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Mrudul, Raunak, Sankalp also in Indian contingent
By Paritosh Pramanik
WOMAN International Master Divya Deshmukh has been seeded second in the 26th Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival which is going to be held at Abu Dhabi from August 2-10.
The championship will be held in three categories—Open, Masters and Juniors.
As per seedings on chess-result.com website, Divya got the second seed in the juniors category in which 50 Indians are also taking part.
Divya will also be playing in the Masters category along with Woman Candidate Master Mrudul Dehankar, who has leaped to 2190 elo rating points, International Master Raunak Sadhwani and Sankalp Gupta. They all will aim to gain experience of playing against hosts of Grandmasters.
Over 600 players from 60 countries will be taking part in this prestigious tournament in which 155 will be from India.
All the three categories will be of nine rounds. Matches in Open and Masters categories will begin from August 2 while the Juniors category will start two days later (Aug 4).
Divya will be high on confidence after she created history by winning hat-trick of titles in Under-15 Nationals recently at Chennai. She continued her rich form and within 10 days of that title finished third in the Women’s National Championship at Madurai.
Mrudul, too, will be brimming with confidence going into the competition as she has recently cleared all three WIM norms and needs to play just four players from other federations to be coronated with Woman International Master title.
She would be hoping to play as many foreign players as she can in the competition.
“I am eagerly waiting for the competition. The recent performance has given me a lot of confidence,” Mrudul told ‘The Hitavada’.
Playing against Grandmasters won’t put Mrudul under any pressure as she had locked horns against them earlier also.
“Last time (2017) I played in the same category (Masters) so there won’t be any added pressure. I will take it match by match and hope I play against players from other countries more so that I get the WIM title,” said Mrudul.
Divya, after continuously playing for last six months, took two days break from chess and attended her school, Bhavan’s BPVM, Civil Lines.
The ‘break’ would help Divya in the Abu Dhabi competition, felt her mother Dr Namrata Deshmukh.
“She is playing continuously for the last six months. She is really tired at present. She got two days’ break after returning from Madurai. But she had to attend her school. I think this little break would help her get fresh for Abu Dhabi meet,” said Dr Namrata.
Raunak, who is playing in Europe for past couple of months is presently participating in a tournament in Switzerland. He will directly reach Abu Dhabi from there to take part in the prestigious competition.
Divya, Mrudul and Sankalp will leave for Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
City Police, who were relegated last season, will fill up the 10th spot in Elite Division
By Paritosh Pramanik
THERE is some bad news for ardent football lovers of the city. Last year’s runners-up Guards Regiment Centre (GRC) won’t be seen in action in the Nagpur District Football Association (NDFA) organised JSW Elite Division League this season.
The military outfit has decided not to participate this season.
According to sources, GRC higher authorities have refused to release its players for the premier competition of the city. Last year, GRC had finished second best behind champions Young Muslim Football Club (YMFC) and were rewarded with a cash prize of Rs 75,000.
With GRC not participating, Nagpur City Police, who were relegated to Super Division last season, will continue to be part of the Elite Division this season too. City Police had a bad 2018-19 where they lost two matches and drew one in the Relegation Final.
“We were informed by GRC that they won’t be participating in this year’s competition. They said that the players were not released by higher authorities,” Iqbal Kashmiri, Secretary, NDFA told ‘The Hitavada’.
“If GRC wants to participate next year they will have to compete in the lower division (Super Division),” added Kashmiri.
GRC had qualified for Elite Division in 2014-15 after they won the Super Division title.
Since last three years, GRC were part of the league and had performed exceedingly well making their way to the top of the table.
The last date of clubs registration was August 20.
GRC football coach Lama’s cell phone was unreachable.
This year Elite Division will see Nagpur Blues as the new entrant. Nagpur Blues were promoted after they emerged
Super Division champs in 2018.
Other teams of Elite Division are defending champions Young Muslim Football Club, former champions Rabbani Club, Kamptee, Qidwai Club, South East Central Railways, Ansar Club, Nagpur Academy Football Club, Big Ben Football Club, Rahul SSA, and City Police.
By Paritosh Pramanik
CITY’s Woman International Master (WIM) Divya Deshmukh added another feather to her cap as she finished a creditable third in the 46th National Women Chess Championship on Saturday.
The competition was organised by Chettinad Public School, Karaikudi in Madurai. Another city girl Mrudul Deshmukh also excelled in the tough competition finishing fifth.
While Divya collected 8.5 points from 11 rounds, Mrudul garnered eight from same number of games.
In the last round, Divya defeated Woman International Master PV Nandhidhaa of Tamil Nadu with black pieces on the third table while 24th ranked Mrudul managed to hold 10th seed WIM Vantika Agrawal of Delhi to a draw.
Divya started with King’s pawn opening to which Nandhidhaa replied with Sicilian Defence. The over three-hour long battle lasted for 50 moves in which Divya emerged winner.
On the second table, Mrudul once again played a marathon battle which lasted for more than five hours and 79 moves after which both the players signed peace treaty.
The win gave Divya a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh while Mrudul received Rs 1.25 lakh for her fifth place finish.
Both 15-year-old players are Standard X students of Bhavan’s Bhagwandas Purohit Vidya Mandir. Divya is studying in Civil Lines branch while Mrudul is a student of Trimurti Nagar branch.
On her way to third place, Divya defeated Ananya Vora, Rutuja Bakshi (both of Maharashtra), V Varshini, J Saranya, Catherina Michelle and PV Nandhidhaa (all of Tamil Nadu) and Nityata Jain of Madhya Pradesh. She drew with Kiran Mohanty of LIC, Meenakshi Subbaraman of Air India and state-mate Mrudul and lost only one game to Bhakti Kulkarni of Air India.
Mrudul defeated Aditi Shrivastava of Madhya Pradesh, Siddhali of Maharashtra, M Mahalakshmi of Railways Sports Promotion Board, V Rindhiya and Srija Sheshadri (both Tamil Nadu) and Vijayalakshmi Subbaraman of Air India. She drew with P Thamaraiselvi of Tamil Nadu, Soumya Swaminathan of Petroleum Sports Promotion Board, state-mate Divya and Vantika Agrawal of Delhi. She, too, lost only one game to PV Nandhidhaa of Tamil Nadu.
Both the city girls were elated with their performances in a tournament which was one of the toughest in the country.
Divya, after making a hat-trick of titles in the U-15 nationals at Chennai last week, continued her rich form as she made another podium finish.
Mrudul, who had said that she would take this tournament to gain experience, defeated some higher rated opponents which helped her complete her WIM norm on Friday.
“I am really happy with my performance. It was a great tournament where I gained a lot of experience. Hope this will help me in my future tournaments,” said Divya. I would like to thank my school Principal Anju Bhutani for the support and my coaches GM RB Ramesh, GM Srinath Narayan and GM Jacob Aagard who guided me all through my journey so far.”
Mrudul, too, was elated with her show where she collected 120 rating points. “I am really happy with my performance even though I did not finish on the podium. But still learned a lot from this meet,” said Mrudul.
“It was a very tough tournament in which I played against a few higher rated opponents. Defeating them and earning third WIM norm is really pleasant,” added Mrudul.
Had Mrudul won the last match she would have finished third but the 15-year-old is not too worried about it.
“From this meet I have learnt not to give up and fight till the end,” Mrudul added.
She also thanked her school Principal Parwati Iyer for supporting her in the best possible way.
“I won’t have reached this far without the support of my school management, and principal Iyer madam,” said Mrudul.
“The coaching I got from International Master Anup Deshmukh sir during my early days has really helped me. Now, I am learning from Gurpreet (Singh Maras) sir. He is really working hard on me. A 30-hour coaching from GM Swapnil Dhopade too helped me a lot. I thank all my coaches for where I am today,” said Mrudul.
MAH GOVT’S KRIDA PARABODHINI IN A SHAMBLES
By Paritosh Pramanik
STRAY dogs at the entry gate of the hostel. A stinking dining hall. Poor quality of food. Flies all over the cooking area. Rotten onions spread in a corner of a makeshift storeroom. Choked, filthy, uncleaned toilets. Doorless bathrooms. Dark corridors. Broken fitness equipment.
Welcome to Krida Prabodhini, Nagpur!
Situated in the sprawling premises of Divisional Sports Complex in Mankapur, off Koradi Road, this boys’ hostel (earlier there used to reside 10 girls also but it was closed in 2015) is a perfect example of how the State Government is playing with the careers of talented sportspersons of the region. There are 38 students in Krida Prabodhini with 32 handball players and six athletes.
The residential sports hostel for boys is a blot on Nagpur as well as on its sports culture.
The reality of the stinking hostel was brought to light by students of Prabodhini a few days back when they raised their voice against ill-treatment meted out to them, be it providing of inferior quality of food, lack of infrastructure or alleged improper behaviour of the principal. The aggrieved students also submitted a memorandum to the District Collector a couple of days back informing him about their plight.
To conduct a reality check ‘The Hitavada’ visited the hostel from where the Government expects medal winners to emerge for the state.
It was shocking to see the entrance hall full of dust. Beside the hall, the dining area was occupied by a couple of students having their lunch along with a puppy peeing on the floor even as flies covered the cooking area.
At a makeshift storeroom there were potatoes spread on the floor along with rotten onions meant to serve the students.
On the right side of the entrance a few gym equipment in a dilapidated condition stare at you.
As this correspondent moved ahead towards the first floor, a dark corridor without lights opened up its arms. Stinking toilets with broken doors gave an impression that they were not cleaned for months.
The bathrooms were flooded as the pipeline was choked due to the ongoing renovation work of the hostel. Even the equipment in gymnasium are in bad shape. The seats are torn and weights are very less in numbers. Players say they have not yet received sports kits and other equipment.
“They want us to win medals at any cost. They throw us out if we fail to perform after a couple of years.
“But they don’t provide us the basic facilities. How can we perform to the best of our abilities if we do not get proper diet, proper sporting material and proper place to live,” said a peeved student.
“A water filter was installed a few days back. Otherwise, we were drinking contaminated water,” added another player.
Players are staying in such a shabby condition and, it seems, Government is hardly paying any heed to their genuine demands.
District Sports Officer Avinash Pund, who has been given additional charge of the hostel after Deputy Director, Sports and Youth Affair, Subhash Rewatkar, had to sacrifice Principal’s post, said, the contract of the caterer Ms Shreeram Traders, has been terminated and fresh tenders will be floated for new caterer.
“He (caterer Shreeram Traders) is here till Sunday only. We have decided to terminate his contract. Fresh tenders will be floated soon,” said Pund.
However, the fact is that the rate at which food is served to the students every day is very less. As per Government norms, only Rs 200 per player is being given to the contractor. The Rs 200 are supposed to cover the cost of breakfast, lunch and dinner of best quality.
According to the weekly menu, students are supposed to get boiled eggs, non-veg food thrice a week. They are entitled to get lime juice, fruits, sweet corn, once daily apart from 250 grams of milk, two bananas, soybean and other nutrient supplements daily. These apart from their regular lunch where vegetables as fixed for every day.
Pund accepted the rates are very less and they should be increased.
“Yes, Rs 200 per student/per day in that quantity and of best quality is far less. We will be requesting the Government to increase the rates,” assured Pund.
According to Government rules, there should be a warden, a clerk and a worker at Prabodhini which has a capacity of 60 students. But in Nagpur there are only 38 students hence there are no officials to look after. “I have to prepare and maintain the account books. At times the staff of Divisional Complex work overtime for the hostel work,” informed Rewatkar.
The peculiar condition in which the students are living is really pathetic calls for immediate rectification.
By Paritosh Pramanik
IT IS said tragedy strikes only once devastating the surroundings. But, when the catastrophe pounds twice, it’s destiny’s
call. Being at the receiving end
of a tragedy twice, the Pradhans were shattered. But they never lost hope that their day would come and the worries would be wiped out.
Rabi Ranjan Pradhan and his wife Jayanti were over the moon when they were blessed with a baby boy at the end of the 20th century. But their joy was short-lived when they came to know the that their son, Prachuriya, was blind by birth. Heavens fell on the joint family of five brothers and a sister of Boden village in
Naupada district of Odisha. Somehow, they gathered
courage and picked themselves
to lead a normal life taking care
of their son. Two years later, the new millennium doubled their agony. Their second son Soundarya, too, was born with visual disorder. The Pradhans were gutted.
Both of their kids could not see the colourful world. It was a torrid time which they ventured for several years, unable to show their kids the life in red, purple, blue, green and other colours. The brothers only know and could feel only one colour — Black, dark black.
The kids — Prachuriya, now 21 and Soundarya, 19, — have never seen the face of their parents. But Pradhans did not lost hope. Rabi Ranjan and Jayanti decided
to bring up their kids like
other children.
Today, after more than 20 years, Prachuriya and Soundarya are winning accolades in chess and in academics too, topping their exams year after year. The belief of Pradhans in the Almighty is paying off.
The brothers are winning battles and awards on the 64 squares, making their family proud.
In Nagpur to participate in the Aamdar Chashak FIDE Rating Chess Tournament at Dr Hedgewar Smarak Samiti, Reshimbag, Soundarya, a 100 per cent visually impaired, was going strong and was joint leader with four points on Thursday morning.
His father, as always, was providing him support, passing him water bottle, taking him to the washroom during his fifth round match against top seed VAV Rajesh on the top board when, Rabi Ranjan went 20 years down memory lane to share with ‘The Hitavada’ the ordeal and the difficulties they faced while bringing up their ‘special’ kids.
“Earlier, it was very difficult. Our kids were born with Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) disorder. It is 1 in 1000 disorders,” said Rabi Ranjan, watching his younger son compete in the fifth round match.
“Our life turned upside down within four years. I was Principal of Biju Patnaik College in Boden in Odisha. But I had to vacate the post to take care of my kids. I decided to step down as principal and took a language professors’ job,” Pradhan said.
He even detached himself from the world. “I was Lingual Theatre Director when I used to direct plays. I gave up that too. I detached myself from society. But then I thought where will it take me and my family. I started grooming my kids like normal ones,” narrated Pradhan.
Both Prachuriya and Soundarya, despite being 100 per cent blind, have best of the brains. Pradhan decided to put them along with regular students when Prachuriya was in 10th standard. But a government school in Boden refused to admit them.
“I wanted them to be like any other kid. From a school for blind I tried the admit them to a regular school but they refused. Then I took them to a farther school, which was around 3-4 kms away from our home. Prachuriya got admission and secured above 90 per cent in his board exams.
“The previous school management, who earlier had refused us, came to my home and admitted their mistake and requested to send Soundarya to their school,” said Pradhan.
Chess was in Pradhans’ blood with Rabi Ranjan’s elder Keshranjan Pradhan being a national-level player.
The two kids learned the basics from their uncle Keshranjan and then from Durgaprasad Mahapatra. After that it became more difficult to give the two proper coaching in Boden.
“Later, they got coaching from IMs Shekhar Sahu, Sagar Saha and Satyapragmya. After that they started taking help of computers and took coaching by playing on it. It was because of softwares—JAWS and NVDA— they started learning chess at higher level. The software converts text into speech which both my kids learned,” mentioned Pradhan. Both Prachuriya and Soundarya are very fast learners and can remembers things quickly.
“If God has taken their sight, He gave them the sharpest of brains,” Pradhan proudly said.
“Soundarya has cleared JEE (Mains) and is studying in National Institute of Technology (NIT), Jamshedpur Second Year. It is one of the top Institutes in the country and getting admission itself is a Herculean task. But as I said, Soundarya is very bright in academics too, he cleared the JEE which fetched him this seat,” Pradhan said.
Pradhan who will be retiring from his job in 4-5 years, said it is very difficult to make the ends meet for their travels during the tournaments.
“The main thing is lack of sponsorship. Soundarya has represented India in several international tournaments. He has visited eight European countries and made the country proud by winning medals. He won World Junior Silver Medal at Poland last year and fetched silver at Asian Para Games in Indonesia. But still, no corporate house came forward to sponsor his tours,” Pradhan lamented.
“After Indonesia win, Prime Minister Narendra Modi felicitated Soundarya in New Delhi. After that there were a few felicitation functions in Odisha but there was hardly any concrete decision on sponsoring him. Being the single earner of the family I am finding it difficult to foot bills of Soundarya’s tournament travels,” said Pradhan.
Now that Soundarya is playing in the open category, he will have to participate in as many tournaments as he can which will help him in getting IM, GM norms. “And for that we need sponsorships. Hope some hands come forward in Soundarya’s support,” concluded Pradhan.
Synthetic track top priority for Dr Suryawanshi
RTMNU’s new Physical Education Department Director chalks out future plans
n By Paritosh Pramanik
HE MIGHT be having ‘n’ number of priorities at his disposal but newly-appointed Director of Physical Education Department and Sports of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Dr Sharad Suryawanshi has marked one at the top of his agenda — laying of Synthetic Track.
On first day after taking charge of the department, Dr Suryawanshi short-listed ‘first-things-first’ which included completion of synthetic track and indoor hall at RTMNU’s ground, off Ravi Nagar.
Talking with ‘The Hitavada’ at his office, Dr Suryawanshi spelt out his initial plans: how to improve performance of teams at all India level, forcing responsibilities on selectors, how to reduce walkovers, introducing zone-wise inter-collegiate events, coaching camps, ‘prime time slots’ for national, international level university badminton players etc.
Dr Suryawanshi, who is also secretary of Nagpur District Athletics Association, wanted that work of synthetic track begins at the earliest. “It’s been too long. We want synthetic track at the earliest. Nagpur University’s long distance runners are making their presence felt in all India inter-university meets. A synthetic track will definitely help the university produce more medal winners,” said Dr Suryawanshi, who is also a member of synthetic track technical committee.
“Almost all paper work is complete. I will take the matter with higher authorities. The blue print is ready but due to model code of conduct the process was halted. I will make it sure work starts immediately,” he added.
“Apart from synthetic track, the proposal of indoor stadium is also pending. I will also try to start this work,” said Suryawanshi who represented India at 1987 Poland World Cross Country.
Himself an athlete, Suryawanshi was well aware of the lackadaisical performance of various teams in the West Zone and All India Inter-University meets. He said that he would try to find ways out as to how to improve the performance.
“I will ask all stakeholders for their suggestions on how to improve the performance of teams in all India and West Zone meets. If not all, we can start with a few events where we see the potential. We can hold proper coaching camps and can find out new ways to better the performance,” felt Dr Suryawanshi, a gold medal winner of All India Inter-University Cross Country meet at Chandigarh.
Dr Suryawanshi will also be holding meetings of several sports organisers on how to develop and improve overall performance of players and teams. On Monday, he met officials from athletics, kho-kho and softball.
“We need to meet concerned persons to get their views so that we solve their problems. This might also help in our overall performance,” added Dr Suryawanshi.
The director also wanted to put more responsibilities on selectors of various games who pick teams without watching players during the trials. “I think selectors should watch inter-college meets. If not all, the semi-finals and finals. From there they could get some good players for the trials. There should be more responsibilities on selectors too,” Dr Suryawanshi pointed out.
To develop sports culture, Dr Suryawanshi has decided to organise at least one All India meet.
“We hardly conduct All India Inter-University meets. I would try to get at least one competition every year. That would help us in developing sports culture,” opined Dr Suryawanshi.
“This year we have sent letters to AIU for conducting handball, football, badminton and volleyball all India meets. The schedule is yet to be declared. We may get some of the events,” hoped Dr Suryawanshi.
Dr Suryawanshi was well aware of the walkovers which colleges/teams concede during the inter-college meets. He said he would try to change the pattern of the events so that maximum teams participates.
“Some colleges did not send their teams due to distance of the venue of the competition. We would try to introduce zonal system where teams would get their matches closer to their colleges. But these are only my personal views. We will have to sit with all stakeholders and chalk out a proper, favourable schedule,” said Dr Suryawanshi, who is also Principal of Sharirik Shikshan Mahavidyalaya, Koradi.
With Nagpur shuttlers excelling all over the country and internationally, Dr Suryawanshi said he would make it sure that university players get best slot at Subhedar Hall for practice.
“As the badminton hall is open to all, our players get less priority. We will try to give them the best ‘prime-time slot’ so that can train well and win more medals for the university,” Dr Suryawanshi concluded.
RTMNU’s new Physical Education Department Director chalks out future plans
By Paritosh Pramanik
July 12, 2019
HE MIGHT be having ‘n’ number of priorities at his disposal but newly-appointed Director of Physical Education Department and Sports of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Dr Sharad Suryawanshi has marked one at the top of his agenda — laying of Synthetic Track.
On first day after taking charge of the department, Dr Suryawanshi short-listed ‘first-things-first’ which included completion of synthetic track and indoor hall at RTMNU’s ground, off Ravi Nagar.
Talking with ‘The Hitavada’ at his office, Dr Suryawanshi spelt out his initial plans: how to improve performance of teams at all India level, forcing responsibilities on selectors, how to reduce walkovers, introducing zone-wise inter-collegiate events, coaching camps, ‘prime time slots’ for national, international level university badminton players etc.
Dr Suryawanshi, who is also secretary of Nagpur District Athletics Association, wanted that work of synthetic track begins at the earliest. “It’s been too long. We want synthetic track at the earliest. Nagpur University’s long distance runners are making their presence felt in all India inter-university meets. A synthetic track will definitely help the university produce more medal winners,” said Dr Suryawanshi, who is also a member of synthetic track technical committee.
“Almost all paper work is complete. I will take the matter with higher authorities. The blue print is ready but due to model code of conduct the process was halted. I will make it sure work starts immediately,” he added.
“Apart from synthetic track, the proposal of indoor stadium is also pending. I will also try to start this work,” said Suryawanshi who represented India at 1987 Poland World Cross Country.
Himself an athlete, Suryawanshi was well aware of the lackadaisical performance of various teams in the West Zone and All India Inter-University meets. He said that he would try to find ways out as to how to improve the performance.
“I will ask all stakeholders for their suggestions on how to improve the performance of teams in all India and West Zone meets. If not all, we can start with a few events where we see the potential. We can hold proper coaching camps and can find out new ways to better the performance,” felt Dr Suryawanshi, a gold medal winner of All India Inter-University Cross Country meet at Chandigarh.
Dr Suryawanshi will also be holding meetings of several sports organisers on how to develop and improve overall performance of players and teams. On Monday, he met officials from athletics, kho-kho and softball.
“We need to meet concerned persons to get their views so that we solve their problems. This might also help in our overall performance,” added Dr Suryawanshi.
The director also wanted to put more responsibilities on selectors of various games who pick teams without watching players during the trials. “I think selectors should watch inter-college meets. If not all, the semi-finals and finals. From there they could get some good players for the trials. There should be more responsibilities on selectors too,” Dr Suryawanshi pointed out.
To develop sports culture, Dr Suryawanshi has decided to organise at least one All India meet.
“We hardly conduct All India Inter-University meets. I would try to get at least one competition every year. That would help us in developing sports culture,” opined Dr Suryawanshi.
“This year we have sent letters to AIU for conducting handball, football, badminton and volleyball all India meets. The schedule is yet to be declared. We may get some of the events,” hoped Dr Suryawanshi.
Dr Suryawanshi was well aware of the walkovers which colleges/teams concede during the inter-college meets. He said he would try to change the pattern of the events so that maximum teams participates.
“Some colleges did not send their teams due to distance of the venue of the competition. We would try to introduce zonal system where teams would get their matches closer to their colleges. But these are only my personal views. We will have to sit with all stakeholders and chalk out a proper, favourable schedule,” said Dr Suryawanshi, who is also Principal of Sharirik Shikshan Mahavidyalaya, Koradi.
With Nagpur shuttlers excelling all over the country and internationally, Dr Suryawanshi said he would make it sure that university players get best slot at Subhedar Hall for practice.
“As the badminton hall is open to all, our players get less priority. We will try to give them the best ‘prime-time slot’ so that can train well and win more medals for the university,” Dr Suryawanshi concluded.
