The Hindu : Sport : I am happy to be in Kerala: Bindra

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I am happy to be in Kerala: Bindra

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Having heard a lot about Kerala over the years from National coach Sunny Thomas, Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra sported a huge smile as he arrived here a day ahead to attend a State reception being arranged by the Government in his honour on Tuesday.

Talking to reporters soon after his arrival at the Thiruvananthapuram International airport on Monday afternoon, the country’s pride and joy said that he was happy to be in Kerala and was looking forward to it for sometime now.

Bindra, who is being accompanied by his parents, also reiterated his hope that his historic triumph at the Beijing Olympics would do a world of good for Olympic sports in the country.

Indeed, he was happy on having landed India’s first individual gold medal at the quadrennial extravaganza but said, “Yes, I am very happy. But that in turn, I hope, will benefit shooting and other Olympic disciplines in the long run.”

He was received at the airport by the KSSC president, T.P. Dasan, vice-president, K. Thankappan, the Director (Sports & Youth Affairs), G.Kishore and V. Surendran Pillai, MLA among others.

The golden boy of Indian sport, who is staying at the elegant Leela Kovalam, has a busy schedule on Tuesday including a formal meeting with the Sports Minister, M. Vijayakumar followed by lunch with the Education Minister, M.A. Baby before heading for the State reception in which the Chief Minister, V.S. Achuthanandan will be the chief guest.

The function is to be held at the VJT hall at 4.30 p.m. and this is expected to be followed by a brief interaction with the media.

MGU athletics

Some of the country’s brightest collegiate talent will be on view in the Mahatma Gandhi University athletics championship which begins at the Maharaja’s College Stadium, in Kochi on Tuesday.

Sprinter Dipin Eldhose, decathletes P.V. Jijo, P.V. Renish and pole-vaulter Bineesh Jacob in the men’s section and Indian relay runner Sini Jose, middle-distance runner S.R. Bindu, pole-vaulter Sithara Ellath and hammer thrower Anitha Abraham in the women’s are some of the stars who are expected to hog the limelight.

They will be watched closely for MGU finished on top at the all-India inter-University meet last year and will be hosting the varsities National championship in Kochi from December 20 to 24.

Nearly 600 athletes from 56 colleges will figure in the two-day meet which will be inaugurated by the Mahatma Gandhi University Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Rajan Gurukkal.

Kothamangalam’s Mar Athanasius College men and Pala’s Alphonsa College women were the team champions last year.

Kollam is runner-up

Kollam scored an exciting 16-run win over Pathanamthitta to finish runner-up of the South Zone under-14 inter-District cricket tournament in Kottayam on Monday.

The win helped Kollam to finish its engagements with 13 points, three behind Alappuzha which had completed its matches earlier.

Thiruvananthapuram gained the vital first innings lead over Kottayam to finish third with 6 points.

The scores: Kollam 129 & 161 for six in 55 overs (S.A.Nithin 44, Amal S.Kumar three for 32) bt Pathanamthitta 119 & 155 in 38.4 overs (R.Karthik 52, A.Vishnu three for 33).

Kottayam 138 & 127 for five in 32.5 overs (Vipin 35) drew with Thiruvananthapuram 214 in 55 overs (Vinayak Murthy 102, Arjun Narayanan 50, Suraj four for 60).

Easy for Mar Thoma

The host Mar Thoma College blanked NSS PTC, Pandalam, 3-0 and entered the pre-quarterfinal of the 45th Mar Thoma Trophy all-Kerala inter-collegiate football tournament in Thiruvalla on Monday.

In another match, St. Berchmans, Changanassery, defeated St. Stephen’s (Uzhavoor) 5-3, via the tie-breaker, and also made the pre-quarterfinal. The teams were level 1-1 at the end of the regulation period.

Varghese Mathew, former State player, inaugurated the tournament.

Tvm in last four

Holder Thiruvananthapuram beat host Kozhikode 25-23, 22-25, 25-23, 25-21 to enter the men’s semifinals of the State senior volleyball championship in Nadapuram on Sunday night.

Idukki also made it to the last four, with a 25-11, 25-12, 25-17 win over Pathanamthitta.

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