At $5.7 billion, the Dallas Cowboys, a National Football League (NFL) team from Texas, United States, is the most valuable sports franchise in the world, according to Statista.

(Image above of Salam Qureishi on the left.)

Established in 1960, the storied American football team were given the five worst players from each of the existing franchises to build their team. Tex Schramm, the president of the Dallas Cowboys, knew this wasn’t going to be the way his team would attain success.

He would have to build this franchise from the ground up through the NFL Draft, which every year selects the best players from different American colleges and drafts them into the NFL.

But how do you scout and select the best college players for your professional team? The answers came from Gil Brandt, a former baby photographer from Milwaukee, USA, who was hired as chief scout in 1960. Two years later, Schramm hired A. Salam Qureishi, a brilliant statistician and computer programmer from a low-income family in Uttar Pradesh, who at the time was working for IBM, the famous technology company.

Using IBM’s computers, sports analytics and statistics, Salam developed a system that would not only dramatically change the fortunes of the Dallas Cowboys, but revolutionise the game. The team established the blueprint for the modern NFL in how teams scouted talent through the Draft process. What we know as the NFL today could not have happened without the contribution of the Dallas Cowboys and their computer whiz — Salam.

Knew Nothing of Football

Born in Singahi village, Uttar Pradesh, Salam grew up poor. It was on the insistence of his mother that he did his Master’s degree in Statistics from Aligarh Muslim University.

In the fall of 1959, he immigrated to the US on a teaching fellowship from the Case Institute of Technology in Cleveland. But shortly thereafter, he was recruited by IBM to work for them in the Silicon Valley. One day in 1962, Salam’s supervisor at IBM called him into his office and asked whether he knew anything about American football or the NFL.

Why was someone asking for him? The answer to this question begins in 1960 when Schramm—who was working for the American TV network, the CBS sports department—witnessed the magic of computers during their coverage of the Winter Olympics that year.

He saw that IBM’s RAMAC 305 computer could process event results in a matter of minutes as compared to hours during past Olympics. He befriended engineers at IBM and asked them a plethora of questions, particularly whether their system could help rank young football prospects. The crew of engineers said yes to Schramm. Two years after taking charge of the Cowboys, he reached out to the people at IBM. His request was simple. He wanted IBM to help him pick new players from the draft for the Cowboys.

Just 26 at the time, Salam was a short man, standing approximately 5 feet 4 inches, with big round glasses and jet black curly hair. More importantly, he knew nothing about football.

Speaking to the Sports Illustrated magazine in 1968, Salam said, “Until I was called to Dallas, I knew nothing about American football. I had learned to enjoy baseball because of its similarity to cricket. Now I think American football is easily the most scientific game ever invented.” Schramm later said, “We had an Indian who knew absolutely nothing about football and coaches who knew nothing about computers and less about Indians.”

Meanwhile, in an ESPN documentary titled ‘Signals: The Cowboys and the Indian’, Salam is heard saying, “I thought football was about people piling on people.”

Revolutionising the Game

When Salam made his way to Dallas, Texas, he would encounter a world that was far away from his humble beginnings. An observant Muslim, who didn’t drink or smoke, Salam was entering the world of NFL, where drinking alcohol and smoking was commonplace. He was entering a state, where as per the 1960 census, there were only 103 Indians.

But Salam was a brilliant mathematician and statistician who knew how to use computers. Before he could work on helping the Cowboys scout the best college players, he needed to learn the rules of the game, different strategies employed by teams, patterns of play and understand the complicated system of player evaluation. Assistance came from Schramm and Brandt, who was also an outsider to the game like Salam, before he was hired.

“Schramm laid out the problem for Salam. Each year, the Cowboys compiled scouting reports on hundreds of players. The team gathered so much information on so many individuals that it was nearly impossible for humans to process it. He also wanted to eliminate the subconscious bias that infiltrated scouting. He knew, for instance, that he loved speed above all else. Give him a fast player, and he would ignore other flaws. That led to mistakes,” notes this report in The Athletic, an online media publication.

In other words, Salaam wanted to gather data on football players and spoke to experts figuring out what makes a good football player. Back then, the basis of judging and scouting a football player was all too subjective and subject to personal biases. Speaking to various coaches, Salam came up with nearly 300 variables affecting their judgment of talent.

Salam told Sports Illustrated that at the time, “The most sophisticated computer system could work with something like only 80 variables. It was immediately evident that we would have to cut down. We reduced everything to five dimensions. But there was a problem of semantics. We had to make sure that the scouts and coaches all meant the same thing when they analysed a player. We had to find keywords that, as much as possible, said what we wanted to know and what the coaches and scouts wanted to say”.

Working day and night with barely any sleep, they came up with five intangible characteristics — character, quickness and body control, competitiveness, mental alertness and strength and explosiveness. And three tangible ones — weight, height and speed.

“You get down this far, then you have to have an accurate measure of all of these qualities,” Schramm explained to Sports Illustrated. “Ask a coach a general question about any one of these qualities and you get a practically meaningless answer. For instance, we used to ask how quick a player was. One coach said he was quick as a cat; another said he was quick as two cats. We had to ask hundreds of questions, trying to find the key phrases that were meaningful both to the coaches and to us.”

The team then hired a psychologist who worked with Salam to design a questionnaire based on these variables. That questionnaire went to scouts from 400 schools and 4,000 questionnaire results came back which were then analysed. This was a time when scouting was just about calling up college coaches and asking general questions about “how about this or that guy”. Soon, the Cowboys trained the scouts on what to do and how to grade a player using this questionnaire with 16 questions. This created a firmer focus.

Questions in the questionnaire were presented in the form of simple statements.

The scout grades a prospect from one to nine on each statement, depending on how well he fits the description. While one was ‘Poor College Ability’, nine was ‘Exceptional or Rare College Ability’. But their main job was to figure out the average or slightly above average players and find out who would fit best in how the team wanted to do things.

“We have discovered that the human mind is not capable of judging degrees on a scale with more than nine ratings,” Salam explained to Sports Illustrated. “You cannot say that this man is one-twentieth more agile than that one or one-twentieth more competitive. So we designed our grading system to fit into the scale of the mind.” Aside from the eight basic qualities, the scout must also rate a player on the specific skills of his position.

“After they devised their questionnaire for scouts, Salam realised they needed to weigh and evaluate the performance and bias of each scout, so they came up with a system for that, too,” notes the report in The Athletic.

In 1964, the Cowboys did a mock draft using Salam’s analytics. After fixing a couple of glitches and technical issues they had it up and running in 1965. Expressing no doubt, he told the Cowboys his system would be “95 per cent accurate”.

In the ESPN documentary, Salam’s daughter Lubna said, “His system was able to pick players that weren’t as obvious to other scouts because he quantified those character traits that made a good football player.”

The team also expanded their search of players from traditional conveyor belts of talent to lesser-known smaller colleges. Cowboys even picked college basketball players who didn’t play football in college but had the characteristics they needed.

Using his system, the Cowboys appeared in five Super Bowls—the final between the two best NFL teams that season—and recorded 20 straight winning seasons, an NFL record.

By 1967, Salam and Cowboys broke away from IBM and formed their own company, but this partnership didn’t last. Three years later, the Cowboys sacked Salam because of business-related issues. This hurt him gravely, but he soon picked himself up.

After refinancing his house, borrowing $60,000 from friends and a bank, he started his own company. He used the computer system that worked out so spectacularly for him in other arenas, including governance, and became wealthy. While Salam thrived, success for the Cowboys slowed down dramatically because other teams also began using computers to evaluate talent, while they failed to fine-tune their own system.

After the Cowboys failed to make the playoffs in 1984, Schramm invited Salam to rejoin them. The statistician worked for a little while before a massive stroke in 1989 seriously affected his health.

Nonetheless, this is the incredible story of an immigrant who came from difficult circumstances and helped an American institution succeed. This problem solver played a key role in helping the Cowboys become the most valuable sports franchises today.

(Edited by Yoshita Rao)

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“What are you willing to sacrifice to pursue your passion?”
Asks Siddharth Singh, a 35-year-old brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), seasoned practitioner of boxing and Muay Thai (Thai boxing or kickboxing), and trainer to some of India’s biggest mixed martial arts (MMA) talents.

At age 12, this “chubby boy” from Delhi was sent to The Doon School in Dehradun, where he picked up amateur boxing. Despite losing many bouts, he never quit trying until he was ranked as the school’s most technical boxer in Class 12, won major school-level accolades and was even shortlisted for the Uttarakhand state team.

After his graduation in economics (honours) from Delhi University, he pursued his MSc in International Strategy and Economics (ISE) at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. In Scotland, he fell in love with Muay Thai. After acing his MSc course in 2007, he found a job in London working for a top British fashion and lifestyle brand, Pentland Brands.

Life couldn’t have been better for the young man from Delhi. But giving up his life of privilege to open a series of MMA gyms in South Delhi left him flat broke in 2013.

After struggling to keep his gyms going for nearly four years, things began to change. Today, he runs Crosstrain Fight Club, which is ranked among India’s best MMA schools with five centres spread across Delhi and Chandigarh, teaching more than 500 students.

He’s also the only Indian to have a competitive Brown Belt in BJJ—a self-defence martial art and combat sport based on grappling and submission holds—and competes in a variety of international events. The Better India caught up with him earlier this week after he won the Silver medal at the Abu Dhabi World Master Jiu-Jitsu Championship in the 77kg men’s category, making him the only Indian to achieve this feat.

A Passion For Combat Sports

“I stumbled upon combat sports by accident at The Doon School. My elder brother, Shardul, was a boxer. Initially, boxing was really difficult because I’m not a naturally aggressive person. I would hesitate to pull the trigger at key moments during a bout. Through those many losses, however, I learnt what was needed to win,” recalls Siddharth over a Zoom call.

In Delhi University, boxing took a back seat since there weren’t quality training facilities. Also, balancing the rigours of academics with regular training wasn’t easy. Things radically changed once he moved to Scotland for his Masters, where he found a gym that taught Muay Thai. He spent one year in Scotland intensely training in boxing and Muay Thai.

His training continued at another gym in London in 2008, where besides Muay Thai and boxing, he was also introduced to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), a life changing experience. Living alone in London, all he did after leaving the office at 5pm was train.

Fundamental to BJJ is the notion that a smaller and seemingly weaker person can successfully protect themselves against bigger and heavier opponents using leverage and the science of weight distribution. Fighters often take their bigger opponents to the ground and use a series of holds and submission moves.

“During my first BJJ seminar, they put me up against this small Iranian girl who barely weighed 40 kgs. Before we fought, the trainer told me not to go easy on her. Looking at her, I was wondering what on earth was this trainer talking about. I fought her putting in 50 per cent effort. Within the next 15 seconds, I woke up looking at the ceiling completely choked and unconscious. I had no idea what hit me. Surprised and embarrassed, I decided to go all in against her in the next round. Once again, 15 seconds later, I was looking at the ceiling again. She had taken my back out and performed what is called a ‘rear naked choke’, one of the most potent choke holds in all of combat sports,” he recalls.

Despite the initial humiliation, Siddharth discovered a real desire to figure out how a girl who weighed 25 kg less than he did, took him—a trained boxer and Muay Thai fighter—down. For the next six years, he would train in BJJ, Muay Thai and boxing.

But every time he came home to meet his parents in Delhi, it was near impossible to find a good place to train. He felt this particularly during a holiday in 2010-11.

“Most MMA academies in Delhi were basically gyms run by practitioners of karate, who weren’t well-versed in the other fighting disciplines. These guys were just riding the MMA fad which picked up around the world following the release of the Hollywood film Never Back Down in 2008. Entering these gyms, it was clear that the coaches knew nothing. Meanwhile, on my return to London, an inner turmoil began to brew within,” he recalls.

Despite enjoying his work, what drove him to wake up every morning was a desire to train. After a point in time, that’s all he wanted to do. Besides, he felt a burning desire to create authentic avenues for lovers of combat sports in India and particularly Delhi, to train in MMA. By this time, he had been training in boxing for nearly 14 years and about 5 years in Muay Thai and BJJ. So, why not start an MMA academy back home?

Lessons in Self-growth & Discipline

The sport was still in its very nascent stages in India, but Siddharth saw its future potential. Promotions like the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) based out of the United States and ONE Championship in Singapore weren’t as well known in India then as they are today.

Before proceeding, he spoke to his parents. But convincing them of the decision to leave a high-paying job and a well-settled career in the UK to start an academy for a largely unknown sport in India, which may pick up 10 years down the line, wasn’t easy.

“By late 2011, I quit my job in the UK and landed in Delhi for good. Before landing, I had already figured out which vendors would supply equipment to my gym. Upon landing, I immediately headed out to the city to find a good location for my gym. Within three months, we opened up our doors to Crosstrain Fight Club in the Saket area in early 2012. When we first opened our doors, about 40 people turned up. However, only 1 or 2 ended up joining because it wasn’t what they expected. They were expecting violence, blood, and serious combat. Instead, what they got was lessons in technique, self-growth and discipline. It was difficult for me financially with money going into rent, equipment, etc.” recalls Siddharth.

Eight months after opening their first centre, he opened a second one. A few months later, another centre came up outside Delhi. Three months after that, he was flat broke. His bubbling enthusiasm and uncritical look at finances got him in trouble. The long hours at work also alienated him from his close friends. He was alone and felt like a failure.

On his mother’s birthday, Siddharth didn’t have the heart to tell his mother about his predicament while living out of a ramshackled accommodation in a village outside Delhi.

But he soon found the strength to refocus his efforts. The combat sports fanatic decided to focus on his training more intently. He shut down the third centre, cut down unnecessary expenses and began spending his energies towards hiring specialised trainers not on a permanent basis while building a new roster of individual trainers from within.

Today, all coaches at Crosstrain Fight Club are his students. Creating a homegrown roster of about 20 trainers in different disciplines, including wrestling, took about 8 to 9 years.

“After a four-year lean period at Crosstrain, we figured out that our gym would no longer depend on the crowd taking to MMA training as a popular fad. We were going out, competing in different MMA tournaments and representing the country in events like BJJ. As MMA and our success grows, we hope that more students join us,” he explains.

The Making of Future Fighters

Today, most people join their training programme not because they want to fight in the UFC.

“They simply love training. Ideally, I would love to open 100 centres, but there is a concern about the quality of training imparted. This is a very trainer-intensive sport. It’s not like a regular gym where someone tells you to punch a bag. You need experience, skill and technique to teach and this takes time to attain,” he adds.

Since opening Crosstrain, Siddharth has trained some of India’s most promising MMA talent. Take Anshul Jubli, who currently holds a professional record of 4-0 (four wins, zero losses). Many believe that Anshul represents the future of Indian MMA.

Next is Punyajit Likharu, who remains undefeated in his nascent professional career. Both fighters are earning major accolades at the national level. Finally, Roshan Mainam, who trained with Crosstrain a couple of years back and began his professional career in 2016, is currently signed with Singapore-based ONE Championship. He holds a professional record of 6 wins and 2 losses, and is currently training out of the famed Evolve gym in Singapore.

Siddharth believes these three have a very bright future in MMA. Making it to promotions like the UFC requires at least 6 to 7 years of fighting experience at regional promotions. After all, the average age of a ranked UFC fighter is around 32.

Despite being proficient in different combat disciplines, Siddharth made a decision very early on to not compete in MMA. He believes that competing in MMA presents a conflict of interest with his students. There is an element of sacrifice here because MMA is the glamour sport.

“My focus is on teaching and being a coach. I can compartmentalise between my personal training for BJJ and delivering MMA training for my team of fighters,” he says.

In the midst of all this, Siddharth is also dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has hit gyms particularly hard. But like some entrepreneurs, he has found a way to survive.

Those who have trained at Crosstrain for a couple of years and attend group sessions are mandated to shuttle only between their homes and the gym. New entrants are given a socially-distanced personalised training programme called ‘Crosstrain 30’ in different disciplines for the first few months. Meanwhile, the gym conducts regular temperature checks, claims Siddharth.

“I am very optimistic about the future of MMA in India. The journey so far has been worth it, but there is still a long way to go,” he adds.

(Edited by Yoshita Rao)

Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

IIn 2018, boxing champion Arundhati Choudhary (18) was basking in the glory of having bagged a gold medal at the Khelo India School Games, when a fateful incident suddenly threatened to uproot her career. While training in her hometown of Kota, Rajasthan, she was foul punched by an opponent multiple times. The head injury was so serious that Arundhati was hospitalised for a month. She says the incident was an act of vengeance, as a girl’s win did not sit well with a few local conservative boxers.

Arundhati picked her next battle wisely — instead of engaging in a fight with these naysayers, she decided to focus on the upcoming ASBC Youth Asian Men & Women Championship, held in Mongolia, and put an end to the regressive perceptions that surrounded her career.

For months, she underwent rigorous training under her coach, Ashok Goutam. Unperturbed by the occasional blackouts during these training sessions, she went on to prove her doubters wrong with her stellar performance in the championship, where she bagged a bronze medal. “Had I not been injured, I would have clinched gold,” she notes.

“Even in our supposedly equal society, those boys tried to impose their patriarchal views by trying to tell me that an Indian girl is incapable of making her name internationally. I was not going to let their insecurities and outright opposition dictate my dreams,” Arundhati says.

This was not the first time that Arundhati had stood up for herself, and it certainly won’t be the last. She is quick-witted and known for her skilful and power-packed moves. The three-time Khelo India champion became the first female boxer from Rajasthan to win gold at the AIBA World Youth Boxing Championship in 2020.

Arundhati hails from a middle-class background. Having been born and brought up in the hub of IIT coaching, her joining the premier institution was almost predestined. But she had a different plan — to play basketball at the national level. Here’s how that dream eventually paved the way for a career in boxing.

Putting up a fight

Arundhati describes herself as a restless child, and says she was always an active participant in outdoor games in her colony and school. She was taller than most girls her age, which landed her a spot in the school’s basketball team. She says winning games gave her a high, and she focussed on the sport more than her studies, eventually making team captain. She led her team at the state level and won several games.

While her parents were proud of her achievements, they had always pinned their hopes on her education, specifically in IIT.
Recalling a particular argument with her parents about playing sports professionally, Arundhati says things got so heated that it left her in tears.

“After much convincing, my father agreed, but asked me to choose a sport which can be played solo. That’s how boxing entered my life. If you don’t count the number of times I have punched boys in school or been involved in physical fights, I didn’t have any experience in boxing. When I finally took the decision, my relatives expressed their discomfort. They believed I won’t find a ‘good’ husband if I break my face while playing. Fortunately, my parents stood by me and that made a huge difference,” Arundhati recalls.

With help from her school, Arundhati managed to get a Wushu (a type of martial arts) coach. Even though Ashok had never dabbled in boxing, he came on board after seeing Arundhati’s determination.

“At 15, Arundhati had the drive and ability to learn new skills. The initial days are always the toughest, as the player’s body is adjusting to the new intense physical routine to develop core strength and stamina. For Arundhati, too, this was excruciating, given that our training began at 4.30 am every day. By 7 am, she would go to school, and come back for training in the evening. She did a good job balancing both boxing and studies,” says Ashok.

The duo worked hard every day, and Ashok would watch boxing videos to learn the techniques and strategies of the sport. Their hard work paid off when Arundhati was selected for a national camp when she was in Class X. She remembers scoring first division despite studying only for 12 hours.

Knocking down prejudices

For a long time, the boxing world has been a male bastion. It was only in 2012 that women’s boxing was officially recognised as an Olympic sport at the London Games. Closer home, world champion Mary Kom had become a household name. But she was miles away from Arundhati’s hometown, and there were no role models she could look up to in Rajasthan.

There was no real ring for fights or equipment for training. To Arundhati’s delightful surprise, her father Suresh spent money and arranged for the same. This is highly unusual, says Arundhati, given that fathers in her neighbourhood generally reserve the money for their daughter’s wedding.

Once Suresh saw his daughter’s potential, he went all out in supporting her dream — from buying the best quality almonds to support her mental stamina to making sure she participated in tournaments without worrying about anything else.

Likewise, her mother Sunita stepped away from traditional gender roles and normalised the fact her daughter was not obligated to learn household chores. In a community where something as simple as wearing shorts raises eyebrows, this mother proudly chose to be a feminist, just so her daughter could make India proud.

“My parents have had a huge role to play in social prejudices slowly dissipating from my life. I knock out my opponents in a game and my family does it in the real world,” adds Arundhati.

Images sourced from Arundhati/Instagram

Edited by Divya Sethu

Manish Pandey, a resident of Hirmi village in Chhattisgarh, will never forget one particular date – 2 April 2011. It was the day India and Sri Lanka battled for the cricket World Cup, and India won. But this monumental feat was overshadowed by another incident that occured the same day – Manish lost his leg.

The connection between the two events was that Manish, then 19 years old and in his first year of college, was rushing home to watch the match. “It was the only thought on my mind. I hopped on the train at Raipur station after appearing for my last written examination that day. The train is usually overcrowded, but that day, everyone seemed to be in a bit more hurry – most of them were excited for the match, like I was,” he tells The Better India.

Manish was standing at the door of the train and preparing to disembark at Tilda station to reach home. As the station approached, other passengers started rushing. “I was pushed from behind and fell off the moving train. My right leg was crushed under the train, causing a severe injury,” the 29-year-old says.

As the small town was ill-equipped to handle severe casualty and trauma cases, he was moved to Raipur, which was a two-hour journey from his village. The delay in accessing medical treatment and heavy loss of blood only made matters worse.

As he gained consciousness the next day, Manish realised he had lost his leg from the knee below.

However, despite losing his leg, falling into depression, having to cope with a changing lifestyle and being denied formal education due to his disability, Manish’s determination and grit remained unhindered. Not only did he accept his physical limitations, but he also went on to become a Paralympic champion, winning medals at the Asian games.

Getting back on his feet

Manish says the realisation of having lost his limb sank in a bit late. “The incident did not kill my excitement. The first question I asked the doctor after attaining consciousness the next day was whether India won the match. He said yes, which made me feel disappointed that I had missed out on witnessing the thrilling win. However, as the doctor informed me about the leg, I became quiet,” he says.

He adds that the realisation of his loss grew stronger over the next few days. “I could not use the toilet, wear my clothes, or run outside to play like a regular person. Before the accident, I was an active member of various sports teams, including cricket and volleyball, in my college. I missed it,” Manish says, adding that he quit his studies and never resumed the course again.

His father, a junior officer at UltraTech cement factory, bought him a Jaipur foot. Slowly, he started acclimatising to his artificial limb. He could walk, but not run. For the next three months, Manish fell into depression and struggled to deal with his new life, mentally and physically.

However, he says his friends supported him and accompanied him everywhere. “My friends and family never made me feel less of myself. They encouraged me to live the same life I had been living before the incident,” he adds.

Manish says that in 2013, he came across the word ‘Paralympics’ on the internet. The concept interested him, and he began digging for more information on the same. He was fascinated by blades, a unique prosthetic leg used by athletes for running, and decided to pursue running professionally.

However, there was a problem. Blades cost around Rs 6 lakh, an amount he could not afford. Manish approached a prosthetic company, requesting them to sponsor him. After checking his credentials and his passion for sports, the company agreed.

Mohana Gandhi, a Hyderabad-based prosthetic consultant, specialising in sports, agreed to sponsor Manish. “Manish seemed dedicated and sincere from the beginning. He willingly moved to Hyderabad and survived in a small room with expenses of Rs 5,000 a month. He was sincere and never deviated from his training and ultimate goal,” he says.

Mohana adds that fitting the blade and adjusting to it can often be challenging. “Every amputee has different adjustments. The sockets and bearings should fit well. Moreover, the body posture and other physical aspects determine how the blade suits the player. Manish was asked to move to Hyderabad for the same, and cooperated. He did not want or expect any sympathy from those around him,” he says.

Manish trained for months at Gachibowli Stadium, and participated in his first international tour in June 2014 at IPC Athletics Grand Prix, Tunisia. He won silver in the 200-metre and bronze medal in the 100-metre run. Later that year, he participated in the Asian Paralympic Games Incheon, South Korea in the 100-metre run, long jump, and 4×100 metres relay.

‘A source of infinite strength’

Motivated by his success, Manish pursued a one-year sports management programme in South Korea in 2015, followed by a two-week sports management seminar in Kagoshima, Japan.

He returned to India with a zeal to pursue a bachelor’s degree in sports. However, he says universities and educational institutions rejected him on the grounds of his disability. “It came as a shock. Their explanation was a clause mentioned in the course manual, which stated that no specially-abled person could pursue physical education. However, Manipal University extended support and allowed me to complete graduation in Physical Education and Sports in 2020,” Manish says, adding, “I am probably the first leg amputee to hold a degree in sports.”

In 2021, Manish started pursuing a Masters in Global sports management in South Korea. He attempted crowdfunding to raise money, but only received small amounts as help. He then applied for scholarships to support his education.

Mohana says that many athletes give up after a point, but Manish went ahead with his goal of pursuing a career in sports. “I have fitted prosthetics for about 50 athletes. Many lose hope and start bearing negative thoughts about their future in sports. But Manish has committed entirely and is pursuing higher studies. His achievements are commendable, and he is a family member for me now,” he adds.

Manish’s younger sister Kumkum says the family could not be more proud of him. “We are three siblings, and he is the only one pursuing a master’s degree. He has always been an active and disciplined person. The accident was a big setback for all of us. But he came out strong, and became an idol and a source of infinite strength for people around him,” she says, adding that many specially-abled persons approach Manish for guidance and motivation.

She adds that Manish has researched everything about sports in the Paralympic category. “He knows all the companies and the details of manufacturers and blades. Such is his determination and commitment towards sports,” Kumkum says.

Manish says he wants to help motivate people, specially-abled or otherwise, get into sports. He further aims to make the world more inclusive for the specially-abled. “I do not wish for other specially-abled persons to go through what I went to pursue education. I aim to initiate a merit-based eligibility test to bring equal opportunities in sports education,” he adds.

Edited by Divya Sethu

With a helmet on her head, pads tied tightly to both legs, and armed with her favourite cricket bat, 6-year-old Mehak Fathima from Kozhikode, Kerala, wakes up each morning to practice batting with her father.

Mehak, a student of Class 1 in Thodannur MLP School, started playing cricket eight months ago when she saw her father, Muneer, teaching her 3-year-old brother Mohamed the sport.

“Earlier, Mehak was not interested in sports, but when she saw Muneer teaching her brother, she went up to him and asked if he wasn’t teaching her because she was a girl. Muneer was quite shocked by her question and then realised she was also interested in learning to play cricket,” says Yousuf, Mehak’s uncle.

Muneer himself was a cricket player and had played for the University of Calicut when he was just 13 years old. However, he had to give up his dream of playing professionally as his family wanted him to pursue business. He was thrilled to see his daughter’s interest in cricket and began coaching her in November 2020. In no time, Mehak was able to master the sport, hitting the ball in all directions.

In June 2021, The Better India had shared a video of Mehak batting via her Instagram account and ever since her powerful shots have gone viral on social media. The post received attention from people from all walks of life – from industrialists to politicians and veteran cricket players.

“Are you not teaching me because I am a girl?”, six-year-old Mehak Fathima from Kozhikode asked her father after she saw him teaching her three-year-old brother. So he taught her too. Now, look at this little star!

VC: Mehak fathima
(mehak_fathima__ on Instagram) pic.twitter.com/mG9C3IyOhl

— The Better India (@thebetterindia) June 12, 2021

Anand Mahindra, the chairman of Mahindra Group, shared the video on Twitter and drew the attention of Union Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, Kiren Rijiju, to the child prodigy’s skills. Cricket stars celebrated young Mehak as well – Jemimah Rodrigues appreciated her batting skills and Mithali Raj offered assistance to her family to help train her. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also appreciated Mehak’s technique.

I keep getting forwards about kids around the globe being prodigies in soccer or basketball. Ok world, here’s our future superstar. @KirenRijiju let’s keep an eye on this young lady & not let her talent be wasted… https://t.co/3aSxDqOMmh

— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) June 12, 2021

“I created an Instagram account and posted videos of my kids playing to give them more exposure. I never imagined that something like this would happen. There are quite a lot of talented people who often go unrecognised. This opportunity is so exciting for us and we are extremely happy that she is being recognised like this,” says Muneer. “We even got calls from Biju George, who trained cricketers like Sanji Samson, offering to help us with Mehak’s training,” adds Muneer.

She has both my support and blessings . All little girls keen to pursue the sport always have my blessings. Her parents can DM me regarding any assistance they need .

— Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) June 13, 2021

When Mehak saw the responses to the video, she was extremely excited. “Everyone is saying I am a super player and now I am motivated to continue and become even better so that I may truly become a great player. I want to keep training and practising so that I can get better at the game,” says the 6-year-old.

Mehak has since joined the Loongs Cricket Academy where she is learning the basics of the game. Mehak’s family supports her passion for cricket and whenever she is not attending her online classes, she takes out her bat and plays cricket with her family, always trying her best not to miss even a single ball.

Kalote-Mokashi, a village nestled around 70 km drive from Mumbai, in Raigad taluka, is a much sought after destination for urban dwellers looking for a weekend getaway to unwind from their hectic work schedules.

The tribal, village with a population of around 2,000, overlooks lake Kalote with its quiet and serene landscape. However, for a village that people visit to experience traditional rural life, its children are tightening their grip on squash rackets.

About 200 players from the academy, out of which over 100 from the village alone, train day and night to master the two-player sport that involves a racket and a hollow ball played in a four-walled court. The game’s objective is to beat your opponent by hitting the ball on the wall in front so as to make it difficult for the other to play their turn.

But the villagers have risen to fame on the squash scoreboard all thanks to the five-times National Squash Champion Ritwik Bhattacharya, who established Squash Temple and Real Training (START) academy that has rolled out 42 national players in the sport. The Professional Squash Association (PSA) World Tour star visited the village after his retirement in 2010 and bought land to start an academy in 2017.

‘Never Heard of the Game Before’

Ritwik tells The Better India that post-retirement, he set up academies and squash training camps in Bombay Gymkhana, Otters Club and Cricket Club of India (CCI). “However, the urban setup does not offer the liberty of space and time. The players receive training for a fixed amount of time in a day, and the cities face space limitations to accommodate a sports facility,” he says.

Moreover, Ritwik believes that the talent for promising players lies hidden in rural India. “The talent from the non-urban areas remains untapped, and the players from the rural areas show more willingness to invest in the sport,” he says. It was then that he decided to establish an academy in the rural area and set it up in the village with the help of co-founders Munish Makhija and Sridhar Gorthi.

The 41-year-old says he knew that the players could fully immerse themselves, away from the distractions of city life. “I started building a relationship with the village children playing football and other games. The four-acre land I purchased had only a hut and a toilet. Eventually, I constructed a squash court and introduced the children to the sport,” he says.

Ritwik says that the amount of land purchased was a luxury, and children of all ages could come and play anytime during the day. “There were no restrictions and children could play before or after school or even in the late evening hours. They started performing within a few months. In 2017, four players participated in a tournament at Ajmer [Rajasthan], while in the following year, 12 of them participated in Jaipur at the National Squash Competition. A year later, 42 players represented the national junior championship in Chennai and Pune,” he says.

Ritwik says that these players ranked 13, 16 and 17 in their respective categories of junior and senior levels. “Four of them qualified for the PSA world tour, an international squash competition organised by the association. However, the pandemic put a stop to the participation,” he says.

Bijli Darvada, a native of the village, who achieved 339 world rank says that the sport has made her fearless and given her confidence at a personal and professional level. “We had never heard of the game before it was introduced to us. Many children from the village did not travel outside, but the game offered us the opportunity to travel and explore,” she says.

Bijli says that the children in the village were not well-versed with English. “The academy has helped us understand and speak fluent English. We also travelled by air, which is a unique experience for people living in the village,” she adds.

Yuvraj Wadhwani has been in training with Ritwik since the last four years. He describes the training as ‘phenomenal’. Apart from winning National titles in his junior year he has also won gold at the Asian Junior Championships in the Boys Under 13 category. He also won bronze at the British Junior Championships.

“Coaching at Kalote Mokashi involves fitness as well as squash. It’s hard work and fun at the same time. My coach is also a great mentor and the kids love it there,” he says.

Aspiring players from nearby cities started training in the village too. Arnav Mandhana is a player who feels that the location helps to focus more on the game. “The set-up is rustic, and the tranquillity of the location allows one to concentrate on the game. Training at the academy has certainly made a positive impact on the performance,” he says, adding that he can train for long hours without the worry of other commitments.

An Academy Like No Other

Arnav describes the training at the academy as a unique experience because of the team spirit. “Everyone is constantly helping others improve and the competition is very healthy and motivational,” he says.

Riwtik says that players from the Rashtriya Indian Military Academy, National Defence Academy and cities like Salem, Pune, Mumbai and New Delhi also train at the academy.

He adds that the unique setup helps to offer quality training and improve the performance of the players. “A player from the city gets ample time to train. The academy opens at 3 am and closes at 11 pm. Moreover, the mix of urban and rural players brings an exchange of skills and knowledge,” he says.

Apart from perfecting the game, the players become coaches for others and also string rackets together. “The players do not consume special diets at the institution and rely on local food such as dal, rice and fish for the daily nutrition from a centralised kitchen,” he says.

Ritwik says that though the academy is achieving success and now has a second squash court, the journey has been a rough ride. “Very few believed that a rural set-up for a niche game like squash could be successful. I spent my savings and life’s work with support from friends and family. We are working to seek funding and offer scholarships to players for studies to allow them to play the sport professionally,” he adds.

Besides creating budding players from the village, the academy has helped improve their standard of living through local employment, better roads, housing and other environmental aspects such as lake cleaning, waste segregation and animal protection.

Looking ahead, Ritwik says that he aims to create world champions in the next five years. “It is a risk that I took in 2017 that has provided success. There is no doubt that a world champion in squash will emerge from this talented pool,” he adds.

Edited by Yoshita Rao

This article has been sponsored by Rin.

With the Tokyo Olympics 2021 only a few days away, the country has come together to support all the athletes who are heading for the games to make India proud. The journey for many of them has not been easy with several stories waiting to be told.

This time around, all eyes on Chadalavada Anandha Sundhararaman Bhavani Devi, India’s first-ever female fencer to qualify for the Olympics, who has an incredibly heartwarming and inspiring story that is being celebrated by Rin, the detergent brand from the house of Hindustan Unilever in their latest TVC.

CA Bhavani Devi is a shining star that everyone is looking forward to seeing at the Tokyo Olympics because she has made the relatively lesser-known sport of fencing, popular among the youth and synonymous with her name.

Hailing from Tamil Nadu, Bhavani Devi was 11 years old when she discovered her life’s purpose.

A student studying in a Chennai-based school then, she had to select one sport as an extracurricular, out of six options. Most of the options were filled by the time she attempted to apply, barring a lesser-known sport called fencing.

Fascinated and motivated to join an extracurricular activity that allowed her to skip classes, Bhavani started fencing in 2004.

Little did she know that this choice would carve a glorious destiny for her, making her the first-ever Indian to qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Games in fencing.

Thanks to her remarkable feat, fencing, the lesser-known sport, is now making a mainstream debut with the entire nation waiting to witness her performance at the Tokyo Olympics scheduled to take place from 23 July to 8 August 2021.

Becoming India’s top sabre

A girl born in a middle-class family with several financial constraints, Bhavani had never even heard of fencing before 2004. It was only in school while selecting a sport extracurricular that she was introduced to it.

But even then, it was mostly the fascination of the unknown and an excuse to bunk classes that formed the crux of her initial motivation. A strenuous sport warranting the player’s absolute surrender, young Bhavani went into training unaware of the requisite hard work and sacrifice, be it mental, physical or financial. It was only after her first failure in a school competition that Bhavani discovered the fire and passion for the sport and the hunger to be the best rose within her.

Yet this was only her first hurdle. The next and a bigger one was the financial strain. Being the daughter of a priest, her family could not afford letting her train for an expensive sport like fencing. She shares that her first-ever fencing kit cost Rs 6,000 back in the day. However, her mother, a homemaker, was not ready to let her daughter give up on her dream. She pawned her gold jewellery to afford to pay for the fencing gear.

It took Bhavani years of unwavering perseverance and hard work to win the gold back in the form of her first international gold medal in 2014 in the Tuscany Cup, Italy. Later, in 2018 she also became the first Indian to win a gold medal at the Senior Commonwealth Fencing Championship, in Canberra.

Now, the 27-year-old fencing champion specialises in one of its three forms called sabre—epee and foil being the other two—and is training in Italy for the Olympics.

Bhavani’s story of struggle and grit has been showcased in the latest Rin TVC campaign #AbWaqtHaiChamakneKa, through a video below:

“Rin has been an integral part of Indian households for over five decades now and has stood for people who are unwilling to be defined by preset roles and have the courage to pursue their dreams, undeterred by their socio-economic backgrounds. Through our latest campaign, ‘Ab Waqt hai chamakne ka’, we endeavoured to showcase the glorious journey of Bhavani Devi, her mother’s sacrifices and their collective success and in the process inspire millions of others to keep persevering in their dreams, despite the odds. The essence of our brand aligns beautifully with such extraordinary stars who have risen from ordinary lives. We salute Bhavani for her dedication and wish her good luck as she prepares to represent India in the Olympics 2021,” says Prabha Narasimhan, Executive Director & VP – Home Care, Hindustan Unilever Ltd.

Cover Image Source: Bhavani Devi/Facebook

(Edited by Yoshita Rao)

Jharkhand-based coach Bablu Kumar says that in India, wrestlers mainly come from Haryana, Delhi, Maharashtra and Punjab. “Even the Indian contingent for the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021 has a majority of wrestlers from Haryana,” he notes.

But the situation has changed, he adds. By qualifying for the World Cadet Wrestling Championship, 14-year-old Chanchala Kumari from Jharkhand has put the state on the wrestling map of India. The games will be played in Hungary between July 19 and July 25 later this month.

“Jharkhand state was formed in 2000, and since then, we have never had a wrestling champion. So now there could be no prouder moment for the state,” he tells The Better India.

But Chanchala’s journey was never as glorious as it looks now. She belongs to Hatwal village, located around 30 km from state capital Ranchi, and her father owns a half-acre land which hardly earns enough income to sustain a family of six. He doubles up as a plumber, or takes up odd jobs to meet living expenses.

The financial condition of the family, which belongs to the Oraon tribal community, is weak.
On many days, they survived only on maad bhaat, which is boiled rice with starch. On good days, they can afford to eat rice with one vegetable.

Fortunes changed for Chanchala when the Jharkhand State Sports Promotion Society (JSSPS), a state government scheme that identifies sporting talent from rural areas, saw potential in her.

Bablu explains that an MoU was signed between JSSPS and Central Coalfields Limited to use Khel Gaon sports complex, a state-of-the-art facility constructed in 2009 for national games, as a training ground for budding sportspersons.

A rising star

“In 2016, we screened many children and conducted physical training for six months to identify their potential and inclination towards sports. Chanchala was 11 years old when she came with her mother to sign up for training,” Bablu recalls.

He says that Chanchala showed potential in wrestling and trained over the years. Her efforts reaped results in the form of a silver medal in 2017-18 from the School Games Federation of India, followed by two gold medals in 2019 and 2020, putting her on the highest rank in the under-15 category.

Later, Chanchala won bronze in a national tournament held in Kota in 2020. In October the same year, she qualified to train in Lucknow India camp with wrestling stars Sakshi Malik and Geeta Phogat which concluded in March 2021.

In June, she qualified in the wrestling trials at New Delhi to represent India in the World Cadet Wrestling Championship. Apart from Bablu, Chanchala received training from Bholanath Singh and Rajeev Rajan.

Chanchala says, “I had no knowledge about wrestling. I learned over the years as I trained. Boys and girls wrestled with each other, which helped us overcome our fear and boost our self-confidence. My focus is to perform my best in the upcoming international competition.”

She adds that her family always supported her, and that her brother Kishor accompanies her whenever she needs him. “I hope to earn laurels to support my family and make India proud,” she adds.

Kishor says, “We decided to register Chanchala’s name so she could pursue her education alongside sports. Her achievements are extraordinary and have brought happiness to our lives. We wish her to win medals for the country,” he adds.

Bablu says while government support has brought the state into the limelight, the players need more financial help. “They need money to focus more on their diet and training. I have been a wrestler for 15 years, and I understand the needs of a sportsperson. Coaches give their 100%, but we wish to provide all necessities and ensure that nothing stops the new generation of athletes from achieving their dreams,” he adds.

“There were four girls who entered wrestling in 2016, but now, there are 30 undergoing training. Monetary support can motivate other players and boost the results,” he shares.

As he hopes for more support for the upcoming players, Bablu has his eyes on Chanchala, hoping she scripts history by winning at Hungary.

Edited by Divya Sethu

Mary D’souza Sequeira learnt to play sports by keenly observing her brothers and other boys in Bandra, Mumbai. An Olympian and Asian Games winner, Mary had no coach or trainer to learn from initially but this did not stop her from scripting history as a runner and hockey player in India’s sports legacy. 

She belongs to the league of athletes who made it on their own and refused to succumb to any challenges, no matter how tough it got. Her journey is awe-inspiring, given that she grew up in a middle-class family with 12 siblings where pursuing a sports career was frowned upon, especially for girls. Her parents neither went to see her nor cheered her on when she competed in track and field. 

The lack of encouragement was also reflected in the government every time they struggled to support women athletes like Mary. 

When she was selected as part of India’s first female contingent at the 1952 Olympics organised in Finland’s capital Helsinki, the government fell short of funds to send her in a chartered flight with West Bengal’s Nilima Ghosh. Not one to give up easily, she raised funds for the participation fees by organising a dance and whist competition with the help of her friends. 

Recalling her first time flying, she tells The Better India, “Flying was a novelty and it was quite thrilling. I was intrigued with the plane and was glad I landed in one piece.”

A recipient of the Dhyan Chand award, India’s highest award for lifetime achievement in sports and games, Mary also played badminton and table tennis for the Railways. She went on to work with Tata Group and later joined the Railways as Welfare Officer and retired as a Sports Officer. 

“I am competitive by nature and don’t give up. I learnt hard work and discipline from watching my parents and siblings. I was the only girl playing hockey with the boys and I had to be as good or better than them to earn my stripes to play. This helped me improve my game,” she says.

An Accidental Sport  

Mary studied in an all-girls St Joseph’s Convent School, which had no ground back then. For sports, they played games like a gunny sack, book balancing, frog race, etc. She was introduced to hockey by her brothers. Intrigued and excited, Mary soon learnt to play hockey at the Suburbanelles, a local hockey team with the help of Emile D’Souza and joined the neighbourhood boys on the municipal grounds

It was during one of those days when her cousin noticed her impeccable speed. He enrolled her in a local race and that’s how her journey began. A teenage Mary would often trespass St Andrew’s boys’ school to practice on their track. 

Reminiscing about her fond memories, she says, “My favourite part of the day was coming home to tea and a homemade snack and then playing on the municipal grounds or in the backyard until the lamp lights were turned on.” 

Hard work and her ‘never quit’ attitude is something she got from her family. 

“My parents were extremely hardworking folks. My mother barely finished making breakfast when she had to start on lunch. She then took a nap on a chair while dinner slow-cooked on a wood fire. My father, who loved playing the violin, was a strapping 6-foot man who worked overtime to feed so many mouths. We may not have had much but we had nutritious and protein-rich meals for dinner,” adds Mary. 

Mary’s professional journey began with the Asian Games played in Delhi in 1951. She won bronze in the 200m race and silver in the 4x100m relay. The team was felicitated by then-President Rajendra Prasad. She also got a chance to meet India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. 

“I didn’t get any prize money back then but I got an autographed picture of Nehru and an autograph by Lady Mountbatten. There was no reception after winning in New Delhi. My mother did not even make me my favourite Chicken Xacuti when I returned,” she told ESPN. 

But she went on to participate in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, and was selected for the 1956 Melbourne Olympics too but due to insufficient funds, the entire women’s contingent couldn’t go. 

Mary broke several national records for 100m, 200m and 800m hurdles. One of her most significant achievements came in the 1954 Asian Games in Manila where the relay team clinched a gold. 

While she is grateful for her illustrious career in sports, she didn’t want her daughter, Marissa who plays three sports — basketball, hockey and track and field, to pursue sports due to its limited scope. 

“She has won gold medals at the Nationals in all the three sports but I did not see a future for my daughter in sports. Even though I was a parent who never missed a single game of hers, I encouraged her to focus on her studies and use sports as a hobby and not a way of life,” says Mary. 

But Mary notes that things are different today and encourages girls to pursue sports, considering that now international travel, training and competitions are easier to partake of and companies are willing to sponsor talent.  

“Sports is not just about medals and winning. It teaches you how to win and lose in the game of life. I have had so many challenges and my sports experience has taught me to treat each day as another game and to take life’s hurdles in my stride. The friends that I made on and off the field have lasted me in my 90s,” she adds. 

To know more about Mary’s life you can check out ‘You Can’t Eat Your Fame’, a book written by her daughter, Marissa Sequeira.

All images are sourced from Mary Dsouza Sequeira/Facebook 

Edited by Yoshita Rao

From when he was little, Tashi Wangchu loved the Rocky series, starring Sylvester Stallone, which often played on HBO. He says he was fascinated by the depiction of fitness, training and boxing in the film. In fact, he often imitated the famous actor by running in the jungles near his hometown Gyankhar village in Tawang of Arunachal Pradesh.

But as he grew into his teenage years, Tashi’s interest faded. “I had no support, source of inspiration or the right facilities to follow my interest,” he tells The Better India.

Tashi went to Itanagar, the state capital, to pursue higher studies. Here, he became addicted to smoking. The habit continued even during his graduation years, when he moved to Delhi in 2012 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in political science. “With such a habit, my dream of fitness was over,” he recalls.

However, Tashi says that during his stay in Delhi, he learned about Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), a hybrid combat sport that involves techniques such as boxing, wrestling, karate, jujitsu, judo and other disciplines. The two opponents are to strike, grapple and use ground fighting abilities to try and defeat one another.

“I also found training centres and gyms that offer courses for the sport. But I had no money to take coaching. My father is a labourer and works odd jobs to make a living. He expected me to complete my education and bag a stable government job. He did not encourage me to pursue the sport,” the 24-year-old says.

But despite odds and no formal training, today Tashi has achieved his dream and emerged victorious by winning the 4th Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) India National competition by a knockout. And all this by self-coaching on YouTube.

Running with a sack full with stones

Tashi says he decided to pursue a career in sports despite the lack of motivation from his parents or support from friends. “But I had made up my mind. I quit smoking and stopped hanging out with friends who discouraged me,” he says.

“There was no awareness about the sport in my village, and finding a coach was a far-fetched idea. So I logged on to YouTube and started basic training. I found coaches across the world who conducted online tutorials, and took part in them,” he explains.

Tashi says that as he began training, his friends, family and relatives mocked him. “They thought I had gone crazy,” he chuckles.

He would wake up at 4 am and start his training by warming up, running, and then moving on to intense workouts. To build endurance, he found various means to modify the exercises. “I carried a sack full of stones and ran for 4-5 km. At times, I lifted stones and rocks as deadweights. Sometimes it would be snowing, or I suffered a muscle ache, but I never missed a single day,” he adds.

After finishing his workout at 8 am, Tashi would rest during the day and begin training on his boxing and wrestling techniques between 6 pm and 9 pm. “I followed all the tutorials to understand the basics and learn the nitty-gritties. I could manage boxing, but there was no one to wrestle with. I did not have a friend to dedicate time for me or help me for training,” he adds.

He notes that the same schedule continues even today.

Tashi says that more than the training, it was his struggle with proper diet that he found challenging.

“I was slim and had to gain weight. I referred to different experts on YouTube, but diet is very personal as it requires an understanding of your own body. I ate a banana, eggs, dry fruits, meat and consumed milk. The heavy intake of meat affected my stamina. Hence, I reduced meat and increased green vegetables,” he says.

Tashi says that he is still confused about what to refer to online and continues to make changes in his diet plans.

For five years, he trained consistently and groomed his body until he decided to participate in the national competition. “Even after the physical transformation, my parents and friends doubted I would succeed. They told me working on the body alone would not help as I had not undergone formal training,” he says, adding that he received the same response when he reached Delhi at the MMA training centre for trials.

“I stayed there for 15 days for trials and selection, where the participants laughed or felt amazed that I had signed up without any formal coaching. Moreover, I trained in isolation without posting any bits of the process on social media. For some, it became all the more difficult to believe that I had no training whatsoever with the body I had built. Others underestimated me,” Tashi adds.

But he says he knew precisely what the expectations of the judges were. He understood the basics of the game, the rules, and the kind of performance he had to deliver. “I had absorbed all the online sessions, and completed the three rounds in the game in 25 minutes. I used to set a timer and follow boxing, rope climbing, speed weight, running, spring and jumping,” he adds.

He qualified and won all three rounds in the Nationals, held on 19 February this year in Uttar Pradesh, earning him gold.

‘This is just the beginning’

Winning this award not only instilled confidence in him, but also changed the perspective of his parents.

“My father used to doubt me, and mother offered minimal support. But now they are proud of my achievements as it has also earned me popularity in the village,” he says.

Tashi says that the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu also recognised his achievements and offered assistance. In addition, Dream Sports Foundation has also extended hands for further training. The organisation is the philanthropic arm of Dream Sports, which supports grassroot athletes and the Indian sports ecosystem.

A representative from the company tells The Better India, “Tashi’s achievements are commendable and he has the potential to reach heights. We are working to provide him with a coach and take care of his diet. The team will also work on training aspects including strength conditioning as well as refining his boxing and wrestling.”

The representative adds that plans are underway to send Tashi for training to Singapore and Kazakhstan.

Meanwhile, Tashi says he is not getting carried away with his recent achievements, and with the necessary support, he will be able to become a professional player. “I am an amateur and only know the basics. My dedicated efforts for five years have reaped expected results. Hard work is the key to success. I understand that this is just the beginning and that I have a long road ahead. I dream of winning a gold for India,” he adds.

Tashi also shares some tips from his training for beginners:

1. Endurance: Tashi says running 2-3 km downhill and upwards is one way to build endurance. He suggests filling a sack with weights up to 10-15 kilos and running with it. “This helps increase speed, strength and agility in the lower body. I do it four times a week,” he says.
2. Strength: Lifting deadweight once a week can help in developing shoulders, he notes. Boxing or lifting stones also work. “I used to carry a punching bag on my shoulders that weighed 75 kilos for five floors,” he says.
3. Flexibility: Stretches, jumping, and rock climbing bring flexibility, he says.
4. Basic techniques: Training sessions on running, footwork, jabs, uppercut and others are available on YouTube and help to improve performance, he says.
5. Meditation: Tashi says he meditates 15 minutes every day, which helps improve his presence of mind, reduces stress, and enables him to focus better. “A combat game requires physical and mental power. One has to be mentally strong and focused, which can become a key element between losing or winning a match,” he says.

Edited by Divya Sethu

Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly is revered by his fans as the game-changer of Indian cricket even today. Be it as one of the world’s leading batsmen or one of India’s best team captains, his life and career have been in the spotlight for all the right reasons.

Amidst great speculation, the famous cricketer often referred to as ‘dada’, recently announced the making of his biopic in Hindi. While the casting is yet to be disclosed, Sourav Ganguly has confirmed that a film covering his life and professional career is on the way.

He currently holds the presidency of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Having been an inherent leader from the start, he gifted the country with legendary cricket players under his guidance. Through consistent faith and stellar sportsmanship, he also retained star player MS Dhoni in the cricket team until he went on to become a record-breaker himself.

Ganguly’s own One Day International (ODI) debut was marked at the 1992 match of India against the West Indies. Since then, his guidance has revolutionised the legacy of Indian cricket.

This talented sportsman was also awarded the Padma Shri in 2004 in recognition of his contribution to the field of sports.

Watch this video to learn more about the man who helped India shape its cricketing core.

In news that has made the nation proud, Saikhom Mirabai Chanu has won India’s first medal at the Tokyo Olympics. The 26-year-old weightlifter bagged a silver medal in the women’s 49kg category.

Her achievement has ended India’s over two-decade-long wait for a weightlifting medal at the Olympics.

Chanu’s story of perseverance in the face of adversity makes her win all the more inspiring.

Her journey began by lifting firewood in nearby forests at the tender age of 12. She also used bamboo trunks as barbells for her training. Her determined practice, despite a dearth of equipment, pushed her into a thriving weightlifting career that enabled her to support her family.

Today, this internationally renowned athlete is inspiring countless others with her feat.

Watch this video of Mirabai Chanu bagging India’s first silver medal at the Olympics:

“I remember how in the village they would often pity my parents, with no sons and three daughters. My mother would always tell us to do something to prove the critics wrong, and we did. Both my sisters have jobs in the Central Industrial Security Force and Border Security Force, and I am a boxer,” 23-year-old boxer Lovlina Borgohain told Indian Express after being honoured with the Arjuna Award last year.

Today, Lovlina—the first woman from Assam to qualify for the Olympics—has assured a medal for India at the world’s biggest sporting event in Tokyo.

Becoming the second Indian to win a medal at the Tokyo Olympics (after Mirabai Chanu), Lovlina ensured at least a bronze for herself by defeating Nien-Chin Chen of Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals of the 69 kg women’s welterweight boxing.

Here’s the story of her inspiring journey from the small village of Bara Mukhia in Assam’s Golaghat district.

Lovlina was born to Mamoni and Tiken Borhohain, a small-time businessman. She was in Class 5 when her father showed her a newspaper clipping of the legendary Muhammad Ali.

That got her hooked to boxing, but she was first trained in Muay Thai, a form of kickboxing.

During boxing trials at her high school, her skills impressed Padum Boro (a coach from Guwahati), who asked if the talented young girl would like to go to Guwahati to train under the Sports Authority of India. She agreed and hasn’t looked back since.

Lovlina’s big break came in 2018 when she bagged bronze at the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. This led to her being selected in the Indian women’s boxing team for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

But a disappointing loss at CWG 2018 made Lovlina retrospect and focus on building her psychological strength. The girl from Assam joined meditation classes while fine-tuning her counter-attack technique.

Her efforts paid off. In 2019, she won another bronze medal at the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. She also became World No. 3 in the 69 kg category.

All this helped her inch closer to her biggest dream, to represent India at the Tokyo Olympics.

She finally sealed her spot at the Olympics in early 2020, when she defeated Uzbekistan’s Maftunakhon Melieva in the quarterfinals of the Asian Olympic qualifiers.

“My father always wanted me to go to the Olympics, it’s a dream come true for him. When I called them, they all started crying. But I am not content with only an Olympic berth. I want to win gold,” Lovlina told Times of India after her qualification.

The fact that she will be returning with a medal from Tokyo means the world for the 2,000-odd residents of Baro Mukhia, Lovlina’s village.

This could mean the arrival of basic facilities such as a piped water supply and a concrete road to the village that is still connected with the rest of the world by a muddy track.

Baro Mukhia also depends on tube wells and ponds for its water supply, and the nearest hospital can be found in the district headquarters, 45 km away.

The hopeful villagers have witnessed the fate of the villages of Hima Das and Mary Kom change after their wins at the international level and perhaps await their own destiny.

(Feature image source: Instagram; Edited by Yoshita Rao)

In a sweeping victory, renowned Indian badminton player PV Sindhu beat Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi to enter the semi finals of Tokyo Olympics today. She bagged a conspicuous victory in the first round with 21-13, and a 22-20 win in the second.

The development has a loud cheer of affection for the 26-year-old roaring across the country.

This seasoned shuttler has always displayed a strong love for the sport that is inspiring to say the least. While her father, PV Ramana, was an internationally renowned volleyball player, Sindhu’s passion was badminton from the start. This was fortified through stringent solo training under sports legend Gopichand. It was under his mentorship that she bagged her first Grand Prix gold in the 2013 Malaysian Open.

In 2019, on the day of her mother’s birthday, Sindhu became the first Indian to win a gold medal in the Badminton World Championships.

Be it starting her day before the break of dawn to showing commendable spirits since the young age of 10, her efforts have been relentless in reaching a global level of recognition in the field.

Here is a collection of a few rare pictures from PV Sindhu’s journey in celebration of her joyous victory:

The Rani Rampal-led Indian women’s hockey team have made it to the semifinals of the Tokyo Olympics 2021. They have created history at the international sporting event in what will be just their third appearance at the Olympics.

THE GIRLS HAVE DONE IT! Indian women #hockey team rewrites history, storm into Olympic semifinals for the first time ever. #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/adP8K4NIXr

— The Better India (@thebetterindia) August 2, 2021

Rani Rampal, Shahbad Markanda, Savita Punia, Sirsa, Haryana. Vandana Katariya, Roshanabad, Hardwar. Salima Tete & Nikki Pradhan, Khunti Jharkhand, Gurjit, Amritsar disrict. Lalremsiami, Mizoram…..
Around this country, their tales will be told, their songs will be sung… pic.twitter.com/uzGAMi0C56

— Joy Bhattacharjya (@joybhattacharj) August 2, 2021

Here are eight inspiring stories of girls from the Indian hockey squad who showed immense grit and determination to bounce back after three consecutive defeats at Tokyo Olympics.

1. Rani Rampal

From practicing with broken hockey sticks to becoming the youngest player in the national women’s hockey team, the Indian skipper has come a long way.

Rani Rampal’s mother worked as a domestic help, her father was a cart-puller who earned around Rs 80 a day. Inspired by the players she would see at a nearby hockey academy, she too decided to take up the sport. However, her father could not afford to buy her a hockey stick, so she practiced with a broken one.

In an exclusive interview with The Better India, she said, “I grew up in a place where young women and girls were restricted to the four walls of their home. So, when I expressed my wish to play hockey, neither my parents nor my relatives supported me. My parents come from a humble background and weren’t very educated. They did not think sports could be a career path, not for girls at least. Besides, my relatives would often tell my father, ‘What will she do playing hockey? She will run around the field wearing a short skirt and bring a bad name to your family’.”

The same people now pat her back and congratulate her when she is home.

2. Deep Grace Ekka

#RoadToTokyo #TokyoOlympics

“Ye ‘ladko wala game’ hai, kyu khelti ho”: Deep Grace Ekka named Vice-Captain of Indian women’s hockey team for Tokyo. (1/6) pic.twitter.com/CWd3mzZ6aD

— The Better India (@thebetterindia) June 24, 2021

The Indian side’s mainstay in defence, Deep Grace Ekka hails from the Lulkidhi village from Sundargarh district of Odisha.

For Deep, hockey is a family affair — her father, uncle and elder brother were notable local players.

Yet, when she picked up the hockey stick as a young girl, her family was criticised severely by neighbours and villagers for allowing a ‘girl’ to play hockey instead of learning household chores.

“When I played they would say, she doesn’t even work and still ladko wala game khelti hai (plays men’s sport). But I did not pay any heed to them and continued to play,” the veteran defender told the Olympics Channel.

At just 16, Deep played in her first senior nationals in Sonepat. Soon after, she was called up for the India Junior team. A few years later, she helped India bag the bronze medal in the Junior World Cup as well as the 2014 Asian Games.

3. Sushila Chanu

#RoadToTokyo #TokyoOlympics

Working as a ticket checker to Tokyo Olympics: Sushila Chanu is Indian hockey’s star in the making. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/no14z9JAUZ

— The Better India (@thebetterindia) July 14, 2021

The 29-year-old halfback from Imphal, Manipur, Sushila Chanu is one of the most experienced players in the team.

This daughter of a driver and homemaker began playing the sport at the age of 11 after much encouragement from her uncle, who also got her enrolled at the Posterior Hockey Academy in Manipur in 2002.

However, she nearly gave it all up after she wasn’t picked for the state.

“I didn’t think it would go too far, so I almost quit. But senior players urged me to get back,” she told Hindustan Times. The rest, as they say, is history.

A soft-spoken individual, Chanu has worked as a ticket collector in the Central Railways since 2010, a position she obtained through the sports quota.

4. Vandana Katariya

History has been made. 🇮🇳

Vandana Katariya scores the first-ever hat-trick for the Indian Women’s Hockey Team in the Olympics. 💙#INDvRSA #IndiaKaGame #TeamIndia #Tokyo2020 #TokyoTogether #StrongerTogether #HockeyInvites #WeAreTeamIndia #Hockey pic.twitter.com/DPshZMj36I

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) July 31, 2021

When Vandana Katariya was a little girl, she would often be told that her love for hockey was ‘unbecoming of a girl’.

So, she would practice her moves with tree branches in a hidden spot, far away from the disapproving eyes of elders in Uttarakhand’s Roshnabad village, Times of India reported.

But when every one pushed her to drop the sport, little Vandana found a defender in her father Nahar Singh Kataria, who had himself been a wrestler.

Three months before Tokyo Olympics, Vandana’s father passed away and she couldn’t make it home due to training. Despite her many hardships, on 31 July 2021, she became the first Indian woman to score a hat-trick at the Olympics.

5. Gurjit Kaur

Gurjit Kaur, the one who hit the winning goal 🏑 #Tokyo2020 #Olympics pic.twitter.com/bGwrW4Mlkt

— ESPN India (@ESPNIndia) August 2, 2021

Drag flicker Gurjit Kaur was born in a farmer’s family in Miadi Kalan in Amritsar. She and her sister spent most of years in her village, where she didn’t know even know what hockey was, let alone playing the sport.

It was only when she moved to a boarding school 70 km away that she was first introduced to hockey. Gurjit knew nothing about the game, so she would spend the whole day watching the other girls play. This is what made her want to excel at the game.

Hockey soon became her passion.

In the Olympics quarter-final against World No 4, it was Gurjit who rose to the occasion and converted India’s lone penalty corner in the 22nd minute to surprise the confident Australians.

“Years of hard work have paid off,” a beaming Gurjit told the media after the match.

6. Savita Punia

The new definition of 𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐋 💙#AUSvIND #HaiTayyar #IndiaKaGame #Tokyo2020 #TeamIndia #TokyoTogether #StrongerTogether #HockeyInvites #WeAreTeamIndia #Hockey pic.twitter.com/woXyJulwvG

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) August 2, 2021

Apart from Gurjit’s goal, it was goalkeeper Savita Punia’s heroics that helped India stun Australia 1-0 to reach their first-ever Olympics semi-finals.

As a young girl, Savita used to travel 30 km six times every week from her village (Jodhkan) to Maharaja Agrasain Girls Senior Secondary School in Sirsa to hone her hockey skills. This school was the only place around her village that had hockey coaches as well as training infrastructure.

Interestingly, before Savita, no one in her family had ever taken up any sport as a career. It was her grandfather, late Ranjeet Punia, who encouraged her to play the sport and not give up, even when the going got tough.

7. Lalremsiami

#Tokyo2020 is going to be my first Olympics. I wish all my fellow Olympians a very happy Olympics day.

#OlympicDay2021 #InternationalOlympicsDay #Olympics2021 pic.twitter.com/N6LjQOwFPm

— Lalremsiami (@Lalremsiami30) June 23, 2021

Barely out of her teens, this fiercely determined girl from Mizoram has already made a mark, on and off the field.

“Selection in India’s Olympic team was my late father’s dream,” said 21-year-old Lalremsiami, who created history by becoming the first Indian woman to be handed the the FIH Rising Star Award.

Despite struggling to support his family via farming, Lalremsiami’s father was her biggest support, constantly encouraging her to pursue her hockey dreams, which she did, no matter what hurdles came her way.

In fact, when Lalremsiami joined the team, she could barely speak English or Hindi. She had to initially communicate with her teammates with hand gestures, before picking up both languages with help from her teammates and self-help books.

8. Salima Tete

Salima Tete, Captain of the Indian Jr. Women’s Team has led the team from the front and proven her worth as a powerful leader of a side that went on to win the Silver Medal at the 2018 Youth Olympics Game. #IndiaKaGame pic.twitter.com/5FpGgICQMJ

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) February 26, 2019

Salima Tete hails from Badkichapar village in Jharkand’s Simdega, one of the worst Naxalism-affected districts in the state.

It was in a dusty ground in this village that a young Salima, a farmer’s daughter, took her first steps in hockey. Growing up on subsidised rice grains, she would use wooden sticks since the family was unable to afford proper hockey blades.

“Everyone in our village plays hockey, even though we have no facilities. Hockey gives us a purpose. But I’m the first player from my village to represent India at an international level,” 19-year-old Salima told LiveMint.

(Edited by Yoshita Rao)

In a parallel victory moment, both the men’s as well as women’s Indian hockey teams have entered the semi-finals of the Tokyo Olympics. This is news of not only immense pride, but also emotional elation, as the country is watching its sports trajectory change after a gap of 49 years.

Under the captainship of Rani Rampal, the women’s hockey team bagged a position in the semi-finals by beating three-time gold medallist Australia. This achievement is a first for the team, which is playing its third Olympics ever.

Meanwhile, the men’s team out-championed Great Britain by 3-1 in the quarter-finals of the Olympics. Despite hockey being the national sport, India had not seen a moment of victory such as this since the 1980 Moscow Games.

As ripples of enthusiasm spread across social media, a love for the sport seems to be resurging among citizens of the country. This development puts India on the list of semi-finalists for the international multi-sports event.

Commentators Sunil Taneja and Siddharth Pandey were themselves caught in an emotional moment as they announced India’s triumphant qualification to the semi finals. Sports fans across the country are resonating with cheers and applause as they acknowledge how this moment of pride is second to none.

Here are 5 videos that encapsulate the joy of Indians at the country entering the Olympic semi-finals:

Today when Indian #Hockey team defeated Great Britain by 3-1, the commentators Sunil Taneja and Siddharth Pandey were in tears.

I was watching live and could perceive the emotions from their voice but this video is just raw emotions. 🏑 🙂#TearsOfJoy #Olympics #OlympicsInHindi pic.twitter.com/GK1nZVvlap

— Ankit Lal 🏹 (@AnkitLal) August 1, 2021

Goosebumps and tears.
What a moment ❤️ #hockeyindia #Olympics2020 pic.twitter.com/7eDKXdpF5N

— Saiyami Kher (@SaiyamiKher) August 2, 2021

INSANE!!!!!!Women’s Hockey India beats Australia to move into the semifinal. This is how we roll! All comm boxes go ballistic….@tnrags @RK_sports pic.twitter.com/2zR9VvvHD8

— Aparna Rajkumar (@rajkumaraparna1) August 2, 2021

The Goal of the Match which broke the hope of Great Britain and confirm the spot in Semi-final for India🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

We have Silver, We have Bronze.
It’s time for Gold. #ChakDeIndia#Tokyo2020 #hockeyindia pic.twitter.com/eL7V972m1V

— Ajay Yadav (@AmaZingAj4) August 1, 2021

A goal that will go in the history books! 🙌

Watch Gurjit Kaur’s brilliant drag flick that led #IND to a 1-0 win over #AUS in an epic quarter-final 😍#Tokyo2020 | #UnitedByEmotion | #StrongerTogether | #Hockey | #BestOfTokyo pic.twitter.com/MkXqjprLxo

— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) August 2, 2021

The hopes of every Indian are rising, as the country enters into the finals of equestrian sport at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics for the first time in history.

While the feat alone is a matter of fervour, having the country represented on this international stage by Fouaad Mirza only makes common sense.

His preparations for this international event have been in process since long before and his plans to enter the games were revealed amidst the glory of his last victory itself — a double silver medal in both Individual and Team categories at the 2018 Asian Games, Jakarta.

Talking about his current training schedule, he told Tokyo2020.org, “I begin training early in the morning and continue till 6 or 6.30 in the evening. I then go check on the horses later at night.”
Naturally, Fouaad has come to understand horses as much as love them. His journey with horses began when he was just five. It is also said that now, during events, Fouaad speaks to the animal, as he thinks they are the “real winners”.

Taking From a Lineage of Horse-Lovers

Fouaad’s father says that the sportsman’s ardent passion towards horse sports was never inspired by an external nudge. The renowned veterinarian, especially in the equestrian field, Dr Hasneyn Mirza, told News18 in an article: “I never sort of pushed either of them [both his sons] into it. For a long time both the boys were comfortable around horses. They didn’t ride for a long time. It was when they were five when they started riding. We never went on holidays. Because they were always practising or were in events. Riding was their holiday.”

So where does this level of focussed attention and devoted training come from? Some would say it runs in the blood, as fast and strong as the gelding he rides to the finish line.

Fouaad’s ancestry traces back to the dewan of the State of Mysore, Sir Mirza Ismail. While commonly known facts would go on to identify him as an Indian statesman in history books, posterity reveals the great love for studs that decked his familial culture.

In conversation with Deccan Herald, Dr Hasneyn shared, “Well there was an Aga Ali Askar who came from Iran in 1824 and brought horses with him. We have records to show that the family was involved with horses and racing for many years before it arrived here. Since Ali Asker arrived, our association with horses has been unbroken. At one time, he had nearly 700 horses stabled behind his house near Fathima bakery. Behind that (Johnson Market), the area is called Arab Lanes because all the Arabian horses were stabled there.”

Ali Askar was the grandfather of the dewan. Fouaad, the trailblazer, marks the seventh generation of his progeny.

“We realise that the horse is an intelligent animal and cannot be forced to do anything he doesn’t want to. We have to understand what it feels and communicate with it accordingly,” Fouaad shared with First Post.

The humble athlete extended his gratitude towards his gelding Seigneur Medicott, who was also the former partner of Olympic bronze medallist Bettina Hoy. Describing his companion, Fouaad says, “He’s a lovely horse — very attractive, very light and athletic and a true gentleman. He’s very honest and likes to please. He’s very sensitive too and likes to know the people with him.”

Even when the pandemic hit and the possibility of athletic events being cancelled globally became a possibility, this equestrian knew how to prioritise the animal over the sport. He told La Polo, “Horses need to be exercised or have access to a paddock where they can perform exercises of free choice. Restricting them to the stable may trigger problems, from colic to laminitis to injury or development of bad stable vices through sheer boredom.”

Edited by Yoshita Rao

On 30 July, Lovlina Borgohain, the 23-year-old pugilist from Golaghat district in Assam, guaranteed herself a Bronze Olympic medal when she qualified for the semi-finals of the Women’s welterweight division, defeating Chen Nien-chin from Chinese Taipei in their quarterfinal bout.
(Image above of boxing coach Sandhya Gurung and her pupil Lovlina Borgohain courtesy Facebook.)

While Lovlina battles it out in Tokyo, someone in the Burtuk area of Gangtok will closely follow the outcome of her sensational run in the Olympics.

That someone is her coach Sandhya Gurung. Sandhya helped turn Lovlina from someone who would crumble under pressure fighting tough opponents into a lion in the ring.

Before her quarterfinal bout, you can see Lovlina say to herself, “Tum sherni nahi ho, tum sher ho. (You aren’t a lioness, you are a lion).”

This is something Sandhya would say into Lovlina’s ear before her past bouts.

“She was a tall, shy girl, but the height advantage got her the attention from Assam in sub-junior camp. She was a bit reluctant in sparring, but we pushed her to fight that fear. Her target was always on the Olympics, ever since she went for the sub-junior world championship in 2013. She was initially playing in the 75 kg category. Later, she came down to 69 kg eyeing for the Olympics,” Gurung told EastMojo, who first met the future Olympic medalist at a sub-junior camp in 2012. They would go on to strike a real bond in 2016 at the National Camp in Delhi.

Gurung, however, has her own tale to tell. A former boxer from Sikkim, she suffered paralysis following a road accident and remained bed-ridden for three years before she even got into the sport.

Overcoming her paralysis, she began competing in the sport in 2000 onwards in the 68 kg category. Sandhya would go on to become a national-level boxer winning a bronze medal in the National Championships and finishing up her career in 2008 before getting into coaching.

After her last in-ring performance, she was offered a job by the state’s sports department and given the option of either becoming an official or a coach. The current chief minister of Sikkim, Prem Singh Golay, who was the sports minister at the time, nudged her towards becoming a coach. By 2010, she obtained her coach’s diploma and has been training fighters ever since.

When she first began coaching Lovlina, Sandhya tells ESPN, “She had everything, but she was scared. It was okay against weaker opponents. She’d still win against them. But the moment you put her in the ring with a real threat – in an actual pressure situation, she would panic.”

Things began to turn at the National Camp in 2016 after the Rio Olympics. She told Lovlina that she had to try for the next Olympics given her physical attributes and ability.

As she goes on to tell ESPN, “She [Lovlina] had this beautiful waist-length hair. And she had chopped it all off to a short crop. She said the hair got in the way when she boxed,, so that was it.”

In fact, Lovlina would shave her hair off entirely in 2018 but maintained a short-crop length thereafter. This was when Sandhya began telling Lovlina that she was a lion in the ring.

Of course, it was not the length of her hair or pep talk that would turn Lovlina into a champion boxer. Sandhya began working on her jab, which is Lovlina’s number one weapon in the ring. A weak jab allows opponents to get in and do damage. However, Sandhya helped Lovlina develop a hard and accurate jab.

Beyond technique, it was helping Lovlina not to forget the fear in the ring because, after all, it’s natural to get scared when someone punches you from a few feet away. What Sandhya taught Lovlina was to deal with her fear.

Despite being unable to get on the plane to Tokyo, she keeps in touch with her student via video call, discussing opponents, potential strategies and offering motivation.

While she divides her time between Sikkim and the National Camp in Delhi, where she coaches champion boxers like Lovlina, she wants to bring forward real talent from her own state into the boxing ring, particularly women.

Going by her track record, she might succeed.

(Edited by Vinayak Hegde)

Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

In a moment of both personal and national pride, star athlete Neeraj Chopra has sealed his place in the men’s javelin throw final at the Tokyo Olympics. Going far beyond the qualifying distance of 83.50 metres, his spear landed at an outstanding 86.65 metres.

Neeraj’s journey as a track star has covered just as big a distance. As a young boy, this farmer’s son from Khandra village of Panipat had never imagined himself making history on the sports fields of Tokyo. Neeraj comes from a humble family of 16 that survived on mediocre jobs and agriculture. Consistent training and owning practice equipment meant digging into family pockets, which were shallow at best. But this never deterred Chopra, as his family was a constant support system.

Interestingly, he began his tryst with sports to shed a few extra kilos off his body. This was a boy who hated physical activity. An indulgent lifestyle meant that young Neeraj was carrying a weight of 90 kilos at 12 years of age. It took nudging and urging from his family for him to hit the gym and attain a basic level of fitness.

But a forced morning jog session at Shivaji Stadium proved fruitful when it landed him a chance meeting with javelin thrower Jai Choudhary. This was where the making of history would begin.

Jai recalled in an interview with India Times, “One evening at the stadium, I just asked him to throw the javelin. It travelled about 35-40m, which was pretty impressive for a first-timer. What I liked more was the way he threw it. Neeraj used to be overweight those days. But his body was pretty flexible.”

Throws of success

A few years later, Neeraj was breaking world records at the 2016 World U20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland. “My target was to qualify for the Olympics, but I did not make it. My other goal was to win at the World Under-20 Championships,” he had revealed to Economic Times back then.

In 2021, he broke his own national record by an attempt of 88.07m at the Indian Grand Prix 3 at the National Institute of Sports (NIS), Patiala.

Chopra has also bagged gold medals at the Asian Athletic Championships, the 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2018 Asian Games.

The level of precision that lands a Haryana local in the global sports arena might seem unfathomable to many. But talking to The Indian Express, Neeraj shared how this is exactly what drives him. “Everyone thinks about winning a medal all the time. But when I am competing, I aim to nail a near-perfect throw. Once I complete that, I take everything, even medals, as a bonus.”

The complexities behind a fine sports career

On his journey to sports stardom, he has trained under Australian coach Garry Calvert at the Olympic Training Centre as a beneficiary of the JSW Sports Excellence Program. Despite defying the odds to reach the top tier of sportsmen, this humble javelin thrower has attributed his success to this support system. “Garry sir has been a huge source of knowledge and help. JSW has provided excellent support and my parents have always backed me to push myself to be the best in whatever it is that I do.”

Today, Chopra is hopeful to make history as well as his own dreams come true. Nothing seems to deter the collected approach with which he faces each challenge to move one step forward towards his goal. Talking with First Post, he says, “I am at my first Olympic Games, and I feel very good. During warm-up, my performance wasn’t so good, but then (in the qualifying round) my first throw had a good angle, and was a perfect throw.”

Watch the legendary moment that got India’s finest javelin thrower into the Olympic finals:

Olympic debutant and promising athlete #NeerajChopra qualifies for Men’s Javelin throw finals after throwing an impressive distance of 86.65 metres in his first attempt in Group A of qualification round. #TokyoOlympics #Cheer4Indiapic.twitter.com/ELF8PfU5yK

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) August 4, 2021

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Neeraj Chopra (@neeraj____chopra)

Edited by Divya Sethu

Feature Image Source: Twitter

In a historic moment, India’s men’s hockey team defeated Germany by 5-4 to clinch a bronze medal. While this isn’t the first time the country is boasting a win under Manpreet Singh’s captaincy, this being an Olympic victory after 41 years makes the moment second to none.

During the course of his field career, Manpreet has played 259 international matches, winning a steady stream of golds. But his own journey to the field has a history of its own.

As a kid from the small village of Mithapur in Jalandhar, Manpreet was an ordinary boy who passed his time playing video games and listening to music all day. At the age of 9, when he saw his father and brothers play hockey, he was inspired to try out the sport as well. But this was unacceptable to his family for the hazards of being a sportsperson.

Sharing his story with Hindustan Times, he revealed, “One day, when I was 10 years old, my brother locked me in a room just as I was about to leave for coaching. However, I managed to get out and join him at the coaching ground. He was angry and about to hit me, but the coach said I should be given a chance to learn the game since I was so keen.”

The early stages of his sports career were riddled with complications even after that. Manpreet’s father passed away in 2016, leaving the weight of raising three children on his mother’s shoulders. Despite this, his determined approach meant that his mother would do everything in her power to help him see his dream through. She worked odd jobs to sustain the family and supported her son’s dream against all odds.

“If she was not there, I would be nothing. I owe everything that I have earned in my career to her,” Manpreet told PTI in an interview.

The making of a true captain

The star champion says various sports persons like boxer Mary Kom, former hockey captain and flag bearer Parjat Singh, and Christiano Ronaldo have lit a spark in him through different phases of his life. “Their success stories have been a big inspiration for me,” he also told HT.

Today, Manpreet is known to have led multiple sportsmen and entire teams.

While he made his debut at the 2012 London Olympics, in 2013 he was leading the junior national team. His captaincy also won the gold at the Men’s Hockey Junior World Cup, the Asian Games in Incheon, and the 2013 Sultan of Johor Cup, as well as silver at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

And yet, any interaction with the established leader points towards his focus on the game and his team. In an interview with SportsAdda, he said “…We have a culture in this team where there is no distinction between senior players and junior players. Everyone in the team drives each other on to play without hesitation or fear.”

“From growing up and playing hockey in Mithapur village to being named the flag bearer for the Indian contingent is a big honour for a player like me. It is a matter of pride as well as motivation – for the Indian hockey team as well as fans – and I hope we return with a medal from Tokyo,” he had told The Indian Express.

Clearly, all efforts have ended up shining bright and bronze as he hoped.

Here’s what hockey team captain Manpreet Singh has to say about being a world champion:

It was my father’s dream to see me play for my country. Achieving all this and becoming the captain, I now want to bring back the past glories for the sport. #createdwithadidas @AdidasIndia_ pic.twitter.com/BFLFC00UIZ

— Manpreet Singh (@manpreetpawar07) July 12, 2021

Edited by Divya Sethu

Feature Image Source: Twitter