Rohan Bopanna keen to represent India again

Sports

New Delhi :
London Olympics selection controversy is a thing of past at least for Rohan Bopanna as the doubles ace is keen to wear the India cap again and represent the nation in the Davis Cup.

Bopanna and his then partner Mahesh Bhupathi were banned by All India Tennis Association (AITA) for not abiding by the selection decision for the Olympics although the court had stayed that decision later on.

India are set to take on South Korea in the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group I tie in February next year.

“What has been done in the past, it’s over and let us just look at the future and keep moving ahead. I mean tomorrow if I am called to represent India for the Davis Cup which I have always have said yes to, I will go ahead and represent India at the Davis Cup,” Bopanna said in an interview.

“There are a lot of things as a sportsperson you look back and could have taken some positives out of that. There are a lot of things which could have been better not said or done. It’s past. That’s been done and dusted.

“That’s over now and as a professional I believe we have all moved on from it. Now it’s time to concentrate on the future events with a new partner. 2012 is behind me,” said the 32-year-old Bangalorean.

Bopanna, who parted ways with his long-term mentor and doubles partner Bhupathi after the season-ending ATP Tour Finals last month, said that he will definitely “miss” him.

“He is the best doubles player out there in the world. No doubt, I have learnt a lot from him in my career not only as a partner but he also helped me, guided me right from the Challengers, Tour levels and Grand Slams. No doubt, he will be missed.”

“We had decided in the beginning of this year that we will be playing for a year since it’s been an Olympic year and at the US Open itself we decided that since I have few more years to go I need a partner who I can build a relationship with, try and get a solid partnership going. That’s the reason why we decided to change partners and see how it goes,” said Bopanna.

Bopanna, along with Bhupathi, had compiled an impressive 34-22 match record and 2-3 in finals, and in the past also teamed up with players like Pakistan’s Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi and American Eric Butorac.

Bopanna has decided to pair up with the US-based Rajeev Ram at the upcoming Chennai Open and for the 2013 season.

Asked about whom did he find as his best partner, Bopanna said, “My best results came with Aisam, reaching the finals of a Grand slam. This year with Mahesh also, we had a great end to the season winning the Paris Masters. I had a great success with them. Looking forward to take few positives from both the partnerships.”

Talking about Rajeev as his new partner on the ATP circuit, Bopanna said they have the potential to be one of the top doubles teams in the world.

“100 per cent. We both have big styles of game and definitely we both have what it takes to be top eight doubles team in the world,” he said.

“I am really looking forward to the new season. Rajeev and I have known each other for few years now. 2008 we played together at the Australian Open and reached the third round.

“He is technically a serve and volley player and his experience will definitely help in the doubles. He is a big guy, actually one inch taller than me also. His is a big big game. So, we both will complement each other playing together,” he added.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> Sports> Tennis / by PTI / December 28th, 2012

Kodagu attracts Rs. 4,114.46 crore

Business & Economy

Kodagu has attracted Rs. 4,114.46 crore business investment at the Coorg Business Summit held in Madikeri on December 18, according to official information received here on Thursday.

Officials of the Industries Department in the district, who collated the statistics till December 26, said in Madikeri that 374 people had signed agreements with the government to invest on various sectors. A report to this effect was submitted to the State government by the Joint Director of the Department of Industries.

Investments

Of the investors, 179 firms were scheduled to invest on industries to the tune of Rs. 1,673.29 crore, 115 for tourism amounting to Rs. 1,339.41 crore, 18 in the field of medical service amounting to Rs. 768.15 crore and 17 persons in the field of education involving Rs. 175.70 crore.

Forty-five others have come forward to invest on other sectors involving Rs. 157.91 crore.

Organisers

The FKCCI, the Mysore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Kodagu District Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Department of Industries and Commerce, who had expected investments in the range of Rs. 1,000 crore a year, had organised the Coorg Business Summit.

The summit was inaugurated by Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysore, December 28th, 2012

2 RRBs in Karnataka amalgamated

Business & Economy

Bangalore , DEC. 28:
According to the directions of the Union Ministry of Finance’s Department of Financial Services, the Chikmagalur Kodagu Gramin Bank, a regional rural bank (RRB), sponsored by Corporation Bank, was amalgamated with Cauvery Kalpataru Grameena Bank, sponsored by State Bank of Mysore.

In a release to exchanges, Corporation Bank said the amalgamation comes into effect from November 1 vide notification.

source: http://www.TheHinduBusinessLine.com / Home> Industry> Banking / by Hindu’s Bureau / Bangalore, December 28th, 2012

Did ‘Pyaar Ke Side Effects’ appreciations came as a Surprise for Singer Sophie Choudry

Arts, Culture & Entertainment


Mumbai:
Sophie Choudry, The Singer, The VJ, The Performer, The Actress who was discovered by Ace Musician Biddu goes one-on-one in conversation with Pardaphash.com correspondent Faisal Saif.

Question: Tell us about Sophie Choudry, The world doesn’t know.
Answer: I am an absolute nerd.. I love reading, i have always been a straight A student, i speak fluent French. I have written the lyrics for almost all of my songs, i speak fluent urdu and i prefer spending time at home rather than going out partying.

Question: You were born and brought up in London, How was your Journey in Bollywood as a VJ, Singer and Actress?
Answer: I was discovered by the music director Biddu when i was 12. I always wanted to sing and he launched me in the girl band Sansara when i was still studying! I became a VJ in London with ZEE TV while i was at college and when i decided to move to MUMBAI, MTV hired me! My solo songs “Mera Babu Chail Chabila” and “Ek Pardesi” became massive hits and i decided to stay in india. David Dhawan called and offered to launch me in “Shaadi No1”.. i was a huge Govinda Karisma fan and this opportunity was a dream come true for me!

Question: Why was the sudden Split Up from Sansara Band despite of ‘Yeh Dil Sun Raha Hai’ becoming a Chartbuster?
Answer: We had too many ego issues. generally it’s tough for girls to get along and unfortunately even though we sang really well together, we all had different ideas about how to take things forward. I was dedicated to making it work, even move to India. they werent.

Question: Your reactions when ‘Baby Love’ and ‘Sound Of Sophie’ became talk of the Music Trade?
Answer: Yes, that was incredible for me. Ek Pardesi got me immense popularity, i started doing lots of shows and like i mentioned it got me Shaadi No.1 and even Pyar Ke Side effects. I can never forget that album and T-series promoted it so well!

Question: What about Acting Side? We don’t see much of Sophie nowadays?
Answer: I wasnt getting the kind of roles i wanted so i had to take a step back and focus on myself, my music and my shows. However people thought i didn’t want to do films because i wasn’t signing anything. That isn’t true. Thankfully i signed something recently and hope to do more movies next year!

Question: Did ‘Pyaar Ke Side Effects’ appreciations came as a Surprise?
Answer: Yes it did. I loved the script because it was so different… it was a new kind of cinema with an unusual casting and it made me realize that even if i wasnt the heroine of the project i could make a lasting impact! Til this day, no one has forgotten my character Babygirl volume 3 or the famous coffee!

Question: Was the Raunchy Act video scandal was again any part of Promotional Activity?
Answer: NO!! Not at all! I didnt even know about the video until one of my twitter followers told me about it. then i got more and more tweets! I have no idea how that got out!!! If i wanted to leak something, i would have leaked the song because i want that to get popular not a raunchy clip!!!!

Question: Hows was you convinced for ‘Hungama Ho Gaya’?
Answer: It’s an amazing song which i thought we could work with to create something absolutely new! It was Vishal dadlani’s idea and me and JohnStewart the arranger worked on it for a couple of months to get it just right.. I even wrote new lyrics. I just had a feeling this song would cause a Hungama of sorts and it has!

Question: What took you so long to come up with this Song?
Answer: Non film songs dont get much exposure on TV and radio anymore and since you have to produce the project yourself it takes time to out things together. Also im a perfectionst!

Question: What preparations you went through in the Making of the Video for ‘Hungama Ho Gaya’?
Answer: I got as fit as i could by working out, we did dance rehearsals with my choreographer Arvind, Rocky S spent time on the styling, i even met him in London for some of the shopping. We worked very hard on all the planning with the video director Shiraz Bhattacharya. Most peole can believe we shot the videoin one day because it’s on such a grand scale! I wanted it to be my hottest video ever!

Question: Future for Sophie Choudry.
Answer: I take each day as it comes. You cant make plans in this career or in life. You just have to be true to yourself, live life to the max .. But i will keep doing what i love..making more music, performing on stage and even some films! I m blessed to be able to do what i love!!

source: http://www.pardaphash.com / Homepage> Entertainment / Published by: Nitish Kapoor / Friday, December 21st, 2012

Final touches for sports policy within 45 days: Appachu Ranjan

Sports

Minister for Youth Services and Sports Appachu Ranjan has said that sports policy will be given final touches within 45 days.

Speaking to presspersons after inspecting the Sullia taluk stadium work which has been stopped for various reasons here on Tuesday, he said that 25 taluks in the State do not have stadiums. “The government is proposing to start sports hostels in every district.

Sports hostel has already been started in 22 districts. Earlier, the admission to sports hostel was for the students from eighth to tenth standard. However, it will be extended to fifth to tenth standard.”

Stating that youth policy has been formulated to utilise the youth power, the Minister said that the youth policy will be implemented on January 12, to mark 151st birth anniversary of Swamy Vivekananda. Other states are planning to formulate similar youth policy.

To a query on incomplete stadium, he said that the work on 400-metre track, walking track, gallery needs to be taken up. An action plan of Rs 95 lakh has been prepared, said Assistant Director Subhash.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> District / DHNS, Sullia / December 25th, 2012

More funds for 2 Kodagu panchayats

Business & Economy

Madikeri :
Thithimathi village panchayat in south Kodagu and Valnur Thyagathur panchayat in Somwarpet taluk have been selected for the implementation of the five-year development programmes under the Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNEGS).

A total of 10 panchayats from 9 districts have been selected. Apart from Kodagu panchayats, one each from Dakshina Kannada, Uthara Kannada, Chikmagalur, Bangalore Rural, Dharwad, Davanagere, Kolar and Bagalkot will get more funds for overall development. Preference will be given for health, education and employment.

Aptha organization executive officer M C Chandan said after meeting villagers, a list of works to be undertaken will be prepared.

The project includes various schemes by the Centre and the state government. A team will conduct a door-to-door survey in villages to take stock of the needs and present it in the gramsabhas.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Mysore> Taluk / TNN / December 26th, 2012

AI beat IOC to claim Obaidullah Khan Gold Cup

Sports


Bhopal:
Air India team captain Arjun Halappa, Shivendra Singh and other players in jubilant after won the Obedullah Khan Gold Cup Hockey Tournament in Bhopal on Tuesday. Air India beat last year winner Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) 4-3 Goals. PTI

Last year’s runners-up Air India (AI) lifted the International Obaidullah Khan Gold Cup hockey tournament title by defeating holders Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) 4-3 in the final.

For Air India, Shivendra Singh and captain Arjun Halappa scored two goals each last night.

AI played an attacking game from the start, and led 2-1 at the half time.

Olympian Shivendra scored his first goal in the seventh minute before Halappa doubled the lead for AI in the 24th minute.

Four minutes later, Gurjinder Singh reduced the margin for IOC, scoring from a penalty corner.

But after the breather Shivendra scored from a penalty corner before Gurjinder converted another set piece for IOC to make the scoreline 2-3.

In the 59th minute, Halappa scored his second to make the scoreline 4-2 in favour of AI.

Even though Gurjinder completed his hat-trick in the 64th minute, it was not enough for IOC to defend the title.

In the third-fourth place play-off match, Punjab and Sindh Bank beat ONGC 3-2.

Madhya Pradesh Governor Ram Naresh Yadav and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan gave away the awards.

Winner AI returned home with a cash prize of Rs 21 lakh and a trophy while runners-up IOC received a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh.

AI’s Shivendra was adjudged man-of-the-match, while Gurjinder was declared man-of-the-tournament.

Abdul Samad of Bhopal Red was adjudged best goal-keeper, his teammate Affan Yuosuf as best forward, Diwakar Ram of ONGC as best defender and Vikram Pillai of AI as best mid-fielder.

Several former players and Olympians including Aslam Sher Khan, Sameer Dad, Dhanraj Pillai, Ashok Dhyanchand, Jalaludding Rizvi, Inamur Rahman, Mumtaz Malik, Saleem Abbasi, Khursheed Ali and Altafur Rahman were felicitated on this occasion.

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> Sports> Other Sports / by PTI / December 26th, 2012

Squash: Saurav Ghosal, Joshna Chinappa bag National championship titles

Records, All, Sports

Kolkata:
Saurav Ghosal and Joshna Chinappa reigned supreme, winning the men’s and women’s titles respectively in the 60th National Squash Championship here on Sunday. The world number 11 Ghosal faced little resistance from second seed Harinder Pal Sandhu to wrap the issue 11-5 11-4 11-3 in 33 minutes.
Playing in front of a packed home support, Ghosal was quick to get into the groove as he had a commanding 7-2 lead before clinching the first set.

The second set was no different, while in the third Ghosal showed his class and superb ball control taking nine points on the trot for his seventh straight and eight overall senior national title.

“It was great to win my eighth title at the same place where I had won my first,” the world number 21 said.
He also gave credit to Sandhu and said, “The scoreline might suggest otherwise but it was a tough match honestly. He (Sandhu) has really improved a lot and its good time for the Indian squash.”

Ghosal is hopeful that squash gets a place in the 2020 Olympics.

“There is a strong bid for squash in the 2020 Olympics..I am following the updates regularly,” he said.
In the women’s section, Joshna Chinappa prevailed upon promising Anaka Alankamony, the reigning Asian Junior champion, 11-7 11-4 11-8 in 25 minutes.

Ananka led 6-4 but Joshna was quick to get into the act taking four straight points before taking the first set. The youngster was no match to the world number 31 in the second set, while in the third she gave some fight trailing 8-9 but Joshna showed fine ball control to take two points and clinch the title.

source: http://www.ibnlive.in.com / Home> Sports> Other Sports / by Press Trust of India / December 23rd, 2012

Rs 1000 cr booster dose for Madikeri?

Business & Economy

Mysore:
Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce & Industry and Kodagu District Chamber of Commerce & Industry are all set to woo investors in the hospitality industry, education, garments and tourism to the “Kashmir of the south”.

At Kodagu Business Development Summit scheduled for December 18, FKCCI will facilitate investors and government agencies to set up various industries in the district. FKCCI is expecting an investment of up to Rs 1,000 crore during the meet, which is expected to be inaugurated by chief minister Jagadish Shettar.

FKCCI president K Shiva Shanmugam told reporters that Kodagu has the potential to grow in many sectors. “We want to encourage investment in Kodagu, as it will help in its overall development. Preliminary meetings have been conducted with locals, and many of them have agreed to support environment-friendly medium-scale ventures,” he added.

“We have come out with proposals like hi-tech nursery, residential schools, bee-keeping, garment firms, food-processing industry, cold-storage facility, IT industries, besides those tapping the district’s rich tourism potential by providing facilities at all tourist spots. These projects are viable and will not harm the nature in anyway,” Shanmugam claimed.

Kodagu has not seen any development in the recent past, and it lacks big industries and necessary infrastructure. Many people are migrating from Kodagu to neighbouring districts like Mysore, Dakshina Kannada and Bangalore for higher education and employment. “Setting up industries here will ensure development in the near next five years,” the FKCCI chief felt.
In industrial and infrastructural development, land plays a major role. “Therefore, we have taken many land owners into confidence, and they have shown interest in sharing their property to establish industries,” Shanmugam claimed, adding that FKCCI will act as a facilitator between investors, locals, and government agencies.

“We have felt the need to have cold storage facilities in Somawarpet, Madikeri and Virajpet which contribute to nearly 2.35 lakh tonnes of coffee meant for export.

We have also identified land for mini airport in Somwarpet. Our aim is to wipe out imbalance in economic growth in the state,” he added.

The FKCCI chief said that they are expecting nearly 50 investors at the meet.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Mysore / by Lawrence Milton, TNN / December 05th, 2012

ICAR to set up planters’ home at Madikeri

Business & Economy

Expert lays stress on diversification of crops

While agreeing with popular belief that agriculture “is risky business”, Director-General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) S. Ayyappan said on Thursday that, however, farmers in places such as Kodagu had shown how farming could be profitable.

He was inaugurating the golden jubilee of the Cardamom Research Centre (CRC) at Kodagu, an Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR) release here said.

The cardamom centre at Kodagu comes under the purview of the IISR. Dr. Ayyappan said the ICAR would also set up a planters’ home at Madikeri to offer training to farmers in the region.

Diversification

“Agriculture being probably one of the riskiest businesses, for it to be profitable, we have to give importance to diversification of crops and specialty agriculture,” Dr. Ayyappan, who is also the Secretary in the Department of Agricultural Research & Education (DARE), said.

He was all praise for planters for their success in spices cultivation. He said that spice plantations at Kodagu were model farms for farmers from the other States. “They have proved that farming is a profitable venture. The productivity of black pepper in these plantations is far above that of Vietnam,” he said.

He said the decision to upgrade the CRC and set up the planters’ home were New Year gifts for farmers at Kodagu.

N.K. Krishnakumar, Deputy Director-General of Horticulture, who presided, wanted the IISR and the CRC to identify pockets where cultivation of cardamom and black pepper and other profitable spices could be grown on a large scale.

M. Anandaraj, IISR Director, Amrik Singh Sidhu, Director of the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore; George V. Thomas, Director of the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod, spoke.

Publications such as Capsule, a souvenir of the golden jubilee celebrations, Sadaram, a comprehensive publication on 50 years in cardamom research, and special issues of Spice India and Indian Journal of Arecanut, Spices and Medicinal Plants published to commemorate the golden jubilee were also released at the function.

Progressive farmers from Kodagu such as S.B. Jayaraj of Murugarajendra Estate, Madapur; B.M. Mahesh Kumar of Hosathota Estate, Sakleshpur; John Thomas Ramapuram of Doona Ann Plantations, Siddapura; C.P. Pramod of Cauvery Estate, Madikeri; Duleep Nanjappa of Pakka Estate, Madikeri, and Prema Ganesh of Prema Estate, Madikeri, were honoured by Karnataka Speaker K.G. Boppiah at the programme.
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Planters’ home to offer training to farmers
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Planters lauded for success in spice cultivation
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source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> National> Kerala / by Special Correspondent / Kozhikode, December 22nd, 2012