HAPPENING -- 23:

USHERING IN ‘2019’ WITH ’20.19’ KM RUN

P S SUNDAR

The Nomadic Nilgirians Running Club has invited fitness enthusiasts to participate in the ’20.19 km’ run to usher in ‘2019’ on January 1, 2019.

“It is open to all and those willing to participate can assemble at Sim’s Park, Coonoor, before flagging off the run at 6 am”, the Club’s founder G Yasmin told me.

“We intend to organise regular running activities following this throughout 2019.  In particular, we will conduct a Marathon in April in which members of running groups from different parts of the country will participate.  To encourage the runners from The Nilgiris, we will honour the first finisher from the district”, she announced.

“We will conduct a schematic training camp in Coonoor in April and May when a certified coach will train students to prepare for major running contests”, she disclosed.

“From January, we will organise group running once a week.  There will also be periodical ‘Plogging run’ when the runners will pick up the litters in the routes to create a cleaner Coonoor”, she added.

“We encourage women runners, especially mothers, to help them stay fit.    At our ‘Run Because You Can’ event organised for women, 60 women, aged 14 to 64, ran the prescribed 2-kilometres”, said Yasmin (34), mother of two children, who herself took to running only at her 31 years of age. 

“I have been selected to participate in the Bank of America run to be held in Chicago in October 2019.  Subsequently, I will also participate in Comrades run Durban, South Africa”, said Yasmin, an ultra marathon runner, who participates in about six events a year.

A MBA graduate, she is Director of India Operations of US-headquartered IT company, Information Evolution India P Ltd., with production units in Coonoor and Coimbatore.

The Nomadic Nilgirians Running Club presently has 25 runner members, aged 13 to 65, of whom nine are women.   The Club wants to encourage allied activities like walking, trekking and cycling. 

Yasmin has assured to provide necessary help and guidance to the participants on medical, fitness and safety fronts considering the requirements of all these activities.   

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)

ACHIEVEMENT -- 8:

PRIYA RANKED ‘WORLD No: 6’ IN FENCING

P S SUNDAR 

A new chapter in the sporting history of The Nilgiris has been opened with Poorna Bagadhur Priya studying in VIII standard in Sri Shanthi Vijay Girls Higher Secondary School, Coonoor, being crowned ‘World No: 6’ in international fencing competition.

“Priya won this coveted placement representing India in girls under 14 category in the Third TFF Minime  Series conducted by the Thailand Fencing Federation in Bangkok”, Shanthi Vijay Headmistress R Vairamani said after complimenting her and coach T Karthigeyan and PET S Usha Rani.

“Priya won this placement in the event at which 22 sportspersons from 22 countries vied for the title”, said PET Usha Rani who accompanied her to Bangkok.

“Priya has been honoured with a Bronze Medal and a certificate.  She has already become an international fencing star.  Her ambition is to win medal for India at Olympics.  On our side, we will extend all possible support by providing specialised coaching by a team headed by PET Usha Rani and Coach Karthikeyan”, Correspondent R Kantilal Chordia disclosed.

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com) 

HAPPENING -- 22::

CRESCENT SCHOOL STUDENTS’ SOLIDARITY WITH INDIAN HOCKEY TEAM

P S SUNDAR

Even as India has entered Quarter finals in the Men’s Hockey World Cup in Odisha, hockey enthusiasts in The Nilgiris have done their mite to express their solidarity with the nation’s hockey team.

The students of Crescent Castle group of schools in Ooty stood on their ground creating human formation of the World Cup logo 

and also in letter-shape to read ‘Odisha World Cup Hockey’.

“As strong supporters of hockey as a game, we are proud of India’s hockey team and wish them to win Gold in this World Cup”, Crescent Correspondent Umar Farouk told me. 

“We realise the value of India’s performance as our student Krithik Balaji has played for the Nationals in Nehru Cup 2018”, he said.

“We have won many laurels in hockey including at the inter-school matches organised by ICSE council and education department”, he recalled.

“Our under-15 and under-17 teams benefit from the coaching by Gopi, state-recognised coach.   Interestingly, we come across even kids in Grade 2 and 3 wanting to play hickey!”, he noted.

“Collectively, we create a motivated segment of youth wanting to play superb hockey and win titles for India.  The first Indian women hockey umpire Anupama Puchimanda last week motivated parents to encourage their children to play quality hockey”, Farouk added.

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)

HAPPENING -- 21:

SPORTS STARS MOTIVATE STUDENTS AND PARENTS

P S SUNDAR 

The 1,250 students and their parents of Crescent Castle group of schools in Ooty had the benefit of listening to three women sportspersons and hence getting motivated to do something significant for the nation to win medals in the international arena.

“In keeping with our practice to provide the opportunity to our students and parents to interact with achievers, we brought in the Olympian Shiny Wilson as Chief Guest for the Annual Day celebrations of Crescent Play School and Crescent Castle Matriculation Higher Secondary School.  The first Indian women hockey umpire Anupama Puchimanda was the Guest of Honour.   We brought in Asian Gold Medalist M D Valsamma as Chief Guest for the Annual Day celebrations of Crescent Castle Public School teaching ICSE stream”, Crescent group Correspondent Umar Farouk told me.

Recalling her experience in undergoing high-altitude training at Wellington during her sporting years, Shiny Wilson said that there was no ground facility then and mostly, the athletes got trained on roads.   “Now, the Government has provided more facilities for undertaking high-altitude training which youngsters must utilise and win medals for the nation”, she said.

Anupama recalled her formative years when girls were discouraged to participate in international sports.   She related as to how she broke this taboo and became a woman umpire for hockey/.  Sharing her experience in officiating many international tournaments, she urged the youth to take up the games seriously.

Valsamma wanted parents to encourage their children to fine-tune their sporting talents because those who get trained well when young are the ones who achieve significantly.

They distributed awards to the students who excelled in academics and co-curricular activities.

The students staged variety entertainment programmes.

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)

ACHIEVEMENT -- 7:

ST JOSEPH’S STUDENTS BAG SEVERAL TITLES IN SPORTS

P S SUNDAR 

The athletes of St Joseph’s Boys’ Anglo-Indian Higher Secondary School, Coonoor, have brought laurels to The Nilgiris by winning titles in National and State level sports contests.

“Our student Sri Kiran has bagged all-India title in 800 metres running race at the 34^th Junior Nationals held in Ranchi with an impressive timing of 1.53.25”, St Joseph’s Principal Bro Naveen Francis said.

“At the 61^st Tamil Nadu State Athletic Meet, held in Neyveli, our student Vivin Richard claimed double crown in 100 metres and 200 metres running race.  V Vikash bagged title in 1,500 metres.  M Rahul won Third place in 400 metres race”, he said complimenting the winners and the coaching staff. 

“Besides, our relay team consisting of Shyam Sundar, Praveen, Rahul and Vivin Richard won title in 4 x 100 metres”, he disclosed.

“Our under-19 football team won all matches at zonal and district level and bagged Third place at the Divisional level.  Our under-17 football team represented at the state-level tourney in Karur”, he added.

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)