New Delhi :

Amid the excitement ahead of the Hero Hockey India League 2015, India’s forward SK Uthappa is all set to rattle the grounds of the stadium with his impressive performance. Playing for Uttar Pradesh Wizards consecutively for the third time, Uthappa looks more confident on putting up a good show making it to the finals for his team this season.

In the first edition of the league, Uthappa without any failure showcased his talent and ability and helped the Uttar Pradesh-based franchisee claim the third spot win. However, in the second season of the league, the 23-year old player played with more maturity in order to materialize the given opportunities into goals. He got his name featured in the list of the ‘Man of the Match’ in the second season. In the same edition, he also got his name in the list of ‘Goal of the Match’ where the score was knotted to 1-1 against Delhi Waveriders.

With all the experience and skill set developed in the upcoming league, Uthappa is spotted sweating it out striving hard not to miss any scoring opportunities. With an aim to give a tough challenge to the opponents and come out as a stronger team, Uthappa will find support of the team’s strong forward-line. The forward position will see players like Tushar Khandker, Ramandeep Singh, Nikkin Thimmaiah and Jeroen Hertzberger to name a few.

Eagerly awaiting for the HHIL to begin, SK Uthappa said, “I am sure it will be a great season of Hero Hockey India League 2015. We not only have some of the best players from the world but also the top coaches. I am expecting that the team will do much well than what we did last season.”

Speaking further, he added, “I am looking to push a bit harder this year and make it to the top two and eventually emerge as the winners of the league. Not only it’s a good learning experience for us, but a great opportunity for every player to be a part of this league.”

The 3rd edition of the Hero Hockey India League will start from 22 January 2015. The opening day of the League will witness Kalinga Lancers taking on Ranchi Rays in Bhubaneswar.

Hero Hockey India League will be telecasted LIVE on Star Sports.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Sports> Hockey / TNN / January 12th, 2015

If your child is not that enthusiastic about sports and fitness and his/her school does not push him/her enough, things may change soon.

The State has finally got a shot at having its own sports policy with the “goal” of making it the sports destination of the country.

The committee formed by the Karnataka Knowledge Commission, which boasts of some of the biggest names in Indian sporting history, met recently for the first time and discussed the issue.

A report is likely to be submitted in a few months.

Areas in focus

Members of the committee include Rahul Dravid, former captain of the Indian cricket team and member of the Karnataka Knowledge Commission, badminton legend Prakash Padukone, Arjuna Award-winners Ashwini Nachappa and athlete Reeth Abraham. Areas expected to get a fillip are school and college-level sports, and manpower and sporting infrastructure. The committee is looking at roping in the Education Department to find ways to promote sports in educational institutions. Ms. Abraham said there is a need to make sports and fitness compulsory in schools, just like other subjects.

“Children these days are not getting enough exercise and they will not do it without being pushed,” she explained.

Health angle

Ms. Nachappa said the policy will not look at sports from one angle.

“For instance, sports can be looked at as a health benefit. Maybe, one per cent of the health budget can be allotted to sports. We have also discussed if a corporate organisation can run an elite sports,” she said.

Coaches

Human resource is the other area being explored, which includes getting coaches at the grassroots level.

“We have a lot of physical education teachers doing disciplinary classes rather than sports,” Ms. Nachappa said.
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The policy aims at making the State a sports destination

Panel formed by Karnataka Knowledge Commission met recently and discussed the issue
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source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / Staff Reporter / Bengaluru – January 23rd, 2015

Notwithstanding the absence of a regular national hockey coach since the exit of Australia’s Terry Walsh, selector Arjun Halappa sounded upbeat here about the Indian squad’s future following its good show over the last year-and-a-half.

“Some things are not in our control. We should not take it in a negative way. Indian hockey has been doing very well in the past 11 to 18 months. These things will be taken care of by the administrators. Let’s be positive,” said Halappa who is representing Dabang Mumbai as a player in the Hockey India League (HIL).

He also said that Indian captain Sardar Singh is there to see first hand the home country talent on hand in HIL along with selectors and interim coach Roelant Oltmans who is also Director, High Performance at Hockey India.

“Roelant (Oltmans) is there. We are there. Sardar is there leading a side (Delhi Waveriders),” he pointed out.

Halappa said the Test series win over Australia Down Under, a first for Indian hockey (after winning the Asian Games gold for the first time after 1998 to qualify for the Rio Olympic Games), augured well.

“As Hockey India selector I can say we have beaten Australia in Australia in the Test series. That jinx has been broken. We had never done that before. These things are getting better.

“We can’t straightaway say we are becoming world no. 1. It’s a step by step process. (Junior) Players like Harmanpreet and Santa Singh can get lot of positives from this league,” he said.

Halappa said he keeps his selector’s hat behind when he takes part in HIL as a player. “It’s a new challenge and I have to fight for my place. I am putting in my effort. I can see some players also while they train and play and their approach. But right now I am enjoying as a player. If I get into the selector’s mode, the players will be too reluctant to speak to me,” he said.

Halappa, who was part of champion outfit Delhi last year, said his new team — Dabang Mumbai — looked good on paper and the players were gelling well, while adding that the proof of the pudding would be how it performs on the pitch.

“On paper it looks really good, but let’s see how we perform on the pitch. It’s a mix of different cultures and there are a lot of different emotions. Things are looking positive.

“I have been speaking to a few guys like (Australian Glenn) Turner. They said compared to last year the planning and approach looks different,” he remarked.

Asked about the success mantra in HIL, Halappa said, “A good mix of Indian and foreign players playing together well, that makes the difference.”

“Indians are very skillful, Australians are aggressive and very fast, Europeans are tactically good. Everything has to fall into place,” he added

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sport> Hockey / PTI / Mumbai – January 21st, 2015

New Delhi:

Amid the excitement ahead of the Hero Hockey India League 2015, India’s forward SK Uthappa is all set to rattle the grounds of the stadium with his impressive performance. Playing for Uttar Pradesh Wizards consecutively for the third time, Uthappa looks more confident on putting up a good show making it to the finals for his team this season.

In the first edition of the league, Uthappa without any failure showcased his talent and ability and helped the Uttar Pradesh-based franchisee claim the third spot win. However, in the second season of the league, the 23-year old player played with more maturity in order to materialize the given opportunities into goals. He got his name featured in the list of the ‘Man of the Match’ in the second season. In the same edition, he also got his name in the list of ‘Goal of the Match’ where the score was knotted to 1-1 against Delhi Waveriders.

With all the experience and skill set developed in the upcoming league, Uthappa is spotted sweating it out striving hard not to miss any scoring opportunities. With an aim to give a tough challenge to the opponents and come out as a stronger team, Uthappa will find support of the team’s strong forward- line. The forward position will see players like Tushar Khandker, Ramandeep Singh, Nikkin Thimmaiah and Jeroen Hertzberger to name a few.
Eagerly awaiting for the HHIL to begin, SK Uthappa said, “I am sure it will be a great season of Hero Hockey India League 2015. We not only have some of the best players from the world but also the top coaches. I am expecting that the team will do much well than what we did last season.”

Speaking further, he added, “I am looking to push a bit harder this year and make it to the top two and eventually emerge as the winners of the league. Not only it’s a good learning experience for us, but a great opportunity for every player to be a part of this league.”

The 3rd edition of the Hero Hockey India League will start from 22 January 2015. The opening day of the League will witness Kalinga Lancers taking on Ranchi Rays in Bhubaneswar.

Hero Hockey India League will be telecasted LIVE on Star Sports.

source: http://www.indiansportsnews.com / Indian Sports News / Home> Hockey / Wednesday – January 14th, 2015

Four Indians, led by S Chikkrangappa, earned their Asian Tour cards while Swede Daniel Chopra topped the Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage presented by Sports Authority of Thailand today.

While Chikka (68), the leader after the second round was tied fourth at nine-under 276, former winner on Asian Tour, Himmat Rai (72) and young Angad Cheema (72) qualified in tied 12th place at five-under 280 each.

The fourth Indian to make the grade was another young talent, Abhijit Chadha (71) at one-under 284 in tied 37th place.

Amardip Malik (67) at two-over 287 missed out in 62nd place as did Khalin Joshi (74) at four-over 289 in tied 77th place and former Hero Indian Open winner, C Muniyappa faltered in the final round with a 76 to end at five-over 290 in tied 84th place.

Chopra, a two-time winner on PGA Tour and a former winner on Asian Tour carded a final round of three-under 68 and finished at 15-under 270 to top the Qualifying School.

Chopra, who played most of his golf in the formative years in India, outclassed the field by signing for a three-under-par 68 to win by four shots on 15-under-par 270 total at the Springfield Royal Golf Club.

Finland’s Kalle Samooja, a former member of the Asian Tour, returned with the day’s lowest round of 65 to take second place while Thailand’s Phiphatphong Naewsuk settled one shot back in third on 275 at the Qualifying School.

Himmat Rai also returned to the Tour by finishing 12th, while Angad Cheema and Abhijit Chadha made the card for the first time by finishing inside top-40 and ties.

Chopra, who fired six birdies against three bogeys, shrugged off the final round pressure and credited his experience for a remarkable performance this week.

Chikka made up for the disappointment of missing out on his Tour card by one shot last year by putting up a remarkable display in what was only his second attempt at the Qualifying School.

“This means a lot to me. I really worked hard for this. It took me a year to come back again and finally get my Tour card. It has a tough week.
Missing out last year was really emotional for me but it has made me a stronger person. My attitude in my game got better and I am really happy I made it,” said the 21-year-old Indian.

All Qualifying School entrants will be eligible to compete on the burgeoning ADT, which was inaugurated in 2010 as a gateway to the premier Asian Tour.

With the Olympic Games looming in 2016 where golf will be reintroduced as a medal sport, players in the region could earn their spots in Rio de Janeiro by earning Official World Golf Ranking points through the Asian Tour and ADT.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Sports / by Hua Hin (Thailand) / PTI / January 24th, 2015

Mangaluru :

Middle distance runner Machettira Raju Poovamma will stick with her state Karnataka. Part of the Asian Games gold medal winning quartet, Poovamma originally from Kushalnagar in Kodagu district and since settled here is presently taking part in a training camp at Thiruvananthapuram. Poovamma at one time had contemplated shifting base to a state that treated her talent better and represent it in national athletics meet.

Nixing opinions expressed by her in this regard, Poovamma back home for a short break from training told reporters here that Karnataka government had assuaged her concerns and given positive assurances to meet her needs as an athlete. “Abhayachandra Jain Sir (minister for youth empowerment and sports) is taking keen interest in my progress and has assured to help meet professional needs that I have flagged with him in recent times,” she said.

Asserting that her immediate priorities were to excel in the Asian Track and Field meet and the World Championships coming up next year, Poovamma who has a personal best of 51.73 secs in the 400metre race, said, “I want to break the national record in the name of Manjith Kaur that stands at 51.05 secs.” The World Record for this event is 48.6 seconds, Poovamma said, adding the ultimate aim of any athlete is to make this record their own.

For Indian athletes to achieve this, it is imperative that athletes are exposed to training stints and exposure meets abroad, she said. Having a personal coach and trainer too helps in the build up, Poovamma said, adding these are some of the requests that she has placed before Jain. “It will also be helpful if we could get sponsors who can help us train in US,” she said, adding participation in meets abroad will help athletes here find their level.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Mangaluru /by Jaideep Shenoy, TNN / December 30th, 2014