MR Poovamma, a three-time Olympian representing India, spoke at the Press Club’s ’Gaurava Athithi’ program organized by the DK Working Journalists Association on Saturday.
She credited her family, particularly her parents and husband, for supporting her throughout her sports career, stating that her achievements are shared with them.
Despite being 34, Poovamma emphasized that age should not be a barrier for athletes. “I wanted to prove that I can still compete and inspire others, regardless of age,” she said. She also expressed her intention to continue her career for a few more years and plans to open a sports academy post-retirement.
Acknowledging her husband Jitin Paul’s support in managing her training and household responsibilities, Poovamma praised her mother for her unwavering presence at all her events since her school days.
She highlighted the growing opportunities in sports, noting the government’s supportive role through programs like Khelo India and improved facilities. Poovamma advised young athletes to remain resilient in the face of setbacks, injuries, and failure, encouraging parents to support their children’s interest in sports. She stressed the importance of good practice, adequate rest, and proper nutrition for athletes’ physical and mental fitness.
source: http://www.mangaloretoday.com / Mangalore Today / Home> Main News / by Mangalore Today News Network / August 25th, 2024
Dr Geetha Kariappa is a professor of English and a published author of four best-seller novels on Amazon. Her stories straddle Kodagu and its lifestyle as she weaves narratives which examine the condition of man and woman in a conventional society, with a humanistic perspective. She has penned numerous poems, short stories and articles in national and international journals.
This poem was inspired by the story of ‘Girl with the Diary’ written by Dr Geetha Kariappa, which narrates the saga of bravery and integrity of a teenager Kia who honours the dying wish of a mystery lady. She sets out on a precarious journey of discovery, as she is drawn into a web of intriguing clues, hinting at a long-forgotten crime, into the mist-clad land of Coorg. The exciting story takes her into the charming town of Madikeri and the coffee estate, Devkunj. It narrates the tale of the undying love of a man, a woman and his land.
“An excerpt from the novel, “Girl with the Diary”
The 100-acre estate was spread out before us in a sea of coffee blossoms. The fragrant land, heady with perfume, steaming gently in the sun, hugged the swell and curve of the land. A stately bungalow stood at the head of the winding gravel drive. Nearby were paddy wetlands with paddy and a few acres with native ginger. The undulating swathes of coffee bushes in well-manicured grooves interspersed with neat rows of shade trees, orange, jackfruit and silver oak, created a charming appearance of a jungle, securing its borders. Pepper vines twined about the trunk of shade trees which arched over cardamom, almond and vanilla bushes. The glittering estate pond lay at a short distance from where frogs croaked from the damp grass and winged insects skimmed over the coffee blooms. At the horizon, the bluish mist of the mountains, crested with clouds, looked picturesque.”
Travel note: The town of Madikeri nestled in the Brahmagiri hills of Western ghats in Karnataka, originally known as Muddurajanakeri, translates into “the city of Mudduraja,”, while paying homage to the Haleri kings who once ruled these lands. This picturesque hill station stands proudly among the world’s eight most remarkable centres of biological diversity. UNESCO recognises its ecological importance, and the town is a designated World Heritage Site. Madikeri is a hot travel destination because of its cool climate and resemblance to the Scottish countryside.
MADIKERI, IN MEMORY
In the core of Coorg, where Western Ghats cradle the sky,
Rests Madikeri, whose charm we cannot deny.
Sung by poets in nostalgic ragas,
Of misty hills soaked in yearning stanzas,
Where every syllable is a nostalgic saga.
Just as the monsoon arrives in the plains,
Madikeri, you wear the bridal veil of rains.
Clouds caress your coffee blossoms,
coaxing them into white celestial blooms.
Mist twirls with the mountains, and rivers swell in volumes.
In this watery symphony, your beauty eternally booms.
Madikeri, you perch on verdant hills,
like sentinels defending rugged sills.
Your winding roads like ballads,
Keep unearthing hidden waterfalls.
The moist air- fragrant coffee and eucalyptus,
hold out the sacred contract of paradise.
When the sun rises, spilling gold over rooftops,
ignites Madikeri, of charming landscapes.
This mist-kissed charm remains a poet’s muse,
Sparking the mindscape, waiting for poetries to bloom.
At the head of winding gravel, a colonial bungalow stands,
Its veranda, a sanctuary for weary souls.
Devkunj—an estate cradled in emerald arms,
Houses within, an angel of secret and balms.
The undulating coffee bushes,
Clustered in ivory blooms like uplifting hymns,
And Sandalwood, Teak bow to her gracious whims,
As she steps forth, with graceful limbs.
In the garden, a child dances with mud pies,
encompassing the valley with her dimpled smiles.
Rubber ducks sail in a pool, and paper boats get adrift,
A puppy chases its tail, and chicks run abreast.
Mother Angel bends to kiss the curly locks,
Her love, unmeasured, boundless, all pain blocks.
Her eyes, holding profound stories of storms,
Those were weathered, and now only becalms.
His gaze of reverence, of remembrance,
Of her quiet strength and youthful stance,
Of her love, blooming, riveting like rare fragrance.
She is the heartbeat, the keeper of Devkunj,
She, the symbol, the nurturing spirit of motherhood,
tending to man, child and his fertile land.
Walking in his dreams through whispering wood,
Where the cicadas hum, and the silver oaks stand guard.
Here, time slows, and the tree in melancholy, sighs.
Where the land conspires, papery leaves rustle,
whispering of brave lore of kings and queens,
as it unfurls dreams and of true love applauds.
source: http://www.interviewtimes.net / Interview Times / Home> National> National Times> Odisha> The Leading Story / by Subhechcha Ganguly / July 08th, 2024
The two-day 27th National Shito Ryu Karate Do Championship 2024, organised by All India Shito Ryu Karate Do Union (ASIKU), was inaugurated by Mysuru-Kodagu MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar at Kodava Samaja Auditorium in Vijayanagar here yesterday.
MLA and Legal Advisor to the Chief Minister A.S. Ponnanna, MLA Dr. Mantar Gowda, Olympian and Ashwini Sports Foundation Founder Ashwini Karumbaiah, ASIKU Observers and Technical Advisors Sensei T.S. Wong and Sensei George Tan, AISKU President Arun Machaiah and General Secretary Rahul Tawde were present.
A total of 1,350 karatekas from 17 States are taking part in the Championship being held in U-6 to U-13 and above 13 years categories.
Asian refrees and judges, recognised by World Karate Federation, are officiating the matches. Organisers have made all arrangements to attend to any emergencies.
The winners of this Championship will take part in the Asia Pacific Shito Ryu Karate Do Championship to be held in Singapore from Nov. 27 to Dec. 4, said Arun Machaiah, who is also the Director of World Shito Ryu Karate Federation.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports / August 25th, 2024
Jammada Preeth Appaiah, a resident of Bannimantap, Mysuru, reached the summit of Mount Elbrus, the tallest mountain in Russia and Europe, on Aug. 17. She completed the climb in 7 hours and 20 minutes, starting at midnight and reaching the peak at 7.20 am. She was part of 11-member expedition team.
Preeth is the second person from Kodagu to achieve this feat, following Tekkada Bhavani from Peroor, Napoklu. In March 2023, Preeth also scaled Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world at 5,895 metres (19,340 feet).
Mount Elbrus, an extinct volcano standing at 5,642 metres (18,510 feet) above sea level, is located deep within the Caucasus range near the Georgia border. This range, which includes 14 of Europe’s highest mountains, spans 700 miles and is home to the tenth-most prominent peak in the world.
Situated in the southern Russian republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, Mount Elbrus is the highest peak of the Caucasus Mountains. Although part of the Caucasus Range, which straddles Asia and Europe, most geographers classify it as the tallest peak in Europe.
Speaking to Star of Mysore over the phone, Preeth Appaiah shared details of her journey to conquer Mount Elbrus. She departed from Mysuru on Aug. 9, arriving in Russia on Aug. 10. On Aug. 11, she undertook an acclimatisation trek to a mountain rich in Molybdenum, standing at 4,120 metres (13,515 feet).
Following this initial trek, Preeth travelled to Elbrus village and completed two more days of acclimatisation walks to Pastukhov Rocks. The final summit push for Mount Elbrus began around midnight, with Preeth reaching the peak by 7.20 am on Aug. 17.
Biting Cold
“Mount Elbrus is fraught with hidden death traps, with temperatures plummeting to minus 35 to minus 40 degrees. The Arctic wind is extremely dangerous and despite wearing five layers of clothing and climbing gear, the cold was unbearable. The mountain is riddled with crevices and craters that can easily be camouflaged by snow in bad weather. We couldn’t summit for two days due to the weather, so we finally made the ascent on Aug. 17,” Preeth recounted.
After successfully scaling Mount Kilimanjaro, Preeth was determined to conquer Mount Elbrus as part of her goal to climb all seven summits — the highest mountains on each continent.
Preeth Appaiah is a home-maker, married to advocate Jammada M. Aiyanna in Mysuru. The couple has two sons, Pratham Poonacha and Aryan Kuttappa. Preeth is the daughter of late Hon. Captain Kunjiyanda Appaiah and Gowramma. Her brother, Kunjiyanda Machaiah (Machu), is a wildlife photographer.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / August 20th, 2024
A top award winning Indian journalist Raj Chengappa will deliver a talk on elections and the media at a forum organised by the Sri Lanka India Media Friendship Association (SLIMFA) today at 9.30 a.m. at the Taj Samudra, Colombo.
Chengappa, who is India Today Group Editorial Director (Publishing) and India Today magazine Editor, will share experiences from the recent Indian elections.
Given the recently concluded General Elections in India, and the upcoming Presidential Elections in Sri Lanka, the topic for the keynote is ‘Indian Election 2024 and Media’.
Raj has varied interests and is a specialist in political analysis, foreign affairs, national security, nuclear weapons, the environment and development. He also does a weekly podcast and YouTube show for India Today called Nothing But The Truth.
His keynote will be followed by panel discussion comprising a Sri Lankan journalist, columnist and an election observer further sharing perspectives on the role of media in elections.
The panellists are People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (Paffrel) Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchie, international award-winning investigative journalist, senior editor, trainer, researcher, and rights advocate Dilrukshi Handunnetti, experienced serial entrepreneur, former corporate senior executive, columnist, and public speaker Saliya Weerakoon.
The event, first by the newly formed Sri Lanka India Media Friendship Association, is part of the Bharat Sri Lanka Maithri Week from 12-18 August 2024 commemorating India’s 78th Independence Day. Strategic partners of the forum are Taj Samudra, Colombo and SriLankan Airlines.
Raj was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University in 1991-92, a Stimson Centre Fellow on Security Affairs in Washington DC in 1995 and a Harry Brittain Fellow (partly at London and Oxford University) in 1985. He has won numerous national awards including the Statesman Award for Rural Reporting (1987), the Prem Bhatia Award for Political Analysis (1998), Karnataka’s Rajyotsava Award 2002, National Award for Rural Reporting (2019), the Haldi Ghati Award (2020), Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Feature Writing (2024) and the ENBA and India Audio and Music awards for the Best Show Host for Nothing But the Truth (2024).
source: http://www.ft.lk / Daily FT / Home / August 17th, 2024
Beauty and personal care brand Pilgrim has named actress Rashmika Mandanna as its new brand ambassador for its hair care product range. Harnessing Mandanna’s pan-India popularity, the brand has launched a new campaign titled ‘The Secret is in the Mix’
Rashmika Mandanna for Pilgrim – Pilgrim
“I’ve always believed that haircare goes beyond just using the right ingredients- it’s about how they’re brought together,” said Rashmika Mandanna in a press release. “This campaign is truly special because it highlights that while trends come and go, the real magic lies in how ingredients are expertly combined to deliver results. Pilgrim’s haircare products masterfully blend natural and active ingredients, making them truly transformative. I look forward to a great association with Pilgrim and can’t wait to share these remarkable hair care secrets with everyone.”
Chosen for her popularity amongst young Indian audiences, Mandanna will help Pilgrim to further build upon its Gen Z customer base. The new campaign shows a herd of consumers following the latest viral trends and juxtaposes this with Pilgrim’s products, which Mandanna presents as having a superior mix of ingredients.
“As Pilgrim continues to grow and take its next big leap, Rashmika is the perfect person to represent the spirit of our brand and lead us into this new era,” said Pilgrim’s co-founder Gagandeep Makker. “This partnership is a significant milestone as we continue to innovate and provide exceptional solutions to our dynamic consumers, and we look forward to scaling new heights together. Our hair care range has received tremendous love, with products like the Hair Growth Serum and Patuá & Keratin Smoothening Shampoo becoming game-changers in the market. Today’s young audience is always searching for innovative solutions for healthy and silky hair, and Rashmika embodies this quest perfectly. We are thrilled to welcome her to the Pilgrim family.”
source: http://www.in.fashionnetwork.in / Fashion Network / Home> India> News> People / August 13th, 2024
Machimanda Mittoo Appaiah (Munjandira), wife of late Appaiah and a resident of Cauvery Cottage, Ammathi-Polibetta Road, passed away on Aug. 3 in the town. She was 100. She leaves behind sons Cariappa and Devaiah and a host of relatives and friends.
Her another son Ganapathy had predeceased her.
Last rites were held at Kavadi on Aug. 4, according to family sources.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / August 12th, 2024
Indian badminton star Ashwini Ponnappa announces retirement after playing her ‘last Olympics‘.
Ashwini Ponnappa of India in action during the Group C match with Tanisha Crasto of India against Angela Yu of Australia and Setyana Mapasa of Australia. | Photo Credit: Reuters
Indian badminton stalwart Ashwini Ponnappa on July 30 broke down in tears, announcing she played her last Olympics after she and her partner Tanisha Crasto suffered their third straight loss in the women’s doubles competition of the Paris Games.
Ashwini and Tanisha lost to Australia’s Setyana Mapasa and Angela Yu 15-21 10-21 in their final Group C game on Tuesday. They ended their campaign after losing all their three group matches.
“This will be my last, but Tanisha has a long way to go,” said 34-year-old Ashwini, who was playing in her third Olympics, when asked whether she hopes to play in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
“It takes a toll emotionally and mentally, I can’t go through this again. It is not easy, you can take all these if you are a little younger. Having played for so long, I can’t take it anymore,” she said while trying to hold back tears.
Ashwini, who had won her first national title in 2001, had formed a formidable and history scripting women’s pair with Jwala Gutta, who played till 2017.
They had won many international medals, including a gold medal at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games and bronze at the Uber Cup (2014 and 2016) and the Asian Championships (2014).
In 2011, they scripted history by becoming the first Indian pair to win a medal — a bronze — at the World Championships. That was their biggest prize in their careers. The Jwala-Ashwini pair was consistently ranked among the top 20 in the world and reached 10th spot at one time.
Ashwini and Jwala played in two Olympics together (in 2012 and 2016) but could not go beyond the initial stage.
“We wanted to get a win today. As much as we would have liked the outcome to be different and better, the biggest takeaway I and Tanisha had is we had quite a journey, getting to in the Olympics. It has not been easy,” said Ashwini.
Tanisha also could not control her emotions and she sobbed inconsolably.
“She (Ashwini) has been my biggest support here. We had wanted a better result and held out heads high. She motivated me every time.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sport / by PTI / July 31st, 2024
Scaling heights is what enthrals her most. Jammada Preeth Appaiah, a resident of Bannimantap in Mysuru, has recently climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain peak in Africa. She reached the summit of the highest free-standing mountain in the world at 5,895 metres (19,340 feet).
Also called a stratovolcano (a term for a very large volcano made of ash, lava, and rock), Kilimanjaro is made up of three cones — Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira. Kibo is the summit of the mountain and the tallest of the three volcanic formations. While Mawenzi and Shira are extinct, Kibo is dormant. The highest point on Kibo’s crater rim is called Uhuru.
Medical condition did not deter her
Preeth Appaiah is a housewife who had a sciatic nerve problem and doctors had advised her not to do any physical activity which could aggravate her pain. But her medical condition did not deter her from achieving the feat and her main source of inspiration is her younger son Aryan Kuttappa who went on an expedition to the Himalayas in 2018.
She went on her first expedition to Mount Bhrigu, Himachal Pradesh, in 2018. Since then, she never looked back and she has climbed many mountains like Mount Sar Pass, Valley of Flowers and the Great Lakes of Kashmir. Her instinct to climb Kilimanjaro was kindled in 2022 when a group of people from Mysuru successfully climbed Kilimanjaro.
Though she had made up her mind to go ahead and her instinct said she could do it, the advice given by her doctors against any misadventure was playing at the back of her mind. But her elder son Pratham Poonacha was a constant motivator who goaded her to pursue her passion.
Preeth Appaiah then spoke to various persons in Mysuru and booked an agency for the trekking and the training started under the mentorship of Yoga Guru Mahadeva. She left Mysuru on Mar. 2 and began the actual trek to Kilimanjaro on Mar. 3. She returned to Mysuru on Mar. 11 after scaling the mountain on Mar. 8.
Not an easy task
“I tried coaxing people to come along but none from Mysuru came along. But I was determined to go and took the yellow fever shot and set the rucksack in order and went to the airport to board for Kilimanjaro. It was not an easy task for a woman to travel alone and in the journey, you do not know if there will be anyone coming along on the trek from the Marangu Gate in Tanzania,” she told Star of Mysore.
Preeth Appaiah trekked through the rainforest to Mandara Hut and from here she went to Horombo Hut and reached Kibo Hut walking amidst the Alpine Desert. “The view of Mount Kibo is just mesmerising but here I was totally out of shape due to altitude sickness. But as advised by my mentors, I took lots of liquids to keep myself hydrated. From Horombo Hut, I trekked to Kibo Hut which is physically challenging and steep too,” she added.
From here, many return. “But in my case, I had overcome altitude sickness and was going well and finally had a good rest. Mar. 8, 2023, International Women’s Day coincided with my summit feat and I got on to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro,” she said. She started the final walk on Mar. 7 at 11 pm and reached the summit at 8 am on Mar. 8.
“It was an enthralling moment of my life as I set foot on Kilimanjaro via Gilman’s Point. It was not an arduous task. After walking more than 10 hours, I reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro and Uhuru,” she recalled.
It was a proud moment, she said as she held the National Tricolour. This would not have been possible without the support of her husband Jammada M. Aiyanna, who is an advocate in Mysuru. Preeth is the daughter of Hon. Captain late Kunjiyanda Appaiah and Gowramma couple. Her brother Kunjiyanda Machaiah (Machu) is a wildlife photographer.
“Before trekking to Kilimanjaro, I used to keep the mountain photo as my mobile phone status and was dreaming of scaling it one day. Now that I have accomplished the feat, I feel fulfilled. I want to continue this passion and scale more peaks,” she said.
Preeth Appaiah was initially trained in mountaineering by Tiger Solanki of Tiger Adventure Foundation (TAF) and later on by Vinay Singh and Shankar Subramanya of Royal Riders and the International Academy of Mountaineering and Allied Sports.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News> Sports / March 16th, 2023
Cholanda Varun Ganapathy, an alumnus of Sri Ramakrishna Vidyashala, Mysuru, has been awarded the Sword of Honour and President’s Gold Medal after being adjudged the Best All Round Cadet and standing First in Overall Order of Merit respectively at the Passing Out Course (SS-110) held at Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai recently.
He secured AIR 14 (All India Ranking) in the merit list of candidates to secure admission to OTA, Chennai, for Course Serial SSC (NT) – 110. His training commenced in Oct.2019 and on successful completion of training is commissioned as a Lieutenant.
Varun, an alumnus of Bishop Cotton Boys’ School, Bengaluru (up to Cl VII/2008), Sri Ramakrishna Vidyashala, Mysuru (PUC/2014) and Sir M. Visveswaraya Institute of Technology, Bengaluru (BE in Mechanical Engineering) had always been focused on joining the Armed Forces. To fulfil this ambition, he appeared for NDA, AFCAT and CDS examinations at various stages clearing these exams seven times. He also appeared in various SSBs, clearing it thrice.
After he secured admission to OTA for Course Serial SSC (NT) – 110, he was also selected for Air Force in Jan. 2020 having cleared AFCAT exam and SSB.
Varun Ganapathy’s success must be attributed to his determination and perseverance which was bolstered by his parents and mentors. He relentlessly pursued his dream to join the Armed Forces and went about his preparation in a very methodical manner. He kept himself updated about various entrance exams and the different syllabus for each exam. His preparation included personality development and physical fitness.
He also attended classes at Bangalore School for Civil Services under Dr. Arjun Bopanna for UPSC and KPSC exams. On being selected to join OTA, Chennai in SS-110 course, Varun was appointed as Academy Cadet Adjutant and was awarded Sword of Honour for being Best All Round Cadet and Gold Medal for being First in Order of Merit. He was commissioned into 2 Special Forces on Nov. 21, 2020.
Varun joins the following elite rank of Kodava Officers who topped their courses: Col. Pattada N. Thimmaiah – IMA Sword; Lt. Gen. Pattachervanda C. Thimmaiah – IMA Sword; Sqn. Ldr. Mallengada B. Chittiappa – NDA Gold and Lt. Cdr. Mukkatira Suraj Aiyappa – Naval Academy Sword and Gold.
Varun is the proud son of Cholanda Poovaiah (Superintendent of Police, Lokayukta, Chikkaballapura District) and Dharini Poovaiah (Manavattira, Nelaji), originally from Kalmotte, Virapet, Kodagu.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / November 23rd, 2020
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