Latest news with #Sathish
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Young shuttler Sathish Karunakaran packs off world No. 7 Tien Chen
Sathish Karunakaran CHENNAI: Young shuttler Sathish Kumar Karunakaran notched up the biggest win of his career yet as he defeated world No. 7 Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei 21-13, 21-14 in the Malaysia Masters men's singles opening round in Bukit Jalil on Wednesday. His dominance throughout the contest was a highlight; he pressed on the accelerator from the get-go to set the tone early. The 24-year-old Sathish has added variety to his game over the past year, and his efforts have paid off. The Tamil Nadu shuttler used jump smashes and his receptive skills to perfection, putting Chou in trouble. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! While Sathish has been inconsistent this season so far, this victory should do a world of good and restore his confidence. 'I was searching for the breakthrough for quite some time and I am happy to have recorded my biggest win. What went in my favour was that I controlled the game better. For example, going to the net quickly, and that gave me an advantage,' Sathish told TOI from Malaysia. Who's that IPL player? Sathish moved from training with Ajit Wijetilekk to working with his junior coach, Jivananthan Nair from Malaysia. 'It has been a year under Jiva sir and everything is working well. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your Finger Shape Says a Lot About Your Personality, Read Now Tips and Tricks Undo My choices of shots have become much better than what they were earlier and that is making a big difference,' Sathish added. For Jivananthan, the latest result in singles was not a surprise, but he did not expect his ward to register a convincing victory. 'We have been working on quite a few technical aspects, refining some parts of the game. Sathish was always a very straightforward player. He had to add variation to his game to compete against the top-10 players. And that is exactly what I did. 'When you add variations, what happens is that consistency tends to drop for a while. It is a process. We knew that the process would take time and we were prepared for it. It was good that he was able to put those variations into good use as his opponent was not ready for it,' Jivananthan said. Bombay Sport Exchange Ep 5: Shane Watson on how IPL gave him a lifeline & his tribute to Phil Hughes Sathish took a break from competitive action after the Sudirman Cup and shifted his focus to training. Considering the packed schedule, he had to pick and choose tournaments. 'I skipped the Chinese Taipei Open and I will not be playing the Singapore Open next week as well. I did not have the option to take a break earlier and wanted to represent my country in the Badminton Asia Championships and Sudirman Cup.' Like in singles, Sathish has had an inconsistent run in mixed doubles. On Wednesday, after his singles win, the Sathish-Aadya Variyath duo lost 15-21, 16-21 to Indonesia's Yustin Mulia and Ayu Kusumawati in the round-of-32. Although Sathish is going through a rough patch in mixed doubles, he believes that playing doubles is helping his singles game. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Malaysia Masters Super 500: For Sathish Kumar Karunakaran, a day of many firsts at his new home as he stuns world No 7
'Living the Kuala Lumpur life,' read Sathish Kumar Karunakaran's Instagram caption as he posed for a photograph with the Petronas Towers in the background. This was in May 2024, shortly after he had made the move to Malaysia to find a launchpad for his badminton career by training under coach Jivananthan Nair. Just over a year later, May 21, 2025, was a day of many firsts for Sathish. His family was in attendance to watch him in action at the Axiata Arena. He was facing a top-10 player for the first time on the BWF World Tour. And in the round of 32 against third seed Chou Tien Chen, Sathish registered the first big breakthrough win of his career, which has seen him shift cities and then countries in search of that elusive push. Fittingly, at his home away from home. 'I'm feeling pretty good because I wanted a breakthrough win for a long time. And finally, it happened,' the 24-year-old told The Indian Express after his impressive 21-13, 21-14 win against world No. 7 Chou. 'This is the first tournament that my entire family is there to watch. Parents, brother, sister-in-law. They are very happy with the hard work we've put in, even as a family, and they have trusted me completely. It was quite emotional.' #MalaysiaMastersSuper500 Sathish Kumar Karunakaran! What a huge win for the Indian world No 51 as he beats world No 7 and the veteran of the World Tour Chou Tien Chen in straight games. The biggest singles win of Sathish's career most probably. ??? BWF TV YouTube — Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) May 21, 2025 That it has taken Sathish this long to achieve this milestone win isn't lost on him. 'The most important thing is that I didn't give up. I was patiently competing at events, going through tournaments, and losing in the first round. I would return, train, and then head back to the tournaments. Sure, it was frustrating not getting the breakthrough, but I persisted, I kept hanging in there. My coaches and team behind me were also patient, and that support made a big difference.' Sathish's tryst with sport began with swimming, he started playing badminton when he was around 13, as his elder brother Arun Kumar was actively training in the sport. The journey began in Chennai, where Sathish was born and raised, then came a move to Coimbatore when his brother shifted base. That was followed by a stint in Hyderabad that didn't pan out. Next stop was Bengaluru, but at this point, Sathish was feeling something was missing. 'Previously, I was in KL with the same coach for a brief stint, and I was around 16 during that time. Then he stopped professional coaching for a while and I moved back. When I faced challenges with my career, I contacted Coach Jiva. 'I really want to go to LA 2028, can you help me?' He took his time and agreed,' Sathish said, adding that the expenses of coaching fees, strength & conditioning and tournament entries are handled by GoSports Foundation. On Wednesday, it helped Sathish that he had a super quick start. After a few tight exchanges for 3-3, the Indian went on a wonderful run of 7 straight points, helped partly by Chou's radar misfiring. When he got the height to work with, Sathish was putting away the inside-out smashes clinically. But the key to his success on the day was not the flashy points, but the steadier rallies where he controlled the net and read Chou's changes of angles. Despite a late comeback from the 35-year-old in the first game, Sathish had built up a big enough lead to take it home 21-13, with a couple of sharp backhand smashes from midcourt. Chou has been around on the circuit long enough for anyone to know that winning one game against him is never a guarantee of winning the match. But the Indian raced off the blocks once more like a 200m sprinter turning around the first bend. This time, he reeled off 10 points in a row to lead 10-1. From there on it was a matter of just holding his ground and not making errors. Chou did threaten another fightback, closing the gap to 9-13, a momentum that was once again arrested by a Sathish inside-out smash winner. 'I was pretty much controlling the game today. I was quick at the net and didn't give him a chance to attack. I was consistent, I just kept the rallies going, and there were no unforced errors on my side. That actually made a big difference,' Sathish said. Sathish is currently just outside the top 50 in singles and continues to play mixed doubles with Aadya Variyath, who has also recently made the move to Malaysia. He believes – and coach Jiva is on the same page – that the skills required to do well in mixed doubles is translating into his singles game as well. It's helping with the pace of matches, controlling the shuttle from backcourt and executing good parallel plays. The Malaysian stint has also helped turn his perspective around on the sport. 'The way I look at badminton has changed significantly. I used to constantly put myself down, but my coaches and team regularly encourage me, reminding me that I'm almost there. That's reflected in my performance today,' Sathish said. 'This past year has been about persistence. I've been focused on keeping my confidence high, regardless of wins or losses. My confidence level has improved a lot. My shot choices have become better and more consistent; previously, I made many errors. Technically, I've developed a lot in one year.' Vinayakk Mohanarangan is Senior Assistant Editor and is based in New Delhi. ... Read More
The Hindu
20-05-2025
- The Hindu
Rising trend of mobile phone use by motorists while driving cause for concern
Using mobile phones while driving is becoming an alarming trend on Chennai's roads, contributing to frequent slowdowns, near-miss incidents, and accidents. Though route navigation via phone is legally allowed in hands-free mode, drivers of cab aggregators, food delivery services, and bike taxis often misuse this allowance. Phones mounted on dashboards are used not just for directions but also for watching entertainment. There is currently no effective monitoring system to regulate or penalise such violations. 'It's concerning that drivers mount their phones on holders and stream videos while driving. When they see us, they quickly switch to maps and pretend to navigate. We can't always prove they were watching videos, while it is now par for the course to consult maps while driving/riding. So it's actually difficult to penalise them,' said a traffic investigation officer. Though many crashes are caused by distracted driving, victims often don't admit to mobile use in their accident reports. They prefer minimal documentation to ease insurance claims, making it hard to zero down mobile phone usage as the cause. The problem is more visible during city traffic, where sudden halts and erratic speeds caused by distracted drivers lead to crashes/accidents, and then it becomes quite visible. Motoring enthusiast D. Sathish highlighted that distracted driving is common among all road users — two-wheelers, cars, buses, and lorries, even pedestrians. It is those on vehicles that cause maximum damage. He observed that middle-aged drivers are the worst offenders and rarely face action. 'Many two-wheeler riders talk through the helmet gap or watch videos, putting themselves, pillion riders, and pedestrians at risk,' he said. Accidents involving heavy vehicles can be fatal, he added. Monica, a frequent user of ride-hailing services, noted that many drivers use phones for texting or watching videos while driving. 'It causes jerky rides and minor accidents. I request drivers to avoid using their phones, but not everyone listens,' she said. A traffic officer revealed that some auto and taxi drivers watch TV serials or comedy clips during long drives to beat boredom. 'We have no complaints from passengers, and verifying mobile usage through call records is difficult given our workload,' he admitted. B. Ramadasse, a transportation expert, estimated that 15–20% of motorists use mobile phones while driving. He noted that aggregator drivers often get fatigued and use phones for calls, videos, or music to stay engaged. According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), there were 7,558 crashes and 3,395 fatalities due to mobile phone use in 2022 — a 15.7% increase from 2021. Tamil Nadu reported 39 crashes and 12 deaths, while Chennai officially recorded none. Experts suggest this underreporting is due to a lack of proper documentation. Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act penalizes dangerous driving, including handheld mobile use. Rule 165 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules allows hands-free navigation but prohibits any activity that distracts the driver. Experts and NGOs urge the police strictly enforce rules and make it clear that they will not tolerate mobile phone use for entertainment while on the road, besides facilitating tech-enabled monitoring, awareness campaigns, and in-app restrictions for aggregator drivers to curb this rising threat.
The Hindu
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
How Metro Rail could add a dash of colour, make stations vibrant
In January this year, Transport for London (TfL) announced that new artworks would be put up in the Tube network as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations of Art on the Underground programme. From paintings to sculptures, the works of numerous artists were installed to transform the stations. The Stockholm subway system stands out for transforming several of its stations with magnificent art. Hence, it is popularly called the 'world's longest art gallery', with nearly 90 stations beautified by art. From Singapore to Moscow and from London to Stockholm, quite a few metro rail systems across the world have provided space for art and artists. Closer home, stations of Kochi Metro Rail have been adorned with stunning theme-based art. But Chennai, despite nearing a decade of Metro Rail service, still looks bare, with the interiors of the stations devoid of murals or other artworks. Barring a few locations like Alandur and Chennai Central, where there are murals, the rest of the stations look just plain. Ride gets more pleasant Travelling in a few metro rail systems abroad, like London or even in Kochi, stood out for S. Sathish, a frequent commuter. Adding a splash of colour, giving a striking look to the station walls with art could make the ride more pleasant, he says. 'All of us who travel are mostly in a rush, aiming only to get to the destination. So, a mural or a sculpture or any form of art at stations makes travel seem a little less tiring. For someone like me, always engrossed in something, it was a delight to watch the art at some stations in London. It grabs the attention of a commuter at least for a brief period. It is not going to cost phenomenally for a project with such a high budget. It is disappointing that it has not been done in Chennai Metro Rail yet,' he says. Smritika Srinivasan, an urban planner, says such initiatives significantly add to the social value of commuting, especially when they are maintained well. There are also multiple positive aspects to adding art in the mass rapid transit system. Since the system occupies a massive space in the city, it has great prospects for displaying various kinds of art. Memorable Kochi 'If stations are done up with artwork and murals, it will elevate the journey, and as a woman commuter, I have felt a tad bit more safer travelling through those spaces. People could sometimes pause to look at the art or a sculpture. For instance, when I travelled in the Kochi Metro Rail, I vividly remember the theme-based art at stations,' she says. Ms. Srinivasan notes that it is also an excellent means of representing a city's culture and heritage. For a first-time visitor, this could be another great way of experiencing the city culture, she says. G. Latha, an artist residing at Cholamandal Artists' Village, says it creates a great impression about a city from the tourism point of view. Another benefit is that it could provide a lot of opportunities for artists. 'It can be any form of art, portrait, landscape, or some installation. It could be the iconic structures of the city or even the people who make this city what it is. It could make the whole network beautiful and greatly improve the look of the city,' she says. Non-fare revenue Ms. Srinivasan says that in the absence of public spaces in the city, over time, these spaces could well be utilised as public spaces, and it would be good to capitalise on them. 'When these spaces become vibrant, they could potentially be used for holding events or concerts. Art could create that ambience and facilitate holding small-scale events and has the potential to bring in some non-fare box revenue too for Chennai Metro. The Metro Rail spaces can also be used for promoting various initiatives the city is taking through exhibitions,' she adds. Officials of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) say that they have created a few designs to beautify some of the major stations in the phase I network. 'We hope to complete this project soon,' an official says. While similar plans were considered sometime ago, art is still eluding the Metro Rail stations, to the disappointment of commuters.
The Hindu
12-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
A hat trick at Great Salt Lake in Kalavakkam
Sample these scenarios where the least expected —or the unthought — happens against a fast-ticking clock, ushering in fresh joy. A result-altering three back-to-back goals in the additional moments of a football match. Three sixes in a row in the final over of a 20-20 tipping the scale. Or, three less-seen migratory birds sighted on the same day within inches of each other, at the tail-end of a wintering season. Sathish Kumar, an IT professional during the week and a birder during the weekend, experienced the very last scenario. His jaw dropped during a birding trip to Great Salt Lake (GSL) last weekend and it is yet to snap back to its normal position. On May 3, 2025, at the salt pans in GSL opposite SSN College in Kalavakkam, Sathish saw a Gull-billed tern, a Slender-billed gull and a Spotted redshank. He has photographed all three with the Slender-billed gull and the Spotted redshank even filling one frame. Sathish Kumar considers the sighting of the Spotted redshank extraordinary. It was a 'lifer' to him. In birding terms, a lifer marks the first time someone sees a particular bird species in the field. The Spotted redshank and Common redshank have more similarities than dissimilarities, but the latter are sufficiently pronounced for a birder to not confuse one for the other. When Sathish saw the lone Spotted redshank, there were a few Common redshanks in the waters too. The Spotted redshank he spotted on May 3 had slipped into its breeding plumage. In its breeding plumage, from crown to belly, including the nape and throat, the Spotted redshank develops a deep dark grey. Its legs also replace red with dark grey. One of the diagnostic features distinguishing it from the Common redshank (also a winter visitor in these parts): the colour and the shape of the beak. In the Common redshank, the beak is shorter, and the black and the red are distributed uniformly between the upper and lower mandibles. The base of the beak is red and the tip, black. In the Spotted redshank, the beak is longer, thinner and the tip sharper, and the lower mandible has a touch of red at the base. The rest of the lower mandible and the whole of the upper mandible are black. Another feature of the Spotted redshank is the slight curve to the beak.
