After beating Asia No. 1 Satomi Watanabe in the recent World Cup in Chennai, India’s top squash player is feeling like herself again.
Competing in the relaunched Squash World Cup amid thousands of onlookers at the Express Avenue mall in her home city of Chennai, Joshna Chinappa was reminded of “what we train and live for”. In beating world No. 18 Satomi Watanabe of Japan, 12 years younger and 54 spots higher than Chinappa, after a year wrecked by health issues, the 36-year-old was also reminded of the level she was still capable of summoning.
source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> Sports> Others / by Ruthik Mehta, Mumbai / June 23rd, 2023
Theetharamada Sinchal Kaveramma shattered the national record in the 400-metre hurdle and met the qualifying mark for the Asiad (Asian Games), during the 62nd Inter-State Athletics Championships in Odisha.
Notably, she broke the national record, crossing the finish line in a thrilling photo-finish with a time of 56.76 seconds, surpassing the previous record of 57.02 seconds. This remarkable achievement also stands as Sinchal’s personal best time. She clinched the silver medal in the 400-metre hurdles event and a bronze medal in mixed relay.
The recently concluded National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships, held at the Kalinga Stadium at Bhubaneswar, Odisha, served as a selection trial for both the delayed Asian Games in Hangzhou, scheduled for September, and the upcoming World Championships in Hungary.
Numerous top-tier athletes travelled to Bhubaneswar with the aim of securing their spots in the Asian Games later this year. Sinchal is among the 65 athletes representing 27 disciplines who persevered through scorching heatwaves to meet the Asiad qualification standard.
Sinchal receives training from Bollanda Vikram Aiyappa and Pramila Aiyappa in Bengaluru. Speaking to Star of Mysore, she attributed her record-breaking performance to her coaches and family, expressing her full dedication to them.
Sinchal has already commenced her preparations for the main Asian Games, scheduled to take place from Sept. 15 in Bangkok.
Sinchal is the daughter of Theetharamada M. Ravi and Rashmi (Kuppanda), residents of Nalloor village near Ponnampet. Her grandparents are Theetharamada Mudappa and Chondamma of Nalloor, as well as Kuppanda C. Thimmaiah and Muthakki of Nalvathoklu.
Sinchal completed her primary education at Lions Primary School in Gonikoppa and attended high school at Alvas English Medium High School in Moodbidri. She pursued her pre-university course at Alvas PU College and is currently in her final year of B.Com studies at Bishop Cotton Women’s Christian College in Bengaluru.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports /June 21st, 202
Indian squash players performed creditably in international, and home events.
There can be little doubt that in the last quarter of a century Indian sport has made a mark on the international stage. In various disciplines Indian sportsmen and women have won medals at World and Olympic meets and particularly in disciplines like weightlifting, boxing, wrestling, shooting, athletics and badminton Indians have earned a lot of respect worldwide.
But if there is one sport in which Indians have been making a comparatively quiet buzz it is squash. Not only have they performed creditably in international events but the country has also staged several international meets.
The most recent one was the just concluded Squash World Cup in Chennai, where eight countries participated. It was for the second time the city was hosting the event, the previous one being in 2011. Favourites Egypt won the event defeating Malaysia in the final. India made it to the semifinals before going down to Malaysia.
Zena Wooldridge, the president of the World Squash Federation (WSF) spoke highly of both the excellent infrastructure in the country and the potential of Indian squash to rise even higher. “India is such a massive attraction to any country and as such the Indian market is something that is irresistible in more ways than one’’ said Wooldridge who was in Chennai for the mega event.
Squash has come close to being an Olympic sport more than once before narrowly missing out to other disciplines but Wooldridge has not lost hope. She is confident of it being included in the 2028 Olympics, “Squash has not done anything wrong to not get the go ahead. I think we had some of the best bids and presentations.’’
In fact in keeping with the times the sport has made an important change in the points system and this was seen for the first time during the Chennai event. It featured a novel seven point best of five games format instead of the traditional eleven points posing a unique challenge for the players. In other words this abbreviated version was termed as the sport’s T-20 format but the players had no problem in adapting to it.
Think of Indian squash and the names that spring to mind immediately are Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal. The two young women along with the leading men’s player Saurav Goshal have done the most to put Indian squash on the international map. All of them have been ranked at various times in the top ten in the WSF rankings on the way, notching up victories over the leading players in the game.
All three, as well as several upcoming players, readily acknowledge that their game improved by leaps and bounds because of the Indian Squash Academy (ISA) a world class facility in Chennai that is the brainchild of N. Ramachandran former president of the Indian Olympic Association and former president of the WSF. There was a time when Mumbai was the hub of Indian squash but things changed when the ISA was set up at the turn of the new millennium.
The Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) secretary-general Cyrus Poncha is firmly of the view that Chennai is now the place for squash players, “It goes without saying that Chennai is the squash hub in India and the reason for that is the presence of the ISA in the city. The training and the tournaments we conduct and the coaches we have at the ISA ensures high standard performances by our players.’’
Ghoshal for one has trained both in England and India. “When I am in India it is in Chennai that I undergo training. The facilities at the ISA are on par with any other academy abroad,’’ he says.
A factor in the growing popularity of squash according to Poncha is that it is an indoor and all weather sport. “We have been seeing a steady growth in the number of players taking to the sport. We have a programme wherein we go to schools and bring interested students to the squash academy. We take in kids as young as ten years and train them,’’ he says.
A far-sighted approach in making the sport popular has also helped. Initially matches in the Asian and World championships were held at the ISA. But the authorities realised that for squash to become popular it had to be taken to the masses.
In keeping with this for the last few years national and international events have been held at the Express Avenue Mall in the heart of the city. The huge crowd present during the recent Squash World Cup was testimony to the sport’s growing popularity.
Even those who had come in for shopping or window-shopping had a glance at what was going on at the court in the main foyer. But there were hundreds who had come specifically to watch the proceedings. From the various floors the spectators enjoyed the fare even as they clapped and cheered for the Indian players while holding aloft the national flag.
There is little doubt that Joshna and Dipika by their exploits on the squash court have inspired a younger generation to take to the sport. Joshna was part of the Indian team that took part in the world meet while Dipika who is married to Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik has twins to care off and plays the game only sporadically. Incidentally Goshal is Dipika’s brother-in-law having married her sister.
Considering squash’s status at one stage, it has been a great journey for both Joshna, now 36 and Dipika, five years younger. The ISA took stock of their talent and moulded them. They were school children when squash crept into their activity zone.
The visionary zeal of N. Ramachandran, an industrialist and an ardent squash lover ensured the establishment of the ISA that virtually shaped the careers of several young talents. It was during his tenure as the Secretary General of the SRFI that the ISA became a reality. Today it is an institution that has helped script several wonderful moments for Indian squash.
source: http://www.thecitizen.in / The Citizen / Home> Sport / by Partab Ramchand / June 21st, 2023
Mantar Gowda, MLA, directs the officials to coordinate with different departments to mitigate any extremities in weather.
A flash of lightning illuminating the skies in Mysuru. | Photo Credit: M.A. SRIRAM
With the monsoon set to keep its tryst with Kodagu in the next few days, the authorities reviewed their preparations to meet any eventuality.
A meeting was convened in Madikeri on Friday, June 9, and Mantar Gowda, MLA, directed the officials to coordinate with different departments to mitigate any extremities in weather.
He said the revenue, forest, PWD, CESC and other departments should coordinate and ensure that they attend to any problems caused in case of a landslide, uprooting of trees or telephone and electricity poles. The teams constituted for the purpose should reach the affected spots immediately and carry out repairs or any other mitigatory exercise to tide over the crisis.
The MLA said relief centres should be stocked with basic necessities and be equipped to deal with flood victims who could be shifted from their villages.
The officials were also instructed to counsel those affected by floods and infuse psychological strength in them and professional counsellors should be roped in with the assistance of Department of Health.
The nodal officers in charge of different relief centres should ensure coordination among different wings and branches of the district administration, said Mr. Gowda.
The authorities were directed to impress upon the people living in the vulnerable areas to be ready to relocate at short notice. The Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) personnel were directed to ensure that electricity poles that are uprooted are immediately replaced and power supply restored at the earliest. Similarly, the forest department staff were asked to be on alert to clear the roads of any uprooted trees to pave way for traffic movement.
The district health officer was directed to monitor for any outbreak of water-borne diseases during monsoon and ramp up the preparations to handle any epidemic. The Education Department officials were instructed to ensure that no classes are conducted in schools identified to be in dilapidated conditions.
The ZP CEO Shekar said that meetings have been conducted at the Gram Panchayat levels and 19 schools have been identified for conversion as relief centres if need be. The principals of the respective schools will also function as nodal officers, he added.
There is a helpline at every Gram Panchayat and volunteers will also be deployed in case of any emergency, said the official.
Shantilal Jatia, heading the NDRF at Kodagu, said that a team of 24 personnel are stationed in the district and they would be ready for deployment at any time in case of emergency.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / June 09th, 2023
Virajpet Congress MLA and senior advocate A.S. Ponnanna has been appointed as the Legal Advisor to Chief Minister Siddharamaiah.
Ponnanna, who is also the KPCC Legal Wing President, was an aspirant for a Ministerial berth in the Siddharamaiah Cabinet, after having won from Virajpet Assembly segment defeating BJP stalwart K.G. Bopaiah. But he missed the bus and now he has been appointed as the CM’s Legal Advisor of the rank of a Cabinet Minister. He is the son of firebrand political leader from Kodagu late A.K. Subbaiah.
Ponnanna had also served as Additional Solicitor General when Siddharamaiah was the CM earlier (2013-18).
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / June 02nd, 2023
Actor Ambareesh’s son Abishek and Aviva Bidappa tied the knot in a grand Hindu wedding ceremony. An even more grand reception is planned on June 7.
Rajinikanth at the wedding of Aviva Bidappa and Abishek Ambareesh
Veteran Kannada actor Ambareesh’s son Abishek Ambareesh got married to entrepreneur and model Aviva Bidappa on Monday, June 5, in a grand ceremony that was attended by many notable personalities of the film industry as well as several politicians. Actors Rajinikanth, Mohan Babu, and Yash among others attended the wedding ceremony and blessed the couple.
Rajinikanth has starred alongside Abishek’s mother Sumalatha in a few films and the two get along well. Murattu Kaalai, Anbukku Naan Adimai, and Kazhugu are three Tamil films in which Rajinikanth and Sumalatha collaborated. The ceremony also included KGF celebrity Yash who can be seen hugging Abishek in a video.
According to reports, the family will host a grand reception on June 7 in Bengaluru on a large scale. The pair appeared ethereal in the wedding photographs wearing traditional South Indian clothing. Aviva wore a red saree with gold jewelry, while Abhishek wore a beige kurta and a dhoti combo with sunglasses. The stars who attended the wedding also captured everyone’s attention with their simplicity. Rajinikanth was attired in a white kurta and dhoti, while Yash was dressed in a light pink sherwani.
Abhishek made his acting debut in the 2019 Kannada film Amar. He has also worked in the upcoming film Bad Manners, directed by Duniya Suri. Aviva is the daughter of Prasad Bidappa, a well-known celebrity fashion designer. Aviva herself is a popular model, TV personality, fashion designer and a successful businesswoman.
For the uninitiated, Ambareesh was an Indian film actor and politician from Karnataka. Ambareesh made his acting debut in Nagarahavu, Puttanna Kanagal’s National Award-winning film.. After that, his acting career continued with a brief phase of portraying antagonistic and supporting characters in Kannada films.
source: http://www.indulgexpress.com / The New Indian Express – Indulge Express / Home> Entertainment> Celebs / by Team Indulge / June 06th, 2023
The late legendary actor Ambareesh’s son, Abishek, recently got married to model and entrepreneur Aviva Bidapa. The wedding took place in Karnataka and was attended by family members, friends, as well as notable personalities from the film industry and politics. Superstar Rajinikanth, actor Yash, politician Venkaiah Naidu, and many others graced the occasion.
Several glimpses from Abishek’s wedding have been shared on social media, capturing heartwarming moments from the joyous occasion. Photos also showed the presence of renowned personalities like Rajinikanth and Yash, who blessed the newlyweds with their best wishes. Yash, along with his wife Radhika Pandit, looked stunning in matching pink ethnic attire, radiating elegance and charm. Kichcha Sudeep and Ashwini, the wife of Puneeth Rajkumar, were also at the ceremony.
Abishek and Aviva looked beautiful in ethnic South Indian attires.
Who is Aviva Bidapa?
Aviva Bidapa comes from a family with a strong background in the fashion industry. Her father, Prasad Bidapa, is a renowned celebrity fashion designer known for his contributions to the Indian fashion scene. He has made a significant impact and has been instrumental in shaping the industry. Aviva’s mother, Judith Bidapa, is also reported to be a popular personality in her own right.
Aviva herself has made a name for herself in the fashion world as a well-known model, fashion designer, and TV personality. Her skills, talent, and entrepreneurial spirit have contributed to her success in the media industry. With her diverse range of abilities and accomplishments, Aviva has carved a niche for herself and continues to make her mark in the fashion and entertainment world.
source: http://www.thestatesman.com / The Statesman / Home> Entertainment / by Suman / June 05th, 2023
Gulshan Devaiah feels that as the world gets upgraded with AI and ML, it is his responsibility to support the artistes monetarily for their work.
Gulshan Devaiah
Mumbai:
Actor Gulshan Devaiah, who is receiving a lot of positive response for his work in the recently released streaming series ‘Dahaad’, feels that as the world gets upgraded with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) with the former taking over creative jobs, it is his responsibility to support the artistes financially in lieu of their work.
Recently, Bengaluru-based caricature artiste Prasad Bhat, who is the founder of Graphicurry, reached out to Gulshan to pay a tribute to him as an actor, by caricaturing some of his iconic characters.
The actor could not accept it for free. Touched by the gesture, Gulshan commissioned the work from the artiste.
Talking about the same, Gulshan said” “If I really like something then I’m willing to pay for it. I’m very grateful & privileged to receive offers from artists to make me something for free but it’s their livelihood too and in this age of Machine Learning and AI, the least I can do is support artists by offering to pay them their rates”.
Prasad had picked Gulshan’s looks from his movies and series, like ‘Commando 3’, ‘Dahaad’, ‘Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela’, ‘Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota’, ‘Ghost Stories‘, ‘Durangaa’, ‘Badhaai Do’, ‘Hunterrr’, ‘Death in the Gunj’ and ‘That Girl in Yellow Boots’.
The actor further mentioned: “Prasad offered to make me something. I liked his idea and decided I wanted to commission him to kinda summarise my career until now with his art. I’m very happy with Prasad’s caricatures and each one of them has wonderful memories attached to them.”
Meanwhile, on the work front, Gulshan who was last seen in the movie ‘8 A.M. Metro’, opposite Saiyami Kher, will soon begin filming his upcoming action thriller movie ‘Ulajh’ with Janhvi Kapoor and Malayalam star Roshan Mathew.
source: http://telanganatoday.com / Telangana Today / Home> Entertainment / by IANS / June 01st, 2023
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