Latest news with #SDAT
The Hindu
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
High Performance Centre to come up by August
Former India star paddler Sharath Kamal's dream has finally come true. The High Performance Centre (HPC), to be funded by the Tamil Nadu Innovations Initiatives (TANII), a wing of the State Planning Commission of the Tamil Nadu Government, will be up and running by the end of August, at the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University (TNPESU) at Melakottaiyur. The proposal was approved by the Executive Committee of Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) here on Thursday. Speaking to The Hindu, J. Meghanatha Reddy, Member Secretary of SDAT, said the HPC has received a funding for three years from TNII which help stabilise the Centre. It was also decided that Sharath would be HPC's Advisory Director. 'The funding from TNII will comprehensively cover the infrastructure, upgradation, equipment, manpower, expert coaches for the facilities,' he said. The 42-year-old five-time Olympian was thrilled with the development. Sharath said his vision is to develop talents from other districts of Tamil Nadu and make the HPC into a National Training Centre and tie-up with World Table Tennis (WTT) to bring in coaches and players from abroad. The 10-time Senior National champion is keen to hold a WTT Youth Contender either by November this year or Nov. 2026 at TNPESU. 'It's been a long process. It took us a while to figure out how to get the HPC into shape. Am happy it will be starting soon. I had in mind to start a National Training Centre and in 2022-23 when Meghanatha Reddy sir called me, the seed was planted in my mind. Slowly it took shape,' Sharath told The Hindu. Sharath said he is planning to rope in reputed fitness trainer Ramji Srinivasan and his team of physios and strength and conditioning coaches into HPC. 'Of course SDAT will have a say on it,' he said. Sharath insisted that HPC will have residential facilities for players while adding that he would finalise his team of coaches in the coming months.
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
SDAT to set up three discounted pickleball courts
Chennai: Tapping into the rising urban trend of pickleball games, the youth welfare and sports development department has planned to set up three new courts across the city. As private courts cost 1,000 to 1,500 per hour, the govt plans to allow bookings at 30% discount Pickleball is a paddle sport played typically by four people. Players bounce a lightweight plastic ball over a 34-inch-high net. What makes this an emerging urban fitness trend is that it is easy to learn, say players. Meghanath Reddy, member-secretary, Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT), said there is a court in Nehru Stadium and they plan to expand to more core areas. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai "More people are playing it now among all age groups, and we want to boost community engagement," he said, adding that the pickleball courts would not have any coaching immediately, but eventually, they will look to hire coaches based on response. Each court will cost about 12 lakh with fencing, nets, and lighting. The arena will have washrooms and drinking water. The courts are likely to come up in core areas in Chetpet, Nungambakkam, and Velachery near the SDAT complexes. Khiztar Hussain, who owns Pickleball Task on Anna Salai, said mostly middle-aged people come to play daily. "The courts require no maintenance and the rules too are simple. People come together as a community for leisure," he said. "You just need to play it for an hour or two. It is easy to get the hang of it," says Prasanna B, a businessman. What was earlier a casual game played among friends has turned into a community sport where players organise friendly matches and find each other through apps such as Turf Town. The recent MGM Tamil Nadu Pickleball tournament featured over 250 participants, said Gopi Ram, a participant. "There were players from other districts like Coimbatore, Salem, and Ooty," he said.
Time of India
22-06-2025
- Time of India
‘Pushed to death, but I made it': Tamil Nadu woman scales all 7 continental peaks, survives storm atop Denali
N Muthamizh Selvi, a Japanese teacher from Tamil Nadu, has become the first person from her state to conquer the Seven Summits, completing the challenge with her ascent of Mount McKinley. CHENNAI: On June 16, atop North America's Mount McKinley, N Muthamizh Selvi became the first person from Tamil Nadu to conquer the highest peaks on all seven continents. A native of Johilpatti village in Virudhunagar district, Muthamizh Selvi teaches Japanese in Chennai. Her great climb began in May 2023 when she became the first woman from Tamil Nadu to scale Mount Everest . And in just the next two years, she would complete the 'Seven Summits' challenge Europe's Mount Elbrus (July 2023) Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro (Sept 2023) South America's Mount Aconcagua (Feb 2024) Australia's Mount Kosciuszko (March 2024) Antartica's Mount Vinson (Dec 2024) and finally Mount McKinley. Called Denali by Native American people, meaning 'the tall one', it's where Muthamizh Selvi faced some of her biggest challenges. "I had to carry an 80kg bag with me. It would keep pushing me backwards," she told TOI. "And after reaching the summit, we had to sleep there, in the freezing cold, without a tent, for 16 hours straight because of heavy winds." And that, Muthamizh Selvi says, pushed her close to death. "I developed a splitting headache because of the winds. If I had bled, that would have been my end. It's a miracle I survived," she said. Muthamizh Selvi climbed the mountain with Shaikh Hassan Khan who works for the Kerala secretariat. "When we were caught in the storm, Shaikh contacted Kerala govt through his satellite phone, after which Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan alerted Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We then found Indian Embassy staff waiting for us at the base camp with medical aid," Muthamizh Selvi said. "We had to walk for 18 hours to reach the base camp. " It took almost 2 crore for Muthamizh Selvi to scale the seven mountains. She was supported by state development authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT). Hailing Muthamizh Selvi's achievement, DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi posted on X: "It is an inspiration for crores of women in India to reach their peaks."
India Gazette
16-06-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
Chennai Open returns to WTA calendar after three years
ANI 17 Jun 2025, 01:08 GMT+10 New Delhi [India], June 16 (ANI): The Chennai Open tennis tournament is set to return this October after a three-year hiatus, the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) announced on Monday, as per The tournament's schedule was announced during an event in St Petersburg, USA. Action in the main draw of Chennai Open 2025 is set to get underway from the week of October 27 on outdoor hard courts. The tournament will conclude on November 2. 'Finally, our efforts to get a major international tennis event to Chennai have borne fruit. Thanks to the strong support of the Government of Tamil Nadu and the SDAT (Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu),' Tamil Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA) president and Indian tennis great Vijay Amritraj said, as quoted by 'The event will be broadcast on a major sports channel. I look forward to enthusiastic participation of the sporting public of Chennai in making the event a grand success,' he added. There will be 32 players participating in the singles draw and 16 pairs will make up the doubles section. The SDAT Nungambakkam tennis stadium in Chennai will be the venue for all matches with the eventual winners set to receive 250 ranking points that are awarded for winning the tournament. The WTA 250 event was last held in 2022 when Czechia's Linda Fruhvirtova claimed the singles title, while Canada's Gabriela Dabrowski and Brazil's Luisa Stefani took home the doubles crown. The upcoming Chennai Open will mark only the second edition of the professional women's tennis tournament. Ankita Raina, one of India's top women's tennis players, received a wildcard entry in 2022 when the Chennai Open was last held. (ANI)
The Hindu
16-06-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
WTA Chennai Open from October 27
The WTA on Monday officially announced that the WTA 250 Chennai Open will be played from October 27 at the SDAT Nungambakkam Tennis Stadium. It will feature a 32-player singles draw and a 16-team doubles draw. Chennai had previously hosted a WTA 250 event in 2022. Linda Fruhvirtova won the singles title while Gabriela Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani clinched the doubles crown. Vijay Amritraj, President TNTA, said: 'Finally, our efforts to get a major international sporting or tennis event to Chennai have borne fruit. Thanks to the strong support of the Government of Tamil Nadu and the SDAT. I am excited that the WTA250 event – the highest level of International Women's event to be held in India is to take place at the SDAT Tennis Stadium after a gap of three years. I and confident that the warmth of Chennai hospitality and the excitement of the fans will make the city a welcoming and memorable destination for international players to visit and display their tennis talent'.
