Category Archives: Sports

WRI eyes advanced research through MoU with Japanese institute

Business & Economy, Sports

 R. Easwaran, General Manager, WRI & Labs, and Prof. Manabu Tanaka of JWRI, Osaka University, Japan, displaying MoU in the city. A.V. Krishnan, ED, BHEL Tiruchi, is in the picture. / Photo by Special Arrangement /

JWRI professors conduct seminar for BHEL engineers

In its pursuit to become a world class institution in the field of welding and joining of metals, the Welding Research Institute (WRI), BHEL Tiruchi, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Joining and Welding Research Institute (JWRI), Osaka University, Japan.

R. Easwaran, General Manager, WRI & Labs, and Prof. Manabu Tanaka of JWRI exchanged the MoU documents on Thursday in the presence of A.V. Krishnan, Executive Director, BHEL-Tiruchi, and other senior executives.

Consultancy

As various core industries, including space, power, automobile, ship building, railways and strategic sectors invariably depend on the welding science for improving productivity, quality and services, the WRI offers consultancy enabling the manufacturing industries to bring in low cost automation and process control, Mr. Krishnan said.

Mutual benefit

The JWRI’s fundamental research and WRI’s expertise in applied research will be of mutual benefit leading to advanced research in the science of welding, Prof. Manabu Tanaka added.

Subsequently, professors of JWRI conducted an international seminar that had the participation of engineers of BHEL and students of BHEL – PSG programme.

Research

Presentations on ‘Plasma Diagnostics and Simulation of Welding Arcs’ by Prof. Manabu Tanaka, on ‘Time Resolved X Ray Diffraction analysis of phase transformation of steel weld’ by Prof. Hidenori Terasaki, and on ‘Macro and Micro plasticity analysis for fatigue life assessment of steel’ by Prof. Seiichiro Tsutsumi of JWRI exposed participants to the depth of research works at JWRI.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Tiruchirapalli / by Special Correspondent / Tiruchi, November 09th, 2012

Green-eyed ‘rev’elation

Sports

It was in Bengaluru exactly 12 years ago, when this light-eyed boy who was then only 11, drove his first lap in a go-kart at the Speed Zone. It was his passion for speed and to race that led Armaan Ebrahim to live life in the fast lane. We caught up with India’s young racer who was in the city on Monday at the Puma store in Indiranagar who then partied the night away at Opus.

Young and pursuing a sport that gets a lot of eyeballs, does Armaan get any female adulation, we wonder and he is quick to reply, “I’m quite a shy guy. Yes, I do get a lot of compliments on my green eyes, but that’s about it. I have a few close friends in Chennai who I party with, but the night life there wasn’t very good so far. There aren’t too many happening places. It has become better now, but I’m not there most of the time, as I spend about 10 months in a year in England honing my racing skills. I usually unwind with a close set of friends at home and sometimes we get together for screenings, but when it’s a serious race, I prefer to lock myself and watch it all alone. It helps me study some strategies.”

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> Tabloid> Bengaluru / by Namita Gupta, DC, Bengaluru / November 07th, 2012

Fitness priority for Jeevan

Records, All, Sports

 

Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan

Having played in all the four junior Grand Slams, Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan is now creating ripples on the ITF senior circuit.

After clinching the national championship this month, the Chennai lad went on to win the ITF Futures title in Mumbai last week.
This was Jeevan’s fourth Futures win in two years, the earlier ones being at Pune, Kolkata (2011) and Madurai (April, 2012) .
The 24-year-old, who returned to tennis after a long lay-off due to multiple injuries in August-September 2012, won the Mumbai final in just over an hour.
“I took advantage of my opponent’s nervousness, quickened the pace of the rallies to make him commit unforced errors,” Jeevan said.
Jeevan twisted his ankle in the Gandhinagar Futures in August before tearing a stomach muscle at a Futures event in Iran that put him out for a month in September.
Not ready to give up, a determined Jeevan now wants to improve his rankings and has set his eyes on the Pune Futures title, that is under way this week.
“I just want to stay healthy and playing more and more ITF Futures and ATP tournaments in order to improve my ranking,” the 398th ranked Jeevan said.
Grandson of veteran Tamil Nadu politician V.R. Nenduchezhiyan, Jeevan was expected to go the family way.
“I was always interested in sports. I was into athletics and like sprinting alot. There is no plan to join politics right now… Only time will tell,” said Jeevan, who has four titles in as many final appearances in Futures events.
At the recently-concluded nationals in the capital, Jeevan lived up to his top billing.
“Coming in as the top seed I knew I had a good chance. But my goal was to stay healthy and complete the tournament without my chronic muscle problem coming up,” he said.
A graduate from the University of Washington, Jeevan was an active tennis player in his college days and also ranked as high as no. 9 in the ITF junior rankings.

source: http://www.AsianAge.com / Home> Sports> Tennis / by Age Correspondent / November 01st, 2012

CM’s trophy athletics: Praveen emerges fastest

Sports

The second and final day of the CM’s trophy state level athletic meet belonged to established stars.

The gulf in class between experienced performers and newcomers from districts was clear, as the likes of Surendhar, Suresh, Prem Kumar, Gayathry, Saradha Narayanan, Saraswathy, Pappathi and Surya faced little competition. There were no surprises in the 15 finals conducted at the Nehru Stadium on Saturday.

V. Praveen Muthu Kumaran claimed the 100m gold comfortably. The Madurai boy, who is doing his graduation at Coimbatore’s PSG College, marked his first senior meet with a storming run.

Never once did he appear to be overawed by the presence of experienced campaigners in other lanes.

He had built up enough lead that the result was a foregone conclusion by the 80m mark. It was even easier for Saradha in the women’s short sprint. The Southern Railway runner strolled to the finish line as there was no one to push her.

Praveen said his confidence was sky high before and during the race. “I had a fine start. Then I found my rhythm to finish the job.

This title is special because it is my first at the senior level,” said Praveen, who had won gold in last week’s national junior inter-zone meet at Pune.

Saradha said there was no competition for her. “I knew it would be easy for me because most of the competitors were my juniors. I hope there would be stiffer challenges next year,” the articulate athlete said.

Suresh of Madurai made it two-in-a-row at the Nehru Stadium by winning the 110m hurdles in 14 seconds flat. Earlier this month, he had won the national open athletic championship.

G. Gayathri, on a comeback trail, nailed the women’s hurdles in 14.2 seconds.

J. Surendhar is a National Games gold medallist in the 110m but he proved his mettle in the triple jump. The versatile Chennai star, coached by M.V. Rajasekhar, finished on top with an effort of 16.01m.

“Even though I had trained for the triple jump only for a couple of days, I was able to cross 16 metres,” Surendhar, a Loyola student, said.

L. Suriya, a gold medallist in the 5,000m and the 10,000m at the open nationals, cantered to the 3,000m title. A. Pappathi, another national level achiever, scooped the 400m crown. Ace long jumper K. Prem Kumar, who had set a new national junior mark (7.96m) last Saturday, was in a class of his own as he added the CM’s trophy to his kitty with an effort of 7.61m.

Results

Men: 100m: 1. V. Praveen Muthu Kumaran (Madurai) 10.5s, 2. N. Vijayakumar (Chennai) 10.7, 3. M. Al Ameen (Ramanathapuram) 10.9. Long jump: 1. K. Prem Kumar (Thanjavur) 7.61m, 2. Wayne Peppin (Chennai) 7.34, 3. A. Rositto Sax (Tirunelveli) 7.17. 800m: 1. P. Francis Sahayaraj (Namakkal) 1:52.5s, 2. P. Karthik (Coimbatore) 1:54, 3. N. Padmanabhan (Kancheepuram) 1:56.6. Javelin: 1. G. Sathish (Kancheepuram) 60.47m, 2. H. Michael Justin (Tirunelveli) 60.05, 3. T. Suthish (Theni) 58.56. 110m hurdles: 1. A. Suresh (Madurai) 14s, 2. T. Balamurugan (Chennai) 14.1, 3. K. Premkumar (Cuddalore) 14.3. Shot put: 1. N. Shankar (Kancheepuram) 14.79m, 2. Santhosh Kumar (Tiruchy) 14.67, 3. Chidambaram (Thoothukudi) 13.76. Triple jump: 1. J. Surendhar (Chennai) 16.01m, 2. S. Mohammed Salahuddin (Coimbatore) 15.57, 3. D. Arivuselvan (Theni) 15.32.

Women: 100m: 1. Saradha Narayanan (Chennai) 11.8s, 2. S. Archana (TV Malai) 12.1, 3. R. Kowsalya (Coimbatore) 12.4. Javelin: 1. S. Saraswathy (Coimbatore) 46.92m, 2. R. Jothimani (Kancheepuram) 39.48, 3. P. Madhupriya (Karur) 39.20. 3,000m: 1. L. Suriya (Pudukottai) 9:48.3s, 2. S. Padmavathy (Coimbatore) 10:34.3, 3. A. Kaleeshwari (Namakkal) 11:01.2. 400m: 1. A. Pappathi (Tiruchy) 55.8s, 2. T. Renuka (Karur) 56.7, 3. T.S. Kavitha (Kancheepuram) 57.9. Long jump: 1. Delphin Rani (Thanjavur) 6.13m, 2. G. Karthika (Nagapattinam) 5.83, 3. Surekha Renjith (Chennai) 5.50. 100m hurdles: 1. G. Gayathry (Kancheepuram) 14.2s, 2. V. Hani (Chennai) 14.6, 3. Hema Sree (Coimbatore) 14.7. High jump: 1. G. Mary Shalini (Kancheepuram) 1.60m, 2. S. Shibani (Coimbatore) 1.55m, 3. M. Arockia Elizabeth Rose (TV Malai) 1.55. Discus: 1. U. Vasumathy (Kanyakumari) 41.72m, 2. E. Hema Priya (Thanjavur) 37.38, 3. V. Chitra (Tirunelveli) 36.32.

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> Channels> Sports> Others / by T.N. Raghu, DC, Chennai / September 30th, 2012

Narain Karthikeyan out-qualifies Pedro again

Sports

New Delhi:

India’s  Narain Karthikeyan managed to out-qualify his much experienced teammate Pedro De La Rosa for the second race in a row at the Singapore Grand Prix. HRT after intense work in the garage and analysis of data gathered on Friday, improved the performance of its cars substantially along with the sensations of its drivers De la Rosa and Karthikeyan.

Karthikeyan proved to be consistent and safe once again throughout the day, which culminated in a good qualifying session where he finished in 23rd, whilst his teammate De la Rosa, who went out with a new gearbox on Saturday which led to a penalty for not completing the obligatory five Grands Prix, finished in 24th.

“I’m happy because in qualifying I completed an almost perfect lap. I’m pushing very hard and I think that right now I’m driving very well. I’m very comfortable within the team, they help me a lot and make me feel at home, and when the atmosphere is that good it’s easy to perform well,” Karthikeyan said after the qualifying session on Saturday.

“I’ve done two good consecutive qualifying sessions and I hope to keep that momentum. Tomorrow’s race will be tough physically and mentally but we will fight to achieve the best possible result,” the Chennai driver added.

The Spanish team’s technical director Toni Cuquerella was also satisfied with Karthikeyan’s performance in the qualifying session. “Narain completed a good qualifying session, in the same line as his last Grands Prix where he has been more secure and consistent. It’s a shame that Pedro was unable to complete a clean lap this time. Tomorrow will be a tough race because, in terms of time, it is the longest in the season. But it will also be tough because of the high temperatures that the engine and the brakes reach, but also because of the thermal degradation of the rear tyres. It all leads to a two or three-stop strategy,” he said.

The tough conditions which the drivers will face in Sunday’s 61-lap race will be decisive in the outcome of the race. But also the high probability of the safety car coming out and the degradation of the tyres will play a vital role in the strategy, which is anticipated to be between two and three stops.

“Overall my sensations are positive because the car has improved but we didn’t complete a good qualifying session. We were using a new set of tyres and they were blocking a lot so we were unable to complete a clean lap,” De La Rosa said.

“Although I already knew that tomorrow I would be starting last because of the penalty, I tried to complete a quick lap, but it wasn’t to be. I take with me the fact that the car has improved quite a bit and that is important ahead of tomorrow because it will be a tough race. It will be tough for everyone but we have to race intelligently to not overwork the brakes and manage the tyres well. As always, we will give it everything to do the best we can,” the former McLaren driver added.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> Sports> Racing / by Devadyuti Das, TNN / September 22nd, 2012

Sport was more than a pastime for GK

Leaders, Sports

 PASSION FOR EXCELLENCE: G. Kasturi (centre), the dynamic Editor of The Hindu who was an all-round sportsman, seen with the legendary Dhyan Chand and S.K. Gurunathan (right), the Sports Editor of newspaper, when the hockey wizard visited the newspaper’s office in 1955. / The Hindu Photo Archives

It is difficult to relate in words the interest and enthusiasm that G. Kasturi showed for sports as Editor of The Hindu.

To say it bordered on passion, which remained undiminished till life ebbed out of him on Friday, is no exaggeration.

We, in the Sports Department, were always in awe of his range of interests and knowledge. He also had an abiding concern for accuracy and advocated simple prose as the means to convey an idea or the mood of a sporting moment to the readers.

He was a multifaceted genius. An all-round sportsman — who shone in tennis, cricket and in cue sports in his youth — GK, as we respectfully referred to him, was versatile to the point of being flawless in judgment.

If the sports pages of The Hindu today has a measure of variety and vivacity, it is largely because of the foundations he laid in1947.

His love for sport prompted the birth of the Sport & Pastime in 1947. For the sports fraternity of the country, thirsting for recognition in the post-independent era, S & P was a God-sent vehicle. It also grew into a ‘Bible for sport’.

He literally planned and polished every page, both in the choice of articles and pictures, to embellish the life and times of sportsmen and women. He was instrumental in starting the annual S & P Trophy limited-over tournament, and even captained the S & P team in the inaugural year.

VISIONARY

Always ahead in thinking and planning, GK kept himself informed of the happenings in every discipline. Even as recently as two months ago, he discussed in detail with this writer the raging controversy in Indian hockey. He recalled with a touch of nostalgia of how The Hindu came forward to donate the Rangaswamy Cup, for the National hockey championship, in 1951.

GK’s in-depth knowledge of cricket was phenomenal. He dissected, with impeccable logic, the technique of every batsman and bowler. In a recent discussion he debated why Indian spin dominates on local pitches. His two cricketing heroes were Wally Hammond and Lala Amarnath.

During a meeting connected with the layout for The Sportstar in the late 1970s, GK pulled out a picture showing Hammond in full flow while playing an off-drive and asked, “Will any of your batsmen play this shot with such elegance and class?” For a moment, he fixed his eyes on the picture, immersed in the beauty of it. Such was his boyish enthusiasm.

GK’s recurring theme during interactions with reporters and sub editors was on inculcating the spirit of innovation. He believed in the adage that change is the essential part of existence.

“Put on your thinking cap and imagine what the readers would think of the sports page tomorrow morning,” he said times without number. He advised the desk to unfailingly come up with something new to capture the attention of the reader.

Abreast with the latest development in the world of sports, GK followed interesting matches on radio and TV. He watched with the members of the sports staff the famous last ball six by Javed Miandad against India at Sharjah in 1986.

FOR THE YOUTH

GK consistently advocated that the sports pages were meant for the youth, more so for the growing-up children, to see their achievements recorded and photographed. In a recent discussion, he lamented over the fact that newspapers of today were devoting less and less space for activities in colleges and schools.

For a brief period in 1963-64, GK headed the State tennis association. He strongly pleaded for spreading the sport to district centres and make the game less expensive for the underprivileged children.

GK, Sir, you are incomparable. Simply because the mould in which the Almighty created you does not exist. He has destroyed it.

With tears in our eyes, emotions welling up in our hearts, and prayers on our lips, we bow in reverence to your departed soul. Your memory, we will ever cherish.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> Sports> Other Sports / by S. Thyagarajan / Chennai, September 21st, 2012

Chennai to run for a noble cause

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Science & Technologies, Sports

Chennai Runners, a group that promotes running in Chennai for the past six years announced The Wipro Chennai Marathon (TWCM) 2012 to be held at IIT Madras on December 2, 2012. The inaugural marathon, which would cover 42 km, is expected to have around 5,000 runners participating in the event. Wipro Technologies will be the title sponsor along with Apollo hospitals and United Way of Chennai.

This year, the marathon, TWCM 2012, promises to provide runners with technology support such as RFID-based (Radio-frequency identification) timing technology.

Speaking on the occasion V P Senthil Kumar, race director, Chennai Marathon said, “It has been our vision to host one of the world’s best marathons in Chennai. With Wipro as our title and technology partner, we can see a fruition of our vision. We are convinced that their support and expertise in the technology arena will help us heighten the race-day experience for the participants.”

Lakshmi Naryanan, chairman of United Way Chennai, said, “United Way is proud to be associated with The Wipro Chennai Marathon 2012. The Chennai marathon is for creating livelihood for physically challenged men and women. We will do the running for them, so that they can better run their lives.”

Chennai Runners, founded in 2006, is an informal group of people who share a passion for running, is over 1,000 people strong now. The group has conducted several half marathons including 10 km and 5 km events in the past few years and has now associated with Wipro to bring a world class marathon event to Chennai.

United Way of Chennai works for the increased quality of life of the underprivileged in the areas of health, education and livelihood.

Show Space, an event management organisation based out of Chennai has been roped in and is actively involved in managing and promoting the Wipro Chennai Marathon

source: http://www.ibnlive.in.com / Home> South> Southern News > Chennai / The New Indian Express, Express News Service / September 20th, 2012

Board queen keen to conquer the world

Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All, Sports

M. Mahalakshmi.

It is an unlikely setting in which to find a chess champion. An asbestos-sheeted single-room house in a slum at Erukkancheri with the family struggling to make ends meet.

However, the tough conditions have made M. Mahalakshmi, who is the world under-12 girls’ chess bronze medallist, more determined to win the forthcoming world under-14 girls’ chess championship.

“I want to become the world champion. It is my goal in life. My immediate goal is to win gold at the world youth championship that begins in Solvenia on November 7,” the teenage girl from Chennai told Deccan Chronicle.

The Class 9 student of Velammal Matriculation School has so far won two bronze medals (under-8 and under-12) at world level tournaments.

At the Asian level, she has bagged gold in the under-10 category in 2008, silver in the under-14 meet in 2010 and a bronze in the same under-14 event in 2011.

The fourth daughter of an electrician, Mahalakshmi picked up chess from her third sister M. Jagadambal.

Put under the tutelage of prominent coach M.J. Ismail, she quickly rose to prominence at the national level when she bagged the under-7 title in 2005.

However, her family troubles have ensured that she has to fight greater odds to keep ruling the chess board. Mahalakshmi now trains under R.B. Ramesh and misses out on the individual attention.

“Earlier we used to arrange for individual training for her. At that time, I was running a PVC pipe company and was living in a decent flat.

Now we are struggling to make ends meet and so have stopped professional coaching for her,” said her dejected father P. Mukunthakumar, adding that she missed participating in a open tournament at Orissa recently because of lack of funds.

The little champ is, however, not worried about coaching or losing valuable tournament practice. “I train for at least eight hours a day at home.

My school is very considerate and sponsors me when I travel abroad,” said Mahalakshmi. To motivate this young chess champion call 98400-33294.

source:  http:/www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> Channels> Cities> Chennai / by S. Sujatha / DC, Chennai / September 17th, 2012

SRM triumphs in Kongu Trophy

Sports

SRM University won the basketball title for women and volleyball cup for men in the State Level inter-collegiate tournament for the Kongu Tropohy held at Perundurai (Erode).

The men’s team has won the volleyball event for the sixth year in a row. SRM also emerged the overall championship for the third year in succession.

The results: Basketball (women): SRM bt Pavai Engineering, Namakkal 55-27; bt Kongu College, Erode 55-22: Final: bt St. Joseph’s Engineering, Chennai 50-41.

Volleyball (Men): SRM bt Gandhigram 25-12, 25-12; bt Sri Sankara 25-21, 25-17; Final: bt Panimalar 25-21, 25-22.; Badminton (women): Runner- up; Men: Third place.

Basketball: Men: Third place.; Table Tennis: Men: Third place.

Other results: Men’s basketball final: Sathyabama University bt Loyola College, Chennai 64-50, Semifinal league: Sathyabama bt Hindustan Arts, Chennai 76-56; Sathyabama bt SRM University, Chennai 68-46. Quarterfinal:Sathyabama bt GRD College, Coimbatore 72-44.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> Sport / Chennai, September 12th, 2012

Young long jumper aims high

Sports

For K. Prem Kumar, 19 from Thanjavur, nothing is more important than long jumps which he practices every day.

Sleeping on a mat in a small room with five others is not a deterrent for this youth who is determined to give his very best at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

“I will win a medal at the Olympics,” the Asian junior bronze medallist told this newspaper. Having lost his father at a young age, Prem Kumar has been raised by his mother Uma Rani who works in a church at Orathanadu in Thanjavur.

The young boy started jumping, literally, while studying in Class IX. “I used to take part in school competitions and during one such meet I met coach P. Nagarajan, who asked me to move to Chennai,” said Prem Kumar.

After joining Mr Pachaiyappa’s school, he began training scientifically under the able guidance of Mr Nagarajan, who enrolled him at St Joseph Sports Academy.

Prem Kumar’s first big success came at the national junior meet, where he bagged gold with a jump of 7.86 metres in 2010. Recently at the Asian indoor trial at Bengaluru, he touched his personal best of 7.92 metres. However, he fumbled at his first few international meets.

“I am a non-vegetarian. But I couldn’t stand the food available at China and Spain. They were not cooked as in India. The smell itself was not palatable,” he said.

But the young champion did not get bogged down. “I am slowly getting used to that food. I have decided not to use that as a reason anymore for my below-average performance. I will surely achieve bigger success in the next international meet,” he added.

In June Prem Kumar won a bronze at the Asian junior championships at Colombo with a jump of 7.52 metres, before that in February, his 7.62 metres jump had helped him get a bronze at the Asian senior indoor championship at China.

While the long jumper has set his eyes on the Rio Olympics, he has decided not to pursue his studies nor take up a job immediately.

“My mother earns about Rs 7,000 per month and she sends me some money. I try not to trouble her much.

My club is also helping me. At present my concentration is only on training. I will take up a job after reaching my goal of winning an Olympic medal,” he said.

sujatha.s@deccanmail.com

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> Channels> Sports> Others / by S. Sujatha, DC, Chennai / September 09th, 2012