Chennai Sports & Sports Infrastructure

[ELAS]

yeppieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee finals in chennai

[ceeznic pirate]

duplicate post. deleted

[krishnaswamy]

Originally Posted by ChennaiIndian

http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report...hennai_1508504
The MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk, Chennai, will also host the ‘qualifier’ and the final.
...

It is obvius that Previous Winner will be given preference to host the Finals..

[ChennaiIndian]

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/motors...cle1306722.ece



The MRF Formula Championship is a stepping stone to the higher levels of motorracing

Negotiating a fast corner in an odd section of the Irrungattukotai circuit that is bumpy, Jordan King strains every sinew to keep the open-wheel car straight. After going through the punishing practice session, King is glad he took his father's advice. Having competed in premier go-karting championships across Europe for three years, the 16-year-old Briton was getting familiar with Formula Renault, when his father suggested he enroll for the MRF Formula Championship (the Chennai leg is on February 5, 6, 12 and 13).

Coping successfully with an unfamiliar and challenging circuit has provided him great excitement, and driving an efficiently-built 1.6 litre racing car has inspired him with confidence. In Europe, Formula Renault 1.6L (one of three levels) is an entry-level championship that takes youngsters to the higher gears of motor-racing.

“Designed and built by international experts, the MRF Formula 1600 cc is as good an entry-level machine as any other in the world,” says Anthony Rodricks, head of motorsports, MRF. Participation of Jukka Honkavuori from Finland, who has already raced in Formula Renualt 2 litre Euro Cup, and four other European racers seems to confirm this.

Designed by Elan Motorsports, this racing car was built with imported critical parts, including a Ford Duratec 1.6. litre engine, Hewland gearbox and AP braking system. “Under the leadership of Peter Allnutt, a bunch of engineers from abroad were on the job,” says Rodricks.

...

[TShyam]

Stuntsmen from the US perform at the MRF International Challenge race in Irungattukottai near Chennai on Sunday, Feb 13, 2011. (Photograph copyright PTI)

[satishanu]

He's an electrical engineering graduate who became a swashbuckling cricketer and later the captain of the Indian team.

With a flourishing career as a cricket commentator and later as the chairman of the BCCI Selection Committee, Kris Srikkanth’s career has always been on a soaring high. Passing on the lessons of his eventful life, Kris Srikkanth now adorns yet another new avatar — that of the Success Guru.

His commendable cricket stories are complied in to a DVD titled Cricket Life Success.

It is not a biography of the veteran cricketer but a series of lectures by him on 15 various topics like self belief, positive approach, decision making, humility etc.

The DVD was recently launched by T Rajendran, Commissioner of Police and was received by Parthasarathy, Chairman and MD of CADD Centre India.

At the event, he spoke about numerous things which were a continuation of lectures from the DVD.

He recounted the memorable game played at the ’83 World Cup final. “I was just married and was in Sri Lanka for my honeymoon with my wife. Gavaskar asked me to book tickets to US and to stop in London to play the World Cup.

It was yet another series for us, we felt no pressure and that actually helped us to play a great game,” said Kris emphasising that too much pressure will yield nothing.

“We were defeated in all the practice matches and were unsure of winning the first match against the West Indies. But Kapil Dev was persistent and that determination motivated us. We won the match and the rest is history,” rejoiced Srikka. He made a clear cut point that self-confidence will help you win anything and everything.

“It’s the same self-confidence that helps Sehwag, but not Sachin or Gavaskar, to score two triple centuries in the test matches,” he added.

The next negative 'point' that Srikka targeted was ‘ego’. “Never have ego. It will take you nowhere. What I’m now is only because of the great game of cricket. I love to befriend everyone and keep my surroundings active with positive energy.”

Commissioner Rajendran also shared his success story and the challenges he faced in his personal and professional life.

He pointed out that the police department are putting their lives on the line and striving with the latest technological developments to safe guard the city and the public.

src: http://expressbuzz.com/cities/chenna...la/250738.html

[satishanu]

The metropolis is all set to host for the first time the World Squash Federation's World Cup event, partially at the Indian Squash Academy and the final phase at a mega shopping mall from March 8 to 12.

Two editions of the World Cup were held in 1996 (Malaysia) and Netherlands (1999) but thereafter the event (mixed competition where each tie involves two men's singles and one women's singles) went into cold storage. The revival of this competition had come at a time when WSF was increasingly working towards giving a boost to the popularity of the sport in the public eye and in the world of sports in general in its bid to find the sport a place in the Olympics.

The WSF President, N. Ramachandran, at a media briefing on Thursday said that earlier PSA tournaments had been conducted outdoors with a degree of success but this was the first time that a WSF event has been tried outside with matches in glass-back courts. “Having the matches conducted in a mega mall like the Express Avenue would bring the sport closer to the public,” he said while thanking the Management of Express Avenue for agreeing to accept the venture.

“If this proves a success and I do not see why it should not, and with Tamil Nadu Government, SDAT and the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs, supporting we will have a world level competition every year here for the next five years,” Mr. Ramachandran said.

The JSW SDAT World Cup 2011 will bring together the virtual cream of overseas talent. The top names include Ramy Ashour (World No 2), Karim Darwish, Mohd El Shorbagy (World junior champion), Raneem El Weleily, Nour El Tayeb (all Egypt), James Willstrop, Peter Barker, (both England), Cameron Pilley, Rachael Grinham (both Australia), Nicol David (World no 1 woman from Malaysia). The Indian challenge will have national champions Saurav Ghosal and Joshna Chinappa part fro Siddarth Suchde, Harinder Pal Singh and Dipika Pallikal (currently the highest ranked Indian woman). The Tournament Director Maj S. Maniam listed the teams:

Pool A: Egypt, France, Malaysia, S. Africa, Sri Lanka;

Pool B: England, Australia, India and Mexico.

A noted absentee is Pakistan and for this Maj Maniam said “Pakistan does not have a strong women's team and that could be the reason.” The winner takes $ 50,000 and there is prize money right till the fifth place in the pool league, according to him.

The hosts TNSRA and SRFI have lined up a host of co-sponsors (Express Avenue, T I Cycles, Karbonn Mobiles, Olympia Infratech, DLF, Malaysia Airlines, Courtyard Marriott, Dunlop, Harrow, Sports Mechanics, Chennai Live, Tourism Malaysia, Sportz Power, Sports Locker, Bassam Apparel studio, ASB and Advent Sports Management. The Hindu is the media partner.

src: http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/05/stor...0553011600.htm

[Raji7373]

Originally Posted by satishanu

The metropolis is all set to host for the first time the World Squash Federation's World Cup event, partially at the Indian Squash Academy and the final phase at a mega shopping mall from March 8 to 12.

src: http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/05/stor...0553011600.htm

Wrong timing...

[satishanu]

y? bcos of cricket wc?

[wlbkng]

DRAWING CROWDS Squash at Express Avenue Mall.

Top squash players battle it out for the World Cup on the portable glass court at Express Avenue Mall

The Colosseum has come to Chennai. With squash players battling it out for the JSW-SDAT-WSF mixed team World Cup in a portable glass court installed in the centre of the atrium at the Express Avenue Mall, and spectators gazing on the action from the globular corridors on the higher floors that encircle the domed atrium, the shopping complex evokes images of gladiatorial wars in ancient Rome.

Rings of shoppers leaning on the glass parapet walls on the corridors and soaking in the experience, are a silent testimony to the success of the endeavour. A few lingering doubts are dispelled by Mathieu Castagnet of France, who has played in international squash tournaments enriched by quirky and arresting settings. “The circular aspect of the construction facilitates easy viewing.This is as good a place as you can get for a squash tournament,” says Mathieu, after crafting an elegant victory against his Malaysian opponent. The French player calls this tournament an elephantine footstep towards popularising the sport in the city and compares the Express Avenue Mall to New York's Grand Central Station for its capacity to attract multitudes to squash.

Most shoppers and staff of showrooms at the mall, who watch the duels in the glass box, are dreadfully ignorant of squash's basic rules. Says T.S. Hariprasad, assistant manager, Pepe Jeans, “It is an engrossing spectacle, but I do not understand much of what I see. I definitely feel inclined to learn more about the sport. After work, I will get on the Internet and do just that.”

Parminder Singh, a merchant navy officer out shopping, plans to take a step further. “In a week, when I will go to Kolkata, my temporary home, I will try to play the game.”

M. Arul, venue marketing manager, Club Mahindra, who has undergone training at the Maruti Sports Hostel in Coimbatore and played basketball for Tamil Nadu, says this is the first time he is watching

a squash match live. He admits he has no plans to try squash, but has a few tips to offer. “Organising such big tournaments in colleges can win many youngsters to squash. The sport lacks larger-than-life

players. I came to know of the sport only after watching Dipika Pallikal on television. Squash needs more such players who will be seen in social settings.”

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/article1528905.ece

[TShyam]

Chennai will make its mark in squash history when the Indian city hosts the Squash World Cup at the Indian Squash Academy and Express Avenue next week, from 8-12 March.

After previously hosting almost all the World Squash Federation (WSF) world championships – including the Men’sWorld Junior Championships in 2002; the World Doubles in 2004 & 2007; Men’s World Team Championships in 2007, Women’s World Junior & Men’s World Junior Individual Championships in 2009—Chennai will now host the mixed team event, the JSW SDAT WSF World Cup.

The 2011 WSF World Cup will be staged initially at the Indian Squash Academy—leading to the final rounds being played on an ASB all-glass show court erected at the Express Avenue Mall, the largest shopping complex in southern India. This will be the first time in India that squash will be played in a shopping mall.

The world’s leading squash players, led by Malaysia’s world number one Nicol David and Egypt’s world No2 Ramy Ashour, will star in the 2011 championship.

“All these are indeed a testimony of the faith WSF has in the organisational capabilities of the Squash Rackets Federation of India and the Tamil Nadu Squash Rackets Association,” says WSF President Mr N Ramachandran.

The Tamil Nadu government and SDAT are solely responsible for ensuring this event is staged in Chennai for the next 5 years. This edition of the competition will also see JSW Steel joining SDAT as the title sponsors.

The organisers are thankful to all its co-sponsors, namely Express Avenue (official venue), TI Cycles of India, Karbonn Mobiles, Olympia Infratech, DLF India, Malaysia Airlines (Official Airlines), Courtyard by Marriott (official hospitality partner), Dunlop (official ball), Harrow (official apparel), Hindu (official media), Sports Mechanics (official online partner),Chennai Live (official radio), Tourism Malaysia, Sportz Power (official sports media), Sports-Locker, Bassam Apparel Studio, ASB and Advent Sports Management.

There will be video-on-demand facility available online provided by Sports Mechanics for all matches played during the event and a delayed telecast on the sports television channel ESPN Star Sports from 21-23 March 2011. Daily results and stories can be obtained from the official tournament website - www.wsfworldcup.com

The other organisations that have given the event full support are the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sports Authority of India, Squash Rackets Federation of India, Tamil Nadu Squash Rackets Association and the Indian Squash Academy.

Egypt has been named as top seeds in this two-man-one-woman team event. Their team is led by the hugely-talented and flamboyant former world number one Ramy Ashour and supported by another former world number one Karim Darwish. Also in the Egyptian squad are former world junior champions Mohamed El Shorbagy, Raneem El Weleilyand 17-year-old Nour El Tayeb, ranked 9, 12 and 21, respectively, in the world.

Seeded to face the favourites in the final are England, whose strong squad (even without world number one Nick Matthew, who withdrew due to injury) features Jenny Duncalf, James Willstrop, Peter Barker, Laura Massaroand Tom Richards, ranked 2, 4, 7, 8 and 29, respectively, in the world.

Third seeds Australia will be relying on a three-player squad, featuring world No14 Cameron Pilley, former world No1Rachael Grinham and Hobart-born Aaron Frankcomb, ranked 44 in the world.

New national champion Camille Serme will lead fourth seeds France, while five-time world champion Nicol David will spearhead the fifth-seeded Malaysia attack.

Hosts India will be led by six-time National Champion Saurav Ghosal, ranked 24 in the world. Others in the team areSiddharth Suchde, Harinder Pal Sandhu, Dipika Pallikal and Joshna Chinappa.

Action in the JSW SDAT WSF World Cup will take place initially in two pools, with the top two teams in each pool moving on to the semi-finals.

The pool stage will be played at the Indian Squash Academy (ISA) from 8-10 March, and at the Express Avenue from 10-12 March 2011.

“We are taking the sport to the masses and I believe this will create a greater awareness amongst the general public,” said SRFI secretary general Srivatsan Subramaniam. Mr Subramaniam also expresses his gratitude to the SDAT and Tamil Nadu Government for their sponsorship and support, to JSW Steel for becoming the title sponsors, and to all other co-sponsors who have generously contributed to this gala event.

The pool line-up (with seeding in brackets) is as follows:
Pool A: [1] EGYPT, [4] FRANCE, [5] MALAYSIA, [8] S.AFRICA, [9] SRI LANKA
Pool B: [2] ENGLAND, [3] AUSTRALIA, [6] INDIA, [7] MEXICO

The prize money breakdown is as follows:
1st: US$50,000; 2nd: US$25,000; 3rd: US$15,000; 4th: US$10,000; Pool 3rd: US$6,500 each; Pool 4th: US$4,000 each; Pool 5th: US$2,500

Official website: www.wsfworldcup.com

http://squashstars.com/squash-world-cup/

[TShyam]

Members of the Egyptian squash team, from left, Mohamed el Shorbagy, Karim Darwish, Ramy Ashour, coach Amir Wagih and Raneem El Weleily celebrate after their teamÕs victory over England in the finals of the World Squash Federation World Cup in Chennai, India, Saturday, March 12, 2011. ( / AP)



CHENNAI, India (AP) — Egypt has won the squash World Cup, with one of its star players dedicating the title to a country at the center of political uprisings sweeping the Arab world.

Egypt defeated defending champion England 2-0 Saturday.


Egypt's Ramy Ashour, right, plays against England's James Willstrop during the finals of the World Squash Federation World Cup in Chennai, India, Saturday, March 12, 2011. Ashour won the match 3-0. ( / AP)


Ramy Ashour, ranked No. 2, beat No. 4 James Willstrop 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 in the opening match of the best-of-three final. An emotional Ashour called this a "proud moment" for Egypt and "the moment that we all have been waiting for."

Australia beat Malaysia 2-1 in the third-place match.



Egypt's Ramy Ashour, front, plays against England's James Willstrop during the finals of the World Squash Federation World Cup in Chennai, India, Saturday, March 12, 2011. Ashour won the match 3-0. ( / AP)





Egypt's Raneem El Weleily, right, plays against Jenny Duncalf during the finals of the World Squash Federation World Cup in Chennai, India, Saturday, March 12, 2011. Weleily won the match 3-0. ( / AP)



Egypt's Ramy Mohamed Ashour, right, plays squash against Australia's Cameron Pilley in the semifinal World Cup match in Chennai, India, Friday, March 11, 2011. Ashour beat Pilley 3-0. (AP / AP)

http://www.timesunion.com/sports/art...nt-1094068.php

Nice to see a good crowd turn out.

[ChennaiIndian]

Originally Posted by wlbkng

DRAWING CROWDS Squash at Express Avenue Mall.




http://www.thehindu.com/sport/article1528905.ece

The pic with the squash-play settings are awesome!

[seku]

Does Squash tournament in shopping malls are normal, or its the first time? It looks odd for me.

[greatshankar]

Another Picture of Squash tournament - by Sarankamal

[img]http://i56.************/mrg61e.jpg[/img]

[satishanu]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/indian-p...ry/508862.html

[bonoslack7]

http://www.englishchess.org.uk/?p=9991

[satishanu]

^Nice Find. TN have maximum number of Grand Masters in India.

Here is excerpt from the Prospectus;

The Chennai city in which the above Championship is to be organized is considered the Mecca of Indian Chess. The World Champion and World No. 1 Vishwanathan Anand is from Chennai. The First International Master of India Mr.Manuel Aaron, the first Women Grandmaster from India Ms.S.Vijayalakshmi and the first International Chess Arbiter of India Mr.V.Kameswaran are all from Chennai. Chennai has also produced 4 World age group Champions namely former World Under-18 girls champion WGM Aarthie ramaswamy, former World Under-12 Champion N.Srinath, former World Under -16 Champion GM B.Adhiban and current World Under -16 Champion S.P.Sethuraman apart from producing many Asian Gold Medalists.

Chennai has been in the forefront in organizing many International events in Chess. The World candidates match between GM Anand (India) and GM Alexie Dreev (Russia) was held at Chennai in 1991. The Asian zonal Championship(1995) and the Asian Women Chess Championship (2001) were held at Chennai. Apart from this several Grandmaster and International master tournaments were organized here.

2. Date and venue
The 2011 World Juniors and Girls U-20 Chess Championships will be held from August 1 (arrival day) to 16 (departure day) at Hotel Vijay Park, Arumbakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, South India.

3. Schedule
Monday August 1 Arrival
Monday August 1 18:00 Opening ceremony
Tuesday August 2 10:00 Technical Meeting
Tuesday August 2 14:00 round 1
Wednesday August 3 14:00 round 2
Thursday August 4 14:00 round 3
Friday August 5 14:00 round 4
Saturday August 6 14:00 round 5
Sunday August 7 14:00 round 6
Monday August 8 free day
Tuesday August 9 14:00 round 7
Wednesday August 10 14:00 round 8
Thursday August 11 14:00 round 9
Friday August 12 14:00 round 10
Saturday August 13 14:00 round 11
Sunday August 14 1:00 round 12
Monday August 15 11:00 round 13
Monday August 15 18:00 Closing Ceremony

more: http://www.englishchess.org.uk/wp-co...niorcc2011.pdf

[satishanu]

Former Australian seamer Andy Bichel has been recruited by the Chennai Super Kings as their bowling coach for the 2011 Indian Premier League.

Bichel replaces Venkatesh Prasad after the erstwhile Indian fast bowler took up a position with the Kochi Tuskers Kerala.

The 40-year-old Queenslander, who played 67 ODIs and 19 Tests between 1997 and 2004, was the Kolkata Knight Riders' bowling coach across their disastrous 2009 season when they finished bottom of the standings.

This is the Chennai franchises' second big signing of the week after New Zealand pace ace Tim Southee joined their ranks on Thursday.

src: http://www.cricket365.com/news/story...g-coach-Bichel

[bonoslack7]

Ravichandran Ashwin, a member of World Cup winning Indian team, showing his medal to his grandfather and parents at their residence in Chennai on Monday.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/...cle1599326.ece

Spinner R. Ashwin, who featured in just two matches in India’s successful World Cup campaign but made his presence felt with a terrific show against Australia, was accorded a warm welcome in his native place here on Monday

A lot of fans gathered outside his house and cheered the off-spinner on his arrival from Mumbai, where he met President Pratibha Patil at Raj Bhawan on Sunday.

A few excited fans lifted the shy cricketer on their shoulders and welcomed him by exploding firecrackers.

Ahswin’s parents arranged for a cake-cutting ceremony on the occasion.

Asked if he felt disappointed on missing out on playing the final against Sri Lanka, Ashwin replied in a negative.

“I am happy that skipper M.S. (Dhoni) used me as a weapon when he needed me. It’s a great honour to get into the World Cup squad in first place, forget about winning it,” he said.

The spinner said peaking at the right time was behind the success of the Indian team.

“It (World Cup win) means a lot. We have been on the road for nearly two months. We have gone through little bit up and little but down. The most important thing was to peak at right time.

“Somehow, whatever it is .. some super power or what, we peaked at the right time and I am happy that we won the tournament,” he said.

Ashwin took two wickets each against the West Indies and Australia in the World Cup and also got backing from several former players for inclusion in the final XI.