It was a Super Sunday for two of Hyderabad’s best sportspersons – Indian women’s cricket captain Mithali Raj and one of the world’s best badminton talents Pusarla Venkata Sindhu – when they were named among the list of Padma Shri awardees by the Government of India on Sunday evening.
Mithali Raj
“This is a huge surprise, and being clubbed with someone like Virat Kohli makes the announcement all the more special,” said a smiling Mithali, who is arguably the finest women’s cricketer from India.
The 32-year-old star performer pointed out that she was not really thinking about it since women’s cricket was not all that popular in India.
P.V. Sindhu
Nineteen-year-old Sindhu was also equally elated.
“This is a great day for my entire family, especially for my parents (Arjuna awardee P.V. Ramana and P. Vijaya – both former international volleyball players). I was not expecting this
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Andhra Pradesh / by V.V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – January 26th, 2015
A long way to go: Snehit is taking careful steps. Photo: special arrangement / The Hindu
Having won laurels for Telangana at national and international events, paddler Snehit looks for support.
The young, talented paddler S. Fidel R. Snehit has entered a decisive phase in pursuit of excellence and he needs support from all fronts – more so on the financial side if he is to take part in more tournaments in future and keep moving up the ladder.
This 14-year-old who critics believe to be one of the best talents to emerge from Hyderabad has already brought laurels to the newly-formed Telangana State in four international events and more importantly winning gold in team event in the sub-juniors category besides silver in the just-concluded Cadet and the Sub-junior Nationals.
“I didn’t expect to get a chance to represent the country but I got an opportunity because of national ranking (India No.3). It is a wonderful experience that I’ll cherish for long,” feels Snehit, a Std. IX student of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Public School (BVBPS) and a trainee of the Global Table Tennis Academy (GTTA).
For the record, this young champion represented India in the South Asian Cadet & Junior Championship held in Islamabad last August and was a member of the gold-medal winning team and even settled for silver in the individual category losing to his teammate Manav Thakkar. One of the high-points of Snehit’s performance was winning two bronze in the India Open in Goa last year in team and doubles events.
Not surprisingly, his coach and former State player Somnath Ghosh at the GTTA is pleased with his ward’s progress.
“I watched Snehit playing his first international tournament and found that he can make his mark on the international arena. He proved me right in the South Asian Championships with two medals,” he points out.
It was double delight for Somnath as another of his trainees Akula Sreeja also did well on the international circuit.
“Snehit played a vital role for Telangana, getting the team silver in the sub-junior Nationals in Rajahmundry. He narrowly missed a medal in the doubles and faltered in individuals,” recalls the TSTTA selection committee chairman A. Narasimha Rao.
Snehit achieved a rare first of being the Telangana No. 1 in sub-juniors, juniors and youth categories.
His commitment even when he plays in the School Games nationals is perhaps a reminder of his intense urge to keep winning. He led Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Public School to CBSE National gold (under-14) which was incidentally a first from any school from the then unified Andhra Pradesh.
“It is still a long way to go for Snehit. He needs some international training and exposure trips. We will seek support from the Telangana government to brush up Snehit’s skills under the supervision of international coaches,” feel Snehit’s parents–S. Ramu and Hema. “We will be more than happy if the State Government comes forwards to help Snehit,” sign off the optimistic parents.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by V.V. Subrahmanyam / January 21st, 2015
Leela Sagar won gold during the Monsoon Regatta last year and also bagged a bronze medal at Coastal Nationals.– Photo: BY ARRANGEMENT
City boy P. Leela Sagar highlighted his potential as a sailor with a victory in the Optimist National Sailing Championships held in Bhopal recently. He is a product of the Yacht Club of Hyderabad (YCH), which was instituted six years ago.
Leela Sagar handled his boat with great skill to win six races out of 12 and displayed commendable maturity and confidence while doing so. He had bagged gold during the Monsoon Regatta in July 2014, and also had won a bro nze at the Coastal Nationals at Bombay in October 2014. After the triumph at Bhopal, he is now among the top ranked national sailors in his category. “The boy is a natural, is determined and learns by instinct. He has realised that there is no substitute for hard work and resilience. He will surely go places,” said Suheim Sheikh, his coach and mentor for the last three years.
Sagar well and truly proved himself by beating several sailors who had taken part in competitions all over the world. His rise to the top has come after three years of hard work, dedication and participation in several hard-fought championships. He first joined the sport at the YCH through Naandi Foundation about three years ago.
Despite being a quick learner, his light body proved to be a handicap and he finished at the bottom of the fleet on debut. But later, he made up for the lost ground, developed the skill and craft, and made rapid progress. Two more youngsters Musti Saibaba and P. Raju, who joined the YCH through the LSN Foundation, showed promise and finished 14th and 15th.
Wins six races out of 12 in the Optimist National Sailing Championships held in Bhopal recently
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Abhijit Sen Gupta / Hyderabad – January 11th, 2014
Boxer Nikhat Zareen displays the gold medal which she won in the Golden Gloves international youth women boxing meet held in Serbia in July. Photo: V.V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu
To create awareness on road safety among people, international boxer Nikhat Zareen has been appointed brand ambassador by district Collector D. Ronald Ross, according to Deputy Transport Commissioner G.C. Rajatnam.
Henceforth, Ms. Zareena will take part in all programmes conducted by the transport authorities to impart education on road safety and measures to be taken to avoid accidents among students and general public.
Thus Nizamabad district became the lone district in the State to have had a brand ambassador on road safety.
As part of creating more awareness on the subject, some more celebrities are likely to be declared brand ambassadors, said Mr. Rajaratnam.
He also said all taxi cabs, maxi cabs, Toofan vehicles and autorickshaws must follow the RTA conditions and get permission from the said authority besides having driving licence and owner identity card in the vehicles. That apart, only those vehicles which secure permission will ply as taxis and must be parked at the taxi stand and if any private vehicle is parked at the earmarked place, penalty will be imposed on the owners, he said.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Telangana / by Special Correspondent / Nizamabad – December 13th, 2014
Inaganti Amarnath (right), the FIDE arbiter from Hyderabad who officiated in the recent Chess Olympiad, seen with his favourite and former world champion Anatoly Karpov. – A file Photo.
He is out to challenge the best of the arbiters with his sheer passion and the keenness to keep increasing the vast base of chess knowledge. That is Inaganti Amarnath, who achieved a rare first for any chess player from both the Telugu-speaking States — Andhra Pradesh and Telangana — earning the FIDE Trainer title – a few weeks ago for you.
Inaganti Amarnath
He and his brother Inaganti Ganesh set another record of sorts by being the first brother duo to officiate in the World Youth chess championship in South Africa. Amarnath, a physically challenged player, also provided a ‘silver’ lining by finishing second in the Commonwealth Championship (physically disabled category) in Glasgow (Scotland) three years ago in the 2011 World championship for disabled.
It fetched the 37-year-old a job in the South Central Railway. This time he became the only arbiter from Telangana to officiate in the Chess Olympiad (along with two other Indians – Anantharam and Gopa Kumar).
“It was a wonderful and unforgettable experience. A performance which also spurred me to do well in the Trainers’ Seminar in Norway where I earned the FIDE Trainer title,” says a delighted Amarnath, representing the All India Chess Federation (AICF). Though he managed to fund his own trip and is now hoping the Sports Authority of Telangana.
Amarnath has also been re-elected as the general secretary of the International Physically Disabled Chess Association during the Olympiad. “This provides me a rare platform to raise the issues faced by the physically challenged players and also find ways and means to resolve some of their pressing problems in pursuing their passion for chess,” he says.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V.V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – December 09th, 2014
The first-ever Hyderabadi to be elected the president of International Billiards and Snooker Federation
Captain P.V.K. Mohan became the first-ever Hyderabadi to head a world sports body when he was elected the president of the International Billiards and Snooker Federation for a period of two years. He beat Jim Leacy of Ireland by 28-21 votes.
For the 57-year-old Hyderabadi, it may be a added responsibility given the fact that he has been the vice-president of IBSF for quite some time and is also the president of BSFI since 2005. “It’s a huge honour and naturally means a bigger role to promote the sport worldwide. There is no doubt that cue sports are gaining popularity across the globe and millions watch it on TV,” says an elated Capt. Mohan, son of late Union Minister P. Upendra.
“Being familiar with what exactly the players need and look to the IBSF being myself the vice-president for long, I am confident of being equal to the task. Essentially, the players need more and more events with a well spaced out calendar to showcase their skills. India is a major host and Hyderabad has hosted two world championships already,” reminds the former national player.
“I will continue to be attached to cue sports here. The Cue Sports Academy being built on 1.2 lakh-square feet land near Nanakramguda in Hyderabad on the model of Crucible in UK should take the sport to a new level,” says Capt. Mohan. In fact, he saw to that Lucky Vatnani of Hyderabad I.V. Rajiv of Kakinada got wildcard entries in the ongoing World Snooker Championship in Bengaluru.
The Academy, being built at a cost of about Rs. 15 crore, will have 21 tables, including one centre table in a crucible-type structure with galleries, overhead fixed lighting and cameras too. “I can assure that the players will be looked after well. The BSFI has proved its credentials in conducting the world championships,” he signed off.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V.V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – November 29th, 2014
Former Hyderabad off-spinner Noshir Mehta, who completed a rare record of competing in the HCA League for the 50th consecutive year, at the cake-cutting ceremony with his wife Yasmin on Sunday. – Photo: V. V. Subrahmanyam
Sixty-six-year-old former Hyderabad Ranji spinner Noshir Mehta took the field in the HCA League on Sunday, 50 years after he first did so in 1964. Like most old-timers, the Lal Bahadur Stadium was the hunting ground for this gentleman cricketer whose favourite was Salim Durrani. He fondly recalls how he clean-bowled the great Sunil Gavaskar and Ashok Mankad in a Ranji game.
Noshir Mehta is back at Gymkhana Grounds where he first played for SUCC in the HCA League – exactly 50 years ago. And, when this 66-year-old former Hyderabad Ranji off-spinner played for Roshanara against Hyderabad Panthers in the A-Division league match on Sunday, he set a rare record of longevity.
Sunday morning was a sentimental journey, with old-timers B. Mohan, Maheshwar Singh, N. Prahlad, Jyothi Prasad, Vijaya Paul, Abdul Bari Wahab, his mentor P.R. Man Singh, India left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha and former Davis Cupper S.P. Misra in attendance.
“The passion for the sport keeps me going and I will continue to play as long as I retain it,” says Mehta, who took 146 Ranji wickets between 1967 and 1977, playing mostly under the legendary M.L. Jaisimha.
Like most old-timers, the Lal Bahadur Stadium was the hunting ground for this gentleman cricketer whose favourite was Salim Durrani. He fondly recalls how he clean-bowled the great Sunil Gavaskar and Ashok Mankad in a Ranji game.
“Yes, it was a pity that my career ran parallel to the likes of the great Prasanna, whom I believe to be the best ever off-spinner, and Venkataraghavan. But, still the fact that I played with them along with Chandra for South Zone was itself a major achievement and a great experience,” he recalls with a big smile.
Some of Mehta’s most memorable feats include his personal best six-wicket haul against Tamil Nadu in Ranji Trophy in 1970, a record second-wicket partnership with Maheshwar Singh of about 480 in the Behraum-ud-Dowla Cup for State Bank of Hyderabad, the highest individual score of 55 not out in the then highly-popular single-wicket tournament, the next-best being Budi Kunderan (48) and Jaisimha (45).
“It has been a wonderful journey so far. Yes, the biggest regret is that I never got a chance to play for India. Perhaps, it is destiny’s call that I had to be content with only first-class cricket,” a philosophical Mehta said.
“And, this long journey is possible because of my parents (his father S. R. Mehta himself was an outstanding cricketer) and my wife Yasmin. They make me enjoy the game with the same passion even now,” he says.
Noshir signs off with a tinge of disgust at the falling standards of the HCA Leagues now. “I can tell you that 99 per cent of the current Hyderabad Ranji Trophy would not have got selected for the then prestigious Zonals itself, leave alone for the State,” he concluded.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V. V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – November 23rd, 2014
Balachander Anirudh, who was adjudged ‘Best Under-19 Cricketer’ by the BCCI for the 2013-14 season, at St. John’s Cricket Foundation. Photo: V.V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu
Immensely talented southpaw Balachander Anirudh promises much, but will he don the India colours?
The BCCI giving away the award for the ‘Best Under-19 Cricketer (2013-14)’ to Balachander Anirudh is just another reminder of the immense potential this young Hyderabadi has.
In fact, the gifted southpaw could well don India colours, going by Anirudh’s phenomenal record of 903 runs from seven matches in the All-India Cooch Behar Trophy (under-19), that included three centuries and three 50s.
A product of St. John’s Cricket Foundation, where the great V.V.S. Laxman also mastered the basics in his younger days, Anirudh is taking it one step at a time.
“First, I want to do well in the Ranji Trophy, if given the chance. Like anyone else, I too dream of playing for India one day,” says the B. Com student of SP College.
His parents – V. Balachander (a bank officer) and mother Girija – shifted to the city from Chennai when Anirudh was in Class III. After initial schooling at DAV Public School, he moved to St. Andrews School. John Manoj of St. John’s was his first coach and he never really looked back since.
“Earlier, I used to throw away my wicket playing rash strokes but thanks to Ashok Singh Sir (who also mentored VVS Laxman in his formative days) the focus was on concentration and fitness levels. I am glad the efforts paid off really well, because of which I could score a double century and two centuries in the Cooch Behar Trophy,” explains Anirudh.
This highly-rated young batting star admires Sri Lankan Kumara Sangakkara for he feels that his batting style is similar to the great cricketer.
“I have a long way to go. I would love to play at No. 3 and play a key role in the fortunes of whichever team I play,” signs off the young cricketer after another grinding session in the nets.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V.V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – November 23rd, 2014
M. Chakravarthy Reddy of Telangana State won the Asian youth (under-18) open category chess title. / by Special Arrangement
M. Chakravarthi Reddy wins Asian Youth Chess Championship U-18 open category title in Delhi
M. Chakravarthi Reddy is all set to become the first-ever, ‘original’ International Master from the newly-formed Telangana State after winning the Asian Youth Chess Championship under-18 open category title in Delhi.
It’s a highly remarkable achievement by the first year student of CBIT in ECE, considering the fact that the first ever IM from the then united Andhra Pradesh was Lanka Ravi way back in 1987 amongst the very few from this part of the country.
It was an event, which was clearly dominated by Indians who won three gold, five silver and two bronze besides, the overall championship.
A proud father, Venkat Reddy, who is an agriculturist hailing from Halia mandal near Nagarjunasagar in Nalgonda district, says that his son started playing chess from class 6 onwards.
Coached by Shiva Kumar and C.R.G. Krishna, this happens to be the first major win for Chakravarthy as his only other big achievements were gold, silver and bronze in the last three editions of the National School Games.
New rules
Because of the change in rules in awarding the IM title, the FIDE will now confer it to the continental champion directly unlike in the past when a player has to complete three IM norms despite winning these kind of events.
The new rule clearly states that on a title gained by achieving a certain place or result in a tournament — winning or achieving with a result of 50 per cent, the respective national federation in Chakravarthi’s case, AICF, will have to send the application and confirmation by the qualification commission, the title will be awarded automatically.
Mosadeghpur Masoud of Iran and Serikbay Chingiz of Kazakhstan settled for silver and bronze respectively in the U-18 Open category.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V.V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – November 16th, 2014
