Category: Sports

India’s First ‘AUSTSWIM’ Presenter for Swimming & Water Safety : December 2014

Partha Varanashi, Puttur, Karnataka

29-year old Partha Varanashi is the first Indian to be accredited by Austswim . With this swimming training is expected to get a whole new dimension in India

Austswim is Australia’s national organisation and is the industry standard for Swimming and Water Safety Teachers

The curriculum is vast which includes child psychology, behaviour patterns and safety. A 200-page manual is referenced for study and candidates have to undergo online tests

Partha was (**)Mangalore University’s champion swimmer for 3 years 2003, 2004 and 2005 (**) He was also 3-times finalist  in National swimming contests (**) South Australian Masters swimming record holder 2009 (**) Over 10 gold medals in Aussie Masters 2001-2010

Masters Degree holder in Plant biotechnology, University of Adelaide, Australia

In June 2012, Partha Varanashi returned to India to join his family’s bio-technology venture ‘Varanashi Farms’ in Adyanadka, Bantwal taluk (60 Km near Mangalore)

www.austswim.com.au

India’s First privately-funded Badminton Academy founded in Bangalore : 1994

Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy (PPBA), Bengaluru (Bangalore)

PPBA was initially set up at the Canara Union courts in Malleswaram. Subsequently it moved to the Karnataka Badminton Association premises

PPBA was founded in 1994 by Prakash Padukone, Vimal Kumar and Vivek Kumar

Way back when PPBA was started, BPL came forward in the presence of Rajeev Chandrasekhar (BPL Mobile Founder) and Ajit Nambiar (BPL Chairman) to sponsor the Badminton Academy, making it the first privately-funded badminton academy in India and possibly the world . BPL provided the funds and the infrastructure

The current sponsors are TATA Capital

Some of the players amongst others, who went onto become famous National and International champions are:

** P. Gopichand, Dronacharya awardee and 2001 All-England champion -** Aparna Popat, 9-time National champion -** Vimal Kumar, Olympian -** Ashwini Ponnappa, Asian championship bronze medallist -** Vijay Lancy, former Indian International

PPBA celebrated its 20th Anniversary this month in December 2014

First Karnataka Player to Win ‘National B Chess’ Title : 2013

M.S. Thej Kumar , International Master (IM), Mysuru

The only player from Karnataka who has achieved the 3 Grand Master norms . Thej Kumar is the highest ranked player in Karnataka

2013. Triple Grand Master Norm holder and seeded 20th in the tournament, Thej’s 8th move draw with GM Deepan Chakravarthy, gave him his maiden National B Chess Title. Consequently he lifted the coveted Trophy at Bhopan with 10.5 points from 13 rounds

With this win, Thej also qualified for the National A Championships scheduled at Jalgaon, Maharashtra

Awarded the IM title by FIDE in 2009

Thej Kumar a post graduate from Mysore is an employee of South Western Railways, Mysore. The soft spoken Chess Champ lives with his wife M K Jayashree. He also coaches upcoming players at the Mysore Professional Chess Academy

India’s First ‘Triumph Motorcycles’ showroom launched in Bengaluru : January 2014

Triumph Motorcylces, St.Marks Road, Bengaluru

January 21st, 2014-Tuesday. Triumph Motorcycles opens its first luxury 2 wheeler brand showroom in India with its new brand identity in Bengaluru.

The British motorcycle brand has a tie-up with the Bengaluru-based KEERTHI MOTORS who have an integrated after-sales service. This is the first fully equipped dealership in India – which will provide International standards of sales, service and spare parts. The showroom has an array of Triumph merchandise including riding gears, accessories and memorabilia.

The Bengaluru showroom was followed by launching dealerships in Hyderabad, Kochi, Pune, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and New Delhi.

Riders Groups: Riders Association of Triumph 

Riders groups started in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi.

Triumph Motorcycles’ India operations were launched on November 28th, 2013 with 10 Classic models across 5 broad categories. Classics, Cruisers, Roadsters, Adventure and Super Sports.

The British Motorcycle Brand TRIUMPH was established in 1902 with its facility in Hinckley, Leicestershire. Triumph is the the largest British motorcycle brand with more than 745 dealers across 54 countries.

Triumph Motorcycles (India) Ltd : Managing Director – Vimal Sumbly

Keerthi Motors, Bengaluru : Managing Director – Sanjay, M

India’s First Go-Karter to Win the International ‘World Series Karting Race’ : February 2013

Kush Maini, Go-Karting Champion, Bengaluru 

February 03rd, 2013. Kush Maini created history when he became the first Indian driver to ever win a WSK (World Series Karting) Race at La Conca International Circuit in Muro Leccce, Italy

Kush finished a mere .019 seconds ahead of Martinez n the most exciting nail biting finish of the series.

14-year Kush Maini is the younger brother of Arjun Maini, also a Go-Karter. Both are sons of Gautam Maini

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KUSH MAINI is also “FIRST INDIAN TO RECEIVE PRESTIGIOUS ‘WORLD SERIES KARTING (WSK) CHAMPIONSHIP AWARD. January 2014

see Post of October 03rd, 2014

First Indian to receive prestigious ‘World Series Karting’ (WSK) Championship Award : January 2014

Kush Maini, Go-Karting Champion, Bengaluru

January 18th, 2014. Kush Maini became the First Indian to receive the prestigious ‘World Series Karting’ (WSK Championship Awards).

The event was held at the WSK Gran Gala at the Adria International Raceway in North Eastern Italy, the province of Rovigo.

The ceremony was attended by Jean Alesi the Formula 1 driver for Ferrari.

The ‘Gran Gala’ Awards were bagged by the drivers who finished 1st in the top 3 Championships from all over the world in the 60 Mini, KF, KFJ, KZ2 and KZ1 series.

14-year Kush Maini is the younger brother of Arjun Maini, also a Go-Karter. Both are sons of Gautam Maini

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KUSH MAINI is also INDIA’S FIRST GO-KARTER TO WIN THE INTERNATIONAL ‘WORLD SERIES KARTING RACE’. February 2013

see Post of October 04th, 2014

First Woman from Karnataka to Climb on Top – Mount Everest : October 2012

Captain Smitha Lakshmana, Bangalore

May 25th, 2012.  20-year old Smitha Lakshmana, a Captain in the Indian Army completed the rare feat of climbing Mount Everest, as a part of the ‘Indian Army Women’s Everest Expedition – 2012’

Smitha was one amongst 22 selected from 659 participants, and one of the 17 who were selected for the final climbing expedition. The trekking from Jari near Kathmandu started on May 25th.

From the base camp it took about 40 days to reach the summit and get back. Smitha Lakshmana and her team reached the peak around 4 am of May 25th, 2012

Smitha Lakshmana is from Bangalore. A Computer Engineer from Dayanand Sagar College. She did her schooling in Vijaya Junior School, Jayanagar. Her parents are from Devalapura hobli, Nagamangala Taluk, Mandya District. Her younger brother is an agriculturist.

India’s First Red Bull Flutag. September 2014.

1st Red Bull Flutag, Sankey Tank, Bangalore

September 28th, 2014, Sankey Tank in Sadashivnagar, Bangalore played a full-house host to over 10,000 fun lovers and Bangaloreans today.

36 human-powered flying machines took off from a high flight deck placed 22-feet above the lake. The Winner was ‘Visar-Jet’ from Mumbai. First Runner-Up ‘Talpade’ (Bangalore) and 2nd Runner-Up was ‘Majestic Beast’ (Nagpur).

Bangalore was the city of choice to launch the 1st ever Red Bull Flutag in India making it the 141st edition edition. With this India has joined the list of 47 countries worldwide.

Red Bull Flutag:

An international event where participants (teams of 4) are required to build a human-powered aircraft and fly it off an elevated ramp that extends into a water body. The 1st Red Bull Flutag took place in Vienna, Austria in 1992. A decade later in the U.S. Subsequently over 140 editions have been held across the world.

Sankey Tank, Bangalore:

1882. Created in the 18th century it is one of Bangalore’s leading land marks.

Karnataka’s First ‘ Giant ‘ brand premium Cycle store opens in Bangalore : July 2014

Giant Starkenn Cycling World, Indira Nagar, Bangalore

July 2014. The first Bangalore outlet showcases ‘Giant’ brand premium luxury bicycles within Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 11 lakh range.

The facility is spread over 3,200 sq.ft and includes a bike simulator, bike spa, bike library, bike cafe and a display of the ‘Giant’ bicycle range.

The fastest bicycle in the world – The Propel Advaned SL O is used by Giant Shimano Tour de France team.

Giant Manufacturing Company, Taiwan.

Giant Sports: Sole distributor and authorised marketer – MD and CEO , Pravin V. Patil