Major Dhyanchand comes ‘alive’ at VHA

 

 Beautiful mural to greet hockey lovers at Vidarbha Hockey Association gate

By Paritosh Pramanik

WITH the Indian hockey team making it to the quarter-finals at Tokyo Olympics, thousands of miles away in Nagpur the game has got another identity in the city.
Even though hockey is at its ebb in the region and is fighting for its survival, there is a thin ray of hope that the game would continue to live.
After the square being named after the hockey legend Major Dhyanchand, a mural of one of the greatest hockey players of the world is taking shape in the city.
With the efforts of NMC Corporator Kishor Jichkar, a mural of Major Dhyanchand is coming up beside the gate of Vidarbha Hockey Association (VHA) ground, off Amravati Road. The mural will be completed in a couple of days and will be officially inaugurated by Nagpur Mayor Dayashankar Tiwari.
Tiwari also happens to be a former official of VHA.
The beautiful mural has couple of photographs of Dhyanchand. The legend can be seen standing with a hockey stick in his hand. There is also a close-up photo of the legend.
Players of yesteryears are also seen dribbling, most probably during the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
The back portion of mural is decorated with tricolour along with spectators ‘watching’ the beautiful game, which India once dominated.
“The entire mural is made of fibre and measures 6ft x 9ft,” Jichkar informed ‘The Hitavada’.
“The idea came to my mind during one of the functions held at VHA ground last year. What else place would be better that at the home of hockey in the city,” said Jichkar.
“Now-a-days it is very difficult to erect a statute. There are lot of permissions to be taken and other formalities are also very difficult to complete.
“And above all, there is a trend of constructing murals in the city,” said the corporator when asked about his decision to construct the mural.
The mural is a combination of several photographs of Dhyanchand and it took several months to finalise the pictures.
“With the help of former hockey players Raju Reddy, Vivek Siriah and late Yagya Thakur, we collected the photographs. It took several months to select the pictures. Then, the artist made a collage of a few photos and then converted it into the fibre mural,” informed Jichkar.
“The mural will be illuminated in the evening which will add to its beauty,” added Jichkar.
In 2016, the square in front of VHA ground was named as Dhyanchand Square which was inaugurated by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.

Ground breaking ceremony of varsity’s synthetic track today

 

 

 Sports Reporter

GROUND breaking ceremony of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University’s (RTMNU) synthetic track that will come up on D Lakshminarayan Sports Premises will be held at 10.00 am on Sunday, informs Dr Sharad Suryawanshi, Director, Department of Sports and Physical Education (RTMNU) though a press release.
Cabinet Minister Nitin Gadkari would perform the ‘ bhoomipujan’ at the site that will replace the present cinder track. Guardian Minister Nitin Raut, Maharashtra Sports Minister Sunil Kedar will be chief guests on the occasion.
City Mayor Dayashankar Tiwari will be the special guest at the function.
Vice-Chancellor Dr Subhash Chaudhari, Pro-VC Dr Sanjay Dudhe and Registrar Dr Raju Hiwse will be prominently
present.
The work of making the track has been entrusted to the Public Works Department and RTMNU will spent Rs 10.60 lakh for the entire project.
The contractor for the track is Sports Facilities Company Limited, Mumbai and the work is expected to be complete in nine months.
The track, that will be constructed as per the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) norms will have the following — it will be an eight-lane track, water tank of steeple chase event will be at the centre of the track, jumping pits for long and triple jumps will be there, the entire track would be fenced and will have two doors apart form one main entrance, the track will also house an grass surface football ground, cages will be in place for hammer throw and discus throw and flood light will ensure that competitions can be held in day as well as night time.
Following the COVID protocol, only a few invitees including varsity officials, members of management council and members of sports and physical education board will be present during the function.

PANDEMIC, UNEMPLOYMENT FORCE WORLD CHAMPION IRSHAD TO QUIT CARROM

 

 

By Paritosh Pramanik

FROM now onwards we won’t be witnessing White Slams or Black Slams from this world champ. International Carrom Federation champion Irshad Ahmed has been ‘forced’ to quit the game on which his livelihood depended.
The coronavirus pandemic, which is continuing to wreak havoc around the globe, has ‘trapped’ Irshad too. With no action since last one and a half year, the jobless Irshad has decided to say good-bye to carrom and use his energy in finding ways to feed his family. Carrom tournaments were his earning source, though it was not a major income. Yet, it was enough for Irshad to feed his family.
Now with financial crisis looming large Irshad had no other option than to quit the game. He occasionally visits carrom clubs but it’s only for leisure.
“It’s all over. I have decided to quit the game. It’s now family first for me. I have had my time. Now it’s the time to concentrate on family. It’s (leaving carrom) painful but there is no other option,” was Irshad’s reply when asked about returning to the board whenever the conditions are favourable.
In 2019 December, city’s Irshad had clinched the International Carrom Federation Cup in Mumbai to hog all the limelight.
Things were going smooth until COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020 turned the world upside down.
Irshad decided to drive autorickshaw to feed his joint family of 12 members. He somehow managed to earn the daily bread but as the lockdown continued, he found it difficult to gather two square meals for his family.
“A few months back, the bank seized my autorickshaw as I was unable to pay the monthly installments,” Irshad revealed.
“With age catching up, I won’t be getting any government job. Above all, my lack of education is the biggest hindrance,” said the 37 years old, who could not complete his matriculation.
At present, Irshad is working as a daily wager as there are no orders for his AC Ducting work.
“I used to do AC Ducting in malls and offices. But as all malls and offices are closed, I am unable to earn livelihood.
“I am daily searching for job. On occasions I work at hosiery shops and stitch inner wears. But that too is not permanent,” Irshad said in a painful voice.
“I don’t want any financial aid from anybody. I am strong enough to feed my family. Last time, I got help from my near and dear ones but now my conscience doesn’t allow me to ‘beg’ in front of people,” Irshad proudly said.
What pains Irshad a lot is lack of support from carrom association officials who have shown their back in the time of need. “Not a single official has helped me till date. They all gave assurance after I won the International Federation Cup but those were only hollow words,” rued Irshad.
“The carrom chapter is over,” he resigned.
The finger artistry with which he scored those Slams is over. Irshad is now preparing to show his other skills with his head held high.

Government turning blind eye as badminton coaches cry for help

 

 

By Paritosh Pramanik

THEIR requests are falling on deaf ears. The authorities are playing very safe citing the threat of coronavirus infection. But badminton coaches of the city are on the verge of ‘collapsing’. They are finding acute difficulty in making ends meet.
Since March 2020 lockdown, several NGOs and businessmen came forward to financially help sportspersons in difficulty. But the coaches of the city have been totally ignored. Every one, from government to NGOs to all Good Samaritans, have neglected these coaches, who rely only on their income from coaching.
Badminton coaches, around 40 in the city, are living in a state of distress. For more than a year, they are fighting for their survival. Hardly anybody is paying any heed to their genuine demands. Their savings have dried up and coaches are forced to break their FDs and SIPs prematurely.
‘The Hitavada’ contacted a few coaches of the city who are instrumental in producing district, state and national level champions.
Renowned coach of city Ajay Dayal said these are very testing times for all of them. He is imparting coaching to shuttlers for past 12 seasons and has produced international players like Ritika Thaker, Rohan Gurbani, Sourabh Kerhalkar.
“There are around 35-40 players I am imparting coaching. At present only physical training is being given as all the indoor halls are closed,” Dayal told this newspaper.
“The income has dried up due to lockdown. I am at present charging only for outdoor activities. But it is not sufficient to feed a family of four,” said Dayal.
Dayal asked while in other States indoor halls are open why is it not in Maharashtra.
“I don’t know why government is not allowing indoor sports activities. In other States all players are practicing and there is no problem,” said Dayal.
The ace coach feels that if such attitude of the Government continues, they would be forced to take extreme steps.
“The Government is forcing coaches to take extreme step  because all indoor coaches are ‘jobless’ and frustrated due to continuous restriction of indoor activities. I am surviving on my savings till now and on SIPs but those are also now not sufficient,” said Dayal.
Another acclaimed coach Jayendra Dhole, who has coached medal winning players like Aasavari Khandekar, Aditi Sadhankar, Ameya Naktode, said he is finding it very difficult to manage school fees of his kids and other family expenses as everything is getting costlier day by day.
“I think Government is not understanding the problems coaches. I don’t think they have any idea that most of the coaches fully depend on coaching and they are not doing this for recreation. All other things are open except indoor sports and this is clear bias towards not only badminton but to other indoor sports as well,” said Dhole.
“These are very difficult times but I am a positive person and hope this time will pass soon,” added Dhole who is in coaching field for the past 20 years and has also coached India shuttler Malvika Bansod.
Dhole was pragmatic as he said that though the coaches are suffering, at the same time its the loss of players as well.
“Without any income its really difficult to sustain for one and half year and if this continues, players will suffer. Other state players are practicing but our players and parents are in dilemma whether to continue with sports or better fully focus on studies. It’s not good for sports at all,” Dhole reasoned.
Jibi Varghese, who runs Jibi School of Sports, said his number of students came down to 10 only since the pandemic broke.
“At present we are giving online training to the players both locally and outstation,” said Varghese who has coached players like Vaidehi Choudhari, Gandhar Nawale, Mugdha Agrey, Anura Prabhudesai, Dipti Kuity, Dapasha Joshi, Hritika Sharma Rudra Rane to name a few.
Varghese said he can’t challenge the Government rules but “a sympathetic view can help and support us all.”
“One has to look from both the angles - safety and security of people and their livelihood. We are lucky enough that parents, players and friends have helped us greatly and stood up with us during these testing times,” he said as a matter of fact.
Badminton Star Academy’s coach Amit Raut, too, feels its high time Government takes decision in coaches favour.
“I completely rely on coaching. My father passed away in April and I am the only bread earner in my family. I have to take care of my mother as well,” said Raut, who has produced medal winning shuttlers like Arya Bhujade, Aditua Yaul, Sanvi Jaiswal and many more.
Raut says that parents of players are financially helping them but for how long he should seek assistance from them.
“Some parents of players and friends are helping me financially to meet the basic daily needs of my family. But it’s been one-and-half year now since they are helping us and we are unable to repay as stadiums are continuously closed,” rued Raut.
Vishal Naik of Vishal Badminton Academy is dependent on his father since lockdown. “My father is a retired SBI employee. He is the only support to my family. He is paying my daughter’s school fees and all other expenses,” Naik revealed.
“Everything like gyms, bar, restaurants, market and other fields are open. Badminton coaching should also be given permission. We are ready to follow all the rules,” he said.

NIS boxing coach Ganesh Purohit’s Rise To ‘Stardom’

 

By Paritosh Pramanik

HIS role might be for a few seconds, but NIS boxing coach Ganesh Purohit has instantly become a ‘star’ after his ‘silver screen’ debut.
Farhan Akhtar starer Toofaan, which was released on OTT on Friday has Purohit as coach of cine star’s one of the opponents.
Though Purohit, who is coach of Indian boxer Nagpur’s Alfiya Pathan, was on camera for hardly three or four seconds, his gentle tap on boxer Aziz Ali’s shoulder’s, the role Farhan played, and the encouraging words, earned him quite a fame in the city as well as in different parts of the country.
Purohit is basking in ‘glory’ after his ‘movie debut’ and said he is receiving several calls from his friends from all over
the country.
“I am surprised with the recognition I am getting for those ‘few seconds’ on the screen,” said Purohit from Sonipath where he is with the Maharashtra boxing squad for the 4th BFI Youth Nationals.
“They (his friends) are happily shocked and are asking me ‘aap filmo me kya kar rahe ho’. And I have no answers to their queries,” Purohit told ‘The Hitavada’.
That scene of a few seconds was actually shot for four days during which the NIS and well-acclaimed coach of Maharashtra felt tired.
“There was a lot of editing done. My ‘role’ was shot for more duration but it has been cut down to a few seconds. It took four days to finalise that shot by the director,” recalled Purohit. The movie, in which Farhan plays the role of ‘Dongri Dada’ and then becomes a State champion boxer ‘Aziz Ali’, is directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. “There were few more shots where I had to take my boxer (Jagdish Thakur of Haryana) into the arena and then to the ring before the bout. But those have been edited,” said Purohit.
In the movie Purohit was seen tapping Farhan’s shoulder after the Bollywood star ‘controversially’ loses his semi-final bout (the result was later turned in his favour) and says “bahut achcha khele....well done.”
It was not an easy entry for Purohit as he had to give ‘screen test’ to get this role.
“We were in Kerala for a national meet where we were asked questions about boxing. Around 25-30 coaches were ‘interviewed’ after which they zeeroed in on me,” Purohit proudly said.
Purohit also got the opportunity to talk with Farhan during the shoot in Mumbai. “It was a brief chat during the shoot in Mumbai. We were sitting and he jokingly said to me: “Aap to original coach ho aur hum duplicate boxer hai.”
The movie also has Maharashtra Boxing Association Secretary Dr Rakesh Tiwari as a ringside doctor as well as Mumbai’s Priyadarshanadevi Padwal who was seen as a referee.
A certified referee, Padwal has also worked in another Bollywood movie ‘Holiday’ where she was seen officiating in one of the bouts featuring Sonakshi Sinha.

GM Sadhwani wins Austrian title, gets congratulatory message from Farhan Akhtar

 

 

By Paritosh Pramanik

INDIA’S one of the youngest Grandmasters Raunak Sadhwani is making his Eurpoean Tour a memorable one.
After the silver medal winning performance at the Sliver Lake Open Tournament in Serbia last month, the Nagpur lad bettered his show by clinching gold medal at the 40th St Veiter Jacques Leman International Open A Group Championship 2021 at St Viet an Der Glan in Austria on Saturday.
Fifteen-year-old Sadhwani stamped his authority with some incredible performance to claim the crown.
To add icing to the cake, Sadhwani was congratulated by none other than Bollywood star Farhan Akhtar.
After his title winning performance, Sadhwani twitted “Enjoyed my tournament victory by watching #toofan. It was an amazing movie, the story was brilliant. Great performance by @FarOutAkhtar and @SirPareshRawal looking forward to some more movies
like this!!”
Farhan replied: Congratulations Raunak and thank you so much..best wishes always.”
In the Austrian competition, top seed Sadhwani logged 8.5 points out of possible nine to wrest the coveted title. Sadhwani  finished on the podium with a rating performance of 2720 and also gained important 12 ELO rating points.
He once again kept his slate clean winning eight games and drawing only one.
On his way to the title, Sadhwani defeated Austrians Wallner Dieter Dr, Sucher Johannes Mag, Croatian WIM Berke Ana, Austrian Fide Master Matt Fabian, Croatian GM Rogic Davor, Austrians Kristoferitsch Daniel, FM Sandhofner Florian and Sv Asvo St Veit. He drew his only game against Saric Ante of Croatia. The competition saw 132 participants with maximum 92 taking part from host Austria. There were 21 chess masters from Germany, nine from Slovenia and five from Croatia. Sadhwani was the only participant representing India. Switzerland had two contestants while Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Ireland, Latvia and Serbia one each. Sadhwani was happy with his second podium finish in Europe.
“I am super happy with my performance. Winning a tournament, being a champion, is always so special...a nice feeling,” said Sadhwani.
The Grandmaster did not lose his focus in the entire tournament despite a hiccup in the previous competition. “I kept focusing on the game at hand and I want to continue in the same way.
“I want to keep myself motivated for the upcoming tournaments. I just want to play and enjoy this beautiful game of 64 squares,” said an elated Sadhwani. Sadhwani was rewarded with a prize of 1200 Pounds, a glittering and a Jacques Leman watch for his stellar performance.
This was Sadhwani’s third on the board competition since COVID-19 lockdown disrupted all the sporting activities around the globe.

BCCI should immediately pay ‘salaries’ to First-Class cricketers: Vid players

 

 

By Paritosh Pramanik

THERE is a general perception that cricketers in India are the highest paid sportspersons among all disciplines, individual as well as team. But that’s not the case in entirity. Only those who are regulars in Indian team and those who have played successive seasons of Indian Premier League (IPL) have their coffers ringing. There are many First-Class cricketers who depend on their Ranji Trophy earnings for the entire year. If not selected in the side for a season, their income gets dried up and they find it very difficult to make ends meet for the entire year.
The deadly COVID-19 virus forced BCCI to cancel Ranji Trophy, its premier multi-day national-level cricket tournament, for the first time in its 87 years history, in 2020. The worst affected were the First-Class cricketers who were unable get their ‘salaries’.
BCCI, world’s richest cricket governing body, till date, has not paid the cricketers, despite promising to help its players.
There are hundreds of cricketers in the country who survive on the match fees they get by playing Ranji Trophy in a season. On an average, a First-Class cricketer manages to earn around Rs 15 to 17 lakh in a season, provided he plays maximum Ranji Trophy matches.
Those playing IPL are taken care of by their franchise. But for those not playing the lucarative league are in dire straits. The delay in BCCI’s compensation is making the matter worse for these cricketers.
Cricketers from Vidarbha, the two-time Ranji champions, and Irani Cup winners, too, are sailing in the same boat. Barring India international Umesh Yadav, there is no other cricketer who regularly plays in IPL. They are under a burden of financial crisis due to non-payment of their compensation for the year 2020.
Vidarbha senior player Akshay Wakhare feels BCCI should compensate players on priority as it will only help the cricketers who are dependent only on this ‘salary’.
“The players are finding it very difficult to run their homes as well as maintain their cricketing equipment due to cancelled Ranji Trophy last year.
“For those who are employed with State or Central Governments, it is not that difficult. But there are many cricketers who survive only on match fees. They have to feed their families apart from maintaining their kits,” said Wakhare.
Wakhare is hopeful that BCCI would release funds at the earliest. “I have heard that BCCI has formed a committee to compensate the cricketers.
“Hope they take a decision at the earliest,” said the premier Vidarbha spinner.
Wakhare said that even though BCCI used to pay the match fee, they got it in ‘part-payment. “It (the money) is paid in instalments. It takes several months till we get full payment of the season. This does not help us. Players have to look after their families. Apart from that, cricketing gears are needed to be replaced time and again. If the players get their ‘salaries’ in one go, that would be of immense help,” felt Wakhare.
Rajneesh Gurbani, the architect of Vidarbha’s maiden Ranji Trophy title echoed same view. “The cancellation of Ranji had an adverse impact on our cricketers. Their earnings have stopped and at the same time they are unable to play cricket due to lockdown. Their minds are now getting distracted. They are getting frustrated as they have no income for the past one year,” worried Gurbani.
The lanky pacer said the players should be ‘compensated’ immediately by the BCCI. “There are many Vidarbha cricketers who are finding it very difficult to manage their daily expenses. Sooner BCCI releases funds, the better for the players.”
Vidarbha all-rounder Aditya Sarvate said that those relying on match fee are in a ‘very bad condition.’ He was also of the view that BCCI should take the payment matter on priority basis.
“The COVID pandemic has played a havoc in everybody’s life. There are many Vidarbha cricketers who depend on
match fees.
“If a cricketer is picked by an IPL franchise, he gets a minimum of Rs 15 lakh, irrespective of his incluion in the playing XI. But those First-Class cricketers who are not part of IPL, it’s like a loss of job for the entire year. On an average a player can earn around Rs 10-12 lakh, depending upon his performance and upto which round the team reaches in the leauge. That is a big amount for cricketers surviving only on Ranji Trophy. I think they should be compensated as early as possible,” said Sarvate.
Another Vidarbha cricketer Akshay Wadkar said that though BCCI was taking time in compensating the players, the cricketers would get at least 70 per cent of what they would have got in a regular season.
“It is a difficult time for cricketers. But BCCI is working on it. I have heard that players would get at least 70 per cent of their match fees as compensation for the unwanted break. They are working out on how to disburse the money to all the players,” said Wadkar.
Wadkar said cricketers’ expenses are very high and they should get the money immediately. “Players have to keep updating their kits, equipments. Then there are healthy diet supplements which costs in thousands. With no ‘salary’ for one year, our players are compromising on that aspect. Once a cricketer starts earning, he doesn’t wants to put burden on his parents.
“But this pandemic has forced some of the cricketers to seek help from their parents, though reluctantly,” Wadkar, the Vidarbha middle-order bat concluded.
   

With an eye on Asian Championship, Alfiya gets ready for nationals

 

 

By Paritosh Pramanik

WITH an eye on the Asian Youth Championship which is going to be held in Dubai in August, Indian boxer Alfiya Tarannum Akram Khan Pathan will be taking the Boxing Federation of India’s 4th Youth Women’s National Boxing Championship 2021 as the build-up for the continental competition. The talented boxer from Nagpur was the automatic choice in the Maharashtra Squad in her 81+ weight category after no other boxer turned up from the State.
Maharashtra Boxing Association Secretary Dr Rakesh Tiwari announced the 24-member men and women’s team recently. The national-level competition, which is going to be held at Sonipath in Haryana from July 18, will serve as the selection trials for the pugilists for Asian meet which will be held from August 17 in UAE.
Alfiya, a FIBA World Youth Championship gold medal winner, has been working hard for past couple of months to keep herself in shape. She had been working on building agility and stamina for the future tournaments under the watchful eyes of her NIS coach Ganesh Purohit.
With a youth world championship title under her belt, the daughter of Assistant Sub-Inspector Akram Pathan, Alfiya is confident of good performance. “I am confident of giving a good performance in the national meet,” said Alfiya while on her way to Sonipath.
“The confidence level is high after the gold medal winning feat at Poland. I am not under any pressure for this nationals. But I will not take any opponent lightly. I know all boxers would give their best to get in the Indian team. I will not lower my guard and take every opponent very seriously,” Alfiya told ‘The Hitavada’ over phone from Itarsi on Thursday evening.
Alfiya was aware of the fact that her gold winning performance in the national championship will fetch her a place in the Indian team.
“I will have to win gold in the Sonipath Nationals. The gold medal winning performance will confirm my spot in Indian team. Hence, I will have to deliver the ‘knock-out’ punch,” she made her intentions clear.
“This event will help me prepare for the Asian Championship. I don’t know who all will be my opponents (in nationals) but I am sure of performing upto the expectations of my coaches,” she said. Alfiya is being trained by NIS coach Purohit who had said that she will have to improve her agility as she will now be facing stiff competitions in future. “I am working on her fitness and making her more agile. She needs to be quick on her feet as the competition from here on will only get tougher,” Purohit had said this newspaper.
Maharashtra Boxing Association Secretary Dr Rakesh Tiwari is confident of a great performance from the women’s squad. “We can win championship in girls category. I am hoping of a total of six medals which includes three golds,” said Dr Tiwari.
“I am 100 per cent sure of Alfiya winning the gold medal,” affirmed Dr Tiwari.
Nagpur Mayor Dayashankar Tiwari who is also President of Nagpur City Boxing Association, Alfiya’s coach Ganesh Purohit, Sajjad Hussain, President, Nagpur District Boxing Association, Poras Kotwal, Secretary, Nagpur District Boxing Association, Sanjay Jordar, Dinesh Chapane, Sudesh Shende, Lawrence Gregory and others congratulated and with luck to Alfiya.
The 24-member Maharashtra team has 12 men and as many women participants.
The team: Men: Sandeep Yadav (48kgs), Mohit Singh Bhadoria (51 kgs), Venkatesh Thevar (54kgs), Pawan Vishwakarma (57 kgs), Baswaraj Kattimani (60 kgs), Aditya Goud (63.5 kgs), Shivram Chavan (67 kgs), Manik Singh (71 kgs), Kunal Ghorpade (75kgs), Omkar Gadhave (80 kgs), Rushikesh Girigosavi (86kgs) and Mohd Uzer (92kgs). Chief Coach: Jawwad Khan. Coach: Sandeep Jadhav. Manager: Bandu Gaikwad.
Women: Janhavi Churi (48kgs), Sandhya More (50kgs), Simran Verma (52kgs), Rishika Hole (54kgs), Mrunal Jadhav (57kgs), Aarya Bartakke (60kgs), Nasweera Mujawar (63kgs), Sadiya Shaikh (66kgs), Saie Davkhar (70kgs), Tanishka Patil (75kgs), Sharvari Kalyankar (81kgs), Alfiya Tarannum Akram Khan Pathan (81+kgs). Chief Coach: Dhananjay Bansod. Coach: Krishna Soni. Coach-cum-manager: Asmita Dubey.

Harshal Zade..livelihood on his target

 

To sustain living, national-level shooter Zade turns momos seller
 

By Paritosh Pramanik

THE COVID-19 pandemic has shattered many a house and wreaked havoc on many sportspersons as well. To fight the battle with the virus as well as to overcome the financial burden, several sportspersons had to give up the sport they loved the most while some are forced to sacrifice their training schedule in search of job to make ends meet.
Nagpur has also witnessed several medal-winning athletes standing in long queues for food packets, some surviving on donations from Good Samaritans.
With the pandemic forcing closure of sports facilities, Harshal Zade, a national-level shooter of Nagpur is forced to search for other options. With his shooting academy, where he practices as well as imparts coaching, closed, Zade was forced to start a momos kiosk at Rameshwari Square in South Nagpur so that he feeds his ailing mother and younger sister.
Zade has represented Maharashtra in 10m Air Rifle event in national championships from 2014 to 2019. He is jobless for past several months. He used to coach at ‘Struggle to Play For India Foundation’ Shooting Academy in Wardhaman Nagar, started by Akash Dubey. But, due to coronavirus the academy had shut its shop and as a result the income of Zade dried up.
“My life has changed. I love shooting and dream of playing at higher level. But this pandemic has wreaked havoc. I used to coach at the academy started by Dubey sir. But with lockdown, it has been closed. I used to earn a bit from coaching. However, all my income has dried up. I have to feed my family...my ailing mother, a younger sister who is pursuing pharmacy degree,” Zade said, his voice choked.
“My mother is a housewife and is suffering from thyroid ailment. She is sort of bed-ridden due to paralysis. I had no other option but to start this stall. Though I am not able to earn much, this is of some help,” said Zade, who has won gold medal in NCC national camp in .22 rifle 50m
in 2008.
A dedicated shooter, Zade has named his kiosk after his sport: ‘Shooter Hunger Momo’s’.
Zade had a bright future and was ranked 20th in the National Shooting Championship in 2019. He also participated in international selection trials for five straight years from 2015 to 2020. But as luck would have it, every time he missed the bus by a whisker.
The new restrictions imposed to tackle Delta + variant of coronavirus has furthered Zade’s troubles. The timing of restriction from State Government (to down shutters by 4 pm) is hampering his business as well.
“I got a small space from Ajay Hiwarkar for my stall in Rameshwari. My earnings had started to double in the month of June. But the new restrictions once again played spoilsport. I can’t do business during this timing. There are take-away and home delivery options but still I am unable to do a profitable business,” explained Zade.
Zade said, he wanted to continue his shooting career but the sport was too costly.
“I know shooting is a very expensive sport but I love it and want to continue it, despite my family’s pressure to quit. It has been nine years since I am playing this sport.
“I am not getting the type of training I need. I want high
level training for which either I have to hire a coach or have to move out of Nagpur. But I am aware that I have to do it myself,” said Zade.
Zade was recently helped with new shooting kit by Vivek Awasare.
“Recently Vivek Awasare sir helped me get the shooting kit worth Rs 50,000 as I had to replace the old one which I was using since 2013. We can use one kit only for four years as per rules.”
Zade said he wants to play in .22 event in which he had won gold at NCC national camp.
“But the event is too expensive. The weapon, the bullets are very costly hence I had to leave it. At present I am using the weapon given to me by DSO,” said the 26-year-old.
The BA graduate is also in search of a job. “I am in search of a job. I was rejected due to height but still I am not losing hope. I was selected in SSB performance-wise but then got rejected as my height was one centimeter less than the norm. Similar thing happened during CISF selection too,” rued Zade.
“I have applied for groundman’s job in SAI, Balewadi but I am yet to get a call. I hope one day I would hit the ‘bull’s eye,’” Zade signed off.

Boxer Alfiya starts preparation for Asian Youth Championship

 

 

 

By Paritosh Pramanik

THE road ahead will be more difficult and as Indian boxer Alfiya Pathan conquers peaks one after the other, the journey will be tougher than the previous one.  
The AIBA World Youth Champion is aware of the fact that journey won’t be easy and she will have to work harder.
After winning the World Youth Boxing title in April, Nagpur’s Alfiya has started preparation for future competitions. The latest would be the Asian Youth Championship which is going to be held in Dubai in the month of August.
The expectations would definitely be high from Alfiya who has raised her bar with the AIBA world youth title at Poland.
Alfiya, who was declared as the best boxer of World Youth Championship by AIBA, is determined to improve her performance and fulfill her dream: Representing India in Olympics.
The southpaw pugilist has been training hard at Divisional Sports Complex under the watchful eyes of coach Ganesh Purohit. Her day starts with jogging, running and stamina building exercises. With COVID protocols in place, Alfiya is following all the SOPs. “After returning from Poland, I took rest for hardly 4-5 days. I had been away from home for more than six months (181 days to be precise). But I don’t want to rest on past laurels. There are several competitions lined up. Hence I have to keep myself fit and agile,” Alfiya told ‘The Hitavada’.
The training programme has been prepared by her coaches and she is following them rigorously. “My coaches have chalked out a proper training programme for me and I am following them studiously. I have to maintain my weight and also need to build up more strength. My daily schedule starts with light jogging and running at the Divisional Sports Complex in Mankapur. I am also doing several strengthening exercises.
“Ganesh Sir is there helping me, as always. I am following his instructions,” said Alfiya, who will be competing in 81+ weight category.
Alfiya, who had recorded three out of three wins to clinch the gold medal for India at Poland, will have to be more agile on her feet and have to increase her strength. “I am working on building my strength. The competitions from here will be more tougher and I don’t want to lag behind. I am doing strength training and working hard on improving my agility with carious stretching exercises,” she informed.

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Alfiya needs to work harder from here on: Purohit

 

Ganesh Purohit, NIS coach of Alfiya said that her student needs to work much harder from here on. “The future is very bright for Alfiya. But she will have to work much harder from here on. She needs to make her body strong to bear the heavy punches which would receive in her future bouts. I am working with her on that aspect. In boxing, you are bound to get hit by heavy punches and you have to be prepared for that. She should be able to take that,” said Purohit.
“Alfiya will have to maintain her weight below 85 kgs and we are working on that aspect also. Apart from weight, we are working on how to become more agile and how to be swift on feet. Alfiya is a hard worker and knows that it is in her own hands how to respond to the training schedule. The next assignment is just over a month away and she would be match ready by the time her bout is announced,” said Purohit, who is instrumental in introducing Alfiya to boxing.