ULTIMATE TABLE TENNIS

India’s 1^st Table Tennis franchise based professional league commences in mid July and Indian fans are eagerly waiting for Ultimate Table Tennis-UTT league. League starts on July 13 in Chennai, and will continue its league in New Delhi& end in Mumbai on July 30,2017.

UTT league is being promoted by 11evensports private limited; in support of TTFI-Table Tennis Federation Of India; implementation partner IMG-reliance.

Each franchise owner has paid 2.5 crore rupees for a 10-year deal, players get between 1.5-2 lakh according to their stature; here are the owners;

Dabang Smashers T.T.C owned by Mrs. Radha Kapoor Khanna, DoIT;RP-SG Mavericks by Mr. Sanjiv Goenka, RP-SP group;Maharashtra United by Mr. Kapil & Dheeraj Wadhawan ,Rajesh Wadhawan group;Bay side Spinners T.T.C. owned by ASK Group’s Mr. Sameer Koticha;Oilmax-Stag Yoddhas by Mr. Kapil Garg & Mr. Vivek Kohli;Challengers owned by Mr. Vivek Bhargava.

There will be 6 franchises; each franchise will comprise of 8 players each- 4 foreign players & 4 Indian players. The team has equal proportionate players of men & women paddlers. Each team will have 2 coaches,one foreign coach and one Indian.

Among 24 foreign players, 21 of the players are Olympians. Iconic women players Han Ying, the only China Player will paddle up for Bay side spinners. Archana Kamath is the youngest paddler in women’s category.

Top shots Wong Chun Ting of Hong Kong who is currently world no.7 was bagged by Maharashtra United; while highest ranked in men’s category Marcos Freitas will paddle for Dabang Smashers and India’s no.1 Sharath Kamal will play up for RP-SG Mavericks.

The league matches will be telecasted on the leading sports channel Star Sports select 2 &2 HD live from 7:30 PM  during the tournament dates; i.e. 13^th July to 30^th July,2017. Digital platform Hot Star will also provides live streaming. 

CHALLENGERS:-

Domestic Coach:-  A. Muralidhara Rao    Foreign Coach:- Elena Timina

OLIMAX STAG YODDHAS:-

Domestic Coach:- Sandeep Gupta                   Foreign Coach:-  Vesna Ojstersek

RP-SG MAVERICKS:

DOMESTIC COACH:-Sachin Shetty                   FOREIGN COACH:-Peter Engle

MAHARASHTRA UNITED:-

DOMESTIC COACH:Arup Basak             FOREIGN COACH:Fernec Karsai

BAYSIDE SPINNERS T.T.C.:-

DOMESTIC COACH:Soumyadeep Roy

FOREIGN COACH:Francisco Santos.

PIC FROM UTT WEBSITE

Interview Special @ Cricket

This is an exclusive conversational interview with the COACH of ANDHRA WOMEN’S TEAM, Mr. Srinivasa Reddy... Mr. Reddy is a BCCI Level B qualified coach of Andhra. He talked about his 15 year journey in the game of Cricket as a coach, and other cricket issues presently. *ACA- Andhra Cricket Association.

1.     How did your journey into cricket started?

I have started my career when I’m in my 8^th standard. But it was not an easy journey for a person like me who has been brought up in a middle class family, as parents keep telling you to study and these games won’t help you.I started with boys Under 13, Under 14, Under 16 teams And with lot of effort I have been in this post from past 7 years.

2.     What had drawn attention towards the game?

The thing of throwing and hitting the ball was fun and entertaining for me which has attracted me so much. Watching my brothers, who are athletes also kept me on the ground along with them.

3.     Who had inspired you and encouraged to take up cricket as sport?

As my brothers and his friends used played cricket I used to help them with the kits and balls, I also played with them and watching this drill master has also encouraged me to be part of the sport.

4.     Talking about ACA position right now, when was this journey started?

I was in the association since 2010. At first, I used to assist Purnima Rau(2010-11){who was later India’s coach, till Apr17 }. I’m proud to say that, at that time was 1^st & only Women’s association in India.

Special thanks to:-

 Late Shri.Narendranath, Chairman-Women’s wing ACA;

Correspondent of JKC College, Guntur;

Gokaraju Ganga Raju for the support.

5.     India qualifying for the current WORLD CUP,2017; your student has done good. What would you love to share regarding it?

Sabinenni Meghana has got great views from the commentators in the final of the qualifications of World Cup in 2016. Watching her from her childhood, I’m happy for her journey and as a coach it was an amazing gift when Meghana represented Indian team and it is the memorable day.

6.     How has the Andhra’s team journey through the years when BCCI has taken up?

Last year we celebrated diamond jubilee function of the association. Andhra covers13 districts of the state even before the bifurcation of the state. In the recent times, juniors of the team are doing well particularly when BCCI merged with Women’s cricket in 2010.

The opportunities have given us great opportunities which made the team reach the top of the table in south zone from bottom of the table with 6 teams in the zone. But sad part is seeing Andhra players are now playing against us, because they got better job opportunities in Railways.

7.     Talking about the conditions of the players, how are they helped by the board? What affects them?

Few good players had dropped from the team after marriage. This saddens me. And yes GokarajuGangaraju sir, Secretary of ACA, has helped the players financially. State players get ₹4000/month, Zonal players get ₹2000/month. Because of Ganjaraju sir association is running smoothly. MSK Prasad, Dr.Kinjal Suraj wala, Trinadh Raju played major role in upbringing the association.

8.     What would you say about the recent change of coach of the national team of Women’s cricket team; Purnima Rau is being replaced with Tushar Arothe before the big events in the calendar. How it affects the team?

According to me Purnima ji did well and contributed for consistant champions, and replacing her is something not right according to me. Purnima ji knows well about the team; the strengths of each player and in depth. Purnima ji was once captained the Indian team as well;now team has her disciples.  This will effects the team a bit of the now to mingle. But we have to see how much he understands them and laurels the team.

9.     Lastly, what would you like to say about the WORLD CUP for India?

I hope for the best. We have great skilled bunch of combinations but bit fitness levels worries as a team. Different conditions over there in the host country, England and Wales. As a team how they execute and act we’ll have to wait and watch. ALL THE BEST TEAM INDIA.

ALERT:- WOMEN'S WORLD CUP,2017.

Australia, England, New Zealand, India, West Indies, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and South African teams will be taking part in the World Cup Tournament starting from 24^th June, 2017 to  23^rd July, 2017 at England Wales. 

Record Making Series

The laundry list of the records broken during the quadrangular series between India, South Africa, Ireland and Zimbabwe started on May 4,2017 and ended with India Lifting the trophy on May 21,2017 in Potchefstroom, South Africa.

Captians with the Trophy

1.     16 successive victories for India between Feb 16 and May 17 equalling the 2^nd longest winning streak in women’s ODIs. In this period, opener Deepti Sharma has won Player of the Match in 5 occassions.

2.     188 Deepti’s Score against Ireland is the highest individual score by an Indian and 2^nd highest after Australia’s Belinda Clark’s 229 against Denmark. Deepti has also become 10^th youngest centurion to claim the spot on highest individual scores in ODI.

3.      6 consecutive Half Centuries for Mithali Raj. Mithali equalled the record for the most back-to-back 50’s by Australia’s Ellyse Perry& Lindsay Reeler and England’s Edwards.

4.     27 fours by Deepti Sharma in a Single innings is a World Record suppressing New Zealand’s Rachel Priest(23 fours).

5.     320 runs put on by Deepti Sharma and Punam Raut in partnership against Ireland. It was the highest in women’s ODIs For any wicket and only the 2^nd 300 run stand across formats.

6.     13 YEARS 360 DAYS is the age of YOUNGEST PLAYER (IN MALE&FEMALE). LOUISE LITTLE from IRELAND.

7.     50 fifty plus scores for Mithali Raj in ODIs in 157 innings. She became only 2^nd woman after Edwards who achieved in 160 innings.

8.     100 ODIs as captain –Mithali Raj has become only the 3^rd player to do it after Edwards-117 and Clark-101

9.     249 India’s largest margin of victory, in terms of runs, in ODIs, registered on May15 against Ireland. Previous best was 207-run victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup in 2008.

10.                          53catches by Jhulan Goswami- the most by non-wicketkeeper in Women’s ODIs. She moved past Edwards and Lydia Greenway’s tally in the final on Sunday, 21 May 2017.

11.                         89 catches for South Africa’s Trisha Chetty, equalling the record for a wicketkeeper in 88 innings in Women’s ODIs. Trisha drew level with former New Zealand Wicketkeeper Rebecca Rolls who has done it in 101 innings.

12.                         358 India’s highest total and 10^th highest in women’s ODIs. India became the 6^th team to reach 350+ mark.

WOMEN HOLD UP HALF THE SKY

Indian women cricket team and its team members have created history in the field.

Today i.e. 15^th may 2017; 19 year old Deepti Sharma and 27 year old Poonam Raut have created HIGHEST OPENING PARTNERSHIP ever in WOMEN’S CRICKET by scoring 320 runs off 273 balls against Ireland in Potchefstroom, South Africa. In the ongoing quadrangle DEEPTI  SHARMA has got her PERSONAL HIGHEST score of 188 runs off 160 balls and moved to 2^nd spot on highest individual score after Australian player Belinda Clarke in 1997 with 229* against Denmark and in 3^rd position West Indian player Stefanie Taylor with 171 against Sri Lanka in 2013.

Even Jhulan Goswami, the fast bowler of the Indian Team has the most career wickets with 181 having 21.76 average; personal best is 6 wickets for 31 and 2 5wicket hauls in the same quadrangle series.

Below are pics of Deepti Sharma with R.Ashwin and Poonam Raut(single).

CHILE "CHAMPION"SHIP

Soumyajit Ghosh became 3^rd Indian Table Tennis to win 2017 ITTF Challenge Chile Open Champion and clinched gold and he also joined the earlier list.Achanta Sharath Kamal, who won gold in 2010 Egypt Open Championship overcoming Hong Kong’s Li Ching and Sathiyan Gnanashekaran in 2016 Belgian open defeating host nation’s player Cedric Nuythinck.

Soumyajit Ghosh defeated compatriot Anthony Amalraj 4-2 (8-11, 13-11, 11-6, 11-9, 4-11, 11-7). By reaching the finals Anthony Amalraj became 4^th Indian to reach finals in such type of Championships and Tours.

Soumyajit Ghosh also won gold in doubles along with Anthony Amalraj and became the 1^st Indians to win doubles title either on World Tour or Challenge Series defeating Phillipp Floritz and Hunor Szcos to 3-1 (13-11,10-12, 14-12, 11-9).

With this tournament Table Tennis has reached another level in India and young people are looking and these young players along with Mouma Das, Manika Batra and taking them as inspiration to take the game into and make the nation shine. I hope in coming decade Indian Table Tennis goes into glory and pride shinning the name of the country, INIDA.

THE “SPECIAL” SUCCESS

The “SPECIAL” athletes have returned the mother land with loads of pride, glory and off course MEDALS......

India has taken part in the “SPECIAL” winter Olympics held at Austria, from March 14 to March 25, competing around 2500 athletes from 105 countries and clinched 73 medals with a “SPECIAL” enthusiasm. Indian team has taken part in various events like Alpine Skiing, Snow Boarding, Snow Shoeing, Figure Skating, Speed Skating, Floor Hockey, and Floor Ball with utmost zeal and bagged 39 Gold overall.

On the 4^th day of the tour, Punjab lad Shamsher Singh has opened the tally of medals followed by Megha, who created history by being 1^st Indian to win a Gold Medal in the entire Olympics in Alpine Skiing event at Austria. And also Sanjay Kumar from Himachal Pradesh, has stole the hearts of everyone in their home town who has won 2 Gold in Snow Boarding, over-coming the financial struggles.

The “Special Olympic Bharat”- SOB has welcomed the entire team with a sight of athletes with-holding the “SPECIAL” medals around their necks. Floor Hockey, Unified Floor Ball AND Traditional Floor Ball are the 3 major events where India has been dominating in the game in which 30 medals have been on the hearts of the athletes with 16 medals from the special women’s team aswell. ‘Special athletes' fared well in Alpine skiing raking in a total of 10 medals including 3 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze. They were closely followed by sportspersons participating showcasing their talent in Snowboarding with 8 medals including 4 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals. Athletes participating in Snow Shoeing also fared well with a total of 5 medals including 2 silver and 3 bronze. Speed and figure skating collected 4 medals with 3 silver and 1 bronze.

The "SPECIAL" welcome has been done to entire contingent 90 athletes, 23 coaches and 3 officials which was fully financially enriched with 1.5crore rupee from the government for the tour and their assistance.

The “CHALLENG”ing CUP

Indian women’s ice hockey team ended the tournament with a win against Malaysia in the Challengers Cup of Asia with score of 5-4. The Competition has been splendid experience for team India as they have experienced the professional Ice Hockey Rink along with the victories. The Round Robin League of Challenge Cup of Asia has Kicked off on 7^th March, 2017 in Bangkok and ended on 15^th March, 2017. 

The Indian team which lacked the funds before taking off for the tournament but took off well ending the tournament in 4^th position. The team has played 10 international games and has record of  2 wins and 8 loses, out of which 6 games are played in this Challenge Cup with 2 wins and 4 loses.

The team has practiced in Ladakh, with 2^nd hand equipment and also got some help of the great scientist, Sonam Wangchuk, for the hockey rink. Sonam Wangchuk, is the inspiration for the character of Phunshuk wangdu played by Aamir Khan in the super hit movie, 3 Idiots.

Tsewang Chuskit, the forward of the team is in the top 20 of the top Goal Scorer with 6 goals and 2 goal assistants. And the Goal Keeper, Noor Jahan, is on the 7^th position as of the goaltenders list, where she saved 178 goals attempted by the opposition teams out of 220.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER award goes to Tsewang Chuskit, of India.

Best Player of the Team by Coach -Angmo Diskit Chhpnzom

The New Zealand Women’s team has been at the top of the Round Robin League’s Table with all the wins in all the games. Here are the best players of the tournament by their positions:-

Best Goalkeeper CABILI Ma Jessica of Philippines;

Best Defence WAN Mei Wah of Malaysia;

Best Forward LIM Wen Lin of Singapore.

FINAL RANKINGS:

TEAM	RANK	GP	WIN	LOSS	OTW	OTL	POINTS
New Zealand	1	6	6	0	0	0	18
Thailand	2	6	5	1	0	0	15
Singapore	3	6	4	2	0	0	12
India	4	6	2	4	0	0	6
Philippines	5	6	2	4	0	0	6
UAE	6	6	1	4	0	1	4
Malaysia	7	6	0	5	1	0	2

*GP- Games Played. *OTW-Over Time Win. *OTL-Over Time Loss.