Bhandavya Gowda is among the two players from the State on the team
Bhandavya H.M. Gowda, captain of the Indian team participating in the Junior Asian Women (Under-18) Basketball Championship in Bangkok, is a student of the Alva’s College in Moodbidri.
A native of Mandya, Bhandavya Gowda is a first year B.Com student. She is among the two basketball players from the State who are part of the national team for the Junior Asian Women Basketball Championship in Bangkok between November 13 and 20. She is one among the many students with exceptional talent who are being offered free education by Alva’s Education Foundation under its adoption scheme. Bhandavya Gowda joined the college two years ago.
A good three-point shooter and point guard, Bhandavya Gowda was part of the national team in the 2013 Asian Youth Basketball tournament held in Colombo.
She was also in the team that took part in the 2014 Junior Asian Basketball tournament in Jordan. The Junior Asian Championship in Bangkok will be her fourth international tournament.
Naveen Shetty from Mangalore Basketball Club, who has seen Bhandavya Gowda play at close quarters, said that she has been in basketball since she was 12. A product of Sports School in Mandya, Bhandavya Gowda was groomed by Raviprakash, a former coach in the Department of Youth Services and Sports. It was a pride that a player from the State was captaining the national team, Mr. Naveen Shetty said.
Chairman of Alva’s Education Foundation Mohan Alva has wished Bhandavya Gowda and the national team a success in the upcoming championship.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Mangaluru / by Staff Reporter / Mangaluru – November 03rd, 2016
Dhanush Babu(right) with teammates Vikram Ingale and Nikhilesh Tabhane after winning the medal in the 17th Asian Speed Skating Championships in Lishui, China
“I was determined to win a medal and it did not matter even if I lost a leg,” were the words of determination of Bengaluru skater Dhanush Babu, after winning India’s first-ever medal in the 17th Asian Speed Skating Championships in Lishui, China, on Thursday.
That determination is perhaps the reason for the success. Dhanush along with Vikram Ingale and Nikhilesh Tabhane, created history. The trio came out with all guns blazing to win the bronze medal in the 3,000 metres relay event. This is the first time India has won a medal in competitive skating in two decades. This is also a first in the senior category.
Speaking to Express from China, Dhanush, the youngest of the three, said, “I was the last to start the last 200-metre lap in the race. We were in the fourth position and the only thing that went through my mind was, I am not going to return without a medal. Let me give it whatever I have got, even if it means injuring my leg’. That 200-metre sprint was the best one of my life,” he said.
The Indian team was fourth in the five-team race when Dhanush went for the final push. His late charge resulted in the Indian team getting past Chinese Taipei to clinch the coveted medal. South Korea won the gold and China clinched the silver medal.
About his first stint in the senior category, Dhanush said, “At the national level, the three of us are hardcore competitors. We don’t even talk to each other before the event. But here, representing India, we came together as a force and won the medal. This has definitely boosted our confidence to win more medals as a team in future championships. This team is considered to be a ‘dream relay team’.
From Vidhana Soudha to Asian Championship medal
Dhanush’s mother Sudha Babu, who is also in China, said that she was in tears when her son won the medal. “The hard work and sacrifice that we invested has paved the way for success,” she said.
Recalling how Dhanush got the determination to pursue skating she said, “When Dhanush was three years old, he saw an eagle flying high with its wings spread wide near the Sree Kanteerava Stadium. At that moment, he expressed his desire to do something of that sort. After being enrolled for skating classes, he was not really comfortable. Later, his father Babu started training him in front of Vidhana Soudha and by the time he started practicing in the rink, he was into competitive skating,” she remarked.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Kiran Parashar K M / Express News Service / October 29th, 2016
25-year-old water tanker driver from Bengaluru has won two distinctive bodybuilding titles – the Mr Asia 2016 and “Arnold Schwarzenegger of Whitefield” – during the 5th Phil-Asia bodybuilding championships in the Philippines. G Balakrishna, a gym instructor, is a resident of Ramagondanahalli near Varthur, who has a list of accolades behind him.
“I am proud of my achievement and hope to repeat it more often with some financial support,”I owe it to my mother, Parvathamma, and brother Rajesh who have been my pillars of support,” he said.
Balakrishna, an ardent fan of Arnold Schwarzenegger, said he practices nearly six hours a day and is trained by renowned bodybuilders from Mumbai and Punjab, named Sangram Chougla and Manish Kumar respectively. Balakrishna adds that he’d followed strict diet to bring down his weight for the tournament.
“I am maintaining my position with a rich daily diet that includes 750 gms of chicken, 25 eggs, 300 gms of rice, 200 gms of vegetables along with fish for extra protein and fruits,” he said.
He has earlier won the Mr Universe Under-24 junior contest in 2013 in Germany and the Mr Universe title in the same category at the world championship in Athens in 2014. He joined the water-tanker business in 2010 in Whitefild, Bengaluru.
Balakrishna’s journey to the Mr Asia platform was not easy. Whitefield Settlers’ and Residents Association funded helped him raise funds for the competition. Despite winning the championship, he says, With no government support, I still struggle to participate in bodybuilding championships outside the country,”
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Beauty Pageants> Others / TNN / October 26th, 2016
Our city’s Varsha S. Puranik, a talented Roller-Skater, who is the National Champion in the women’s category for the last six successive years, has earned selection to represent the country. She will be representing India in the Asian Roller Skating Championship to be held at Lishui, China, from October 18 to November 2, 2016. She is our ‘Star This Week.’
Two other skaters from Mysuru, Aditya S. Rao, Elizabeth Achaiah will also be representing India in the Championship. The Indian team will be coached by Mysuru’s K. Srikanth S. Rao.
Varsha has performed well in the 12th Short Track National Speed Ice Skating Championships at Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir and won gold in the women’s section for Karnataka. She was part of the Karnataka team which won the Team Championship title with 12 golds, 12 silvers and 11 bronze medals.
Earlier, she had taken part in the 2015 National 52nd National Roller Skating Championships held at Navi Mumbai and won gold in the women’s 500mtrs event and won her 36th gold in the National Championships.
Varsha was awarded the prestigious Ekalavya Award by the Government of Karnataka last year. She represented India in the World Games 2013 at Cali, Colombia and fared well.
Varsha, a Doctor by profession, is the daughter of R. Srirama Krishna (retd. IOB) and Thara Srirama, who have been her great support. She has a elder brother in Sri Harsha, whose roller-skating exploits inspired her also to take up this sport. Starting skating at a young age of three, Varsha began her basics at Bal Bhavan Roller Skating rink under the guidance of Ravi in 1990. She jointed Vishwamithra Roller Skating Club in 1993 and started to train under the guidance of late K. Sridhar Rao at J.K. Grounds. Presently she trains with R. Srikanta Rao, a Ekalavya Award winner, at the Rao’s Roller Skating Club.
Varsha first represented the country in the International level in 2001 in the World Inline Speed Skating Championships held at France in 2001 and took part in the 10km race and finished 16th. She got her first International medal when she was part of the Indian relay team which won the bronze medal in the 5km relay event in the Asian Roller Skating Championships.
In 2003, she represented India in the World Junior Championships at Venezuela (5km race-finished 15th). In 2004, she finished 4th in the Individual event at the 10th Asian Championships held in Japan.In 2010, she represented India in the 16th Asian Games at Guangzhou, China and finished 7th in the 3000m Time Trials. In 2012, Varsha took part in the Wold Championships and finished in the top 20 skaters in the World and qualified for the World Games. Varsha took part in the World Games in Cali, Columbia and finished 16th in the 500m Road race.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / October 16th, 2016
Life in the fast lane brings Anitha Kholay many accolades
Bengaluru-based actor, stylist and fashion designer Anitha Kholay is all set to be the first Indian woman rallyist to represent the country at the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) in Johor, Malaysia, which is to be held from October 28-30.
Declared the fastest woman rally driver of the country at earlier events in Bengaluru, Ms. Kholay, an alumna of Bishop Cottons Girls School and Christ University, began her career in rallying as a navigator at the age of 16, and was instantly intrigued by the sport. The ‘Miss Bangalore 1998’, who has been an Indian national race and rally driver since 2003, said she was elated, and added: “This is a stepping stone to aspire for greater heights, a milestone in my career.” An MRU Motorsports team from Malaysia is preparing her car, a Proton NEO 1600 CC, which will touch speeds of up to 120 miles per hour in the 3-day championship.
Long road to success
Recalling her hard work for over two decades, Ms. Kholay said she is brimming with pride to be representing Karnataka and India at the international level. “My husband, Rupesh Kholay, discovered the potential of my proficiency behind the wheel in 1994. I haven’t looked back, and crave to steer and zoom. My favourite rallies have been the K-1000, which is the Bangalore Rally, because I enjoy the terrain the most,” she said.
Nearly 50 medals gleam in her residence in Koramangala. “I started with two wheelers, then enjoyed being a navigator, and then hopped on to full-time rallying and racing. I even love my drag racing, and the defined path in the autocross race!” says Ms. Kholay, who couldn’t have asked for a better start. She was also the first woman to lead a national rally championship with a woman’s team in 2003, and she gradually gathered experience in the inner workings of motor sports to become among the most awarded women rally drivers in the country.
Passion for speed
“I won most of my racing and rallying awards from 1994-2011 in the ladies category. I took a break when I had my two children, and have been constantly taking part in national rallies from 2003, travelling mostly to Nashik, Chikmagalur, Hyderabad and Cochin, amongst other cities,” she said. She added that she relies on a “perfect support system” of a workshop and tuners to mind her car’s health.
What does the fastest woman driver behind the wheel think of her pace on traffic-jammed Bengaluru roads? “My city driving is customised with music for relaxing, which I enjoy. Race and rally fulfil my passion for speed,” she said. “As a woman, I try my best to disentangle myself from negative criticisms and drive forward.”
Athletics is a global sport and is very popular in the sporting scene. It is considered as the mother of all sports. Our city athlete Thippavva Sannakki is a talented athlete who excels in the long distance running events, and has been performing consistently well in the State and National-level Meets. Thippavva Sannakki, recently taking part in the State-level Dasara Athletic Meet-2016, emerged as the Individual champion in the women’s section with 10 points (two golds) along with two other women athletes, B.M. Jyothi and Nityashree of Bengaluru City. Thippavva Sannakki, representing Mysuru Division, won the 1500m gold and 3000m gold and also was part of the Mysuru division team which won the Overall championship title. She is our “Star This Week.”
Thippavva Sannakki, a employee with the South Western Railways, Mysuru, is a former product of the DYES (Mysuru). Thippavva has represented the State in the National-level and has also represented Indian Railways in the National athletic meets.
Thippavva Sannakki won the 1500m gold with timing of 5:04.00s. She also won the 3000m gold with timing of 10:47.80s. She helped Mysuru Division finish runner-up in the women’s athletics events in the Dasara Games with two golds and also shared the Individual Championship title with two other athletes.
She has trained under the guidance of former International and SAK athletic coach Damodar Gowda while she was at the DYES (Mysuru). Thippavva Sannakki has represented Karnataka in the National-level and has won medals in the senior as well in the junior level.
Thippavva has been a regular medal winner in the long distance events in the State-level Dasara Meets every year.
She took part in the DAC Road Races for women this year and won the women’s title. She has been the winner for four years in a row in the previous years. An All-India Inter-University medalist representing Mysore University, this girl has the talent in her to improve on her performance in the National level. Thippavva is a talented athlete and with her dedicated hard work aims to perform well in the National-level in the days to come.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / October 09th, 2016
Picture shows tennis player Dhruthi T. Venugopal of Mysuru receiving the Ekalavya award from Chief Minister Siddharamaiah at a ceremony held at the Platinum Jubilee Auditorium here yesterday. Also seen are (from left ) MLA Vasu, District in-charge Minister Dr. H.C. Madevappa and Youth Empowerment and Sports Minister Pramod Madhwaraj. Picture right shows Ekalavya awardees and Kreeda Ratna Awardees posing to the shutterbugs.
Mysuru :
The Department of Youth Empowerment & Sports (DYES) presented the Ekalavya Awards to 16 sportspersons of various disciplines, Karnataka Kreeda Ratna awards to and two Lifetime Achievement Awards for the year 2015, at a function held at Mysore Medical College and Research Institute Alumni Association Platinum Jubilee Auditorium here yesterday.
Swimmer Damini Gowda, athlete M. Arpitha, tennis player Dhruthi T. Venugopal, hockey player Nitin Thimmaiah were among the prominent names who received the Ekalavya Awards.
Minister for Youth Empowerment and Sports Pramod Madhwaraj, District Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa, Mayor B.L. Byrappa, MLAs Vasu and M.K. Somashekar were also present.
John Christopher Nirmal Kumar (swimming) and R. Shivanand (wrestling) were presented the Life Time Achievement awards for their contributions as coaches. Three visually impaired cricketers from Karnataka who had represented India in the World Cup were honoured with cash prize and a citation.
The Ekalavya awardees received a memento, a citation and Rs. 2 lakh in cash. The coaches who received the lifetime achievement awards were received Rs.1.50 lakh cash prize, a citation along with a memento while the Kreeda Rathna awardees took home a cash prize of Rs. One lakh, a citation and a memento.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Siddharamiah, congratulated the sports persons for their achievements and informed that the State Government was committed to promote sporting activities and sportspersons.
Minister for Youth Empowerment and Sports Promod Madwaraj said that the sportspersons who have achieved laurels have worked hard to reach great heights at the International and National level. The Department has identified and rewarded them through fair selection policy on the basis of their performance for the Ekalavya, Kreeda Ratna Awards and Life Time Achievement awards.
MLA Vasu speaking on the occasion emphasised the need for a Sports University and requested the CM to sanction the same in Mysuru which is also his home town.
Ekalavya Award: Damini K. Gowda (Swimming), Vidya B. Pillai (Billiards), Pavan Shetty (Body Building), Nithin Thimmaiah (Hockey), S. Rajguru (Kabaddi), Krishna A. Naikodi (Cycling), A. Arvind (Basketball), M. Arpita (Athletics), Mohammed Rafiq Holi (Wrestling), Meghana M. Sajjanar (Rifle Shooting), Dhruthi Tatachar Venugopal (Lawn Tennis), Anup D’Costa (Volleyball), G.M. Nischita (Shuttle Badminton), J.M. Shawad (Para Athletics), Umesh R. Kade (Para Swimming) and Kanchan P. Munnolkar (Weight Lifting).
Lifetime Achievement Award: John Christopher Nirmal Kumar (Swimming) and R. Shivananda (Wrestling).
Karnataka Kreeda Ratna Award: Rudraswami (Yoga), P. Poornima (Throwball), Amogha U. Chachadi (Atya-Patya), M.P. Ranjitha (Ball Badminton), K.C. Pradeep (Kho Kho), U.M. Sumitha (Kabaddi), Jeevandhar K. Ballal and Ananda Irvathur (Kambala), L. Ananda (Wrestling) and Moshappa Vittappa Gulabala (Gundu Ethuvudu).
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / October 08th, 2016
Picture shows (from left) Pahilwan Panduranga Shinde, who won ‘Dasara Kanteerava’ title seen with Pahilwan Koli of MEG, Bengaluru and winners of Dasara Kumara and Dasara Kishora titles.
Mysuru :
Pahilwan Panduranga Shinde of MEG, Bengaluru won the prestigious ‘Dasara Kanteerava’ award on the concluding day of Dasara Wrestling Competitions held at the Devaraja Urs Multipurpose Stadium yesterday. Pahilwan Gopal Koli also of MEG, Bengaluru won the ‘Dasara Kesari’ title.
Yesterday’s 38th State-level Wrestling Championship, organised as part of Dasara festival, was held in front of packed audience who had gathered at stadium from various parts of the State to witness some of the best wrestling bouts. At first, Pahilwan Panduranga Shinde (MEG, Bengaluru) and Pahilwan Anand Army (MLRC) fought their bout for about 30 mins which ended in a draw. Later, in the point wrestling Panduranga Shinde emerged victorious scoring 9 points.
The winners were awarded a cash prize of Rs. 15,000 and a silver mace about Rs. 1.15 lakh. Pahilwan Kishore Purohit won the Mayor Cup, Mahendra Prasad won ZP President’s Cup and Ganjam Praveen won ‘Sahukar Chennaiah Cup. The prizes to the winners were distributed by Mayor B.L. Bhyrappa and former Mayor Purushotham.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / October 14th, 2016
( Picture right shows ) Keerthi Kumar of Belagavi who created a new meet record in Discus Throw attempting his final throw at the Chamundi Vihar Stadium. (Centre) K.A. Bharath of Bengaluru City sporting victory sign after creating a new meet record in the men’s 1,500 meter run. ( Picture in extreme left shows ) the Bengaluru 4×100 meters women’s team sporting victory symbol after creating a new meet record in 4xx100 meters relay.
Mysuru :
Three new meet records were created on the second day of Dasara athletic events held at Chamundi Vihar Stadium yesterday.
K.A. Bharath of B’luru City in 1500 mts), Keerthi Kumar of Belagavi Division in Discus Throw and 4×100 women’s relay team of Bengaluru City broke old records to set new records in men’s and women’s categories at the Chamundi Vihar Stadium here yesterday.
At the end of Day-2, Bengaluru City tops in both men’s and women’s category with 10 gold, two silver and two bronze medals and are followed by hosts Mysuru with 9 golds, 11 silver and 7 bronze medals.
Bharath shines: K.A. Bharath of Bengaluru City, who had earlier won gold in 800 mts, hogged the limelight again by creating a new meet record in the men’s 1500 mts event by clocking 3:58.00s to erase the previous record of 4:01.58s set by M.D. Manjunath of Mysuru Division in 2009.
Keerthi Kumar of Belagavi division threw the discus to a new meet record of 49.77 mts and broke the previous record of 47.76 mts set by Dharamveer Singh of Mysuru Division in 2011. Keerthi Kumar on day-1 had won a silver medal in the men’s shot put.
The third record came in the women’s section with the Bengaluru City’s relay quartet of Afsana Begum, Nityashree, Prajna S. Prakash and Reena George creating a new meet record in the 4×100 mts relay event with a timing of 47:00 sec, erasing the old mark of 47.48 sec, set by Bengaluru City’s athletes in 2014.
Swimming: In the swimming events held at the University Swimming Pool. S. Nishanth of Bengaluru City with 11 points (gold in 200 mts Breaststroke, silver in 100 mts Breaststroke & silver in 200m Individual Medley) won the individual champion title in the men’s section. Sunaina Manjunath of Bengaluru City excelled in the pool in the women’s section by winning the individual title with 15 points (three golds).
Team games: In the team games, Mysuru men’s tennis team spearheaded by S. Prateek won the title beating Bengaluru Rural 2-1 in the final. Bengaluru Rural won the women’s title beating Bengaluru City 2-0 in the final.
Divya Nangaru Prabhakar with her parents, N.V. Prabhakar and T.M. Kusumavathi
We only hope that the State government or any sports organisation comes forward to help us and the girl realise her dreams T.M. Kusumavathi , Divya’s mother
Divya Nangaru Prabhakar is a reserved teenager, but she packs a punch, literally.
The 15-year-old city girl sheds her inhibition when she’s performing taekwondo. With little financial support but plenty of grit and determination, she won India a bronze at the Junior International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) World Championship three weeks ago.
“My dream is to head to the Olympics next,” said Divya who competed in the 70-kg category. According to her coach Pradeep Janardhana, her “power kicks” give her an edge. “It took five years of rigorous practice for me to get used to punches, kicks, power blows and knocks with rapid spinning in Taekwondo. Bagging the bronze was exhilarating,” says Divya, a class 10 student of Nava Prajna Public School on Whitefield Airport Road.
“It was rewarding to be there on the podium representing India. I owe this to my coach, school and my parents,” she said.
But it’s been an uphill struggle for the family “My father, N.V. Prabhakar retired from the Army, while my mother, T.M. Kusumavathi is a staff nurse at Vani Vilas Hospital. With their income they have strived to see my dreams take shape,” she said.
Taekwondo demands protein-rich food and daily practice. “This is something we provide Divya. For her practice sessions she has to travel 25 kilometres to Amruthahalli from Marathahalli at 5 a.m. regularly,” said Kusumavathi.
“It cost us Rs.1.75 lakh to participate in the Taekwondo World Championships at Italy. We have to repay this loan. We only hope that the State government or any sports organisation comes forward to help us and the girl realise her dreams,” is Kusumavathi’s appeal.
Divya has also won medals at the State and national level. “I am getting used to the punches. Sometimes I hurt my lips and they bleed, but that’s what martial arts is all about.”
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Ranjani Govind / Bengaluru – October 03rd, 2016
