City shuttler Arundhati set for life’s ‘doubles’

To tie knot with National Games gold medallist Kerala’s Arun Vishnu

By Paritosh Pramanik

IT’S Love All, in literal sense. City’s international badminton star Arundhati Pantawane has gleefully accepted the ‘first serve’ from Arun Vishnu, the current National Games gold medallist shuttler from Kerala.
After their courtship for almost four years, Arundhati and Arun Vishnu have decided to tie the nuptial knot. Students of Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad, Arun and Arundhati will be exchanging engagement rings on April 19 at Calicut, Kozikhode, in Kerala in a traditional Malayalam function. The marriage date is set for December 20 at Nagpur.
Their ‘knocking’ started in 2010 during the Guangzhou Asian Games when both the shuttlers were part of India contingent. “From just friends we became ‘best friends’ and the cupid struck soon,” said a blushing Arundhati while talking to ‘The Hitavada’ at her Rambag residence, on Thursday morning.
A few months later it was ‘love-all’ and it grew in their hearts at a much greater speed than that of a ‘smash’. But both waited for each other to take their ‘game’ to ‘next level.’
The day came almost one year later when 26-year-old Arun decided to ‘concede the point’ and proposed Arundhati at the Hyderabad Academy. “On March 18, 2011 Arun proposed me over phone,” recalled the India number 3 shuttler. “I was aware he was about to propose but didn’t know when.”
Was there any reluctance or ‘give me some time to think’ sort of thing?
“Not at all. I accepted his ‘love’ immediately,” said the 25-year-old Arundhati with a laugh.
“We never waste time talking on phone for hours. The longest I talked Arun might be for around 30 minutes. Yes, when I was playing in Sweden, we used to talk over Skype for an hour or so. But not here,” said Arundhati, who is recuperating from a knee injury which she suffered during National Games a few days back. A surgery will be done on her left knee soon and Arun is expected to be with her in Nagpur.
“Arun’s sister is getting married on April 19. So we decided to get engaged on that auspicious day,” said Arundhati.
The engagement would be in traditional Malayalam style while marriage would be solemnised in Maharashtrian tradition. “It would be my duty to dress Arun in proper Maharashtrian attire for the marriage,” she said.
Arun Vishnu is calm and patience personified person. He has showered gifts on Arundhati but the city shuttler doesn’t remember which was the best. 
City shuttler Arundhati set...
“There are so many. I can’t point out at any one gift. All are best,” she explained.An avid lover of photography, Arun has ‘captured’ thousand of Arundhati’s moments.
“He is mad for photography. Once in Hyderabad he drove me outside the city just to click my pictures,” recalled the elder daughter of Prof Avinash and Chitra Pantawane. Despite their strong liking for badminton, Arundhati has ruled out pairing Arun in Mixed Doubles in future. “We tried our best. But let us be frank we are horrible on the court as a pair.”
The families and the pair should be excited for the engagement but its their academy-mates who are doing the countdown for the D-Day. “More than us our academy players are excited. They all are eagerly waiting for the marriage. Hope all would come here in Nagpur in December,” she said.
The marriage is likely to be blessed by Arundhati and Arun’s coach P Gopichand, noted shuttlers PV Sindhu, P Kashyap, Sai Praneeth, Ajay Jayram, PC Thulasi, Arun’s gold medal winning partner at Kerala Aparna Balan, Pradnya Gadre, Sikki Reddy, Ritupurna Das, Alvin Francis, Tarun Kona, Guru Sai Dutt, K Srikanth to name a few.
If all goes well then Indian stars Saina Nehwal and Jwala Gutta may also attend the wedding at Nagpur.
The Pantawanes are happy and relieved. Their job of searching a doting son-in-law is done by their daughter. “We are very happy with her selection. We never objected when she informed us. Ours was a love marriage and Arundhati is continuing our family tradition,” chuckled Arundhati’s mother Chitra.

“We had decided to announce the engagement on February 14, Valentine’s Day, but as Arundhati’s coach Pullela Gopichand could not make it to the city, it was postponed,” Chitra said. “The marriage would be solemnised at VCA Jamtha Club House on December 20,” said Prof Pantawane.
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Know the bridegroom

Born in Kerala, 26-year-old Arun Vishnu is employed with Indian Oil Corporation and has won several titles like India Open Grand Prix (2009), Bahrain International Challenge (2008), Bahrain International Series (2013), Senior National Championships (2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011), Junior National Championship (2005).

His latest yellow metal in an overflowing cupboard is the mixed doubles title with Aparna Balan at Kerala National Games held last week.

Orange City Bleeds Blue

Fans celebrate India’s grand win over Pak

n By Paritosh Pramanik

DID India win the World Cup? The crazy celebrations on city streets on Sunday evening gave one the same impression. For the die-hard fans of the Indian cricket team, the win 
over Pakistan at Adelaide was 
much bigger than lifting the coveted crown.
India’s sixth straight win against Pakistan in World Cup on Sunday once again made Nagpur’s crazy supporters jump out of their couches and ‘storm’ into the ‘field’ to celebrate the occasion. Fans burst firecrackers as if it was a Diwali celebration. They were not friends, not even relatives but the bonhomie was such that everybody looked like a big Indian family as they hugged each other, be it young or old.
The ever-happening West High Court Road was jam-packed with thousands of Indian team’s supporters. It was a normal Sunday afternoon but footfalls started as soon as the last Pakistan wicket fell to mark India’s resounding 76-run win. 
The fans were inside cars, jeeps and also over it, on their mobikes and minidoors chanting ‘Indiaaa... Indiaaaa’ and blaring horn.
Traffic rules were broken for once as bikers moved triple seat. 
The traffic cops too went soft on them. 
“Khushi mana rahe hai aaj jeet ki... Kuch der ki baat hai... (They are celebrating the win. It won’t go much longer),” said one of the cops at Laxmi Bhavan Square.
(Contd from page 1)

The road from Law College Square to Shankar Nagar Square was packed and vehicles moved at a snail’s pace. But the ‘epicentre’ was Laxmi Bhavan Square. Fans celebrated at the square for more than two hours. Tricolour fluttered in almost all hands at the celebration point. A few fans like Gopal Chandak and Ashok Agrawal even brought World Cup replica which attracted everybody. The crowd chanted in chorus, “Bharat Mata Ki Jai. Vande Mataram”.
There were other slogans too which attracted applause. 
“Ek baat to saaf hai, hum sabke baap hai”... “1992- faqr hai, 1996- faqr hai, 1999- faqr hai, 2003- faqr hai, 2011- faqr hai, 2015- faqr hai” which related to each edition of World Cup when India defeated Pakistan.
There were a few girls in an open jeep who were shouting, “Virat Kohli Zindabad...Anushka Sharma (Virat’s girlfriend) Zindabad.”
One of the fans said, “this win is much bigger than the title win.” The other said, “We’ve won the World Cup.”
The ‘victory square’ had all - from kids to elderly people who all came out for the house to join the celebration.
Even sweets were distributed for free by one of the sweet shops located on WHC Road.
“Such win doesn’t come daily. It’s a big win and that too over Pakistan that’s why we are distributing sweets,” said the owner of Subhash Mishtan Bhandar while distributing jalebis to fans.

Rajnandgaon lad Choubey helps Odisha win silver medal in hockey

By Paritosh Pramanik
Nagpur, Feb 14

HIS state hockey team, Chhattisgarh, failed to qualify for the National Games but Rajnandgaon-born Mrinal Choubey got the opportunity to represent Odisha in the tournament. And he did not disappoint them as he helped Odisha finish as the second best in the meet at Kerala. Former Junior India goal-keeper Choubey stood rock solid under the bars in the semi-finals to take Odisha hockey team into the final. They were unlucky in the final against mighty Services as they lost the match comprehensively but in the earlier matches, Choubey showed his mettle to earn applause from one and all. The silver medal at National Games was Choubey’s second medal in short span

after he had helped his employer Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) finish second in the Hockey India’s senior nationals a few months back. ‘I am happy with my team’s performance,’ said Choubey while talking with ‘The Hitavada’ from Kerala.
“We played really well in entire tournament. But we were not lucky in the final,” said the goal-keeper. Odisha defeated Uttar Pradesh, lost to Jharkhand, defeated hosts Kerala to move into the semi-finals. In the semi-final, Choubey saved several penalty shootouts to help his side win the match over Haryana in sudden death.
“That was my day (against Haryana). We had played well in entire tournament and all the boys wanted to play the final. We all were charged up. I managed to save a few in the tie-breaker and also in sudden death which helped us in moving into the final,” said Choubey, who first shot into limelight on hockey field at Nagpur in 2006 when he represented Central Railway Nagpur team. The young lad had helped Central Railway Nagpur beat Central Railway Headquarters to win the Inter-Railway title.
Talking about his chances in playing Hockey India League, Choubey, who was part of Junior Asia Cup gold winning Indian team in 2006, seemed hopeful that his day would come sooner than later. 
‘Now I have two silver medals to show in short time. I am hopeful that my performance would be noticed by coaches and team owners in future. I am confident if I continue to play well I would be in one of the teams in coming season,’ said Choubey, a junior India world cupper.
‘A B Subbaiah Sir (former India goalkeeper) is encouraging me and he is aware about my performance. He too said that my time would come when I would don one of the HIL teams’ jersey,’ Choubey concluded.

Moments that define the Cup

CITY OF NO JOY
The Indian crowd was labelled as ‘bad losers’ after the 1996 semi-final was awarded to Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Chasing Sri Lanka’s 251, India started off well reaching 98 for 1 with Sachin Tendulkar at the crease. An error of judgement left him stumped and Indian batting fell like a pack of cards as the wicket suddenly turned vicious. At 120 for 8 over a million Kolkata crowd threw bottles on the field halting the game. Vinod Kambli cried, pleaded with folded hands but the unruly crowd did not budge. The officials decided to award the game to Sri Lanka that helped them make final.

GILLY WALKER
It was totally an un-Australian decision. Wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist was looked upon with respect by the cricketing world after he walked off during the semi-finals against Sri Lanka in 2003, despite umpire Rudi Koertzen’s not out decision to a caught behind appeal. Gilchrist swept an Aravinda de Silva delivery but got a thin edge as the ball flew off his pads and landed in Kumar Sangakkara’s gloves. Koertzen ruled that the ball had only hit the pad. Gilchrist waited till the verdict was pronounced and then walked back to the pavilion.

NO MUSIC TO EARS
This was for the first time that technology was used on the field by a player though ‘illegally’. South African captain Hansie Cronje, who a street-smart cricketer, put up an earpiece to communicate with his then coach Bob Woolmer during their match against India. A complaint was promptly lodged by India and Talat Ali, the match referee, asked Cronje to take out the earpiece after Sky TV pictured Cronje’s ‘illegal’ act. The International Cricket Council later stated that Cronje had not sought permission to use it from the world governing body.


MALINGA TO THE FOUR
South Africa were almost home needing just four runs from 30 deliveries with five wickets in hand when Sri Lankan Lasith Malinga’s menacing four deliveries almost plotted a heist for his side. ‘Slinga Malinga’ first fooled Shaun Pollock with a full toss which disturbed his furniture. The second delivery, his last of the over, forced Andrew Hall to balloon the ball in the hands of covers. Proteas managed just one run from the next over and Malinga returned back to have a shy at the hat-trick, the fifth in the World Cup, till then. He forced a well-set Jacques Kallis to nudge behind in the gloves of Kumar Sangakkara to complete his hat-trick and then bowled tailender Makhaya Ntini. SA, though, managed to win.

Is VHA supporting women's ‘unauthorised’ tournament?

4-2-15
By Paritosh Pramanik

VIDARBHA Hockey Association (VHA) is likely to stir up a controversy by supporting the ‘unauthorised’ inter-district women’s hockey tournament which begins on Wednesday at Tiger’s Gap ground.
The women’s tournament, organised in the memory of Harakchand Chopda, is conducted by Vidarbha Women’s Hockey Association (VWHA) which is affiliated with the now defunct Indian Women’s Hockey Federation.
A media statement issued by VHA states: ‘The Vidarbha Women’s Hockey Association is conducting Inter-District Hockey Tournament under the guidance of VHA at Tiger’s Gap ground’.
By giving ‘guidance’ to the inter-district meet, VHA might land into trouble as the women’s body is yet to be merged with it, as asked by Hockey India.
VHA got Hockey India’s Associate Membership in 2013 and was asked to merge the women’s association (VWHA) on a 60:40 ratio. But that merger is yet not done.
Interestingly, VHA’s joint secretary Pramod Jain holds the same post in VWHA and there are
many more officials who are associated with the women’s association. 
The local teams participating in the tournament, too, are affiliated with VHA.
Former VHA secretary Vinod Gawai opposed the current body’s move of supporting an ‘illegal body’ by posting a news item of the tournament announcement on his facebook page. 
The former secretary also commented on his post: “Dirty politics, dirty alliance resulted in dirty game. Unconstitutional, unethical, unfortunate...God bless VHA...”
The VHA-VWHA ‘alliance’ which could be for some personal gains would definitely land the men’s body into trouble. 
It might also force Hockey India to bar Vidarbha teams from participating in nationals which would be a great loss for players.

Moments that define the Cup

Tondulkar Tribute
It was a tribute from a doting son to his late father. Sachin Tendulkar had just returned from Mumbai after attending his father, Ramesh’s, funeral to smack a jaw-dropping century against Kenya in 1999 World Cup in England. Coming in at number four, Tendulkar showed nerves of steel, leaving behind the personal tragedy to score 140 from 101 balls (16x4; 3x6). He completed his 50 from 54 balls and accelerated his innings in time to complete his century from 84 balls. Immediately after completing his 22nd ODI ton, the little champ looked heavenwards, to pay tributes to his father.

Kapil comes to the party
It was a travesty that the first ODI ton by an Indian could not be recorded. The BBC crew was on strike when Kapil Dev pounded an incredible hundred in the 1983 World Cup. India were on the brink of another early exit when a 24-year-old Kapil did the unthinkable against Zimbabwe. Kapil kept India’s chin up and bailed them out with a captain’s knock of 175 at Tunbridge Wells. India were reeling at 17-5 when Kapil walked in. He took Zimbabwean bowlers to the cleaners hitting 175 from 138 balls to emerge as one of the best all rounders in world cricket then. Unfortunately, there was no professional video cameraman to record this great knock.

Deadly blow for the Cup
This was the biggest blot of the 2007 World Cup. Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer was found dead his room of the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica, sending the entire sporting world in shock. Initially, it was reported that Woolmer died of heart attack but a few days later, Jamaican police confirmed they were investigating murder after pathology report said that the Pakistan coach had died of asphyxia via manual strangulation. In June, the same year, Jamaica Constabulary Force, concluded its investigation saying that Woolmer died a natural death. But in November the jury pronounced its verdict and refused to rule out strangulation theory.

birth of the Chokers!
The 1999 World Cup semi-final match between Australia and South Africa actually gave the latter the ‘chokers’ tag. Needing nine runs from the last over, Proteas’ big hitter Lance Klusener smacked two boundaries to take eight from first two deliveries of Damien Fleming. It was cake walk for them, needing one from four deliveries. But Allan Donald and Klusener ended up at the same end on the fourth delivery. The match ended in a tie and Australia moved into the final on better run-rate.