Star this week

Volleyball is a very popular sport in the International sporting scene. Mysuru lad V.R. Sanoj, who has represented India in the World Junior Volleyball Championships and has created a name for himself in Indian volleyball scene with his attacking play, was awarded the prestigious ‘Ekalavya Award’ for his feats at a grand function held at Vidhana Soudha this week. He is our ‘Star This Week.’

V.R. Sanoj, 23, currently employed with Karnataka State Police, Bengaluru, took up the sport seriously when he joined Maharaja’s College, Mysuru, in 2002. His talent was identified by Mysore University volleyball coach Dr. N.B. Suresh (SAI volleyball coach) who nurtured and taught him the nuances of the game.

This six feet three inch lad impressed with his game and represented Mysore University in the Inter-University Championships for two years and helped his team perform well. He got his first chance to represent the State in the junior level when he was coxed by his coach to be part of the Karnataka State team in 2005, which turned out to be the turning point in his career according to him.

His attacking play in the Nationals caught the eye of the selectors both in the National and State levels. He attended the Indian Youth camp in 2009 and in 2010, he represented India in the Asian Junior Volleyball Championships at Bangkok. He played two Test Matches in Turkey.

He represented the Indian Junior Team in the 2011 World Junior Volleyball Championships held at Brazil and played in all the games. India finished eighth in the tournament. He got employed in KSP, Bengaluru, in 2007. He has been representing Karnataka in the Senior National Championships from 2007 till date.

He was part of the Hyderabad Challengers team in the Indian Volleyball League held in 2011 and he was the adjudged as the Best Player.

He is the son of Ramachandra and Subashini who are residents at Kabini. His two brothers Sanal Kumar and Sajeesh are good volleyball players too. He is happily married to Ramya, a former India volleyball player who is employed with KSP.

Sanoj aims to work hard in the days to come and has a goal to represent the country in the Senior level in the days to come. Hope this lad goes on to achieve his goal in the future.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home>Sports News / Sunday , November 09th, 2014

Mangaluru-based skating coach Mahesh Kumar on Friday got the National Bal Kalyan Award 2013 for services rendered to children with disabilities.

Mr. Kumar received the award from President Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi on Friday. The award consists of certificate and cash Rs. 1 lakh. Instituted by Women and Child Development Department of Government of India, the award is given on the recommendation of the State Government.

Mr. Kumar has coached several special needs children from here and elsewhere with many of them going on to win medals in Paralympics in the last 12 years. Mr. Kumar told The Hindu from New Delhi that in 2003 seven children coached by him had taken part in the Paralympics.

In 2011, he coached 22 children from different parts of the country for the Paralympics. Children from Mangaluru including Dhanya Rao and Royston had bagged gold medals. Children coached by him have been winning medals at national and State level on regular basis. In the recent State level event held in Mysore 18 children coached by him bagged 35 medals in all.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Mangaluru / by Special  Correspondent / Mangaluru – November 14th, 2014

They bagged 19 medals, including eight gold, in National Paralympic Swimming Championship

The city’s swimmers bagged 19 medals, including eight gold and nine silver, at the recently concluded 14th National Paralympic Swimming Championship.

More than 400 swimmers from across India participated in the event and Karnataka bagged the third runners-up trophy.

According to swimming coach Umesh Kalghatgi here on Thursday, Sridhar Malagi won gold medals in 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 100m breaststroke, 100m butterfly, and a silver medal in 4x100m freestyle relay.

Raghvendra Anavekar won two gold medals in 200m individual medley and 100m butterfly, two silver medals in 100m backstroke and 100m freestyle and a bronze medal in 4x100m freestyle relay.

‘Wonder boy’

Moin Junnedi, who has earned the nickname ‘wonder boy’ for defying all physical challenges because of more than 200 fractures he has had, won two gold medals in 50m freestyle and 50m backstroke.

Amol Kamble secured four silver medals in 50m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 50m breaststroke and 50m butterfly.

Swatik Patil bagged two silver medals in 50m backstroke and 50m breaststroke, and a bronze in 50m freestyle.

The competitions were conducted by the Paralympic Association of Madhya Pradesh and Shishukunj International School, Indore, under the aegis of the Paralympic Swimming Federation of India.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by Vijaykumar Patil / Belagavi – November 14th, 2014

V.R. Sanoj, Volleyball player from Mysuru, seen receiving the prestigious Ekalavya Award 2013 from Chief Minister Siddharamaiah at the function held at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on Thursday.

Others seen are Cooperation Minister Mahadeva Prasad, Karnataka Olympic Association (KOA) President K. Govindraj and Sports Minister Abhay Chandra Jain.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home>Sports News / Saturday , November 08th, 2014

..taking roller skating to new heights

It takes a lot of struggle and fight for any sportsperson to be recognised in his field of interest. While cricketers, tennis players and sportspersons from few other sports get recognised on their achievements, there are a few who still have to struggle to come into the limelight despite having done well at the international level. For many, roller skating is just a recreation, but there are few who have taken up it as a profession. One such person is city’s Srikantha Rao, who has been recognised as one of the best coaches for roller skating in the country. Srikantha Rao has coached Karnataka as well as Indian Roller Skating teams. Star of Mysore caught up with Srikantha Rao for a a brief talk. Excerpts…

SOM: When there were many sports to choose, what made you select Roller Skating?

Srikantha: Roller sports attract children from a very young age. It was the very thrill of going fast that attracted me to put on the skates in the year 1979. Since then I have enjoyed each and every minute spent on the skating rink.

SOM: To be recognised in a sport which is not much popular, one needs to struggle a lot. What were the difficulties faced by you to reach to this level?

Srikantha: Initially, Mysuru city did not have a skating track for regular practice. We had to train on road amidst heavy traffic near Mysore Court Complex and in front of Maharaja College Grounds for a very long time.

SOM: How has this sport evolved in city over the years?

Srikantha: From a very humble beginning, we now have three tracks of international standard one each in Kuvempunagar, Siddarthanagar and Unnathi Nagar in Bannimantap. The roller skating rink in Unnathi Nagar also has a circuit surrounding the rink and a synthetic track, which is one of its kind in India.

SOM: Tell us something about your Roller Skating Academy?

Srikantha: The Academy was started in the year 1989 with an aim to popularise the sport among young Mysoreans. The Academy has so far trained more than 10,000 skaters and has provided required infrastructure to groom youngsters into international level roller skaters. The Academy now boasts of around 600 national champions, two Asian medallists and five Ekalavya awardees.

SOM: What are the advantages of Roller Skating?

Srikantha: It is a sport which can be started at a very tender age of four and the competition starts from the age of six unlike other sports which do not entertain kids below the age of six. Once the kids get into skating they feel thrilled going at a speed of 30-40 kms and it also improves one’s lung capacity and sense of balance.

SOM: What are the important features that one needs to have to be a roller skater?

Srikantha: One has to have good perseverance and patience along with a lot of dedication like it needs in other sports. The most important thing is to be available for training everyday and to enjoy going fast.

I hope, roller skating gets recognition at the earliest as an Olympic sport and more children from Mysuru take up the sport as well. —VNS

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home>Sports News / Saturday , November 08th, 2014