Scripting a convincing win over Jammu and Kashmir in the summit clash, Uttar Pradesh boys lifted the title trophy of the 27th Senior National Tennis Ball Cricket Championship, organized by J&K Tennis Ball Cricket Association in collaboration with Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Council at different venues, here.

In the women’s section, J&K and Uttar Pradesh emerged joint winners as the match ended in a dramatic fashion.

Secretary Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Council, Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra was the chief guest on the valedictory function, while Jitender Sharma, Secretary General, Tennis Ball Cricket Federation of India and P Gangvel, Vice President (TBCFI) were the guest of honour.

In the women’s final, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh emerged as joint winners in an exciting contest.

Earlier, winning the toss and batting first, Uttar Pradesh scored a good total of 75 runs in the stipulated 8 overs, losing just one wicket. Shefali top scored with 40 runs, while Sadhna Yadav contributed valuable 30 runs to the total.

In reply, J&K needed 5 runs on the last ball and the batswoman after hitting the ball towards mid-off area called her partner and were running between wickets. After completing 2 runs, the batting duo in the middle were running for the third run, when the UP players in a jubilation uprooted the stumps when the ball was in action and not dead. After through discussions and deliberation, the jury of the Federation declared Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh as joint winners of the Championship. For Jammu and Kashmir, Summaiya and Satika were the star performers, who made brilliant 35 and 23 runs respectively. Sumaiya hit 6 boundaries, while Satika struck 3 fours. Goa won third place in this section.

Meanwhile, in the men’s section, Uttar Pradesh defeated J&K in an easy contest by 25 runs. Batting first, UP scored 82 runs in the stipulated 8 overs. Vikas was the top scorer with 38 runs, studded with 6 magnificent boundaries, while Ravi, Govind and Kuldeep chipped in with 21, 9 and 6 runs respectively. For J&K Sunil took 2 wickets.

In reply, J&K managed to score 57 runs in the allotted overs, thus lost the match by 25 runs. Hinan (25) and Burhan (18) were the main contributors.

The third place in this section also went to Goa.

The match balls used in this Championship were the Toss Official Tennis Balls of Sharma Sports Jalandhar.

source: http://www.greaterkashmir.com / Greater Kashmir / Home> Sports / GKNN / February 14th, 2017

Lucknow:

“Geeta Phogat wala ‘ulta’ le le… Shabhash. Ab Sushil Kumar wala daanv le le… Olympic jeetega tu,” he says in a firm but encouraging voice. Only 24 years old, Daya Yadav, a muscular young man, is instructing his “students” in his akhara — a patch of soft mud in village Samogar, barely 20 km off the Agra-Lucknow Expressway in Agra district.

In this village and the neighbouring one, Etmadpur Madra, wrestling has not only been a sport for generations but also a tradition.

Daya says his grandfather and other elders were active wrestlers and even claims that Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav used to come here to wrestle with his friends in his heydays.

Over the years, however, wrestling took a backseat. Until, of course, Daya realized he had a passion for it.
“I now have a batch of about 30 students who practice here every morning. They have shown extreme dedication and spark. If we continue practise like this, I can assure an Olympic medal or two from this village,” he says proudly.

Daya has just got done with tending to his buffaloes and evening time is for his akhara and wrestling lessons.
Once that is wrapped up, he heads to a gym in Kheria — a bigger village with more city-like facilities and aspirations.

“Before the expressway came up, I would only go to the local gym we had set up here. Now, thanks to the ring road that was developed for the expressway link, I can go to Kheria in 15 minutes,” says the affable Daya, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Olympc mediallist wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt.

Several roads in the vicinity of the village have been concretised, thanks to the expressway, he adds.
Becoming a gym trainer has added to Daya’s fan following in the village but what triggered a crazy passion in the young men for wrestling was the movie ‘Sultan’.

“We watched it last year at Panna Palace theatre in Agra soon after it released. I took 20 boys with me. All of them are now actively practising wrestling under me.”

A few minutes of conversation and this shy teacher comes up with another revelation.

‘Sultan’ was the first movie any of us had ever seen. ‘Dangal’ this year was the second. The only reason we could watch it was the expressway road,” he beams.

On way to Lucknow from Agra, Etmadpur Madra would be the first village by the expressway. Before the ring road came up, going to Agra from their village could take 1.5 hours or more, if there was traffic. With the ring road, all it takes these men is 30 minutes.

Daya’s friend Umesh Yadav, whom Daya calls Bhaiya, says they are thankful that both films on wrestling came after the expressway was built.

Earlier, the only exposure and practice Day’s wrestling team got was in neighbouring villages. There were no new challenge and any major competition seemed a distant dream.

“Since the expressway has come up, we have been scores of times to Saifai, Etawah city and Lucknow for tournaments. Our boys have proved their mettle and know where they stand,” says Umesh as Daya tells his students that it’s time to practice a rope exercise now.

One of the youngest students in the team, 15-year-old Ravindra Yadav has just got a pat on the back from his teacher.

“Looking at Daya Bhaiya, initially we just wanted to build a body like his. After we saw Sultan, our aspirations grew. On participating in competitions in other cities, we realized that we could actually do well. The expressway right next to our village has taught us to think big. Now, I am sure that we can earn medals like Sushil Kumar,” says Ravindra.

Brajesh Kumar, another budding wrestler, has just returned from his carrot farm. Munching on a carrot, he offers some to his friends too.

“Films on wrestling earn more than wrestlers themselves. Sports is not given the attention it deserves. If we get proper training, I am sure we can represent India internationally, he says.

“We are not only practising physically but also paying attention to our diet and overall health. Daya Bhaiya tells us to eat dry fruits and have milk every day,” says 18-year-old Jeetu Yadav, as he advances to touch Daya’s feet before going home. The other students follow.

Every week, a band of boys goes to Agra and gets dry fruits for the team, zipping on the highway on their motorbike.

With the cinema hall coming closer to them because of the e-way, do the boys also plan to catch more movies?
“No way. Our elders allowed us to go for these films because they were related to ‘kushti’. We do not intend watching any other film,” says Umesh determinedly.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Lucknow News / by Rashi Lal, TNN / February 01st, 2017

Handia (Allahabad):

Aradhana Bind is a gutsy long-distance runner. In November, without any training, she won the bronze medal at the prestigious Indira Marathon. On Wednesday, however, she was among hundreds of aspirants sweeping the streets of Handia, a town 40km away from Allahabad, in a bid to qualify for the job of a sanitation worker. It’s a job she says she desperately needs to be able to afford a proper diet, a pair of shoes, and kit to fulfil her dream of running in the Olympics.

Second youngest among five sisters and living with 14 others in a tiny, thatched roof house in Handia’s Upardaha Rigdapur village, Aradhana says, “Had I not applied for the job, no one would have come to my village asking for me. Even my village head didn’t come to congratulate me after I won the Indira Marathon this year.” She says the sanitation worker’s job will bring her a monthly salary of a little over 12,000, which will help sustain not just her dreams but also her siblings’ education.

Aradhana, who practised bare-foot without a coach on the cemented Allahabad-Varanasi highway, clocked a time of 3:28:10 in the 42km marathon, which earned her a prize money of Rs 75000. “But winning a marathon does not fetch you a job. If I have to fulfil my dream of running and winning for the country, I need a proper diet, basic equipment and regular practise, which is possible only when I will have a stable source of income. It doesn’t really matter if for this, I have I to clean garbage, which is after all thrown by people like you and I,” Aradhana says.

She adds with a heavy heart, “And yet, for the job of a ‘safai karmi’, being an achiever is no criterion. To attend the practicals for the job, we were even asked to bring our own brooms.”
She says the government only focuses on a handful of people who either reside in cities or are influential. “I want to show to the world that girls of small villages are second to none. If I can win a marathon on a handful of channa, I will prove myself when I get a job and can afford a proper diet,” she adds.

Aradhana’s father Phool Chand Bind, who owns 3 bighas of land which doesn’t generate enough to support the family of 15, says he feels bad about being unable to provide for his promising daughter. “I am unable to do anything for Aradhana because I have seven children and I have somehow managed to educate them till intermediate. From here, they have to carve their own paths,” he says. For him, “a salary of Rs 10,000 would be like 10 lakh”, as it would help his daughter pursue her dreams.

When contacted, district magistrate Sanjay Kumar said, “Her applying for the job of a sanitation worker is another issue, but we can assure her that she would be extended all help from the administration. Girls like her should be promoted so that their full potential is utilized and they makes their family, state and country proud.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Allahabad News / TNN / December 31st, 2016