Category Archives: World Opinion

This Fruity, Citrus Organic Coffee Grown In Nagaland Hills Just Won Gold

Coffee Board, India (wef. Nov 17, 2021), Coffee News, World Opinion

Highlights

  • Naga Coffee was awarded Gold for Nagaland Washing Station Natural Coffee during the Aurora International Taste Challenge (AITC) 2023 held on 9 June in South Africa.
  • Local farmers from the state capital Kohima produced the coffee that entered the competition.
  • The Naga Coffee was experimented with a new drying process this year. Ripe coffee cherries were brought from a few local farmers and dried in a polyhouse during the winter season in Kohima.
  • The idea behind this is to promote homegrown Himalayan coffee with a natural citrus flavour and generate employment in the State.

__________

Naga Coffee was awarded Gold for Nagaland Washing Station Natural Coffee during the Aurora International Taste Challenge (AITC) 2023 held on 9 June in South Africa.

Local farmers from the state capital Kohima produced the coffee that entered the competition.

The Naga coffee team that processed the award-winning coffee consisted of Dr Pieter Vermeulen, co-founder, Kajiikho Ariicho and Ënga Antühü, the mill manager. 

The Naga Coffee team/ nagalandtribune.in

Held in South Africa this year, the Aurora International Taste Challenge was established to recognise and award food and drink excellence internationally while helping consumers confidently purchase award-winning, expertly-rated products. 

Unique process of coffee processing 

The Naga Coffee was experimented with a new drying process this year. Ripe coffee cherries were brought from a few local farmers and dried in a polyhouse during the winter season in Kohima. 

Before the final processing of the coffee, it was sundried for three days in Dimapur. This double-drying process produced a wonderful sweetness. 

Coffee beans being sundried/ nagalandtribune.in

This season, only 120 kg of this particular coffee was produced. But it was for the first time that Nagaland has produced a coffee that scored above 85 points on the Speciality Coffee Associations scale. 

Coffee production in India 

In the 2016-17 season, India had produced 5.5 million bags of coffee. Most of the country’s coffee is grown in the three southern states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, followed by Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. India processes coffee by the washed (or wet) method as well as the natural (or dry) method. 

But more recently, there has been a growing demand for premium and speciality coffees as consumers become increasingly interested in unique flavour profiles and high-quality products. Further, customers show greater interest in coffees that offer additional health benefits, such as antioxidants or energy-boosting properties. 

This is where Nagaland coffee comes in – grown in the forests in the mountainous areas of Nagaland. 

Coffee in Nagaland 

Various districts of Nagaland, like Zunheboto, Mon, Wokha, Khar and Boje, offer high-altitude speciality coffee grown in the natural forest shade. 

Coffee grown in Nagaland/ Nagaland government

This is part of Naga Coffee – a public-private partnership – which was formalised in 2016 as a Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Land Resources, Nagaland and Noble Cause, a South African Company by Peter Vermeulen. 

The coffee seeds are procured from the Coffee Board of India and sent to small farmers to be planted. Later these coffees are roasted by the Naga Coffee team. The idea behind this is to promote homegrown Himalayan coffee with a natural citrus flavour and generate employment in the State.

source: http://www.indiatimes.in / India Times / Home> News> India / by Shristi B Dutta / June 13th, 2023

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf appoints creative agency for the Indian market

Coffee News, World Opinion, ,

California-based CBTL says creative agency Volume will lead its digital strategy across India — an increasingly ‘important and emerging market’ for the coffee chain.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL) India has appointed Delhi-based media agency Volume as its new Creative and Digital Partner. 
 

Volume, which was selected following a multi-agency pitch, will develop the coffee chain’s creative and digital strategy across the country, which CBTL India described as an ‘important and emerging market’. 


California-based CBTL entered India in 2008 with a store at the Select CityWalk in Delhi and now operates approximately 30 Indian outlets. 


“We are delighted to have Volume on board as our India Agency. India being an important and emerging market, it is a great opportunity to showcase consumers of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf experience,” said Ranjit Talwar, Commercial Director, CBTL India. 


Rakesh Krishnotula, creative head of Volume, said the partnership presented ‘a unique opportunity’ to put ‘the CBTL experience across the Indian market’. 


In May 2023, Indian media reported CBTL was seeking new franchise partners in India in a bid to expand its footprint and keep pace with an increasingly competitive pool of international branded coffee chains. 


Fellow US coffee chain Starbucks, which opened its first store in India in 2012, operates 333 stores across 41 cities in India. Following its full-year results in April 2023, Tata Starbucks said it was ‘looking to rapidly expand its presence in the coming years’. 


UK-based Costa Coffee also has ambitious growth plans within the Indian market, with franchise partner Devyani International seeking to scale the coffee chain’s 115-strong footprint over the next 12 months. 


Tim Hortons, which entered India in August 2022, has reached 17 stores across the country and plans to reach 120 stores by 2026. 


Additionally, coffee and food-to-go chain Pret A Manger  is seeking to open 100 outlets across India within five years following its market entry in April 2023 with Reliance Brands Limited. 

source: http://www.worldcoffeeportal.com / World Coffee Portal / Home> Industry News / June 14th, 2023

Hyderabad: OU scientist discovers new species of Bat in Coorg

Agriculture, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All, World Opinion

According to the researchers, with the discovery of the new species, the number of bent-winged bats in India has increased from 4 to 5.

OU scientist discovers new species of Bat (Photo: Twitter)

Hyderabad: 

Eminent zoology scientist from Osmania University Dr Bhargavi Srinivasulu, along with her son, Aditya Srinivasulu, has discovered a new species of bat from Karnataka’s Coorg.

The mother-son duo have named their discovery, ‘Miniopetrus srinii Srini’s Bent-winged Bat’, discovered in a cave in Makuta of Kodagu district (Coorg).

The research papers were submitted on Saturday and the expert committee cleared the papers and conferred the rare honour.

“We collected the specimens of bats from a large subterranean cave in the dense jungles of Western Ghats in Makuta, we doubted that this could be a cryptic species of bat, which we had tentatively identified as the Small Bent-winged Bat,” said Dr Bhargavi.

Found in southern Europe, Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, New Caledonia and Vanuatu, Bent-winged Bats are small-sized bats that live in large colonies of a few hundred individuals in caves.

According to the researchers, with the discovery of the new species, the number of bent-winged bats in India has increased from 4 to 5.

The specimens of bats were collected from a large subterranean cave in the dense jungles of the Western Ghats in Makuta. The Small Bent-winged Bat is reported from the Nicobar Islands, peninsular India, Nepal and Northeast India.

Talking about the multiple works they undertook in discovering the new bats, Dr Bhargavi said, “Our research on Andaman bats has revealed that the fauna on the islands are genetically different from those on mainland India. We conducted morphological, cranial, echolocation and genetic studies to determine the relationship between the Makuta specimens and others.”

A peer-reviewed scientific mega journal for animal taxonomists named Zootaxa has published the description of the new species that were named in honour of Prof C Srinivasulu, a bat biologist working at the varsity.

source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> News> Hyderabad / by News Desk / May 29th, 2023

Annual Kodava Meet In San Francisco Bay Area

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, Samajas, Associations, Clubs (wef. Sept. 03rd, 2022)), Women/Girls (wef. Sept 03rd, 2022), World Opinion

40 families to organise the mega event on Sept. 2 and 3

California:

The Annual Kodava Convention in North America will be held on Sept. 2 and 3, 2023, this time in the San Francisco Bay Area, also known as Silicon Valley.

This convention, which has been going on for about 15 years, was postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A number of Kodava families across the country have already registered to participate in this convention, which is being jointly conducted by about 40  Kodava families.

It is an event for Kodava brethren from all across North America to meet, learn and celebrate the Kodava culture. With a strong history of more than 20 years, these conventions have been hosted in several major US cities in the past.

This year’s convention is called ‘namme-by-the-bay’ and will showcase the vibrant and colourful festivals of Kodagu. This will be a unique opportunity for the attendees to learn about Kodava art, food, culture and deities in a much greater depth.

Furthermore, this event also presents meet-and-greet opportunities and networking for jobs, family connections and matrimony. An informal pre-convention event will be held on Sept. 2 at Elliston Vineyards — a beautiful and historic location in Sunol Hills.

Several Kodava families across the country have already registered to attend this event, which is being organised by about 40 Kodava families from San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento.

The convention is being conducted to save the Kodava traditions and develop unity among the Kodava people. For more information, write to bayareakodavas@gmail.com.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / May 22nd, 2023

Shortage of beans drives up cost of even the cheapest cup of coffee

Coffee News, World Opinion

While many coffee lovers prefer the high-quality arabica beans sold in cafes, robusta is normally less expensive because the tree is hardier and requires less care.

Coffee, coffee beans
pix: Bloomberg

The global cost-of-living crunch has pushed coffee drinkers to get their fix from cheaper brews. But a shortage of robusta beans is making it increasingly difficult to find a budget-friendly cup.
 While many coffee lovers prefer the high-quality arabica beans sold in cafes, robusta is normally less expensive because the tree is hardier and requires less care, making it easier to produce in large quantities. The variety is often used in instant coffee, espressos and ground blends sold at supermarkets, which have experienced a comeback as cash-strapped consumers seek alternatives.


Key growers, however, are finding it difficult to keep up with the surge in demand, with wholesale prices this week hitting the highest level in nearly twelve years. 


For consumers in Europe’s largest coffee market, Germany, the squeeze is having a noticeable effect on retail costs, with instant varieties going for nearly 20% more than a year ago, even as inflation for coffee beans has lost momentum. US instant coffee price-growth also slowed less than the roasted version in April.

Chart

The odds of global robusta shortages easing any time soon look bleak. Vietnam — the world’s largest producer — probably collected its smallest harvest in four years, after farmers focused on planting more profitable crops like avocados and durians to cope with booming fertilizer costs in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 


Brazil, the second-largest grower of the variety, has seen its crops hurt by drought, and there are also concerns that Indonesia’s output could suffer following heavy rains.
Despite those hurdles, more robusta beans were exported globally in the first six months of the current season compared to the last three years — just not fast enough to keep up with higher needs. Shipments between October and March were about 4% higher than the same period in 2021-22, according to the International Coffee Organization.


“There’s been so much of a demand shift away from higher-priced coffee that even the market isn’t even being satisfied by higher robusta exports,” said Judith Ganes, who runs a consultancy focused on commodities like coffee in New York. 

Chart

The switch was first observed among roasters who increased the amount of robusta used in commercial blends to offset higher arabica costs and energy bills. Then, double-digit inflation in many parts of the world saw grocery bills surge to the highest in decades, forcing some consumers to trade down to cheaper options. 


As a result, robusta-heavy instant coffee is growing faster than other industry segments, according to Aguinaldo Lima of the Brazilian Instant Coffee Industry Association, whose country is the world’s top soluble coffee producer. And leading companies elsewhere, such as Nestle SA and India’s Tata Coffee, have also reported stronger demand for instant coffee in their latest financial reports.


While robusta beans are known to be significantly more bitter than the arabica variety — in part due to higher levels of caffeine — Vietnam and Indonesia have both improved the quality of their beans, making it easier for roasters to increase the variety in blends without drastically affecting the taste, according to Ganes.

Consumers might discover “very interesting flavors” by drinking robustas, even if the taste is different than arabica coffee, said Daniel Munari, a barista who also runs Royalty Quality Cafe in southern Brazil. 


“There’s sweetness and acidity, which are a great addition and give balance to the drink,” he said.

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> World News / by Mumbi Gitau, Dayanne Sousa and Mai Ngoc Chau / May 14th, 2023

The Lost Heroes of Kodagu

Amazing Feats, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Women/Girls (wef. Sept 03rd, 2022), World Opinion, , , , , , , ,

A land known for its coffee and renowned for its generals and warriors, the history of Kodagu has never been traced to its origins, the thread of descent becoming a tangled knot of colonial theories and hearsays. But history is important for one to realise the essence of culture and one’s own identity. Without this realisation, much is lost, and more is at risk.

Kodagu has always been placed in the category of the areas that complied silently with the British, when in reality, its contributions were simply underplayed and whitewashed. Many braves from all backgrounds had been leaders and warriors in their own right, following Gandhian ideals and fighting passionately for freedom. 

The PM’s YUVA Mentorship scheme was an opportunity to shrug off this stereotype and uncover the truth. The Lost Heroes of Kodagu talks of those men and women who looked danger in the eye, unflinching even as blows landed on them left and right. It talks of those who rose and made sure their voices were heard despite attempts to muffle them. Those that history let slip through cracks and crevices, silent and dormant.

Recover them as you read. Watch as they come alive through the pages. Be inspired by their grit and determination, be empowered by their stories. But most of all – remember them, keep them in glorious memory.

Please do order the book on Amazon and leave a review: https://www.amazon.in/dp/9354918859/ref=smop_skuctr_view

I’d love to hear from you as well! Reach out at aaliamevada@gmail.com 🙂

source: http://www.bookofachievers.com / BookOfAchievers.com / Home> Snippets> Essay / by Aalia Chondamma / April 13th, 2023

Of lore written on silken leaves

Amazing Feats, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, Women/Girls (wef. Sept 03rd, 2022), World Opinion

Kodava traditions and celebrations are centred around a rich oral folk tradition. Mookonda Kushalappa tells the stories of those that kept it alive.

During the times of the Rajas, writing was not popular among the Kodavas of Kodagu, who were paddy farmers and cattle herdsmen. 

In the absence of literature, the region was rich in oral folklore. A song was sung for every occasion — songs were sung during the annual village festival and during the harvest festival Puththari. Songs were sung for weddings and funerals. Four singers would carry small hourglass drums called dudi and beat them with small, curved sticks. These rustic songs often had the same rhythm. 

The compiler

A key force in chronicling these oral traditions was Nadikerianda Chinnappa. Chinappa was born in 1875 in Karada village. 

In 1899, he joined the revenue department and wrote an English poem “My position as Shanbhog”. In 1900, he became a Revenue Inspector. In 1902, he joined the Indian Army’s Coorg Regiment and became a Subedar Major. Two years later, the regiment was disbanded and he joined the police department. 

Subedars Codanda Ayyanna, Bolachanda Nanjappa and Nadikerianda Chinnappa of the Coorg Regiment, Fraserpet (Kushalnagar), 1902. Photo courtesy Boverianda Nanjamma Chinnappa

After his training from Vellore, he became an SI in Kushalnagar. Thereafter, he was transferred to Napok, Srimangala and Virajpet until he was made prosecuting inspector in Madikeri. 

In 1917, he created a Kodava prayer called ‘Sri Moola Kanniye’, addressed to ‘the first maiden’ or Parvathi who was incarnated as Kaveri. This came to be known as the Kodava anthem. He also composed a Kannada poem in honour of the deity of Chomamale hill, Somagiri Deva. 

During his free time, he would ride through the countryside on horseback. He would visit folk singers and every time he heard an interesting song, he would bring the singer home. His wife would cook food for the singer, while Chinnappa would offer him toddy. The singer would beat the dudi and sing the song while Chinnappa wrote it down. 

By 1922, he had extensively collected several folk songs which were sung during various ceremonies and festivals such as the Kaveri Song, the Wedding Song, the Funeral Song and the Puththari Harvest Song, along with 750 proverbs and idioms. 

The folk songs were divided into categories based on when they were sung or in praise of whom they were sung — customs and ceremonies, festivals, heroes and deities. He published a compilation, titled ‘Pattole Palame’ in 1924. The Pattole Palame is one of the earliest compilations of folklore in India.

The name Pattole Palame was originally used for old palm-leaf records kept by astrologers in Kodagu. It comes from the words ‘patt-ole’ (silk leaves) ‘palame’ (lore), meaning oral traditions recorded on palm leaves, which were like silk. 

Between 1894 and 1928, G A Grierson, a civil servant, conducted the Linguistic Survey of India. A knowledgeable speaker was invited from every known Indian language. The person had to narrate a translated biblical parable and either sing a song or narrate a story in the language. 

In 1922, Chinnappa was recorded narrating the ‘Prodigal Son’ in Kodava language. He also sang his own composition, ‘Sri Moola Kanniye’. These gramophone recordings were sent to the British Library’s Sound Archives and the Madras Museum. 

The language was recorded as ‘Kodaga’ and wrongly identified as being from Madras. The narrator was uncredited and the song was called ‘Coorg national anthem: Swadesi priya kirtane’. It was in the 1970s that Chinnappa’s voice was identified by his son Subbayya when he listened to the Madras Museum recording. 

In 1929, Chinnappa translated the Bhagwat Gita into Kodava and called it ‘Bhagvathanda paat’. Krishna was called by his Kodava name Kuttappa in this book.

The translators

Chinappa’s legacy has been kept alive by his descendants, including his grandson Boverianda Muthanna Chinnappa, fondly nicknamed Bobjee. After working as an engineer in India and various countries abroad, Boverianda Chinnappa became an entrepreneur in Canada. He married his cousin Nadikerianda Nanjamma, another grandchild of Nadikerianda Chinnappa. 

Nanjamma worked as a statistician and taught statistics in India and Canada. She co-authored a book on Business Survey Methods. In 1993, she was elected a fellow of the American Statistical Association. 

After their retirement, Boverianda Chinnappa and Nanjamma returned to India. Their translation of Pattole Palame into English was published in 2003. Nanjamma’s brother renowned cartoonist N Ponnappa illustrated the cover of the book. 

The Pattole Palame book cover

The couple visited nearly 1,720 clans in Kodagu over the years to research ainmanes. Their work was compiled into a book called ‘Ainmanes of Kodagu’ and an online website.

The author (extreme left) with Boverianda Chinnappa and Nanjamma in 2018. Photo courtesy: Iynanda Dinesh Monnappa, Cauvery Studio, Ammathi

In 2006, Nanjamma received a Mangalore University honorary doctorate from the Governor of Karnataka. That same year, she won the ‘Coorg Person of the Year’ award. 

Boverianda Chinnappa passed away on March 10 this year. He is survived by his wife, two daughters and their families.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Spectrum / by Mookonda Kushalappa / April 05th, 2023

..

UK-based EL&N to launch in India via retail conglomerate Reliance Brands

Coffee News, World Opinion

The boutique café group will seek to build upon its success in the Middle East by catalysing growing demand for premium café experiences in India.

Reliance Brands announced its EL&N partnership in a briefing following its latest quarterly results | Photo credit: via Shutterstock

UK-based boutique café group EL&N has agreed a franchise partnership with Reliance Brands to open outlets in India, its eighth market globally. 
 

EL&N, renowned for its lavishly decorated interiors and claim to being the world’s ‘most Instagrammable café’, opened its first outlet in August 2017 in London and now operates 27 stores around the world. 


Following success in the Middle East, where the café group operates 12 stores across Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE, EL&N is seeking to enter new markets internationally. 


With stores also in France and Italy, EL&N recently appointed Lagardere Travel Retail as its exclusive franchisee for travel locations and also begun regional expansion across its native UK market. 


Retail conglomerate Reliance Brands, which is also the franchise partner for UK-based coffee and food-to-go chain Pret A Manger, announced its EL&N partnership in a briefing following its latest quarterly results. 


Mumbai-based Reliance Brands opened the first Pret A Manger store in India  in April 2023 and is reportedly exploring bringing Armani/Caffe, the boutique café concept of Italian luxury fashion house Emporio Armani, to India. 


India’s out-of-home coffee segment is expanding, with domestic coffee consumption largely driven by younger consumers seeking new, premium café experiences. 


While established global coffee chains, including Costa Coffee and Starbucks, which have operated in the country since 2005 and 2012 respectively, have seen their revenues increase in India over the last 12 months, newer international entries also see untapped potential within the most populous country in the world.  


Canada’s Tim Hortons plans to open 120 stores in India in the next three following its market entry in August 2022, while Australia’s The Coffee Club is set to debut in India this year via new franchise partner CK Israni Group. 


Dunkin’s Indian franchisee Jubilant FoodWorks Limited said its new store design, launched in November 2022, caters to growing demand for high-quality café experiences and premium beverages across the country.

Additionally, Singaporean private equity firm Everstone Group has signed a franchisee agreement to launch branded Lavazza cafes in India. 

source: http://www.worldcoffeeportal.com / World Coffee Portal / Home> Weekly Coffee Dose / April 24th, 2023

Global Price Rise To Fuel Coffee Exports

Business & Economy, Coffee News, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), World Opinion
On Friday, the May contract of Arabica coffee on the New York exchange is being traded at 195.90 cents per pound ( ₹354.84 a kg), and the same contract of Robusta coffee is quoted at $2,442 per tonne ( ₹200.63 per kg) (Photo: Bloomberg)
On Friday, the May contract of Arabica coffee on the New York exchange is being traded at 195.90 cents per pound (R354.84 a kg), and the same contract of Robusta coffee is quoted at $2,442 per tonne (R 200.63 per kg) (Photo:Bloomberg)

SYNOPSIS

For the next two quarters, India’s coffee exports are expected to go up by 10% year-on year in value terms due to a shift to mid-premium coffee from expensive premium-quality coffee amid firm international prices.

New Delhi:

India’s coffee exports, which had risen 13% on year in the Q4 quarter in value terms, are expected to go up further because of higher international prices, driving consumers to less expensive coffee.

“The higher value because of the gain in the global market has made up for the drop in volume,” Ramesh Rajah, president of Coffee Exporters Association, said. Prices in the international market rose because of lower crop outlook in major producing nations like Brazil in view of torrential rainfall.

For the next two quarters, India’s coffee exports are expected to go up by 10% year-on year in value terms due to a shift to mid-premium coffee from expensive premium-quality coffee amid firm international prices, Rajah said.

On Friday, the May contract of Arabica coffee on the New York exchange is being traded at 195.90 cents per pound ( ₹354.84 a kg), and the same contract of Robusta coffee is quoted at $2,442 per tonne ( ₹200.63 per kg).

Rajah forecasts Arabica coffee prices to be around 200 cents per pound on the New York exchange, and $2,300 per tonne for Robusta variety on the London exchange because of likely shortfall in supply in major producing countries such as Brazil and Vietnam as El Nino weather phenomenon are expected to disturb monsoon rainfall.

Brazil is the largest coffee producer globally, followed by Vietnam, Colombia, while India’s contribution to the global market is about 2.5-3.0%. India is an importer of raw coffee and exporter of instant coffee.

Coffee exports for the last financial year ended March hit a record high for the second consecutive year at $1.126 billion against the $1.088 billion target fixed by the commerce ministry.

“Exports are expected to be on par with the last financial year in value terms,” said Ajoy Thipaiah, chairman, Coffee Committee of United Planters Association of South India. “Volume of exports, however, may remain low.”

The export of coffee declined 3.6% in volume to 398,000 tonne in FY23 against 413,000 tonne in FY22, data from the Coffee Board of India showed.

According to Thipaiah, exports also rose due to a fall in shipping cost that had shot up seven-fold during covid in 2021 and immediately after covid in 2022. Shipping cost per container has plunged to the pre-covid level at ₹100,000-150,000 from ₹700,000-750,000. This is seen encouraging most medium-level coffee exporters, who were not able to export during covid due to higher freight costs.

The market for Indian coffee is niche and preferred by countries such as Italy, Germany and Russia.

The spike in exports has also been attributed to higher realisation. The per unit realisation for Indian coffee was 22% higher at ₹226,000 per tonne in the last financial year against ₹184,000 a tonne in 2021-22 (April-March), said KG Jagadeesha, secretary and CEO of India Coffee Board.

Exports in 2023-24 (April-March) will depend on prices and coffee production in India. Prices are good globally. However, the delayed blossom showers in major plantations in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka may weigh on India’s coffee production this season significantly, which raises concerns over export volumes, Jagadeesha said.

source: http://www.livemint.com / Mint / Home> Markets> Stock Market / by Puja Das / April 23rd, 2023

Gold in their golden years: Palekanda brothers return as champs

Amazing Feats, Records, All, Sports, Women/Girls (wef. Sept 03rd, 2022), World Opinion, , ,

The brothers are now looking forward to take part in the Master Games Championship in South Korea in May.

(From right) Belliappa, Machamma and Palekanda Bopaiah on an open jeep
(From right) Belliappa, Machamma and Palekanda Bopaiah on an open jeep

Madikeri :

The Palekanda brothers who landed at Kadanuru in Kodagu, went around an open jeep with Australian Master Games Championship medals dangling from their necks. Palekanda Bopaiah (95) and Belliappa (86) won two medals each.

While Bopaiah won gold in the 100-m race category and a silver in the javelin throw, Belliappa’s golden moment came in the 1500-m walking race and a bronze medal in the 100-m race. “My elder brother actually came first in the javelin throw. However, there were some technical problems, which could not be rectified despite our efforts to convince the jury,” said Belliappa. 

“It was tough to get through the registration process,” he said, “because the championship lacked authoritative representation from the nation. Fortunately, Mohan S, a scientist, from Chintamani of Chikkaballapur, helped us.” Mohan bagged a gold medal in the long jump in the 30-plus category. 

“Without Mohan, we would not have won these medals. He helped us with the documentation. We will never forget him,” he said. 

Meanwhile, 77-year-old Machamma also won a silver medal in the javelin throw.  The brothers are now looking forward to take part in the Master Games Championship in South Korea in May. However, they are worried about arranging finances. 

“Australian athletes are supported by their government. We hope that our government also supports us,” Belliappa said.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Prajna GR / Express News Service / March 18th, 2023