Latest news with #all-Kerala
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Kerala's first women's basketball team came up here
Kerala is a force to reckon with in women's basketball in India, having thrown up gems like Leelamma Santhosh-Thomas, Prasanna Kumari and Geethu Anna Jose, but it all began at St. Teresa's College in Kochi. More than 65 years ago, Teresa's young girls played on a mud court at the college and also at the Annie Besant Park nearby and later at the Ernakulam YMCA. That was the first time women's basketball was being played in an organised way in Kerala. 'In 1961, we produced the first women's basketball team in Kerala,' said Sr. Tessa, the Director of St. Teresa's College, here on Friday. Golden Girls That was the start of a wonderful journey and slowly, St. Teresa's College began to power Kerala and Indian basketball. The late Raji Thampi, who led Kerala to its first Senior National title in 1985, and former India captain Prasanna Kumari were some of the finest stars who emerged from the college. 'We won the Mahatma Gandhi University basketball title regularly for some 20 years, sometimes six years in a row,' said Maya Joseph, a former National-level sprinter and hurdler who was the head of the St. Teresa's physical education department during those golden years till 2002. And in 1993, when Mahatma Gandhi University won the National varsities basketball title for the first time, nearly half the team, including captain Maya George, were from St. Teresa's. Kerala Sports Council coaches K.V. Alexander, Thomas Fenn and V.V. Paul, in various periods, played a big role in St. Teresa's rise. Centenary Tournament Now, as part of its centenary year celebrations, St. Teresa's College will be hosting an all-Kerala inter-collegiate basketball tournament from June 9 to 11. The event, organised by the St. Teresa's Physical Education Department and the college's sports alumni, will feature six teams including Changanassery's Assumption, Kozhikode's Providence and Irinjalakuda's St. Joseph's. Star Walk A 'Star walk' by the Teresian sports stars, which will see some of the college's biggest names in Kochi, and a friendly veterans match will also be held on the tournament's final day. St. Teresa's is no longer a powerhouse in women's basketball but there is hope for the future. 'We are training our school girls at our college and they are doing very well,' said K.M. Thomas, the current head of the St. Teresa's physical education department. Perhaps, they could make St. Teresa's great again in basketball.
New Indian Express
30-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
People's protest saves Kochi football ground from ‘development'
A wayward 'development' project that threatened to erase a cherished playground in Malippuram, Vypeen, has been thwarted following a groundswell of public protest that was recently highlighted by TNIE . 'Vypeen boasts a long and cherished football legacy. The Veli ground in Malippuram was one of our go-to venues for hosting all-Kerala sevens tournaments,' says Vimal T R, coach of a local club. 'The proposed project would have made play there impossible.' The original blueprint, prepared by the Harbour Engineering Department, envisaged a massive stage with green rooms and toilets, a parking area, an open gym, and walking tracks, shrinking the once 3, green expanse into a cramped 'public meeting spot'. 'These amenities would have eaten up one-fourth of the area,' points out local politician Swathish Sathyan. 'What good is a playground that no one can use?' Ironically, the project fell under Kerala's 'One Panchayat, One Playground' initiative, intended to create rather than curtail play spaces, and about Rs 99.4 lakh was allocated for it. 'It's a classic case of top-down planning. Projects meant for the community must involve the community. That has not happened here,' Swathish adds. Apparently, the initial plan was submitted without extensive public consultation. Local residents only came to learn of the project once boxy cement structures started rising on the open field. Vypeen MLA K N Unnikrishnan, who steered the project, however, begs to differ. 'The project draft was floated well in advance,' he says. 'People and even the panchayat members only started taking a closer look at it once football clubs and sports enthusiasts expressed their discontent.' Before construction could progress further, the residents formed the 'Save Malippuram Ground' action committee. 'Now, after intense negotiations between them and the officials, a new agreement was reached. The ground will now be preserved with a playing area of 60m/40m, sufficient for sevens football,' says C G Biju, the action committee chairman. Portions of the stage and green room encroaching onto the field have been marked for demolition, and the walking track will be realigned to three sides of the ground, leaving the northern side of the site free. Last week, under the supervision of the HED's assistant executive engineer and the action committee, re-measurements were completed. On Monday evening, a portion of the stage was demolished. 'We are expecting the official documentation of the revised plan to be handed over to us within a few days,' Biju adds. The original contract had cited six months to complete the project. With major works associated with it dropped, local residents expect constructions to be over well before the monsoon sets in. 'We just want to resume our games as soon as possible,' says Vimal.
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Techie cultural fest Tarang begins at Infopark
Kochi: Taking a break from their desktops, tight schedules, and deadlines, techies in the state are enjoying a cultural break at the all-Kerala techies Kalolsavam 'Tarang' in Infopark, Kochi, from Monday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now More than 5,000 competitors from over 300 companies are participating in the third edition of Tarang, the fortnight-long cultural fest. The fest was inaugurated on Monday by industries minister P Rajeeve, who stressed the need for cultural get-togethers. "Such events strengthen personal relationships and reduce work pressure. The govt is trying to create quality jobs and a work environment in Kerala," he said. Organised jointly by Progressive Techies and Infopark, Tuesday saw competitions such as folk songs, story writing, mehndi art, and T-shirt painting held at various venues. After the results of the first day's competitions were announced, Key Value Software Systems was leading with 80 points. Inviser and Wipro were tied for second place with 40 points each. On the third day of the festival, Wednesday, competitions in light music, Sopana music, Kathakali music, group instrumental music, patriotic songs, and poetry writing will be held across three venues. Infopark CEO Susanth Kurunthil said Malayalis and art festivals continue to share a unique bond no matter the circumstance. The festival began with a procession of contestants and artists from various companies. A flash mob in the courtyard of the Vismaya building, which hosted the inaugural ceremony, added to the excitement. Some employees, dressed in costumes inspired by certain movies and their characters, particularly entertained the crowd. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Chenda Melam, Kavadi, and band-melam of various groups heightened the festive atmosphere. The procession, which started from the Vismaya and ended at the Athulya building through the main gate of Infopark, was joined by special guests: film actor Vinay Forrt and singer Hesham Abdul Wahab. Present on the occasion were Progressive Techies President Anish Panthalani, Thrikkakara Municipality Vice-Chairman Abdu Shana, and sponsors of the event. They handed over a cheque for Rs 8,69,816 for Rebuild Wayanad, collected from Infopark for financial assistance to those who lost their homes in the Wayanad disaster. The fortnight-long cultural fest will be held in various venues and conclude on May 9 MSID:: 120522353 413 |
