Category Archives: World Opinion

Mysurean Boxer To Tokyo As Head Coach

Amazing Feats, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

C.A. Kuttappa to lead a team of nine pugilists for post-COVID Olympics

India’s Chief Men’s Boxing Coach Subedar Chenanda Achaiah Kuttappa will be the Head Boxing Coach for 32nd Olympic Games to be held in Tokyo, Japan, between July 23 to August 8.

A resident of Gokulam in Mysuru city, he was nominated for the Dronacharya Award-2018 in boxing. He took over as the Chief Coach for men’s boxing in India in 2018 and has played a significant role in the rise of Indian boxing as a force after the disappointment at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and will travel to Tokyo alongside the nine qualified boxers for the world event.

The team will leave for Tokyo from their training base in Assisi on July 17. An unprecedented nine Indian pugilists have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics this time, including five men and four women. All of them are giving final touches to their games preparations in Assisi. The Games will open on July 23 with boxing competitions starting the next day. The men who have qualified are world number one and Asian Games champion Amit Panghal (52kg), Manish Kaushik (63kg), Vikas Krishan (69kg), Ashish Kumar (75kg) and Satish Kumar (+91kg).

The women’s squad comprises six-time world champion MC Mary Kom (51kg), Simranjit Kaur (60kg), Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) and Pooja Rani (75kg). India’s qualification performance in boxing this time was markedly better than the 2016 Rio Games where only three made the tournament-proper, none of them women.

The country did not win any boxing medals in the previous Games. India’s first boxing medal in the Olympics came in 2008 when Vijender Singh claimed the middleweight bronze, followed by Mary Kom’s medal in 2012.

Making India proud

Kuttappa is the second son of late Achaiah and Shanthi (Thamane – Katimada). He married Ashwini (Nancy), daughter of Palangiyanda Uthappa and Greshi Uthappa, residents of Mysuru. They are blessed with a daughter Yudhi, studying in sixth standard.

Kuttappa did his primary schooling at Mahaveer School, Mysuru till seventh standard and continued at Army School Bangalore to study up to 12th. He then joined the NIS Diploma in Sports Coaching in Boxing 2006-2007 and continued with AIBA Star 2 Coaching Course 2017, Rohtak (India), AIBA Star 3 Coaching Course 2019, South Korea and AIBA Cutman course 2017, Uzbekistan.

Kuttappa completed his BA from Bangalore Open University. He joined the Indian Army in 1996 and is presently working as Subedar and is the Head Boxing Coach, Elite Men National Boxing. Kuttappa has made India proud on numerous occasions. He started by winning bronze in the Sub Jr. YMCA Boxing championship in 1994.

He did not look back from then on. After winning nearly 30 matches in the international arena at the age of 30, he became the coach of the Indian boxing team. He has represented India as a coach at many international events including the Olympics.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> July 14th, 2021

Girl power is Gold power ft. Ashwini Ponnappa & Sikki Reddy

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Sports, Videos, World Opinion

Kotak Mahindra Bank is encouraging the ambition of promising young champions, in collab with the Gopichand Academy.

The Tokyo Olympics is less than 10 days away and like every time, everyone is abuzz with excitement. However, unlike any other year, this time expectations on the Indian contingent are higher than ever.

India is projected to break the record for most medals hauled at any Olympic Games. Until now, the country’s best tally was at the London Olympics in 2012 with six medals.

At the 2016 Rio Olympics, again, hopes were high but mostly, the Indian athletes disappointed. The only two medals were won by two women, Sakshi Malik in wrestling and PV Sindhu in badminton.

Truth is, in recent years, the encroachment of the nation’s sportswomen has seen a sharp spike.

Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. (KMBL) released the “Girl Power is Gold Power” video as a part of their initiative to promote female athletes via Kotak Karma.

The video features star Indian shuttlers Ashwini Ponnappa, a World Championship bronze medallist, and N Sikki Reddy, Gold medalist at the South Asian Games 2016. It carries a special message that honours young women who chase their dreams no matter how crazy they may be labelled, no matter the stigmas, no matter what society says. It heralds young women who want to follow in the footsteps of Ashwini and Sikki.

The one-minute film also pays tribute to those who support these young, crazy dreamers, the family members and the coaches, who often sacrifice almost as much as these athletes to help pave the way to their glory.

“Every empowered child is a product of an enlightened ecosystem – comprising family, friends and acquaintances who have extended their support. With the world’s biggest sporting event upon us, this is a good time to remind us all that investing in the dreams and aspirations of the next generation can give us returns beyond measure,” Rohit Rao, Joint President & Group Chief CSR Officer, Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited stated at the campaign launch.

Kotak Karma is the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) identity of the Kotak Mahindra Group. Under its CSR Projects on Sports, KMBL has collaborated with the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Foundation based in Gachibowli, Telangana to develop a state-of-the-art badminton training facility with advanced infrastructure and amenities, and international standard coaches that will help India produce more world-class players. Both the athletes featured in the film train at the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Foundation.

source: http://www.thebridge.in / The Bridge / Home>Videos> Badminton / by The Bridge Desk / July 14th, 2021

This team has a habit of scoring in dying minutes: Subbaiah

Leaders, Sports, World Opinion

Bengaluru :  

Former India hockey goalkeeper AB Subbaiah said he has seen a noticeable shift in the mentality of the current men’s hockey team, and that unlike in the past, the side has now acquired the “habit of scoring in the dying minutes”.

“I like the shift in the mentality of the current team. Nowadays, the Indian team has the habit of scoring in the dying minutes of the game whereas earlier they used to concede goals in the final period,” said the two-time Olympian, who was also part of the team that won gold at the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games, on Friday.

“The team has an experienced defence line. Sreejesh has been consistent for many years, Harmanpreet looks confident in his drag flicks. The midfield looks solid and energetic, led ably by Manpreet Singh, and the forward line is extremely opportunistic and sharp. If the team can emulate their performances from the last two years and play to their potential in the Olympics, then I am sure that they can win a medal this time around,” opined Subbaiah.

“The people of India are looking forward to a good performance from our athletes in Tokyo. I hope that both, the men’s and women’s hockey teams, can lead the way for the rest of the contingent.”

Recalling his experiences from the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Games to stress that the Olympics remain the gold standard in competitive hockey, Subbaiah said, “No other tournament can be compared with the Olympics. The Olympics are the benchmark in the competitive hockey circle. Every team adopts a four-year cycle to their preparation because of the Olympics. This is why so many veterans retire after the Olympics, and new players are given a chance to prove themselves.

“You train for four years to compete at this stage. The top teams always have some new tricks up their sleeve which they don’t reveal in any tournaments or test games before the Olympics,” he said.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / DaijiWorld / Home> Sports / by IANS / July 10th, 2021

Legendary India hockey player BP Govinda recalls his equaliser in Bronze Medal match in Munich Olympics

Amazing Feats, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Sports, World Opinion
File photo: BP Govinda (second from left)

New Delhi :

With less than 30 days to go for Tokyo 2020, the Olympic fever is slowly gripping the entire sporting world. While the Indian athletes are leaving no stones unturned and carrying out high-octane practice sessions, it’s time for hockey fans to relive the memories from the triumphant Olympic campaigns in the past through Hockey India’s Flashback Series.

In this article of Hockey India’s Flashback Series, the fiery centre-forward BP Govinda went on a nostalgic trip, fondly talking of his hay days as an iconic figure with a distinctive headband. “Our Coach KD Singh Babu made me play as outside-left in the Bronze Medal match against the Netherlands,” recalled the stylish striker.

“All through the tournament in Munich, I had played as centre-forward, but our Coach insisted I change my position for this match, and it so happened that I scored the equaliser and then Mukhbain Singh scored the winning goal through a penalty corner which helped us win the match 2-1,” recalled Govinda, who was drawn to hockey from his school days in Somwarpet in Coorg.

Having won a Bronze Medal in 1968, India had fielded a young team in Munich which saw stalwarts like Michael Kindo, Ashok Kumar Dhyanchand and BP Govinda make their Olympic debut. But the campaign didn’t go as expected despite a good start against teams like the Netherlands (1-1 draw), Great Britain (5-0 win), Australia (3-1 win), Poland (2-2 draw) and Mexico (8-0 win). India had also beaten New Zealand 3-2 to make the cut for the semi-final.

“But we lost 0-2 in that match. I think we played particularly well in the second half. Almost the entire 35 minutes, we were in their D and we were attacking with all our might, but it was so disheartening that we couldn’t convert a single goal. All our shots would go near the goal mouth, and we would miss. It was as though we were jinxed,” explained Govinda, who is also part of Hockey India’s National Selection Committee.

The former India skipper who led the team to a Silver Medal at the 1978 Asian Games rued missing an opportunity to play for the World XI side at the Munich Games, but the match was called off due to the Palestinian terrorist attack on Israeli athletes. He said, “West Germany had beaten Pakistan in the Final to become the new Olympic Champions and the organisers had planned an exhibition match between World XI and the Olympic Champions. I was chosen from India to play for the World XI side but due to the Black September incident, they called off that match. Though there was no safety concern for us within the village, our contingent was quite close to where this incident happened.”

Another instance Govinda regrets to this day is the penalty stroke he missed against Pakistan in the 1973 World Cup in Amstelveen. “I had scored the only goal (in the 62nd minute) against Pakistan in the semis and that goal of mine took India to the Final against the Netherlands. I had become an instant hero back home but unfortunately; I couldn’t replicate that in the Final. Surjit Singh had scored two goals and the score was level at 2-2 when we earned a penalty stroke towards the dying minutes of the match.”

“Barring Harmik Singh, Ajitpal nobody was coming forward to take the penalty stroke. I told (teammate) MP Ganesh, no one is going so shall I go? I went voluntarily. Before taking the strike, I had decided I will hit the left corner of the goalkeeper but when I lifted my stick, it went underneath the grass, and the ball didn’t connect properly to the stick. My shot didn’t even reach the goalie. We lost the opportunity, and the match went into extra time, and we eventually lost,” recollected Govinda.

However, he fondly remembers from his playing days is his formative days when he played for Mohun Bagan. “That’s where it all began for me. In 1967-68, we won the first division and the Beighton Cup. I was very fortunate and lucky to have played with greats like Gurbux Singh and Vece Paes. I got my first call up for India in 1970,” he said.

Consistent India team stand great chance to finish on podium in Tokyo 2020

Speaking of the current Indian hockey team led by Manpreet Singh, Govinda said, “They have been playing consistently in the past two years, and they have shown a lot of promise. But my advice to them is to take it match-by-match and their first aim should be to make the Quarterfinals. I would say, once they have crossed that hurdle, it is anybody’s game in the Semis and Final.” “This team has been doing well under Graham and have shown that they are capable of beating big teams like Australia, Netherlands, Belgium and even the Olympic Champions Argentina. I have no doubt that they can perform well in Tokyo,” he added.

Source: HI Release

source: http://www.mykhel.com / My Khel / Home> English> Hockey> News / by Avinash Sharma / July 01st, 2021

Rohan Bopanna-Sania Mirza pair wins historic all-Indian Wimbledon match

Amazing Feats, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Sports, World Opinion
File photo of Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna. | Photo Credit: PTI

It was the first time in open era that two Indian teams competed against each other at a Grand Slam tournament.

The experienced pair of Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza defeated the brand new combination of Ramkaumar Ramanathan and Ankita Raina 6-2 7-6 (5) in the historic all-Indian mixed doubles first round match at the Wimbledon here on Friday.

It was the first time in open era that two Indian teams competed against each other at a Grand Slam tournament.

The contest finally brought a Grand Slam debut for Ramkumar, who has made 21 attempts to qualify for the singles main draw of a tennis major.

While the first set ended quickly in favour of the veterans, Ramkumar and Raina presented a good fight in the second set, which even they led for a brief period with a break of serve.

Bopanna was clearly the best player on the court with his powerful serve and solid ground strokes from the baseline as well as the ability to execute a superior net game.

On expected lines, Ramkumar served big while Raina gave her all after growing in confidence.

Mirza’s serve is still not at its best and would improve as she plays more matches.

Mirza has moved has also moved to women’s doubles second round with Bethanie Mattek-Sands while Raina and her American partner Lauren Davis lost in straight sets to the US pair of Asia Muhammad and Jessica Pegula on Thursday night.

The 14th seeds disposed off the challenge from the Raina-Davis pair 6-3 6-2 in 70 minutes.

Bopanna and Divij Sharan are already out, having lost their men’s doubles opening round match.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sport> Tennis / by PTI / London, July 02nd, 2021

Tata Consumer Products to launch American gourmet coffee brand Eight O’Clock in India

Coffee News, World Opinion

This is the second premium coffee brand launched by TCPL as it plans to strengthen its presence in the coffee market in India.

Food and beverages, which primarily include tea, are two of the strong pillars for TCPL, which took over the consumer facing businesses of Tata Chemicals two years ago. Telegraph picture .

Tata Consumer Products Ltd is going to launch American gourmet coffee brand Eight O’Clock in India next week, 15 years after it acquired the business in the US. TCPL will sell the coffee directly to consumers in India, who can place orders online and get them delivered home.

The Tatas had bought the company, the fourth largest in the roasted and grounded category of coffee in the US, for about Rs 1,015 crore from Gryphon Investors in 2006. Apart from the US, the 102-year old Eight O’Clock coffee brand is also available in Canada and Europe.

This is the second premium coffee brand launched by TCPL, which has brought Starbucks to India through a joint venture, as it plans to strengthen its  presence in the coffee market in India.

“I am happy to say that Eight O’Clock coffee will be launched in the D2C (direct-to-consumer) segment next week,” Natarajan Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Sons and TCPL, told shareholders at the 58th annual general meeting.

The coffee business in the US grew 7 per cent in volume and 9 per cent in value (constant currency) in 2020-21, Sunil D’Souza, managing director & CEO of the company, later said. Eight O’clock Coffee Ltd, USA had reported a revenue of Rs 1,293 crore in the last fiscal and a profit of Rs 145 crore. The USA is the largest coffee market in the world, estimated at $11 billion.

Earlier this year, TCPL launched Sonnets by Tata Coffee, a premium range of roast and ground coffee, again in the D2C segment.

Responding to a shareholder on the way forward in coffee, the chairman said: “In all our portfolio we are really pushing (for) very strong distribution and market share gain, you are already seeing market share gain in tea and coffee is a long way to go but there is a big opportunity. We will definitely look at significant growth in this segment.”

Food and beverages, which primarily include tea, are two of the strong pillars for TCPL which took over the consumer facing businesses of Tata Chemicals two years ago. Apart from salt, its portfolio now includes pulses, spices, ready-to-cook items, mineral water, and breakfast cereals.

“When we did the integration we had committed synergies of Rs 100-150 crore in 18-24 months. We remain well on track to meet, if not exceed, the quantum and the timing of the synergies that we committed,” D’Souza said during the meeting.

source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph, Online / Home>Business / by The Telegraph Correspondent, Calcutta / June 26th, 2021

Kodagu-Based Indian Officer Shines At US Naval War College

Amazing Feats, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, World Opinion

Mysore/Mysuru:

Lieutenant Commander Suraj Aiyappa of the Indian Navy has made our country proud by winning the highest number of Awards this year and the highest ever accoladed to an Indian Officer, at the Naval Staff Course of the U.S. Naval War College.

Notably, Suraj has been awarded the Second Place in the national-level Secretary of Defense National Strategy Essay Competition across all Military Institutions in the US, joining a rare and elite group of International Officers to have achieved this feat.     

In addition, Suraj has also been awarded two prestigious Writing Awards (First Position), including the Lt. Michael P. Murphy Counter-terrorism Prize and the Naval Staff College International Essay Award at the U.S. Naval War College.    

Suraj is also the only International Officer this year and the first Indian Officer to earn a Graduate Certificate in Ethics and Emerging Military Technologies from the U.S. Naval War College. He has graduated with a Master of Arts Degree in Defense and Strategic Studies.

Suraj is the son of Lt. Col. Mukkatira A. Kariappa, SM (Retd.) and Saraswathy Kariappa (Thamane – Annalamada), who are residing at Sena Vihar (A.W.H.O.), Bengaluru. 

Suraj’s elder sister Pooja Kariappa is Head – Human Resources at Vascon Engineers Limited, Pune.   

Suraj is married to Dr. Yamuna (Thamane-Maneyapanda) who is a Dentist by profession.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / June 14th, 2021

Rohan Bopanna reaches 400 doubles victories

Amazing Feats, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

Rohan bopanna 

He is an active legend, although sometimes it is difficult for us to locate these stars in the stunt circuit.

The Indian tennis player, who reached the quarterfinals at this last Roland Garros with Franko Skugor, left Paris with a special record: 400 wins in modality.

Another step in the legendary career of the 38-year-old tennis player.

This week, in the grass of Halle, he already had time to add the 401.

source: http://www.explica.com / Explica.co / Home> Tennis / by Explica.co / June 15th, 2021

Karnataka’s first oxygen converter plant to come up in Virajpet Government Hospital

Covid-19 (wef. May 31, 2021), Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Once completed, free flow of oxygen supply is likely to be enabled to nearly 100 beds to treat COVID patients.

Virajpet Government Hospital

Madikeri : 

Kodagu has become the first district in Karnataka to be sanctioned an oxygen converter plant. The plant is currently being installed at Virajpet Government Hospital.  An oxygen converter generates oxygen from natural air.

The 1-tonne capacity oxygen converter plant is expected to be ready in the next 15 days. Once completed, there will be uninterrupted oxygen supply to nearly 100 beds to treat Covid patients. While the Madikeri Covid-19 Hospital was the only centre in the district that treated severe and moderate Covid patients, the administration opened dedicated Covid care centres (CCCs) in Virajpet and Somwarpet taluks.

However, due to shortage of availability of jumbo oxygen cylinders, the 50-bed capacity  CCC  in Virajpet Hospital remained shut. “The plant is being set up at a cost of Rs 1 crore. This is the first of its kind in the state and once installed, we do not have to worry about oxygen shortage,” said Dr Yatiraj, Virajpet taluk Health Officer. “We had placed a proposal for jumbo cylinders.

However, with the oxygen converter plant, we will not require any such cylinders,” Dr Yatiraj further said. 


Meanwhile, the current 50 beds with oxygen units are now being expanded to 98 beds which will be connected to the oxygen converter plant. “Currently, no Covid-19 patient is being treated at the centre due to lack of oxygen cylinders. However, once the plant is ready, there will be no hurdle in treating patients,” he added.

US Surgeon Gen’s foundation donates supplies 

Madikeri:

The Scope Foundation, headed by United States Surgeon General  Dr Vivek Murthy, has donated medical supplies  worth Rs 70 lakh to Kodagu. The supplies were handed over to Deputy Commissioner Charulatha Somal by senior advocate HS Chandramouli on Sunday.  

Many advanced medical supplies, including 70 oxygen converters, 70 medical transformers, 5,000 face shields, Rs 1.30 lakh worth N95 masks, 50 oxygen tubes and 25 oximeters, were donated by Scope Foundation. Dr Vivek is a native of Mandya district.

The support from the foundation to Kodagu was made possible after  Chandramauli, a native of the district, contacted Dr Vivek’s father Lakshmi Narasimha Murthy. The foundation has also donated similar supplies across Karnataka, including Mandya. 

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service / June 06th, 2021

Tata Consumer Products Enters Premium D2C Coffee Market

Business & Economy, Coffee News, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), World Opinion

The company is eyeing the Rs 100 crore artisanal coffee market.

Tata Consumer Products Ltd (TCPL) has introduced a premium roasted and ground coffee under the Sonnets brand targeting urban and increasingly discerning coffee drinkers in India. With this launch, the company is eyeing the Rs 100 crore artisanal coffee market .

The TCPL’s move marks its maiden foray into the Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) market. It will let the company tap a growing number of buyers shopping online, especially during the pandemic when most are cooped indoors and unable to visit cafes and coffee shops.

Puneet Das, President, Packaged Beverages, India & South Asia, Tata Consumer Products Limited, said, “The user can choose the roasting level, grounding and flavors of the coffee which gets delivered to the doorstep of the customer via our delivery channels. We are leveraging both premiumization and home delivery trends through this launch.”

The coffee is produced in Tata Coffee-owned estates. The consumer can choose his preferred roast type from between a light, medium, and a dark roast option, and could also suit his brewing preference and opt for either a filter coffee or a French press grind.

Tata Consumer Products will be expanding the offering to gourmet stores in metro cities as it scales up in the segment.

“Our ambition is to be seen as a serious coffee player just like we have equity in the market with Tata Tea. We aim to have a sizable share in the market as we grow,” Das added.

As the coffee culture evolves, the company will also evaluate new coffee variants like green coffee in India.

source: http://www.indianretailer.com / The Indian Retailer / Home> News / by Vaishnavi Gupta, Features Writer / June 03rd, 2021