Former hockey goalkeeper is ‘World Golf Champion’

SUBHASH CHANDER WINS RI PRESIDENT ROTARY GOLF WORLD CUP 2022

NAGPUR, Apr 27

By Paritosh Pramanik

HE MIGHT have left the game of hockey more than a decade ago, but the sportsperson in him forced this former goalkeeper to continue with some sport as a hobby and today Subhash Chander (Gupta) has become a ‘world golf champion.’

Subhash Chander, a former JCT Phagwara and Central Excise goalkeeper took to golf some 15 years back and has won many a medals in his sporting career.

The defining moment came a few days ago when he won the RI President Rotary Golf World Cup 2022.

The winner of the tournament, organised by IGFR  International Golfing fellowship of Rotarian, was declared on the basis of the data submitted by participants online.

In the competition, Subhash Chander was invited by Rotary Club to participate in the competition.

A non-Rotarian, Subhash Chander enrolled himself as a Invitee of Rotarian and won the title in Virtual Golf in Dispersed Format.

“I participated in the competition and had to submit my data to the organisers after playing here in Nagpur. My score was 8 over 80. My local cordinator of the tournament were Dr Vinay Tule and Shashank Vishvrupe who took notes of my performance and submitted it to the International Golfing Fellowship of Rotarian.

“The same format was followed worldwide,” Subhash Chander told ‘The Hitavada.’

Col S Rajavelu, also of Nagpur, emerged champion in City Category.

“Thirty players from city participated in the tournament out of which 15 were Rotarians and 15 Invitee Non Rotarians,” informed Subhash Chander who last played hockey in early 2000.

“Around 1036 players took part in the competition from 28 countries and the tournament was played at 152 golf courses in 139 cities across the world,” said Subhash Chander.

“I am really happy to win this title. I have been playing golf since more than a decade and have won a few medals. This is really at the top of all the trophies,” said Subhash Chander who is a Certified Golf Teacher from National Golf Academy of India.

Chander was handed over the trophy by Suresh Sharma and Ashish Deshmukh.

In Febraury, Subhash Chander had won Best Gross of Baidyanath Golf Tournament 2022, which was held at AKSTSA Golf Course. His Gross Score was 80 with one Birdie and 10 Pars.

Prior to this title, Subhash Chander clinched the Field Masters Cup at the Garuda Golf Course, Kamptee.

Synthetic track work nearing completion

By Paritosh Pramanik

THE dream of hundreds of athletes of a second synthetic track in the city will be fulfilled in a few months.

The work of laying synthetic track for athletics at the ground of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University at its sports complex in Ravi Nagar is in full swing.

If all goes well, the track will be ready to use within few months. This will be for the first time that any sports construction work is being done within the time frame in the city. A couple of weeks ago an international measurement observer and athletics technical expert of International Athletics Federation visited the construction site. He looked satisfied with the laying work of the synthetic track.

“Low Kok Kwong, an International Measurement Observer and athletics technical expert was nominated for verification and compliance of international standard. He was deputed by International Athletics Federation and Athletics Federation of India. Kwong, who hails from Malaysia, was pretty much satisfied with the progress,” said Dr Sharad Suryawanshi, Director, Department of Sports and Physical Education, RTMNU, while talking with ‘The Hitavada’ on Friday.

“There will be two more visits of the observer in coming months,” informed Dr Suryawanshi.

In his first visit Kwong checked the dimensions and tolerance level of the track.

“The density of the track should be of 23mm. At present it is of 2mm and full layering is yet to be done. Kwong rated the work as excellent,” said Dr Suryawanshi, adding, “Kwong will be sending his report to World Athletics Federation and Athletics Federation of India.”

“The football field in the centre has been levelled and last layering work of garden soil is in progress. This will be completed be in a couple of days and then the lawn will be laid. After completion of laying of lawn on football field, the asphalting work of the track will begin,” explained Dr Suryawanshi.

The laying of synthetic track might be delayed if RTMNU think whether to test the heat and drainage systems during the monsoon.

“It is up to us when to lay the final layer of the track. If we wait to check the drainage system then we will have to do the laying work after monsoon,” said Dr Suryawanshi.

Apart from that the university is planning to construct practice arena outside the chained fencing area. “We will be concreting the area and that will be used for hurdles for juniors. Similarly, two lanes will be for seniors and two for women athletes.

“The high jump and pole vault arena will also be constructed. “We will also be utilising the area near the Open University for throwing events like hammer throw and shot put. This will be used for practice,” Dr Suryawanshi explained.

University will also be improving the lighting system. “At present we will construct a structure for the light poles. We will be strengthening the present poles so that it can carry the burden of around 400 kgs of lightings,” Dr Suryawanshi concluded.

Meenatai - A paddler par excellence

NAGPUR, Apr 2, 2022

By Paritosh Pramanik

THE passing away of former international paddler Nagpur’s Meena Parande has left the table tennis fraternity and the game poorer. 

Meenatai, as she was fondly known in the table tennis circle, left for heavenly abode at the ripe age of 92.

Meenatai changed the fabric of the game in the early 1950s and dominated the circle for the next few decades with her exploits all over the country and abroad. 

Those were the days when girls were barred from venturing out of their kitchens, leave aside playing any sport. But Meenatai got full support from her family, specially from her grandmother who encouraged her to take to table tennis. Her father late DK Parande, who was a barrister and was an excellent cricketer and tennis player himself, backed Meenatai to chase her dream.

Born on December 12, 1931, Meenatai learnt the tricks of trade very quickly. She started dominating the scene by the time she turned 20 and started showing her exploits in late 1940s.

Meenatai had exceptional skills. She was quick in her reflexes. Her supple wrist work at times foxed her opponents who envied the beautiful looking paddler.

In early 50s, the national scene was dominated by Syeed Sultana who was invincible winning national titles every single year from 1949 to 1953. But Sultana’s citadel was breached by Meenatai when she stunned the much-experienced player in 1954 for her first national championship in Baroda. The next year Sultana avenged her defeat at Guntur, but Meenatai was determined as she snatched the next year’s trophy at Saharanpur in 1956.

Meenatai, who was as beautiful as her game, went on to win two more national titles in 1958 (Ahmedabad) and 1959 (Calcutta).

Meenatai represented Maharashtra from 1953 to 1958 and then played for Indian Railways from 1959 to 1965.

Immediately after Meenatai dethroned Sultana from the top in 1954, she was rewarded with a place in the Indian team in World Championships at England in 1954 and at Japan in 1956. She became the first Maharashtrian to represent India at the Worlds.

Meenatai, who took table tennis lessons from Mr Chandorkar of Nagpur, also won accolades in Singapore (1954), Bangkok (1955), Vietnam (1961) and Bombay (1963) in Asian Table Tennis Championships.

Meenatai, who was ranked third in Asia in 1954, also toured Pakistan and Sri Lanka and returned with bagful of medals. Her cupboard overflowed with hundreds of trophies and medals as Meenatai decided to call it quits in mid 60s.

After retiring from Indian Railways, Meenatai coached several players from 1965 to 1985. Dr Charudatta Apte, Rajeev Bodas, Suhas Kulkarni, Ajay Shidhaye, Neela Kulkarni, Nandini Kulkarni and Sunanda Kane were the lucky few to get training from the legend.

Meenatai enjoyed her retired life by taking interest in yoga. She visited many Yoga-Ashrams at Munger in Bihar, Yogniketan in Hrishikesh, Arvind Ashram in Pondicherry, Vivekananda Kendra in Kanyakumari, Raman Mahershi’s Ashram and learnt various techniques and asanas. 

She attended Vipashana shibirs (camp) in Igatpuri and rendered her services there for around six months.

Meenatai carried table tennis flag with aplomb for years. She was a paddler par excellence who will be remembered for making the game popular all over.

After Jitesh, Vid’s Nalkande makes dream IPL debut

April 9, 2022

By Paritosh Pramanik

VIDARBHA cricketers are having a dream Indian Premier League season.

After wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma made an excellent debut for Punjab Kings (PBKS) last Sunday, bowling all-rounder Darshan Nalkande was inducted into the Gujarat Titans playing XI in their match against PBKS on Friday to become the second player from Vidarbha to play in the cash lucrative league this season.

And Nalkande didn’t disappoint his captain Hardik Pandya as he bowled his heart out taking two crucial wickets after the Titans elected to bowl at the Brabourne Cricket Stadium in Mumbai.

Nalkande was introduced in the 8th over of the innings and was hit for a maximum from Liam Livingstone. His first over went for 11 runs.

In his second over, the Wardha-born bowler was more expensive as he went for 16 runs.

In the meantime, another Vidarbha player PBKS’ Jitesh Sharma was going hammer and tongs, The stumper had hit two sixes off Rahul Tewatia and was looking dangerous.

For the first time in the match, two Vidarbha players came face to face when Nalkande was back on his bowling mark in the 14th over.

Despite being hit for a few boundaries and sixes, captain Pandya believed in Nalkande’s abilities and handed the pacer another over.

The moment of his life came in his third over when Nalkande got the better of his Vidarbha team-mate Sharma off his first ball.

Knowing the batter Sharma well, Nalkande bowled a slower one, his first delivery of his third over, which Sharma failed to read. The PBKS batter went for a big heave but holed it to Shubman Gill  who took a good catch close to the circle.

One brought two as Nalkande gave Gujarat Titans another wicket on his next delivery. A smart bowler he is, Nalkande bowled a knuckle ball to Odean Smith who tried to dominate the debutant opponent from the first ball. Smith aimed to send the ball over long-on boundary but skied it up only to find Gill, who ran to his right and waited patiently for the ball to land into his hands.

Nalkande admitted that there were nerves before the start of the game but coach Ashish Nehra motivated him.

“Yes I was nervous before the start of the match but Ashish bhai motivated me,” said Nalkande during the innings break. Nalkande said that he had to wait for long for his debut but in the same breath said that he would work hard to contribute in team’s success. “It has been a long wait. I was working hard and finally the day has arrived. I will work hard and would love to contribute in team’s success,” added the pacer.

The Vidarbha pacer said he bowled to a plan and followed what captain Pandya said. “I was asked to bowl according to a plan. I delivered what Hardik wanted. The track looked good for batting and I hope we can cross the line,” he said. Nalkande’s three-over spell read 3-0-37-2.