The Indian tennis players defeated Chinese Taipei’s Tsung-hao Huang and Liang En-shuo 2-6, 6-3, 10-4 in the final in Hangzhou.
(Hangzhou2022.cn)
Indian tennis players Rohan Bopanna and Rutuja Bhosale won the gold medal in mixed doubles event at the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, the People’s Republic of China on Saturday.
The second-seeded Indian duo defeated ninth seeds Tsung-hao Huang and Liang En-shuo of Chinese Taipei 2-6, 6-3, 10-4 in the final at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre. The match lasted one hour and 14 minutes.
Rohan Bopanna began the match with a terrific service game. However, Tsung-hao Huang and Liang En-shuo won two breaks in a row and held their serve to go 5-1 up, and eventually seal the first set 6-2.
“It’s been a learning experience for both of us,” Bopanna said about his partnership with Rutuja. “We had to understand each other, what our strengths are and what our weaknesses are.
“Today after we lost the first set I said, ‘Let’s change sides to return. We need something to change the match.'” the veteran Indian explained.
The change worked. Rohan Bopanna and Rutuja Bhosale fought back well in the second set and there was nothing separating both teams in the opening seven games. The Indian pair, however, levelled up with a decisive break in the eighth game and took the set 6-3 to induce a match tie break.
In the decider, Bopanna-Bhosale took early advantage and raced to a 6-1 lead in no time. There was some late resurgence from Tsung-hao Huang and Liang En-shuo, but it wasn’t enough. The Indian tennis players maintained the momentum and managed to take the tie break 10-4.
“I clearly had some nerves throughout the match, but not on the last point,” Bhosale said. “I was just thinking, ‘Give me my best serve right here,’ and I think I took my time to serve.”
Rutuja Bhosale won her maiden Asian Games medal while Rohan Bopanna added to his gold medal from Jakarta 2018. This was India’s second medal in tennis at the Asian Games 2023, following a silver in the men’s doubles event.
India have now won seven medals in the mixed doubles category – including three gold – at the Asian Games. Leander Paes-Sania Mirza at Doha 2006 and Saketh Myneni-Sania Mirza at Incheon 2014 are the other mixed doubles champions.
Overall, India have now won 10 gold medals at the continental meet in tennis .
source: http://www.olympics.com / Olympics.com / Home / by Anuraag Peesara / September 30th, 2023
Vietnamese and Indian officials cut the ribbons to inaugurate the Vietnamese pavilion at the 5th World Coffee Conference & Expo (WCC) in India. — VNA/VNS Photo
A Vietnamese pavilion with local major coffee brands opened at the 5th World Coffee Conference & Expo (WCC) in Bengaluru city, India.
New Delhi :
A Vietnamese pavilion with local major coffee brands opened at the 5th World Coffee Conference & Expo (WCC) in Bengaluru city, India, on Monday.
On display at the pavilion, which covers 144sq.m and is arranged by the Vietnam Coffee–Cocoa Association (VICOFA), are popular Vietnamese coffee products from major enterprises such as Trung Nguyên Group, L’amant Cafe, Olympics Coffee Joint Stock Company, and Vạn Thọ Import-Export Ltd Co.
Apart from attending the expo, Vietnamese exhibitors join all conferences and B2B meetings, and field trips to coffee factories in India.
India is identified as an important market for Vietnamese coffee exports, especially processed coffee products such as roasted, ground, and instant coffee. The VICOFA and Vietnamese businesses are planning to promote trade promotion activities, connecting and penetrating distribution chains in India with support from the Vietnamese Embassy in India.
The WCC has been held every five years since 2001, and the 5th WCC was delayed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bengaluru is the first city in Asia to host the conference.
Taking place from September 25-28 with the theme “Sustainability through Circular Economy and Regenerative Agriculture”, the 5th WCC has seen about 2,000 delegates from more than 80 countries and territories. The WCC is an important forum for discussion and collaboration to build a sustainable coffee industry, from coffee beans to ready-to-drink coffee.
Representatives and owners of coffee start-ups, coffee roasters, speciality coffee growers, and small farmers with the best products also showcase their products at the event. — VNS
source: http://www.vietnamnews.vn / Viet Nam News / Home> Economy / September 26th, 2023
India is home to 16 distinct varieties of coffee. (Supplied)
India, the world’s sixth-largest coffee grower, on an average produces about 3.2 lakh tons of coffee every year of which 75 percent are exported to countries like Italy, Germany, Russia, Belgium and Turkey. Today, India is home to 16 distinct varieties of coffee.
The journey of coffee to India has a vivid Arab connection. A devout pilgrim hailing from Chickmagalur, a picturesque hill station in India’s Karnataka state, Hazarat Shah Janab Magatabi, fondly known as Baba Budan, on his return journey, around 1600 AD via Yemen brought with him seven Coffee Arabica seeds by strapping them to his chest under his tunic.
Bababudangiri Hills in Chickmagalur where coffee was first planted in India. (Supplied)
Legend has it that Arabs were extremely protective about their coffee industry and taking the seeds outside was not allowed. The saint had known that they were magical seeds for making refreshing beverage as he had tasted the kahwa (Arabic for coffee) in Mocha, a port city of Yemen that overlooks the Red Sea.
Besides being a trading hub for coffee, Mocha was the source of the popular Mocha coffee beans. After reaching his native place, Baba Budan sowed the seeds in his hermitage garden near a hill cave at Chandragiri and the rest is history.
Chickmagalur is a picturesque hill station in India’s Karnataka state. (Supplied)
The coffee plants gradually spread as backyard plantings, and later on to the hills. The hills are now called Baba Budan Hills after the him. Today Chickmagalur, the birthplace of coffee in India, is filled with coffee plantations throughout its length and breadth.
Besides Chickmagalur, the charming region of Coorg is also one of the major grower of coffee. Coffee cultivation grew and thrived in India during the British rule and beyond.
A fall amid coffee plantations in Chickmagalur. (Supplied)
The Dutch began to harvest coffee in the Malabar region, but a major transition happened when the British led a relentless drive to set up Arabica coffee plantations across the hilly regions in South India, where the climatic conditions were more favorable for the crop.
Grown under a canopy of thick natural shade in ecologically sensitive regions of the Western and Eastern Ghats spread over Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Indian coffee quickly spread to non-traditional areas like Andhra Pradesh and Odisha on the Eastern Coast; Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh in the North East. Despite many states growing coffee, Karnataka and Kerala, accounting for nearly 90 percent of total production.
The charming region of Coorg is also one of the major grower of coffee. (Supplied)
In India, based on region of production, 13 regional coffees are classified: Anamalais, Bababudangiris, Biligiris, Araku Valley, Brahmaputra, Shevaroys, and Pulneys (for Arabica) and Wayanaad and Travancore (for Robusta). Coorg, Chikmagalur, Nilgiris and Manjarabad are famous for both Arabica and Robusta.
Apart from these 13, there are three Specialty Coffees classified based on their international popularity. They are Monsooned Malabar, Mysore Nuggets and Robusta Kaapi Royale.
Stall owners are thankful to Arabia for the wonderful coffee. (Supplied)
During a recent visit to Baba Budan hills, this correspondent spoke to stall owners and few tourists who still are thankful to Arabia for the wonderful coffee.
One stall owner who sells cool drinks and snacks on the hills overlooking the shrine summed up, “It is because of Baba Budan that India got coffee so early and the credit for discovering coffee goes to Arabs who invented and discovered hundreds of stuff including the coffee.”
Little wonder then a small cup of coffee has so much history behind it.
source: http://www.english.alarabiya.net / AlArabiya News / Home> Features / by Aftab Husain Kola / October 07th, 2018
An emotional Bopanna rested his India-shirt on the court, marking the end of his Davis Cup career in which he played 33 ties, winning a total of 23 matches including 13 in doubles.
Rohan Bopanna celebrates after winning the doubles match against Morocco’s Elliot Benchetrit and Younes Lalami Laaroussi at the Davis Cup World Group-II, in Lucknow, on September 17, 2023. ) | Photo Credit: PTI
Rohan Bopanna brought the curtains down on his Davis Cup career with a comfortable straight set win alongside Yuki Bhambri before Sumit Nagal won his reverse singles as India sealed the World Group II tie against Morocco 3-1, in Lucknow on September 17.
The 43-year-old Bopanna, coming out to play his 33rd and final tie, and Bhambri raced to a 6-2 6-1 win over Elliot Benchetrit and Younes Lalami Laaroussi in one hour and 11 minutes at the Mini Stadium.
India’s number one singles player Sumit Nagal outgunned Yassine Dlimi 6-3 6-3 in the first reverse singles to seal the home tie. The inconsequential fifth rubber was not played. It is only the second time that Nagal has won both his singles matches in a Davis Cup tie. He had achieved a similar result against Pakistan in 2019 in Kazakhstan. Nagal earned early breaks in both the sets, leaving Dlimi playing catch-up.
The win takes India to next year’s World Group I play-offs.
An emotional Bopanna rested his India-shirt on the court, marking the end of his Davis Cup career in which he played 50 matches in 33 ties, winning 23 rubbers, including 13 in doubles.
Watched by his family and friends, Bopanna acknowledged their and fans’ appreciation and blew kisses towards the stands.
About 50 of Bopanna’s family and friends flew to Lucknow to watch the Coorg player in action one last time in Davis Cup.
They were wearing T-shirts that had a tri-colour-waving Bopanna picture printed.
Younes could not hold his serve even once in the match while the Indians faced just one break point when Bhambri served and saved that too.
The Indians drew the first blood when they broke Younes. On a Bhambri backhand return at 30-15, Younes netted the volley. Bhambri smashed a volley winner on Younes’ return to earn the first breakpoint.
Benchetrit went for an angled volley winner on a Bhambri return but the ball went out as Indians led 3-1. Bopanna came out serving the next game at love to make it 4-1.
Younes’ serve came under attack once again in game eight. Bopanna found a winner at 15-15 and the Morocco player served a double fault to be down by two break points.
Yuki converted the set point with a volley winner on a feeble Younes return. The first set ended in a jiffy, just 34 minutes as the Indians lost five point on their serve.
Bopanna’s big serve was at work in the second set too as he began the proceedings with a comfortable hold but Bhambri’s serve came under pressure in the third game when at 30-all, his half-volley pick up flew out of the court.
The Indians, though, saved the break point.
Younes was up 40-0 on his serve in game four but lost his way, serving double fault and making a lot of unforced errors to lose his serve for the third time in the match.
Bhambri served out the match.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sports> Tennis> Davis Cup 2023 / by PTI / September 17th, 2023
Allana explains how it became one of the largest coffee exporters in India and caters to the needs of all types of buyers: specialty, single estate, and commercial-grade coffee.
When the Allana Group began trading in agricultural commodities in 1865, Founder Abdulla Allana and his family had no idea that the company would receive so much uptake that it would need a dedicated coffee division, nor that it would become one of the largest coffee exporters in India. But it did.
“Allana is a very entrepreneurial company. Despite earning a position of prestige in the Indian commodities market, the founding family allow us the freedom to input ideas, creating a stimulating working environment,” says Allanasons Director MP Devaiah.
“Through more than 158 years of inspired leadership, the Allana Group has emerged as a multi-product conglomerate of companies with wide-ranging interests. The company exports coffee, wheat, processed food, frozen buffalo and sheep meat, and is also making strides in the edible oils segment, along with a host of other products in the domestic market.”
After forming the subdivision, Allanasons, in 1973 to manufacture and supply processed food products, the company decided to diversify into coffee exports in 1982 and create the Coffee Division, based in Bangalore.
“The divisional office is situated in the heart of the city in close proximity to the Coffee Board of India. With the state of Karnataka producing 70 per cent of the coffee grown in the country, it is ideally located,” Devaiah says.
“Headed by a team of professionals well versed in the field and backed by the support of Allanasons, the Coffee Division soon made its presence felt, and found itself at the forefront of the industry.”
To complement this activity and gain control over the curing of the coffees sourced, Allanasons acquired its own curing factory in 1992.
“Gradually, this coffee curing unit, which was strategically located in Hassan in Karnataka and situated midway between the two major coffee growing districts of Chikkamagaluru and Coorg, became one of the hubs of activity in the industry,” says Devaiah.
“In turn, this required the expansion of the facilities and modernisation of the plant and machinery to meet the additional requirements of the Coffee Division. It also boasts an in-house cup-tasting facility for evaluating the characteristics of coffee.”
Allanasons owns two large warehouses at the port cities of Cochin and Mangalore where cargo is unloaded prior to shipment, ensuring that all operations come under its effective control. The company exports all grades of washed and unwashed Arabicas and Robustas, and owns and operates a dedicated facility in Mangalore where coffee monsooning is carried out.
This is the 12- to 16-week process of spreading beans across the warehouse floor during India’s monsoon season, allowing the beans to absorb moisture, swell in size, change colour, and shed their acidity.
“We are a supplier of quality coffee known for fulfilling commitments on schedule,” says Devaiah.
“In recognition of the Coffee Division’s performance, the Coffee Board of India has awarded Allanasons many accolades. Allanasons has won the APEDA Golden Export Trophy each year since 1992, reflecting its premier position in the export of agricultural products and processed foods. The Government of India has recognised Allana as a Premier Trading House, the highest achievable export performance recognition in the country.”
“We hold the distinction of being the country’s leading exporter of green coffee for a number of years consecutively, with exports in the range of 24,000 to 30,000 tonnes per annum.”
According to Devaiah, Allana sources beans directly from coffee plantations, enjoying preferential status with many growers who offer the best of their harvest in view of reliable transactions and assured uptake.
“The lush green hills of South India provide the world with much more than scenic beauty. They are the home of India’s largest coffee plantations and situated in the hills of Baba Budan, Biligiri, Kodagu, Mysore, Nilgiris, Palani and Shevaroy. These plantations produce fine coffee grown under natural forest shade,” he says.
“We value our associations with buyers and growers which have been nurtured over a four decade period. Trust and confidence in Allana is due to dedicated customer service, with instant round-the-clock response systems.”
Devaiah continues that the favourable climate, fertile soil, scientific cultivation – much of it organic – and stringent quality control, all contribute to producing the finest mild coffee in the world today — rich, smooth, and full of flavour.
“Over the years, we have gained expertise in dealing with all the major specialty coffees from India, including Monsooned Malabar AA and Monsooned Robusta AA,” he says.
“We have also developed two specialty coffees under our own brand name. Allana Mild Plantation AA and Royal Robusta Cherry AA. In addition, we are now offering our own exquisite signature coffees Arabica Monsooned Malabar AAA Screen 19/20 and Robusta Monsooned AAA Screen 19. We also provide buyers with customised special coffees to suit their needs.”
Devaiah looks forward to Allana remaining at the forefront of green bean coffee business in the Indian coffee market.
“Our strong network in sourcing the finest beans as well as our inhouse quality control differentiate and bring out the uniqueness in our coffee,” he says.
Devaiah says over the years coffee has become a mainstream consumer drink, especially amongst the vibrant young generation in India.
Keeping this in mind, Allana is also moving into downstream products.
“Our foray into the domestic coffee market is our commitment to provide one of the highest grades of coffee to our consumers. Being a veteran player in the industry, our extensive experience and expertise along with our world class infrastructure, we aim to create a superior and healthy domestic coffee market in India,” he says.
Devaiah says Allanasons is a trusted name, and the best bet for any requirements of quality coffee.
“We aim to grow through partnerships and maintain an uncompromising approach towards excellence which includes teaching an indomitable drive, a relentless determination and a persistent delivery standard in every aspect of the business,” he says.
The Annual Kodava Convention in North America is scheduled to take place on Sept. 2 and 3, 2023, in the San Francisco Bay Area, famously known as Silicon Valley. The convention will culminate on Sept. 3, coinciding with the Kodava community’s Kailpoldh festival. The inaugural day’s events will start at 5 pm.
This convention is a tradition spanning approximately 15 years. This time, over 500 Kodavas and their families from across the United States have registered to participate in the event, which is jointly organised by around 40 Kodava families.
According to the organisers, the two-day event will see the participation of Kodava guests from around the world. They have received well-wishes from notable Kodavas, including individuals from the military, sports, and the entertainment industry.
Registration had to be closed due to limited seating capacity. Local families will come together to showcase the cultural events that reflect the deep-rooted Kodava heritage and their unique talents, as stated by the organisers.
The programme will feature a blend of traditional and cultural events, including Baalo Paat performances, Kailpodh Ayudha Puja, Kodava cultural dances, Kodava Koota updates, an entrepreneurial mixer, a Kodava cultural skit, and the traditional Bolakaat.
This convention serves as a gathering for Kodava brethren from across North America, providing an opportunity to meet, learn and celebrate the rich Kodava culture. This year’s convention is aptly named ‘namme-by-the-bay’ and promises to offer attendees a unique opportunity to delve deeper into the world of Kodava tradition, unique attire, art, cuisine, culture and the deities.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / September 02nd, 2023
Ashwini Ponnappa, who has achieved many firsts for Indian badminton, is drawing new energy from her 20-year-old partner Tanisha Crasto. But the 33-year-old says her biggest challenge is to stay motivated.
Ashwini Ponnappa poses for a photo among shuttles at a badminton court. (Photo credit: Ashwini Ponnappa/Instagram)
Ashwini Ponnappa is unbothered about her age. An average female shuttler retires at 28, but Ashwini, even at 33, does not see any reason for slowing down. She does not let the thought of retirement sneak into her mind either. Having recently taken up the fresh challenge of playing two intense and physically demanding disciplines – women’s and mixed doubles – instead of one, Ashwini says she ‘finds solace’ in distributing her priorities. “It is not easy to play two events, but it is something that I want to do at this point, I kind of find solace in playing two events rather than one,” Ashwini told The Bridge.
Ashwini broke her long-standing and rather futile partnership with N. Sikki Reddy last year, following her highly successful one with Jwala Gutta which ended in 2016. She tried her hands at pottery and commentary before embarking on a fresh challenge by pairing up with Tanisha Crasto, 13 years younger than her. To put the matter into perspective, when Ashiwni had won her first title – the national sub-junior girls’ doubles gold in 2004 – Tanisha had been in her nappies.
A partner in the mould of a mentor
Ashwin admitted that the trickiest thing for her now is to stay motivated. But Tanisha’s exuberant presence is not allowing her to lag behind. “As you get older, things get tricker. When you are young, you have time on your side, enthusiasm. For me, the challenge right now is to look after my body and keep my mind fresh. And to keep going, keep pushing and keep having that belief and hope that ‘yes, you are going to get that result, again’,” Ashwini said. “It’s tricky, especially when it comes to getting to the stadium and training every single day. The glimmer of hope is that I always believe something good is going to come my way. And starting over with a young partner is a motivating,” she stated.
Being a senior player, Ashwini is more than just a partner in this new partnership. “I love the energy and enthusiasm that she (Tanisha) brings in to the court. Partnering with her is quite fun, because she always wants to do well. And she is very gritty on court. Our age gap does not matter on court. Of course, since I have played for such a long time, I tend to be more like a mentor,” she said. But Ashwini ruled out having any seniority complex. “But having said that, when you are on board, you cannot have a seniority complex. At the end of the day, you are in a partnership irrespective of how big the age gap is,” added the shuttler.
Even though the Ashwini-Tanisha partnership is at a nascent stage now, the combination has started clicking. They claimed their first International Challenge title in Nantes, France, in June. They were also part of India’s mixed team silver medal-winning squad at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Ranked 56th in the world, Ashwini-Tanisha is the second-choice women’s doubles pair for India after Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand. The pair will next be seen in action at the Asian Games in Hangzhou in September. However, Ashwini is no longer in the reckoning for the Olympics or BWF World Championships, as she has slipped out of the top 32. “We just started playing in January. Unfortunately, we have not played too many tournaments. But I am very happy with the fact that we won the Nantes International Challenge. We are just getting started, we have a long way to go,” Ashwini asserted.
Juggling between challenges Her women’s doubles career is already legendary, but Ashwini’s transition to mixed doubles has always been challenging. “Switching to mixed doubles has always been a challenge. It is easier to have a woman on your side and also one at the back of the court. I have been a women’s doubles specialist in my career so far. I have always been known as a player who is predominantly at the back of the court rather than front,” explained Ashwini. “The most obvious difference is that in mixed doubles, you always find the girl at the net,” she said.
But, Ashwini, like always, is not willing to give up. “I think I have adapted over the years, which also requires me to move into the net. It’s not natural for me, but I have learnt to make the transition to the back of the court,” she said about the challenge of playing mixed doubles. This challenge is precisely the reason her partnership with B. Sumeeth Reddy has not taken off yet. In the mixed-gender event, they are ranked 64th and are yet to taste success. This is the latest of Ashwini’s many attempts to make her mixed doubles career fly. She had previously paired up with Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, to whom she attributed the speed and power of her smash. But that partnership was severed soon as Satwik specialised in men’s doubles and gave up on mixed doubles.
As she is ranked outside the top rung, Ashwini is no longer a sure shot on the World Tour; she features regularly in the qualifiers. This makes her newest journey more strenuous, as she has had to juggle between smaller tournaments for ranking points, where she often plays too many matches in a day. “If I am playing the bigger tournaments, it is not much of an issue because there is enough time. But if I am playing the smaller tournaments, which we have to since we do not really have a good ranking, there are times when you could end up playing three to four matches in a day,” said Ashwini.
Pride of Indian women’s doubles
Ashwini has been a trailblazer in Indian women’s doubles along with Jwala. The duo achieved many firsts for Indian doubles, by winning Commonwealth Games gold and BWF World Championships bronze. In fact, for 11 years, Ashwini and Jwala were India’s only doubles pair to win a medal at the Worlds before Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty – pioneers in men’s doubles – matched their feat in 2022 in Tokyo.
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“We were the first to win the bronze medal at the World Championships. And we were the first ones to win a bronze medal overall in 28 years. It was a very special moment for us. The best part for me was that we enjoyed the entire tournament. The icing on the cake was the bronze medal,” Ashwini said.
Ashwini welcomes changes in women’s doubles
Though she finds herself out of favour in the Indian badminton contingent in top-notch events, the seasoned star is delighted with the changes in Indian women’s doubles, which has emerged from an earlier archaic philosophy to become an attractive discipline for youngsters.
“When I started, I did not want to play doubles. I was more interested in women’s singles. I was asked to choose it. But over the years, I have proved myself as a women’s doubles specialist,” said Ashwini.
She welcomes the recent trend where more players are taking up the discipline and sponsors are supporting their bids. India now has two women’s doubles pairings in the top 50. There are five more in the top 100, including Ashwini-Tanisha at 56.
“It has evolved quite a bit in the last decade, especially the last few years. Especially after the Covid-19 pandemic. Youngsters are being pushed towards doubles and sponsors are supporting them. In the past, only one or two pairs were sent and not a lot of pairs went on their own. This has changed drastically,” observed Ashwini.
However, Ashwini finds the latest BWF World Tour hectic, where shuttlers are forced to compete for ranking and Olympic qualification points round the year.
“It gets really overwhelming at times. It is hard to find the right gap for a break. It would be nice if we have a streamlined year, where we would also get an off season. But I would say the sport is growing the way it should grow. There’s always good and bad, it depends on how you look at it,” opined Ashwini.
source: http://www.thebridge.in / The Bridge / Home> Badminton / by Sudipta Biswas / August 27th, 2023
‘It’s having the right people around—that is crucial. To stop a negative mindset and have the team encouraging and moving you forward, that helps one grow,’ says Rohan Bopanna.
Rohan Bopanna
Twenty years in the making, the legacy of tennis champion Rohan Bopanna has been strong and sublime. The oldest player on the masters’ circuit at 43, the lone Indian winning matches, tennis is ingrained in his soul. Now, the champion turns his aggressive play, ball plucking, and serve-oriented game to the 2023 US Open doubles draw with Australian Matthew Ebden, all the while also embracing his first love coffee – as Coffee Board of India’s coffee ambassador. But, more on that later.
At a time when the rigours of age force one to hang their boots, Coorg and Bangalore boy Rohan Bopanna perseveres. Playing his best tennis yet, 2023 saw him win an ATP master’s title, reach a major final and semi-final, making it back onto the doubles ranked No. 8. This resilience, perseverance, discipline and insatiable urge to compete has been his lode star. From a “not-scholarship worthy teen” who paid for coaching and board in Pune, the years have only transformed his game and resolve into the Indian tennis juggernaut he is today. Aware of the constant battle with age, Rohan’s 2023 Davis Cup appearance will be his last, international tennis continues though.
“I am retiring from Davis Cup, not general tennis. Having played Davis Cup for 20-plus years, it is the right time to make the call. It is based in India, and I see a few younger players upping their ranking. Thus, I was aware that I will be replaced by another Indian, unlike on the tour where if I retire, it is not guaranteed that the spot will go to an Indian,” explains Rohan, adding, “Playing my last match in India will be special. So proud and happy about my 20-year journey at the Davis Cup,” adds the player currently in the US.
Brushing aside his age, he feels, “Age is truly a number. The mind limits us, it defines if you can or can’t push the limit. If you manage the demands on the body, anything is possible. The right time for recovery, sleep, food, strength and mobility is key.” There are no off days for the grand slammer – an hour of mobility, exercise bands, strength work for his legs, agility and Iyengar yoga before practice. The gym for a cool down, he adds, “Doing squats is extremely painful for me as I don’t have cartilage. I focus on small muscles. Cooling down and stretching, and an ice bath is key. Investing and traveling with a physio helps me take care of my body as maintaining muscle is important.”
Loving simple home cooked fare, he admits being partial to rice, and no yeast. Not a stickler, if the urge strikes, in Rome, a pizza slice is welcome, even a rare dessert, and in Coorg his mom’s Pandi curry. Fruits, eggs, cereal for breakfast, his favourite filter coffee, salmon or chicken with white rice and vegetables for a meal, the most essential is, “Proper sleep – seven to eight hours, recovery is sacrosanct. Having a personal physio at Wimbledon helped me reach the doubles semi-finals after playing back to back matches on four consecutive days,” adds Bopanna.
Oh partner my partner
Bopanna and Matthew Ebden have been clinching tough matches on the doubles circuit since January 2023. A player who achieved a doubles career-high No. 3 in 2013, and earned 400th doubles win of his career in 2021, has over the relentless tournament-hopping, and match-playing found many partners – Imran Qureshi, Matwe Middelkoop, etc, and now Ebden. It’s about focusing on the relationship and evolving. “Camaraderie has to develop off the court too, which aids in tight matches. You need to trust each other, understand the need for space, when to take charge or change tactics. Ebden brings a calmness on court, and we both don’t get flustered,” mulls Rohan.
A Coorg at heart
Spending his formative years (till 14) at the family coffee estate Raja Prabha Estate at Madhapur (named after Raja his uncle, and Prabha his dad), one can easily picture a little Rohan running amok amid greenery, climbing and swinging from trees – even today, the outdoorsy persona thrives. “Being a part of coffee picking, harvesting, packaging – the estate has given me amazing memories. Tennis, I picked up much later, at 10. Till then, I was a naughty brat!” he smiles.
That tennis requires deep pockets, it’s Rohan’s parents’ unwavering support that has seen his fortunes rise. “When you are paying for so many tickets, it’s not easy – my coach, physio, wife and daughter. The hardest part is that from a young age one has to pay all the expenses. Even today, I pay for my coach, physio, travel, and unfortunately not many people know this, they think the federation helps,” he says.
Attributing his father for pushing his limits, and his mother for ensuring he was focused, today he realises the crucial role they played. “Not once did they say, ‘ok, tennis is going nowhere, let’s stop it.’ They encouraged me, gave me a chance to learn and excel. They wanted me to represent India one day. From 2002, now playing for 20 years has been a blessing,” he adds.
“Dad learnt and taught himself tennis in Coorg, he got eight members together, built a tennis court – formed a club, and they taught each other, even the wives! Appreciating this journey from basics – even today the club has no gym – my dad had built two poles with a rope to help strengthen my grip. Those days, often, there was no electricity, I would study under a candlelight, that was normal,” chuckles Rohan.
Gifted a bicycle in Pune, for four years, the grand slam winner would pedal 14-15 km every day, then at 19, he got a 1999 Hero Honda Splendour, which is there even today!
Many tennis players visited the estate for his wedding to Supriya, and loved it. “Mahesh, Sania and Rishi have come there – and yes, they played tennis on that basic court where I started my journey,” he says.
Dad’s biggest fan is Tridha
Rohan thrives on competition. But tennis can be a lonely endeavour. Respite with family helps, and Rohan is grateful his daughter can witness him play. “Our daughter Tridha is four. She watches me play – which is an amazing feeling. I am happy she can witness my live tennis instead of saying, ‘Oh, my dad used to play.’ It makes a world of difference. Having Supriya and her around is a blessing. She might not understand the game but is thrilled to watch me practice, picks up balls, she even brings a racket for fun – When I lose a match, she has now learnt to muster the courage, to say ‘bad luck’,” says the doting father.
The inner circle plays a significant role in an athlete’s journey, and his robust support system includes coach Scott Davidoff who has worked with players like Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza. Bringing a new energy to Rohan’s steadfast game, he adds, “Scott has been travelling with me for over 12 years. We are able to push and play at a higher level. He brings stability. When overwhelmed, Scott understands my struggles, is succinct, and helps manage the mind. It could be a suggestion on slowing down my first serves if I am not accurate, or using a kick serve – his perspective comes from years of experience.”
Brewing the coffee narrative
His love affair with coffee has come full circle as coffee ambassador for the Coffee Board of India. A rite of passage with the ubiquitous seed, the World Coffee Conference to be held in Bangalore from September 25-28, and Rohan is embracing this role whole heartedly. “The Coffee Board CEO recognised that I was doing my bit for Indian coffee. I’d love to showcase Indian coffee, its rich culture – which many are unaware about. To bring India onto the world map. Indian coffee is uniquely grown under shade, compared to others grown in direct sunlight,” pipes the guy always carries his coffee filter and roast on tour.
On awakening, a ritual steeped in love, the welcome brew and aroma is a camaraderie that is special. “My coffee love came way before tennis,” chuckles Rohan who is touring with gifts of his own artisan coffee blend. Many tennis players love coffee, thus the Rohan Bopanna blend in a tie up with Maverick and Farmer is quite the rage. “The beans are from my estate, roasted, and packaged – a medium roast 100 percent Arabica blend,” says the filter coffee aficionado who feels a medium roast enhances flavour, and is fascinated by the innumerable brewing methods.
Indian tennis needs structure
Indian tennis has been mercurial. While doubles has seen successes, the dearth of singles, Rohan feels, is because India currently does not have a structure to help its growth. “We need tournaments and opportunities for players based on rankings, more futures and challengers. Foresight too – each state tennis association should hold at least one of each per year. We have many junior tournaments, but after that, it’s zero – KSLTA, and MSLTA are trying to host tournaments which is great. If the other 15-20 states did that too, Indian tennis will get a full calendar. And Indian tennis will grow,” stresses Bopanna citing the example of US-based Ben Shelton (19) who is wowing fans and is in the top 100. “We don’t have that opportunity, we need to create it first before even asking where the players are,” he affirms.
Perseverance above all
From a dismal 2020 where he went five months without a win, a stellar 2022, and 2023, “It’s mental strength to constantly manage situations no matter what, that is important.” A calmer Bopanna now understands the reality of effort, how to stop the mind rambles. “It’s having the right people around – that is crucial. To stop a negative mindset, and have the team encouraging and moving you forward, that helps one grow.”
The writer is a senior journalist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.
source: http://www.firstpost.com / First Post / Home> Opinion / by Suruchi Kapur-Gomes / August 27th, 2023
Dr. Cheranda Koushik Ponnanna has been appointed as a Visiting Fellow at the National Institute of Health (NIH), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), Phoenix, Arizona.
He will be conducting his Post Doctoral Resarch on the Genetic Basis of Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity. He holds a Ph.D in Genetics from University of Mysore. He is the son of Cheranda Ravi Thimmaiah and Usha from B. Shettigeri, Kodagu.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> In Briefs / August 14th, 2023
Marriott Hotels, an esteemed flagbearer within Marriott Bonvoy’s illustrious array of 31 hotel brands, has unveiled the Coorg Marriott Resort & Spa amidst the tranquil landscapes of Coorg, Karnataka. Nestled amid the verdant expanse of the Makandur forest, this modern haven offers a gateway to immersive local escapades, all cradled within the serene sanctuary of a lush botanical haven.
Renowned as one of Southern India’s premier hill station destinations, Coorg boasts enchanting vistas of mist-shrouded hills and luxuriant landscapes, providing a picturesque canvas for travelers. What sets this locale apart is not only its breathtaking natural allure but also the spectrum of exhilarating activities on offer, including intrepid treks, exploration of coffee plantations, and the enchantment of cascading waterfalls.
“We are thrilled to bring Marriott Hotels to Coorg, famously known as the Scotland of India, a land endowed with breath-taking natural splendor and glorious history. This opening underlines our commitment and focus as we continue to expand our footprints across leading travel destinations within India, providing travelers with trusted and high-quality accommodation choices” said Ranju Alex, Area Vice President, South Asia, Marriott International. “Marriott Hotels continues to live its legacy of Wonderful Hospitality, earning the trust of travelers around the globe.”
With 108 elegantly appointed villas and cottages, the Coorg Marriott Resort & Spa showcases panoramic emerald landscapes. Each villa boasts abundant natural light, plush bedding, and modern conveniences. Moreover, the resort extends its warm hospitality to four-legged companions, enhancing the vacation experience.
Within the dining sphere, the resort presents a diverse culinary offering. Madiker Kitchen caters to a global palate with international favorites and traditional Coorgi cuisine. Grills By The Valley promises a forest-framed dining experience with innovative dishes and skillfully crafted cocktails. The Greatroom welcomes guests to indulge in artisanal teas, coffees, and creatively infused cocktails amidst a library setting. As the day winds down, the swim-up Pool Bar provides an ideal setting for sundowners and light bites.
“We are delighted to welcome guests to our stunning new resort in Coorg,” said Randal Whelpdale, General Manager at Coorg Marriott Resort & Spa. “Coorg is a unique blend of serene landscapes, vibrant traditions, and outdoor adventure. We are thrilled to showcase its natural beauty and charm through our exceptional facilities, curated local experiences, and warm hospitality.”
source: http://www.businessnewsweek.in / Business News Week / Home> Business / by Sujata / August 11th, 2023
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