Mukesh Kumar seizes the lead with a sublime 67

Mukesh Kumar 

Mewat (Haryana), February 27, 2013: Mukesh Kumar of Mhow went ahead by one stroke in round two of the PGTI Players Championship at the Classic Golf Resort in Mewat, Haryana after firing a five-under-67. Mukesh thus took his total to nine-under-135. Delhi golfers Shamim Khan and Rashid Khan are one stroke off the lead in tied second.

Mukesh Kumar (68-67), the winner at PGTI’s last event in Chandigarh last week, climbed from overnight tied fourth into the sole lead thanks to a sublime 67 on Wednesday. Mukesh sank a 10 feet putt for his first birdie of the day on the second hole. He followed that up with a birdie putt from five feet on the fourth. Kumar missed a two
feet putt to drop his only bogey of the day on the fifth. He landed it within seven feet for birdies on the sixth, seventh and 15th and found the green in two to set up a birdie on the par-5 14th.

Mukesh said, “I hit it really close today, having landed it within seven feet on as many as four occasions for birdies. I also grabbed my opportunity on the par-5 14th. I continue to be in good form with the putter. It’s going to be a low-scoring week since there is not much rough on the course. Therefore, a score of nine-under at the halfway stage gives me a very good chance.”

Round one joint leaders Shamim Khan (66-70) and Rashid Khan (66-70) dropped to tied second place after firing matching scores of 70. Shamim and Rashid have tournament totals of eight-under-136.

Bangalore’s Chikkarangappa S and Greater Noida’s Mandeo Singh Pathania are in tied fourth at seven-under-137.

The cut was declared at one-over-145. Fifty-one professionals and one amateur made the cut.

Vijitha Bandara leads as Sri Lanka win team championship

Sri Lanka’s Number one amateur golfer Vijitha Bandara

New Delhi, February 27, 2013: Sri Lanka’s Number one amateur Vijitha Bandara lived up to his country’s expectations as he shot two-under 70 to take the lead on day two of Gannon Dunkerley 8th NCR Cup. Bandara’s two days total of 144 and his colleague Sisira Kumara’s 154 also got them the team championship trophy after fighting hard on the tricky greens and fairways of the Par-72 Delhi Golf Club.

India’s Hemendra Chaudhary who was 13th yesterday, jumped to the second place after carding one-over for the total of 148. Amit Kumar and Nepal’s Dinesh Prajapati who shared the lead with Imamul Haque yesterday, again matched the scores as both of them came back with a four-over 148 and finished 3rd and 4th respectively.

After impressing the packed clubhouse on day one, Imamul Haque shot a disappointed 10-over 82 for the total of 154 to slip to 18th position.

24-year-old Bandara said, “I hit 15 greens in regulation and did not take out the driver even once which happened first time in my life. Though, I hit two bogeys throughout the round, I am happy that I am taking atleast one trophy back home. I am quite confident of taking the individual title in next two days and show it to the defending champion Thangarja back in my country.”

In the Team Championship played concurrently, Sri Lanka was the winner with the team total of 298 while The Rovers became runner-up with the score of 301. Third spot was taken by Oil India at 301. Germans Christof Korth and Klaus Michael Borbe who got selected through a note on facebook in their country to play in the NCR Cup, were unable to impress their sponsor Oliver Duenkel as they finished at the bottom of the team championship leader board at 999.  

Top 46 players will be vying for the title over the next two days as the cut was applied at 17-over.

Army XI trounce East Central Railway Danapur

Army XI Junior (Lucknow) drubbed East Central Railway Danapur (in red jersey) 5-0 in a pool B match of the Second All India Football Tournament for Bihar Cup at the Patliputra Sports Complex in Patna on February 26, 2013.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Shamim, Rashid hold the joint lead in round one

Shamim Khan

Mewat (Haryana), February 26, 2013: The Delhi duo of Shamim Khan and Rashid Khan shot scores of six-under-66 to hold the joint lead in round one of the PGTI Players Championship at the Classic Golf Resort in Mewat, Haryana. Gaurav Ghei, another Delhi golfer, is a stroke behind the joint leaders in third place.

Shamim Khan, who had a bogey-free round, made a terrific start with birdies on the first two holes as he landed his shots within six feet of the pin. The 2012 Rolex Rankings champion collected four more birdies on the back-nine. He sank a 30-footer for birdie on the 11^th and drained birdie putts from 12 feet and 15 feet on the 12th and 15^th holes respectively. Shamim also two-putted from the edge of the green for birdie on the 14th.

Shamim said, “I sank all putts today and was particularly sharp on the back-nine with three long birdie putts. The good start was crucial as it set up the round for me. I also made a good recovery for par from the fairway bunker on the seventh. I changed my driver last week and the change seems to have helped my game. I ended last year on a high and am looking to continue from there in order to make an impact on the PGTI this year as well.”

Rashid Khan made an incredible eight birdies against two bogeys on Tuesday. His front-nine featured birdie putts from 15, 12 and 10 feet on the first, fifth and sixth respectively. He bogeyed the 10th but then had an amazing run of four straight birdies from the 13th to the 16th. Rashid rolled in a 15 feet putt on the 13th and a 30-footer on the 15th. The 22-year-old finished with bogey-birdie on the last two holes.

“It’s been a perfect start to the week. I hit 15 greens in regulation and made three birdie putts from a range of 15 to 30 feet. I was a little unlucky on the 17th where my shot landed on the lip of the bunker and resulted in a bogey. I just changed my irons before this tournament and that seems to be working for me,” said Rashid Khan, who finished second on the 2012 Rolex Rankings.

Gaurav Ghei’s round of five-under-67 placed him third. He fired six birdies and a bogey in the opening round. Mukesh Kumar, Chiragh Kumar and Mandeo Singh Pathania were tied fourth at four-under-68.

Dinesh, Amit and Imamul share day one lead at 8th NCR Cup

New Delhi, February 26, 2013: Nepal’s Dinesh Prajapathi, Noida’s Amit Kumar and Varanasi’s Imamul Haque played a level-par 72 round to share the lead on day one of Gannon Dunkerley 8th NCR Cup at Delhi Golf Club. Prajapati finished on top as he played 2-under in the back nine while Kumar and Haque finished 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Delhi’s Dhruv Sheron shot one-over 73 along with Gunvir Rana who was playing on his home course. Sheron ended the day with fourth position while Rana followed on at 5th.

Sri Lanka’s Vijita Bandara submitted a scorecard of two-over 74, which matched to Kapurthala’s Prince Kajotia, Arjun Atwal's cousin Jaiveer Atwal, India born Thai Samarth Dwivedi and DGC’s Kshitij Kaul, the youngest boy on the field of 75.

Leader of day one, Prajapati said, “This is my second time at the Delhi Golf Course and I am content with my performance. I struggled a bit with my putting in the beginning but as I got used to the conditions, I managed to chip very well which improved my score at the back nine.”

In the team championship played concurrently, Delhi’s team The Rovers took the lead with the total of 148 represented by Gunvir Rana (73) and Hemedra Chaudhary (75). Sultans of Swing came second at 149 represented by Harjot Singh Soni who shot 75 and Kshitij Kaul who played a round of 74 while Panthers also finished with 149. Among the foreign teams, Nepal was fourth with team score of 150 along with Sri Lanka and came 4th and 5th respectively. Ireland was on 12th position with 157 while two Pakistani teams finished 15th and 16th with score of 162 and 169. Germany had a disappointing round as they finished at the bottom with the team total of 178.

10 Indian Players were eliminated as the cut was applied at 13-over 85.

Photo caption: Nepal’s Dinesh Prajapathi takes a shot on day one of Gannon Dunkerley 8th NCR Cup at Delhi Golf Club on February 26, 2013.

Raj Milk down Stead Fast Mumbai 2-0

Raj Milk Football Club drubbed Stead Fast Mumbai 2-0 in their second pool A league match of the All India Football Tournament for Bihar Cup at the Patliputra Sports Complex in Patna on February 25, 2013.
The was the second successive win for Raj Milk in this tournament. Shyam Babu netted both the goals (28th and 50th minutes) for Raj Milk.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

MLA XI beat Sports Journalists Association of Bihar

MLA XI beat Sports Journalists Association of Bihar (SJAB) by five wickets in an exhibition T20 cricket match at the Moinul Haq Stadium in Patna on February 24, 2013. SJAB scored 90 runs losing all wickets off 14.5 overs. In replay, MLA XI reached the target losing five wickets off 13.2 overs.
Bihar Art, Culture and Youth Affairs Minister Dr Sukhda Pandey inaugurated the tournament while Bihar Rural Development Minister Nitish Mishra gave away the prizes.

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

All India Football Tournament for Bihar Cup begins

Patna, February 24, 2013: The second All India Football Tournament for Bihar Cup began at the Patliputra Sports Complex here. Bihar Education Minister PK Shahi, Food and Consumer Protection Minister Shyam Rajak and Art, Culture, Youth Affairs Minister Dr Sukhda Pandey inaugurated the tournament jointly in a colourful function.
In the opening match, local outfit Raj Milk Football Club (in orange-yellow jersey) beat Kidderpore Sports Club Kolkata 3-1. AH Musa scored two goals (9th, 12th minutes) while Shyam Babu (19th) netted one for Raj Milk. Ibrahim reduced the margin for the losers in the 36th minute.

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

India pull out of Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Hockey Tournament

New Delhi, February 26, 2013: Hockey India has been forced to withdraw the participation of its senior national men’s team from the 22nd Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Hockey Tournament to be played at Ipoh in Malaysia from March 9 to 17.

In the sanction given by Sports Authority of India to Hockey India regarding the men’s team participation in the 22nd Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Hockey Tournament, it is mentioned that Indian Men team will play this tournament at no cost to government. The only obligation to the government for this tour was to cover airfare cost of the team but in the sanction given by SAI it is clearly mentioned that government is not covering any cost. Therefore Hockey India has been forced to withdraw its participation from the tournament. Government has always covered the airfare of the team for this tournament till date.

Earlier this month Hockey India selectors and Government observer announced the team for the 22nd Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Hockey Tournament in which Danish Mujtaba was announced as the captain while PR Sreejesh as the vice captain of the team. The team is already undergoing training camp in Delhi in preparation for this tournament with the prior sanction of the Sports Authority of India which will now unfortunately have to be called off.  

Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Hockey Tournament is an A-Grade tournament sanctioned by the International Hockey Federation (FIH). India has never missed its participation in this prestigious tournament and has won the title on five occasions. In the last edition played in 2012, India finished at third position and in 2010 were joint winners with Korea. Also in 2009 India were the winners of this tournament. This tournament would have provided India with much needed exposure playing high ranked teams like Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan and Korea

Press release

Montgomerie makes Avantha Masters debut

Greater NOIDA, February 26, 2013:  Colin Montgomerie, the most prolific British winner in European Tour history, will make his first appearance in the Avantha Masters when the €1.8million event takes place from March 14 to 17.

The Scot, who captained Europe to Ryder Cup glory in 2010, has won 31 European Tour titles – two of them in Asia – in an illustrious career, and will now hope to add to his impressive tally when the fourth edition of the Avantha Masters is held at a new venue, Jaypee Greens Golf Course, Greater Noida, India.      

Montgomerie said: “India is unquestionably one of the world’s biggest growth areas for golf, so I’m really looking forward to teeing up in the Avantha Masters. Having recently added a project in Goa to my golf course design portfolio, I hope to play my part in the development of the game in India.

“Whenever I have visited this fascinating country in the past, I have always found the people to be both very friendly and enthusiastic about golf. Hopefully the crowds will come along to support the tournament, and show that golf in India is enjoying a real popularity boom.”       

Montgomerie is the latest in a long line of European Tour champions to confirm their attendance in the Avantha Masters, which will again be tri-sanctioned by The European Tour, the Asian Tour and the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI).

The eight-time winner of Europe’s Money List will be joined in New Delhi by England’s Simon Dyson, Denmark’s Søren Kjeldsen and Frenchman Thomas Levet, who between them have captured a total of 15 European Tour titles.        

Padamjit Singh Sandhu, director of the PGTI, said: “The presence of a legend like Colin Montgomerie is an affirmation that Indian golf is going in the right direction. The Avantha Masters has established itself as a premium event on The European Tour International Schedule, and the new dates have enabled leading players to add the tournament to their schedules.

“I am sure more big names will confirm in the next few days. We are looking forward to one of the strongest fields ever assembled for a tournament in India, and that should provide for a great week of golf.”

Press release

Top amateurs ready to light up Gannon Dunkerley 8th NCR Cup

New Delhi, February 25, 2013: India-born Thai golfer Samarth Dwivedi, Gagan Verma and Satwik Jain along with 60 top amateurs of the country and 15 foreign participants will lead a stellar cast at Gannon Dunkerley 8th NCR Cup from February 26 to March 1at the Delhi Golf Club. Among the foreigners, the field will see seven players from Pakistan, two from Ireland, two from Germany, two from Sri Lanka and two from Nepal at the Par-72 golf course from Tuesday.

DGC’s Arshad Ali and Gagan Verma will carry the local challenge while Geoff Rey Lenehan and John Greene from Ireland, Christof Korth and Klaus Michael Borbe from Germany, Dinesh Prajapati and Ashish Pariyar from Nepal, Vijitha Bandara and Sisira Kumara from Sri Lanka, Abbas Ali Khan, Sohaib S. Bokhari, Faisel Ali Malik, Sardar Murad, Amir Mahmood, Col. Muhammad Shafi and Col. Asif Mehdi from Pakistan will also try not just enjoy the serve settings of DGC but also conquer the greens.

While the tournament will be played in stroke play format, players will be playing as an individual as well as teams from different golf courses, states and organizations. The team winner will be decided after two days when the cut will be applied and the field will be reduced to 45 players who will vie for the title on Thursday and Friday. The winner and runner up of the NCR Cup will be sent to play in one of the National Amateur Championships of European region.

 Hardip Singh Kingra, General Secretary, Delhi Golf Society, said, “Amateurs Golf is the nursery of professional golf in any country and the quality of pro players is directly proportional to quality and quantity of young talent. With this in mind, Delhi Golf Society is making definite efforts to promote and broad base the amateur golf in India and NCR."

As a part of welfare activity, a health checkup camp for the caddies will be held during the NCR CUP tournament in collaboration with BLK Hospital, New Delhi. A team of five doctors will do the health checkup. Prize distribution function will be held at the Delhi Golf Club on 1st march 2013.

Photo caption: On the extreme left: Jasjeet Singh (defending champion, team championship of NCR Cup 2012), HS Kingra (general secretary, Delhi Golf Society), Prakash Bhandari (president, Delhi Golf Society), IVS Juneja (President, Delhi Golf Club) and Sohaib S. Bokhari (A participant from Pakistan) Extreme right 

Top golfers for PGTI Players Championship at Classic Golf Resort

Mewat (Haryana), February 25, 2013: The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) has announced the PGTI Players Championship which will be played at the Classic Golf Resort, Mewat, Haryana, from February 26 to March 1. The tournament offers a prize purse of Rs 25 lakh.

The field at the PGTI Players Championship will include the likes of defending champion and reigning Rolex Rankings champion Shamim Khan, Mukesh Kumar, Chiragh Kumar, Ashok Kumar, Sri Lankan Mithun Perera, Harendra Gupta, Om Prakash Chouhan and Rashid Khan and C Muniyappa to name a few.

Mukesh ends with a flourish to capture title; rookie Saini finishes runner-up on PGTI debut

Chandigarh, February 22, 2013: Mukesh Kumar of Mhow walked away with the trophy at the PGTI Players Championship at Chandigarh Golf Club after posting an immaculate six-under-66 in the final round. Mukesh totaled 13-under-275 for the tournament to register a four-stroke win. Rookie Ashbeer Saini of Kapurthala had a creditable runner-up finish on his PGTI debut with a nine-under-279 total.

Mukesh Kumar (67-67-75-66) made a remarkable comeback after a disastrous 75 in round three to bag yet another title at one of his favourite golfing venues. Mukesh began with a bogey on the first where he found the jungle. He the added two birdies to his card with putts from 10 and 15 feet on the third and seventh respectively.

The experienced campaigner went on the rampage on the back-nine with five birdies. Mukesh sank an 18-footer for birdie on the 14th and chipped it within a couple of feet for birdies on the 13th and 16th. He chipped-in for birdie on the 17th and landed his approach shot from 130 yards to within two feet to set up a birdie on the 18th.

“My short-game was fabulous today. I performed really well with the wedges and my chipping couldn’t have been better. Even though I made birdies on the last three holes, the crucial phase for me was from the 14th to the 16th where I all but sealed it. I made a good par on the 15th as well. This is a great start to the year,” said 47-year-old Mukesh.

He added, “Ashbeer was outstanding today and did not show any signs of pressure. He has a great future ahead.”

Ashbeer Saini (70-68-71-70) carded a bogey-free 70 to earn the runner-up spot in his maiden PGTI event. The 19-year-old couldn’t catch up with Mukesh on the final day but nonetheless had a good outing on Friday with two birdies. Ashbeer’s birdies on the second and 13th came as a result of some brilliant chip-putts.

Saini said, “I’m delighted to finish runner-up in my first event on the PGTI. This has really boosted my confidence for the coming events. My chipping was excellent today and I made some crucial putts. I recovered well on a few occasions after hitting it over the green. I often discuss my game with Gaganjeet Bhullar and his advice helps me
perform better.”

Chandigarh’s Harendra Gupta finished tied third along with Shamim Khan of Delhi at seven-under-281. Faridabad’s Abhinav Lohan claimed fifth place at five-under-283.

Mukesh: Gen next won’t have it easy against me. Professional golfers usually enter the twilight of their careers when they get close to the age of 50.

However, ‘King of the Indian greens’, Mukesh Kumar in an exception. At 47, Mukesh, a winner of over 100 professional titles in India, is showing no signs of slowing down
despite being on the pro circuit for over 28 years.

The man from the Army Golf Course in Mhow, a small cantonment town, located 20 kilometres south of Indore in Madhya Pradesh, has recorded 14 wins over the last five years and still has the hunger for success.

Mukesh believes the young crop of Indian golfers is exceptionally talented but he isn’t ready to ‘throw in the towel’ as yet.

Mukesh said, “The next generation is coming up really well. Players like Rashid Khan, Abhijit Singh Chadha, Ashbeer Saini, Chikkarangappa and Khalin Joshi will make waves on the international stage with a little more experience. However, I’m not going to fade away so easily. I’m going to give the young lot a run for their money for at least another five years.”

Photo caption: Mukesh Kumar (4th from left) receives the winner's cheque from GS Sandhu, president, Chandigarh Golf Club (extreme left), Jeev Milkha Singh (2nd from left), Sandeep Sandhu, captain, Chandigarh Golf Club (3rd from left) & Uttam Singh Mundy, Director, PGTI (extreme right)in Chandigarh on February 22, 2013.

BPA president Mritunjay Tiwari meets BCCI chief Srinivasan in Chennai

Bihar Players Association (BPA) president Mritunjay Tiwari (left) called on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president N Srinivasan in Chennai on February 21, 2013 and discussed the cricket activities of Bihar. He also urged the BCCJ chief to take appropriate measures to put Bihar cricket back on track.
  

Pros brighten up gloomy day with colourful attire

Chandigarh, February 21, 2013: A gloomy day characterized by overcast conditions and the absence of wind at the Chandigarh Golf Club was brightened up by the colourful attire of the professional golfers participating in the PGTI Players Championship.

Many golfers were seen sporting bright-coloured trousers at the Chandigarh Golf Club on Thursday. While Delhi-based Raj Randhawa wore light green trousers, Gurgaon’s Shubhankar Sharma was sporting a red pair. Siddharth Seth, another Delhi golfer, who was also the first round joint leader, was seen in Indigo Blue trousers.

Raj Randhawa said, “Bright and vibrant colours have become the norm as far as a modern-day golfer’s clothing is concerned. I wear bright colours because I feel they make me stand out and give out positive vibes. They also add to a golfer’s confidence.”

Photo caption: L to R - Professional golfers Shubhankar Sharma, Raj Randhawa & Siddharth Seth sporting bright-coloured trousers in Chandigarh on February 21, 2013

Lohan and Saini in with a chance, share lead with Mukesh

Abhinav Lohan of Faridabad

Chandigarh, February 21, 2013: Abhinav Lohan of Faridabad and Kapurthala’s Ashbeer Saini shot scores of 68 and 71 respectively to climb into the joint third round lead along with overnight leader Mukesh Kumar of Mhow who fired an ordinary 75 on Thursday. The three golfers have matching total scores of seven-under-209 after three days of competition at the PGTI Players Championship being played at the Chandigarh Golf Club.

Chandigarh’s Harendra Gupta and Chikkarangappa of Bangalore were one shot behind the joint leaders in tied fourth place.

Abhinav Lohan’s (70-71-68) four-under-68, the best score of round three, catapulted him from overnight tied sixth position to the top of the leaderboard. Lohan was off to a wonderful start on an overcast day as he birdied the first hole from 20 feet. He then found the trees with his tee shot on the fourth and subsequently missed a chip-putt on the same hole to drop a double bogey.

Abhinav, a silver-medallist from the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, however, made an inspiring comeback on the very next hole, the par-4 fifth. The 23-year-old holed his second shot from a distance of 120 yards for a magnificent eagle. His golden run continued on the sixth where he landed his approach within a foot of the pin for another
birdie. Lohan added two more birdies on the 11th and 16th to end the penultimate day in the joint lead.

Lohan, who had six top-10s on the PGTI last season, said, “The eagle was the turning point in my round. It was perfectly timed as it negated the effect of the double bogey on the previous hole. I didn’t look back after that and played solid till the end. Nonetheless, I did leave a few birdie putts today, something that I need to improve on in order to have a chance in the final round. I’ve been in contention on few occasions in the past so I’m now looking forward to breaking that victory barrier.”

Ashbeer Saini (70-68-71) produced a sedate one-under-71 in round three that featured four birdies and three bogeys. The 19-year-old rookie had a bogey on the first but picked up the pace with birdies on the fourth, sixth and seventh. He converted a 20-footer on the fourth and hit some outstanding wedge shots to set up birdies on the sixth and seventh.

Saini suffered setbacks with bogeys on the eighth and 10th but managed to recover some ground thanks to a 15 feet birdie putt on the 16th.

“It’s been a great start to my professional career this week. I’d like to end the week on a high with a good performance in the final round. I putted well today but bogeys due to a three-putt on the eighth and a poor tee shot on the 10th pulled me back. Gaganjeet Bhullar has given me valuable advice on how to play this course and that will help me in
the final round,” said Ashbeer.

Mukesh Kumar’s (67-67-75) four-stroke overnight advantage was wiped out as a result of his round of 75 on Thursday. The 47-year-old found the trees on the second and 16th where he dropped a double bogey and bogey respectively. He also landed his second shot in the water for bogey on the 18th. His lone birdie of the day was on the 13th.

Mukesh said, “It was one of those days where everything went wrong. I did not have a swing on two occasions as a result of finding the trees. I was scrambling through the day. Nevertheless, I will use all my experience to finish well in the final round.”

Rookie Chikkarangappa and local favourite Harendra Gupta are breathing down the joint leaders’ neck in tied fourth with totals of six-under-210. Chikka shot a bogey-free two-under-70 in round three while Gupta posted an even-par-72 to stay in contention.

Press release

Spurred on by hole-in-one Mukesh marches ahead

Mukesh Kumar: Round One Leader

Chandigarh, February 20, 2013: Spurred on by a hole-in-one on the 11th, ‘King of the Indian greens’ Mukesh Kumar marched ahead into a four-stroke lead at the PGTI Players Championship at Chandigarh Golf Club. The man from Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, carded a second straight 67 to take his two-day total to 10-under-134. Chandigarh’s Harendra Gupta and Kapurthala-based rookie Ashbeer Saini were in joint second at six-under-138.

The 47-year-old Mukesh Kumar (67-67) picked up birdies on the fifth and sixth, courtesy conversion of putts from a range of 10 to 15 feet. He dropped a bogey on the seventh against the run of play but came roaring back with a 20-footer for birdie on the eighth.

A bogey on the 10th did not dampen Mukesh’s spirits as he fired a hole-in-one for eagle on the very next hole. There was no looking back for Mukesh from there on as he turned in two more birdies on the 16^th and 18th with the help of some outstanding approach shots.

Mukesh, who fired the third ace of his professional career on Wednesday, said, “I had the hole-in-one just at the right time. That moment helped me lift my game and I subsequently signed off with two birdies on the last three holes. My six-iron tee shot landed 15 feet short of the hole on the 11th before rolling in.”

He went on to add, “I didn’t hit it too well and missed some easy chip-putts in the first half of my round. I had some trouble gripping the clubs due to the cold weather in the morning and that affected my game. However, a four-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the tournament puts me in a very strong position.”

Defending champion and local lad Harendra Gupta (71-67) came up with a bogey-free 67 to be tied second at six-under-138 along with 19-year-old Ashbeer Saini (70-68), who recorded a brilliant 68 in round two.

Gupta said, “I converted my chances today and grabbed birdies on three out of four par-5 holes. I couldn’t have asked for a better score. It was an error-free day with five birdies and no bogey. I feel confident going into the last two rounds as this is my home course and I am the defending champion.”

Ashbeer, who made five birdies and a bogey on day two, said, “I had a fabulous round barring a couple of drives to the left. I hit it close, especially on the first where it stopped two feet short for birdie. I also holed a 40 feet birdie putt from the fringe of the green on the 11th. I’d like to make this dream start count with some good scores over the next two days.”

Delhi’s Shamim Khan occupied fourth place at five-under-139 after firing a 69 on Wednesday.

Chikkarangappa S of Bangalore shot the best score of the day, a six-under-66, to end the day in fifth position at four-under-140. The nineteen-year-old had an astounding eight birdies against two bogeys on day two to make a tremendous recovery in the tournament after posting an ordinary first round score of 74. ‘Chikka’ as he is referred to on the tour, thrived in the company of his close friends Rashid Khan and Rudresh Sharma, the other two players who made up his three-ball on the first two days.

“I started with a bogey on the first but came back strongly by converting as many as four birdie putts from a range of 12 to 20 feet. I also chipped-in for birdie from just off the green on the ninth.

“The fact that I was paired with two of my closest friends Rashid and Rudresh in the first two rounds helped me play with a relaxed frame of mind. Rashid and I have grown up playing together on the junior and amateur circuits and it was great to play alongside him after a gap of two years,” said Chikka, who has been one of the top amateur golfers
in the country over the last three years.

Round one joint leader Siddharth Seth slipped to tied 15th on day two after shooting a five-over-77. He totaled even-par-144 for the first two days. The cut fell at five-over-149. Fifty-two professionals made the cut.

Rookie ‘Chikka’ looks up to Anirban Lahiri

Rookie Chikkarangappa says he draws inspiration from India’s young golfing star Anirban Lahiri, who at the age of 25 has already made waves at the international level with two wins on the Asian Tour and a memorable Major debut at last year’s British Open. Chikkarangappa and Lahiri are both based in Bangalore and belong to the same golf course, the Eagleton Golf Resort outside Bangalore.

Chikka said, “Anirban is like an elder brother. We play rounds together when both of us are in Bangalore. He has often given me valuable tips and guided me as far as my game is concerned. Lahiri has advised me to be humble despite whatever I achieve on the course. I cherish every opportunity of interacting with a champion golfer like him.”

Press release

BAI and GoSports Foundation to host coach education programme

Bangalore, February 20, 2013: In a first-of-its-kind coach education programme for badminton in the country, the Badminton Association of India, in partnership with the GoSports Foundation, has announced an Intermediate Level Coach Education Programme.

Scheduled to be held at the state-of-the-art Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad, between March 23 and 30, 2013, the programme is open to a maximum of 30 Indian badminton coaches with a minimum of two years' coaching experience who have either played badminton at the national/international level or hold an NIS-SAI diploma.

The seven-day course, designed to encompass various aspects of badminton coaching, will also include information on the technical nuances of the game. The trainee coaches will be exposed to intricacies of sport medicine, sports nutrition, sports psychology and conditioning. The technical aspects of badminton will be administered by BWF technical expert Venugopal Mahalingam, National Coach Pullela Gopichand, Indonesian coach Edwin and other senior Indian coaches. Other experts involved with conducting the programme include conditioning expert Jagmohan Singh, sports medicine expert Dr. Ashok Ahuja, nutrition expert Mr. Venkatraman, sports psychologists Dr. Asis Goswami and Dr. Sanjeev Sahni and Physiotherapist Dr. Kiran. On successful completion of the course, the selected coaches will be accredited with the BAI for conduct of National Development Programmes/National Coaching Camps. 

In a unique model of alliance between a private foundation and a sporting federation, GoSports Foundation is responsible for the implementation and execution of the programme, while the BAI is overseeing the training modules and assessment of all coaches completing the programme.

"It is encouraging to see that a private foundation, such as the GoSports Foundation, is forthcoming in offering their expertise and assistance to the development of the sport and its coaches. It is partnerships such as these that will provide the necessary and solid foundation for the holistic development of badminton in the country," said Dr. Akhilesh Das Gupta, Course Chairman and President, BAI. "This course will enable the competent badminton coaches to be equipped with training method and updated knowledge of sports sciences. Which will go a long way in improving the standard of Indian badminton players at all levels," said Mr. T.P.S. Puri, Course Director and Vice President, BAI.

Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Nandan Kamath, Managing Trustee at the GoSports Foundation, said, "Having aided the development of junior talent since 2008, we have noticed that the need of the hour in the country is the professional identification and nurturing of high potential talent available in a given sport. This is a task that, we believe, can be fulfilled through the implementation and development of a potent coaching infrastructure in the country and through capacity building amongst those developing our junior talent."

Press release

Youngster Siddharth Seth and veteran Mukesh Kumar steal the show on Day One

Siddharth Seth - Round 1 joint leader

Chandigarh, February 19, 2013: Twenty-three-year-old Siddharth Seth of Delhi and veteran Mukesh Kumar of Mhow emerged as joint leaders in round one of the PGTI Players Championship at Chandigarh Golf Club on Tuesday. Both the players fired identical scores of five-under-67 to steal the show on the opening day.

Siddharth Seth shot his best score since turning professional in early 2012 to grab a share of the lead. Seth had a tally of seven birdies and two bogeys in perfect weather conditions at the Chandigarh Golf Club. The professional from the Delhi Golf Club was off to a flying start with birdies on the second, fifth, sixth and seventh. He sank a 25-footer on the fifth and landed his third shot within five feet on the seventh. A missed chip-putt on the eighth resulted in Siddharth’s first bogey of the day.

Seth continued to surge ahead on the back-nine. He found the trees on the 10th but managed to get out of trouble with a marvelous second shot that landed 10 feet from the pin and handed him another birdie. Two more conversions from 10 feet helped him pick up strokes on the 13th and 16th holes. Siddharth, who is playing his second season as a
professional, stumbled on the 18th where he made a three-putt for bogey.

Seth said, “I’m proud of today’s effort since it’s the best score of my professional career so far. I capitalized on my terrific start today as I was four-under after seven holes. I made some good chip-putts on the second, sixth, 13th and 16th and putted well except
for the closing 18th.

“I think the seventh hole is one of the toughest on this course as the OB runs along the fairway on the right. However, I made a birdie there and that was a huge morale-booster. I’ve had decent results at this course as an amateur and therefore feel confident of performing well this week,” added Siddharth.

Mukesh Kumar, a multiple winner at the Chandigarh Golf Club, posted a bogey-free 67 to be right up there with Seth on the leaderboard. The 47-year-old sank a 20-footer for birdie on the fourth and landed his approach shots within five feet of the flag for birdies on the second, ninth and 16th. Mukesh ended the day on a high with a 10 feet birdie
putt on the 18th.

Mukesh, who last won in Chandigarh in September 2010, said: “I hit my second and third shots with pin-point precision. My putting stroke has also improved compared to last season and I benefited from that today. Importantly, I didn’t make any mistakes today and as a result went bogey-free.”

There is a six-way tie for third place at two-under-70 between Kapurthala’s Ashbeer Saini, Ranjit Singh of Chandigarh, reigning Rolex Rankings champion Shamim Khan of Delhi, Kolkata’s Feroz Ali Mollah, Bangalore golfer M Dharma and Abhinav Lohan of Faridabad.

Ashbeer Saini was the best performer among the rookies in round one. Saini, who idolizes another Kapurthala golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar, made six birdies against four bogeys on Tuesday. Ranjit Singh, tied third along with Ashbeer, was the highest-placed Chandigarh golfer on day one.

Defending champion Harendra Gupta and Rajinder, both hailing from Chandigarh, returned scores of 71 to be tied ninth along with Noida’s Arjun Singh Chaudhri, Sri Lankan K Prabagaran, Deepinder Singh Kullar from Gurgaon and rookies Khalin Joshi of Bangalore and Siddharth Semwal from Delhi.

Jeev reveals success mantra for rookies

Jeev Milkha Singh, taking a week’s break from his hectic international schedule, dropped in for a while at the Chandigarh Golf Club to enquire about his friend and coach Amritinder Singh’s round.

Jeev, a two-time Asia no. 1, revealed the key to success in professional golf for rookies making their debut on the PGTI this week. He said, “It’s great to see many talented youngsters turning professional this year. My advice to them would be to work hard, stay
focused towards their game and believe in their abilities.”

The Chandigarh-based golfer, who is off to South Africa for a European Tour event next week, is looking forward to playing his next international event on home soil, the Avantha Masters in March.

“The Avantha Masters is now one of India’s biggest golfing events. This year’s edition promises to be a highly competitive one as the field will be stronger than ever before,” said Jeev.

Ghei all praise for playing partner Saini

Gaurav Ghei, who was playing in the same three-ball as rookie Ashbeer Saini, was all praise for the youngster Saini making his professional debut.

The seasoned Ghei, a three-time winner on the Asian Tour, said, “Ashbeer has a very mature head on his young shoulders. He hits the ball long and also has a good short-game. One gets to see glimpses of Gaganjeet Bhullar in Saini’s playing style since the latter has modeled his game on the former. Saini is definitely one to watch out for in the future.”

Press release

17 rookies to make PGTI debut in Chandigarh

Chandigarh, February 18, 2013: Seventeen rookies will make their debut on the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) during the PGTI Players Championship at Chandigarh Golf Club which begins on February 19.

The 17 players making their professional debut in Chandigarh qualified to play on the PGTI through the PGTI’s 2013 Qualifying School which was held in December 2012 at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club, Kolkata. All these players received their PGTI badges from Uttam Singh Mundy (Director, PGTI) at the Chandigarh Golf Club on Monday.

These players include some of the top Indian amateurs in recent years such as the Bangalore duo of Khalin Joshi (2013 PGTI Qualifying School winner) and S Chikkarangappa, Kapurthala lad Ashbeer Saini, Angad Cheema of Panchkula, Delhi’s Honey Baisoya and Shubhankar Sharma of Gurgaon.

The others making their professional debut this week are Abhishek Kuhar (Gurgaon), Sahil Kulkarni (Delhi), SK Pappu (Kolkata), Amar Jeet Baisoya (Delhi), N Thangaraja (Sri Lanka), Sk Kader Ali (Kolkata), Bhawani Singh Parmar (Srinagar), Rohan Sood (Delhi), Martin S (Bangalore), Siddharth Semwal (Delhi) and Raja Sardar (Kolkata).

Photo caption: PGTI rookies pose for group photograph with their badges in Chandigarh on February 17, 2013

Press release

Top golfers to play in PGTI Players Championship

Chandigarh, February 18, 2013: The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) has announced the PGTI Players Championship which will be played at the Chandigarh Golf Club from February 19 to 22. The tournament offers a prize purse of Rs. 25 lakh.

The PGTI Players Championship will feature some of the top names of Indian professional golf such as the reigning Rolex Rankings champion Shamim Khan, Mukesh Kumar, Rashid Khan, Om Prakash Chouhan, Feroz Ali Mollah, Vijay Kumar and Gaurav Ghei, to name a few. Leading the local challenge will be defending champion Harendra Gupta, Abhijit Singh Chadha, Harmeet Kahlon, Ranjit Singh and Gurbaaz Mann.

Padamjit Sandhu, Director, PGTI, said, “An exciting week of golf is in the offing for golf fans in Chandigarh as the PGTI Players Championship returns to the city. The presence of some of the top Indian professionals in the field as well as a strong contingent from
the host city, make for a pulsating contest. Our partnership with the Chandigarh Golf Club will help grow the sport further in the city of Chandigarh.”

Sandeep Sandhu, Captain, Chandigarh Golf Club, said, “With the top Indian golfers descending on the Chandigarh Golf Club we hope to see some exciting golf and a lot of sub-par scores. The greens are playing fast and the fairways soft, all this should help in low scoring.”

The venue for the event, the Chandigarh Golf Club, has been the cradle of Indian professional golf, having produced many top-class players over the years. It is known for its tight fairways and thick rough. The lush green fairways are bounded by groves of trees, which funnel out onto the green.

Press release

IOC steps in to support Indian athlete Shiva Keshavan

New Delhi, February 17, 2013: Reigning Luge Asian Champion, Shiva Keshavan, who has been training in Europe to qualify for the Olympic Winter Games after retaining his Asian title and setting a new continental record, may have lost out on his chance to participate in Sochi Games, under the current state of apathy by the Government of India. However, that will not be the case as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has stepped in to ensure that Shiva gets to travel and participate in the Olympic test event and World Cup final, a mandatory race for qualifying for the apex sporting event which will be held in Sochi, Russia in 2014.

The sorry state of affairs had led Shiva Keshavan's Coach, Yann Fricheteau, a former Olympian and earlier French National Olympic Coach to quit this year due to the non-payment of his salary by the Government under the NSDF Scheme for sportspersons. The Government had earlier also refused to fund Shiva's participation in the World Cups and the Asian Championships, where Shiva retained the Gold for the second consecutive time for India.

However thanks to a last minute effort, India's Winter Olympic hopes are still alive as the IOC has granted Shiva the prestigious Olympic Solidarity Scholarship upon the recommendation of India's IOC member, Randhir Singh. This is the first time that an athlete has been directly supported by the IOC, as it is generally the prerogative of the Sports Ministry and the NOC of each country to bear the costs of national teams participating in international competitions. Earlier last year, the IOC had suspended the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) which had caused huge embarrassment in the national and international sports fraternity.

"It is already challenging enough to compete against the world's best athletes without having to worry about how I am going to pay for a place sleep and to eat. Last month, despite the personal assurance from the Sports Minister, the NSDF released a small part of the required budget (less than 5%).

I am grateful to the IOC for their support which will enable me to travel for the Olympic test event and Qualify for the 2014 Games. I am also hopeful that the Sports Minister will ensure that the basic training costs are borne by the Government, and not personally by the athletes who are already giving their all to represent the nation,” said a partly relieved Shiva from Sochi.

Press release

Uttarakhand Lions bats for wrestling

New Delhi, February 17, 2013: The golfing fraternity is greatly aggrieved with Olympics’ recommendation that wrestling be dropped from the 2020 Summer Games. Speaking on the occasion of felicitation of Uttarakhand Lions on Saturday, the winning franchisee of the Golf Premier League, its co-owner Tushar Kumar said he felt “hurt and saddened” by the development. Tushar, who is vying for a team in the proposed Indian Wrestling League, is hopeful the recommendation won’t see light of the day. “We are in a strange situation. We just won the inaugural Golf Premier League and now want to build on this win through to Rio de Janeiro. We wanted to build on wrestling through our association with Indian Wrestling League. The 2020 Olympics was our target where we wanted a wrestler from our team to represent the country, it is sad to note while golf is on upswing, there are challenges thrown at wrestling,” said Tushar.

Tushar’s sentiments were echoed by veteran golfer Mukesh Kumar as well who was the member of the victorious Uttarakhand Lions team. “Yes, it is a sad development. In golf you have a lot of opportunities to showcase your talent but in a sport like wrestling and boxing, the opportunities are limited. Olympics is one of those events for which wrestlers work hard for four years and even that opportunity may be taken away from them. It is heartbreaking,” said Mukesh. “I have come up the hard way and I know what a sportsperson must be feeling when he is devoid of an opportunity. But lets hope the final decision comes in favour of wrestling.”

Away from these concerns, Mukesh and his fellow team mate from Uttarakhand Lions Shankar Das felt a million dollar in an evening that was organized in their honour. In a nail-bighting finish to the tournament at Amby Valley both Mukesh and Shankar pulled out their A game to rally towards a win. On the final day on February 14th, both bogeyed the penultimate hole, the 13th. After this Mukesh birdied the final par-3 and took his team to the top.

Tushar and the co-owners of the franchisee Umesh Kumar of NNI and cricketer Harbhajan Singh have already decided to give 10 per cent of the total prize money of US $ 250,000 to the four golfers of their team – Mukesh Kumar, Shankar Das, Darren Clarke and Chapchai Neerath.

The evening organized amidst fanfare was also attended by fellow golfers Digvijay Singh, Gaurav Ghei and Rashid Khan. The inaugural Golf Premier League was played at Amby Valley with eight teams contesting for the top honours.

Photo caption: Former union minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain and co-owner of Uttarakhand Lions Tushar Kumar cutting celebratory cake in the presence of ace golfer Mukesh Kumar and Shankar Das to mark their team's victory in the inaugural Golf Premier League in New Delhi on February 17, 2013.

Press release

Silverglades Delhi trounce DLF Gurgaon to win Louis Philippe Cup 2013

Greater Noida, February 17, 2013: The Silverglades Delhi team comprising of Himmat Singh Rai, Shamim Khan and Rashid Khan, put up a resilient performance to trounce the DLF Gurgaon team consisting of Jyoti Randhawa, Digvijay Singh and Abhinav Lohan, by a 3-0 margin in the final of the Rs. 1.24 crore Louis Philippe Cup 2013.

The matches resumed at 7:15 am on Sunday after being suspended due to rain on Saturday.

In the highly anticipated final encounter, two of Silverglades Delhi’s three players fashioned come-from-behind victories against their respective DLF Gurgaon opponents on Sunday.

In the first match between Delhi and Gurgaon, Himmat Singh Rai (75) gave Delhi the early lead after he outclassed Digvijay Singh (77) by two strokes. Himmat and Digvijay, both winners on the Asian Tour, were all square at three-over after 10 holes when play was called-off on Saturday. On Sunday, Digvijay dropped two strokes on the 16th and 17^th as a result of some poor putting while Himmat secured pars on all the remaining eight holes.

Himmat said, “I had a slow start to the round due to the rough weather on Saturday. Even though I couldn’t convert the birdie opportunities on the back-nine, I was solid towards the end with pars from the 10^th through to the 18th. I was not exactly at the top of my game but I played well enough to win my match as I stuck to my gameplan. It’s a different feeling to win a team event as you can enjoy your teammates’ success as well.”

In the second match of the final encounter, Abhinav Lohan (74) of Gurgaon lead Shamim Khan (73) of Delhi by one stroke when play was halted after 10 holes on Saturday. However, Shamim turned it around in his favour by one stroke on Sunday to give Delhi an unassailable 2-0 lead and the title.

Abhinav, playing in his second season as a professional, made birdie-bogey on the 15th and 16th. The seasoned Shamim, on the other hand, recovered well after a double-bogey early in his round to make birdies on the 12th and 17th. Shamim all but sealed it with a chip-in from 25 yards for birdie on the 17th. He also had excellent par saves on the 16th and 18th. His bunker shot on the 18th landed within six feet to set up the win.

“This is an important win for me as it helps me carry my good form from last year into the current season. I had a very poor start to the round and was behind my opponent for a major part of the round.
Nonetheless, my experience helped me claw my way back into the match. My wedge shots were very accurate and chipping was excellent. I also made some crucial par saves towards the end,” said Shamim, the reigning Rolex Rankings champion.

The third match of the final encounter saw Delhi’s Rashid Khan (69) upset Gurgaon’s Jyoti Randhawa (71) by two strokes. The two players were at level terms with scores of even-par after nine holes when play was suspended on Saturday. Former Asia no. 1 Randhawa then built a three-stroke lead after he birdied the 10th and 11th even as India’s rising star Rashid bogeyed the 10th.

Both players made birdies on the 12th but Rashid made it all square by adding three more birdies on the trot on 13th, 14th and 15th. The Delhi player converted putts from 15 to 20 feet on the 13th and 14^th holes. Jyoti dropped bogeys on the 16th and 18th courtesy a three-putt and a shot into the water to hand Rashid a two-shot advantage. Rashid on his part made a couple of creditable par saves on the 16th and 17^th to ensure his win.

Rashid said, “It’s great to win after being three strokes behind a champion player like Jyoti Randhawa. I had an amazing stretch of four consecutive birdies from the 12th to the 15th that turned it around for me. I putted really well in that phase of the game. The thought process in a team event is totally different. One cannot attack all the time as you need to keep your teammates’ scores in mind and have a greater responsibility towards the team. This win will be a huge morale-booster for all members of our team.”

In the third place playoff, last year’s champions Navratna Ahmedabad defeated hosts Jaypee Greens Greater Noida 2-1. Ahmedabad’s Vikrant Chopra beat Greater Noida’s Gaganjeet Bhullar on the second playoff hole after the two players ended the regulation 18 holes with matching scores of 73. by one stroke after 14 holes and R Murthy lead Vinod Kumar by three shots after 11 holes. Mithun Perera (73) made it 2-0 for Ahmedabad with a two-shot win over Sanjay Kumar (75). R Murthy (72) bagged a consolation win for Greater Noida against Vinod Kumar (74).

In the playoff for fifth place, Shubhkamna Noida defeated Puravankara Bangalore by a 2-1 scoreline while in the clash for seventh place TAKE Chennai edged out AVT Kolkata 2-1.

Photo caption: Louis Philippe Cup 2013 champions - Silverglades Delhi team - L to R - Shamim Khan, Himmat Singh Rai and Rashid Khan.

Press release

DLF Gurgaon enjoy slight advantage over Silverglades Delhi as untimely rain takes the tournament into an extra day

Greater Noida, February 16, 2013: The DLF Gurgaon team enjoyed a slight advantage over Silverglades Delhi in the final of the Louis Philippe Cup 2013 when play was suspended at the Jaypee Greens Golf Resort on Saturday due to heavy rain that led to unplayable course conditions.

Play was suspended at 12:40 pm on Saturday. The matches will resume at 7:15 am on Sunday. 

When play was called-off, DLF Gurgaon and Silverglades Delhi were engaged in a keen tussle. Gurgaon’s Jyoti Randhawa and Delhi’s Rashid Khan were at level terms with scores of even-par after nine holes. Digvijay Singh of Gurgaon was also all square with his Delhi opponent Himmat Singh Rai at three-over-par after 10 holes.

However, in the third match of the encounter, Abhinav Lohan gave the Gurgaon team an edge as he was two strokes ahead of his Delhi counterpart Shamim Khan after the completion of 10 holes. Abhinav was two-over against Shamim’s four-over when play was halted.

In the third place play-off, Jaypee Greens Greater Noida was ahead in two matches while Navratna Ahmedabad was leading in one. For hosts Greater Noida, Gaganjeet Bhullar lead Vikrant Chopra by one stroke after 14 holes and R Murthy lead Vinod Kumar by three shots after 11 holes. Ahmedabad’s Mithun Perera, on the other hand, was four shots ahead of Sanjay Kumar after 14 holes.

In the play-off for the fifth place, Puravankara Bangalore won the first match while Shubhkamna Noida was leading in the other two matches yet to be completed. Bangalore’s Anirban Lahiri posted a win against Ashok Kumar of Noida by three strokes while Noida’s Jeev Milkha Singh was five shots ahead of Bangalore player Manav Jaini with one hole to play.

  

In the encounter for seventh place, TAKE Chennai and AVT Kolkata have won a match each, while the third match between Kolkata’s Chiragh Kumar and Chennai’s Khalin Joshi is all square with one hole to go. In the first two matches, Chennai’s Anura Rohana defeated Kolkata’s Rahil Gangjee by six strokes while Kolkata’s Shankar Das overcame Chennai’s Mukesh Kumar by five strokes.

Press release

Shiva Keshavan initiates digital campaign for Winter Olympics support

New Delhi, February 15, 2013: 31-year-old Shiva Keshavan is the country’s first athlete who practices and excels in the little known sport of Luge, the fastest and most dangerous of the three Olympic sliding sports. A 4-time Olympian and 2-time Asian Champion, Shiva has been campaigning for winter sports and other winter sport athletes, given that there are all the resources India needs to excel in them.

Keshavan has initiated a unique campaign to promote this little-known sport amongst the people of India. Using the power of social media, the luge pilot is raising awareness about his sport and garnering support for his dare-devilry.

In a distinctive call-for-support initiative, Keshavan has released a video where he travels at speeds of over 100 km per hour on a sled down the Leh-Manali highway and has promised to sport on his Olympic racing suit, the name of each person who shares this video.

The campaign, which is emblematically named “India for Shiva”, is focused to not just spread awareness about the sport of Luge but also establish Shiva Keshavan as a ‘Citizen’s Olympian’.

At the end of the 2-minute video - which showcases Shiva’s spirited feat on the Leh-Manali highway - Shiva makes a distinctive appeal to the viewers, saying, “Help me spread the idea of Luge. Just share this video, and I’ll put your name on my racing suit at the Winter Olympic Games!”

Keshavan said: “I want the people of India to actually be there in the Olympic Games with me, and this is the best way symbolically we can make it happen. “Many thanks to MTS that this will actually be a possibility now,” he said.

Press release

Ritwik Bhriguvanshi loses in U-16 singles final

Ritwik Bhriguvanshi of Bihar lost to Ishaque Eqbal of West Bengal 3-6, 1-6 in the boys' U-16 singles final of the AITA Talent Series Fifth Leg Tournament at the Patliputra Colony courts in Patna on February 15, 2013.

Photo: BLTA 

Muskaan reigns supreme in AITA Talent Series

Muskaan Ranjan of Karnataka beat Priyam Kumari of Bihar 6-1, 6-1 to win the girls' U-18 singles title of the AITA Talent Series Fifth Leg Tournament at the Patliputra Colony courts in Patna on February 15, 2013.

Photo: BLTA

Madhu Jaiswal loses to Muskaan Ranjan in final

Madhu Jaiswal of Bihar lost to Muskaan Ranjan of Karnataka 3-6, 2-6 in the girls' U-16 singles final of the AITA Talent Series Fifth Leg Tournament at the Patliputra Colony courts in Patna on February 15, 2013.

Photo: BLTA.

Ishaque Eqbal loses to Dalwinder Singh in final

Ishaque Eqbal of West Bengal lost to Dalwinder Singh of Punjab 2-6, 4-6 in the boys' U-18 singles final of the AITA Talent Series Fifth Leg Tournament at the Patliputra Colony courts in Patna on February 15, 2013.

Photo: BLTA

Dalwinder proves he is the bast

Dalwinder Singh of Punjab

Patna, February 15, 2013 Dalwinder Singh of Punjab beat Ishaque Eqbal of West Bengal 6-2, 6-4 to win the boys’ U-18 singles title of the All India Tennis Association (AITA) Talent Series Fifth Leg Tournament at the Patliputra Colony courts here on Friday.

It was Dalwinder’s second title in a row on this clay turf. Just a week ago, he won the U-18 singles title in the fourth leg of this tournament.

Karnataka girl Muskaan Ranjan also added three titles to her kitty. She won the U-18 singles title defeating Bihar’s Priyam Kumari 6-1, 6-1 and later for the U-16 singles title she beat Madhu Jaiswal of Bihar 6-3, 6-2. Partnering with Madhu, she won the U-18 doubles title beating Bihar pair of Priyam Kumari and Sonal  Sristi 6-1, 6-3.

Results

Boys’ U-18 singles (final): Dalwinder Singh (Punjab) bt Ishaque Eqbal (West Bengal) 6-2, 6-4.

Boys’ U-18 doubles (final): Dalwinder Singh (Punjab) and Ravinder Singh (Punjab) bt Shree Krishna (Bihar) and Ritwik Bhriguvanshi (Bihar) 6-1, 6-2.

Boys’ U-16 singles (final): Ishaque Eqbal (West Bengal) bt Ritwik Bhriguvanshi (Bihar) 6-3, 6-1.

Boys’ U-16 doubles (final): Mridul Kharkwal (UP) and Adarsh Chaudhary (UP) bt Shree Krishna (Bihar) and Anshumat Srivastava (Bihar) 6-0, 6-0.

Girls’ U-18 singles (final): Muskaan Ranjan (Karnataka) bt Priyam Kumari (Bihar) 6-1, 6-1.

Girls’ U-18 doubles (final): Madhu Jaiswal (Bihar) and Muskaan Ranjan (Karnataka) bt  Priyam Kumari (Bihar) and Sonal  Sristi (Bihar) 6-1, 6-3.

Girls’U-16 singles (final): Muskaan Ranjan (Karnataka) bt Madhu Jaiswal (Bihar) 6-3, 6-2.