For anyone starting their fitness journey, there is tons of information out there to get you the body you want. With most new age fitness regimes originating from the west, most have forgotten that India also has age old fitness techniques and natural nutrition diets that place greater emphasis on mobility and three dimensional movements.

In this exclusive interview with SPOGO, Nithin Jayaraj, a traditional workout tools trainer speaks about making bodybuilding a profession, selling traditional fitness tools and their benefits, popularizing traditional Indian techniques amongst the younger generation and much more!

Q1) How did you get into bodybuilding and what made you choose it as a profession?

At a young age, watching all the Hollywood movies and looking at the physiques of all the action stars, I got into bodybuilding. I then switched to traditional Indian fitness because my mobility was reduced in body building and I suffered injuries as well because of having bigger muscles and due to the fact that my joints weren't getting worked out. Traditional Indian fitness has 3 dimensional movements whereas bodybuilding has only 2 dimensional motion where it's only push and pull along with lifting. In traditional Indian fitness there is swinging which works on your joints and your mobility. People need awareness about traditional Indian fitness and its benefits.

Q2) How did shredded farmers take its shape and what inspired you to come up with the idea of making and selling traditional tools?

I was born here but raised in Dubai since my schooling and college life was there. That was all city life and in 2018 when I came back to India I really wanted to pursue traditional fitness. It is much easier to pursue here, my house is situated on a farm and I grow my own food so it is healthy nutrition wise. In this kind of fitness, we do need a lifestyle like this to see the difference between diets in bodybuilding. Here we just have to eat what grows around you, we cannot have the same type of diet as the westerners while living in India.

I want to show people that we can eat normal healthy food but have to work out. We have to burn what we eat and then take equal rest. It is possible to get fit through by eating home food instead of supplements or lifting heavy or having a strict diet.

I started making tools when the pandemic started and I started experimenting with wooden logs in the carpenting shop. It came out really well, I only make them on an order basis and don't keep any stock. Whenever a client wants a particular Mudgar, Sumtola or a Gada, I build these tools through mahogany wood.

Q3) Can you explain the benefits of using these tools over the currently used gym equipment? Are these used for specific exercise or for overall body building?

This is called traditional Indian workout, bodybuilding mostly focuses on your muscles where you lift iron weights in a gym. In traditional fitness, it is more about swinging where the movement is different since it's rotational. When swinging these tools, your arm, joints, core and the whole body gets affected in just one swing. Let’s say if you weigh 80 kgs, you divide the weight by 8 then divide by 2 which gives you 5 kg and you start with a 5kg Mudgar. Every single wood has its own medicinal value which is the oil and when you lift them it goes into the bare hands which is good for the body.

These rotational movements help you with your body balance. The joints get pulled and pushed and keeps it stretched. Your muscle gains won’t be as much as bodybuilding but it will grow according to your height and it will look aesthetic. The muscles will be proportional to your height and you will have good mobility. In bodybuilding, you keep growing your muscles and you become rigid which affects your movement which reduces body balance.

Also read: Sports Physiotherapy plays a vital role in increasing the longevity of an athlete’s career- Dr.Richa Kulkarni

Q4) How do Gada, Mudgar, Indian clubs, Persian meels and Sumtola help in improving body strengths?

In traditional tools, the common thing is the rotation and the weight distribution of the tool is different from a dumbbell. A 4kg dumbbell will look much lighter than a 4kg Mudgar because of the shape and weight distribution of the tool. A Gada will be harder than a Mudgar because the further away the weight is away from your grip it gets harder to swing. Indian club is the western name for a Mudgar, it is cone shaped and Sumtola is an Indian version of a barbell. All of these are used in the same technique which is the rotational movement as these movements help in your joint strength as it also increases the mobility in the body so the more you do it the more muscles you will get according to your height.

Q5) As these are traditional formats of yesteryears, how do you intend to popularize these amongst the youth of today?

The only way we can popularize this method is through social media and my clients. My main platform is Instagram. My perception is that you reach the youth you need to interact with them through social media.

Indian Powerlifter Bhavna Tokekar has already achieved great feats at the highest level. Having won four gold medals at the Asian Championships and three gold medals at the World Championships, she also holds the world record in Bench Press Full Powerlift. She epitomizes the ‘never say die’ attitude and serves as an inspiration to others that it's never too late to accomplish your dreams through grit, dedication and hardwork.

In this exclusive interview with SPOGO, Bhavna Tokekar speaks about her introduction to Powerlifting, the help received by World Powerlifting Championship Congress, her training regime, participating in the Open Asian Powerlifting Championships in Russia, overcoming challenges and her future goals.

Q1) How did you get into Powerlifting and what made you choose a career in it?

I had started with weight training in 2012-13 and used to surf internet videos to check my technique. That's when I saw that Powerlifting comprised three lifts which I was already doing so I decided to have a go at it at least once. That's where it all started in July 2019 at the Asian AWPC Powerlifting Championship. 

Q2) How has the World Powerlifting Congress helped you in your career?

World Powerlifting Championship Congress is the federation which I participate through. It gave me a chance to participate in the event based purely on my capability without any prejudice.

Q3) Can you tell us your training regime and what it takes to become a champion Powerlifter?

I train for 3-4 hours a day at the gym for 5 days in a week. From my training regime, three days are intense training sessions and two days light exercises which also involves stretching and recovery. It takes a lot of grit, determination and 'never say die' attitude and focus to work towards your goal without being clouded by achieving results.

Also read: Sports Physiotherapy plays a vital role in increasing the longevity of an athlete’s career- Dr.Richa Kulkarni

Q4) How would you describe the experience at the Open Asian Powerlifting Championships in Russia?

The experience was great. I had gone with an intent of participation to assess how I fared as compared to women of my age world over. I was pleasantly surprised at the friendliness and warmth shown to me by people in Russia. 

Q5) What are some of the difficulties that you have faced in lifting weights, especially at this age and how did you overcome it?

After 40 a woman's body goes through a lot of changes physically. In my case all those anti allergic medications, immunosuppression corticosteroids I was prescribed for my skin ailment also had their ill effects showing up. Pains, aches, muscle fatigue, delayed recovery, mood swings were a few. Making time for what I liked (my gym workout) with all my responsibilities as a wife and parent also required me to go by precise clockwork through my daily chores. I guess it was my dedication, consistent hard work, guidance of my trainers and support from my family that helped me reach where I am. 

Q6) How do you think the perception towards powerlifting can grow in our country, especially among the youngsters?

I won't limit my perception about Powerlifting, rather the importance and benefits of weight training, staying fit and the benefits thereof especially during the current pandemic is what I would like people to pay attention to. Powerlifting is not an Olympic sport, so there is no help or aid from the government. All the expenses have to be borne by people themselves. Notwithstanding all that, it requires dedication and passion, both in terms of your time and money to be a Powerlifter.

Q7) What are your future goals and how are you working towards achieving them?

Having moved into Masters 3 category (athlete age 50-54) I am working towards improving my lifts further. It is a challenge when gyms are closed due to Covid. I have some weights and equipment at home with which I practice but it’s not the same as going to the gym. Making do with the available resources to the best of my abilities is all I can do under the circumstances.

Wijk Aan Zee (The Netherlands), Jan 19 (Chess News) Indian Grandmaster Vidit Santhosh Gujrathi settled for a draw against Russia's Andrey Esipenko in the fourth round to stay in the lead with three points in the prestigious Tata Steel Masters chess tournament here.

Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa, meanwhile, bounced back after a defeat in the third round and scored his first victory of the tournament, beating Nils Grandelius of Sweden late on Tuesday to take his tally to 2 points.

Praggnanandha won a fine positional game in Gruenfeld Defence against Grandelius. After an instructive exchange of his dark-squared bishop for a knight in a closed position, the Indian seamlessly executed a classical plan of playing against the opponent’s so-called bad bishop and pulled out a well-deserved victory in a rook endgame.

Gujrathi and Esipenko tested a popular line of the Italian Opening in which the Russian GM steadily held his ground with Black. Esipenko even emerged a pawn up, but White had sufficient counterplay. Probably satisfied with a half-point, Esipenko chose not to ask further questions and opted for a draw.

Azerbaijan GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov also notched up his first win, outfoxing Jan-Krzysztof Duda of Poland in endgame complications. All other games were drawn.

Magnus Carlsen and Jorden Van Foreest played an exciting game in which the world champion missed a chance to catch up with the leader. The Dutchman did not shy away from complications in a stonewall type position as he boldly sacrificed a pawn and later on another for an active play on the kingside. A draw was agreed on the 54th move.

In the Challengers event being held simultaneously, Indian GM Arjun Erigaisi is on top following a win over Roven Vogel in the fourth round. He is followed by two players on three points while another Indian Grandmaster Surya Shekhar Ganguly has 2.5 points after he drew Daniel Dardha in his round four match.

Standings after Round 4: Masters: 1. Vidit Gujrathi – 3 points; 2-6. Magnus Calsen, Richard Rapport, Andrey Esipenko, Jorden Van Foreest and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov – 2.5; 7-9. Fabiano Caruana, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Praggnanandhaa R. – 2; 10-13. Sam Shankland, Sergey Karjakin, Daniil Dubov, Anish Giri, – 1.5; Nils Grandelius – 0.5. 

Also Read : Sandeep Narwal and Manjeet Chhillar shine in Dabang Delhi's win over Patna Pirates

News Source : PTI

Bengaluru, Jan 18 (Kabaddi News) Dabang Delhi's seasoned stars Sandeep Narwal and Manjeet Chhillar had a night to remember as they helped their team beat Patna Pirates 32-29 in the Pro Kabaddi League here on Tuesday.

Chhillar, the defender with most tackle points in PKL history, produced a last-raid tackle to clinch the thriller for Delhi, who were once again without the services of their star raider Naveen Kumar.

Vijay aided with nine points while Narwal, playing the role of an all-rounder, clinched eight points in a win that helped Delhi move to the top of the points table.

Patna lacked the usual sharpness in their defence which ultimately cost them the match.

Patna dominated the early minutes of the match, but Delhi made a comeback through their raider Vijay. He got valuable points off a surprisingly unstable Patna defence to give Delhi the momentum to clinch an ALL OUT in the 10th minute to open a 4-point lead.

Narwal and Chhillar used all their experience to good effect on the mat as Delhi's defence thwarted their opponents.

Patna's cover defender Sajin C suffered a knee injury and had to be replaced which clearly affected their team's chemistry. Narwal donned the role of a perfect all-rounder in the first half by also fetching raid points for Delhi.

At the interval, Delhi had a 9-point lead with scores 19-10.

Patna showed why experts had called them early season favourites to a playoff spot by clawing their way back into the match. The first 10 minutes after the restart belonged completely to Patna as Sachin and Guman Singh exploited the errors in Delhi defence.

The lack of a lethal raider affected Delhi's attack and they finally succumbed to an ALL in the 10th minute. Patna had managed to reduce the lead to just one point and were clearly the team with momentum.

But Delhi were in no mood to let this slip. Narwal's 2-point raid opened the lead to three points as both teams traded blows. Mohammadreza Shadloui then clawed one back for Patna with a stunning ankle hold on Ashu Malik.

Vijay then produced a 3-point Super Raid with three minutes remaining to give Delhi a 4-point lead. Patna needed two points in their last raid, but Chhillar brought out a brilliant diving tackle to help Delhi win the match. 

Also Read : Maharashtra Ironmen becomes the fourth team to feature in PHL

News Source : PTI

(Sports news) Maharashtra Ironmen are the fourth team for the much-awaited inaugural edition of the franchise-based league as announced by the Premier Handball League (PHL) on Tuesday. The team is owned by Punit Balan of the Punit Balan Group.

The Punit Balan Group, valued at around INR 3500 crores is headed by Punit Balan, a young and dynamic entrepreneur and philanthropist who is also one among the new-age sports investors. Passionate about Olympic Sports and owner of teams across various sporting leagues, Punit Balanis known for his intellect and sharp business acumen. He is a visionary who has invested in the field of sports, entertainment and real estate.

“Having stakeholders who are equally passionate and have a vision for Handball in India is a perfect combination for us at PHL. We are delighted to welcome Mr. Punit Balan and the Punit Balan Group on board and believe that this partnership will not only help in restoring the rich sporting legacy of Maharashtra but will also enable the sport of Handball to be developed into a commercially viable product in Maharashtra where the sport is already popular said Manu Agrawal, CEO, Bluesport Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.  

An avid sports enthusiast and youth icon, Punit has made notable contributions through the Indrani Balan Foundation for financial sustainability of Army Goodwill Schools and Parivar School Society in Jammu & Kashmir. Sports has been a major part of Maharashtra’s culture and now, working along with PHL, Punit will look to spread the game in the region. He is also the owner of teams across various sports leagues including in the Tennis Premier League and has an investment in a sports employment startup.

“I have always believed in strategic alliances with competitive and dynamic partners to bring about change and growth. Handball is one of the most exciting games with a unique combination of speed, agility, technique, skill and teamwork and enjoys a great following in the western market. I believe that if promoted and supported well, it will enjoy the same popularity in the Indian market as well. Additionally, being an Olympic sport with a majority of the players coming from the armed forces, Handball becomes a natural choice for our group. Through PHL, we will look to transform this new-age sport,” said Punit Balan, CMD Punit Balan Group. 

Bluesport Entertainment Pvt Ltd—exclusive licensee of the league under the aegis of Handball Federation of India— earlier launched three teams: Garvit Gujarat, Golden Eagles Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan Wolverines. The Maharashtra Ironmen will be a part of the six teams to the inaugural edition, it is expected to take place later this year as PHL gets set to revolutionize Indian handball.

Also read: Premier Handball League launches Rajasthan franchise

Wijk Aan Zee (The Netherlands), Jan 18 (Chess News) Indian Grandmaster Vidit Santhosh Gujrathi prevailed over Russia's Daniil Dubov in the third round to become the sole leader with 2.5 points in the prestigious Tata Steel Masters chess tournament here.

Gujrathi's compatriot, 16-year old Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, however, suffered a defeat at the hands of Dutchman Jorden Van Foreest late on Monday night.

Apart from Van Foreest, Andrey Esipenko and Richard Rapport also scored victories and now sit on two points together with world No.1 Magnus Carlsen and Jan-Krzysztof Duda, who drew their games.

In the Gujrathi-Dubov match, the Russian, true to his creative style, introduced a novelty in the Italian Opening as early as on move 8.

The Indian GM took the seemingly risky approach, first trading his dark-squared bishop and then accepting a central pawn sacrifice.

As a result, he fell behind in development, whereas Black's king got stuck in the centre.

Gujrathi capitalised on an error on move 32 by Dubov and secured a point.

Van Foreest surprised Praggnanandhaa with a rare line and put serious pressure on the black side. Praggnanandhaa held his own up to a point before the Dutchman gained the upper-hand to score a win.

Carlsen showed resilience to share the point with Poland's Jan-Krzysztof Duda while Dutch star Anish Giri drew with Shakhriyar Mamedyarov.

In the fourth round to be played later on Tuesday night, Gujrathi faces Espinenko and Praggnanandhaa tackles Sweden's Nils Grandelius in the 13-round championship.

Meanwhile, in the Challenger event being held simultaneously, Indian GM Arjun Erigaisi defeated Belgium's Daniel Dardha in the third round to share the joint top spot with two others -- Thai Dai Van Nguyen (Czech Republic) and Volodar Murzin (Russia) -- having scored 2.5 points.

Another Indian GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly was held to a draw by Max Warmerdam of the Netherlands and has two points from three rounds.

Standings after Round 3: Masters: 1. Vidit Gujrathi – 2.5 points; 2-6. Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Magnus Calsen, Richard Rapport, Andrey Esipenko and Jorden Van Foreest – 2; 7-8. Fabiano Caruana, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov – 1.5; 9-13. Sam Shankland, Sergey Karjakin, Daniil Dubov, Anish Giri, Praggnanandhaa – 1; 14. Nils Grandelius – 0.5. 

Also Read : Surender Gill shines as UP Yoddha thrash Puneri Paltan 50-40

News Source : PTI

Bengaluru, Jan 17 (Kabaddi News) Surender Gill shone with his raids as UP Yoddha thrashed Puneri Paltan 50-40 in a high-scoring match of Pro Kabaddi League Season 8 here on Monday.

Gill (21 points) and Pardeep Narwal (10 points) scored Super 10s for Yoddha in a match, which had way too many defensive errors.

Aslam Inamdar and Mohit Goyat had Super 10s for the Pune side, but they did not get any help from a stuttering defence that conceded far too many points.

The first half was a high-scoring affair with just one empty raid in the first five minutes. Pardeep Narwal started the proceedings with a three-point Super Raid and that certainly set the tone for the other raiders.

Inamdar and Goyat combined to help Pune clinch the game's first 'All Out' close to the 10th minute but Yoddha immediately clawed their way back.

It was raining Super Raids on both sides and Gill's three-point effort with seven minutes remaining helped Yoddha inflict an 'All Out'.

Both the left corners -- Pune's Vishal Bharadwaj and Yoddha's Sumit -- were having an error-prone night and conceded far too many points in the first half that ended 20-20.

Yoddha started the second half brightly with Gill aggressive in his raids. His four-point Super Raid in the fifth minute paved the way for another 'All Out' which helped Yoddha open a seven-point lead.

He and Pardeep Narwal took turns to eat points away from Pune and eventually got them an 'All Out' in the 10th minute.

Yoddha scored a massive 20 points in the first 10 minutes after the restart to open a 15-point lead. Both Narwal and Gill crossed their Super 10s while Goyat did the same for Pune.

Inamdar manufactured a three-point Super Raid in the 12th minute of the second half to spark a comeback. But Pune's defenders were having a night to forget with Gill picking points with ease.

Despite Inamdar and Goyat's best attempts, Pune could not close the gap as Yoddha clinched a valuable win. 

Also Read : Second part of Pro Kabaddi League to start from Jan 20

News Source : PTI

It is alway important to rise back when you fall down. An athlete needs a support system to stay on top of the game, injuries are the major reasons for their downfall. Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation helps them to get back in shape for the game. Dr. Richa had always wanted to go into the medical field and her love for sports turned out to be a perfect match. She runs the Kinesis- Sports rehab and physiotherapy clinc at Pune.

In this exclusive interview with SPOGO, Dr. Richa Kularni speaks about her passion for sports since childhood, the importance of rehabilitation, being mentally fit and her experience with the Timor-Leste national soccer team.
 

Q 1) How did your fitness journey begin? What inspired you to pursue a career in sports rehabilitation and physiotherapy?

My fitness journey started at the age of 7 years. We had a strong family background of sports wherein my father was a cricketer and mother was into athletics, so they knew the importance of having sports in an individual’s life. They made sure that we 3 siblings enjoy the liveliness and enthusiasm a sport gives in one's life right from our childhood. Uptill now I have played almost all the games but in the end, Badminton is my game and passion which has kept me fit to date.

I always aspired to go into the medical field but also wanted some association of sports in it. I started doing research on how I could fuse my two passions into my profession and that's when I got to know about the field of Physiotherapy which had the perfect combination of sports and medicine. 

Q 2) According to you, how can sports rehabilitation be made accessible to athletes across all levels of sports, i.e from the grassroots to professionals?

Nowadays, Sports Rehabilitation is a Subject which is talked about quite frequently between the athletes and their parents. Awareness of Sports Rehabilitation is quite grown as now athletes know the importance of it. There are certified Sports Physiotherapists who run private clinics or there are Rehab centers where an athlete can undergo rehabilitation post injury. Also many clubs and sports associations have their own Sports Physiotherapists in house for the athletes. Whereas in tournaments on field and off field Sports Physiotherapy is always made available to the athletes.

Q 3) How much of a role does sports physiotherapy play in increasing the longevity of an athlete’s career? 

Sports Physiotherapy plays a vital role in increasing the longevity of an athlete’s career. A Physiotherapist helps an athlete to prevent and manage injuries on field. As well as a physio helps an athlete on safe participation of his/her sport on field which enhances their performance in the game. Sports Rehabilitation helps and supports faster recovery of the injuries which happened as well as through guided rehab protocols one can prevent major injuries on the field which helps in top notch performance in the respective sports.

Q 4) How was the experience of being the sports physiotherapist for the National Soccer Team of U-23 and Senior Men's team of Timor-Leste at FIFA World-Cup pre-qualifiers in Malaysia 2019 and AFC Championship at Myanmar 2019?

 It was phenomenal, superb, mind blowing. It was a dream come true moment. As I said earlier, I did physiotherapy for being associated with sports and medicine. This was the prestigious moment which I was waiting for years in my career. It had a huge responsibility of handling and managing the entire team. There were moments wherein there was so much pressure to handle and treat the injured players and make them play on field. But all the efforts were rewarded at the end when my injured players performed their best on the field with the immediate recovery and preventive measures instructed and followed as told.

Q 5) What can be done to raise awareness about the importance of sports rehabilitation amongst athletes?

To increase the awareness of Sports rehabilitation amongst athletes, first of all educating them about this concept is of utmost importance. Following we can take camps for the athletes where they can understand how to prevent an injury as well as how to take care of it through a guided rehab. Also we can promote and endorse sports rehab on social platforms to increase the awareness through educational videos where we can show how recovery is done post injuries in a rehab.

Q 6) While physiotherapy is mostly dealing with the body, how important is mental fitness according to you? What can be done to ensure an athlete or an individual remains both mentally and physically healthy?

A sport is a combination of the physical and mental well being of an individual, so I think mental fitness is equally important as being physically fit. You need to be mentally sound enough when you play any sport so you give your 100% in your performance by being completely focused. For example, while playing Badminton you need to be physically fit but at the same time you are nervous and have high anxiety levels then it becomes difficult to give your 100%. These conditions will lead to losing matches which may lead to depression and irritation ultimately leading to poor performance. So along with Sports Rehab and Physiotherapy, Sports Psychology also plays a major role in an athlete’s sports career.

Also read: Our main goal is to make India an Asian powerhouse in basketball - Suresh Kumar Ranot, member of national selection committee

Bengaluru, Jan 17 (Kabaddi News) The second part of the ongoing Pro Kabaddi League will kick off on January 20, tournament organisers Marshal Sports announced on Monday.

The second part which comprises 33 matches will go on till February 4.

Tamil Thalaivas will lock horns with Gujarat Giants in the first match on Thursday, while Bengaluru Bulls will clash with Patna Pirates in the second match of the day.

The "rivalry week" of PKL will be held from January 31 to February 4.

"The upcoming 33 matches, including the rivalry week, will be followed by the penultimate round of further 33 matches that will complete the full 132-match round-robin stage. This will be followed by the play-off round and thereafter the Season 8‘s grand finale," a media release said.

PKL successfully completed 66 matches constituting the first half of the league stage of the ongoing eighth season. 

Also Read : Jaipur Pink Panthers hold Tamil Thalaivas to thrilling tie

News Source : PTI

Wijk aan Zee (The Netherlands), Jan 17 (Chess News) Indian Grandmasters Vidit Santhosh Gujrathi and R Praggnanandhaa were held to draws in their second round matches in the Tata Steel Masters chess tournament here.

World No.1 Magnus Carlsen, however, scored his first win on Sunday.

Gujrathi drew in 27 moves against Fabiano Caruana (USA) with white, while Praggnanandhaa shared the point with Jan-Krzysztof Duda (Poland) in the second round games.

Praggnanandhaa and Duda played a very solid game in which White had a slight advantage that was virtually impossible to turn into something tangible. A draw came as a logical outcome.

Carlsen defeated Dutchman Anish Giri and joined Duda and Vidit Gujrathi at the top of the standings with 1.5 points.

The only other winner of the day was Richard Rapport, who took full advantage of Jorden Van Foreest’s mistake in a knight endgame. All other games were drawn.

Gujrathi plays Daniil Dubov (Russia) in the third round later on Monday night and Praggnanandhaa takes on Van Foreest.

In the Challengers section being played simultaneously, India's Arjun Erigaisi put it across Max Warmerdem in the second round. He lies in second spot along with compatriot Surya Shekhar Ganguly and Thai Dai Van Nguyen on 1.5 points.

Standings after Round 2: Masters: 1-3. Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Magnus Calsen and Vidit Gujrathi – 1½ ; 4-11. Fabiano Caruana, Richard Rapport, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Sergey Karjakin, Andrey Esipenko and Jorden Van Foreest – 1; 12-14, Sam Shankland, Nils Grandelius, Anish Giri – ½. 

Also Read : Vidit Gujrathi starts with a win, Praggnanandhaa holds Anish Giri to a draw

News Source : PTI

Bengaluru, Jan 16 (Kabaddi News) Tamil Thalaivas and Jaipur Pink Panthers played out an entertaining 31-31 draw in their Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) match here on Sunday.

Defences of both the teams had a great outing with Thalaivas captain Surjeet Singh and Jaipur's Sandeep Dhull picking up High 5s. Thaliavas had a two-point lead going into the final raid of the match but made a mistake resulting in a tie.

Their raider Manjeet misjudged a touch and walked into the lobby resulting in a Super Tackle and two points for Jaipur.

Tamil Thalaivas had the better start to the match with their defensive duo of Surjeet Singh and Sagar not giving Jaipur raider Arjun Deshwal an opportunity.

The Panthers were not willing to let points leak in their defence as well with Sandeep Dhull and Sahul Kumar tackling the Tamil raiders with ease. The game changed momentum when experienced K Prapanjan suffering a shoulder injury during a raid in the seventh minute.

Ajinkya Pawar was brought in as his replacement, but Jaipur sniffed an opportunity. Surjeet Singh produced a one-man Super Tackle on Arjun Deshwal but Jaipur clinched their ALL OUT eventually with two minutes to the interval. At halftime, the scores were 17-13 in favour of Jaipur.

Tamil coach Uday Kumar wanted his team to make a slow comeback and not rush things, but his team had other plans. The second half started with a tackle on Jaipur's Deepak Hooda which was followed by a two-point raid by Bhavani Rajput.

With three remaining on the mat, Thalaivas' Manjeet produced a stunning Super Raid that inflicted an ALL OUT. They took the lead, but the Panthers got it back immediately with Sandeep Dhull and Surjeet Singh picking their High 5s.

The two teams matched tackle for tackle and the scores were level at 24-24 with 10 minutes remaining.

Ajinkya Pawar got a two-point raid to open the lead for Thaliavas but Jaipur's Naveen produced a Super Tackle to close the gap. Jaipur, trailing by two points, produced a Super Tackle in the last raid of the match to earn a tie.

Thalaivas will consider themselves unlucky as raider Manjeet walked into the lobby under the belief that he had gotten a touch. But the referees decided against his claim to end the closely-fought match. 

Also Read : UP Yoddha beat Telugu Titans 39-33 (Pro Kabaddi League)

News Source : PTI

Wijk Aan Zee (Netherlands), Jan 16 (Chess News) Indian Grandmaster Vidit Santosh Gujrathi began his campaign at the Tata Steel Masters chess tournament with a win over American Sam Shankland, here.

After the rating favourites Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana (USA) and Anish Giri (the Netherlands) drew their games, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Gujrathi and Jorden van Foreest grabbed the lead with victories in round one, late on Saturday.

Gujrathi, the India No.2 behind Viswanathan Anand, took advantage of a mistake by Shankland, playing black, on the 33rd move to grind out a win in 73 moves.

The other Indian player in the fray in the Masters section of the Tata Steel chess tournament - Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa opened with a draw against Anish Giri (the Netherlands) in 44 moves.

The 16-year old Indian faced Giri in a rare line of the English Opening with Black. The Dutchman made a pawn sacrifice to grab the initiative, but the Indian youngster neutralised white’s threats and safely played out a draw.

World No.1 Carlsen of Norway was held to a draw by Russia's Andrey Esipenko in 21 moves as chose to play it safe against the highly-rated opponent.

Caruana had the upper hand against Sergey Karjakin (Russia) but missed a couple of good attacking opportunities and allowed his opponent to escape with a draw.

In the second round later on Sunday night, Gujrathi faces Caruana while Praggnanandhaa takes on Jan-Krzysztof Duda (Poland).

A total of 14 players are taking part in the round-robin tournament featuring 13 rounds with Carlsen headlining a strong field.

Meanwhile in the Challengers event, being held simultaneously, experienced Indian GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly began with a victory over Marc Andria Maurizzi of France. Arjun Erigaisi, the top-seed, was held to a draw by Lucas van Foreest (the Netherlands). 

Also Read : UP Yoddha beat Telugu Titans 39-33 (Pro Kabaddi League)

News Source : PTI

Bengaluru, Jan 15 (Kabaddi News) UP Yoddha beat struggling Telugu Titans 39-33 in a Pro Kabaddi League match here on Saturday.

Yoddha were better in all the departments with their raiders – Pardeep Narwal (10), Shrikant Jadhav (7) and Surender Gill (7) – picking up valuable points.

Telugu Titans had a great opportunity to make a comeback by inflicting an ALL OUT on Yoddha in the final minutes but captain Rohit Kumar’s decision to go raiding backfired.

Rajnish and Ankit Beniwal scored 9 points each for the Titans who are without a win in Season 8.

Telugu Titans had Rohit Kumar back in the starting 7 but that didn’t really add to the raiding efforts in the first half. Rajnish and Ankit Beniwal showed glimpses of their immense potential, but the half surely belonged to Yoddha who had a clear plan for the Titans.

Their defensive corner duo of Sumit and Nitesh Kumar found form after the initial raids making life difficult for the young Telugu raiders.

At the other end Pardeep Narwal, Shrikant Jadhav and Surender Gill took turns to eat away points from the defence. Together, they inflicted an ALL OUT on the Titans with 7 minutes remaining for halftime to open a 3-point lead. Yoddha managed the time on the mat very well and ended the half on top with scores 19-14. 

Also Read : PKL: Jaipur Pink Panthers beat Patna Pirates 38-28

News Source : PTI

The concept of sports has existed in the world since centuries. Over the years, it has kept evolving and today is a major part of our lives. As defined, sports entails engaging physical and mental abilities for competitive or casual endeavor. Sporting activities help in improving emotional, physical and mental quotient. Any sporting activity performed either alone or in front of the crowd, offers entertainment.  

It has also been found to be a wonderful way to make friendships. In fact, it has been proven that participating in high school athletics gives long-lasting, definitive benefits, especially when athletic leaders create an environment that challenges and rewards the growth mindset.

There are various forms of sports – from individual, groups or those requiring two participants. Classic examples include cricket, hockey, football, basketball, polo and so many more. Going beyond just the physical aspect, several competitive, but non-physical, activities claim recognition as mind sports such as chess and bridge. 

At Orphicy our focus is on a 360-degree learning template wherein equivalent weightage is given to extra-curricular activities, personality development and sports. Engaging in any sport helps in building a strong and focused mindset; two qualities needed to develop competitive spirit. 

By playing sports you are exposed to team building activities that give a better understanding of player strengths and the overall team dynamic. You end up developing trust, learn to respect one another, challenge each other to the highest standards, commit to doing your best, hold each other accountable, focus on the bigger picture and share the same vision or goals with the whole team. Sports builds robust personality that aid in performing all the tasks with perfection, ease and confidence. 

Successful teams in sports add a layer of rivalry not seen in other kinds of teams. This kind of competition pushes a person to test their limits and make the most of their potential that sets them up for success in other areas of life as well.

It is very popularly said that, “play is the highest form of research” and when a child in its formative years starts playing sports, it positively impacts personality and brain development.

A lot of studies have been conducted for centuries on how sports help in building resilience and strength. Like studies on athletics conducted in early years focusing on how they ushered in community pride by winning laurels. Collective or individual wins have fostered a sense of pride for the participant and his community at large. 

These studies progressed to explain how participation ushered in improvements in physical health, academic benchmarks and stress management. Today, there are numerous studies that focus on all types of participation benefits, when participants are supported in this way, they develop lifelong habits that transcend high school.

Of course, positive outcomes do not happen accidentally, and coaches play a huge role in athletes realizing the benefits of high school athletics. In many ways, coaches play the most significant role in setting the tone and standard of any sporting program.

In our dynamic, ever-changing, instant gratification environment, high school athletic contests are metaphorical classrooms that deliver eloquent learning for the students and athletes enrolling for them. Team building activities help build a critical foundation for students and the impact to the participants can be long-lasting and beneficial.

It is very rightly said that “talent may win games, but teamwork gets you the championship.” Teamwork and interacting with each other helps one learn that you have to benefit each other because you’d never be able to achieve anything individually. 

By being in a team or playing against one, you also get exposed to the advantages of being in a competition not just with others but with yourself as well. It is hard to find progress in a place where there is no competition. Sports gives you the ideal platform to compete and become the best version of yourself.

Also read: Our main goal is to make India an Asian powerhouse in basketball - Suresh Kumar Ranot, member of national selection committee

Athletics transform and improve after each game. They learn about their limitations, decisions and physical strength. These choices have an impact on the game, the team and themselves. This journey of self-discovery helps them to gauge their strength, weakness, and opportunities. 

These athletes also understand the kind of sacrifices they needed to make to accomplish a common goal, the kind of support they can give to teammates, and individually they need to modify their game and hold themselves responsible. The situations that athletes experience allows them to have an accurate understanding of goal setting and what they can attain as they move into the collegiate world and to professional sport.

Being in an athletic team also enables students to develop their empathetic skills, aiding them to understand themselves, the team, and others. At the start students may not have a clear understanding of how their participation will affect themselves or their team members. However, later they learn about themselves and even experiment in visualizing what they can attain. After which athletes have the potential to experience their perceived limitations and push past what they think they can accomplish.

In conclusion, by providing an atmosphere that encourages your children to engage in sports, you will set them to maintain great lifelong habits that will carry them closer to achieving success in all walks of life. Sports imbibes just the qualities required to create a perfect balance and break away from the chaos that surrounds us each day.

By Vipul Tyagi
CEO and Co-founder
EdTech Startup Orphicy

About the Author

Vipul Tyagi, CEO, and Co-founder of EdTech Startup Orphicy. An electronics and telecom engineer, Vipul co-founded Orphicy along with 3 academicians in 2020. The startup offers live online coaching for the school curriculum (Classes 5-10) and also helps students prepare for NTSE/ Olympiads and other competitive exams and has started enrollment for new sessions. The learning modules are designed with a holistic approach focusing on extracurricular activities along with academics. Orphicy is Vipul’s second entrepreneurial venture. His first business venture already rakes in revenues to the tune of 100 million INR.

New Delhi, Jan 15 (Sports News) Indian fencers, including Olympian Bhavani Devi, bowed out of the women's individual sabre event of the World Cup after losing their respective contests in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Bhavani Devi, ranked 55th in the world, had received a bye in the round of 128 but she suffered a 8-15 loss to Spain's Elena Hernandez in the next round to exit the competition.

The 28-year-old from Chennai, the first Indian to participate at the Olympics, secured victories in four matches in the group stage, while lost one. One match was called off.

Among other Indians in fray, Anitha Karunakaran and Josna Christy Jose couldn't cross the round of 128.

While Karunakaran lost 3-15 to Russia's Dariya Drozd, Jose lost to Spain's Araceli Navarro by a similar scoreline.

The men's and women's Team World Cup will get underway at the same venue on Monday.

Bhavani Devi may compete in the next women’s World Cup in Plovdiv, Bulgaria from January 28 to 29. There are two more World Cups in Greece (March 4 to 5) and Belgium (March 18 to 19). 

Also Read : PKL: Jaipur Pink Panthers beat Patna Pirates 38-28

News Source : PTI