PV Sindhu ready to rock 2016 Rio Games

Sports

Faridabad:

While India ace shuttler Saina Nehwal is on course to realise her London dreams, 17-year-old P V Sindhu, who recently won the Asia Youth U-19 championship, has already set her eyes at 2016 Rio Olympics.

The only Indian to win the prestigious title at Korea earlier this month, Sindhu said she is ready to take on the big guns of badminton and share the workload with Saina in the women’s singles.

“I am ranked 26th now and I want to break into top-10 by this year end. I have been working hard and improving and think I am ready to share the workload with Saina. I see myself playing the next Olympics,” said Sindhu on the sidelines of a Manav Rachna Sports Academy program here.

“I wish all the best to the Indian team for the Olympics. I am sure Saina will get a medal. P Kashyap, Jwala (Gutta), Ashwini (Ponappa) and V Diju — all of them practice so hard and my best wishes are with them.

“This time I missed out but next time definitely I would like to be there in Olympics. I know Olympics is big and I am working hard to do well,” said Sindhu, who managed to jump from 80 to top-30 in the last six months but eventually ran out of time to qualify for the upcoming London Games.

The only women’s singles player to hold the junior and senior national titles at the same time, Sindhu played one Grand Prix Gold (Thailand) and two Super Series (Indonesia, Singapore) events before the U-19 Asian championship on the trot.

“Compared to last year, I have improved my game a lot. My attack and defence, rally and strokes and endurance levels have improved. In senior circuit, matches goes on for an hour and it needs endurance,” she said.

Asked about that one thing she would want to learn from Saina, Sindhu said she would have to work hard on her strokes, especially the flick, which is Saina’s biggest strength.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> Sports> More Sports> Badminton / PTI / July 20th, 2012

HIL to focus on dealer network in smaller towns

Business & Economy

Hyderabad Industries Limited (HIL), a complete roofing and building solutions provider, will continue focus on dealer and distribution network in smaller towns for deeper market penetration, a company official said Tuesday.

HIL managing director Abhaya Shankar said the growth of dealer and distribution network in smaller towns was steadily increasing and this helped the company achieve net sales growth of 34 percent for its products.

The company reported a rise of 35 percent in operating profit during the quarter that ended June 30.

Speaking at an event here to reward HIL’s trade partners, Abhaya Shankar said a comprehensive product portfolio and a series of green building new products continue to propel its growth, aided by increasing geographical presence and mix of manufacturing and outsourcing.

He also talked about the company’s future plans of diversification into various product ranges which in turn will provide sales support to its dealers.

HIL’s brands Charminar, Aerocon and HYSIL have a strong market presence. The C.K.Birla group company is the market leader in manufacturing and marketing of building, industrial and engineering products in India for over 65 years.

source: http://www.smetimes.in / SME Times News Bureau / July 25th, 2012

Pomp and gaiety mark 12th ATA Conference in Atlanta

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Nri's / Pio's

Ravi receiving the Award

By Ravi R Ponangi

Atlanta:

Pomp and gaiety added to the show of strength, solidarity and pride of the Telugu-speaking community at the 12th American Telugu Association (ATA)  Conference and Youth Convention held here during July 6-8. The three-day conference saw a turnout of 8,000 delegates not only from different cities across the US, but also from India, Canada, Britain and Dubai.

The grand celebration was attended by M. M. Pallam Raju, India’s Minister of State for Defense; Upendra Chivukula, Deputy Speaker of New Jersey Assembly; D.K. Aruna, Information Minster of Andhra Pradesh; D. Sridhar Babu, Andhra Pradesh Education Minister;  and two parliament members, Madhu Yaskhi Gowd and Md. Azharuddin, besides a host of politicians, acclaimed personalities of Tollywood, literary scholars and artists from Andhra Pradesh.

Distinguished personalities included Dil Raju, Ajit Kumar, consul general of India in Atlanta, Sobha Naidu, Padmaja Reddy, Goreti Venkanna, Thaman, Garikipati Narasimha Rao, Nandamuri Lakshmi Parvathy, Ileana, and the past presidents of ATA graced the celebration.

Besides regular features and attractions such as spectacular cultural shows, ATA delegates benefited from the workshops and seminars held during convention. Seminars were held in different areas of specializations. Events included a variety of programs in various arenas including social, spiritual, cultural, literary, art, entertainment, business and medicine. Several vendors also put up their booths on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering at the inaugural ceremony on July 7,  Pallam Raju highlighted the achievements of India in various fields and explained the problems that India was facing. He said that the country was facing two internal problems. Suddenly the economy in the country had slowed down and security had become an issue. He said India was playing a major role on world stage. He hoped that India would become a powerful country in the world by 2050. India had been elected as a temporary member in the UN Security Council and the country was working to become its permanent member. “Now India has too many responsibilities. We have to question ourselves whether we are ready to take those responsibilities. We are confronting many internal security challenges as well as economic challenges. Due to the economic crises in the world, our economy too is affected badly. I am confident that our economy will bounce back soon,” he said.

He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Indian economy would improve. India would be working towards economic integration and thereby bringing economic stability in the South Asian region.

Speaking about security, he said a variety of programs were being taken to strengthen the defense of the country.

Referring to Andhra Pradesh, the Minister said that the state had rich resources like minerals,  land, manpower, and entrepreneurs. “Telugu speaking people are on top in every field. Andhra Pradesh has a great potential to grow more. Many able chief ministers had taken the state forward in development. Now Kiran Kumar Reddy as the Chief Minister at  a crucial time is implementing various programs to take the state forward. I am confident that you are all thinking like me and I want you all to take the state forward,” he added.

Speaking about the separate Telengana state demand, he said:  “In my personal opinion the state should be united as it has its own merits and we get strength, if we are united in one state.”

D. K. Aruna, D. Sridhar Babu,  Ravi Prakash, CEO of TV9 channel, and others spoke.

The banquet dinner on July 6 included a reception and a social hour for guests of the convention. D.K. Aruna lighted the traditional lamp to mark the inauguration of the events that followed. A long awards ceremony followed the welcome speech, and the executive team was introduced by Dr. Mangaraju Vanapalli.

Dr. Rao S. Rapaka was honored for biomedical research, Dr. Lakkireddy Hanimi Reddy, was honored with the Philanthropist of the Decade Award; ATA distinguished award winners from Atlanta included Dr. Sivananda Nyayapati, Dr. P. Ravi Sarma, Narender G. Reddy and Ravi Ponangi.

“It feels great to be amongst my countrymen and I am proud of how well they have done for themselves here,” Mohammed Azharuddin, the former Indian Cricket Captain, said when asked about how it felt to be at the convention.

The second day festivities kicked off with the invocation and lighting of the lamp, singing of Vande Maataram and national anthems. After the Swagatham song, ATA messages by TAMA, GATA, ATA Convener Karunakar Asireddy, Youth Forum Chair Prashanth Paripati, ATA President Dr. Rajender Jinna, ATA Board, Standing Committee chairs and regional coordinators, and a spiritual message by Swami Chidatmananda followed. As chief guest, Pallam Raju addressed the gathering after the inaugural theme dance in praise of Telugu heritage and release of the inaugural CD.

Various Cultural programs including classical, semi-classical, folk dances, music, skits and plays were lined up to enthrall and entertain the audience. Prime-time entertainment began with an invocatory Kuchipudi dance – Om Namah Sivaya – choreographed by Hema Shilpa Uppala and presented by her, Reneeta Basu, and Puja Tripuraneni. Emceed by Shilpa Chakroborthy, the program included Kuchipudi dances, music performances, a fashion show, a fusion dance, a romantic thriller “Haunted Love,”  Tollywood Dhamaka, “Telugu Pandugalu,” and ATA honors and recognition  of conference donors and others. A live telecast of presentation of ATA lifetime achievement award to Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam in Chennai was shown on the big screen. It was followed by Kuchipudi offering “Nrityanjali,”  comedy skit “Americallo Manoorollu,”  Gaeya Rupa Kavitvam by Gorati Venkanna and a comedy show by Tollywood actors.

The July 8 proceedings  started off with the invocation and semi classical melodies by Dr. Jayaprada Ramamurthy and Ashtavashanam by Garikipati Narasimha Rao. “Sunanda Vinodini II,” continued to dazzle the audience with the finals of Jhummandi Naadam and ATA 2012 Solo Dance Talent. Winners of various contests were announced. Prime-time entertainment, emceed by Jitendranath, included Dazzling Dhamaka by Detroit Sizzlers, a dance performance by winner of ATA 2012 solo dance talent search, Namasthe India by Dr. Padmaja Reddy and group, honoring of Dr. Sobha Naidu and Kuchipudi performance by her students, mimicry by Jitendranath, presentation of ATA Outstanding Philanthropist Award to Dr. Hanmi Reddy Lakkireddy, presentation of honors and awards to Ravi Prakash of TV9 and members of convention committees, and the much awaited “ATA Raffle Draw.” The night ended on a high note with “Taaralu Digivacchina Vela,”  a musical performance,  by Thaman and party.

Other events included  business seminars, alumni meetings carom, chess and  jodinchu tournaments, CME, literary discussions, immigration issues, senior citizens programs, focus on breathing, essence of Vedas, Art of Living, and live political debates and discussions by Indian politicians telecast by TV9 and TV5.

source: http://www.indiatribune.com / Home> Newspaper> Community / July 2012

Local sheep wool blankets chic again

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Science & Technology

Once threatened, the pure Deccani breed sheep are finding their feet again, thanks to the unique conservation effort, done on a scientific basis with local shepherds acting as gene-keepers.

With the revival efforts of the pure breed in Medak district, as also in Maharashtra, the market for traditional “gongadi” (blanket) with the Deccani sheep wool is again shoring up. Those involved in the conservation efforts said gongadis are slowly catching the fancy of Hyderabad residents.

Known for its black wool and its gene pool, the Deccani breed was affected by crossbreeding with various other indigenous species of sheep.

Besides Andhra Pradesh, the Deccani breed is found in Karnataka, Maharash-tra and parts of northern Tamil Nadu along the Deccan plateau. S. Ashalatha from the organisation Anthra, which is actively working on the conservation project in Medak, said: “Shepherds over the years selected this breed for its tolerance to drought, fodder and water shortage, as well as the capacity to migrate long distances and ability to endure large variations in temperature. The wool has traditionally been spun into yarn by women and woven by men into blankets.

“Now, with Hyderabad residents again asking for small gongadis, the market for the special wool blanket is showing a positive sign.”

According veterinary scientist and Anthra director, Sagari R. Ramdas, import of cheap wool from Australia and Europe not only saw the local wool market go bust but also resulted in loss of the Deccani breed.

“We are mobilising local communities to conserve the Deccani breed and Osmanabadi goat breed, native to the Deccan plateau,” Ms Ramdas said. “About 400 pastoral and agro-pastoral families across 24 villages in Hathnura, Jinnaram, Narasapur, Narayankhed and Shivampet mandals of Medak are involved in the project.”

She said these are among the few remaining areas in the state that continue to have a significant number of sheep of “pure Deccani breed”.

source: http://www.AsianAge.com / Home> Hyderabad / by U. Sudhakar Reddy, DC, Hyderabad / July 24th, 2012

Marriages in Hyderabad help cut-flowers bloom

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy

Bangalore, JULY 23:
Cut flowers prices have increased by 10-15 per cent in the last two months at the International Flower Auction Bangalore (IFAB). Flower prices are higher in Bangalore due to demand from Hyderabad.

Prices of cut-flowers in June-July trade between Rs 2 and Rs 2.50 for a stem.

“In Karnataka, Ashada (June-July period) is considered inauspicious to perform marriages or any other ceremonies; this saw poor sales of cut-flowers,” said Dr G. Shankara Murthy, General Manager, IFAB.

“Normally, not many weddings take place in the State during Ashada and prices fall by 50-60 per cent,,” he said.

Though Ashada is observed in Andhra Pradesh, too, this time there has been an extended marriage period.

Some non-resident Indians had performed marriages for their children to meet the visa deadlines. Again from next week, the marriage season begins.

IFAB Ltd is a joint venture company, set up by the Karnataka Government with the private exporters, to conduct regular auctions and promote floriculture exports from the State.

The marriage and festival season, which begin from July-end in South India are expected to result in increased demand again, the IFAB official said. The demand for flowers such as roses, tulips, gerberas and orchids extends up to November, except during the cyclone season when sales and production fall sharply.

Dr Jayaprakash Rao, General Secretary, South India Floriculture Association, said: “The start of the marriage and festival season in South India is expected to push up prices of cut flowers by 15-20 per cent this year due to dry weather in the State.”

The flower growing belt of Doddaballapur and Hosur area near Bangalore has been partially affected due to deficient monsoon.

Mr Rao said: “Some floriculture units are facing severe water shortage and are forced to depend on fast depleting ground water to maintain their farms.”

Karnataka’s cut flower production is estimated between 9 lakh and 10 lakh stems.

Of this, around two lakh enter the IFAB auction platforms and the rest are traded in unorganised markets.

anil.uthehindu.co.in

source: http://www.TheHinduBusinessLine.com / Home> Industry & Economy> Agri-Biz / by Anil Urs / July 23rd, 2012

Lepakshi crafts mela gets under way

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Sub-Collector S. Venkat Rao going around a Lepakshi Crafts Mela, inaugurated at Mogul Hall in Vijayawada on Friday. Photo: Ch.Vijaya Bhaskar

The exhibition was launched by Revenue Divisional Officer S. Venkata Rao and can be called as the perfect place to shop for college-going girls.

Fathers can now relax as the mother and daughter go out and shop to their heart’s content at the reasonably priced Lepakshi crafts mela, inaugurated on Friday in the Mogal Exhibition Hall.

The exhibition was launched by Revenue Divisional Officer S. Venkata Rao and can be called as the perfect place to shop for college-going girls because of its pocket-friendly prices. The exhibition displays a wide variety of items from single stone studs to pretty little anklets for the girls. There are a lot of imitation jewellery sets, kurtis, dress materials and also pure leather bags on sale at this exhibition.

Apart from these items for the young crowd, the exhibition-cum-sale also has items for the older generation like cotton bed spreads, sarees, and dresses for kids, shirts for men etc. There are also a few decorative items like Kondappali toys, wall hangings and replicas of Taj Mahal on sale at the exhibition.

The exhibition has a 10 per cent discount on handicrafts and 20 per cent discount on handlooms. Organised to increase the awareness and importance of handlooms among the general public, it has some of the items on display like Nirmal paintings, Banjara embroidery, pearls from Hyderabad, gold-plated ornaments, silver jewellery, wood carvings, just handicrafts etc.

Handloom section

In the handloom section there are daily wear sarees from Pochampally, Venkatagiri, Bengali cotton, Madhurai etc and Mangalagiri dress materials along with bed sheets from Kalamkari and Jaipur. This exhibition-cum-sale organised by the Lepakshi Handicrafts Emporium will be open to August 5, daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / News> Cities> Vijayawada / by Staff Reporter /  July 21st, 2012

‘Sravana masam’ festivities begin

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

The temple authorities, however, decided to perform Vara Lakshmi pooja on next Friday. The presiding deity will be decked up as Vara Lakshmi on that day.

People thronged temples, more particularly Kanakadurga temple atop Indrakeeladri, on the first day of ‘Sravana masam’ in Vijayawada on Friday.

The Kanakadurga temple was spruced up for the ‘Sravana masam’ and ‘pavitrotsavam’. Devotees started coming to the temple from the wee hours of Friday after taking holy dip in the River Krishna. They participated in the poojas performed to mark the beginning of the Sravana maasam.

The temple authorities, however, decided to perform Vara Lakshmi pooja on next Friday. The presiding deity will be decked up as Vara Lakshmi on that day. The temple authorities have cancelled the ‘Khadgamala’ a special pooja on next Friday in view of the Vara Lakshmi festival.

The temple, last year, organised Varalakshmi pooja atop Indrakeeladri. About 100 women participated in the pooja last year. The temple supplied blouse pieces and bangles as ‘prasadam’ to the devotees participated in the pooja.

Special pooja

The devotees took part in ‘Koti Kumkumarchana’, a special pooja being organised at the temple for the last couple of weeks. The pooja will come to an end on Saturday with poornahuti. The temple priests will perform the poornahuti at 10 a.m. on Indrakeeladri. A procession will be taken out from Komal Vilas centre in One Town to mark the grand finale of the Koti Kumkumarchana. The procession will pass through Nehru Bomma centre, Ganapathi Rao Road, Railway Station, Kaleswara Rao Market, Canal Road, and Ratham Centre and reach the temple.

The pavitrotsavam will begin with Udaka Santhi on July 31 evening.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / News> Cities> Vijayawada / July 21st, 2012

Nizam’s heirs seek Pakistan’s intervention to unfreeze bank account

Historical Links, Pre-Independence

Want foreign ministers of both India and Pakistan to initiate a dialogue

Hyderabad:

The descendants of the Nizam have appealed to Pakistan to reciprocate to India’s offer of an out-of-court settlement over the wealth of the ruler of erstwhile Hyderabad state lying locked up in a London bank for over 60 years.

The Nizam’s heirs want the foreign ministers of both India and Pakistan to initiate a dialogue to resolve the issue at their meeting scheduled in September in Islamabad.

In a letter to Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, the members of the erstwhile royal family urged him to reciprocate to India’s offer of an out-of-court settlement.

Nawab Najaf Ali Khan, grandson of the 7th Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, said he met Pakistani High Commissioner Salman Basheer in New Delhi last week and sent a letter to Zardari through the high commission.

“We sought President Zardari’s intervention to find an early settlement to the case to help the members of Nizam family who are financially distressed,” said Najaf, president, Nizam Family Welfare Association.

The family hopes that the governments of both the countries would also involve them in the talks and hand them over the money, which is now estimated to be £30 million (Rs2.6 billion, Dh172.7 million).

After partition and before the merger of then Hyderabad state with India, Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan’s finance minister Moin Nawaz Jung had transferred £10,07,940 in the name of then Pakistan high commissioner in London H.I. Rahimtoola in the National Westminster Bank, which is now called Royal Bank of Scotland.

India raised an objection to the transfer, saying the Nizam was not an independent ruler and prevailed upon the bank to freeze the account. Since then the matter is hanging fire.

The Indian government in 2008 decided to pursue an out-of-court settlement with Pakistan and the heirs of the Nizam.

The cabinet took the decision after Nizam’s descendants met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and then foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee.

The Nizam’s heirs are now planning a visit to Pakistan next month to take up the issue with the authorities and to request them to initiate a dialogue with the Indian government.

“Since we are the legal heirs of Nizam and this amount has no will or trust deed, we want the money to be distributed among us as per the Sharia [Islamic law],” he said but hasten to add that they are open to all the options.

The family does not anticipate any legal hurdles. “Both the governments can claim the money but considering the present financial condition of the family, we request them to give up their claim if they have any such thing in mind and permit us to take the money.”

Mohammad Safiullah, cultural adviser to the Nizam’s Trust, had estimated in 2008 that Nizam’s heirs may get 20 per cent of the money while the lion’s share will go to India.

Of the Niam’s 34 children, two sons and three daughters are still alive while there are a total of 104 grandchildren.

Najaf plans to set aside a part of the money to set up an education institution to take care of the educational needs of the new generation of family members.

He pointed out that the family always had good relations with the Indian government after the Nizam’s surrender in 1948. Referring to their relations with Pakistan, he said Nizam was the first person to give money to Pakistan for its first budget.

Since the Britain’s House of Lords had ruled that the account could only be unfrozen with agreement of all the parties, Najaf says, no progress is possible unless India and Pakistan come to some understanding.

Osman Ali Khan, who was the world’s richest man of his time, died in 1967. The efforts to solve the dispute during his lifetime failed as Pakistan never came forward to help unlock the funds.

The Nizam had refused to accede to India after the country’s independence on August 15, 1947. He wanted to remain an independent state or join Pakistan. The princely state finally merged with the Indian Union in September, 1948 after an operation by Indian security forces.

– IANS

source: http://www.gulfnews.com / Gulf News / Home> News> World / by IANS / July 20th, 2012

Vemana demystified

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Author of Vemana Velugulu Sahitya Akademi awardee, N.Gopi is a former Head, Department of Telugu, Osmania University and former Vice-Chancellor, Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University. Though basically a creative poet with over 30 titles to his credit till date, he is also a distinguished researcher. His doctoral thesis ‘Prajakavi Vemana’ (People’s poet Vemana) stands reckoned as an authority on the subject, for its holistic approch and comprehensive treatment. He is fondly called ‘Vemana Gopi’ by the literary fraternity, for his sustained research spanning over three decades, resulting in the publication of standard works bearing on Vemana.

The present book is a collection of short essays in the form of commentary on selected verses of Vemana (also spelt Vemanna). The author has chosen 428 verses after taking care to ensure their authenticity, since there are thousands of variations attributed to Vemana. Another factor guiding the process of selection is to see that the verses cover major propositions and paradigms propounded by Vemana. The book is aptly titled Vemanna Velugulu, signifying illuminating thoughts. The verses are composed in ‘ Ataveladi’ metre with uniform refrain (Makutam) ‘Viswadabhirama Vinura Vema’. Its import is obscure. Some contend that it means- ‘Listen O! Vema, dear to the Lord of all”. In fact, the sense of each verse is complete even without the refrain. The first two lines convey the idea and the third one gives an analogy.

Vemana was essentially a reformist — philosopher poet, always on the move. He is called a ‘Yogi’. He disliked evils and superstitions of all forms in the society and derided them in his poems, while suggesting remedies. His verses are loaded with morals, aphorisms, maxims, dicta, satires, adages and precepts expressed in simple, chaste, and crisp language embellished with similes and metaphors. We come across code language in some poems dealing with alchemy and other uncommon topics.

C.P. Brown rendered yeoman service to the Telugu literature by collecting and collating several poems of Vemana and translating then into English for the first time. Gopi admirably unfolds all these traits in his comments. With his profound knowledge of Vemana, he renders the commentary on each poem highly informative and enlightening. Gopi often delves deep into true purport conceptualised by Vemana. Here are few instances in this regard (with Brown’s English version of the lines): Commenting on the poem Atma suddhi leni achaaramadiyela (Observance of ritual devoid of purity of heart)’, the author shows how Vemana lays special emphasis on the purity of body, mind and heart. In the poem Aapagaali venta adavula ventanu (To what end is this toil of pilgrimages to the confluence of rivers), Dr.Gopi explains that Vemana discourages the fad for pilgrimages. The author while citing Aapadandu Choodu maaraya bandhula (In adversity observe well the behaviour of your relations), the author proves the keen sense of Vemana on the attitude of people. In ‘Kadaka nakhilamunaku nadi naalamandunna (That light like the morning star that dwells in the heart of every man is our refuge’), Dr N. Gopi elucidates how Vemana demonstrates his superior knowledge of ‘kundalini’.

This book is a valuable treasure for lovers of poetry, particularly admirers of Vemana.

VEMANA VELUGULU

Commentary by Dr. N. Gopi / For Copies: N. Aruna / 13-1-158, Srinivasapuram /Ramanthapur, Hyderabad – 500 013 / Price: Rs. 250

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> Arts> Books / by Govindaraju RamaKrishna Rao / July 19th, 2012

I want to be World No.1 shuttler, says Hyderabadi Sindhu

Records, All, Sports

Hyderabad, After Saina Nehwal, another Indian girl is creating ripples in the badminton circuit.

Pusarla Venkata Sindhu created history by becoming the first Indian to win the girls’ singles title in the Asian Youth Under-19 Championships.

The 17-year-old Hyderabadi has already set her eyes on the world number one position. “I want to become world number one,” Sindhu told IANS on her return from Gimcheon, South Korea.

The daughter of former volleyball players, who took to badminton at the age of eight-and-half years, has fast climbed the ladder of success thanks to her sterling performances, mostly at the senior level. She currently ranks world number 25, a huge jump from 151 a few months ago.

The World No.2 in the junior ranking defeated Okuhara Nozomi of Japan 18-21, 21-17, 22-20 in the final of the Asian Youth Under-19 Championship.

“I defeated Sun Yu of China in quarter-final. Last year, I had lost to the same girl in the semi-final,” said Sindhu, who turned 17 July 5. Sindhu, who recently completed her Class 12, is the only player since the legendary Prakash Padukone to hold both junior and senior national titles.

Last month, she lost the pre-quarter-finals in Thailand as also in the Indonesian open which Saina Nehwal went on to win.

In 2011, she won three international challenge events in the Maldives, Indonesia and India, and claimed Swiss International title. She was the runner-up in the Dutch open.

For Sindhu, this success has come after a hard work of just over eight years and the sacrifices made by her parents and the help and encouragement of her coaches.

“I was only eight-and-half years when I started playing badminton near my house in Secunderabad. Mohammed Ali was my first coach,” recalled Sindhu.

She then started training at the Lal Bahadur Stadium and later moved to the Pullela Gopichand Academy, where she now practices with the likes of Saina, Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa.

Her father P.V.Ramna was a volleyball player. The Arjuna Award winner is now sports officer in the railways. Her mother also played volleyball.

“Playing badminton was my own interest. My dad didn’t force me to play volleyball or any other game. They left the choice to me and encouraged me a lot,” said Sindhu, who is supported by Olympic Gold Quest, a not-for-profit foundation that identifies and supports Indian athletes.

“Gopichand Academy is located 27 km away from my house but my father was always there to drop me and to take me back home after the training,” pointed out Sindhu, whose family has now shifted to a house near the academy in Gacchibowli area.

For Sindhu, her coach and former All England champion Pullela Gopichand is her ideal.

“It is a fantastic victory. Being the first Indian to win this and also the fact that she is very young, she is a very good prospect for future. I hope this performance will give her more confidence and we will have even more better results in future,” said Gopichand.

“She will be part of the team which plays in Super Series. She is a great potential and not far away from senior titles and big titles. We expect that she will be in top 10 in the coming year,” the Indian coach told IANS.

“Saina is doing wonders at the highest level and someone like Sindhu doing well is very encouraging. It is not very often that we get a chance to get player after player. We have been consistent. It is good that Saina is 22, Sindhu is 17 and both these players have done very well.”

The Gopichand Academy is working on few more players. “We have couple of other young players who are in the pipeline. Hopefully, we will be able to continuously produce those level of players,” he added. (IANS)

source: http://www.nvonews.com / Northern Voices Online / Sports / by Mohammed Shafeeq / July 19th, 2012