and third runner-ups with 19 and 13 points, respectively.

Thitramada Bopanna, the coach and sports secretary of the Sulthanpalya Sangha, said this is the first time any Sangha has won 30 points since the annual tournament started in Bengaluru about two decades ago. Sangha’s secretary, Sharat Kushalappa credited Chendrimada Ganapathy for the record since he had rigorously trained the players for over a month.

Here is the list of winners and runners up:

Mallengada Kaveri-winner ( Category: 30 to 40 women’s singles)

Kullachanda Krithika & Kaliyanda Namitha Winners (30-40 women’s doubles)

Naliyanda Deepak & Aiyappa winners ( 40-50 men’s doubles)

Koothanda Santhosh & Poyyatira Raja( winners 50-60 men’s doubles)

Kuppanda Gehana (Runner under 15 girls singles)

Kuppanda Gehana & Chottangada Yanika (Runners under 15 girls doubles)

Achapand Naman (Runner 15-20 boys singles)

Achapand Naman & Pattamada Suraj (Runners 15-20 boys doubles)

Chendrimada Ganapa( Runner 30-40 men’s singles)

Chendrimada Ganapa & Chandapanda Prajwal (Runners 30-40 men’s doubles)

Mallengada Daicy (Runner 51+ women’s singles)

Pandanda Daman & Chottangada Pranav (Runners under 15 boys doubles)

Chottangada Ganika & Poyyatira Krithi (Runners 15-20 girls doub

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News / by Manu Aiyappa Kanathanda / TNN / August 07th, 2023

Kodagu rallyist emerges second overall in Rainforest Challenge India

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The Rainforest Challenge India is among the top five toughest motor spots in the world and the rally was held from July 22 to July 29.

Chethan Chengappa teamed up as a co-driver with rallyist Anand V Manjooran and finished second overall. (Photo|Special arrangement)
Chethan Chengappa teamed up as a co-driver with rallyist Anand V Manjooran and finished second overall. (Photo|Special arrangement)

Madikeri : 

A spirited rallyist from Kodagu has finished second overall in the Rainforest Challenge (RFC) India rally held at South Goa recently. Chethan Chengappa, who joined in as a co-driver alongside a Kerala rallyist, came second overall despite complexities. 

The Rainforest Challenge India is among the top five toughest motor spots in the world and the rally was held from July 22 to July 29. The RFC recorded 21 participants from across the country.

Chethan Chengappa teamed up as a co-driver with rallyist Anand V Manjooran and finished second overall and second in category, despite the various breakdowns of the vehicle they were driving. The duo were supported by JK Tyres Motor Sports and Vamcy Merla Sports Foundation (VMSF).  

The highlight of their win was when Chetan took over the wheels and drove in reverse gear for nearly 3.5 km.

“The RFC has 26 stages and the terrain is really tough. In the twilight zone, the main gearbox of our jeep broke down. At this time, I took over the wheel and drove 3.5 km in reverse gear to finish the stage,” recalled Chethan.

He added that the rally was extremely tough due to incessant rainfall in Goa this year. “In one of the stages where we had to cross a river, our jeep got stuck. I took over the wheels and we finished second overall,” he explained. Chethan has been an active rallyist and he has participated in the RFC India six times. He has won five times in the rally – thrice as overall champion and finished second overall two times. 

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service / July 31st, 2023

KC Ganapathy: The first Kodava Yachtsman and an inspiration to his teammates!

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KC Ganapathy will pair up with Varun Thakkar to represent India in the men’s 49er event at Tokyo 2020. 

KC Ganapathy and Varun Thakkar at Tokyo Village (Courtesy: @VarunThakkar100/Twitter)

Indian sailing star KC Ganapathy not only made his country proud but also put his community — Kodava — on the sailing map of the world by making a cut in the 49er event (with crew member Varun Thakkar) for Tokyo 2020 at the Mussanah Open Championship earlier this year.

For the uninitiated, the Kodavas are a tribe from the Kodagu region of Karnataka in India, who speak the Kodava language. And the 26-year-old will be the first from his community to represent India at the Olympics.

His journey to the pinnacle of the sporting event has been challenging as after losing his father, Deepak Chengappa, it was his mother Reshma Chengappa, who ran the furniture business for his family in Chennai.

However, his achievement is also fulfilling for his grandmother Padma Prathap, a resident of Kolthodu village near Hatur in South Kodagu, as she has seen Ganapathy overcome all the odds.

“He won the Under-12 National Championship and has come a long way. I pray for his success every moment,” she told the starofmysore.com.

Incidentally, his journey is also inspiring for his Indian sailing contingent teammates, who have seen his never-say-die spirit at close quarters.

It happened so in 2020, that after being reduced to visual training for a major part of 2020 in Chennai, Ganapathy and his crew member Thakkar decided to train in South India in Rameswaram. However, the plan turned out into a disaster, as a bike accident almost reduced his chances of competing any further.

Ganapathy suffered a hairline fracture on the foot along with a soft tissue damage. But he was able to pull off the recovery in no-time, thanks to the doctors and training process he was asked to follow. His teammate Vishnu Sarvanan, a laser radial class sailor, has had a lot of respect for him ever since.

“When I got into sailing for the first time, I kind of looked up to him,” Vishnu told the New Indian Express.

Moreover, Ganapathy also worked on putting up weight to balance his boat (along with his partner), which needs a minimum of 160 kilograms on board. And from quitting school to pursue sailing on a full-time basis, Ganapathy has come a long way in pursuit of making his dreams count

When will KC Ganapathy’s campaign at Tokyo 2020 begin?

Varun Thakkar and KC Ganapathy will begin their campaign at Tokyo 2020 on July 27, Tuesday, in the men’s 49er Race 1.

source: http://www.olympics.com / Olympics.com / by Samrat Chakraborty / July 26th, 2023

‘Happy to move on from Davis Cup,’ says Rohan Bopanna

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

City’s tennis ace Rohan Bopanna and his wife Supriya Annaiah talk about his successful stint at Wimbledon ’23, maintaining a high level in sport and his final appearance at the Davis Cup.

Bengaluru : 

While it is undoubtedly true that Indian tennis ace Rohan Bopanna is in the twilight years of his sporting career, a quick look at his recent achievements denotes he is still far from being finished. The 43-year-old, in the recently-concluded Wimbledon, reached as far as the semi-finals in the doubles category with his partner Australia’s Matthew Ebden.

Getting to the final four of a major at his age is pretty unprecedented. But the laurels don’t end there. Bopanna also rose to no 7 in the ATP rankings for doubles, the first time he reached the number since 2013. Bopanna says the experience at Wimbledon was ‘fantastic’.

“Especially since last year, I did miss Wimbledon. They did not have any ranking points last year, so I decided to skip the event. It’s one of the events which I think every tennis player wants to play. It’s a mecca of our sport. And Matt (Ebden) and I had a pretty successful season so far. We had some tough matches in the beginning, and I think fighting through that was a tremendous achievement for us,” shares the Bengalurean.

Regarding making it into the top 10 rankings, Bopanna elaborates, “It’s really good to be back in the top 10. Especially with the way I’ve been playing. I think the Grand Slams make that difference. You can achieve big points in major events like Grand Slams and Masters. This year, that’s what we have done. And I think it has really shown the difference,” he says.

The pressure of maintaining a high level in sport gets harder as you age, and support from loved ones is crucial. Supriya Annaiah, Bopanna’s wife and a practising psychologist, explains, “I don’t work with him as a psychologist. Ethically, I can’t and personally don’t cross that boundary. Each athlete’s needs and requirements from their spouse varies.

So when I started travelling with him on the tennis tour 12 years ago, it meant understanding his world from scratch, but it was also very freeing – to be able to customise our partnership to pay attention to his needs and performance, while I get to honour my needs and individuality too.” She adds, “Tennis is a sport that demands a lot out of an athlete on and off the court to be at a particular level – I’ve witnessed Rohan go through the grind of it.

So when I cheer for him on and off the court, it is equally (sometimes more) for the man he is behind what he does professionally.” Annaiah believes that the need for an athlete to maintain their mental health is pertinent now, but there isn’t much awareness around it in India when it comes to sport psychology. “There are courses that are being offered, and professionals are being churned out in India.

However, in sport, there isn’t enough awareness and practice in a place where physical health is given attention at par with mental health despite knowing that both go hand in hand. Athletes need to know that they don’t need to reach a tipping point to seek help,” says Annaiah. This year, unfortunately, is the final time Bopanna will play in the Davis Cup in September, a tournament he has been playing since 2002.

“One of the main reasons I decided to stop playing Davis Cup is because I know, this is one place where if I stop, another Indian will be able to take my place. It’s been a long career representing India in the Davis Cup, over 20 years. So, I’m very happy to move on and am very happy that I can bow out of the cup in India,” concludes Bopanna, adding that the one thing that helped him was to have short-term goals.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Tunir Biswas / Express News Service / July 29th, 2023

A champion mindset can be developed over time: Rohan Bopanna

Sports

Grand Slam-winner Bopanna talks about dealing with setbacks, finding positives in tough times and believing in oneself despite the odds

ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – FEBRUARY 13: Rohan Bopanna during the match between ABN AMRO Open 2023 v Day 1 at the Ahoy on February 13, 2023 in Rotterdam Netherlands (Photo by Pim Waslander/Soccrates/Getty Images)

He might have Grand Slams in his bag, but for tennis player Rohan Bopanna, representing India on the global stage for the last 20 years has been his biggest achievement. Over these two decades, he has won 24 ATP doubles titles and is currently ranked No. 8 in the world. At 43, an age considered over the hill for an athlete, especially in a sport as physical as tennis, Bopanna recently reached the semifinal of Wimbledon along with partner Matthew Ebden. He speaks to Forbes India on his longevity, what it takes to build a champion mindset and the importance of investing in yourself. Edited excerpts: 

‘Find new ways to adapt’

My biggest learning has been to find new ways to adapt no matter where you are in your career. This includes both my tennis and fitness. For instance, around mid-2019, I started having extreme pain in my knees. So, during the pandemic, I took up yoga. Initially, I found it to be slow, but over time, there was a tremendous change in my strength. I think my perseverance to improve myself constantly has helped me stay relevant for the last 20 years. 

‘Invest in yourself’ 

I started coaching at an academy in Pune, where I stayed in a hostel which was about 15 km away. Every day, I would wake up at 5 am and cycle to the academy. If you didn’t make it for the fitness drill, you wouldn’t be allowed to play tennis—that was the rule. It was then that I learnt the importance of discipline. I only focused on becoming a tennis player without worrying about the results. Even now, as I’m getting older, my body takes longer to recover, so I’m adapting. Lately, I have started focusing on my mobility and recovery. Investing in yourself is a key part of being an athlete. 

‘Put in the hard work and have self-belief’ 

Coming from a small village in Coorg, playing these Grand Slams seems unreal to me. I had no gym, so my dad brought this wood log, gave me a hammer, and asked me to keep hitting it every day to build strength. Those early days taught me a lot. I never take anything for granted. I believe if you put in the work and have self-belief, it will eventually show. A champion mindset can be developed over time. All the challenges that an athlete goes through are part of the learning experience. My mom taught me: No matter how hard everything was on the road, just try to find those small things that made you happy. 

‘Communication helps you and your team grow’ 

Whether playing a sport or in a corporate setting, the more you communicate and understand the people you work with, the better the chances of success. This helps you and the team grow and improve. My wife, who is a psychologist, helped me communicate better. Apart from spending time on the court, we players also spend a lot of time off the court, so the key is not to always talk about tennis. It is also to create a bond and understanding. Self-analysis also helps. Sometimes, when you’re playing doubles, it’s easy to blame your partner. But I started watching myself play to analyse where I could improve and began making the change. 

‘Don’t give up’ 

Injuries are always the toughest part of any sport. In 2006, I had a surgery on my shoulder and was out for six months. I’ve also had some bad knee issues. In those times, you aren’t sure when you will start again. It’s never easy because I can’t wake up one morning and say, ‘If I can’t play tennis, let me play some other sport now or take up another job’. This is the only job I have been doing. Your mind is constantly pushing out lots of negativity. There was a phase in 2021; I was hardly winning any matches and kept doubting myself. But tennis has taught me to find solutions and a way to get better. Two weeks later, I ended up winning my first match in five months, and it felt like winning the biggest thing in the world. After that, everything changed; I started playing better. There will always be setbacks, but you have to find a way to push through and find the positives and not give up no matter what. 

source: http://www.forbesindia.com / Forbes India / Home> Special Report> From the Field / by Naini Thaker and Kathakali Chanda / July 28th, 2023

’90s throwback: Coorg boy, Amazon exec, IPL rookie flex Karnataka pace muscle

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Of the three, Kaverappa and Koushik are not widely known. Vyshak, who plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore, is a more familiar name. The head-turner was Kaverappa, who snared eight wickets in the game and was adjudged man of the series for 15 wickets in two games.

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From left) Vidwath Kaverappa, Vijayakumar Vyshak and V Koushik at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

There was a ’90s vibe about South Zone’s 75-run victory over West Zone in Sunday’s Duleep Trophy final  in Bengaluru. The bowling backbone, as it was for the country for most of the 1990s and early 2000s, largely comprised those from Karnataka.

Like Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad, Anil Kumble and Sunil Joshi, the pace trio of Vidwath Kaverappa, Vasuki Koushik and Vijaykumar Vyshak scythed through a star-studded batting line-up of Cheteshwar Pujara, Prithvi Shaw, Suryakumar Yadav, Sarfaraz Khan and Priyank Panchal. They picked up 16 of the 20 South Zone scalps, a performance that held the promise of another wave of bowlers from the Southern powerhouse.

Between them, the three bowlers have featured in only 33 first-class games. Pujara alone has 103 Tests to his name. Shaw and Yadav, too, are Test cricketers while Panchal and Khan, both domestic stalwarts, have been knocking on the doors for a long time. But the gulf in experience hardly mattered.

Of the three, Kaverappa and Koushik are not widely known. Vyshak, who plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore , is a more familiar name. The head-turner was Kaverappa, who snared eight wickets in the game and was adjudged man of the series for 15 wickets in two games. Like most youngsters from Madikeri in Coorg, one of India’s hockey hubs, he used to play hockey until he fell in love with fast bowling. A product of Karnataka State Cricket Association’s talent hunt programme, the 24-year-old can move the ball both ways, thanks to his wrists. In just eight Ranji games, he grabbed 30 wickets. Hailing from a humble background, he attended the trials in Mangalore when he was 16 and impressed coaches and selectors right away. Noted coach Samuel Jayaraj, the man credited with mentoring K L Rahul, asked him to stay back. Kaverappa had second thoughts but Jayaraj eventually convinced him.

Possessing a smooth action and accuracy, he was more than a handful in the first innings, where he nabbed seven wickets including those of Pujara, Yadav and Khan. He swings the new ball and gets reverse swing when the ball gets old and ragged. “He is a natural athlete, and if he could add a few yards of pace, with the seam movement he has, he can go a long way,” Srinath Aravind, who worked with the trio as bowling coach of Karnataka last season, told The Indian Express.

His partner-in-crime is Vyshak, a selfless workhorse who ties up one end so others can reap the rewards of his labour. He conceded just 72 runs in 32 overs for three wickets in the game, suffocating the batters into mistakes and using the old ball to good effect with his leg-stump line.

Not that he is any less skilful. Vyshak could be as good as Kaverappa with his movement, but he has the heart and muscle to bowl long spells even if the pitch provides little assistance.

In his teens, he wanted to be a wicketkeeper but could not because he was overweight. He was a batsman in age-group cricket before becoming a spinner and then eventually a fast bowler. Pursuing his father’s dream to play cricket, Vyshak led Karnataka’s wicket charts in Ranji with 31 scalps in 8 matches last season, the state unearthing a mainstay after the  heyday of Aravind, R Vinay Kumar and Abhimanyu Mithun. He was lethal with short balls too, twice on Day Four, he struck Khan, one on his helmet and the other on his left shoulder.

Koushik’s journey to the state has been different too. A mechanical engineer who worked with Amazon as a content executive, he took the sport seriously only when he was 17.

At 30, he found the break he had long yearned for. “I lost my prime years between 22-26, because there was no place (with Vinay, Mithun & Aravind around). Even though I did well in club cricket, I could not even get a chance in Thimmaiah Cup squads from where Karnataka players are picked. But last season, I finally got an opening and from there on, it has been an enjoyable ride,” said Koushik, who possesses immaculate control with the old ball. He pocketed four wickets in the second innings, including those of Pujara and Yadav in the same over.

It’s the perfect combination, said Aravind. “All three are gifted in their own way and that is what makes them a perfect combination. When we gave them the opportunity last season, they showed hunger and that drive.”

Captain Hamuna Vihari, too, praised them effusively. “Quality bowlers will make the captain’s job really easy and these three did that for me,” he said.  Like in the ’90s, Karnataka’s bowling is rocking again.

source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> News> Sports> Cricket / by Venkata Krishna , Bengaluru / July 17th, 2023

State-Level Inter-Collegiate Sports Week Concludes At MICA

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MICA College, Mysuru, had organised a State- level Inter-Collegiate Hockey, Cricket, Basketball and Football  tournaments in their campus from June 16 to 27.

 Sporting teams from Kodagu, Mandya, Bengaluru, Mangaluru and Mysuru fought for the coveted MI trophies and cash prizes.

In the Hockey MI3s tournament, 29 teams participated and Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa (FMKMC) College, Madikeri, defeated St. Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bengaluru to win the trophy and a cash prize of Rs. 15,000. Runners-up were awarded a trophy and cash prize of Rs. 7,000. 

In MI Crick, 32 teams participated.  In the finals, SBRR Mahajana PG Centre defeated MIT Tandavapura and won a cash prize of Rs. 10,000 with a trophy.  Runners-up were awarded cash prize of Rs. 5,000 and a trophy. 

A total of 14 teams participated in the MI3s Basketball tournament.  In Boys category SJCE, Mysuru defeated MICA Mysuru and won Rs. 10,000 cash prize and a trophy. Runners-up were awarded cash prize of Rs. 5000 and a trophy.  In Girls category, NIE Mysuru defeated Sapient College, Mysuru in the finals. 

In the flood light MI7s Football tournament, 32 teams participated. Sacred Heart Mangalore defeated FMKMC College, Madikeri to clinch the trophy and a cash prize of Rs. 20,000.  Runners-up were awarded cash prize of Rs. 10,000 and a trophy, according to a  press release from MICA Principal.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports / July 10th, 2023

From Coorg to cricket stardom: Meet Vidwath, the next bowling sensation!

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From land of hockey to cricket stardom, Vidwath Kaverappa takes seven-star route

IMAGE: Vidwath Kaverappa bagged seven wickets. Photograph: BCCI Domestic/Twitter

Vidwath Kaverappa entered the Karnataka pace bowling landscape in a rather tough period after the departure of stalwarts such as R Vinay Kumar, Abhimanyu Mithun and S Arvind.

It might have been tough for a 24-year-old to learn the tricks of the trade almost on his own.

But now, Vidwath has established himself as his the state team’s spearhead and a potential candidate to fill an India spot. In the previous Ranji Trophy season (2022-23) Vidwath bagged 30 wickets, and he has already picked up 14 wickets from three innings in the on-going Duleep Trophy.

The numbers give the picture of a young man who is a quick learner and a keen observer. Vidwath emphasised those aspects as his strong points.

The Karnataka right-arm pacer said he has been absorbing lessons from watching the footage of South African legend Dale Steyn and veteran India bowler Mohammed Shami.

“Since I don’t have the express pace, like Prasidh (Krishna) or Vysakh (Vijayakumar), I need to seek other ways to get purchase from the wicket. So, that’s something I’ve watched great bowlers like Dale Steyn or Mohammed Shami do,” he said.

Vidwath said he has been trying to copy the seam position of those two fine bowlers.

“I have seen a lot of moments of their bowling. So, I can see how good the seam presentation is and what the ball does, even in white ball. So, why not do it in the red ball with a prominent seam, and I know I’ll get a lot more help with it,” he said.

Vidwath has shown that trait all along, even from his junior days for Lions Institutions in Gonikoppal, Coorg, and Presidency College in Bengaluru.

Samuel Jayaraj, a KSCA coach who imparted him the first lessons, remembered watching him in Coorg eight years ago during a talent hunt drive by the state association.

Back then he was pleasantly surprised to see the spirited reaction from youngsters to the camp as Coorg is the stronghold of hockey.

“Vidwath had come as an attentive kid. He never gets tired of bowling at nets and wanted to learn as much as he could. He is a natural bowler and athlete.

“Coming from Coorg, he had that natural aptitude for sports. We just have to give him direction once I saw him during that trial. We were convinced that Vidwath would be an asset to the Karnataka team, and if everything goes well, then even at a higher level,” said Jayaraj.

It was not an empty praise as evidenced by future turn of events. In 2022, Vidwath finished as the second highest wicket-taker in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, taking 18 wickets from 8 matches at an impressive economy of 6.36.

The recognition of that effort came when Punjab Kings picked him up for the IPL 2023 from the mini-auction for his base price of Rs 20 lakh.

Though he did not play a game in this edition, Kings bowling coach Charl Langeveldt is convinced of his ward’s potential


“The team combination is such that it is tough for every player to get a chance to be in the 11. In a tournament like IPL, matches come very fast and you really don’t have time to tinker with 11.

“But this kid is talented and bowls at nets with a wonderful seam (position). He, I am sure, will feature in Punjab’s scheme prominently very soon,” Langeveldt told PTI.

Vidwath knew the importance of waiting for his turn patiently after taking those bold initial steps.

“I feel like I’m learning from every game and that is important at this age for me. I knew even if I didn’t get a chance into the big team this transitional period, my time will come.”

“I’ve watched football a lot, so I know how in a great team new players come when old players leave, you need to be patient with them. So, I had to take my time and perform to the best of my abilities,” said Vidwath.

Vidwath indeed did that. He wrecked a power-packed West Zone batting unit with a seven-wicket haul. His victim list included players like Cheteshwar Pujara, Suryakumar Yadav and Prithvi Shaw.

However, Vidwath, typical of him, did not try to wrap the performance in a magic cloak.

“I’ve always been the kind of guy who likes responsibilities, who likes to take up the heavy load and make the big moments for the team,” he said.

Perhaps, he knows bigger moments are on his way. 

source: http://www.rediff.com / rediff.com / Home> Cricket / by PTI / July 14th, 2023