Will try to repeat last edition’s performance: Jennifer after being picked in Indian TT team

By Paritosh Pramanik

NAGPUR’S table tennis sensation Jennifer Varghese has been selected in the Indian team that will participate in the South Asian Youth Table Tennis Championship.

The championship will be organised by Table Tennis Arunachal under auspices and authority of the Asian Table Tennis Union and Table Tennis Federation of India from May 14 to 17 at Dorjee Khandu Badminton Hall, Rajbhawan, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh.

At the last edition of the championship Jennifer had won three gold medals for the country. This year, too, the 14-year-old is hoping to repeat her performance.

“I am very happy about the selection and am looking forward to the championship,” Jennifer told ‘The Hitavada’ over phone from Delhi on Thursday.

Last year, Jennifer had won three gold medals in team, doubles and individuals event in the South Asian Championship which was held in Maldives. “I am hoping to repeat my performance this time too,” Jennifer, who trains under R Rajesh at Chennai, said.

This year, matches will be held in U-19 Boys’ and Girls’ Teams, U-15 Boys’ and Girls’ Teams, U-19 Boys’ and Girls’ Singles, U-15 Boys’ and Girls’ Singles, U-19 Boys’ and Girls’ Doubles, U-15 Boys’ and Girls’ Doubles and U-19 and U-15 Mixed Doubles.

In all probability, Jennifer will be participating in Under-15 events as she is ranked second in India. In U-19, she is at the third position.

Recently, Jennifer won the U-15 National Championship held in Alleppey, Kerala.

Earlier this year, Jennifer had won the Under-19 women’s singles title in the National Ranking Table Tennis Championship in Surat, Gujarat.

In an all-Maharashtra ‘B’ final, Jennifer rallied from a game down to beat Sayali Wani 4-1. 

The teenage prodigy of Nagpur, who trains at Chennai, has been excelling in the international arena since the last couple of years including a couple of WTT Youth Contender medals.

City’s Peter gets WIFA referee’s award

By Paritosh Pramanik

Acknowledging the excellent  performance in I-League matches, Western India Football Association (WIFA) recently felicitated Nagpur’s top referee Christopher Peter.

The first WIFA Referee’s Award Function was 

held at Cooperage in Mumbai, recently.

Peter was felicitated by WIFA Secretary Souter Vaz, with a memento and a citation during the awards night.

Peter, who is an All India Football Association’s Category-II referee, has officiated in 12 I-League matches (Senior Division) along with Santosh Trophy final last year. At present he is officiating in the I-League Second  Division matches at Balaghat in Madhya Pradesh.

“The first referees’ awards function of WIFA was organised to recognise the performance of officials of the State. It is a good move by WIFA as it will motivate referees and other technical officials to perform much better,” Peter told ‘The Hitavada’.

Twenty-eight-year-old Peter took to officiating football matches at an early age and developed interest as the years passed. He has also cleared FIFA Members Association’s referees’ course last year at Kochi. After completion of this year’s I-League matches, he would be promoted to Category-I on the basis of his performance.

“My aim is to become FIFA  referee and I am working hard on achieving that goal. Officiating a football match is not easy as it looks from outside. It requires continues upgradation of knowledge,” said Peter, who is the third AIFF certified referee from Nagpur after Stanley Peter and Mohd Kaleem. In 2019, Peter became Maharashtra’s youngest Category-II referee after he cleared the exam.

Niyaz leads Indian Railways to another hockey title

By Paritosh Pramanik

HE HAS made it a habit to lead the Indian Railways’ side to the podium. For the past five years, Nagpur’s Sayyad Niyaz Rahim is leading the Indian Railways’ team and under his captainship the team has won all the major hockey tournaments in the country.

On Saturday, the ace midfielder, who was also in the core probables list of Indian hockey team, escorted Railways to another podium finish when his side won the trophy at the 4th Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh Memorial Tournament at Chandigarh.

Indian Railways defeated hosts Chandigarh 5-4 in which Niyaz scored a goal.

In the semi-finals, Railways’ drubbed star-studded India Oil 3-1 and Niyaz, who works with South Central Railways, was declared man of the match.

The tournament also had teams from Bangladesh and United Kingdom.

Under Niyaz, Indian Railways have won the Surjeet Singh All India Hockey Tournament in Jalandhar, Punjab, Obaidullah Gold Cup in Bhopal, Jawaharlal Nehru Gold Cup in New Delhi, Lal Bahadur Shastri Gold Cup in New Delhi to name a few.

“It feels great to lead the Indian Railways team to the podium. I am happy that under my leadership the team has won so many titles. I will continue to perform the same way in future also,” Niyaz, who was adjudged best player of Lal Bahadur Shastri Gold Cup and Obaidullah Gold Cup in 2017 and 2022, told ‘The Hitavada’ after the final on Saturday.

With Hockey India planning to re-start Hockey India League, Niyaz hoped that he would get a chance to show his talent in the multi-team franchise-based league.

“It is a great news that Hockey India League will be organised again. If I get a chance to play for any team, I would try to give my best,” said Niyaz who parted ways with Vidarbha and Nagpur after he was selected by Sports Authority of India Mumbai in 2008.

“With no astro turf in Nagpur, I had to move out. Had there been an astro turf I would have got an opportunity to show my talent in my home town itself. 

“I still feel that Nagpur has lot of talent in hockey and city players would perform in much better if they get a chance to play on astro-turf. It is a good news that an astro turf is being sanctioned at Divisional Sports Complex in Mankapur. The  sooner it is constructed, the better for local players,” said Niyaz who has led Indian Railways to eight podium finishes in Hockey India nationals since 2012. 

This year, Indian Railways finished second best at Bengaluru Inter-Department Nationals.

Vora meets AIFF Prez Chaubey, requests for I-league, ISL matches in Nagpur

By Paritosh Pramanik

Nagpur District Football Association  (NDFA) President Haresh Vora recently met All India Football Association President Kalyan Chaubey in Mumbai and requested him organise I-League or ISL matches in Nagpur, which is in the heart of the country.

The informal meeting was held in Mumbai last month where Vora, who is also Vice-President of Western India Football Association (WIFA), the football governing body of Maharashtra, gave several proposals to the AIFF chief ranging from change in recruitment procedure in sports quota for departmental teams to promotion of football in the State.

“The meeting was an informal one. We held discussions on various topics and Chaubey  gave a positive response,” Vora told ‘The Hitavada.’

 Vora requested Chaubey for a few I-League or Indian Super League (ISL) matches in the city.

“Now we have our own ground. I requested Chaubey to allot us a few I-League matches, at least the Second Division ties, or  ISL matches at Nagpur. Our city is in the centre of the country. Logistically, it will be convenient for all stakeholders. But for that we will have to construct a stadium with galleries for spectators,” he said.

“We have enough land at our Suyog Nagar’s Dr Ambedkar Stadium and I think space would not be a problem for constructing spectators’ gallery,” stated Vora.

“I also requested him to hold Indian teams selection trials in Nagpur as it has a couple of football fields including that of South East Central Railways,” the NDFA chief said.

Vora also requested Chaubey to redesign sports recruitment procedures in government, departmental teams. 

“I have asked Chaubey to request the central government to re-start sports recruitment in Railways and other government departments and also relax the education qualification criteria.

“Like, for a Class-IV appointment in Railways, the education qualification should be Standard 8 or 10 pass. This would help talented footballers get a decent job through sports quota,” said Vora.

MBA warns its shuttlers against playing unauthorised tournament

By Paritosh Pramanik

MAHARASHTRA Badminton Association (MBA) has warned its shuttlers against participating in any unauthorised tournament in the State.

Neterwala Open Badminton Tournament has been organised by Neterwala Group in Tumsar from April 7.

According to MBA, the organisers have not taken any prior permission to host the tournament which is being held in various age categories.

Recently Neterwala Group constructed two “international standard” badminton courts at Shirinbai Neterwala School in Tumsar, Bhandara district. The tournament is being organised as part of its celebration.

However, as the organisers did not take permission from Bhandara District Badminton Association, the State body declared it as an unauthorised competition.

Though no special notice has been issued by any of the district associations, a notice is being circulated through various social media platforms warning players not to participate in the competition.

The notice which is on the letterhead of Maharashtra Badminton Association, and signed by Nitin Gabhane, EC Member, MBA, stated “the tournament, which is being held at Tumsar from April 6, is being held without MBA permission. All MBA registered players will not be able to participate in the tournament. If any member is found participating in the tournament then strict action will be taken on them and they will be barred from participating in any State-level matches.”

Gabhane is also member of Bhandara District Badminton Association. When contacted Mangesh Kashikar, MBA Vice-President and Secretary, Nagpur District Badminton Association, he said that the tournament does not have any official permission.

“They did not take any permission either from Bhandara District Badminton Association nor contacted MBA. The BAI and MBA rules for players for participating in any tournament are clear and are posted on the website. They should participate in any tournament only after verifying its legal status,” stated Kashikar.

Kashikar said that it is not necessary for district associations to give notice for every unauthorised tournament “as the rules are framed and are posted on the website.

“We (associations) do not want to stop shuttlers from playing any tournament. It is good that people come forward and organise competitions. But we want proper procedures to be followed,” Kashikar explained.

Sharma 2nd best at UNESCO photo contest

By Paritosh Pramanik

NAGPUR’S amateur photographer Ashutosh Sharma has done it again!

Though he could not repeat his numero uno feat, Sharma finished on the podium on second successive occasion after his ‘From the slums to smiles’ photo was declared as second best at UNESCO 3rd ‘TRUST, Sport as it Should Be’, photo 

competition.

Sharma had sent his entry for the competition online.

The online awards ceremony took place on 31 March at the Third International Conference SPORT4IMPACT in Milan. Sharma will be receiving a certificate from UNESCO Chair MTU.

A total of 79 entries from 19 countries were selected by the judges panel which included Stephen McCarthy, double World Press Photo award-winning photographer and filmmaker at Sportsfile Dublin; MTU team – UNESCO Chair team & Department of Sport, Leisure, and Childhood Studies; Olga Maryntseva, Petro Mohyla Black Sea University in Mikolaiv, Ukraine and Daithi Kerin, GameOn Golf. Sharma’s photo was declared second best in ameteur category.

Glenn Tondo of Philippines won the first place.

“I am delighted to win the award once again. Last year I was the winner but this year I finished second best. Still, I am happy, Sharma told ‘The Hitavada’. Sharma clicked the picture with kids playing football in a muddy field, in Nagpur. “These slum kids may come from impoverished backgrounds, but they are full of life and passion on the football field. Playing football brings these kids together, allowing them to forget about their struggles and just enjoy the game. They prove that a love for something can transcend any obstacle, and that the power of play can bring joy and happiness to even the most challenging of circumstances,” read the caption of the photo.

Sharma regularly participates in such photo competitions. His photos were selected for UN Exhibition for #IDSDP2017, Pearsons Global Learning Centre in 2015 and 2016. 

Sharma has also won photography award of UNESCO Power of Sports Award (7th Globally) in 2015.

Sharma’s photo has also been featured in Power of Sports Book Globally.