Sania Mirza at her tennis academy in Hyderabad | N Jagannath Das
Far away from the hustle and bustle of city life (a 30-minute drive from the city), the serenity and calming ambience at the Sania Mirza Tennis Academy are slowly attracting promising players. Sania and her father Imran have conceptualized and created an amazing academy on the outskirts of Hyderabad.
“It is my dream project. It was a lot harder when I started my career and one of the reasons to construct this academy to give back to the game,” she said.
“Now young players would not have to face the difficulties that Leander (Paes), Mahesh (Bhupathi) or myself faced in our younger days.’’
Asked how she would look after the academy, Sania said she was lucky that her family always supported her. “When you are alone you have to wait for your retirement. I’m lucky enough that we have a supporting family, who are able to manage the academy. Whenever I’m in city, I practice here and try to spend a good number of time here. This is an integral part of my life,” she said.
It is her dream to introduce more children to the game, “We will help promising tennis players. I’m more than happy to spot talent in rural areas and presently we have girl, who is hearing impaired. This is what academy was made for.’’
Meanwhile Imran said apart from 12 plexipave courts (which are soft to the legs), they are planning to have three clay courts at the academy. “It is a complete tennis academy. The Sania Mirza Tennis Academy is a destination for a every lover of tennis who aspires to learn, enjoy and just relish the opportunity to indulge in the royal game,’’ he said.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Sport / by N Jagannath Das / ENS – Hyderabad / October 09th, 2013
The 14-year-old is a product of the Gopichand Academy, where he enrolled when he was only eight
Fourteen-year-old Alluri Sri Sai Siril Verma crowned himself with glory, winning the Boys (under-15) singles title at the Asian Youth Badminton Championship in Indonesia on Sunday.
This Class 10 student of Glendale Academy left for the East Asian c0ountry, promising his parents a title this time around – his third appearance at the championship.
“I have been waiting for this for quite some time and am really delighted to win this,” says Siril, who joined Gopichand Academy when he was just eight years of age.
“Honestly, he looked raw but I could see the spark in his eyes and an urge to make it big,” recalls coach Gopichand. Within a year of training, Siril won the National under-10 singles title.
Only recently, Siril won the sub-junior title in the tournament held to scout talent during the IBL.
Only a few days before he left for Indonesia, Siril, partnering Ravinder Singh, won the doubles bronze in the PSPB championship in Delhi.
“I was confident this time around. The long wait has finally ended,” Siril told his parents immediately after his triumph on Sunday.
Like many others, Siril’s parents too shifted base closer to the Gopichand Academy to back their child’s interest in the sport.
“We have decided that the destiny of my son is in badminton and very pleased that it is in the safe hands of Gopi,” says the proud father.
“Any title at the international level is bound to lift your confidence level and I will work really hard and repose the faith Gopi anna has in me,” says Siril.
A delighted mother, Suseela, recalls how she came to know what badminton is all about after a look at Gopi’s photograph in 2001.
“Obviously, I could not even dream of my own son training under him and winning an Asian title today,” she says, controlling her emotions.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – October 13th, 2013
Nikhat Zareen is only 17… but she has decided to brave it out in boxing. V.V. Subrahmanyam profiles the teen.
VISAKHAPATNAM(ANDHRA PRADESH)01-10-2013: Nikhat Zareen, a trainee of SAI Sports Training Centre, Visakhapatnam, who won silver medal in the 54kg category of women’s Youth World championship in Bulgaria on Sunday, at the Port stadium, Visakhapatnam on Tuesday.—photo: C_V_SUBRAHMANYAM
Exploring new frontiers! Well, the 17-year-old Nikhat Zareen, from Nizamabad district has decided to enter the boxing ring, which only a few girls have dared to from Andhra. And, not surprisingly, the five-time World champion Mary Kom is her inspiration.
What is significant is that this Intermediate second year student of New Kakatiya College (but now in the Indian camp in Vizag under the tutelage of Dronacharya I. Venkateswara Rao), is charting out her own world of achievements.
First spotted by SAAP (Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh) boxing coach Omkar Yadav, Zareen had shown abundant promise very early and to all those who followed her career it was not surprising that she won the 2011 Turkey World junior boxing gold (flyweight) after being adjudged the ‘Best Boxer’ in the Erode Nationals. And, as if to prove that it was no flash in the pan, this highly talented boxer has recently won a highly creditable silver (bantamweight) in the World Youth championship in Bulgaria.
It was never easy for Zareen to keep moving ahead even as her father, Mohammad Jameel Ahmed (a real estate agent), faced some embarrassing questions from his own community.
“That was really tough. But, once we decided that we should make it big in the world of sport and that too in boxing, there was no looking back,” Zareen had said once. Regarding the World Youth championship final against Chinese boxer Yunzi Yuan, Zareen recalls, “Well, after the semi-final win against another world junior champion, my confidence was on a high. But I must admit in the final, I was up against someone who was really good and superior to me.”
Former national coach Emani Chiranjeevi who had a close look at Zareen a couple of years ago did feel that this Andhra girl had the potential to go a long way. “When you look at a boxer, the intensity in the eyes is one of the defining factors whether one can be good in the ring or not. There was a lot of hunger for success in her eyes and her hand-eye coordination is God’s gift to her,” the famous coach, who guided the destinies of at least four Olympians from India, said.
HYDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH, 04-10-2013: Nikhat Zareen, who won the silver in the recent World Youth women’s boxing championship in Bulgaria recently, seen with her father Md Jameel Ahmed in Hyderabad on Friday. PHOTO: V_V_SUBRAHMANYAM
And, once Zareen enrolled with the reputed SAI coach Venkateswara Rao, there was no looking back.
Clearly buoyed by her impressive outing in Bulgaria, Zareen now looks far ahead. “It may sound odd but I am determined to win an Olympic medal in the 2016 Games in Rio. And God willing, nothing less than gold,” emphasises the athlete-turned boxer.
Zareen’s father continues to be her friend and guide. He keeps a tab on her diet and even makes it a point to watch the training sessions, making critical analysis whenever he finds time.
Not content with her silver, this champion boxer’s immediate goal is to win gold in the coming Youth Olympics in China.
By all means, her splendid achievements mean that the Andhra Pradesh ‘Women Force’ in the world of sport is not confined only to the likes of Sania, Saina, Humpy and Harika.
“Yes, it is a great feeling when people start recognising you. Definitely things change a lot when you keep winning important events. I sincerely wish that I live up to the expectations,” she says to a query.
What were the lessons from Bulgaria? “The final itself was a reminder that at this level, merely attacking all out will not yield results. For, in that final, the Chinese girl’s defence was too good. So, there is always scope to keep learning and improving fast,” she signs off.
source: http://www.sportstaronnet.com / SportStar, from the Publishers of The Hindu / Home> Boxing/Focus / Vol.36, No.42 – Oct 19th, 2013
Indian tennis player Sania Mirza (L), actress Diana Hayden (C) and badminton player Saina Nehwal during the IPL-6 match between Sunrisers Hyderabad’s and Pune Warriors in Hyderabad./ Photo: PTI
Though it was not a jam-packed stadium that greeted Sunrisers Hyderabad and Pune Warriors India playing their 2013 IPL opener at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here on Friday night, the glamour element was very much evident even as the crowds had fun soaking in the atmosphere.
Former Miss World Diana Hayden was seen chatting away with badminton champ Saina Nehwal and tennis star Sania Mirza. It was indeed a treat for the crowds to watch two aces in the company of a beauty queen!
Sania supporting Warriors
Sania Mirza, brand ambassador for Sahara India, was there to support the Pune Warriors. “Sunrisers’ captain Kumar Sangakkara is a classy batsman and a wonderful captain. I wish the home team the best of luck. But I am here to support Warriors which has my very good friend Yuvraj Singh,” she said.
Getting down to business
V.V.S. Laxman, donning the role of mentor, was taking the throw-ins from former Pakistan fast bowling great and now bowling coach of Sunrisers Waqar Younis, to give some catching practice to local boy G.H. Vihari, Cameron White and Parthiv Patel. Former India captain and mentor Krishnamachari Srikkanth was also seen chatting with the players trying to making them comfortable.
Then, there was South African speedster Dale Steyn and the tall Ishant Sharma, who were focused on bowling, indicating that they clearly meant business.
‘White Lightning’ in action
Not far away, from the Sunrisers camp was another South African fast bowling great Allan Donald. Nicknamed ‘White Lightning’ in his playing days for his torrid pace, Donald was seen chatting animatedly with the Pune Warriors lads in his new role as bowling coach for Warriors.
Huge roar for Yuvi
The 2011 World Cup player of the series and the one who has fond memories of this venue, Yuvraj Singh, too looked in his elements. Returning to the ground where he hit a double century in his first four-day match after battling cancer, he seemed to be ready for the big challenge. Yuvi was moved by the huge roar from the crowd when he was shown on the giant screen. “I am happy to be back here, which has always been a lucky ground for me,” he said.
With weather God being kind over the last two days, the match was off to prompt start thanks to the wonderful job done by the ground staff led by chief curator Y. L. Chandrasekhar.
The copy has been corrected for typographical error
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V. V. Suhrahmanyam / April 05th, 2013
Andhra Cricket Association secretary Gokaraju Gangaraju announcing the names of ACA members who made it to cricket board’s various sub committees in Vijayawada on Monday. / Photo: V. Raju / The Hindu
Vizag to host India-West Indies ODI in November
Andhra Cricket Association has succeeded in getting plump postings for its members and nod for a couple of other demands in return for supporting former Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) chief N. Srinivasan during his re-election as board’s president on Sunday.
For the first time 11 persons of the 60-year-old association found their way into BCCI sub committees.
Leading the list is ACA secretary Gokaraju Ganga Raju, who will be chairman of the Finance Committee and ex-officio member of IPL Governing Council.
Association chief D.V.Subba Rao will be member of the constitution review committee.
Test status
The board, at the 84th AGM promised to depute a team to review the facilities for one final time at Dr.YSR ACA–VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam before awarding the Test status.
“In one month we will get the much elusive Test status. In fact we should have got it (status) four years ago,” said the ACA secretary here on Monday.
He said India-West Indies One Day International will be held in Visakhapatnam in November, commemorating the diamond jubilee celebrations of the ACA.
Women’s Academy
The board has adopted the Andhra Women’s Cricket Academy run by the ACA at JKC Grounds at Guntur and from now on it will be called – BCCI Women’s Academy. “Our Guntur academy will be the hub of the Indian women’s cricketing activities,” Mr. Raju added.The ACA secretary said former India stumper and ACA director M.S.K. Prasad will get into the National junior selection committee next year when the South Zone representative K. Jayaram (Kerala) completes his term.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Staff Reporter / Vijayawada – October 01st, 2013
The Visakhapatnam District Olympic Association will attempt a new world record of the largest-ever ‘Olympic Day Run’ on June 23, organisers said today.
The VDOA, in association with the local administration and others, will be celebrating the Olympic Day by organising a rally ensuring participation of one lakh people, they said.
“Besides common people, prominent sportstars namely ace shuttler Saina Nehwal , cricketer VVS Laxman, shooter Gagan Narang, tennis star Sania Mirza, Tollywood celebrities, politicians and industrialists will participate in the 5-km run,” said VDOA president and convener of the event, T Harsha Vardhana Prasad.
Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy will flag off the run from the Andhra University College of Engineering ground, which culminates at RK Beach.
Andhra Pradesh Olympic Association (APOA) will be organising the annual Olympic festival on the occasion.
Olympic Day Run event has been organised to mark the creation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) which came into existence on June 23, 1984 in Paris.
“If the run for record is successful in attracting more than one lakh people, it will find place into the Guinness Book of Records for largest Olympic Day Run”, Prasad said.
source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> PTI Stories> National> News / by Press Trust of India / Visakhapatnam – June 03rd, 2013
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and Hyderabad Bicycling Club (HBC) will jointly launch a bike station at Gachibowli on Sunday. A cycling event would also be flagged off by governor ESL Narasimhan on the day.
Apart from the bike station labelled Bicyclone 2013, cycling would be flagged off by the governor ESL Narasimhan.
Announcing this at a press conference on Friday, GHMC commissioner MT Krishna Babu, along with AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) executive director Rahul Bojja and HBC chairman DV Manohar, said the bike station opposite the biodiversity complex was built by the municipal corporation while the Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) contributed 300 bicycles for it. The HBC has come forward to operate the bike station on a non-profit basis, he said.
The commissioner said HMR was planning to set up bike stations at all metro stations. These stations would have state-of-the-art facilities such as card swipe technology for releasing bikes, rest rooms, change facilities, lockers and food court with adequate seating. Office-bound commuters getting down at metro stations can borrow a bicycle from the bike station to go to their workplace and return the bike when returning to catch a train at any metro station. The bike stations will be manned 24/7 by specially trained staff, dedicated support vehicles and mechanics, Krishna Babu said.
“The ‘Cycle to Work’ is aimed at transforming the commuting culture in our city by reducing vehicular pollution as well as traffic congestion. Our target groups are corporate companies, government employees, individuals, specialist cycling organizations and residential communities in the surrounding areas,” the commissioner said.
He said that eight tracks would be developed covering various IT company zones. While APIIC would construct 40 km of the total 60 km proposed cycling track, the rest would be constructed by the GHMC.
including Hitec City MMTS station to InOrbit Mall (MMTS Railway Station, Cyber towers, Mindspace, ILabs ), Shilpakala Vedika to Shilpakala Vedika (Shilpakalavedika, CII green business centre, Kondapur, Botanical Gardens, Gachibowli Junction, Quality Inn , Mindspace circle), Shilpakalavedika to Cybergateway (Shilpakalavedika, CII Green Business centre, Mahindra Satyam, Dell, Cybergateway), Ayyappa Society to Cyber Towers (Neeru’s Emphoria, Right Turn, Left Turn, YSR Statue, Meridian School Jn, Cyber Towers),Madhapur PS to Madhapur PS (Madhapur PS, Durgam Cheruvu, ILabs, Mindspace, Cybergateway, Nandini Cafe, Madhapur Petrol bunk),Madhapur PS to Madhapur PS (Madhapaur PS, Durgam Cheruuvu, ILABS, Mindspace, Cybergateway, Madhapur Petrol Bunk, Madhapur PS), Raidurgam SEZ to Raidurgam SEZ (Raidurgan SEZ, R Ministry College, Cyberabad Police Comm, Gachibowli Junction, IDBI Bank, Infosys, Wipro Junction, Rejenta One, HPS/ OAKRIDGE, Raidurgam SEZ), IDBI Bank to Hitex (IDBI Bank Gachibowli stadium, University of Hyd, DLF, Adithya Sarovar, Kondapur Junction, Kothaguda, Shilpa Park, Novotel, Hitex).
source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad> Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation / TNN / September 28th, 2013
‘Once the management gets approval for operating the flights and complete other procedures, Air Costa will start flying the planes’
After sealing her berth in the world youth archery championship at Wuxi in China, the city teenage archer Jyothi Surekha continued her dream run by topping the table and emerging winner at the National Ranking tournament at Aurangabad on Saturday.
She will be part of the Indian team for both the senior world championship (Antalya, Turkey) and Asian championship at Chinese Taipei. Surekha, a first-year mechanical engineering student of Koneru Lakshmaiah University, garnered 23 points out of 32 points to emerge winner and closely following her was Trisha Deb with 22 points.
“In the four National ranking tourneys held at Delhi, Hyderabad, Jharkahand and Aurangabad, Surekha tallied 88 points to emerge No.1 compound archer in the country,” says the archer’s father Surendra. Incidentally Surekha is world No. 36 compound archer.
Surekha, a product of Volga Archery Academy, has been performing consistently in the national circuit and she is a regular member of the Indian women’s compound team. She could not participate in the World Stage I and 11 events at China and Turkey as she finished fifth in the ranking at Jamshedpur in April owing to lack of form. Later she regained her lost touch both in performance and in confidence.
Surekha’s itinerary is packed with national camps and international tourneys and she will be in city for a week to undergo a series of tests with physiotherapist. “She (Surekha) badly needs rest for she has been moving around playing and training vigorously. She will leave for senior world championship at Antalya (Turkey) from September 29 to October 6 and later she will leave for Wuxi at China for the world youth championship from October 13 to 20.
She will head for Chinese Taipei for the Asian archery championship from October 29 to November 2.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by J. R. Sridharan / Vijayawada – September 08th, 2013
Nikhat Zareen wins silver in the World Youth Boxing Championship
Nikhat Zareen represents the continuing “women force” from A.P. in the world of sports. This 17-year-old boxer from Nizamabad has won a silver in her maiden appearance in the World Youth Boxing Championship held in Bulgaria on Saturday night.
Zareen’s splendid feat proved that sport is not only all about the likes of Sania, Saina, Sindhu, Humpy and Harika but also of lesser-known star performers from the State.
This boxer has served a reminder that her gold in the 2011 Turkey World Junior Boxing Championship (flyweight) was no fluke as she came up with another splendid show in the ring to return – a silver after she lost narrowly in the bantam weight category final in the Women’s World Youth Boxing Meet in Bulgaria to Yunzi Yuan of China on Saturday.
The Intermediate student from New Kakatiya College at Nizamabad took to the sport first with the intent to demonstrate that even girls could excel when she first visited SAAP Academy, and she owes her success story to her first coach and uncle Shamsamuddin.
“Once I got the better of ex-junior world champion Viktoriya Virt of Ukraine, the confidence was up. The final was a close encounter and could have gone either way, but I am happy to have made it to the final in my maiden World Youth Meet,” she told Shamsamuddin after her bout over the phone.
“The huge inspiration is, without doubt, Mary Kom who won the world title five times. This performance will boost my morale to aim big,” says Zareen, the only Indian finalist in the championship.
Interestingly, the Indian team’s chief coach is I. Venkateshwar Rao – under whom Zareen and other Indian women boxers have been training in Vizag for almost two years now at the SAI Centre.
“My goal is to qualify for the 2016 Olympics and win a medal for India. That is the biggest dream right now I am chasing,” signs off a confident Zareen.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V. V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – September 29th, 2013
Plans to start Indian arena polo league (IAPL) in India from next year
Suneendra Sports Club (SSC), a Hyderabad -based professional polo team, is in the process of setting up a private polo facility on the outskirts of the city with an investment of close to Rs 10 crore, according to its founder and captain Kanna Phaneendra.
“The idea is to promote polo and arena polo (the shorter version of the traditional sport) on a large scale than what it is at present. We have already acquired 25 acre abutting the Outer Ring Road in close proximity to the international airport. The facility should be ready in one-and-a-half years from now,” he told Business Standard.
Being set up in partnership with a luxury watch maker from Germany and a fashion brand in the UK, which are trying to set their foot in India, the proposed facility will have a full ground (12 acre), a half ground (6 acre) and a floodlit arena polo ground (1 acre) to host matches, besides owning 15 horses to train youngsters in polo and equestrian sports like show jumping and dressage. He declined to name the two foreign companies citing non-disclosure clause in the agreement.
While a majority of the polo grounds is under the management of the Indian Armed Forces, including the 61st cavalry mounted regiment’s ground in Jaipur, AAC in Bangalore and the Bison Polo Ground in Secunderabad, SSC’s 1,000-seat capacity project will be the third private polo facility in the country. Navin Jindal’s Jindal Steel and Power polo team already has its own facility in Jaipur, while Sahara India’s Sahara Warriors is in the process of setting up one in Pune.
Stating that the royal sport, played on horseback using long-handled mallets and a wooden ball, is slowly gaining popularity in the country, Phaneendra, son of state agriculture minister Kanna Lakshminarayana, said SSC was on the verge of starting an Indian arena polo league (on the likes of Indian Premier League and Indian Badminton League).
“We are trying to put our efforts to convince the Indian Polo Association (IPA) on the same. We are hopeful of starting the arena polo league by next year. In the meanwhile, we are gearing up to organise the country’s first beach polo tournament in Goa in the next six months,” he said.
SSC is also in talks with the Guards Polo Club, the official team of Queen Elizabeth for exchange of players. The talks are expected to be concluded in the next three months, Phaneendra said, adding SSC had also applied for a trademark called Golkonda Tigers.
source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> Companies> News / by K Rajani Kanth, Hyderabad / September 18th, 2013
