• Director Special
From designing gas turbine aero engines to playing bridge, 68-year-old A S Viswanathan is a genius. The only bridge director from Asia at the World Championships talks to Shobha Warrier.

• 'The competition is getting tougher, both on the Asian and European circuits'
Indian women's badminton champion Aparna Popat talks to Nagraj Gollapudi about her game and her best moments.

• 'Leander and Mahesh are back, so it will be fun'
Former India Davis Cupper Nitin Kirtane reflects on his bronze medal win in the 1998 Asian Games and India chances in the tennis event in Busan.

• Beenamol a cinch for gold, says Shiny
The former middle distance ace Shiny Wilson says Beenamol, Bobby Aloysious, Anju George and Neelam Singh are India's best medal prospects at the Busan Asian Games.

• 'We just wanted to win'
Tanmaya Kumar Nanda spoke to Mahesh Bhupathi immediately after the Indian ace bagged the US Open Doubles crown.

• 'My main aim is to gain some Elo points'
Grandmaster Krishnan Sasikiran talks to Shobha Warrier about his current performance on the international circuit.

• 'Playing in India doesn't help a lot at the moment'
India's junior tennis ace Sania Mirza talks to Nagraj Gollapudi about her burgeoning career.

• 'My target, like all racing drivers, is Formula 1'
Formula Asia champion Karun Chandhok talks to Shobha Warrier about his racing career.

• 'Becoming the British Open champion is not a joke'
After returning from England, a beaming R B Ramesh talked to Shobha Warrier about the ups and downs in his career and the recent triumph.

• 'I won the gold but missed the World record'
Ace shooter Anjali Bhagwat spoke to Ashish Magotra.

• 'To win a medal in your first major meet is an achievement'
Anju George spoke to Shobha Warrier.

• We knew we had the potential to beat the best
Captain of the Indian women's hockey team Suraj Lata Devi spoke to Onkar Singh.

• My ultimate dream is to win a gold medal at the Olympics
Abhinav Bindra spoke to Onkar Singh.

• 'Feels good to be in the top 50'
A very satisfied Krishnan Sasikiran, who leaves for the Czech Open on July 19, spoke to Shobha Warrier about his recent triumph.

• 'I take my game very seriously; am a perfectionist'
Dhiraj Shetty talks with the up-and-coming United States-based tennis player Sunitha Rao .

• 'An 'ace' up Indian tennis's sleeve '
Nagraj Gollapudi caught up with up-and-coming youngster Rohan Bopanna .

• 'We have to find a good second singles player for Davis Cup'
Leander Paes's speaks with Jagan Jagannathan, his last interview with rediff.com before parting ways with doubles partner Mahesh Bhupathi.

• 'Playing singles gets you sharper for doubles'
Mahesh Bhupathi's speaks with Jagan Jagannathan, his last interview with rediff.com before parting ways with doubles partner Leander Paes.

• 'I would not call it an end to their tennis partnership'
M D Riti caught up with Mahesh's father Krishna in Bangalore to find out more about the split.

• 'I am sure we will do very well in the World Cup'
Shobha Warrier caught up with Dhanraj Pillay in Chennai, shortly before the team left for Kuala Lumpur for the February 24-March 9 World Cup.

• 'My strength is in the middle game. But I have to improve a lot in the end games'
Grandmaster Krishnan Sasikiran in conversation with Shobha Warrier.

• 'As a team we will give nothing but the best at the World Cup'
India hockey coach Cedric D'Souza discusses the team's chances for the Febryary 24 - March 9 tournament with Shobha Warrier.

• 'My focus is divided between tennis and academics'
Taking time out from a rigorous schedule, Harsh Mankad, in an exclusive to Nagraj Gollapudi, says he is drawing a fine line between academics and tennis.

• 'The game never allowed me to catch up with the books'
Deaflympian of the Century, Rajeev Bagga looks back on his illustrious career, in an interview to Nagraj Gollapudi.

• Sunil Sipaeya... steady and sure
The Rediff Interview Nagraj Gollapudi spoke to Sunil Kumar Sipaeya, as he is being spoken as the next Leander Paes or the Mahesh Bhupathi of Indian tennis.

• 'Scrap the Sports Ministry, SAI'
Faisal Shariff spoke to Aslam Sher Khan, who squarely blamed the Indian Hockey Federation for the Indian team's poor showing on the international stage in recent times.

• 'We should be ready to stage the Games well before time'
Onkar Singh spoke to Randhir Singh he, however, lambasted those spreading malicious rumours that staging the Games would cost India Rs 200 billion.

• 'We are behind Sabrina hundred per cent in whatever she does or decides'
M D Riti spoke to Krishnan Setlur about his daughter, Becker, and her future plans as a singer.

• 'Today I am not afraid of any player on the circuit'
Badminton ace Pullela Gopichand talks to Sanjay Sharma about his career and aspirations.

• 'Mahesh and Leander realize that without each other the magic is missing'
Former India Davis Cup coach Enrico Piperno on the Paes-Bhupathi split, the reunion and prospects of the former World doubles champions.

• 'There is one thing that I couldn't do and that was playing the Olympics'
Rick Leach spoke about his only regret -- of never playing in the Olympics, and the need to find a reliable partner who compliments the other's game

• 'I could have won a gold medal, but one wrong lift cost me the first place'
Bronze medal winner at the Sydney Olympics Karnam Malleshwari speaks about her experience at the Games

• 'The boys have worked hard, so definitely they should get the gold'
India hockey coach Vasudevan Bhaskaran talks about the team's preparations and his hopes for the Sydney Olympics.

• 'I missed an Olympic medal, now I want to ensure that one of my students wins one'
P T Usha speaks about her retirement, her future goal of setting up an academy and the disappointments during her glorious career which spanned over a decade.



• 'I have to go all out and prove that I am the best'
Dhanraj Pillay, India's ace hockey forward, on his achievements and the task he hopes to accomplish at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

• 'Even if I were to go for the Olympics I wouldn't really be a contender'
Aparna Popat, India's top ranked ladies singles badminton player, on her chances at the Olympics in Sydney, if she does actually get there.

• My goal is a medal in Sydney'
Pullella Gopichand on winning the Arjuna award, the state of the game in India and his chances at the Olympics.

• No junkets. No way.
Randhir Singh, secretary general of the Indian Olympic Association, on the Olympics and India's chances there.

• 'Winning is easy; staying on top is difficult'
Sailing champion Nitin Mongia on why Indian sailors fail to make an impression on the world stage in the Laser category.

• 'Prakash's exit will cause a vacuum'
India badminton coach Syed Mohammad Arif talks about the game in the country.

• 'I'll be the first non-Japanese Asian driver to test a Formula One car'
Narain Karthikeyan, the fastest Indian on wheels, speaks about his achievements so far and his future goals.

• 'The immediate aim is the Olympics; I am trying very hard to cross the 21 metre mark in shot put'
India strongmanShakti Singh, talks about his immediate
goals, the state of Indian athletics and the career-threatening knee injury that almost finished his career.




• 'I am hoping to go out there and break into the top 100'
Indian woman tennis aceNirupama Vaidyanathann on the Federation Cup challenge, life on the tour and her future plans.

• 'I feel I am in the wrong place'
V Bhaskaran, on the sports scene in India, a 'biased media' and, of course, India’s chances in the coming 2000 Olympics.

• 'I want to reach the level where Anand is today. Give me two years' time'
Abhijit Kunte talks about his journey to fame and his future plans.

• 'My dream is to become an international referee'
Bentla D'Couth, India's first woman football referee, speaks about her aspirations and interests.

• I am aiming for the women's Grand Master title
Aarthie Ramaswamy, the under-18 girls' World chess champion, reveals her future goals and reflects on the World Champioship she won.


• 'I am very excited, but don’t want to let that get in my way'
Sonal Phadke, the only Indian to gain entry into the Australian Open Tennis Championships in the juniors' category, on her carrer and the sport in India.

• 'Karpov is the world champion in political lobbying'
Vishwanathan Anand, the 30-year-old world No. 2, on the preparation required in chess, and the year 1999 in general.

• 'Golf is basically a sport that you play in your mind and against your own self'
Amish Jaitha, the golfer, speaks about his first few steps in the world of professional golf.

• 'I want the top professional golfers to say that there is a good golf player from India and his name is Jeev Milkha Singh'
Jeev Milkha Singh, winner of the Lexus International golf tournament in Bangkok, on his father, the legendary Milkha Singh, and the game of golf in India

• 'I am willing to take up responsibility provided it does not come with strings'
Milkha Singh airs his views on how to improve the Indian athletic scene.

• "Two out of four is not bad" -- Leander
Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes speak about their spectacular run in the Grand Slams.

• 'Japanese girls are lucky for me'
Mahesh Bhupathi and Ai Sugiyama on entering the U.S. Open mixed doubles final.

• 'I want players who can play eight games consistently'
India hockey coach Vasudevan Bhaskaran talks about the recent tour of South Africa and the state of Indian hockey in general.


• 'Now I have to find a coach and sponsor'
Calcutta lad Arjun Atwal, who won the $300,000 Wills Indian Open golf championship at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club, says his main task now is to look for a good coach and sponsor.

• "I will retire and contest elections"
Jyotirmoyee Sikdar speaks at length about her career and future plans.

• 'Call me a fool, if you will'
Roopa Unnikrishnan, the shooting star who won the gold at the Commonwealth Games, speaks about the stepmotherly treatment metted out to sports other than cricket in India.

• "I'm unstoppable now!"
P T Usha, The Payyoli Express, describes her tough climb back to the top of Indian athletics.

• "I'll tell you what actually happened..."
Vasudevan Bhaskaran, the former India hockey coach, speaks about his axing.

• The ace runner heads into the home stretch
Shiny Wilson, in the twilight zone, reminisces about her career right from her childhood days.

• "The media screams for blood...."
V Bhaskaran on the game he loves, and is intensely involved in.

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