Category Archives: Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg

Chikka grabs Western India Golf title

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports

MUMBAI:

Seenappa Chikkarangappa, the reigning National champion completed a comprehensive 11-shot win over fellow Bangalore player, Khalin Joshi in the LIC – Western India golf championships at the BPGC on Friday.

Chikka, who was having a less than satisfactory last few weeks, carded a five-under 65, and totaled a whopping 20-under 260. Khalin shot one-under 69 in the final round and finished at 271, 11 shots behind the winner.

Completing a 1-2-3 for Bangalore golfers was Udayan Mane (68), who added another good finish to his recent win on the IGU circuit. Mane totaled 274.

Chikka’s win fetched him 50 points towards the IGU order of Merit, while Joshi took 40. Dominic Foos (65, 279) and Angad Cheema (73, 279) tied for fourth at 279 and the sixth place was taken by Manav Das (71, 280).

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / by TNN / November 05th, 2011

What is the need for post-party party and why you are not invited?

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg

How do you know that a trend has caught on? It’s when the lowest common denominator, namely us, starts following it. Recently, a friend had an after party for her birthday party which incidentally was at Delhi’s swanky nightclub The Love Hotel at Ai, owned by the man who probably single-handedly fanned the after-party culture in the capital, AD Singh. It was Singh’s and actor Arjun Rampal’s co-owned nightclub brand Lap, Rampal’s Chasing Ganesha along with Jaypee Sports International ( JPSI) that powered the F1 after parties, which took five months to plan. “Large sporting events have visitors from all over the world and good after parties offer a chance for everyone to let their hair down,” Singh explains the raison d’etre of after parties.


If F1 put India on the world map, the after parties showed that Indians can throw a mean party. Even Lady Gaga went a little gaga, tweeting her pic with Rampal and pal SRK. And everyone from Bollywood glam to fashion biggies to society majors walked the red carpet to the F1 after party. “It’s a status symbol to be part of the after-party guest list. While the event is open to everyone who can buy the tickets, the after party is an exclusive privilege. And that’s what makes them coveted,” says Harmeet Bajaj, director of Smokehouse Room, a new nightclub in Delhi by Impresario – a group where Bajaj partners with Shiv Karan Singh and Riyaz Amlaani.

Gatecrashers are always a big problem at such events. “One gentleman pretended he was Mark Weber (the F1 driver) to get in,” Singh says. The after-party culture started with fashion weeks. The fash frat has always been known for it’s proclivity to partying and when it became a business event, the need was felt for a forum to let their hair down. Bajaj says: “The week has a very formal format where you sit on benches and watch show after show. Designers felt the need to socialise informally.” And after party was born. Soon, IPL started its ‘infamous’ after-match parties and now every sport and society event has one, even wedding receptions.

The Guest List
Who’s invited is the single-most important factor about an after party. Bangalore-based image consultant and fashion choreographer Prasad Bidapa who managed the after-match parties – all 30 of them – for IPL4 along with DNA Networks, says the after-party culture feeds on the “we are a children few” mentality referring to the feeling of privilege it brings to be part of the A list. “It creates a feeling of endless excitement too,” he comments.

But most after-match parties during IPL drew a lot of flak for not giving time for the cricketers to rest. In fact, even MS Dhoni had commented that too many “after parties are taking a toll on our energy levels”. While South African cheerleader Gabriella Pasqualotto has another story about the energy levels. In her tell-all blog on behind the scenes at the IPL the 22-year-old had said that: “The music pumps, the drinks flow and the cricketers come and go… But the real fun happens in the VIP rooms where the players and night owls can cause scandal!” After parties by very nature are more risque.

“If sport meets glamour sparks will fly unless you grew up in a convent,” says Bidapa. But not only sparks but even liquor -and the best one at that – flies off the shelf. “An after party has to have the best of decor, food and definitely liquor to live up to its guest list,” says Utkarsh Bansal of P3party.com and organiser of a many farmhouse and private after parties in Delhi. Bansal has seen a literal 100% surge in the demand for an after party from the friendly BYOB (Bring Your Own Booze) get togethers to the real heavyweight parties that require a velvet rope at the entrance. The high demands he has
noticed are for liquor, decor and now foreign hostesses.

We Like to Party
The unwritten rule for IPL parties is that the top stars need to show up. Reportedly, sponsors demand that stars turn up at least for a photo op and they do oblige. For smaller players of IPL, it’s a platform to network – after all, they also know that they won’t be getting an in into this world post the season. “After parties are the best networking platform there is. It’s the right mix of people – from fashion to films to bureaucrats and industrialists,” says Bajaj, enough contacts to fill your Rolodex.

The entertainment quotient at an after party is fairly minimal – maybe a ten-minute fashion show or a stand-up comedy routine. “It’s the whole feeling of living vicariously that this culture feeds on, it’s the same way I would read a piece on Maureen Wadia’s house,” Bidapa says and adds that an after party is now planned as a part of the whole event. It’s a media-created event which feeds the Page 3 and growing number of news and lifestyle TV. Bajaj says people have a guest list that’s divided into A lists, B lists and C lists. And everyone wants to be in the first one.

source: http://www.economictimes.indiatimes.com / by Nupur Amarnath / ET Bureau / Nov 06th, 2011

Smashing serves

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports

Despite star players giving it a miss, the Karnataka Badminton league holds promise


Ashwini Ponnappa

Ashwini Ponnappa commanded a price. The Commonwealth Games gold medallist (in the women’s doubles alongside Jwala Gutta) has star value and provided the glamour quotient to the inaugural edition of the Karnataka Badminton League (KBL). She fetched a whopping Rs 2.5 lakh for her appearance in the first week of the league, which runs from November 5 to 19.

“She has a star value and will keep the rest of the team motivated. That is why we bid for her,” says Vishal Vincent Tony of the Aratt Fighters, the franchisee that successfully bid for Ashwini. “Her presence in the team, even if it is only going to be for the league stages (Ashwini leaves for the Hong Kong Super Series on November 12) should do wonders to the morale of youngsters in the team. She is only participating in the mixed doubles category. We have also bagged Jacqueline Rose Kunnath, who commanded the second highest bid of Rs 1.06 lakh to play the women’s singles, there is no reason why we cannot do well,” says Vincent.

Beside the two women stars, Rohan Castellino was picked to provide the thrust in the men’s singles.

If Aratt Fighters spent huge sums on women players, franchisees such as Fly Power Warriors and Li Ning Lions did not invest on big names and instead opted for a balanced team. “This being the inaugural year, there was a lot of apprehension and uncertainty. We chose a couple of young guns to deliver for us and hopefully they will,” says Choudhary, a member of the Fly Power Warriors, for whom Rajas Jawalkar and Sindhu Bharadwaj will lead the singles challenge in the men’s and women’s categories respectively.

P. Kumar of Kumar Sports, owner of the Li Ning Lions, said: “Li Ning is the leading shuttle-cock manufacturer in China and is making its presence felt in the Indian market. This league could provide the perfect platform. We are happy with the team.”

Agarwal and Bhandari joined hands to form the AB Chargers and picked the top ranked men’s singles player, Mohit Kamath, alongside women’s player Mahima Aggarwal and doubles specialist Vineeth Manuel. “There were some hiccups but overall, I am quite satisfied,” says Bhandari after the players auction that lasted nearly six hours.

With Aditya Prakash and Prakash Jolly going to White Peacock and K2 Smashers respectively, one felt the Hennur Banaswadi Cosmopolitan Club (HB Challengers) were the ones to lose out, with just Rishiket Yeligar and B.S. Phalgun leading the challenge in the men’s singles. But Srinivasan (Secretary) and Krishna Kumar (coach), who once formed a strong doubles combination with George Thomas in the ’90s, felt the players would deliver. “We win some and lose some. It is a learning curve for us. We will be better equipped next time,” says Manjesh, who represented the K2 Smashers.

“There were too many caps,” was the general feeling and the phenomena resulted in active players like Poorvisha Ram and Ruth Misha going unsold. On the flip side were the withdrawal of the eighth team, Team Victor, from the fray and some internationally renowned names like Aravind Bhat and Anup Sridhar giving the league a miss for varied reasons.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / MetroPlus> Life & Style / by Avinash Nair / November 02nd, 2011

It’s all about Honey … HONEY!

Business & Economy, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features

Caption:

1) Some of the honey, jams and sauces produced by Nectar Fresh. 2) Chayaa Nanjappa with business partner Rajappa at Ahaar expo in Chennai. 3) The entire processing unit consisting of a container to feed honey to the settling unit.

They say ‘fruit of hard work is sweet’ and in this case it is metaphorically and literally sweet. Shall we call this a success story of a lone lady who made it big in the small scale industries sector or the growth of a brand which has today become one of the leading names in the field of honey? It is difficult to describe one without the other as this is the story of a lady who started a honey brand from scratch which has grown to great heights over the years. In this Weekend Star Supplement, SOM introduces its readers to this lady who says ‘If I could make it, then any other lady can

’ A flavour for every season

History:

Nectar Fresh was launched by Chayaa Nanjappa in 2007 at Bangalore and was backed by Khadi and Village Industries Board. Born on June 20, 1971 at Kodagu, Chayaa says, “I had a gut feeling and wanted to do something connected with my hometown. That instant I knew I wanted to start honey manufacturing and wanted to name it as Nectar Fresh.”

“The plant was doing well in Bangalore but due to some circumstances we had to relocate to Mysore in 2010.

Initially people said that Mysore is a small town and is not feasible for such businesses. But for me Mysore has been a lucky mascot. Most of the major deals were struck after we shifted here,” she says.

The plant was relocated to Kadakola near Mandakalli Airport when Chayaa partnered with Rajappa of MyStore.

Speaking about Nectar Fresh, Chayaa says, “We are one among the top 5 honey manufactures in India and are the only ones who are manufacturing different varieties of honey. Usually the Khadi and Village Board products are not considered as product for the high end markets. But today we have replaced international brands in hospitality sector under the Board. We have used their logo in our brand because it is the Board which has supported us. Also, there is a notion that business is only for the elite class who come from the same background or have the educational qualification for it. But we have proved this wrong. Anyone can do it if they have the survival instinct. Today we employ around 50 persons all over the country and around 20 in our Mysore plant.”

Chayaa, a PG Diploma holder in Mass Communication, underwent specialised training at Central Bee Research and Training Institute, Pune. She is also a member of the National Bee Board and is the first lady to have a honey processing plant in the country.

Process

The company has its mobile vans placed near the fields across India. Hence they are the only producers of a variety of honey in the country. They are also the first brand to launch honey blisters.

“Every month we have different varieties of honey according to the flowering season. This month it is acacia, clover and Himalayan honey,” says Chayaa, adding that lychee honey has the greatest demand.

Although Nectar Fresh has a wide network, it’s manufacturing unit is only at Mysore. The unit produces around 1,000 tonnes a day and is planning to increase it to 4,000 tonnes by procuring more equipment.

Processing plant: First, the honey is loaded into the container. This honey undergoes around 30 microns of filtration. It later undergoes moisture reduction and then again 2 microns of filtration. It is then cooled and sent to settling tanks. This will later be filled in containers and packed.

The brand has also started dealing with jams and sauces to help sick women groups. It aims to provide them with the technical knowhow and quality assurance and in turn market their produce thereby giving them a channel to avoid middlemen.

The processed honey is tested for quality at Pristine Laboratories, Bangalore and also at the units’s in-house laboratory.

Varieties

Nectar Fresh is known for its varieties in honey which include Coorg honey, rapeseed/mustard, eucalyptus, lychee, sunflower, Himalayan, acacia, clover, south Indian etc.

Market and export

Nectar Fresh today exports its produce to the Middle East, Malaysia and Australia. They will be looking forward to capture the US and European markets very soon.

The brand has replaced top international brands in India and today has a monopoly with the five star hotels.

“Previously we were not keen on our own private labeling and would supply in bulk and to the hospitality sector. But now we are entering the retail market also. We are the major suppliers to the Honey Society and are vendors for DFRL in city. Apart from this, ITC, Kerala Ayurveda, Taj group of hotels, Apollo etc., bottle their products here,” says Chayaa.

Mission beyond market

With an aim to be a leader in their business in India, Nectar Fresh is also seeing to offer its service beyond market. Apart from helping women with jams and sauces, they have empowered the locals around Kadakola region by providing them training and employment. They are also backing tribals by sourcing honey from the Sirsi belt.

The company is also associated with various charitable organisations helping girl child and Chayaa herself is a member of many women organisations in the country.

Competition

When asked about their major competitors in the market, Chayaa said “We have replaced many international brands including Australia’s Beerenberg Farm. In India, our major competitors are Kashmir Apiaries and Kejriwal Enterprises.”

Future

The company will soon be launching honey pouches with an aim to make honey available to even the lowest section of the society. The pouches are being prepared with the help of CFTRI. They will also be launching premixes of coffee and tea. The mix, which comes with milk, sugar and coffee/tea powder, can be prepared by just adding to a cup of water. With this the company plans to rule the Indian market and introduce Mysore and Kodagu to international customers.

Work hard and believe in yourself

I am not a feminist. But I support those women who work hard to stand on their feet. Most of the time, laws favouring women are abused and the most genuine cases do not have the privilege to use it. Hence, through our brand we intend to empower such women.

“Believe in yourself and have that never-let-go attitude. The success you achieve through this will give you a lot of self-respect rather than finding easy ways of making money.

“I have faced many hardships while coming this far. As a single woman, it was initially difficult for me to survive in this field. But that did not discourage me. With help from Corporation Bank, the government and of course from my business partner, now sky is the limit for Nectar Fresh. If I was able to achieve so much, then any woman can.”

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Feature Articles / October 29th, 2011

Bopanna and Qureshi clinch Stockholm Open

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports

Indian doubles star Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi of Pakistan have clinched their second ATP doubles title of the season at the 2011 Stockholm Open on Sunday.

Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi has clinched 2011 Stockholm Open tournament on Sunday, after beating Brazil pair Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares in the final in straight sets with a 6-1 and 6-3. The Indo-Pak pair has clinched third doubles ATP title at Stockholm, after winning 2011 Gerry Weber Open in Halle and Johannesburg Open in 2010. The top seed Bopanna and Qureshi has won the championship final in just 57 minutes and bagged €29,400 prize money and taken 250 ranking points each.

The 31-year-old Rohan Bopanna also won ATP doubles title in 2008 along with the Eric Butorac of Untied States at Los Angeles. The Indo-Pak pair will play next tournament at the Bank Austria Tennis event, played on Indoor hard courts schedule to begin on 25th October. Bopanna and Qureshi will battle against their Stockholm Open finalist Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares in the opening round of Bank Austria Tennis tournament on Wednesday in Austria.

Bopanna and Qureshi are playing outstanding tennis in the doubles matches, where the pair also reached the semi finals of the 2011 US Open tournament, before falling to Poland pair Fyrstenberg and Matkowski in straight sets.

source: http://www.livetennisguide.com / filded under Tennis News by Terry Lawrence / Monday, October 24th, 2011

Gurbani proves her prowess

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports

Kandy, October 22nd, Agencies

Chikka second in men’s section
Gurbani Singh showed great stamina as she beat Isza Fariza Ismail of Malaysia on the 34th hole on Saturday to win the 124th Sri Lankan Amateur Golf championships.

With this victory, the young Indian re-established herself as one of the leading amateurs in the region. She had earlier won the semifinals on the 16th hole.

In the men’s category, India did well as S Chikkarangappa finished runners-up with a total score of 292 over 72 holes.

Chikkarangappa’s effort included a 66 in the third round.

Gurbani beat Thom Yuet of Malaysia five and three in quarterfinals and then Shanika Fernando of Sri Lanka in the semifinals.

Poor show

All three Indians — Sujjan Singh (77-72), Anirban Lahiri (71-79) and Himmat Rai (77-73) — came up short in the second round as the cut came three-over 147, to make an early exit from the inaugural CJ Invitational in Gyeonggi-do (Korea).

Himmat was done in by a disappointing eight, a triple bogey on par-5 14 and he ended with a six-over total.

Lahiri had a nightmarish round with three bogeys in first four holes and then two doubles on the seventh and ninth with another bogey in between on eighth.

He was eight-over for front nine, followed by a third double bogey on 10th to go 10-over. But he eagled 12th, birdied 14th and 16th before bogeying 18th.

Meanwhile, 25-year-old Korean Lee Ki-sang used a stunning start to snatch the third round lead from American star Anthony Kim and tournament host K J Choi.

Atwal slips to 20th

Arjun Atwal failed to keep the momentum going as he slipped from joint lead to 20th position at the end of the second round of the Children’s Miracle Network Classic in Florida.

Atwal could manage just two in the second round, even as he gave away two bogeys.
Meanwhile, Justin Leonard had a nine-under 63 as he tied for the team with Henrik Stenson and Bio Kim at 12-under 144 for 36 holes. Stenson shot 64 and Kim 65.

Kapur misses cut

Shiv Kapur, fighting to save his card on the European Tour, suffered a setback as he missed the halfway cut at the Castello Masters on the European Tour in Valencia.
His modest first round 72 was followed by a 73 that led to him to missing the cut by two shots.

Local favourite, Sergio Garcia shot a eight-under 63 to move into the halfway lead and put himself in position to win his first title in almost three years.

Smriti tied 30th

Smriti Mehra managed to overcame her finishing blues to make the cut at the Sanya Ladies Open golf tournament in Sanya, China.

The veteran golfer shot rounds of 73 and 71 to be even-par 144. Smriti is tied 30th alongside the winner of last year’s Hero Indian Open, Laura Davies (70-74) and former LPGA player, Jennifer Rosales (73-71).

China’s Pan Yanhong maintained her one-stroke lead over Thailand’s Kongkrapan Patcharachuta at the end of second round.

Pan signed out with a three-under 69 for a two-round total of 136, one stroke ahead of Patcharachuta.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Home> Sports

Tracking the carb-free dinner trend

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, , , , , , , ,

Sidhartha Mallya follows this mantra as do Hollywood’s first family — Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. The mantra of carb-free dinners is what we are getting at. Chef Vvivek Salunkhe of Skyye Bar, UB City reveals, “Sidhartha Mallya almost always orders for grilled chicken whenever he comes here. And while he eats a lot of grilled chicken, he absolutely avoids rice.” Celebrities aside, have fitness-conscious Bangaloreans taken a fancy to a carb-free dinner plan to watch the pounds? It is a categorical yes from popular chefs in the city. Chef Naren Thimmaiah of the Gateway Hotel attributes this trend of diet-consciousness to greater awareness.

He says, “Earlier, healthy food was synonymous with bland, un-fried, tasteless food, a reason why people didn’t take to it much. Those days dieting was a fad” he says and reckons that today, “with greater awareness, people have realised that following a healthy diet is essential.” Offering an instance, he says “While earlier, one didn’t know about the logic behind fasting, today easy access to information gives one the scientific reasons behind it,” he says. As a mindful eater, the chef reveals his eating rule: heavy breakfast, normal lunch and very light dinner.” He explains: “While daytime metabolism and being active in the day ensure that your breakfast gets digested quickly, lower metabolism at night justifies going for a light dinner.”

Other Bangaloreans might be prescribing to a similar logic. For instance, Chef Nimish Bhatia of The Lalit Ashok is seeing a perceptible change in the eating pattern of Bangaloreans. He says, “The preference for carb-free dinners is growing to a certain extent. Diners today want low-carb, high-protein dishes, for both lunch and dinner.” “They are eating shorter meals over the day. The portion-size is getting smaller,” is another observation of his. And if the chef is to be believed, it is the soup and salad section in the buffet that’s getting popular. And what’s more, diners avoid bread and thick soups, opting instead for the clearer varieties!

Customising menus
For most of the leading hotels and restaurants,changing dietary preferences of the clientele means changing the menus to suit their needs. Here, the hotels seem to have gone one step ahead. As Chef Naren Thimmaiah says, “Around 90 to 95 per cent of our clientele are 25- 35 years old business travellers who travel for 18 or 20 days a month. Now, while they may be aware of the need to eat healthy et al, time constraints don’t give them the privilege to do so.” That’s a reason why the hotel’s adopted the ‘Active food’ concept. The Active food concept focuses on the ingredients that go into a dish, instead of the cooking style. Foods that are low on starch, high on anti-oxidants and foods that have low glycemic levels go into making a dish.

Skyye’s Vvivek Salunkhe might not exactly have diet-conscious diners streaming in. He points out: “Most of the people who come to Skyye bar have had their drinks and are already high on carbs. I haven’t come across a single guest who asks for help with a no-carb menu.” While that may be the case, Vvivek says that while designing the menu, he consciously decided to have more grilled, low-fat, steamed items. So, while you won’t find French fries in the menu, steamed peanuts and corn in olive oil with cayenne-pepper will certainly be on offer.

Incidentally, supermodel Elle McPherson too credits her flat board abs to following a carb-free dinner. Some food for thought, that?

Recipes for a Carb-free dinner

Mediterranean grilled vegetable platter

Ingredients
(Serves 4)
Zucchini – 200 gm
Yellow squash – 200 gm
Red pepper – 100 gm
Green pepper – 100 gm
Yellow pepper – 100 gm
Mushroom – 100 gm
Egg plant -200 gm
Cherry tomato – 100 gm
Broccoli – 200 gm
Olive oil – 30 ml
Basil shredded – 20 gm
Garlic -30 gm
Balsamic vinegar – 20ml
Salt – to taste
Pepper – 10 gm
Pesto sauce – 30 gm
Basil leaves – few

Method
1. Cut zucchini, yellow squash and eggplant in to thick slices, peppers in to triangles and broccoli in to florets
2. Marinate all the vegetables with basil, garlic, balsamic, salt, pepper and olive oil
3. Grill on a hot griddle till cooked
4. Arrange in a plate and serve garnished with pesto drizzles and basil leaves

Poached fish with spinach & tomato mushroom broth

Ingredients
(Serves 4)
Mushroom – 250 gm
Leeks white and light green parts sliced – 50 gm
Chopped onion – 30 gm
Chopped ginger – 10 gm
Garlic finely chopped – 20 gm
Tomato blanched and chopped – 50 gm
Olive oil – 25 ml
Vegetable stock – 750 ml
Salt – to taste
Poached Fish
Fish fillet (90 gm each)
Ginger julienne – 40 gm
Carrot julienne – 40 gm
Celery julienne – 40 gm
Salt – to taste
Pepper – 5 gm
Lime juice – 10 ml
Spinach base
Olive oil – 15 ml
Garlic – 15 gm
Spinach leaves (cleaned) – 100 gm
Salt – to taste
Dill sprig (for garnish)

Method
1.Trim and discard mushroom stems. Slice caps and set aside.
2. In a large saucepan sautés leek, onion, garlic ginger with little oil. Cook, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes or until very soft. Add mushrooms and tomato to the stock. Bring to a gentle boil, season with salt, reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
3. Marinate the fish with salt, pepper and juliennes of ginger carrot and celery and pour little broth and poach till done.
4. Sauté garlic in olive oil, add spinach, sauté till wilted .Drain the excess water season with salt.
5. Arrange the fish in deep dish over spinach and pour more mushroom broth over the fish garnish with julienne vegetables from the fish.

Recipe courtesy – The Gateway Hotel
source: http://www.dnaindia.com / Home> Lifestyle> Report / by Mahalakshmi Prabhakaran / Bangalore / DNA / Tuesday, October 11th, 2011

Uthappa eyes opening slot

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports

NAGPUR:

It’s been a strange career so far for  Robin Uthappa . He was always considered an impact player, someone who could take the game away within no time; someone who could blast any bowling attack; someone who could respond with fire.

Five years ago, when the 20-year-old Uthappa announced his arrival on the international stage with a fluent fifty against the touring England side, everyone felt he was going to stay for a long time.

Five years later, the Karnataka opener is still searching for a permanent spot in the team. Once an integral part of India’s one-day team, Uthappa was used as floater by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni but now he is eyeing a comeback as an opener.

Back to his favourite opening position, Uthappa blasted 189 runs in two innings of the Challenger Trophy. On Tuesday, he missed out on a bright start while playing an unnecessary shot.

The next day he showed everyone how dangerous he could be if he bats for a long time. The India Green opener made mockery of India Blue and went on to make a brilliant 132 (103b, 14×4, 3×6).

“I enjoy opening. I play my best at the top order and when things go my way, more often than not I put the team into a good position. I like to open, whichever format I play. When I played for the Indian team, I chose to bat up and down for the sake of the team. But now I will stick to the opening and not anywhere else. It’s a good start to the season. I will try to build on these good starts to big scores,” Uthappa said.

The 25-year-old feels he is coming back to his best because he has again started playing his natural game.

“I have been playing my natural game in the last four five months. I enjoy myself when I open the batting and I really feel I am coming into my own . The season has just begun. It will be a very important one season, especially with Ranji Trophy coming. I am ready for the challenge,” he said.

Uthappa has been a confidence player. When he looks assured, he generally makes any bowling attack look ordinary. India Red and India Blue sides have already suffered at his hands on successive days.

“I am an instinctive player. Instinctively, when I feel like going for a shot, I back myself and go for it. There are advantages and disadvantages of instinctive and aggressive batsman. When it comes up right, it looks beautiful, but the same shot looks ugly when you get out. I am definitely trying to play longer because if I do that it would be beneficial for the side I am playing for. I am working hard on that, but you don’t expect results overnight. It’s a process,” Uthappa said.

His aggressive intents have often led to his downfall but he is unfazed by it. “I have played cricket one way all my life. It’s better for me to continue playing the way I have been playing. If I play like Rahul Dravid or Badrinath, I won’t be very successful. I am going to play aggressively and that brings out the best in me. That’s the way my team and people like to me to bat,” said Uthappa.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / by Ruchir Mishra / TNN/ Home> Sports> Cricket> Interview / October 13th, 2011

Ford shows Endeavour’s off-roading capabilities in Delhi

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports

An SUV is a vehicle not just for the run of the mill office to home and back schedule. Its got a lot to do with the vehicle’s true nature. However, this is something we all know about. The Ford Endeavour is one off in the Sports Utility Vehicle Segment. With its long stance and right seat ergonomics, this vehicle is just right for off roading and a whole lot of fun.

On 2nd of this month, Ford organised The Great Ford Endeavour Drive, where in a remote location on the foot hills of the Aravali, Endeavour owners got the experience and exposure to what their Ford is really capable of. To help with getting the idea, Ford had called in Jagat Nanjappa, who needs no introduction to the world of rallying and off roading and has over thousands of kilometers clicked with his trusted vehicles..

Ford Endeavour off-roading

With Jagat in the driver’s seat, Endeavour owners got to know about what their SUV is capable of. A properly laid out track with a number of jumps, an open area for donuts, a slush patch and some man-made humps made out of sandbags and to add to this, Jagat made all this look like all in a days work. When asked, Jagat replied, “This is the perfect track for testing out the Endeavour. It has the right kind of obstacles which show the true capability of the vehicle.”

Add to this, ten points to keep in mind while off-roading, here is what he had to say.

Ford Endeavour off-roading

I Never go off-roading alone. One must have a rescue car or if nothing else, then another car.

II Carry as much as equipment like Winch, inflator, that you can

III Do not be embarrassed if your car is stuck. It is wise to get a little dirty.

IV Make sure your tires are in good shape.

V Trust your instincts. If you know you cannot do a task, back up.

VI If you are a first-timer, take an expert along who knows what has to be done in a difficult situation

source: http://www.zigwheels.com / Home>  News & Features / by Sukhpreet Singh / October 07th, 2011

 

City game for ‘American league’

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports, , , , , , , , , ,
American football could become big in the country with a tournament being planned in the next two years
 

A lot of sports, most of which a majority of the average Indians aren’t aware of, are making inroads into our society. The latest being American football, the top US sport which has at least five per cent of American population earning through the game, apart from players, coaches and staff directly involved with the game.

History has it that only four players of Indian origin have played in the National Football League (NFL), a lucrative organisation that runs the sport in the US. One of the four, Brandon Chillar, who has his roots in Punjab, was convinced the game had something to offer for the Indian masses. He felt it could become big and give the average Indian a chance to excel in it.

TEAMS’ FORMATION
The Elite Football League of India (EFLI) was launched in India in August this year and the government of India and the Sports Authority of India decided to back the game. A custom-fit stadium is ready in Pune, where the inaugural EFLI will be held within the next two years between eight teams from different states.

Having already formed four teams, the EFLI concentrated on Karnataka. Thimmaiah Madanda, a former India rugby player, with a passion for contact sport, was brought in as coach of the state team. The Kodava took his job seriously. He scouted for talent in Kodagu, Shimoga, Devanahalli and Bangalore. “I went to all these places and mostly visited government colleges and finally invited 140 players. A first shortlist of 115 went through a four-day orientation programme last week,” he said.

Thimmaiah, Sailesh Devrukhkar, the chief coach of EFLI, and Jeff Whelan, EFLI coaching co-coordinator, watched the hopefuls through drills and games before settling on the final 44 who will represent Karnataka.

DECENT SALARY
EFLI is more unique than most associations in the country. It will pay players a salary rather than a match fee as does happen with most sporting disciplines. That too, a decent sum of Rs 15,000 per player. Jeff Whelan said, “This, we are offering till we sign a deal with Ten Sports to televise the league matches. Once we get everything in order, players will earn much more than what any coach earns.”

Does the average Indian have the physique or skill to compete in such a “ruthless sport”? All three men laugh it off and Thimmaiah says, “It is nothing like what the public imagine. Played with an elongated ball, the game offers 44 players the chance of being involved in a game (including substitutions). The game accommodates all physical attributes; athletes from any sport can take to this game. It calls for power, speed and agility. It does not need special skills,” he says.

The forwards and interiors do not even touch the ball, leave alone catch it. Their job is only to defend the quarter-backs… to stop the opposition from getting to the quarter-backs,” said Thimmaiah, adding: “You have a defending team, an attacking team and a kicking team. It is not about just 11 on field. Thirty players are used in each game, with the other 14 used for substitutions. So, it involves a lot of people and does not need any one qualification or requirement to play the game.”

TALENT APLENTY
The EFLI does have some convictions that other sports administrators mostly talk about. “We know that if we search enough, we could find the right guys. The right athletes are in the villages of India,” said Jeff. “The game does not need any special skill. It combines a lot of disciplines like cricket, football, baseball, rugby,” he added.

Having watched the NFL mess it up in England when it tried to introduce the game there, the EFLI is more focused. “We are planning a league for players born and brought up in India. Unlike the NFL, we will not allow foreigners. That way, we know the cities can relate to players and will stand up for the team,” he said.

CHALLENGING CRICKET
“India, with its masses, offers an opportunity for us (EFLI) to become a top sport in the country. India is a one sport country (cricket) and we believe we stand a good chance of becoming a top sport. Because we feel we can offer more opportunities for athletes and people of India,” said Jeff.

“We plan to have eight Indian teams and will invite two from Sri Lanka, one from Bangladesh, and each team will only be allowed proper citizens to represent them. No outsiders, guests or foreign players,” he said.

“At some point of time, we hope to invite a team from Pakistan to play a series against an Indian team. Because that is the ultimate battle in this part of the globe and we are sure millions will tune in to that game and the whole world will watch,” he said.

source: http://www.BangaloreMirror.com/ Home> News> City / by R Sathish Paul / Tuesday October 04th, 2011