Veteran football player N.T. Karunakaran died at his residence here on Tuesday. He was 92.

An ex-servicemen who had played for various teams including the Mohammedans Sporting Club of Kolkata died of age-related ailments. He had been one of the two founders of the Football Friend Free Coaching Centre (FFFCC) here that had offered free coaching to thousands of children over the last three decades.

FFFCC office-bearers said that the body would be placed at the FFFCC at 11 a.m. on September 24 before it was taken to Payyambalam for cremation. The deceased was the convener of the centre. He had also played for Army teams during his service period. He had also played for a club in Rajasthan after his retirement in 1946.

Mr. Karunakaran was a bachelor.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Kerala / by Special Correspondent / Kannur – September 24th, 2014

No one perhaps thought that ministers of Kerala had such love for sports. Kudos to our Chief Minister, Sports Minister and another minister and the Sports Council president who recently reached the home of Sanju Samson to felicitate him for his inclusion in the Indian cricket team. They honoured him in traditional Kerala style by presenting him a flower bouquet and an honorary shawl.

It was a good move by the ministers because the gesture would encourage sportsmen and bring into focus the world of sports, especially as Kerala is getting ready to host the National Games. When the CM honoured Sanju with the shawl, he was symbolising the regard and respect that Kerala has for the young and talented cricketer.

Now, here is a request to the ministers: please do not end your love for sports here and please do not restrict that to cricket alone. Even if you take time to acknowledge other sports and sportsmen, please do it consistently. Our young and talented youth are active in many disciplines and they give us enough opportunities to acknowledge and recognise their skills that are often outstanding and above par.

For example, P R Sreejesh, Kerala’s pride in hockey, has returned with a silver medal from the Commonwealth Games. He was the only sportsperson from Kerala to win a medal at the Glasgow Games and is the vice-captain of the Indian team. He has the aggression that is rare among Indian players. He completed his schooling from G V Raja School in Thiruvananthapuram and went on to represent India even though his home state does not have even a single synthetic hockey turf. However, there is no news that he was felicitated or even given a courtesy call by any MLA or minister of the state. The young player is now in Chennai, where a government that rewards outstanding sportsmen is in power. He has already received an assurance of Rs 30 lakh for his performance.

That Sreejesh is held in high esteem by his team-mates is clear from what his captain Sardar Singh has to say about him. Sardar said that all in the team try to raise the standard of their game to match Sreejesh’s. His performances, including that at the London Olympics, were outstanding and one of a kind, said Sardar. He added that the whole team is motivated by Sreejesh’s directions, performance and the occasional scolding that he reserves for them. One must remember that these words are from a Sikh player, who represents a community that considers hockey as their monopoly. When Sardar acknowledges the vast difference in performance levels of Sreejesh and the rest of the team, it is a compliment in itself, a recognition that needs no further explanation.

Sardar perhaps echoed similar words spoken years earlier by a former Indian hockey coach about Muhammad Shahid. The coach said, ‘Give me two or three Shahids and I will show you how the Indian team can be world-beaters.’ Perhaps, it is time for one or more Sreejeshs to conquest the world for India.

And what has Sreejesh have to say? He wants a job in Kerala, settle down here and associate himself with the sport in the state. He already has a good job in Chennai, but is ready to quit provided he is guaranteed of a good job in Kerala. Perhaps his words ring with modest hopes and aspirations and a genuine love for his home state. The Kerala government had assured him a job, two years before, but nothing has happened yet. Would the CM and his retinue visit Sreejesh’s house to honour him? Will they at least arrange a job for him even if they do not drape him in an honorary shawl? If they do, they would be fulfilling the aspirations of sports lovers in India. After all, he is our boy, is he not?

The story of neglect is perhaps not unique to Sreejesh. We have, in our state, a woman basketball player who is an Asian top-scorer. She is from Changanassery and her name is Geethu Anna Jose. She is the best Indian woman basketball player that the nation has seen yet. Working for the Railways and posted at Chennai, Geethu has been trying to relocate to Thiruvananthapuram for some time now, obviously without any success. Is the Railways so alien and out of reach for our politicians that they cannot fulfil this simple need of Geethu?

There is another player in Kozhikode who has been representing India in international volleyball matches for the past 15 years or more. The mere mention of Tom Joseph is enough to thrill volleyball lovers. However, how many people in Kerala know about this player’s attacking prowess?

If we care to take the numbers, we can meet a lot like those mentioned above who have brought laurels to the country, but have unfortunately remained outside the glare of public attention. Ideally, the recognition that they get should encourage younger people to follow their footsteps. The determination and alacrity that Kerala should show in acknowledging the merit of such players would go a long way to ensure that baby steps taken by those who follow them do not wander, to a less exclusive place where their potential skills are lost forever.

Tailpiece: How many of those who passionately abused ace tennis player Maria Sharapova on facebook for her ignorance about Sachin Tendulkar know the above mentioned Indian players from our state?

source: http://www.beta.english.manoramaonline.com / Manorama Online / Home> Sports> Other Sports / by K N R Nampoothiri / Friday – August 08th, 2014

Thiruvananthapuram:

Sanju Samson, who Tuesday became the fourth cricketer from Kerala to be named in the national squad, said he was “extremely happy and thankful” to all those who stood by him.

Samson has been named as a wicket-keeper batsman in the 17-member Indian squad that will play five ODIs and a T20 match against England, when the present five-Test series is over. “I am extremely happy and am thankful to all who stood by me,” the young cricketer told the media after hearing about his selection.

The other players from Kerala who have represented the country in the past are Tinu Yohanan, Abey Kuruvilla and now disgraced S. Sreesanth. Of the three, Kuruvilla played for Mumbai, while all the others once represented the Kerala state cricket team.

Samson hails from a coastal hamlet near the international airport. His father Samson Viswanath, who worked as a constable in Delhi Police, took voluntary retirement and returned to the state capital city a few years back to promote the cricketing interests of his two sons, of whom Sanju is the younger.

The news was met with delight by many people. T.C. Mathew, president of the Kerala Cricket Association, said he was longing to hear this news for a while.

“I am really delighted that he has made it to the senior team. Even though he is just 19 years and short, he carries himself in a very mature manner. He is a highly disciplined person and above all, his humility is his biggest virtue,” Mathew said.

Samson made his debut in the Kerala senior team in 2011. For the past two seasons, he has been a key player for the Rajasthan Royals team in the Indian Premier League (IPL), rubbing shoulders with cricketers like Shane Warne and Shane Watson.

source: http://www.ibnlive.in.com / IBNLive / Home> IBN Live> Cricket / IANS / Thiruvananthapuram – August 05th, 2014

India produces very few top class sportspersons in Olympic discipline and one of the main reasons for it is the lack of a sports culture. There have been exceptions and shooting is one event in which the nation has come up with splendid achievements on the global stage. As the Commonwealth Games competition gets under way in Glasgow on Thursday, the shooters are expected to do the country proud yet again, though the number of gold medals on offer have been drastically reduced to 17 from 36 in the last edition held at New Delhi. Elizabeth Susan Koshy is one of the bright hopes for India in the quadrennial extravaganza. The 19-year-old girl from Thodupuzha speaks to Manorama Online from Glasgow about her career and chances at the Games.

Elizabeth’s has been a remarkable journey in which she has been lucky to have received the support of her parents, proper guidance and more importantly taste success at a young age.

“My parents (planter Koshy Abraham and interior designer Ani) have been very supportive. I took up the sport at the age of 12 after witnessing a competition in Thodupuzha and initially I didn’t have a coach. Later on Sunny sir (Prof Sunny Thomas, former national coach) was of great help and he has been a mentor. All my equipment are imported and my parents are never reluctant if I am interested in something sincerely,” said Elizabeth.

Shooting is one sport which requires unwavering concentration and mental toughness. Elizabeth is someone who relishes pressure and is not overawed by the occasion. “I don’t feel any pressure just because I am one of the youngest members in the national team. I have been part of the senior squad and I came up trumps in the last Nationals in a field which included seven experienced shooters in the final (Elizabeth bagged the 50 m rifle 3-position gold at Tughlakabad in 2013 and Olympian Anjali Bhagwat was one of her competitors.) That was a big boost to me.”

Elizabeth is confident that the shooting contingent will come up with a good performance in Glasgow. “My competition is slated for Tuesday and I will put my best foot forward. I am confident that the team will put in a strong performance in the Games.”

Elizabeth, a final year BA Economics student of St Teresa’s College, Ernakulam, is quick to acknowledge the support of her teachers and friends. “Most of the time I will be away training in New Delhi or Pune. In addition there will be tournaments as well. But my teachers and friends are of great help.”

Age is one her side and with more exposure, Elizabeth can only get better in her pursuit of excellence.

source: http://www.beta.english.manoramaonline.com / ManoramaOnline / Home> Sports> Other Sports / by Paul Abraham K / Thursday – July 24th, 2014