The association chose Leander Paes instead, a selection that did not go down well with Bopanna, world No.9 in doubles rankings.

It has been a month since the All India Tennis Association (AITA) has turned down Rohan Bopanna’s request of partnering Saketh Myneni in doubles at Rio Olympics. The association chose Leander Paes instead, a selection that did not go down well with Bopanna, world No.9 in doubles rankings.

On Monday, when asked about the selection, Bopanna played it right down the line. “They have asked us to play together and that’s what we are going to do. When you go out to play, you play as professional players. We just have to go on court and play our tennis and try to gel together on court and try to find a way to win. I have not had a word from anyone. Neither from the federation nor from the player,” said Bopanna, who is in Chandigarh for the Davis Cup tie against South Korea.

“Whatever I say, it won’t make a difference. That’s not going to change the scenario. We just have to stick with what is happening. Like I said everyday is a new day so we will have to wait and see. Did I have a choice? They did not tell me and I got the information through media,” Bopanna added.

In the intervening one month Bopanna had been busy playing with regular partner Florin Mergea. They bowed out in the round of 16 at Wimbledon and lost in the same round at the Queen’s Cup.

With less than a month to go for the Rio Olympics, Bopanna will now team up with Paes against South Korea on the grass courts of Chandigarh Club and the 36-year-old made it clear playing with Paes on the tour is not an option.

“I cannot get in with Leander to play a tournament. There is no Indian out there with whom I can get in any tournament if I want to train ahead of the Rio Olympics. The cut-off in Washington and Toronto is 50 and there is no Indian ranked high barring me. So, even if I want to play with somebody, I cannot play. Unless you assure me of a wildcard for such events,” added Bopanna. Paes is currently ranked 55 in doubles.

Bopanna and Paes have a 2-2 win-loss record in Davis Cup while the former and Mayneni have a 2-1 score out of the three times they have teamed up in doubles for India. Next week Bopanna would be off to Toronto for the ITF masters before landing in Rio five days prior to the tennis event. He has been training under his coach Scott David and says the federation should send a coach and physio at Rio.

“I will have five days to train at Rio. I am still hoping that the federation sends a coach and physio for me. I have been training with my personal coach Scott David and he will be with me in Toronto, not in Rio,” he said.

source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Express Sports> Tennis / by Nitin Sharma, Chandigarh / July 12th, 2016

Seven underprivileged children will be mentored by former athlete and Arjuna award winner Ashwini Nachappa to help realise their dreams of becoming good sportspersons.

The initiative, launched by Dabur, received nearly 8,000 entries from all over India. Trials were conducted across Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal to identify talented athletes. An independent sports panel then screened potential athletes and shortlisted 350 of them. These candidates then participated in a national camp held in Delhi. A team of experts headed by Ms. Nachappa picked the top seven athletes from the group.

Besides Sayali Mhaishune, who ran barefoot and won the under 17 district sports office inter-school athletic championships, the other winners are Avnee Rawat, Ujala, Shabnam, Vikas, Mohammed Meraj and Jainabaj.

( The writer is an intern with The Hindu )

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Delhi / Girbani Dutta / New Delhi – June 27th, 2016

M R Poovamma will spearhead Karnataka’s challenge at the 56th National Inter-State athletics championships in Hyderabad from June 28.

Other notable names include sprinter H M Jyothi, quartermiler Ashwini Akkunji and high jumper Sahana Kumari.

Sprinters Ashwin MK (200M, 400M, 4x400M relay), Sanjay V (100M, 200M, 4x100M relay) and Ganesh S (100M, 200M, 4x100M) will compete in three events.

Squad: Men: Radesh MG (100M, 4x100M relay), Sanjay V (100M, 200M, 4x100M relay), Ganesh S (100M, 200M, 4x100M relay), Aiyappa KM (4x100M relay), Nagarj Kudubhavi (400M, 800M, 4x400M relay), Ashwin M J (200M, 400M, 4x400M relay), Tharun (400M, 4x400M relay), Bharath KA (800M, 4x400M relay), Jagadeesh Chandra (400M hurdles, 4x400M relay), Amaranath MD (110M hurdles, 4x100Mts relay), Nagabhushan CP (400M hurdles), Shamsheer SE (long jump), Karthik (triple jump), Jesse Sandesh (high jump), Sandeep Kumar (high jump), P Balakrishna (pole vault), Alfin (shot put).

Women: HM Jyothi (100M, 4x100M relay), Reena George (100M, 200M, 4x100M relay), Prajna S Prakash (100M, 4x100M relay), Apsana Begam (4x100M relay), Vijaya Kumari GK (200M, 4x400M relay), MR Poovamma (400M, 4x400M relay), Ashwini Akkunji (400M, 400M hurdles, 4x400M relay), Nithya Shree A (400M, 4x400M relay), Arpitha M (400M hurdles, 4x400M relay), Shruthi KC (800M, 1500M), Thippavva Sannakki (5000M, 10000M), Joyline M Lobo (triple jump), Sahana Kumari (high jump), Khyathi S Vakharia (pole vault), Uma PS (shot put), Shahejahani (javelin), Rashmi K (javelin), Harshitha WR (hammer throw).

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Sports / DHNS / June 16th, 2016

Badminton champs Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa are excited about making the Olympics cut the second time in a row.

Qualifying for the Olympics for your country is a big deal, and doing that twice in a row is on a different level — one that’s been achieved by Hyderabad’s own badminton stars Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa. The duo will be representing the country in the women’s doubles category for badminton in Rio in August. The two believe that their past experience at the Olympics-level will help them this time around. Jwala says, “The journey was pretty tough, with not too much of support and you’re mostly on your own with your own belief. And you need to motivate yourself every day. But it’s also been fruitful. I’m very happy that we’ve qualified for the Olympics again. It’s a huge achievement for us.”

“It’s such a huge stage and it’ll be in a different venue in a different country… but I’m happy that we got the experience of the previous Olympics and this time, we’ll be going into each match with confidence,” adds Ashwini. The two have been training for seven hours daily under Malaysian coach Tan Kim Her. “The training is more organised, so there’s a lot more unity among the players. We’re all helping each other to do better, it’s a good atmosphere to play in right now,” adds Jwala.

Jwala’s experience on court only helps Ashwini, with the latter saying that her confidence helps her play a calmer game. “She’s very gutsy, brave, bold, confident and very sure of herself. And that comes out on court as well. It’s good to have someone like that to play with, as then you don’t have to worry about your partner because they’re confident enough to play,” says Ashwini.

Jwala adds that bonding with Ashwini while travelling has helped them understand each other better: “Even if I’m down, she’ll know how to cheer me up and get me back on track and I do the same with her. We need to understand that, because the game goes by so fast and we need to support each other.” The rise in the number of Indians taking to badminton, the two say, has helped the sport become popular in the country. But they also add that India has a long way to go before it’s even close to “sporting countries” like China and Korea. “Indians have been doing well, which motivates the juniors and gives them a lot of confidence to play well and beat the best when they go out for tournaments,” Ashwini says.

Jwala adds, “Most of our population are from the lower (income) and lower-middle classes. We need to bring in talent from there and the only way we can do that is with the help of the government. We need to have a proper system in place, give them the incentives, make education free… so that even if they’re not able to do too well in sports, the education will allow them to lead a better life.”

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Sports> Badminton / Deccan Chronicle, Christopher Isaac / June 21st, 2016

Ashwini Ponnappa talks about her doubles partner, a favourable draw at Rio and much more in an exclusive interview.

India’s ace women’s doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa are slogging it out in Hyderabad under the watchful eyes of their Malaysian coach Tan Kim. The pair – ranked 15th in the world – have one goal in mind, to bag an Olympic medal. Ashwini Ponnappa talks about the pair’s prospects in Rio and much more in an exclusive interview.

Excerpts:

Q How are your preparations going on for the Rio Olympics?

We (me and Jwala Gutta) are training hard in Hyderabad under doubles coach Tan Kim. We are focused on doing well at the Rio Olympics. Keeping our fingers crossed.

Q What’s your take on striking a balance between taking adequate rest and playing tournaments in the run-up to a marquee event like the Olympics?

It is imperative to have a proper balance – we will play in the Canadian Open later this month and US Open in early July before we have a month or so of rest and training before we head to Rio. I think we will be recharged for the Olympics.

Q Both of you had played at the 2012 London Olympics – how much do you think will it help to already have gained the experience of playing on a stage as big as the Olympics?

Of course, the experience of playing in the Olympics will help. We have to be ready for any challenge in Rio as it will be a new environment and another Olympics for both of us.

Q What is the importance for a favourable draw at the Olympics?

A favourable draw at the Rio Olympics is something every player looks forward to and if you get it is an ideal scenario. But such things are not under your control and one has to be prepared for anything that comes your way.

Q As a pair, what according to you is your biggest strength?

We are a unique pair and also our left-right combination also helps.

Q Indian badminton is struggling to produce quality women’s doubles pairs after you guys – your thoughts?

I think a lot of encouragement and big push is needed to produce good women’s doubles players.

Q Realistically speaking, how do you assess your Olympic medal-winning chances?

Me and Jwala are putting in a lot of hard work with the single-minded goal of bagging an Olympic medal. We are straining our every nerve towards that.

Q You turned out for Bengaluru Topguns in the 2016 Premier Badminton League. Your thoughts.

The PBL was conducted very professionally and I hope it happens every year in the same manner.

source: http://www.sportskeeda.com / SportsKeeda / Homepage> Badminton> Rio Olympics 2016> Interview / by Suhrid Barua @suhridbarua / June 14th, 2016