Monthly Archives: March 2015

City girl breaks into Indian tennis team

idhi Chilumula with two-time Grand Slam winner Sania Mirza. Photo: V.V. Subrahmanyam
idhi Chilumula with two-time Grand Slam winner Sania Mirza. Photo: V.V. Subrahmanyam

With two silver medals at the recent National Games, Nidhi is delighted at the way her game has shaped up over the past year.

For 20-year-old Nidhi Chilumula, the moment of reckoning has finally arrived. In a team led by her childhood favourite Sania Mirza, she will represent the country in the Fed Cup championship to be held here from April 14.

With two silver medals under her belt at the Kerala National Games held recently, Nidhi is today delighted at the way her game has shaped up after joining the Sania Mirza Tennis Academy (SMTA) in December 2013. “This is a huge honour. More so because I will be playing under someone whom I cheered as a 10-year-old kid from the stands, when Sania won her first WTA singles title in 2005 at LB Stadium,” she remarked.

“Joining the SMTA and training with Sania is a huge learning curve in my career. She has given me so many invaluable tips,” recalls Nidhi.

“I am really grateful to Sania’s parents – Imran and Nasima for their support,” she said. “Interactions with WTA Tour consultant Christian Filhol and also (fitness trainer and former Aussie Olympian) Robert Ballard helped me achieve my highest WTA ranking of 581 in singles and 428 in doubles.”

Right now, this young champion’s plans include playing 24 to 30 ITF tournaments in different countries in the next one year.

“I want to break into the top five in the country and then chase the bigger dream of playing a Grand Slam, which is possible if I could be in the below-200 WTA rankings,” Nidhi explained.

Looking for support
A B.Com graduate from Keshav Memorial College, Nidhi is looking for corporate support. “It will be of great help if someone supports my training programmes,” she said.

A native of Telangana, Nidhi is also looking at support from the State government.

Being part of the Hyderabad Aces team in the inaugural Champions Tennis League along with the likes of Martina Hingis, Mark Philippoussis and Mikhail Youzhny was an unforgettable experience, she says. “I sincerely believe it will help me a long way in the days to come,” she added.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V.V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – March 17th, 2015

Training to commence at Laxman’s Sports Academy soon

Former India cricketer V.V.S. Laxman with his wife, children and parents.– PHOTO: V.V. SUBRAHMANYAM
Former India cricketer V.V.S. Laxman with his wife, children and parents.– PHOTO: V.V. SUBRAHMANYAM

V.V.S. Laxman stepped into a different zone which he has been longing for ever since his retirement three years ago. The former India star batsman will now start the much-awaited VVS Sports Academy, initially with emphasis on cricket, and later on other sports, on the sprawling 50-acre campus of the Sreenidhi International School in Aziznagar near here.

“I want to be remembered as someone who has contributed to Indian cricket not only as a player but also an individual who set up a truly world-class Academy to nurture the best of the young talent and transform them into performers at the highest level,” Laxman said on Wednesday.

Laxman said that since he knew chairperson of Sreenidhi Group of Education K.T. Mahi for a long time and with the existing facilities and the group’s ideology matching his expectations, he had decided to start the Academy there with the inaugural summer camp scheduled from April 4.

The Academy has three turf, two astro-turf and two cement wickets to start with and plans include expansion on a big scale. “First thing we are planning is to bring some of the best fast bowlers from England. The other area of focus is to have coaches’ seminars where experts will delve into the critical element of coaching,” he explained.

“Definitely, Gopi (former All England champion Pullela Gopichand) is a trend-setter and I always share my thoughts with him. I am aware that to run a successful Academy you have to be passionate like him and I am confident of living up to the expectations for this is not a business venture but set up with the specific objective of giving back something to the game,” Laxman remarked.

Former Ranji cricketers like Vincent Vinay Kumar (Andhra) and P. Ramesh Kumar (SBH) will be assisting him. Transport has also been arranged for the trainees from three different localities – Banjara Hills (1{+s}{+t}Innings Play School), Madhapur and Mehdipatnam,” he said.

“Since I know many champion sportspersons personally, I will also request them to visit the Academy frequently to provide the right dose of inspiration for youngsters,” Laxman said, after formally lighting the lamp in the company of his parents, wife and kids. “I just can’t think of starting anything without my family but for whom I would not be standing here,” he signed off.

It’s going to be a different ball game for V.V.S. Laxman, whose Sports Academy will focus initially on cricket, and later on other sports

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V.V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – March 12th, 2015

A specialised support

HELP AT HAND Dr. Prasanth Panchada (left) treating Pragyan Ojha (centre) during Hyderabad's recent Ranji Trophy campaign.
HELP AT HAND Dr. Prasanth Panchada (left) treating Pragyan Ojha (centre) during Hyderabad’s recent Ranji Trophy campaign.

Many a Hyderabadi cricketer owes it to Physio Dr. Prasanth Panchada for putting them on track from injuries

“An army marches on its stomach,” Napoleon Bonaparte famously said. Food apart, fitness fuels sports battles and campaigns short on these rarely succeed. Akin to well-oiled machines, agility of athletes enhances performance and achievement. Making them match-ready is a highly specialised task.

“To me, the support staff was a white elephant till I heard of Dr. Prasanth Panchada from no less than VVS Laxman,” said P. Jyothi Prasad, Chairman, Senior Selection Committee, Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA).

Says left arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, “Prasanth has been treating me since 2008 and diagnoses problems correctly. When bowling for Hyderabad or India over long periods, my shoulders get stiff. The beauty of his approach lies in driving away niggles, allowing me to play freely.”

A graduate in physiotherapy from the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, Dr. Prasanth’s major assignments include the Afro Asian Games, the 2005 World volleyball championships in Visakhapatnam, the 2006 All India Coal Meet and working with the Sports Authority of Karnataka.

“In Hyderabad’s first Ranji match against Andhra, many expected G. Hanuma Vihari’s shoulder injury would rule him out of both match and season. Dr. Prasanth rendered immediate medical attention on the ground and nursed it so well later that Vihari played the entire season without a hitch,” said Prasad, who played alongside M.L. Jaisimha and M.A.K. Pataudi.

So was he effective in healing Ashish Reddy’s hamstring tear after the speedster limped out of the ground against Services. “I advised Mithali Raj to see Dr. Prasanth before she left for England. Now he has treated both the Padma Shri awardees from the twin cities, the other being Laxman,” Prasad, former Hyderabad and South Zone spearhead said.

Prasanth rehabilitated Pankaj Singh, down with decade long tears in both knees to enable his participation in two London triathlons at Dorney Lake, venue of the 2012 Olympics rowing event. “I trusted him fully in a four-wheeler in front, setting the pace for my cycling over a gruelling 40 km stretches on the Outer Ring Road in preparation for the big event,” said Singh, Head of Resource Practice, Global Change Delivery, HSBC.

“I aim not to just treat injuries but prevent them in the first place,” says Dr. Prasanth, also a consultant for Microsoft R & D and Apollo Clinics. His methods include muscular/ skeletal and pre-season screening, pre-game and post-game fluid level checks to formulate different programmes for different roles such as for a wicket-keeper, fast bowler, spinner or batsman.

Pool stretches and ice baths are some of the Level 1 BCCI accredited physio’s recovery techniques. “Eliminate simple errors and champs are produced,” says Prasanth, who dreams of working with the Indian team to the Olympics. His most memorable moments so far are doing the victory lap with the Hyderabad team in South Africa, 2009, finding himself surrounded by stars on the team bus and the pleasant surprise at spotting his portrait at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by A. Joseph Antony / March 11th, 2015

From homeopathy to building homes

Rameswar Rao Jupally.
Rameswar Rao Jupally.

Hyderabad :

Ordinarily dressed – in white shirt and black trousers – Rameswar Rao Jupally looks nothing like a business tycoon as he walks into the room for, perhaps, the first interview of his life. The only giveaway is the opulent hall where the chairman of My Home Group, counted among the few home-bred industrialists of Telangana, meets his guests.

“I have never done this before,” the homoeopathy doctor-turned-real estate biggie confesses, as he slips into tales about his modest upbringing and maiden trip to Hyderabad – from his remote village in Mahbubnagar – way back in 1974.

To think that the same boy from Kudikilla now rules two major businesses in the state, realty and cement (supplied to 11 states), and is set to launch a whopping $8 billion-worth ‘Smart City’ project spread over a sprawling 3,000 acres in Shamshabad, is definitely overwhelming.

“It’s my dream project. I have already accumulated 2,000 acres and am now in the process of acquiring another 1,000 acres. The project is in the planning stage and work on the first phase will commence in 2016. It will be completed in 10 years,” Rao reveals about the venture that’s expected to be “self-sufficient”, complete with top notch IT firms, high-end residential units, plush shopping complexes

and a dedicated ‘green belt’. Not to forget top-league corporate hospitals and educational institutions that’ll also be part of this ‘city’.

But before Rao gives a ‘smart’ makeover to Shamshabad – where he hopes to launch an electrical train line too – the spiritually-inclined industrialist is working on giving Hyderabad its largest commercial tower, with a total built up space of 3.2 million square feet (sft). Total cost: Rs 640 crore (roughly).

“Right now, the ICICI building in the Financial District (2.5 million sft) is the biggest. The one I am constructing on a single patch of 28.5 acres in Raidurgam will be bigger than that. The other patch of 3.5 acres (approx) will house 1,600 premium apartments, a 10-screen multiplex and mall. I hope to deliver it by the end of 2017,” Rao says.

He goes on to reminisce his days in 1979, when he made his first investment – of Rs 50,000 – to buy a two-acre plot in Dilsukhnagar. The deal, brokered with money borrowed from a maternal uncle, not only earned Rao a profit of Rs 2 lakh in two weeks, but also ensured that he bid his homoeopathy practice adieu, sooner than later, and plunge into the property business.

Three-and-half decades and an unwavering association with Chinna Jeeyar Swami, which the two struck up in 1992, later, the My Home founder is now a leader in the realty sector and also has three plants producing 8.5 million tonnes of cement every year. His brand, Maha Cement, posts an annual turnover of Rs 3,000 crore. In addition, he sells 30 MW of the total 70 MW of power produced by his captive power plants.

“The power crisis facing Telangana will be resolved by 2016-17. That’s when the city’s real estate business will bounce back,” an optimistic Rao, who prides himself in being futuristic and far-sighted, says. While he admits that the new TRS government did face administrative hiccups in its initial months, he is confident of ‘Team KCR’ living up to peoples’ expectations in the days to come. “The well-drafted industrial policy is an example of that. The government is working very actively on attracting investors to Hyderabad,” he adds.

But while Rao enjoys talking business, what gives him utmost comfort is his daily two-hour puja regime, frequent trips to Swamiji’s ashram in Shamshabad and the social activities that he undertakes under the Jeeyar Educational Trust banner.

It is this that Rao says, has saved him from falling prey to the ill-effects of big bucks and stupendous success!

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / by Sudipta Sengupta, TNN / March 05th, 2015

Lecturer Eyes World Record with Non-stop 150-hr Lecture

Sangareddy :

A lecturer from Zaheerabad Degree College, B Maruthi Rao Patil is eyeing World Record by teaching Taxation and Accounts non-stop for 150 hours from morning of March 9 to afternoon of March 15.

The earlier record is that of a person from Haryana for 139 hours continuous teaching. So to break the old record and create the new record, Maruthi Rao decided to teach continuously for 150 hours.

He had previously taught for 17 hours continuously. According to the rules of the Guinness World Records, five minutes rest will be given after every one hour.

Thus one gets almost two hours rest in a day and he wants to use that time for his daily activities like food and other things. Avadhuth Maharaj from Bardipur Ashram is going to inaugurate this programme.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / March 09th, 2015

Secunderabad Club celebrates its anniversary in Hyderabad

SecunderabadTELANGANA12mar2015

Jhatkas, matkas and drama peppered the anniversary celebration of one of the oldest clubs in the city.

Attended by members, who left no stone unturned to ensure that they looked the best, the do had them perform a few acts, walk the ramp with elan and even show off their moves.

From Shah Rukh Khan’s signature romantic pose to shimmying and shaking, performers had the crowd cheering and rooting for them.

Actor Shruthi Keerthi was spotted at the do having a great time.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / TNN / March 08th, 2015

One step short of making history

CaptFathimaTELANGANA07mar2015

Capt. Fatima, the only Muslim woman in India to hold commercial pilot’s licence, needs financial help for additional training

She looks the typical Muslim woman next door – plain, timid and hesitant. It will be a surprise if she can drive a four-wheeler. Hold your breath – she can even fly an aircraft. Meet Capt. Syeda Salva Fatima, the only Muslim woman in India to hold the commercial pilot’s licence.

She is the shining example of Muslim women’s empowerment. What makes her ascent interesting is that she hails from the poverty-stricken old city of Hyderabad where life is a continuous struggle. Even more surprising is her decision to step into a domain which is predominantly male. But her black burqa and red scarf doesn’t betray her accomplishments.

Right from her school days, Fatima used to collect newspaper articles about aviation and pour over pictures of aircraft for hours. Her father, Syed Ashfaq Ahmed, a bakery worker, never imagined that his daughter would become a pilot one day. The dice was cast when she took admission in an institute which offered free EAMCET coaching. “What would you like to become,” the instructor asked. Pat came the reply, “Pilot”. It was a pleasant surprise to everyone present, more so to her father who struggled to make the ends meet. Seeing her determination, Zahid Ali Khan, Editor, Siasat daily, who was present at the time, asked Fatima to meet him later. “I couldn’t believe my ears when he offered to support me financially to undertake the pilot training,” recalls an overwhelmed Fatima.

After five years of rigorous training at the Andhra Pradesh Aviation Academy, Fatima obtained Commercial Pilot’s Licence, Private Pilot’s Licence and Flight Radio Telephone Operator Licence on March 11, 2013. She has logged in a total of 200 hours of flying on Cessna 152 and172, including 123 hours of solo flight. Now she has hit a rough weather. She needs to undergo Type Rating, an additional training beyond the scope of the initial licence and aircraft class training, on Air Bus A-320 or Boeing to be able to fly any aircraft. The training costs about Rs. 30 lakh which the 26-year-old couldn’t think of. But having come this far, she doesn’t want to give up. The Captain courageous has sent an SOS to the Civil Aviation Minister, Ashok Gajapathi Raju. She can be reached on: 9966073368.

Capt. Fatima, the only Muslim woman in India to hold a commercial pilot’s licence, needs financial help for additional training

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Swathi V / Hyderabad – March 07th, 2015

Furniture e-tailer Gets Big Funding Boost

Hyderabad :

Serial entrepreneur Madhukar Gangadi, who founded MedPlus Health Services, said on Wednesday that his new venture, Customfurnish.com, had received Rs 16 crore funding from Dr Reddy’s Laboratories’ chairman Satish Reddy, Peepul Capital founder Srini Raju and former MD of Microsoft India Srini Koppolu.

The custom-made furniture e-tailer currently operates its own manufacturing unit and delivery centre in Hyderabad, but intends to launch services in Bengaluru and Chennai next month.

“Our aim is to remove the constraints of catalogue-based model of selling and replace it with an interactive approach.” said Madhukar.

According to Srini Koppolu, the innovative designing tool helps users design their furniture, have a look of the final product, get delivery and installation in a short span. “The entire shopping experience being convenient, hassle-free and personalised, we believe, it will soon become the most preferred furniture e-tailer in the coming years,” he said.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by ENS Economic Bureau / March 05th, 2015

This year, all devout may get mutyala talambralu

An artist giving finishing touches to the idols ahead of Sri Ram Navami at Parnasala in Khammam on Wednesday.– PHOTO: G.N. RAO
An artist giving finishing touches to the idols ahead of Sri Ram Navami at Parnasala in Khammam on Wednesday.– PHOTO: G.N. RAO

An estimated 60 quintals to be prepared in the next couple of days

The stage is set for preparation of mutyala talambralu (mixture of sacred rice with pearls) for the celestial wedding of Lord Rama and Sita Devi to be held on the occasion of Sri Rama Navami in Bhadrachalam on March 28.

According to temple sources, vasanthotsavam , dolotsvam and other special rituals will be organised on the eve of Holi on the premises of the temple complex on Thursday.

The crucial process of preparation of mutyala talambralu will begin on the same day coinciding with vasantotsavam festivities at the shrine.

An estimated 60 quintals of mutyala talambralu will be prepared under the direct supervision of Vedic pundits in the next couple of days, sources said.

The temple authorities are contemplating to make available around 4 lakh packets of mutyala talambralu for sale among devotees after Sitarama Kalyana Mahotsavam on March 28. A plan is on the anvil to sell the packets to the devotees through registered post, sources added.

Arrangements are also being made for preparation of over 3 lakh laddus for the ensuing Srirama Navami festivities.

Meanwhile, initiatory rituals such as ankurarpanam were performed at the temple complex on Wednesday evening.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Telangana / by Staff Reporter / Khammam – March 05th, 2015

Former Hyderabad mayor Laxminarayan Mudiraj dead

Former Hyderabad Mayor and former MLA, N.Laxminarayan Mudiraj (86) died here while undergoing treatment at a corporate hospital on Wednesday morning. He was the City Mayor for the year 1969-1970 and later was elected as MLA from Maharajgunj constituency in the year 1972.

Mr.Laxminarayana was recuperating from a recent bypass surgery and was rushed to hospital after his health deteriorated yesterday evening, according to family members. As Mayor, during the 1969-70 Telangana Movement, he defied police prohibitory orders and laid foundation stone of the Telangana Martyrs’ Memorial at Gun Park for which he was arrested and sent to prison.

The GHMC Commissioner and Special Officer, Somesh Kumar, visited his residence at Chudi Bazar and consoled the bereaved family members.

The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee President, N.Uttam Kumar Reddy and Working President, Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu expressed their condolences on the demise of former Mayor who laid the foundation for the Martyrs’ Memorial which stands as a landmark of the city. In another press release, the TPCC requested the Chief Minister, K.Chandrasekhara Rao to name the circle in front of Gun Park as Laxminarayan Mudiraj Circle.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by T. Lalith Singh / Hyderabad – March 04th, 2015