Career of Mahesh Bhupati

In 1999, Bhupathi won three doubles titles with Leander Paes including Roland Garros and Wimbledon. He and Leander became the first doubles team to reach finals of all four Grand Slams, the first time such a feat has been achieved in the Open era and the first time since 1952. On April 26 that year, they became the World No. 1 doubles team. Bhupathi also won the US Open mixed doubles with Ai Sugiyama of Japan.
In 2006, Bhupathi teamed with Martina Hingis in the mixed doubles competition. Entering the tournament unseeded and as wildcards[2], the first-time pair defeated four seeded opponents along the way, while only dropping a single set throughout. Bhupathi and Hingis defeated the sixth-seeded team of Daniel Nestor and Elena Likhovtseva in straight sets, 6–3 6–3, to capture the championship. It was the sixth mixed doubles Grand Slam for Bhupathi, and a first for Hingis. By winning Australian Open, Bhupathi completed a career Grand Slam in mixed doubles.
In 2007, Bhupathi and Czech Radek Štěpánek reached the 2007 Australian Open men's doubles event's quarterfinals. He teamed with Štěpánek at the 2007 French Open to make the doubles semifinals, defeating dual-year defending champions Jonas Björkman and Max Mirnyi in the quarterfinals. The team lost to the eventual champions Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor. After Wimbledon Bhupathi teamed along with Pavel Vízner to win the 2007 Canada Masters defeating the top-ranked doubles team Bob and Mike Bryan en route. After this victory, he won a tournament in New Haven with Nenad Zimonjić. At the 2007 U.S. Open, he and Zimonjić paired in doubles. After the U.S. Open, the team that beat Bhupathi and Štěpánek in the French Open semifinals, Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor, split. Bhupathi was to become the new partner of Mark Knowles[3] while Zimonjić will partner Nestor, but back surgery means he is now expected to be out until the end of the year[4].

Sania's Achievements

Sania Mirza went down in straight sets against French teenager Tatiana Golovin 6-4 6-2. It was yet another disappointing second round loss for the Indian tennis star.
Sania was leading with a break up in both the first and second sets, however failed to capitalise on the leads.

Sania will next be seen back in India in the Bangalore open.
Sania Mirza went down in straight sets against French teenager Tatiana Golovin 6-4 6-2. It was yet another disappointing second round loss for the Indian tennis star.
Sania was leading with a break up in both the first and second sets, however failed to capitalise on the leads.
Sania will next be seen back in India in the Bangalore open.

Sania Mirza breezed passed world no. 104 Martina Muller 6-2, 6-2 in her opening match in the Bangalore Open.
The German was no match for the Indian - Sania was right on top throughout the match and never once did Muller seemed like making a comeback.
Sania will now be facing Camille Pin of France in the second round. Sania is also the defending champion of the tournament which was held in Hyderabad last year.

Despite taking a few weeks break from active tennis, Sania Mirza climbed up a place in the WTA rankings to 39.
Sania is now taking a three week break to give her body some much-needed rest.
On the doubles front too, Sania gained a place to move to her career-best 38.

Sania Mirza gets Padma Sri award

Sania Mirza has been awarded the prestigious Padma Sri award on the eve of the Republic day here at the Rashtrapathi Bhavan in New Delhi, India. Sania has been conferred the award in recognition of her contribution to Indian tennis.
Sania Mirza is the first Indian to win a WTA tournament. Sania has many firsts to her credit including being the first Indian woman to break into the top-50 WTA rankings.
Sania is hoping to break into the top-20 by the year end.

Sania Mirza

Born to Imran Mirza and Nasima Mirza, Sania began playing lawn tennis at the young age of six. C.G.Krishna Bhupathi, father of Indian tennis star Mahesh Bhupathi was her coach when she started playing at the Nizam club in her home town of Hyderabad. She learnt professional tennis at the Sinnet tennis academy in Secunderabad and later moved to the Ace tennis academy in USA.
Her first appearance in the international arena was when she represented India at the World Junior Championship in 1999 held at Jakarta, Indonesia. Sania Mirza created history when she reached the third round of Australian Open 2005. She became the first Indian to achieve the feat. Sania Mirza has also been honoured with the prestigious Arjuna award by the Indian government for the year 2004.
Sania admires Steffi Graf and her favourite movie is Ocean's 11. She adores Biryani and her favourite colours are red and black.

India VS Srilanka ODI 2008

After Winnign Srilanka Series 2008

Nuwan Kulasekara wrecked India's top order with a career-best haul of 4-40 to bowl Sri Lanka to a consolation 112-run victory in the fifth and final one-day international at Colombo on Friday. India, who already had a winning 3-1 lead, were shot out for 103 chasing a rain-revised target of 216 off 44 overs under lights. They clinched the series 3-2. It was India's third-lowest total against Sri Lanka in one-dayers. Teenager Virat Kohli was the top scorer with 31 in a brittle batting performance. New-ball bowler Kulasekara was superbly backed by unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis, who finished with 4-10 off 4.3 overs. "It was a good way to finish the series, but the Indians played well and deserved to win it," said Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene. "Credit goes to the boys for the way we came back. We kept making mistakes through the series. We were not consistent in the batting department." Man-of-the-match Kulasekara dismissed Kohli, Gautam Gambhir (11), Suresh Raina (10) and Rohit Sharma (three) in his sharp opening spell to build on Thilan Thushara's impressive maiden half-century under pressure. Sri Lanka were struggling at 133-6 before Thushara (54 not out) and Jehan Mubarak (47 not out) added 94 off 78 balls for the seventh wicket with hard and clean hitting to help their team reach a competitive total on a slow pitch. The hosts hardly felt the absence of main spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and seamer Chaminda Vaas as Kulasekara and Mendis did the job. Muralitharan and Vaas were rested. "It was good to win the series with a game to spare," said India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who was named man of the series for scoring 193 runs in five matches. "These tracks are said to be slow, but the bounce has improved over the last few years. I am happy with the way our batsmen have played the spin. It was important to keep the strike rotating and our batsmen did that well." Kulasekara ended India's early flourish when he had Gambhir caught by wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara. Gambhir added 38 for the opening wicket with Kohli. The 19-year-old Kohli batted fluently, once pulling Kulasekara for a six. He fell just when he looked well-set, trapped leg-before playing across the line. Kulasekara got a big wicket when he dismissed in-form Raina, who mistimed a pull to be caught by Dilhara Fernando at mid-off. The seamer then returned after a rain interruption to trap Sharma leg-before to reduce the tourists to 76-4. Sri Lanka virtually wrapped up the match when out-of-form Yuvraj Singh and Dhoni fell in the space of six runs to leave their team wobbling at 85-6. Yuvraj inside-edged a Mendis delivery on to his stumps to finish the series with just 72 runs in five matches, while Dhoni was bowled by paceman Fernando, who finished with 2-24. The hosts earlier plundered 84 in the last 10 overs, thanks to Thushara's brisk 46-ball knock containing six fours. Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha (2-28) and seamer Irfan Pathan (2-52) raised India's hopes of restricting Sri Lanka to a modest total before Thushara and Mubarak rallied their side. Pathan ended Sri Lanka's recovery when he removed well-set Mahela Udawatte (43) and opener Malinda Warnapura (30) in the space of four deliveries. Udawatte and Warnapura batted sensibly to add 77 for the second wicket after the dismissal of veteran opener Sanath Jayasuriya (one) in seamer Zaheer Khan's first over. Ojha kept a tidy line and length, removing Jayawardene (12) and Chamara Kapugedera (26) in the process. Jayawardene, who won the first toss of the series, was held in the covers by Yuvraj, and Kapugedera was caught in the deep by Rudra Pratap Singh while going for a big shot. Rudra Pratap also claimed a wicket when he had Sangakkara (one) caught by Gambhir at first slip. Sangakkara could make just 37 runs in five matches.

Europe can silence bearpit and keep Cup

Those tempted to dismiss the emotive pull of the Ryder Cup, or its capacity to surprise, were given their ultimate rebuke on the eve of golf's greatest team event, a day which saw the sport's most famously impassive character reduced to tears by the presence of The Greatest.
"It was really special. It really was," said an emotional Nick Faldo after he, his American counterpart Paul Azinger and their players met Muhammad Ali, who had made the short trip from his home in Louisville, Kentucky, to Valhalla golf club.
This has been a torrid week for the European captain, who has been less than comfortable in the glare that comes with the job, although he claimed yesterday he was "having the time of his life". Like his insistence that the pairings he inadvertently revealed earlier in the week constituted a "lunch list" (they matched the foursomes line-up for this morning, albeit in a different order), this was hard to believe. Faldo will be delighted to switch from the emotional to the practical - a state where he has spent the entirety of his professional life.
Azinger was not about to hide his relief the sparring was over. "It's like drawing back a bow string," he said. "For two years I've been pulling that string back and now I have got to let the arrow go. I just hope I've pointed it in the right direction." The US captain might have been less cheerful in private, especially after looking at the challenge confronting his players today, when his best pairing of Phil Mickelson and Anthony Kim tee off against Padraig Harrington and Robert Karlsson in the opening foursomes. It promises to be a tight match but, totemic as it might seem, it would wise not to assign it too much weight. Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk defeated Harrington and Colin Montgomerie in the opening contest last time round and much good that did the US squad.

According to media reports, Sourav Ghosal on Monday created history by becoming the first ever Indian to make the main draw of the prestigious British open men's championship. Ghosal, a former British open junior champion, graduated to the senior level only this season and displayed his wares in great measure to make the main draw of 32, while his compatriot and higher ranked Ritwik Bhattacharya was edged out in the first round qualifying on Sunday. Bhattacharya played one of his worst games in losing to reigning European junior champion Chris Simpson of England, who is more than 100 ranks blow the former's 178th position, 11-8, 11-10 (2-0), 11-10 (2-0) in 41 minutes. Ghosal, who won against Hisham Mohd Ashour of Egypt 11-8, 11-7, 2-11, 11-9 in 37 minutes in the first round, maintained his form to oust a young American hopeful, Chris Gordon 11-9, 11-8, 11-5 (39 min) to safely progress to the main draw. In all five Englishmen - Chris Simpson, Philip Barker, Ben garner, Alex Stait and Stacy Ross, Rodney Durbach (South Africa), Farrukh Zaman (Pakistan) and Ghosal have qualified for the main draw. "That was not the best from me, but I am glad to get through. I did not feel I had any rhythm but Chris played well, not making any errors and forcing me to work for the points'' Ghosal said after making the main draw. On his not finding the rhythm, the Indian prospect said "I have been working with Malcolm Willstrop (of England) for over a month now and we have been trying to get more rhythm into my game by slowing down my swing". Bhattacharya, the topmost Indian star said, "this is the worst game that I have been playing for a long time. I have worked and trained hard but I have been struggling with a few niggling injuries, of late".

Doping Indian Sport

After the much-telecast fiasco on television of you not being able to recognize badminton coach and former player Pulella Gopichand, I was prompted to write this missive to you.
Laishram Monika in tearsI am glad that you have recognized Monika Devi. It was graceful of you to meet Ms. Monika Devi, but all this enquiry business is a big sham. No enquiry in this country has yielded results and this one too is not expected to bring out anything more dramatic than what the people know and what you know. All the officials of the National Dope Laboratory of India, Sports Authority of India and the Indian Olympic Association should be shown the door as you did to Indian Hockey Federation chief, KPS Gill. The lab should be sealed for playing with careers of sportspersons and being so easily vulnerable to manipulation. Sometime ago, not very long ago, this lady, Laishram Monika Devi, was unceremoniously removed from the aircraft to Beijing for having "failed a doping test", which according to the Indian Olympic Association chief, Suresh Kalmadi, "was a great relief to save the honour of the country". Was the Indian Olympic Association not aware that the tests have been carried out in the SAI lab which has no accreditation from WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency)? Why were the results of the tests which were conducted in June, released in August, at the eleventh hour? Why were the results of the so called test communicated to her barely 30 minutes before her departure? Sadly, the honour of the country could not be saved for more than 24 hours. It was realized soon after that the test itself was doped by the authorities in the same shameful way that they have been doping and duping sports for the last few decades.

Doping Indian Sport

Indian Sport Hero

One week after Vijender Kumar and Sushil Kumar ensured more Olympic medals than ever, Mahendra Singh Dhoni's boys did a first in Sri Lanka. With it, India completed a year of august performance in sport, the cycle beginning on August 29 last year when our footballers shone brightest at New Delhi's Ambedkar Stadium.

Revived after 10 years, the Nehru Cup triumph ended the senior team's five-year trophy drought. Almost one year later, at the same venue, Bhaichung Bhutia's team did one better by qualifying for the Asian Cup, a feat unachieved since 1984.

Soon after the Nehru Cup, Dhoni's young ones surprised everyone by returning with a cylindrical trophy from South Africa that told the world that when it came to T20, we were the best. As bonus Yuvraj Singh broke new ground in international cricket by hitting six sixes in one over. More good news came weeks later from Mexico City when Viswanathan Anand got us to exclaim 'Check de, India' by becoming the undisputed king of chess. Between cricket and chess, India won the Asia Cup hockey.

Before the old year gave way to the new, Dola Banerjee became a world champion archer and in early 2008, Anil Kumble's India, after adhering to the spirit of cricket in Sydney, won in Perth, another first. Forty-four days later, Team Dhoni piggybacked on Sachin Tendulkar, the one senior they never thought of leaving out, to beat Australia to the VB Series trophy. On March 2, as Tendulkar scored his first-ever ODI century in Australia and scripted India's first final win, our under-19 cricketers won the World Cup in Kuala Lumpur.

Table tennis is a popular indoor recreation sport in India. It has caught on in states like West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, which are now producing a few world class players.
Table Tennis Federation of India is the official sports body which controls the game in
India had produced some good players like Kamlesh Mehta, Chetan Baboor and Achanta Sharath Kamal who is currently ranked 90 in the world. He is also the current Commonwealth champion. Chetan was ranked around 66 when he was at his peak. Unfortunately the amount of money being pumped into table tennis in India is meagre as compared to other games like cricket & golf. Due to the lack of good performances by Indians in World Championships and Olympics the sponsors are not interested in the spor

Kabaddi

Kabaddi originated from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, the southern states of India, but is also popular in states of Punjab and Haryana.The sport highlights Agility and most importantly hand eye coordination. This sport is played by a person called a "raider" goes to one side where 4 teammates will be holding hands forming a semi-circle. The raider has to try to touch one of the teammates and run back to his line. But the teammates holding hands can grab the raider and pin him down, which will earn their team a point. These are just the simple rules, there are more complex rules. India bagged gold at the Asian Games 2006 men's event and won a gold in kabaddi world cup held in India.

Motor Racing

The Formula One Motor Racing is gaining popularity in urban India. It is one of the fastest growing sports where viewership is concerned. In 2010, New Delhi is slated to host the first ever Indian Grand Prix. Although at present there are no F1 circuits in India, there is an F3 circuit at Sri Perumbudur near Chennai.
In October 2007, the Indian multi-billionaire Vijay Mallya bought the under-performing F1 team Spyker and renamed it Force India. Force India F1 represents India's increased participation within Formula One.
India has also produced some good drivers. India's Narain Karthikeyan has driven for Team Jordan in 2005. He was the second test driver for Team Williams during 2006-07. Karun Chandok, arguably India's second best driver, has been competing at GP2 level and might feature with an F1 team in the future. Red Bull has expressed interest in him, and he recently tested for them at Barcelon

Chess

It is thought that chess may have originated in India, although given that it can be seen to have been played as early as the eighth century, it is difficult to say where exactly it could have been originated. Nonetheless, in its early days, chess was played in India. It has been quite a popular game from the recent past, but players lack sponsors. India has produced one of the all-time great chess players of the world Vishwanathan Anand. Other grandmasters are emerging from different states, including Parimarjan Negi, world's youngest International master and Koneru Humpy, world's junior champion

Football

Football (soccer) is one of the major sports in India. It was introduced during the British occupation, and in some areas of the country it is equally popular as cricket. India was an Asian powerhouse till the sixties, but gradually the standard of football has gone down compared to other countries and currently India ranks 153 in the FIFA Rankings as of the 29th of June 2008. India was the Asian Games Champion in 1951 & 1962 and were 4th in 1956 Melbourne Olympics.[1]
The AIFF (All India Football Federation) is the parent body of football in India. The league structure in India follows a pyramid pattern with the ONGC I-League at the top most tier. There were 10 teams in the inaugural I-League 2007-08. It is followed by 2nd Division National Football League, 3rd Division National Football League and Local Leagues. Apart from the leagues, The Federation Cup is India's premier knock-out Cup tournament.
The current I-League Champion is Dempo SC, Goa and winner of the Federation Cup is Kingfisher East Bengal FC, Kolkata

Indian Cricket

Cricket is by far India's most popular sport. It has contributed many famous players to the game such as Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Sunil Gavaskar , Kapil Dev and Rahul Dravid. India won the 1983 Cricket World Cup under Kapil Dev, and finished as runner up in the 2003 World Cup under Sourav Ganguly. India also won the first (and only) World Championship of Cricket in 1985 under Sunil Gavaskar, and more recently, the ICC World Twenty20 in 2007 under Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The administrative body that runs both the international and domestic teams is called the BCCI (Board of Cricket Control in India). There are two main domestic tournaments in India: the Ranji trophy and the Duleep Trophy.More recently, two Twenty20 leagues have started up; the Indian Cricket League (ICL) and the Indian Premier League (IPL). The two leagues are competing fiercely with each other. Most cricket boards have banned the ICL players.

Vijender assures India of another Olympic medal

Vijender Kumar made sure of India's first ever Olympic boxing medal by punching his way into the middleweight (75 kg) semifinal with an emphatic 9-4 victory over Ecuador's Carlos Gongora here Wednesday.

The boxer-turned-model from the Bhiwani stable in the northern state of Haryana, won the lopsided quarterfinal bout, and now he will at least get a bronze.

Taking to the ring on a day the country won a surprising bronze in wrestling through freestyle (66 kg)competitor Sushil Kumar, Vijender never kept anyone in doubt about his victory since the bout started at the Workers' Gymnasium.

In the opening round, the Indian went ahead 2-0, putting his lethal left hooks to good use while never dropping guard, and went on widening the gulf.

Even in the fourth and last round, he tried to accumulate more points instead of defending his lead.

The Ecuadorian tried his best to stage a comeback in the fourth round, picking up a couple of successive points, but by then the contest was more or less sealed by Vijender.