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.

-------------------

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. 

Alfiya was psychologically strong in final: India coach

 

 

By Paritosh Pramanik

DEFEATING same opponent from Maldova in earlier tournament gave Indian boxer Alfiya Tarranum Akram Khan Pathan psychological edge in the final which helped her win the summit clash hands down, felt Indian boxing coach Bhaskar Bhatt.
Nagpur’s pride Alfiya defeated Moldova’s Daria Kozorez 5-0 in the final on Thursday night to clinch her first-ever World Youth Championship gold medal at Kielce in Poland.
Indian women scripted history by winning a total of seven gold medals in the tournament.
Talking with ‘The Hitavada’, India coach Bhaskar Bhatt said the coaching staff was
confident of Alfiya, the ever-improving boxer, winning the gold medal.
“The coaching staff was not under any pressure for the seventh gold. We had won a record six golds which was unbelievable. We were confident that Alfiya will win the seventh gold for India. Alfiya had a psychological edge over her opponent in the final. Her opponent Moldova’s Kozorez was under pressure as Alfiya had defeated her in the Montenegro competition. Alfiya was too strong for her in the final. And she had recorded wins over two strong opponents (in quarter-final and semi-final) which had boosted her confidence.
“We were sure that Alfiya would beat Daria one-sided and we all saw how brilliantly she won the gold. It was a top-notch performance from Alfiya and we are very proud of her,” said Bhatt from Poland.
In the semi-final Alfiya lost the first round but bounced back in the remaining two after changing her strategies.
“After Alfiya lost the first round in the semi-final bout against host Poland’s Toborek Oliwia, we decided to go for an all-out attack in the next round. Had she played defensively, she would have lost the game. We asked her to attack and she followed our instructions and drew level the second round. In
the third round she was all over her opponent and won the match by split decision (3-2),” said Bhatt.
Bhatt said they were sure of Alfiya winning the medal in 81+ weight category. “We are working with Alfiya for the past two years. We all were aware of her capabilities in this weight category (81+). We were 100 per cent sure that she would win the gold,” said the Indian coach.
Bhatt said that the future of Indian boxing is bright with someone from this bunch winning medals at Olympics.
“The future of Indian boxing is bright and I can assure you that in future Olympics you will see someone from this batch winning a medal for the country,” Bhatt predicted.
The seven gold medals till Thursday surprised the Indian coaching staff as they
were expecting around five yellow metals.
“The team’s performance in this world championship has been outstanding. The boxers gave extra-ordinary performance which surprised us (to some extent) and stunned others. Seven out of ten gold medals are won by India which is a very commendable performance,” he said. Bhatt said that as is the practice all the boxers will be rewarded for the superb performance. “The Indian Government has been rewarding players with cash prizes according to their performances and this time, too, the players will be rewarded. The players will have to fill their performance form and Government will definitely reward them,” Bhatt concluded.

 

 

‘Alfiya mixed aggression with calmness well’

 

By Paritosh Pramanik

Alfiya Pathan, who won gold medal at the World Youth Championship at Poland on Thursday, has mixed her aggression with calmness very well which helped her clinch the medal, said NIS coch Ganesh Purohit.
Purohit introduced Alfiya to boxing when she was 14 years old. “Just like in cricket where a player hits sixes, fours and also takes singles and doubles, Alfiya plays aggressively and at the same time keeps herself calm in tense situation. This quality helped her win the maiden gold in youth category,” said Purohit.
“She is a very disciplined and dedicated boxer and even national coaches like her attitude and how she presents herself. She is always ready for sparring and never gets exhausted,” said Purohit praising Alfiya.
The coach said Alfiya will have to work much harder from here on if she wants to climb the ladder.
“We (himself and coach Bhaskar Bhatt) have chalked out a plan for Alfiya. We will now bring down her weight to below 75 kgs. That will help her target for Olympics in future. She has a fatty body and it won’t be difficult for her to lose the weight. We have prepared a diet plan for her and she would definitely lose some kilos very soon,” said Purohit.

‘Golden Girl’ Alfiya to reunite with family after 180 days

 

 Arriving in city today

 

By Paritosh Pramanik

 

IT WILL be after more than six months, 181 days to be precise, that India’s ‘Golden Girl’ Alfiya Tarrnum Akram Khan Pathan, will be reuniting with her family in Nagpur on Monday.

City’s 18-year-old Alfiya created history by becoming the first boxer from Maharashtra and Nagpur to win an AIBA World Youth Boxing gold medal for India recently in Poland. Alfiya, who landed in New Delhi on Saturday night, will be reaching Nagpur on Monday afternoon.

Alfiya’s father Akram Pathan, who works as Assistant Sub-Inspector at City Police Headquarters, Nagpur, received her at the Delhi airport. Both will be reaching Nagpur by train on Monday noon.

“I am very happy to see my dad after so many days. It’s been around six months since I was away from home. It’s time to reunite now. I am eagerly waiting to meet my mother, brother and other family members,” Alfiya told ‘The Hitavada’ from New Delhi.

Her father Akram was a contented man. It was he who had dropped Alfiya at Rohtak in October and received her today, after six months.

“I am very happy to see my daughter who is more like a friend to me. On October 25, I had left her at Rohtak (SAI Boxing Centre). Since then she has been away from home. We will now spend some quality time at home. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there won’t be any the celebrations. But reuniting with Alfiya itself is a celebration for us,” said Akram Pathan.

Alfiya recorded three out of three wins to clinch the gold medal for India. She was the seventh Indian pugilist to win the yellow metal for the country.

In the final, Alfiya outpunched Moldova’s Daria Kozorez 5-0 to win the one-sided final.

How a 5-min pep-talk with parents helped Alfiya win gold

 

By Paritosh Pramanik

IT WAS a five-minute pep-talk with her parents before the final which pumped up boxer Alfiya who won the gold medal in her first attempt in the AIBA World Youth Boxing Championships at Kielce in Poland, Thursday.

Alfiya was over the moon when she defeated her opponent Moldova’s Daria Kozorez 5-0 to register a one-sided win in the gold medal match.

Everybody saw how Alfiya Tarranum Akram Khan Pathan, the 18-year-old pugilist from Nagpur, controlled her emotions on the podium when the Indian National Anthem was played for the seventh time in the day.

Alfiya, who has been away from her home for past several months, training at SAI Centre in Rohtak, said her parents pumped her up before the final bout which helped her in winning her the maiden world youth championship gold.

“I had talked with my parents before the final and they encouraged me. They said they were sure that I would win the gold medal. The five-minute pep-talk pumped me up. They said that I will play an excellent final. They lifted my spirits by saying that I had worked so hard for so many days and months and I will bear fruits. I had talked for just five minutes with my parents and that really pumped me up psychologically,” Alfiya revealed from Poland while talking with ‘The Hitavada’ on Friday.

The plan for the final bout was simple. Go all out and dominate from the word go. The aggressive approach helped Alfiya win the gold-medal bout 5-0.

“My plan for the final was to start aggressively. In the semi-finals, I had lost the first round 0-5 but then I bounced back to win the second 3-2 and then took the final round 5-0 to enter the final. The strategy for the final was simple. I wanted to win the first round one-sided and take the lead. I played as per the instructions of my coaches and kept playing an aggressive game,” said Alfiya, daughter of Assistant Sub-Inspector at Nagpur City Police Headquarters Akram Pathan.

It was an emotional moment for Alfiya while standing in the middle of the podium with a gold medal dangling around her neck and listening to the Indian National Anthem being played in Poland.

“It was a very proud moment for me as well as for the entire nation when the National Anthem was played for the one last time in Poland. It was a surreal feeling. I got a bit emotional, too, but I controlled my-self on the podium. I was so happy to contribute to the country’s successful performance. My medal was one out of seven golds. India started the day by winning the gold and I finished up in the same manner by clinching the yellow metal. So, it was a very proud feeling,” Alfiya narrated her feelings.

The left-handed pugilists’ bout was the last of the day and she had to match the performance of other Indians. Alfiya admitted that she was under a bit of pressure but at the same time was confident of doing well.

“As India had won six gold medals before my bout, I was under a bit of pressure. But I was aware that the final would not be as tough as the semis. Still, there was a bit of pressure of winning the seventh gold medal for the country when all the others had fetched the top spot,” she admitted.

Winning a gold medal in her first appearance in the youth category boosted Alfiya's confidence and she said this will help her in future competitions.

“This gold medal has given me a world of confidence. This was my first tournament in this category after I graduated from junior level. I wanted to cement my place in Indian team (in the youth category) after winning gold at Junior Asian Championship. This was a god-send opportunity for me and I wanted to prove myself. The gold medal is very important for me and it will help me in my future competitions,” Alfiya signed off.

Actor Sonu Sood helps Nagpur girl get ventilator bed

By Paritosh Pramanik

BOLLYWOOD actor Sonu Sood is being hailed as Messiah throughout the country. The cinestar, who has studied in Nagpur in his college days, has helped scores of poor and needy people travel back home during last year’s nation-wide lockdown which was forced due to COVID-19.

The good Samaritan Sonu, who himself is COVID-19 positive and is home quarantined at his Mumbai home, this time came forward to save the life of a 26-year-old Nagpur girl Bharti Kispotta.

On Sunday afternoon, Sonu’s twitter blinked with a message seeking help. Hudson Misal a Nagpurian who works with an airline company, posted a request on twitter seeking help to save her colleague from getting ventilator bed for a COVID patient.

“Need to save one life in Nagpur. Urgently need one ventilator bed. Name of Patient – Bharti Kispotta. CT score-14/25. Oxygen – 56. Age 26. Pls help @sonusood sir. This is very serious,” read the tweet from Misal and tagged Sonu Sood.

Within one hour he got a reply from Sood’s handle in Hindi: ‘Agle 30 minton me ICU bed aur ambulance mil jayegi. Tayyari kijiye. (In next 30 minutes you will get ICU bed and Ambulance. Start preparing).

Though they had to face difficulties in arranging an O2 Ambulance, the patient got a ventilator bed in Wochardt hospital.

Not only arranging the bed for Bharti, actor Sood is in touch with doctors at the hospital.

“Don’t worry, I am in touch with the doctors. she will be given best care,” Sood’s another tweet read.

Misal, thanked Sood for his timely help.

“Thank you @SonuSood for the quick and timely help even when you yourself are down with #Covid. Wishing you a speedy recovery,” thanked Misal through his tweet.

Bharti is said to be stable at the hospital.

Actor Sonu Sood arranges Air ambulance for city’s Bharti

 

ADMITS HER TO HYDERABAD HOSPITAL FOR COVID TREATMENT

 

By Paritosh Pramanik

 

BOLLYWOOD actor Sonu Sood is on one of the “greatest missions” of his life. After helping and arranging transportation for scores of migrants to reach their homes for last one year, Sood has come forward to save city’s airline employee Bharti Kispotta, who is suffering from COVID-19.

‘The Hitavada’ reported on April 19 how the actor had helped Bharti get a ventilator bed in a city hospital after Hudson Misal, a colleague of Bharti, tweeted and tagged the cinestar for help.

However, as Bharti’s condition deteriorated and she needed much better treatment, doctors suggested shifting her to Hyderabad. When Sood was made aware of Bharti’s condition, he immediately decided to shift her to Hyderabad’s Apollo Hospital.

As per the information, the Bollywood star, used his contacts to arrange an air ambulance for Bharti.

Bharti, a resident of Motibag and daughter of a retired railway employee, was airlifted to Hyderabad on Thursday afternoon.

“Doctors came to Nagpur from Hyderabad on Wednesday and monitored Bharti’s condition for the whole day. After medication and observation at the night, they decided to shift her to Hyderabad in an air ambulance. At around 11 am Thursday, Bharti was taken to Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur. She was then flown to Apollo Hospital in Hyderabad in air ambulance at around 12 noon,” said one of the close associates of Bharti.

In the morning, actor Sood tweeted, “Greatest Mission. Today an air ambulance is carrying Bharti from Nagpur to Hyderabad. Support us if possible.”

At 2 pm, Sood tweeted again: Mutthi khol ke to dekh…Shayad teri haath ki lakiro me kisi ki jaan bachana likha hoga.

Sood, who himself is in isolation after being tested corona positive, has arranged the air ambulance for Bharti on his own. If sources are to be believed, he will be footing the bills of entire treatment of Bharti, which would be around Rs 40-50 lakh.

Meanwhile, Bharti’s cousin sister, Nidhi Kispotta, has also appealed to citizens through social media for help. “My sister is suffering from coronavirus. We need your help to provide for her treatment,” wrote Nidhi on ketto.org through which she is doing a fundraiser. She also posted a photo of Bharti.

Since last Sunday, after arranging a ventilator bed for Bharti in Wockhardt hospital, Sood was in touch with doctors at the hospital.

“Don’t worry, I am in touch with the doctors. She will be given best care,” Sood’s another tweet read.

Bharti's family and friends are confident that ‘the Messiah’s’ efforts will bear fruits soon.

Captain Sunita keeps personal Tragedy aside, plays for Amma FC

 

 

SLUG: The Nagpur team lost their second match to Mumbai District champions Footie First 7-0

By Paritosh Pramanik

 

KEEPING her personal loss aside, Amma FC captain Sunita Yadav decided to play help her side against a strong rival in the ongoing Western India Football Association (WIFA) Women’s Football League, played at the Cooperage ground on Saturday. The league is a qualifying tournament for the AIFF Indian Women’s League (IWL).

Sunita woke up to tragic news of passing away of her grandfather. But the Amma FC captain decided to keep her personal loss aside and played team’s second match against Footie First. Her presence in the team was visible as Footie First FC were unable to breach the defence initially.

“I got the news of the passing away of my grandfather Radhuram Yadav (90 years) in the morning. I was shattered but we had the match to play immediately. Anyhow, I wouldn’t have managed to attend the funeral hence I decided to play the game,” said Sunita, who recently resigned from a PET job to play for Amma FC in the competition. Sunita returned to Nagpur in the evening and said she would decide whether to return back for the tournament, later.

Though Amma FC lost the match hands down by seven goals to nil, they managed to hold their opponents from scoring more heavily, like they had in their first 14-0 win over Pacangan FC, Satara.

Nagpur team played well for the first 18 minutes but an allegedly debatable foul on the edge of the box by Akansha Shelare forced referee Irfan Shaikh award a penalty to Footie First, Mumbai.

Their star striker Jyoti Chouhan made no mistake in slotting the ball home in the 19^th minute.

“The foul took place clearly out of the rectangle. It was really a harsh decision by the referee. That broke the tempo of our team,” coach Annie Paul told ‘The Hitavada’

That goal put Amma FC on the back foot and in the 33^rd minute hit the back of the net to double the net for the Mumbai District champion team.

Jyoti, who had slammed nine goals in their opening 14-0 win against Pacangan FC, Satara in the opener, scored two goals in the 38^th and 45^th minutes to complete her hat-trick and give Mumbai a 4-0 half-time cushion.

But despite Jyoti scoring a hat-trick, Amma FC defence tried their best to hold the prolific player and frustrated her at times over the defence line.

Jyoti was on the target once again in the 54^th minute and Mamta Kumari added another in the 81^st to make it difficult for Amma FC to make a comeback.

With hopes diminished Amma FC replaced goalkeeper Bhuneshwari Pendam with Stanzin Tsomo in the 84^th minute but Jyoti managed to squeak one past her, too, a minute before final whistle.

Coach Annie, despite her team losing heavily, was all praise for her side. “I know that it is a big loss but I am proud of the girls. They really played well. Once again, the lack of combined practice was visible. But they will bounce back in the next three games,” said Annie.

In another match, Mumbai district runners-up PIFA FC thrashed Pacangan FC, Satara 11-0. Sasmita Behera (2^nd, 27^th, 42^nd, 53^rd, 84^th), Marbarin Nongrum (24th, 50^th), Betsheba Kharsyntiew (63^rd, 88^th) and Renu Bala (35^th) scored the goals.

In the last match of the day, Kenkre FC, Mumbai thrashed Next Sports Academy, Palghar 9-1. Techi Kkung (8^th, 15^th, 19^th), Harshika Jain (43^rd), Ritika Goveas (12^th), Komal Badgujar (16^th), Kavya Jaiswal (80^th, (90+3), Nabam Kamyi (85^th) were the scorers for the winners. For Palghar, Purva Kamble (14^th) scored the consolation goal.