Category: Sports, International

INTERNATIONAL: SPORTS-ATHLETE: A silver lining. Para-athlete Nishad Kumar clinches ‘Silver in Men’s High Jump T47 , Paris Paralympics 2024

Para-athlete Nishad Kumar, who lost his right hand in an accident at a very young age, talks about clinching the silver medal in the men’s high jump T47 event at the Paris Paralympics 2024.

Reflecting on his silver medal in the men’s high jump T47 at the Paris Paralympics, Nishad Kumar recalls focusing on staying calm and composed just before the competition.

Although aware of the expectations, he tried to ‘shut all the noise in his head to focus on himself.’ “I was not trying to overthink and was keeping myself calm. I was going through all that we had planned and where to take the jump. I had prepped well; at that point, I was just focusing on implementing all that I had learned from training,” says Kumar, speaking to us from Paris.

The 24-year-old, who trains in Bengaluru, achieved a season-best jump of 2.04 metres, finishing behind the USA’s Roderick Townsend. “I was never intimidated by anyone. I knew where I stood and was hoping for a silver. Anything more than that would have been a pleasant surprise, but I am quite happy,” says Kumar, who trained in the USA under coach Jeremy Fischer, coach of Olympic medallist Will Claye, before the Paris Paralympics.

Among the long list of congratulatory messages that followed his podium finish was one from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who took to X to hail Kumar’s achievement, calling it a ‘remarkable’ at the ongoing Paralympics.

Kumar, originally from Badaun village near Amb in Himachal Pradesh, called his mother after clinching the medal. “They were happy and quite proud. My mother promised to make kheer when I returned home; that’s my favourite dessert. Now I am looking forward to reaching home,” says Kumar.

The 6-foot-4-inch para-athlete credits his success not only to his coaches but also to his mother, who never gave up on him after he lost his right hand to a freak accident in 2007 involving a fodder-cutting machine. As a young child, Kumar had always wanted to serve his country and aspired to join the Indian Army.

Although that dream was cut short by the accident, it did not stop him from achieving his goal of representing the country. “It is always an honour to represent India. You become the face of the nation at that point, and that is not something small. I cherish it,” says Kumar, who also won silver at the Tokyo Paralympics three years ago.

Kumar plans to stay in Paris until September 9 before returning to India for a grand welcome. “I am planning to first go to my village to meet my mother. But before that, I am looking forward to climbing the Eiffel Tower,” says Kumar.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

INDIA @ PARIS OLYMPICS 2024 : Mysuru City’s Sanjana Kiran Mentors Athletes To Olympic Success At Paris 2024

Sanjana Kiran, Mysuru-born sports psychologist, who has made a name for herself as a Mind Coach for athletes world over is now in Paris. Sanjana is currently handling 53 athletes, including those from India and other countries, at the Paris Summer Olympics 2024, mentoring them. Sanjana Kiran spoke to Star of Mysore from Paris. Excerpts…

Star of Mysore (SOM): What brings you to the Paris Olympics?

Sanjana: I have been working with sportspersons since the 2004 Athens Olympics. This is my 10th Olympic event, which includes seven Summer Olympics and three Winter Olympics. I have handled about 300 athletes, and more than 150 of them have achieved podium finishes. Currently, I am working with 53 athletes, including 11 from India and others from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, the USA, and the Netherlands, at the Paris Olympics.

SOM: How different are the athletes to handle, especially in an event like the Olympics?

Sanjana: It depends on individual sports, countries, and the Olympic cycle. During the London 2012 Olympics, my clientele consisted of athletes aged 20 years and above, except for gymnastics. Things have changed since then. During the 2016 Rio Olympics, the age group of the athletes dropped considerably, with 70-80 percent of my clientele under 20 years and 60 percent within the age group of 17 years. I have been working with elite athletes since my first Olympics, and the success I have achieved over the years has only increased my clientele.

SOM: There are comparisons made between athletes from India and other countries. What do you think about this?

Sanjana: Comparing one athlete to another is not beneficial. Every athlete I work with presents a different challenge. The more elite the athlete, the greater the challenge. Managing their emotions at different levels is crucial.

In my opinion, wisdom gained through experience is not always the best friend for an elite athlete. The more you know, the more you tend to focus on minute details. While they may be happy with their performance, they are often not satisfied because they overthink. Motivation and focus are not issues for them, but converting their high and low emotions into positive results requires a lot of courage.

SOM: You have seen athletes from various countries competing at the highest level. How do you rate the progress of Indian athletes?

Sanjana: Progress has been good with a new approach and an increase in representation. However, more can be done to tap into our country’s abundant talent. Over the past year, we have been implementing new strategies based on our experiences. While winning a bronze medal is an achievement, getting a podium finish at the Olympics is a different                                        experience altogether.

SOM: Tell us about your preparations before an important event such as the Olympics.

Sanjana: Sports psychologists work in close physical proximity with the athletes. Taking on the responsibility of handling athletes involves a lot of running around and constant discussions with coaches and support staff. A sports psychologist must always observe the players and ensure they perform their tasks to the best of their abilities.

SOM: What, according to you, is the success mantra for an athlete competing at an international level?

Sanjana: An athlete needs to be fit both mentally and physically. Every sport is designed differently, and athletes are tested each time they compete. There is a lot of maths and physics involved in developing new strategies and game plans. Maintaining a calm head and applying the mind effectively is crucial. The battle with oneself is often more intense than battling external factors.

SOM: What is the success mantra for a sports psychologist?

Sanjana: Firstly, a person aspiring to be a sports psychologist must be ready to work behind the scenes. Efficiency comes with experience. Importantly, understanding the nuances of the sport is essential. Only someone with a calm head can be a good sports psychologist, capable of working with some of the best athletes in the world. Sports psychology is not for those seeking the limelight. —VNS

source/content: starofmysore.com (headline edited)

WORLD RECORD: NATIONAL: KARNATAKA: World No.1 Ranking will Inspire ‘Gen-Next’ of Indian Tennis, says Rohan Bopanna after Achieving the Feat

Bopanna is set to become the oldest tennis player to achieve the world No. 1 ranking in men’s doubles after reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open along with his partner Matthew Ebden of Australia.

Rohan Bopanna feels that his ascent to world No. 1 in doubles rankings at the twilight of his career is perfect boost that Indian tennis needed just when it was falling off the radar.

Bopanna is set to become the oldest tennis player to achieve the world No. 1 ranking in men’s doubles after reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open along with his partner Matthew Ebden of Australia here on Wednesday.

The 43-year-old, who had entered the tournament with a career-high ranking of world No. 3, and Ebden recorded a comfortable 6-4 7-6(5) win over sixth seeded Argentinian duo of Máximo González and Andrés Molteni in the quarterfinals that lasted an hour and 46 minutes here.

Bopanna will be crowned the new numero uno spot on Monday after the end of the tournament.

“It (the feat) means a lot not to just me but for Indian tennis also. You need something to inspire the next generation. Sumit (Nagal) also had a great Australian Open. He won a round,” Bopanna told PTI in an exclusive interview from Melbourne.

And the star player said the feat came with a lot of sacrifices.

“Extremely proud of this (world no.1 ranking in men’s doubles). It’s a special moment. Lot of sacrifices have gone into this. My coaches, family everyone. My family is travelling with me, so different feeling,” he said.

In fact, he is more happy that for the past week, Indian tennis has been in the news.

“Nothing at all was happening in Indian tennis. You (journalists) also did not have much to write about, so this has happened at the right time.” Earlier, Rajeev Ram of the USA was the oldest player to be ranked world no. 1 when he had achieve the top ranking in October 2022 at the age of 38 for the first time in his career.

Ebden, on the other hand, is set to reach the world no 2 spot.

Bopanna twice reached the US Open final but never won a men’s doubles major.

He, however, has a mixed doubles trophy at the French Open when he and his partner Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada won the crown at the 2017 French Open, defeating Anna-Lena Grönefeld and Robert Farah in the final 2–6 6–2 12–10.

But Bopanna’s desire to win a men’s doubles title at the Slam still remains unfulfilled, something which we wants to achieve before hanging up his racquet.

“That’s a personal goal (winning men’s doubles title at a Grand Slam). It’s no one else’s goal,” he said.

For the veteran, it is always one step at a time.

“When you reach second round, next you want is third round then fourth, quarters, semi-final. So, yes I have been in two Slam final and now want to win but it’s a natural. You always try to go one better,” Bopanna said about his future goal.

Bopanna, who had achieved the highest of world No. 3 for the first time in 2013, is the fourth Indian after Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza to take the world number one rank in doubles.

He also didn’t forget to acknowledge the contribution of his long-time coach Scott David of the USA in his breathtaking journey in the game.

“I am probably fifty world number one of coach Scott David. It’s a proud moment for him also. I switched to doubles in 2010 and since then I have been with him only,” Bopanna said.

Bopanna and Ebden have been one of the most consistent pairs on the tour over the last 12 months. The duo reached the final of US Open 2023, their best result so far in Grand Slams.

En route the semifinals here, the second seeded Bopanna and Ebden, had to over come two close contests in the first and third rounds to book their place in the semifinals.

Their first hurdle came in the opening round against wildcards James Duckworth and Marc Polmans of Australia, whom Bopanna and Ebden defeated 6-7(5) 6-4 6-7(2).

Their next steep challenge came in the third round where they overcame 14th seeds Wesley Koolhof of the Netherlands and Croatian Nikola Mektić 7-6(8) 7-6(4).

And Bopanna attributed the ability to finish close matches to his experience on the circuit.

“Experience is a great factor in getting those wins. Ever since, I started focussing only on doubles in 2010, it has taken me 13-14 years to reach this. I have been a journeyman,” said Bopanna, who will take over the top position from USA’s Austin Krajicek, who and his Croatian partner Ivan Dodig lost in the second round.

The Indo-Australian pair will play unseeded Tomas Machac of Czech Republic and Chinese Zhizhen Zhang in the semi-finals.

His former Davis Cup teammates Mahesh Bhupathi and Somdev Devvarman termed it as one of the greatest stories in Indian sport.

“Rohan Bopanna getting to World Number 1 today after 20 years on tour in my opinion is one of the greatest stories in Indian Sport!!!,” Bhupathi wrote on ‘X’.

“Bops first told me he was contemplating retirement 5 years ago, then 4 years ago, then 3 years ago…Moral of the story is…. Who cares… He’s number 1! Couldn’t be happier for the Bopanna family! rohanbopanna is the best story in indian sport,” Devvarman wrote.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

WORLD / NATIONAL/ KARNATAKA: WORLD RECORD SPORTS : Sibling Sisters, 10-year old Ovee Malve and Ruchi Malve from Bengaluru become World’s Youngest Certified Scuba Diver Sisters

Their interest in scuba diving stemmed from those videos and they started swimming and later training for scuba diving.

A day after turning 10, Bengaluru-based Ovee Malve set a world record of becoming the youngest certified scuba diver.

With this, both Ovee and her sister Ruchi, daughters of Bangalore Mountaineering Club founder Neeraj Malve, have become the youngest certified scuba diver siblings in the world. Neeraj himself has been a scuba diver for 16 years now. Ovee achieved the feat in Puducherry at 7.18 am on October 11, becoming the youngest Professional Association of Diving Instructors-certified open water diver. 

Elated and proud, Neeraj said he understands that adventure sports are not easy, especially at a young age. He never pressured his children and ensured that they underwent proper training. The daughters were water babies since they were little and were fascinated with his scuba diving videos.

Their interest in scuba diving stemmed from those videos and they started swimming and later training for scuba diving, he said. Ovee enrolled for a junior open water diver course at Temple Adventures, Puducherry and trained under coach Shreya Mehta. 

Her sister Ruchi (14) trained under Shaurya Tarni of Dive Goa in Goa. Ruchi enrolled for the Junior Open Water Diver certification course on October 27, 2022 and received the Scuba Schools International certificate on October 30, 2022. At the age of 10 and 13, both Malve sisters have become the world’s youngest scuba diver sisters.

Previously, a Mumbai-based boy, Dwit Nandu, at age 10 set the world record around 8 am on August 25, 2023.

Both the sisters underwent two-day rigorous training which included a 200-metre nonstop swimming and floating for 10 minutes without any support. 

They studied five chapters of theory about performing underwater skills in confined waters, passed a written exam and successfully performed four dives in open water up to 18-metre depth to earn their open water diver certification.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL & KARNATAKA: SPORTS :Asian Games 2023: Karnataka’s Aditi Ashok Wins Historic Silver In Golf For India

Indian shooters clinch gold and silver

Karnataka’s Golf star Aditi Ashok today bagged a historic Silver medal for India at the Asian Games 2023 after missing the Gold medal in Hangzhou.

Aditi finished the four-round event with a score of 17 under 271 to take the second prize. Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol leapfrogged the Indian to take the Gold medal home.

Aditi was in the Gold medal contention on the final day of the contest as she had a 22-under score after three rounds. She was seven shots clear of Yubol but had a poor day with 5 over on the final day. However, Aditi Ashok is the first Indian woman to win a medal in golf at the Asiad.

Indian shooters won two medals, clinching gold and silver in men’s and women’s trap events. The Indian men’s team comprising of Kynan Chenai, Zoravar Singh Sandhu and Prithviraj Tondaiman has claimed gold in the Trap event on Sunday, October 1 to continue India’s fantastic run in shooting so far in the Asian Games 2023.

India were able to fend off competition from Kuwait and China to secure the top spot on the podium to take the tally in shooting to 21 medals with 7 gold, 9 silver and 5 bronze. In addition to the gold medal win Chenai and Sandhu have also qualified for the individual final as well.

The Indian trio secured 361 points in total as compared to Kuwait’s 352 and China’s 346.

Earlier in the day, India had won the silver medal in the women’s trap team event in shooting. The trio of Rajeshwari Kumari, Manisha Keer and Preeti Rajak finished second with 337 points, behind China.

So far (till 1.30 pm on Oct. 1), India stands 4th in the medal tally with 41 medals including 11 gold, 16 silver and 14 bronze.

Yesterday (Sept. 30), Rohan Bopanna and Rutuja Bhosale won gold in the Mixed Doubles after winning the third set tie-breaker against Chinese Taipei to secure India’s second medal in tennis after Ramkumar Ramanathan and Saketh Myneni’s silver in Men’s Doubles.

The Indian men’s team beat Pakistan men’s squash team event to give India its 10th gold in this Asian Games.

Sarabjot Singh and Divya Thadigol topped the qualification in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team but settled for a silver in the final, going down 14-16 to China.

In the men’s 10000m, Kartik Kumar and Gulveer Singh won silver and bronze, respectively.

source/content: starofmysore.com (headline edited)

ASIA RECORDS: INDIA & KARNATAKA: SPORTS / CRICKET: India vs Pakistan: Kohli, Rahul Record Highest-ever Partnership in Asia Cup History

Virat Kohli and KL Rahul registered the highest-ever partnership in the history of Asia Cup during the Super 4 match between India and Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Monday.

Virat Kohli and KL Rahul registered the highest-ever partnership in the history of Asia Cup during the Super 4 match between India and Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Monday.

The Indian duo had a sedate start and took a couple of overs to settle down before they began their onslaught. They ended up scoring 233 off 194 deliveries, nine higher than previous record-holders Nasir Jamshed and Mohammad Hafeez. They help India reach a daunting 356/2 in their 50-over quota.

On the way to this record, Kohli became the fastest batter to reach 13,000 ODI runs. He took just 277 innings and betterd the record of fellow Indian great Sachin Tendulkar (321 innings).

Highest partnerships in Asia Cup history:

PlayersRunsWicketTeamOpposition
Virat Kohli-KL Rahul233*3rdIndiaPakistan
Mohammed Hafeez-Nasir Jamshed2241stPakistanIndia
Younis Khan-Shoaib Malik2143rdPakistanNepal
Iftikar Ahmed-Babar Azam2145thPakistanBangladesh
Ajinkya Rahane-Virat Kohli2133rdIndiaPakistan

source/content: sportstar.thehindu.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: SPORTS / IRONMAN: Sadanand Amarapur from Karnataka’s Hubballi wins Ironman title in Khazakstan

Cycling and running that began as a hobby for this government officer have now taken him to international success.

Cycling and running that began as a hobby for this young government officer have now taken him to international success with a title win at the International Ironman event in Khazakstan recently.

Meet Sadanand Amarapur who is serving as Assistant Director of the Hubballi Taluk Panchayat; he has successfully completed the triathlon, which demands physical and mental endurance, at Astana in Khazakstan.

In the event organised on July 2, Sadanand Amarapur swam 3.9 km, cycled 180 km and ran 42 km completing the triathlon in 13 hours and 27 minutes bagging the International Ironman title.

Sadanand Amarapur was among the 1,200 athletes from 62 nations who took part in the international event. By successfully completing the physically and mentally demanding event, Sadanand Amarapur has become the first government officer from Karnataka to achieve the feat.

Son of a former police officer Hanumanthappa Amarapur, Sadanand Amarapur initially took to wrestling like his father and participated in national-level wrestling competitions. A native of Ichchangi in Haveri district, Sadanand Amarapur joined government service as Panchayat Development Officer in 2010 and got promoted as Assistant Director (Rural Employment) in 2018.

Sadanand Amarapur, who has received various service awards for his work, took to cycling and running as a hobby and later, they became his passion.

His association with Hubballi-Dharwad cyclists took him to various events and he completed the Tough Man event held in Goa in 2017. By successfully completing a series of Brevets of 200 km, 300 km, 400 km and 600 km in a year, he won the title Super Randonnuer in 2019. And, he completed the Tigerman Duathlon at Nagpur in 2020 and the Herculean Triathlon in Odisha in 2021.

As part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, he covered 3,800 km from Kashmir to Kanyakumari on a bicycle carrying the message of Addiction Free India and disseminating information on programmes of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj.

Felicitation

On Tuesday, Deputy Commissioner Gurudatta Hegde felicitated and congratulated Sadanand Amarapur for his achievement.

Responding to the felicitation, Sadanand Amarapur attributed his success to the support and cooperation extended by his family, friends and the encouragement he received from senior government officials of the State government.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

ASIA: SPORTS / POWERLIFTING: Mysuru’s Alfiya Vagh Lifts Gold In Asian Equipped Powerlifting Championship-2023

Alifiya Vagh from Mysuru has won Gold Medals in following categories :

Women’s 75-kg  Master1, Squad-160 kg, Benchpress-70-kg and Deadlift 170-kg at Asian Equipped Powerlifting Championship-2023, organised by Asian Powerlifting Federation (APF), from May 1 to 6 at Alappuzha, Kerala.

source/content: starofmysore.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: KARNATAKA: SPORT / MOUNTAINEERING: Naveen Mallesh sets a New Record Conquering Peaks

This mountaineer set a new record by scaling two among the highest peaks in Asia, in a span of just three days.

When Naveen Mallesh  (35) stood atop Mount Fansipan in Vietnam in February this year, he was thankful for an uneventful trek.

At that moment, the mountaineer didn’t imagine he would eventually set a record of becoming the fastest individual to scale two mountains in South-East Asia.

Having undergone a month-long recovery process following a near-death experience while attempting to scale Mount Manaslu in Nepal in September ’22, Mallesh returned to mountaineering, scaling two among the highest peaks in South East Asia and Indo-China, Mount Kinabalu (Malaysia: 4,095m) and Mount Fansipan (Vietnam: 3,147m), respectively, within a span of just 3 days 10 hours and 49 minutes. “When I was talking to local guides in Fansipan, some didn’t believe I had come there having trekked Kinabalu just days before. They thought I had set a new record. It’s then that I applied for the Indian Book of Records and the Asian Book of Records,” he says.  

Mallesh’s only desire was to get back to doing what he loves and that drove him to undertake the challenge. “I explored trekking routes in the South-East and flew to Singapore. I then completed the trek to Mount Kinabalu in a day and flew back to Singapore. I had an 18-hour layover, flew to Vietnam, and completed the trek to Mount Fansipan,” he says, adding his experience helped him tackle the varied topography of both peaks. 

Like most mountaineers, Mallesh has always wanted to climb the highest peaks in all of the seven continents. In 2019, he scaled the first of the seven – Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. But the pandemic disrupted plans. So when he climbed the second of the seven peaks – Mount Elbrus, Russia, he dedicated that to Covid warriors. His next target was Mount Aconcagua, Argentina.

Yet again, the third wave and the ensuing restrictions forced the Banashankari resident to look elsewhere. He decided to scale Mount Manaslu – the world’s eighth-highest peak at 8,163m. When he was within touching distance of the peak, an avalanche buried him under snow. “It’s known as the ‘dead zone’. I had blockages in my lungs and frostbites on my toes. Thankfully, I was rescued,” shares Mallesh, who is now eyeing Mount Everest.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: SPORTS: Government Officer Giridhar Salian wins Silver in Javelin Throw at ‘World Masters Athletics Torun Indoor Championship 2023 ‘ Torun, Poland

Giridhar Salian, a government officer hailing from Kavoor Bolpugudde, has won a silver medal for India in the Javelin throw event (M60) at the World Masters Athletics Torun indoor championship 2023 in Torun, Poland.

The event will conclude on April 1st. Salian has served in various capacities as a government officer, including as deputy director and Grade-I principal at Government ITI Kadri Hills, Mangaluru, and as executive director at Karnataka Vocational Training and Skill Development Corporation (KVTSDC), Bengaluru.

He is also a nodal officer and deputy apprenticeship advisor for implementation of apprenticeship training in the district.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Salian is a sportsman and has achieved medals at the district, state, national, and international level athletic meets in the Javelin throw event. He has represented India twice at the Asian Masters Athletic Championship and once at the World Masters Athletic Championship. Salian’s recent win follows his silver medal in the Javelin throw event at the 21st Asian Masters Athletics Championship in Kuching, Malaysia, in 2019.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)