SPORTS

While most people in Bengaluru curled up in bed on Sunday morning, 22 thousand people put on their running shoes, plugged in their I-pods and ran for the TCS World 10k 2011. As one walked towards Kanteerava Stadium from the Halasuru gate bus stop, one could see a steady stream of people marching out of Cubbon Park- some walking, some jogging and some running at what seemed like the speed of light- happy to see the finish line. Kanteerava stadium was overflowing with people who were queuing up near the refreshment stalls. While on one side there was the constant…

The inaugural match of the Indian Volley League (IVL) between Karnataka Bulls and Yanam Tigers took place at Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium on Sunday, May 29th at 6.30 pm. The publicity that the IVL took so much trouble for seemed to be of little use. The stadium, with a capacity of 4000, had about a 1000 odd people holding yellow balloons and waiting for the match to begin. In the meanwhile, dancers and musicians entertained the crowd with Bollywood numbers.After salutations to Karnataka Maate with 'Jaya Bharata Jananiya Tanujate', sung by a group of young women in yellow and red…

Karnataka State Billiard Association reports the conclusion of the semi-final league matches of the 35th Junior Snooker Karnataka State Ranking tournament at the KSBA hall. The tournament saw a keenly contested battle for the first place. Mundir Sherazi emerged on top conquering the State Junior Snooker title for the 4th time and double title, having won Billiard title earlier. Mundir Sherazi, Nikhil Pise. Pic: KSBA. Nikhil Pise and M L Laxman are now at second and third position respectively. Their position in Billiards being reversed.  Mundir Sherazi and Nikhil Pise will represent the State as No 1 and No 2…

"Running is my passion!" says 29 year old Seema Kotian, a technical writer during the weekdays and a marathoner by the weekend. Look around and you'll see that she isn't the only one saying that. Running is the new way to be fit. Don't join a gym. Run instead. Seema Kotian at the Sunfeast 2008 run. Pic Courtesy: Seema Kotian This must have been the very thought behind the people who introduced the city of Bangalore to the World 10k in 2008. Today 3 marathons later, the Sunfeast World 10k has been rechristened into TCS World 10k Bangalore 2011. But…

American Economist, Bernard Baruch once said, "Age is only a number, a cipher for the records. A man can't retire his experience. He must use it. Experience achieves more with less energy and time." Well here is one person to prove just that. Risaldar Major Hariram lives, breathes and sleeps horses. With 65 gold medals and uncountable silver in show jumping, Hariram retired from the Indian army in 1980. News about him spread like wild fire and the then-Maharaja of Mysore got him to Bangalore to train people at the turf club. Risaldar Major Hariram teaches mostly at Bangalore's Turf…

Abhinav Mugunthan is like any other 10 year old. He loves going to school and playing with his friends. But on Saturday, the 21st of May, he was more than just a young boy. For the first time, he was an athlete competing against kids three years older than him. He won the first place in the Under-13 shot put event with a distance of 5.15 metres. Taking the high road. Pic: Smit Zaveri. Like Abhinav, there were many other first timers who proved that experience wasn't everything. Determination and hard work was. 12-year-old, Nikitha M V from Sapphire High…

Bangalore will be celebrating the World Athletics Day Meet on Saturday, the 21st of May at Shri Kanteerva Stadium from 9 AM onwards. This event is organised by Fusion Athletica, which has joined hands with the Karnataka Athletics Association, guided by International Association of Athletics Federations & Athletics Federation of India. This meet targets kids from the different age groups to compete in races, long jump, high jump, shot put and discus throw all under one roof. "We have been promoting this meet through various news channels and newspapers as schools are closed for the vacations right now. But despite…

"I play with children with the confidence that even an hour of play will change their lives for the better", says Sheetal Suryavanshi, Founder President, and Managing Trustee, Aata Odanaata (AO). Sheetal founded AO along with her sports buddies to encourage socio-economically challenged children to learn and play different sports. Sheetal Suryavanshi is a BCCI-certified cricket coach. Pic: Aravind H N An awardee of CNN IBN-Reliance's Real Heroes in sports category, Sheetal Suryavanshi was a sports enthusiast during her growing years. She represented her college in cricket, handball and baseball at the national level. When the vortex of life caught Sheetal…

Swish! A tennis racket swings through the air and hits the ball with a thud. On the other side of the net, an 11-year-old retaliates with lightning speed. Shivani's smallness does not prepare you to expect the energy with which she strikes, which lands the ball at the edge of the field, escaping her opponent and bouncing hard against the fence. "Yes!" she says to herself. At the core of one's heart is the determination to win. Pic: Maitri Vasudev. The first week of May 2011 was an exciting one for young tennis champions in Bangalore. The All India Tennis…

Born in 1952 into a humble Tamilian family at Gautamapura – the Gun troop area of Ulsoor, Ulaga was a quiet child. Cricket, football, gilli-danda, marbles were games that he played like any regular kid. But by 16, Ulaga realized the magnetic attraction to the game of football.  Joining clubs like the Bangalore Mars Club or the 515 Army Football Club he met and rubbed shoulders with legends- Arumai Nayagam, P. Kannan, Lionel and Basheer Ahmed. The Junior Nationals launched Ulaga into the Senior Division which ultimately brought him National and International limelight. He had the good fortune of being…