Category Archives: Sports

Despite Sunday’s loss, Saina still on top

Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

SainaTELAN17aug2015

Saina Nehwal may have lost the world championship final to Carolina Marin on Sunday, but the champion shuttler from the city scaled the summit in world rankings in women’s singles.

The latest rankings will be officially released on Monday and ironically Marin, the reigning World No.1, loses that privilege despite being crowned world champion for the second time. “It was a great match and the Spanish girl played better. Yes it would have been great if Saina had won the gold,” Saina’s father Harvir Singh remarked immediately after the final.

“But, I am glad she has shown the others what the Indians can achieve in women’s badminton,” he said. “The best part is that Saina’s medal haul is complete now having won the silver, again the first ever by an Indian in a world championship,” the proud father pointed out.

Making a critical analysis of where she went wrong in the final on Sunday, Dr. Harvir felt she was good on either flanks but need to shore up her game when she plays standing in the centre for she seems to be struggling to get the space for those quick returns.

Dr. Harvir Singh said that Saina is a vastly improved player after moving to Vimal Kumar in Bengaluru. “She had to go there for better prospects as she needed isolated and focussed training. “It’s like changing the school for your kids and Saina went to Vimal with the consent of Gopi bhayya,” he said. “Yes Saina will continue to train in Bengaluru as this is the crucial year of Olympics preparations.”

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

Ignored earlier, skater hopes to get Arjuna Award this year

Sports

Anup Kumar Yama has started a campaign on social networking sites to propagate his cause.– PHOTO: By Arrangement
Anup Kumar Yama has started a campaign on social networking sites to propagate his cause.– PHOTO: By Arrangement

Thanks to an RTI sports enthusiast, Asian Games bronze medallist in roller-skating Anup Kumar Yama is now brimming with confidence of getting the prestigious Arjuna Award for this year.

To Hyderabadi’s delight, it became evident that Anup missed it out last year because of miscalculations with regard to deciding the eventual awardees.

For someone who happens to be the only medallist ever from India in a World Championship (he won a gold in Taipei-Taiwan in 2013), he had applied the previous four years for the Arjuna Award and was really optimistic in 2014, especially given his World Championship gold and also because of major changes in the selection criteria for the awards.

According to the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, a point system was formulated to calculate an athlete’s medal achievements in the previous four years in international meets. It was also announced that 90 per cent weightage will be given to international meets and 10 per cent to the marks given by the selection committee for the assessment of the sports person, keeping in view factors like profile and standard of the discipline.

Ironically, this champion skater from the city topped the charts with the highest points last year and could have been a clear winner for the award as he won medals in the World, Asiad, Asian Championships to name a few.

“I was shocked to know that I got the highest points among all the sportspersons, but despite winning the world number one and the first-ever gold in world championship, I was ignored,” said Anup.

So, what are the options now? “Well, since it was a clear violation of the Ministry’s guidelines to deny me the award, I am applying again through the Sports Authority of Telangana and my National Federation this year with the hope of getting justice this time,” says Anup, as he embarked on a campaign on the social networking sites too to propagate his cause.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V. V.Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – July 26th, 2015

Scaling new heights

Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

Jaahnavi Sriperamubuduru is aiming to be the youngest mountaineer of the world to climb the Seven Summits from India.– PHOTO: By Arrangement
Jaahnavi Sriperamubuduru is aiming to be the youngest mountaineer of the world to climb the Seven Summits from India.– PHOTO: By Arrangement

13-year-old Jaahnavi is all set to conquer Seven Summits despite no sponsorship from government or corporate world

It’s a classic case of indefatigable spirit taking precedence over indifference by way of sponsorship. Thirteen-year-old Jaahnavi Sriperamubuduru has decided to embark on what she feels the toughest of all the journeys to fulfil her dream of scaling the Seven Summits despite no support from either the corporate world or the Telangana State government.

This city girl hailing from Alwal, who created a world record by climbing Stok Kangri peak in Leh, Ladakh (6,125m) and Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa (5,895m) last year, is aiming to be the youngest mountaineer of the world to climb the Seven Summits from India and TS.

“I am ready for the challenge. This is not the time to crib about lack of sponsorship. My focus is already on how to scale the summit,” says the confident youngster. She has already managed to raise personal loans and contributions from a couple of individuals to meet the total cost of Rs. 8 lakh. Her school – Pallavi Progressive High School (Alwal) – too has come forward to take care of a major chunk of the cost.

Jaahnavi is planning to complete three summits of her ‘Mission7 Summit’ by the end of this year to become the youngest ever from India to achieve this feat.

After successfully climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Everest earlier, she will be attempting Mt. Elbrus in Russia (July), Aconcagua in South America (August), Mt. McKinley in North America (September), Mt. Kosciuszko in Australia (October) and then special training to master skiing in Switzerland before the last summit in Antarctica Mt. Vinson Massif (November).

“We will be going to Russia to climb Mt. Elbrus (5,642m) and will be attempting the traverse route from south to north side,” points the articulate mountaineer, also youngest girl from India to scale Mt. Kilimanjaro last year. “I wish to fulfil my dream by 2016. My stint with the professional mountaineering training at Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling, has been of a big help,” she says.

Unlike climbers who after reaching a peak follow the same route back to the base camp, she likes to take the ‘Traverse Route’, means trekking along the ridge of the mountain. It takes, if weather is good, a minimum of eight days to return to the base camp,” she reveals.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V.V.Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – July 22nd, 2015

RPF Jawan in Guinness Record for Maximum Full Contact Kicks

Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

Hyderabad :

A Railway Protection Force jawan with the South Central Railway here has created a Guinness world record by performing 56,148 ‘full contact kicks’ in one hour in Taekwondo Jidokwan, a martial art.

“A Madhusudhan Rao, presently working at Rail Nilayam, Secunderabad, has created a Guinness world record in Taekwondo Jidokwan (a Korean martial art), held in Ranga Reddy district in Telangana in November 2014 in the presence of evaluator from the Guinness book of world records,” SCR stated in a release.

Rao broke the previous record of 36,140 kicks per hour, it said. He received the medal and certificates recently from the Guinness Book of World Record authorities.

“Madhusudhan Rao had to his credit the Guinness world record by participating in the largest half an hour Taekwondo Jidokwan display consisting of 585 persons, which was held in

Ranga Reddy district, Telangana,” the release added. A resident of Hyderabad, Rao is a recipient of Railway Week Award-2015 for his meritorious service and also a black belt in Karate.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by PTI / July 13th, 2015

Bikers on a date with their machines

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Sports, Travel

Citizens who own Jawa and Yezdi bikes taking out a rally marking the 13th International Jawa-Yezdi Day in Hyderabad on Sunday.– Photo: G. Ramakrishna
Citizens who own Jawa and Yezdi bikes taking out a rally marking the 13th International Jawa-Yezdi Day in Hyderabad on Sunday.– Photo: G. Ramakrishna

Many from Hyderabad celebrate 13th International Jawa-Yezdi Day bydisplaying their proud possessions at Deccan Club

Sunday was a celebration day for city’s bike aficionados. For, man and his ‘Forever Bike’ had a date.

The 13th International Jawa-Yezdi Day and the second such event organised in Hyderabad saw bikers across the city profess their love for machines, around 75 of which were proudly displayed at the Deccan Club.

The event organised by the Jawa and Yezdi Club of Hyderabad saw owners wax eloquence on their machines, while mechanics who to this day fix Yezdi and Jawa models introduced in the 1960s swore by them.

“These are bikes true to their tagline of ‘Forever Bike, Forever Value’. No matter how many times they are opened up and fixed, they last. They are highly durable machines,” said Mohammed Abdul Lateef, who has been fixing Jawa and Yezdi bikes at his workshop in Red Hills for more than three decades.

His Yezdi 350 Twin was a head-turner at the gathering. Yezdi Monarch and 1961 Jawa were other notable bikes at the event.

The club is planning to tap into the cult following the bikes have, to get more owners and even women to ride them. Amit Arni, one of the members, said that the club will try and convince owners to get their old machines running.

“Many people are known to own a Yezdi or Jawa. While for some it was passed down as heirloom, others still have their purchases. We would like to see more of these bikes on the road. We have been helping owners who seek to revive their bikes by supporting them to procure parts, sometimes even from other States,” he said.

Later on Sunday, over 60 riders took their bikes on a spin to Raj Bhavan and back to Deccan Club.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Staff Reporter /Hyderabad – July 13th, 2015

Sania seals historic Wimbledon crown with Hingis

Amazing Feats, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza pose with their trophies after winning their Women's Doubles Final match / Reuters
Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza pose with their trophies after winning their Women’s Doubles Final match / Reuters

Sania had come close to winning a women’s doubles Major in 2011 when she reached the French Open final with Elena Vesnina but ended up runners-up.

India’s tennis queen Sania Mirza today created history by becoming the first female player from the country to win a women’s doubles Grand Slam trophy as she clinched the Wimbledon title with Swiss partner Martina Hingis.

More than a decade after turning Pro, 28-year-old Sania laid hands on her first women’s doubles Major title when she and Hingis battled past second seed Russian team of Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina 5-7 7-6(4) 7-5 in a thrilling final.

In an interesting coincidence it was at these very historic courts that Sania had won women’s doubles junior Wimbledon championship with Russian partner Alisa Kleybanova in 2003.

Sania had come close to winning a women’s doubles Major in 2011 when she reached the French Open final with Elena Vesnina but ended up runners-up.

Already having a long list of firsts, Sania had become India’s first woman player to win a Grand Slam when she won the Australian Open with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi in 2009.

She later added French Open (2012 with Bhupathi) and US Open (2014 with Bruno Soares) to her mixed doubles collection.

It was a remarkable turn around for the top seeds as they were trailing 2-5 in the deciding set but made a stunning comeback to reel off five straight games to clinch the issue.

Vesnina was all fired up and her smashing volleys at the net put Sania and Hingis in a lot of trouble. The Russian was left distraught as she played out of her skin.

It was third time in recent times that Sania and Hingis played the two Russians in finals — Indian Wells and Miami — and asserted their supremacy again.

Sania was broken in the very first game of the match when Vesnina hit a volley winner from the net but the top seeds immediately broke Vesnina to avoid falling behind. It was a remarkable lob from Hingis that gave them two break chances and they converted the second.

Sania and Hingis put tremendous pressure on the their rivals but the two Russians responded well and it was 5-5.

Hingis was broken in the 11th game at love after a terrific rally of powerful ground strokes from left-handed Makarova. Vesnina pounced on one return from the Swiss and hammered the volley winner close to the body of Sania.

Makarova served for the set and it was Vesnina’s smart play at the net that sealed them the opening set.

It was the first set that Sania and Hingis had dropped in this tournament.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sport / by PTI / London – July 12th, 2015

Women’s Hockey: Soundarya, Rajani script history

Records, All, Sports

They are the first women hockey players from AP and TS to join the Indian team, which qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Yendala Soundarya
Yendala Soundarya

Yendala Soundarya and Etimarpu Rajani scripted history by becoming the first-ever women hockey players from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to be members of the Indian team which qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Etimarpu Rajani
Etimarpu Rajani

The last time India played in Olympics was in the 1980 edition when it was given a direct entry because of the boycott led by USA in the Moscow edition.

India made it to the next edition of Olympics (for the first time after 36 years) by virtue of defeating Japan 1-0 in the play-off match for the fifth place and both Ms. Soundarya and Ms. Rajani were part of the team in the World Cup semi-final league matches in Belgium.

Ms. Soundarya says she is delighted. “This is one of the finest moments in my career. We are all so happy that our biggest dream is coming true,” said both Ms.Soundarya and Ms. Rajani in a chat with The Hindu in Belgium.

For someone who took to hockey watching seniors and playing for India since 2006, the 25-year-old Ms. Soundarya was also a member of the Indian team, which won the silver in the Senior Asia Cup and the Champions Trophy.

Ms. Soundarya says that the team was confident in today’s crucial match. “Hats off to my teammate Rani Rampal; we emerged winner. And we are in celebratory mood right now,” she said in a voice choked with joy.

“I owe my success to my first coach Maqbool in Nizamabad and then to the SAI coaches, including Gloria, at the SAI Centre in Hyderabad, where I trained for five years,” the star player recalled. “Right now, no major event is scheduled and since we have qualified for the Olympics, some events may be lined up,” she said.

“I feel honoured to play for India, coming from a place like Nizamabad (she was a student of Modern Public School) which has no history of hockey players,” Ms. Soundarya exclaims.

Achievements not a surprise

SAI hockey coach P. Madhukaran, who was earlier the Indian women’s World Cup coach, recalls the abundance of talent these girls have shown in their formative years.

“Their achievements are not a surprise to me given their commitment and sincerity to keep improving,” he says.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by V. V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – July 06th, 2015

Nikitha catches the ‘magic bus’ at the right time

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Sports, World Opinion

Dantulturi Sri Nikitha practising football on the school premises on Friday.– PHOTO: Mohd Arif
Dantulturi Sri Nikitha practising football on the school premises on Friday.– PHOTO: Mohd Arif

Dantulturi Sri Nikitha of Nyamatabad in Nyalakal mandal, who dropped out from school, has a reason to celebrate now. She has made it to the football training programme at New Jersey, USA.

Three years after she left the school for financial reasons, Magic Bus, a voluntary organisation working with children, recognised her talent in football and helped her hone her skills as a goal keeper.

Her parents Subba Raju and Vijaya Lakshmi, who are farm labourers, had plans of marrying her off once they get a suitable groom. It was at this juncture that Magic Bus recognised her talent and prodded her to pursue it with enthusiasm. She came to the limelight during one of the community sports events organised by the Magic Bus. “Thanks to Magic Bus which made all efforts to get her readmitted to school. They convinced her parents to do so. Without the organisation, Nikhita’s talent might not have gotten proper exposure,” says Shakeela, Principal, Navabharat High School, where Nikhita is studying at present. Under Nikhita’s leadership, the school football team won more than eight matches and also represented the school at the State-level last year.

“She was distraught when we refused to readmit her in the school. Some of our relatives are still against she going to the US as they think that it will be of no use for her. Only her uncle, Subrahmanyam Raju, supported us throughout,” says Nikhita’s parents. But nothing has deterred Nikhita from chasing her dream. Ask her about it and phat comes the answer: “I want to become a football player. To achieve that, I will do whatever that is needed to be done. But my family needs support too ,” says Nikhita, who is flying to New Jersey today to be trained by Sports Leadership Academy there.

With the help of Magic Bus, a voluntary organisation, a dropout from school has managed to go to the US for training in football

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Telangana / by R. Avadhani / Mirajpur (Medak District) / July 04th, 2015

Yet another first for Sania Mirza

Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

Three-time Grand Slam winner, Sania Mirza.
Three-time Grand Slam winner, Sania Mirza.

First woman tennis player from India to be top-seeded in Wimbledon

Twenty-eight-year-old Sania Mirza has become the first woman tennis player from India to be top-seeded in the ongoing Wimbledon or for that matter, any Grand Slam championship.

“It’s a great honour to be the top-seed in what is considered to be the ‘home of tennis’,” said Sania from London, before leaving for practice on Friday, ahead of the next match.

“It’s a proud moment and is an official acknowledgement of Sania’s sustained, consistent performances at the highest level,” said her father, Imran Mirza.

Ms. Mirza, incidentally, is playing her 15th year at Wimbledon. She won her first major title there in 2003 at the first junior Grand Slam, in the girls’ doubles category. Sania’s best at Wimbledon in women’s doubles has been the semi-final appearance with partner, Vesnina. It also means she is now a member of the ‘Last-four Club’ in Wimbledon and enjoys certain privileges for a lifetime, including use of a special locker etc.

“No matter how many times you’ve been here, it is still really exciting. I have several beautiful memories associated with the ‘BIG W’,” said Mr. Mirza. His daughter’s performances at Wimbledon have been memorable, including the three-setter in singles, which she lost to the then reigning US Open champion, Svetlana Kuznetsova, playing for the first time on the famed Centre Court, besides beating Japan’s Akiko Morigami.

The only Indians top-seeded in a Grand Slam earlier were Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi in the 1999 French Open edition men’s doubles. Ms. Sania Mirza, a three-time Grand Slam winner, is determined to complete a career Grand Slam, having won the mixed doubles titles in the Australian, French and the US Opens earlier.

Becomes the first woman tennis player from India to be top-seeded in the ongoing Wimbledon

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V.V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – July 03rd, 2015

Man Singh savours memories of a victory

Sports

P.R. Man Singh says June 25, 1983, will always remain the most memorable day of his lifetime.– File Photo
P.R. Man Singh says June 25, 1983, will always remain the most memorable day of his lifetime.– File Photo

June 25, 1983 is still an unforgettable day in Indian cricket for on this day, 32 years ago, India won the World Cup cricket championship for the first time.

And, P.R. Man Singh, the articulate administrator, has every reason to look back with a sense of pride for he was the manager of the victorious team. What exactly did he do today? “Nothing special. In my prayers, I thanked God for making me part of what is now the cricketing history because of which people still remember me,” says 76-year-old Man Singh in an exclusive chat.

Not surprisingly, the seasoned administrator and former HCA Secretary did speak to some of the members of that World Cup winning team, including Sunil Valson, Syed Kirmani, but could not reach the then captain Kapil Dev. “I am glad that people still remember me for that epoch-making win. It will remain special. Like it is said that people always remember Tenzing Norgay as the first one to climb Mt. Everest and not all those who emulated him, likewise Kapil’s Devils are now part of cricketing folklore,” Man Singh remarked.

“It’s revival of old and fond memories, clearly loving every moment. No special celebrations, but this day will always remain as the most memorable of my lifetime. All those spectacular moments when we beat the Clive Lloyd-led mighty West Indians will be etched in memory,” he says, with a beaming face.

“I am glad that Dhoni and his team won the World Cup for the second time. It is by no means an ordinary achievement given the tremendous pressure of playing at home,” he explains. And, Man Singh takes pride in re-asserting that India won the World Cup without a coach and a single support-staff member.

“Those were the days when the manager donned multiple roles. I am glad that I lived up to the expectations despite the odd teething problems. I must give full credit to the players who responded in great style to the needs of the situation on the given day. It was a collective effort and the way the players rallied around captain Kapil was a treat to watch,” recalls the widely acknowledged cricket administrator with the backdrop of World Cup winning team pictures hanging on the wall in his office chambers in Secunderabad.

The seasoned administrator, who was manager of the Indian team when it won the World Cup, looks back on the historic win with a sense of pride

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities / by V.V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – June 26th, 2015