Robin Uthappa has become the first batsman to register over 1,000 runs in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. This is testimony to the Karnataka batsman’s explosive abilities with the bat which have also made him a prominent name in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Uthappa achieved the milestone en route his knock of 48 against Odisha which enabled Karnataka to take an easy six wicket win. Uthappa is a Karnataka stalwart and has been with the team for a long time now. In all, Uthappa has played 183 T20 matches including games for India and IPL teams and has scored an astonishing 4,665 runs at an average of 29.71.
Uthappa will hope that this milestone brings him in focus of the national selectors and perhaps an opportunity for him to make a comeback in the near future. Uthappa’s team Karnataka has not being doing too well in this edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. They have played five games and won only two while facing defeat in the other three.
Uthappa will hope that his milestone helps inspire Karnataka from here on and that they can pull off a miracle to stay alive in the tournament. Uthappa is a senior member in the Karnataka side and he holds a strong sway in the mood of the team. This feat will help brighten his mood and is likely to give the team bit of a psychological uplift. Uthappa has been a bright spot in Karnataka’s dull campaign having scored 205 runs in the five games so far at an average of 41 and strike-rate of a magnificent 139.45.
source: http://www.cricketcountry.com / Cricket Country / by CricketCountry Staff / January 09th, 2016
Opener Robin Uthappa and Stuart Binny made short work of a modest chase to add to the team’s bowling effort as Karnataka outplayed Odisha by six wickets in the Group D Twenty20 match of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy here today.
If medium-pacer Abhimanyu Mithun and leg-spinners Shreyas Gopal and KC Cariappa, sharing two wickets each, set up the win for Karnataka then the 53-run fourth-wicket partnership between Uthappa (48) and Binny (32 not out) helped the R Vinay Kumar-led side achieve the target in 17.5 overs.
A file picture of Robin Uthappa
Uthappa smashed six fours and a six in his 41-ball stay, while Binny’s 30-ball knock was laced with two fours and a six.
Leg-spinner Tukuna Sahoo bagged two wickets, while Deepak Behera and Basant Mohanty picked up a wicket each.
Earlier put into bat, Odisha suffered from lack of partnerships against a disciplined Karnataka attack to stumble to 102 for seven in 20 overs. Abhishek Yadav top-scored with 31 runs as the rest of the batting disappointed.
Brief Scores: Odisha 102/7 in 20 overs (Abhishek Yadav 31, Biplab Samantray 19; Abhimanyu Mithun 2-13, Shreyas Gopal 2-15, KC Cariappa 2-14) Karnataka 106/4 in 17.5 overs (Robin Uthappa 48, Stuart Binny 32 not out; Tukuna Sahoo 2-17)
Points: Karnataka 4, Odisha 0.
PTI
source: http://www.oneindia.com / One India / Home> News> Sports> Cricket / by PTI / Saturday – January 09th, 2016
Kodava Samaja Cultural and Sports Club, Vijayanagar 1st Stage in city has organised Tennis Ball Cricket Tournament for Kodavas in Mysuru on Jan. 15 from 9 am at Mahajana College Sports Ground in Jayalakshmipuram and at the Railway Ground, adjacent to the Railway Museum on KRS Road in city. The tournament will be inaugurated at 9 am at Mahajana College Sports Ground.
An exhibition match by the senior members (above 60 years) of the Club will be held on the same day at 3.30 pm in Mahajana College Ground. Interested senior members may contact Club’s Hon. Secretary K. D. Muthappa before Jan. 10
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / January 09th, 2015
Indian tennis ace Leander Paes on Wednesday said if he partners Rohan Bopanna in the men’s doubles event in the Rio Olympics next year they will have the best chance of grabbing a medal.
“Pretty obvious in the men’s doubles that Rohan and myself have the best chance of going out there and winning the medal. Rohan has been playing some wonderful tennis, he has been playing with (Florin) Mergea and has done well. With Rohan and myself playing doubles for India, I think we have a great chance of grabbing a medal,” Paes told reporters in Kolkata where he had come as IDBI’s Kolkata Marathon’s ‘Face of the Event’.
Paes also says based on their current performances, he and Sania Mirza can be sent to Rio de Janeiro next year to represent the country in Olympics. (Getty Images)
“I had wanted to play with him in London. In the grass courts it was a great platform for us to do well.”
Four years back in London, Paes had to partner Vishnu Vardhan and they lost in the second round. He then combined with Sania Mirza but bowed out to the eventual mixed doubles champions Victoria Azarenka and Max Mirnyi of Belarus.
The 42-year-old believes based on current performance he and Mirza should be sent to represent the country in the mixed doubles event.
“With Sania Mirza, I played at London, we lost to the eventual champions Azarenka and Mirnyi. We had a great chance in that game too. We have both had good seasons, so on merit it is an obvious choice to let me and Sania go. But after what happened in London I don’t think anything can be taken for granted,” he said pointing to the fact that he was paired with Vardhan who during the London Olympics was ranked 209.
Both Mahesh Bhupathi and Bopanna refused to play doubles with Paes, after which the national tennis federation persuaded Sania Mirza to play with the veteran Kolkatan. And Paes paired up with lowly-ranked Vardhan.
The nine-time mixed doubles Grand Slam winner said that he was focussing on the event more as he had been successful in it in the last few years.
“For Rio, I have focussed a lot on mixed doubles, I have been focussing on the Grand Slams as mixed doubles is only played in four Grand Slams. And having a wonderful partner in Martina Hingis has allowed me to do that. Winning three of the four Grand Slams leading into the Olympics, it’s pretty obvious where my focus is,” he said.
“Having got the medal in singles already in the Olympics, to do it in the doubles and mixed doubles is something I am focussing on.”
The tennis star added that he is looking forward to playing alongside Bopanna and Sania if he gets the opportunity and that representing the country and getting a medal is the foremost thing on his mind.
“Let’s see how the next six months turn up. I hope another London does not happen. But representing the country is the foremost thing in my mind. And I think the best team should go and represent the country and it should be done on merit. I am looking forward to playing with Sania and Rohan if I get the opportunity.”
“I hope to have a chance at winning the medal and then hang that on my showcase along with the single’s medal,” concluded Paes who will set a record if he features in Rio for playing in the most number of Olympics as a tennis star.
source: http://www.ibnlive.com / IBN Live.com / Home> Sport / IANS / December 23rd, 2016
Ahead of the Premier Badminton League, here’s your guide to one of India’s best shuttlers.
Ashwini Ponappa is one of the most talented badminton players in India
Indian badminton doubles star Ashwini Ponappa has already seen several memorable moments during the course of her career. Her successful partnership with Jwala Gutta in the doubles has brought India many laurels and they continue to be the pair on which the country’s doubles hopes are pinned on.
After first bursting on to the scene as an 18-year-old in 2007, Ponappa has made steady if not rapid strides in her career, and with Gutta will be a key component if India are to excel in the sport in Rio 2016.
Here are 10 things to know about the badminton ace:
1) Ashwini Ponnappa was born on the 18th of September, 1989 in Coorg, Karnataka. Her father was a national hockey player. However, she preferred badminton over hockey and started training in the sport.
2) She completed her schooling at St. Francis Xavier’s Girl’s High School in Bengaluru and moved to Hyderabad to pursue her bachelors degree.
3) Ponappa shot to fame when she won the Indian junior championships in 2001, as a 12-year old and then five years later, clinched the Gold at the South Asian Games to impress many an expert and supporter.
4) At the 2010 Commonwealth Games held in Delhi, she partnered Jwala Gutta to the Gold in the Women’s Doubles, with the two thereby becoming the first Indian pair to win a medal in that category at the event. Ponappa was also part of the team that won a silver in the Mixed Team event at the Games.
5) In 2011, Ponappa and Gutta came up with one of their finest performances when they won a bronze medal at the 2011 World Championships in Copenhagen, thereby becoming Indian doubles pair and only the second after Prakash Padukone(1983), to stand on the podium at the marquee event.
6) In 2012 Olympics, Ashwini-Jwala pair narrowly missed out on a quarterfinal berth by a difference of just one point, thus denying them a medal
7 ) In June 2015, Ashwini-Jwala pair won the Canada Open women’s doubles title by defeating the top-seeded Dutch pair of Eefje Muskens and Selena Piek. It was the pair’s first and only title in the year.
8) 2014 turned out to be a fruitful year for the duo as they won the silver medal in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, and followed that up with Bronze medals in the Asian Games in Incheon and the Uber Cup in New Delhi.
9) Ponappa played for the Pune Pistons in the inaugural edition of the Indian Badminton League. In 2015, Bengaluru Top Guns chose her to represent their franchise in the Premier Badminton League(PBL).
10) The 26-year old is an animal lover and loves listening to music in her spare time.
source: http://www.sportskeeda.com / Sports Keeda.com / Home> Badminton / Premier Badminton League – Analysis / by Rohan Nagaraj / December 30th, 2015
It was the last action of the day. S Chikkarangappa had to make a putt for par on the final hole to clinch the McLeod Russel Tour Championship, the season-ending PGTI event, at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club here on Sunday. The Bengaluru lad held his nerve to seal the title with a three-under 69.
His four-day total of 12-under 276 helped him to edge out overnight leader Jyoti Randhawa and Khalin Joshi by one stroke. The winner’s cheque of Rs 22.5 lakh also helped Chikkarangappa to top the PGTI Order of Merit list after finishing second in the last two seasons. He featured in seven PGTI meets this year, winning three, finishing runner-up in one and securing top-10 finishes in all.
Randhawa, who was in the lead on the first three days, could only manage one-over 73 in the final round and finished tied-second with Joshi, who shot even-par 72 on Sunday. Local pro SSP Chawrasia made a late surge with four-under 68 to finish fourth -two shots behind Chikkarangappa. Another local pro – Rahil Gangjee – was placed fifth with a four-day aggregate of seven-under 281.
Chikka mixed five birdies with two bogeys on Sunday. A birdie on the 17th proved to be crucial, giving him a one-shot lead going into the final hole. And, with all three playing making par on the final hole, Chikka had the last laugh.
“The birdie on the 17th was the winning one. That gave me the lead as well as the confidence before the final hole. I am really happy and emotional. It means a lot to me and it’s good way to end the year,” said Chikka, who had a new caddie for this meet. Narsimha, who used to caddy for Anirban Lahiri, proved to be lucky for Chikka too.
Mentored by Rahul Dravid, Chikka also looks up to Lahiri for guidance. He plans to discuss about the new season with coach Vijay Divecha before leaving for the qualifying school.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> Sports> Golf / by Abhishek Ganguly, TNN / December 28th, 2015
Indian tennis ace Leander Paes on Wednesday said if he partners Rohan Bopanna in the men’s doubles event in the Rio Olympics next year, they will have the best chance of grabbing a medal. “Pretty obvious in the men’s doubles that Rohan and myself have the best chance of going out there and winning the medal. Rohan has been playing some wonderful tennis, he has been playing with (Florin) Mergea and has done well. With Rohan and myself playing doubles for India, I think we have a great chance of grabbing a medal,” Paes told reporters here where he had come as IDBI’s Kolkata Marathon’s ‘Face of the Event’. “I had wanted to play with him in London. In the grass courts it was a great platform for us to do well.” Four years back in London, Paes had to partner Vishnu Vardhan and they lost in the second round. He then combined with Sania Mirza but bowed out to the eventual mixed doubles champions Victoria Azarenka and Max Mirnyi of Belarus.
The 42-year-old believes based on current performance he and Mirza should be sent to represent the country in the mixed doubles event. “With Sania Mirza, I played at London, we lost to the eventual champions, Azarenka, Mirnyi. We had a great chance in that game too. We have both had good seasons, so on merit it is an obvious choice to let me and Sania go. But after what happened in London I don’t think anything can be taken for granted,” he said pointing to the fact that he was paired with Vardhan who during the London Olympics was ranked 209. Both Mahesh Bhupathi and Bopanna refused to play doubles with Paes, after which the national tennis federation persuaded Sania Mirza to play with the veteran Kolkatan. And Paes paired up with lowly ranked Vardhan.
The nine-time mixed doubles Grand Slam winner said he is focussing on the event more as he has been successful in it in the last few years. “For Rio I have focussed a lot on mixed doubles, I have been focussed on the Grand Slams as mixed doubles is only played in four Grand Slams. And having a wonderful partner in Martina Hingis has allowed me to do that. Winning three of the four Grand Slams leading into the Olympics, it’s pretty obvious where my focus is,” he said. “Having got the medal in singles already in the Olympics to do it in the doubles and mixed doubles is something I am focussing on.” The tennis star added that he is looking forward to playing alongside Bopanna and Sania if he gets the opportunity and that representing the country and getting a medal is the foremost thing on his mind.
“Let’s see how the next six months turn up. I hope another London does not happen. But representing the country is the foremost thing in mind. And I think the best team should go and represent the country and it should be done on merit. I am looking forward to playing with Sania and Rohan if I get the opportunity.”
source: http://www.freepressjournal.in / The Free Press Journal / Home> Sports / by FPJ Bureau / December 24th, 2015
Joshna wants to capitalise on her form as she aims to do better in the upcoming season. (TOI Photo)
New Delhi :
Joshna Chinappa overtook Dipika Pallikal to become India’s highest-ranked player while off the court N Ramachandran’s role as the boss of the world governing body was questioned in what turned out to be a memorable year for Indian and world squash.
Ramachandran faced a lot of heat, both as president of the World Squash Federation (WSF) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), coinciding with his brother N Srinivasan’s ouster from the International Cricket Council.
(PSA) went to the extent of calling Ramachandran an “embarrassment” to the sport for leading WSF to another failed Olympic bid. Back home in India, selected member federations wanted him removed as the IOA chief but he managed to weather the storm.
______________________________________________________________ HIGHLIGHTS
• The start of the year saw the merger of male professional body PSA and its women’s counterpart WSA.
• Joshna had the most fruitful time among country’s three torch-bearers including Dipika and Saurav Ghosal.
• Ramachandran faced a lot of heat, both as president of the WSF and IOA.
________________________________________________________________
The start of the year also saw the merger of male professional body PSA and its women’s counterpart WSA.
On the court, Joshna had the most fruitful time among country’s three torch-bearers including Dipika and Saurav Ghosal.
The highlight of her season undoubtedly was getting the better of world number one Raneem El Welily in the opening round of Qatar Classic. A couple of USD 15,000 titles in Melbourne and Mumbai along with a semifinal finish at the USD 50,000 Carol Weymuller Open in New York eventually helped her reach a career-high rank of 13, a jump of nine places since December 2014.
It is the first time in five years that the 29-year-old finished the season ahead of Pallikal, who held on to the 16th spot of December last year despite playing less events owing to a month’s break she took for her wedding in August.
Joshna wants to capitalise on her form as she aims to do better in the upcoming season.
“It has been a good year but I don’t want to stop here. I believe I can push myself. Obviously the aim is to get better, break into the top 10 and then top five. I don’t want to think that I am at the peak of my game. I am 29 and as squash history points out, a lot of players peak post 30. So I am going to keep doing what I am doing, work hard and train hard for the upcoming season,” Joshna told PTI.
For her longtime teammate Dipika, it was an unforgettable year off the court as she tied the knot with cricketer Dinesh Karthik. On the squash court, she did not have a great time by her standards.
“It was not a great year for me to be honest. I did not play as well as I could have. The positive is that I have not lost a lot of ground in the rankings and hopefully I can get back into the top-10 with consistent performances next year,” Dipika said.
The 29-year-old, who ended the year as world number 18 after beginning at 24, reached four finals with the high point being his runner-up effort in Colombia. He was expected to win the summit clash against local qualifier Alfredo Avila after surprising fifth-ranked Miguel Rodriguez in the last four.
His other two wins against a top-10 player came against Tarkek Momen.
“It was a decent year for me. I reached four finals and won one though I should have done more than that. Next season will be about climbing up the rankings ladder, getting more wins against top-10 players,” said Ghosal, who injured his foot in Hong Kong earlier in the month.
He is undergoing recovery at home and therefore will be missing the Tournament of Champions to be held in New York from January 7.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> Sports> More Sports / PTI / December 16th, 2015
Rs. 3 crore has been sanctioned for the purpose: Bopaiah
Cheering: Speaker of the Legislative Assembly K.G. Bopaiah speaking at the finals of the Kodava Invitation Cup Hockey Tournament on Saturday in Kodagu.
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly K.G. Bopaiah said on Saturday that a committee comprising senior sportspersons in the district would be constituted to monitor laying of synthetic hockey playing turf at Ponnampet in Virajpet taluk of Kodagu soon.
He was speaking at the finals of the Kodava Invitation Cup Hockey Tournament at Ammathi.
The proposed ground where the synthetic surface would be laid was in the name of the Government Junior College. The name had to be changed.
The State Government had sanctioned Rs. 3 crore for the purpose. The estimation to renovate the defunct swimming pool in Madikeri too had been increased from Rs. 80 lakh to Rs. 1 crore, he said.
He lauded the sports tradition of Kodagu which was being followed steadfastly by the younger generations. Organising events such as this would immensely benefit the rural talent.
The support received from sportspersons and sports enthusiasts who had settled outside the district was also laudable, said Mr. Bopaiah. The State Government had been paying more attention to sports in Kodagu. It had assisted the two previous Kodava family hockey festivals and would continue to do so in future, Mr. Bopaiah said.
Bollanda Pramila Aiyappa, bronze medal winner in heptathlon in the recent Asian Games, was honoured. Lullu Aiyappa, grandmother of badminton star Machimanda Ashwini Ponnappa, and Kuttanda Chinappa, father of squash player Joshna Chinappa, received the honour in their absentia.
Malettira Muthanna was adjudged the best forward of the tournament, Mundottira Pavan Chengappa the best goalkeeper, Appanderanda Cariappa best full-back, Bollachettira Poovanna best half-back. Bollachettira Moni Muthanna was adjudged the best upcoming player.
Kootanda Ganesh was honoured with the ‘Titan of Players’ award. Karineravanda Somanna was adjudged the best player of the tournament.
The president of the Ammathi Sports Club, which organised the tournament, Naru Nachappa, presided over the function. Ichanda Vinod, Mukkatira Pemmaiah, Mandepanda Jimmy Subbaiah, Puggera Devaiah, Kanjitanda Sunil Muddaiah, Machimanda M. Mohan, L.N. Ajay Singh, Nellamakkada Mohan Aiyappa and B.J. Bopanna were among those present.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Karnataka / by Staff Correspondent / Madikeri – December 26th, 2010
“It has been a terrific year,” says Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna, summing up his performance in 2015.
With four doubles titles, reaching the finals of the ATP World Tour Finals and finishing the year in the top 10, 2015 was Bopanna’s most successful year on the circuit so far. Doubles record-holder Mike Bryan had high praise for him as well. “Rohan is probably the hottest player of the tournament. He’s doing everything well. He’s got big weapons,” he said at the O2 in London. And the 35-year old Indian credits it in a large way to his Romanian men’s doubles partner Florin Mergea.
“I’m glad I have managed to find the right partner with Florin. Even though we started in April, we managed to qualify for London (ATP Finals). It’s great, the way we have played together as a team and doing well in major tournaments ,” Bopanna told Firstpost in an exclusive telephonic chat.
Bopanna and Mergea first teamed up at Casablanca in April and ended the year with a 31-16 record, including two titles from four finals.
Rohan Bopanna. Getty Images
Keeping up this successful momentum, is comes as no surprise that the Indo-Romanian pair intends to continue their partnership in 2016, and Bopanna is very optimistic about extending their record. “We are sticking together as a team and this time we will start in January itself. As a team, we have a lot to grow as we work together and that is a good sign.”
“The way we are playing together, we have a good chance at winning every tournament we enter. As a player, it is a great feeling to go into a tournament knowing that you can beat everyone out there, knowing that you can win the tournament and not just go there to perform,” says Bopanna.
But would 2016 begin with India’s only ATP tournament, the Chennai Open in January? “We are still deciding on our 2016 calendar since we have had such a long year.We finished only a few days ago and we are still deciding whether to play in the first week of the year or not. It is great to have a home tournament but we are not sure if we want to give ourselves another week off and start the season in Sydney,” Bopanna said.
Speaking of a long year, the tennis season may be over but the second season of the popular International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) is coming up. Bopanna is part of Indian Aces, who won the inaugural season and is looking forward to defend the title.
“It’s great that the IPTL is having a second season and since we won it last year, all the teams are looking forward to taking us down and I am looking forward to the challenge. I have spoken to my team mates and we are all ready, it’s going to be a lot of fun like last year,” he adds.
The Indian Aces will boast of the services of Rafael Nadal this year, after having had Roger Federer on the team last year. Soon, Bopanna might be in a unique position to tell us who is the better team mate, maybe? “If I do get to play with Rafa, then let’s see, in a few weeks we can take that call,” he laughs.
Bopanna is also all praise for IPTL and Mahesh Bhupati.
“They (Federer and Nadal) are exceptional players and you learn a lot especially when you are playing with them. I’m really looking forward to have Rafa in our team and it is going to be fantastic not only for us as players but also for the fans. It’s great for tennis that Mahesh (Bhupathi) has got all the top players playing in the league. I think tennis in Asia is definitely going to grow and this is the right way forward,” he says.
The popularity of tennis in Asia, and especially in India, has been on the rise in the past few years as was evident from the turnout in Delhi during IPTL 2015. “Fans are excited to see their favorite players play in their country and that makes a big a difference. We have many youngsters come out and support their favorite players. As players it is great to see so many people come out and support tennis. The growth of tennis will improve if we have these leagues like these,” he adds.
But it’s not just the fans that have benefited greatly from the tournament, it gives a boost to aspiring tennis players as well. Bopanna’s advice to these youngsters is simple — commitment and discipline.
“It is nice to see that lot of youngsters want to pick up the sport and become professional players and I think that having IPTL, especially with all these top players coming in, it is going to boost the confidence of a young player coming up. When I meet youngsters today, they want to get into the professional circuit and aim to break into the top. So whenever I can, I try to advise them that tennis is a full time commitment with a lot of discipline involved.”
And which young, Indian player is Bopanna’s pick to watch out for? “Yuki Bhambri is playing great tennis right now and has cracked into the top 100. The way he has been playing, he has every chance of reaching the top 50 and he is definitely a player to watch out for in 2016.”
Speaking of 2016, it is also the year of the Olympics. But Bopanna, who partnered with Mahesh Bhupathi at the 2012 London Olympics, is not thinking about that just yet. “It is a great feeling to represent India at the Olympics again, but we have three Grand Slams before it even comes into play. So I have to take it one step at a time cannot think of too far ahead.”
source: http://www.firstpost.com / FirstPost / Home> F.Sports> Latest News> Sports News / by Zenia D’Cunha / December 02nd, 2015
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