BOWLER VENKTESH PRASAD MEETS STUDENTS;

Madikeri July 27, 2010

Fast bowler and formed Indian team player and coach, venkatesh Prasad along with State player Sunil Joshi and Ranji player Srinivas Murthy today made a whirl wind visit to couple of schools and interacted with students.

The trio, employees of Canara bank was taken round by the Bank officials to St.Joseph’s convent, Bharatiya Vidyabhavan Kodagu Vidyalaya and Government junior college.

Addressing the students, Venkatesh Prasad urged the students to have trust and believe in themselves to achieve goals in any field. He opined that for a student to thrive in life as sportsmen, two things are very important. One is academics and another one is sports.

Admiring the spell bound beauty of Kodagu, he told that coorg provides perfect foundation and atmosphere for a sports person to come up. Stating that any child who has discipline, commitment and hard working nature can reach the status of Tandulkar, Anil Kumble, Kapildev or so. Keeping fit is important in sports and students should work towards it, he said.

He received interesting questions like who inspired him most in sports, opinion about IPl, is education important to reach the top in sports etc from the students.Venkatesh said that Kapildev was his first inspiration and he had been observing many other renowned players. Education is also important he said. IPL and 20 – 20 caters to the need of public, he said.

Speaking to students, Sunil Joshi asked the students to take both success and faileure in a positive angle. You will gain if you win and you will learn if you fail, he said. Naming the few celebrities in sports including Ashwini Nachappa from kodagu, he said that more number of athletes should come up.

Later, answering the scribes why India cannot produce more fast bowlers, Venkatesh Prasad told that more than fast bowling, effective bowling is important. As the press insisted on direct answer, Prasad agreed that India lakhs proper pitch for practicing. How long can a bowler bowl at 130 to 140 speed per hour on a flat pitch, he questioned. The knowledge of preparing pitch is also important, he insisted. He opined that while the players receive coaching, coaching for curators are also required. Asked as to what stops India from preparing proper pitches, he said that it may have many reasons. While that is one criterion, the next one he said was the physical fitness. Indians are definitely not as strong as Austrians and to a certain degree Pakistan he said.

Asked about the turmoil’s in Indian cricket, he said that responsibility and accountability is important for any one.

Left hander Sunil Joshi expressed unhappiness about the national cricket Academy in selecting the players. If they find a team is weak, why can not they take old players? He questioned. He was curt about the selection of youngsters who either have a history of success or any achievement.

CYCLING IN THE RAIN

Venkatesh Prasad, Sunil Joshi and Srinivas Murthy went out cycling in the morning here and explored the mist filled madikeri rattling under gutsy winds and lashing rains. “Where can we get such awesome weather and experience” they exclaimed.