Ice-skaters from Karnataka who are participating in the 12th National Ice Skating Championships at Gulmargh, J&K are seen with coach K. Srikanth Rao from Mysuru.
Gulmargh :
City’s ice-skaters representing Karnataka excelled in the 12th National Ice Skating Championship being held at Gulmargh, J&K, by winning golds in the 500 mts race time trial event yesterday.
Mysuru’s Dr. Varsha Puranik, Akash Aradhya, Elizabeth Achaiah and Kaviraj Prithvi broke National Records by clinching the gold in the 500 mts race time trials in their respective categories.
Karnataka has won a total of 10 gold, 7 silver and 10 bronze medals in the championship till yesterday. The Karnataka team is coached by Ekalavya award winner K. Srikanth Rao of Rao’s Roller Skating Club, Mysuru.
source: http:/www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / Saturday – January 02nd, 2016
Thirst for success R. Radhakrishna Photo: By author
Coach C. Muralidharan had a hand in sprinter R. Radhakrishna’s journey from waiting tables to winning medals at State meets
When R. Radhakrishna says life has been hard, he is not exaggerating. Two years ago, he was waiting tables at a coffee shop in Nagawara, pulling 12-hour shifts. He had just finished school and the family’s income simply wasn’t enough. “So I decided I’d work,” he says. “My father worked as a security guard and we were struggling to pay off old debts. I didn’t want to depend on him.”
Athletics, his love, was a faraway dream. In the final year of school, he had shown promise as a sprinter. At one sports meet in 2012, he had been spotted by C. Muralidharan, a coach of repute (and a former SAF Games medallist), who offered to take him under his wing. For the next two months, Radhakrishna trained every day at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, where he was slowly moulded into a triple-jumper. His coach bought him breakfast every day and gave him money for juice in the afternoon. Then one day he simply quit without notice. No one at Radhakrishna’s home owned a phone and there was no way, Muralidharan thought, he could reach him again.
Six months later, flipping through his diary, Muralidharan found a number Radhakrishna had left, for a friend of his father’s. He made contact and summoned the boy who, he now found, had no hope of going to college, let alone find time for track and field. “I approached the Director of Sports at Jain College, U.V. Sankar,” says Muralidharan. “They admitted him into the PUC course and gave him accommodation and food in the hostel — all for free.”
To Radhakrishna, this was a dramatic change in circumstances. “I had no plans. There was nothing good in life. No one else would’ve done something like this for me,” he says. Then last year, Radhakrishna won a gold medal in the U-18 boys’ triple jump event at the Dasara Games. This August, he won the silver at the State Junior and Senior championships. Last month, at the inter-district meet in Bidar, he won the gold in the U-20 age-group. “My coach has practically adopted me,” Radhakrishna says. “Everything I’m wearing right now — he has bought them for me.” That ensemble includes a pair of triple-jump-spikes, costing in the region of Rs.13,000. Muralidharan is a pensioner — his kindness cannot be overstated. The distances Radhakrishna has jumped have not been exemplary but he is improving. His talent, though, is obvious to his coach, who retired a few years ago as a Captain in the Army. “He is 19, 6’2 and has great potential,” he says. “He suffers from a lack of confidence. That is probably due to his background but it can be corrected with counselling. In three years, he will be making a serious impact on the national level.”
Radhakrishna says he seldom visits his Narayanapura home now because it brings up bad memories. “I’ve had a horrible childhood. Just horrible,” he sighs. His earliest job, he recalls, was cutting sugarcane on a farm near Velur in Tamil Nadu. He was still six then and his mother and he had moved from Bengaluru to be with their grandmother. “Back home, my father had left us penniless. We were practically living on the street; so we had to move,” he says. “I’ve tended cattle, worked here and there, done all sorts of jobs.” They returned a year later, by which time Radhakrishna’s father — who had retired as a Sepoy with the Army — had found work as a security guard. For now, he simply wants to go as far as his sport will take him, and eventually earn a degree in psychology. “My parents don’t know anything about athletics,” he says. “They are happy that I’m not a burden on them.”
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Shreedutta Chidananada / Bengaluru – December 26th, 2015
Ajit SN recently completed a 45-day world tour where he dived with humpback whales, great white sharks and bull sharks.
Bengaluru :
This Bengalurean spends more time underwater than on land.Ajit SN, a diver and underwater photographer, has completed 190 dives in two years and surprised most dive masters around the world.
It started two years ago when he took a diving course in Sri Lanka with a friend. “It was a spontaneous decision. I knew nothing about underwater photography or diving but I was determined to learn both,” he said.
But it wasn’t as easy as he imagined it would be. “I had to make a huge investment in underwater photography equipment because it wasn’t available in India and had to order it from the US,” he said.
While his friend left after four days into the course, Ajit stayed three more days and completed the advanced open water course which takes divers 30 metres deep.
“I wasn’t allowed to take the camera first.When I did, water leaked into a very expensive camera. Fortunately , the lens wasn’t damaged,” he said. Then followed trips to remote islands off Cambodia and Sri Lanka and Ajit was certified in technical diving. He also got a wreck diving licence but the first time was a near-death experience when he entered the HMS Hermes, a World War 2 British aircraft carrier in the waters off Sri Lanka.
“It was pitch dark and I was 45m below sea level. I had a blackout and began taking in water. I couldn’t even see my dive buddy . I was inside the wreck and saw a beam of light through a hole and began waving my torch.My buddy saw me and quickly put my mask back on my nose. It had got dislodged when I was entering the ship,” he said.
That experience didn’t stop Ajit from exploring other wrecks near Sri Lanka. And snorkelling was on his bucket list. He spent a week in the ocean in the Maldives with certified divers.
“I was in the middle of the ocean when I saw a manta ray circling around the boat. I grabbed my camera and jumped into the water at 9pm. It brushed by me many times. I got a brilliant shot and when I came back to the deck, it was 1am,” he said. That shot was among the top four trending photos on National Geographic Daily Dozens.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Bengaluru / by Aditi Sequeira, TNN / December 14th, 2015
Karman Kaur Thandi (left) and Dhruthi T. Venugopal of Mysuru seen with their women’s doubles runner-up trophy.
Indore :
City’s Dhruthi T. Venugopal teaming up with Karman Kaur Thandi finished runner-up in the women’s doubles event in the ITF $10,000 Women’s Tennis Tournament at Indore on Friday.
In the women’s doubles final, Veronika Kapshay & Anastasiya Vasylyeva of Ukraine the top-seeds beat Dhruthi T. Venugopal & Karman Kaur Thandi of India 6-1, 6-3 in the final which lasted for just 48 minutes.
In the women’s singles semi-finals, Karman Kaur Thandi beat Prerna Bhambri 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 while Ukraine’s Anastasia beat top-seed Katy Dunne 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-3 and entered the title summit.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / Saturday – December 12th, 2015
K. Kusuma, Senior Technician in CSIR- Central Food Technological Research Institute (CSIR-CFTRI), Mysuru, who participated in the 15th National Paralympic Swimming Championship -2015 organised by Paralympic Swimming Association of Karnataka (PSAK) at Belgaum recently under the auspices of Paralympic Swimming Federation of India (PARASWIM) and Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), won a bronze medal in 100 mts. Butterfly Stroke under S9 category.
She had also participated in the State-level Paralympic Swimming Championship-2015 held at KLE School, Nagarabhavi, Bengaluru, where she won 4 Gold Medals in 100 meters Free Style, 100 meters Butterfly Stroke, 50 meters Free Style and 50 meters Back Stroke under S9 category.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / Tuesday – December 08th, 2015
City Police Commissioner B. Dayananda (sitting fourth from left) is seen with the team of Mounted Police personnel who participated at the 34th All India Police Equestrian Meet held at Gwalior recently. Also seen are DCP N.D. Birje, K.S. Rudrappa (kneeling left) and Mahesh (kneeling right).
Mysuru :
Mysuru City Mounted Police personnel have excelled in the recently held 34th All India Police Equestrian Meet held at Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh.
K.S. Rudrappa riding ‘Lady Heaven’ won two gold medals in Show Jumping Preliminary Normal and Show Jumping Preliminary Fault and Out events. While, Mahesh riding ‘Candance’ won the silver medal in Show Jumping Novice Normal event.
A total of 24 Mounted Police personnel and 12 horses had participated in the event that concluded on Nov. 25
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / Wednesday – December 02nd, 2015
Y.G. Vijayeendra, winner of the Open category title, seen with the trophy
Mysuru :
Top-seed Y.G. Vijayeendra, the former State champion from Mysuru, fourth seeded Kedar Umesh Vaze from Bengaluru, A. Augustin from Madikeri and L. Vivekananda from Mysuru tied with 7.5 points from 9 rounds, but based on a better tie-break score of 51.5 points, Vijayeendra clinched the Open Category title on the concluding day of the Smt. Sarojamma Memorial Karnataka State Open Rapid Chess Tournament-2015, conducted by the MDCA at the Chamundi Vihar Indoor Stadium here yesterday.
The winner received a cash prize of Rs. 7,000 along with the trophy. Kedar Umesh Vaze secured the second place and took home a cash prize of Rs. 5,500 along with a trophy. A. Augustin of Madikeri won the third place and secured a cash prize of Rs.4,000 and a trophy. Cash prizes were given to the winners from the fourth to the 25th place in the Open category. Trophies and certificates were given to the winners in the U-16, U-13, U-11, U-9,U-7, Unrated, Ladies, Veterans & Youngest Players section.
During the occasion, the MDCA honoured P.N. Somashekar, Vice-President, Sports Authority of Karnataka, M.P. Ajith (National Amateur champion), K.G.R. Anagha (National U-7 girls champion) and S.N. Jatin (National Ranked player).
The prizes to the winners were given away by P.N. Somashaker, Vice-President, Karnataka Sports Council, Yashasvi Shankar, Managing Director, M/s. Saanvi Technologies, Sarika Prasad, President, Inner-wheel Club of Mysuru Central, Sudharshan, Vice-President, MDCA, C.K. Muralidharan, Prof. S.K. Ananda Theertha, President, MDCA and K.S. Shivarame Gowda, Hon. Secretary, MDCA.
IGU Western India Ladies & Junior Girls Amateur Golf
Pranavi S. Urs winner of the ‘Category ‘C’ title in the IGU Western India Ladies & Junior Girls Amateur Golf Tournament seen with her trophy.
Mumbai :
Pranavi S. Urs of JWGC, Mysuru, taking part in the IGU Western India Ladies and Junior Girls Amateur Golf Championship held at the Bombay Presidency Golf Club, won the ‘Category C’ title with a three-day aggregate score of 220 (74+76+70) yesterday.
Pranavi S. Urs returned with a card of two-under 70 on the final day to clinch the title by four strokes. Nayanika Sanga of Maharashtra with three-day aggregate score of 224 (77+75+72) finished second and the over-night leader Anika Verma of Delhi secured the third place with a three-day aggregate score of 226 (73+75+78).
Mysuru girl Dyuthi K. Urs finished 17th in the Category ‘B’ with a three-day aggregate score of 271 (97+85+89). Diksha Dagar of Delhi with a three-day score of 227 won the Category ‘B’ title.
Tvesa Malik of Delhi with a three-day card of 228 won the Ladies title, while Sehar Atwal of Delhi with a three-day score of 218 won the Category ‘A’ title.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / Friday – November 27th, 2015
B. Manush, a X std student of CFTRI School, set a record in State-level shot put by winning first place with a throw of 14.29 mts in the Inter District Junior Athletic Championship held at Bidar recently.
Previously, he won gold medal in Karnataka State Junior and Senior Athletic Championship held at Bengaluru in August.
Manush is the son of Balaram and Dharanishakthi. He is trained by Benaka Prasad and Srikanth.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / Friday – November 27th, 2015
City’s and Karnataka’s top junior athlete P.S. Uma, representing Karnataka in the 31st National Junior Athletic Championships which concluded at Ranchi on Wednesday, won the silver medal in the U-20 girls Shot Put event.
Uma a product of DYES, Mysuru, and a student of Teresian College of Women, Mysuru, threw the shot put to a distance of 13.17 mts to clinch the silver. Meghana Devanga of Maharashtra won the gold with a throw of 13.73mts. Nidhi of Uttar Pradesh took the bronze with a throw of 11.83 mts. In the U-20 women’s 4×400 mts relay event, Mysuru girl M.Likitha, R.A. Chitra, H.R. Navami, G.K. Vijayakumari, representing Karnataka ‘A’ team, won the bronze medal with a timing of 3:58.46 sec.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / Friday – November 27th, 2015
