"Impact-ful" Sporty Indians
Let me mention - Lalchand Rajput, Umesh Patwal, Apurva Desai, Mrugang Desai, Praveen Hinganikar, Ms. Shailaja Jain, and Mrs. Shailaja Gohad.
What do they all have in common?
Well, of course, they all are renowned Indian sportpersons. They all excelled in their respective careers. While Ms.Jain is an ex-kabaddi player having represented India, others are national and international cricketers.
One common thing in all of them is that they are now well-known professionals in their respective fields. Most importantly, they have proven their mettle by grooming smaller countries or new adopters of the game. This is very crucial for the successful development of any sports. They ventured out of comfort zones of language, cultural, security, identity and many other barriers.
Lalchand Rajput Sir needs no introduction. While he has successfully lent his support to Indian cricket, presently as a full time head coach of Zimbabwe Cricket team, he is putting all efforts to bring back Zimbabwe in the international reckoning.
If the latest form of the team is anything, then he is certainly on the right track.
If the latest form of the team is anything, then he is certainly on the right track.
Zimbabwe recently routed "Bengal Tigers" Bangladesh in Bangladesh by 151 runs. The visitors bowled Bangladesh for 169 runs in Sylhet, notching not just their first Test victory in five years but the first away from home in close to two decades. This win must have restored some confidence in their cricket after years languishing at the dead bottom of the Test rankings.
Rajput, a former Indian opener who took over as coach in May 2018, said breaking the streak was important to revive Zimbabwean cricket. He praises their efforts rightly by this comment “Teams around the world will know that Zimbabwe is getting back to the team they were earlier. If you look at Zimbabwean cricket in the 90s, they had a fantastic team. This win will definitely revive that, bring the confidence of the players.”
Umesh Patwal is no stranger to Mumbai cricket. Known for his never say die attitude, he has weathered many a storms, including a bomb blast in Kabul. As the batting coach of Afghanistan National Cricket team, he had a tough task of developing batting talent in a country where Cricket is relatively new.
While the team already had tasted success in bowling - with talented Rashid Khan, Nabi and young Mujeeb, it was their batting that needed serious attention. Afghan Cricket board probably decided to try "Indian remedy" for this. First they hired Mrugang Desai, a former accomplished player from Rajasthan and then Umesh Patwal.
While the team already had tasted success in bowling - with talented Rashid Khan, Nabi and young Mujeeb, it was their batting that needed serious attention. Afghan Cricket board probably decided to try "Indian remedy" for this. First they hired Mrugang Desai, a former accomplished player from Rajasthan and then Umesh Patwal.
In the last 18-20 months, the team has developed and shown enormous batting depth. Most importantly their approach towards big matches has changed completely. If any team takes them as minnows, be they do at their own risk. In the recently concluded Asia Cup they had almost upstaged Pakistan in the cliffhanger. It highlighted their maturity and belief that they can take it to the last delivery. Even against Bangladesh and India their performance was quite commendable.
While major attention goes to Md Shahzad due to his swashbuckling style of batting, I think Md Nabi, Shahidi and Ahmadi hold rather big promise. Not to forget Hazartulla Zazai who recently shot to fame for hitting 6 sixes in an over in a T20 match in Afghan Premier League. He also got two player of the match awards in Ireland. If one goes by the words of Patwal, Zazai will deliver big in years to come.
While major attention goes to Md Shahzad due to his swashbuckling style of batting, I think Md Nabi, Shahidi and Ahmadi hold rather big promise. Not to forget Hazartulla Zazai who recently shot to fame for hitting 6 sixes in an over in a T20 match in Afghan Premier League. He also got two player of the match awards in Ireland. If one goes by the words of Patwal, Zazai will deliver big in years to come.
In his third stint with the national team, Patwal has been witness to how the bunch has grown in terms of skill-sets, consistency and confidence. He feels time is ripe for this team to translate these from white-ball to red-ball cricket, and is confident that Afghanistan will continue to surprise, even in the longer format.
Mrugang aka "Monty" Desai has also been a successful ट्रांसफॉर्मर. Being a "master scout" for the last ten years, Monty Desai has been ever present at domestic matches, watching intently and identifying players who have gone on to play key roles in the IPL with Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Lions.
His main success though was Afghanistan's transition on to international cricket. Apart from batting coach for Afghanistan, Monty was part of the Nepal under-19 squad as a batting consultant and also enjoyed a stint with the Canada national side.
His main success though was Afghanistan's transition on to international cricket. Apart from batting coach for Afghanistan, Monty was part of the Nepal under-19 squad as a batting consultant and also enjoyed a stint with the Canada national side.
Apurva Desai, a Former first-class cricketer from Gujarat and BCCI level C coach, has been working with Nepal's cricket team to hone their batting skills for upcoming international tournaments. Among one of the big names in cricket coaching in Indian domestic cricket, he has been appointed as a batting consultant for Nepal's national cricket team and he is currently giving the cricketers valuable tips to enhance their batting techniques.
The landlocked country bordered by India and China recently received International Cricket Council's (ICC) One Day International (ODI) status for the first time in its history. Obtaining ODI status will give Nepal more opportunities to play one-day international tournaments, and the appointment of Desai as a batting consultant may provide them with a competitive edge when they play in the new format.
The landlocked country bordered by India and China recently received International Cricket Council's (ICC) One Day International (ODI) status for the first time in its history. Obtaining ODI status will give Nepal more opportunities to play one-day international tournaments, and the appointment of Desai as a batting consultant may provide them with a competitive edge when they play in the new format.
Apurva Desai has been serving with National Cricket Academy (NCA) for nine years where he gives tips to Under-19 and India's 'A' cricketers.He also worked as a talent scout for Kolkata Knight Riders team in IPL and was recently credited for Indian Wicket keeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik's explosive knock of 8-ball 29 runs in Tri-series in Sri Lanka.
If you are a cricket follower from Maharashtra, then you must have been familiar with the name, Praveen Hinganikar. He has performed various roles (Hon Jt Secretary, Curator, bowling coach, Match referee) for BCCI and Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA). Praveen is now working on an international assignment. The former Vidarbha skipper has been appointed as Bangladesh Cricket Board curator. The latest series against Zimbabwe was certainly a "perfect" beginning for his new stint, particularly the first test.
Hinganikar successfully filled in the big shoes of Kishore Pradhan, who was one of the top curators of the country, in 2008. He successuly looked after the VCA Jamtha wicket, which was praised by many current and former Indian cricketers
As Iran shocked India 27-24 to clinch the women’s gold in recently concluded Asian Games in Jakarta, one figure constantly at goading them from the sidelines - Nasik-based Shailaja Jain. The 62-year-old has been a kabaddi coach in Maharashtra, was offered the job with Iran last year after spending decades waiting for a call up from the Indian outfit.
Shailaja Jain has spent more than three decades coaching hundreds of kids in Maharashtra, but never got an opportunity to lead the India national team. Jain's contract with Iran expired with their Asian Games campaign and the Indian said she was looking forward to coaching another country in the future. Now, she is showing the Maharashtra under-17 girls team the way for the School Nationals to be held in Dewas (Madhya Pradesh) from November 1.
Meet Gohad Miss, the table tennis coach who also takes care of her pupils’ academicsh. The 50-year-old from Thane has coached thousands of students over 25 years, including current national champion Madhurika Patkar.
Gohad Miss, as she is referred to by her pupils, comes across as a gentle, soft-spoken lady to those who don’t know her or don’t train under her. But her strictness has assumed a legendary status among her pupils.
No one probably knows this better than current national champion Madhurika Patkar, who was one of Gohad’s first ever pupils and has trained with her for over 20 years. “Miss is very strict,” said Patkar, 30, who joined Gohad’s Boosters Academy when she was seven. “Actually, now she is not even 10% as strict as she was when I was a kid,” she added, laughing.
Apart from punctuality, discipline and dedication also rank high on the list of qualities Gohad Miss expects in each of her pupils. If you don’t fall in line, expect a tongue lashing. This might give the impression that Gohad is an unreasonable, over-bearing authoritarian coach. But the truth is far from it, according to her pupils. Patkar said that it is because of Gohad’s strictness that she has reached the level where she is. “Miss is very strict and everyone is scared of her, but she is very caring too,” said Patkar. “She is emotionally attached to each and every player of hers.”
That's not it...
Two more Indians who deserve to be added to this list of "international success stories". Indian bowling legend Anil Kumble who needs no introduction, and young entrepreneur Pratheek Palanethra.
Meet Gohad Miss, the table tennis coach who also takes care of her pupils’ academicsh. The 50-year-old from Thane has coached thousands of students over 25 years, including current national champion Madhurika Patkar.
Gohad Miss, as she is referred to by her pupils, comes across as a gentle, soft-spoken lady to those who don’t know her or don’t train under her. But her strictness has assumed a legendary status among her pupils.
No one probably knows this better than current national champion Madhurika Patkar, who was one of Gohad’s first ever pupils and has trained with her for over 20 years. “Miss is very strict,” said Patkar, 30, who joined Gohad’s Boosters Academy when she was seven. “Actually, now she is not even 10% as strict as she was when I was a kid,” she added, laughing.
Apart from punctuality, discipline and dedication also rank high on the list of qualities Gohad Miss expects in each of her pupils. If you don’t fall in line, expect a tongue lashing. This might give the impression that Gohad is an unreasonable, over-bearing authoritarian coach. But the truth is far from it, according to her pupils. Patkar said that it is because of Gohad’s strictness that she has reached the level where she is. “Miss is very strict and everyone is scared of her, but she is very caring too,” said Patkar. “She is emotionally attached to each and every player of hers.”
That's not it...
Two more Indians who deserve to be added to this list of "international success stories". Indian bowling legend Anil Kumble who needs no introduction, and young entrepreneur Pratheek Palanethra.
Anil Kumble guided his company to develop a "smart bat". His company Spektacom along with Microsoft recently introduced "Power Bat", the first "smart bat" - a bat equipped with an Internet-connected sensor that communicates with a receiver buried in the cricket pitch and analyses data instantly. Eventually, Microsoft and Kumble's company, Spektacom, hope to expand the technology to other sports in India and the United States.
It could be used in baseball, football or soccer and may someday include helmet analytics that could help detect and prevent concussions, she said.
The Power Bat's sensor can detect speed on impact, twist on impact and other analytics. When a batsman hits the ball, the small sticker stuck on the bat sends information to the receiver, or "stump box", located behind the player and then on to a broadcaster. Soon, Spektacom's Power Bat will also send analytics to a mobile app so fans in the stands can get information on their phones.
Pratheek Palanethra, a young engineer from RVCE Engineering College, Bengaluru and Lehigh University, has decided to follow his love for cricket and founded a company Freebowler.
Freebowler has successfully designed and developed a cricket ball thrower that has the potential to bridge the gap between, say, a throw-down specialist.
"Superthrower" as the product is called, is capable of throwing real cricket balls with natural variations of line and length. This foldable machine, being non-electric, offers various cost and technical advantages over traditional electric throwing machines. Pratheek hopes his low-tech training equipment will help all cricketers, especially women, by providing them with an opportunity to train like pros.
Cricket is thriving in newer geographies, like Europe, Germany in particular. It should be no surprise if one of these gentlemen is already contributing to the success of the game in Germany.
It is indeed heartening to come across such success stories, particularly in the field of sports, which tends to be quite individualistic when it comes to coaching and support staff, and where one has to be persistent in efforts.
Their success deserves to be celebrated, and I am sure there are many more such stories existing, and more in the offing. Their success underlines the fact that Indian sportspersons could also be good at grooming talents. It is not easy to survive and be successful in unknown territories, people of different culture / ethnicities and egos. I am sure it will inspire a lot of young and seniors sports persons to take a dive in international coaching, and chart new territories of success
Freebowler has successfully designed and developed a cricket ball thrower that has the potential to bridge the gap between, say, a throw-down specialist.
"Superthrower" as the product is called, is capable of throwing real cricket balls with natural variations of line and length. This foldable machine, being non-electric, offers various cost and technical advantages over traditional electric throwing machines. Pratheek hopes his low-tech training equipment will help all cricketers, especially women, by providing them with an opportunity to train like pros.
Cricket is thriving in newer geographies, like Europe, Germany in particular. It should be no surprise if one of these gentlemen is already contributing to the success of the game in Germany.
It is indeed heartening to come across such success stories, particularly in the field of sports, which tends to be quite individualistic when it comes to coaching and support staff, and where one has to be persistent in efforts.
Their success deserves to be celebrated, and I am sure there are many more such stories existing, and more in the offing. Their success underlines the fact that Indian sportspersons could also be good at grooming talents. It is not easy to survive and be successful in unknown territories, people of different culture / ethnicities and egos. I am sure it will inspire a lot of young and seniors sports persons to take a dive in international coaching, and chart new territories of success
Afterall the "Taste of India " is contagious. Go Play.
NEXT Topic (possible) –
WHO are better / effective coaches in Cricket?
Ex-cricketers (by origin - Local/ foreign ,
by career - played only local level or
Played at international level) OR
Professional non–players (local / foreign).
by career - played only local level or
Played at international level) OR
Professional non–players (local / foreign).
Any leads / pre-views???
- By Dhananjay Deshmukh – When not working on market research projects, he always thinks "how to tackle" that “pitched-in (in swinging) out-swinger / leaving delivery” – the one James Anderson bowls quite often -with his angled style , OR leggie Y Chahal's that typical leg-spinning delivery which pitches close to the bat near off stump, yet turns away towards first slip!
- By Dhananjay Deshmukh – When not working on market research projects, he always thinks "how to tackle" that “pitched-in (in swinging) out-swinger / leaving delivery” – the one James Anderson bowls quite often -with his angled style , OR leggie Y Chahal's that typical leg-spinning delivery which pitches close to the bat near off stump, yet turns away towards first slip!
Good. Nicely placed. Can you write on sports topics? We will welcome such articles on sports for newsbharati.com. Pl do share one or two more articles for consideration.
ReplyDeleteVirag
Sure, that will be fine. Let me know. Thanls.
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