Category Archives: Sports

How a kayak helped save 250 lives, changed an Udupi man’s life

Amazing Feats, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Karnataka (under research project), Sports, Transport, , , , , , , , ,

Udupi, KARNATAKA :

Imtiaz rescued 250 people from floods on his kayak last year, making him an instant hero in Udupi. However, this also led to a run-in with some local influential Hindus.

How a kayak helped save 250 lives, changed an Udupi mans life

Udupi (Karnataka):

When Imtiaz brought his kayak home to Udupi’s backwaters from Oman two years ago, he thought it would make it easier for him to relax in the evenings.

Little did he know of the midnight call he would receive on 20 September, 2020, and how his kayak would save the lives of 250 people – but also land him in trouble with some local influential Hindu groups.

Last year, the district of Udupi witnessed the worst floods in 36 years. Thousands of houses were washed away or inundated as incessant rains led to the swelling of the Suvarna river. Imtiaz, whose house is a few feet away from the bank of the river, will never forget that night.

“It had been raining for two days. At 2 am, we saw the river embankment had broken. That’s when we realized this was no ordinary storm. We waded to our boats, tied them up as best we could, and tried to get some sleep. At 3 am, I got a frantic call from the city. There was a man on the other side who said 15 people were trapped in a house and begged me to rescue them,” he said.

Imtiaz had never done any rescue work before. Before that night, the 34-year-old had spent time as a labourer in the Gulf and was a small-time shopkeeper in Udupi, offering coconuts and soda to tourists. The only reason why he had received the SOS call in the first place was that it was known among locals that his kayak would have been anchored somewhere near the Kemmanu hanging bridge.

Imtiaz rescues Udupi villagers on his kayak in September 2020

According to Imtiaz, he was the first person to start kayaking in Udupi, even though now he has company. “

My brother and I took two kayaks and rescued 250 people between 4 am and noon that day. We had to row through such difficult places – trees had fallen onto the water – that no engine boat could have gone there,” said Imtiaz.

An NDRF team from Mangalore, whose engine boat had got stuck in the water, was also returned to shore by Imtiaz and his brother.

“Two aged people were clinging on to the roof, water had reached up to their shoulders. It took me 45 minutes to get them onto my boat,” related Imtiaz.

When Imtiaz and his brother finally came to the shore after eight hours of rescue work, Udupi MLA Raghupati Bhat and some other officials were at the spot to congratulate him.

A newspaper report of Imtiazs feat allegedly turned some facts around.

However, when reports of his efforts came out in the newspaper the next day, Imtiaz was surprised to see that it was mentioned that his kayak had been donated by a local temple committee.

“The newspaper people must have done it for publicity. My brother sent a WhasApp message to his friend saying that the paper had made false claims, which became viral. Then the people from the temple committee came to my house and threatened me. I said sorry just to get it over with,” said Imtiaz.

On November 1, Imtiaz received the Rajyotsava award – Karnataka’s second highest civilian honor – from the Chief Minister for his bravery. An event was organized in his honour in Udupi. A poster set up for the function currently lies torn behind a bush in front of Imtiaz’s house.

“I just want to run my business, being a hero cannot be my day job,” he said.

FULL STORY + SHOCKING IMPACT IN THE END | 200+ Life saved in Kayak | India Udupi |Kemmannu Channel / source: YouTube.com

source: http://www.thebridge.in / The Bridge / Home> Others / by Dipankar Lahiri / December 29th, 2021

Wrestling singlet under a burqa: The story of Odisha’s undisputed champion Tahera Khatun

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Cuttack, ODISHA :

Coming from a Muslim family in a state where wrestling is not popular, Tahera knew that the path would be full of obstacles, but her perseverance and determination have kept her going.

Indian wrestler Tahera Khatun (Source: Amanpreet Singh/Twitter)
Indian wrestler Tahera Khatun (Source: Amanpreet Singh/Twitter)

Odisha grappler Tahera Khatun was told to embrace the burqa and shun the wrestling singlet but she made the tough choice of upholding her “dharma” as well as pursuing her passion simultaneously.

Coming from a Muslim family in a state where wrestling is not popular, Tahera knew that the path was going to be full of obstacles, but her perseverance and determination have kept her going.

Undefeated in her state thus far, the 28-year-old Tahera has struggled to make a mark at the national level. She neither has strong sparring partners at her club in Cuttack to become a better wrestler nor has rich dietary support to become strong. But she does not regret the lack of success at the big stage since stepping onto the mat is a source of happiness for her.

“I am wedded to wrestling,” Tahera told PTI with a spark in her eyes. “If I get married, I will be told to leave wrestling since it is difficult for Muslim girls to continue in such a contact sport after marriage, and I am not willing to do it. Three of my batch-mates got married and now they can’t play because of family pressure, I don’t want something like that happening to me. I already faced difficulties since taking up this sport. The relatives and neighbours were never appreciative of me playing this game. They just wanted me to stay inside the house but my mother, Sohra Bibi, supported me,” explained Tahera, who lost her father, S K Ahmed, when she was only 10.

Whatever little support Tahera gets, it is from her brothers (one is auto driver and the other a painter) and coach Rajkishore Sahu. “Wrestling gives me happiness. So what if I don’t do well at the Nationals, at least I am getting to compete. Merely getting on to the mat fills me with happiness,” she said.

Tahera recently competed at the National championship in Gonda in Uttar Pradesh but made a first-round exit in the 65kg category. She used to play table tennis to overcome depression caused by her father’s death before wrestling coach Rihana convinced her to make a switch. Rihana trained her for a month and took her to ‘Khurda Pehla’ for a district championship, where she emerged champion and the love of sport struck her.

“People tell me ‘wrestling has not given you anything’. There are no facilities, no job. But my mother told me that I must pursue it if I like it,” said Tahera. While Tahera wants to pursue her passion she did not wish to disappoint her community and find a way to keep the people happy.

“When I enter Cuttack, I wear ‘burqa’. I need to save both, my sporting career as well as my religion. When I come out to play I wear whatever is required but I don’t disrespect my elders. ‘Dharam bhi chahiye, karam bhi’. In 2018, I lost my mother. Till she was alive, I had to think about her. I did not want her to listen to taunts but now I don’t care, I live my life my way now. I will definitely wear burqa once I am done with my career. Now things are changing. Lot of people wished me all the best before I left for Nationals.”

However, the other struggle continues for her. The little support she gets from her coach and brothers is not enough. She knows her career is as good as over, but she wants to initiate her nieces into the sport and for that to happen, she needs financial stability.

“I wish I had got a job. At least a home guard job. I manage my expenses by giving Yoga home tuition and help people who require physiotherapy. I learnt it by myself by attending training camps and talking to wrestlers. For how long my brothers would support me, I need a job. All I earn is 4-5 thousand a month.”

Tahera cannot afford to take protein or dry fruits. All she can afford is rice and vegetable as of now. Because of the lack of rich diet, she now has low level of calcium and hemoglobin. Her body is giving the signal that she can’t continue in the sport but she is all about grit. She competed at the Nationals with high blood pressure and against the advice of the doctor. Her coach Rajkishore Sahu also shared the plight of her ward.

“No one has offered Tahera even a glass of water, leave aside providing support and facilities. The wrestlers in the state of Odisha are a deprived lot,” said Sahu, who retired from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) six years ago.

source: http://www.thebridge.in / The Bridge / Home> Wrestling / by PTI / November 22nd, 2021

Sports model physique medal winner Tabassum shares her fitness mantra

Amazing Feats, Sports, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Dhubri District / Guwahati, ASSAM :

Guriya Tabassum Parveen training in the Gym
Guriya Tabassum Parveen training in the Gym

The time an average Indian woman spends grumbling about her health, shape, and figure each day, Guriya Tabassum Parveen aka Guriya Khatun spends the same in the gymnasium. Yes, one and a half hours every day is what Guriya spends in workouts to keep herself fit and healthy.

Probably the only Muslim woman professional gym trainer, Guriya has won sports model physique contests in the past couple of years. The bronze medalist of the 10th Federation Cup National Body Building Championships in Women Sports Model Physique event at Lucknow in April 2021, Guriya is the first-ever woman bodybuilder from Assam to bag a sports model physique medal at the national event. 

Guriya eats like any other person but knows what, how much, and when to eat and drink. The premium trainer at the posh Gymaholic – The Fitness Bar gym in Guwahati, Guriya’s basic mantra of toning herself to be in good shape is to eat at regular intervals and burn calories through regular workouts. 

Guriya Tabassum Parveen training at the Gym

“I do eat as anyone should. But, to maintain good health and fitness it is necessary to maintain a balance. One should never eat like a glutton. Nutrition is always necessary for our bodies. For that, we should eat at regular intervals in the right quantity and at the proper time. After all, it’s like filling a bucket with water. It’ll overflow once it’s full, and the same applies to human fat as well. When you replenish a body saturated with the necessary amounts of fat, it will lead to obesity. One should particularly never eat after 8 pm. Besides, I ensure that if the intake is 1000 calories, I should burn 1500 calories so that the balance is maintained,” Guriya said in a tete-a-tete with Awaz – The Voice. 

Guriya’s love affair with the gym and its machines started in 2016 when she first stepped into one to lose weight. “I joined the gym as a trainee in 2016 when I became overweight. I lost the excess weight, but I fell in love with my workouts and continued with the regime and workouts. In due course of time, I started participating in local contests and started winning medals. Then I went on to participate in nationals and won a couple of medals over the past couple of years.” 

Having gained the confidence of being crowned a winner in several contests, including Miss Kamrup, the gym trainer now eyes international honours. “I have not participated in any contest in the current calendar year. But, I am preparing for international events. I am also taking to financially strengthen myself for the international events. Bodybuilding is one sport which involves huge financial costs,” she said.

Guriya Tabassum receiving various awards

On being a Muslim, Guriya said, “It is not because of my religion, but because of being a woman, I did face problems. No matter how much we talk about gender equality, society is always critical about a woman’s rise in any field … Although nobody dares to tell me anything, some try to influence my parents by pointing out my contest costumes. Instead of telling them that a bikini costume is the requirement of the sport during contests like any other sport, some would go to frighten them speaking about social and religious implications. But, I am not at all bothered about all those and am focused on my sport.” 

“My parents are simple people from Dhubri district (western Assam) who have hardly any knowledge about sports, gym or dumbbells. They are also not very interested in reading newspapers or watching television. They only know that I am a trainer of some kind and also a participant in some sports. They have neither asked me to participate in bodybuilding contests nor have they ever opposed it,” she added.

Guriya Tabassum Parveen with the gym owner Neha Dey

Gymaholic’s proprietor Neha Dey Jain also appreciated Guriya’s dedication and professionalism saying: “She is one of the sincerest and most dedicated women I have come across as far as maintaining fitness is concerned. We have a lot of parties and feasts at our gym. But, Guriya is someone who would never take anything sweet. Not even a piece of cake! She has that kind of dedication. And, when it comes to participation in any contest, she does a lot of hard work to give her best. We always stand in support to her.

“As a person, she is a gem! I always bank on her to face any challenging situation. She has been instrumental in shaping many clients as well as guiding them to lead a healthy life,” Neha added. 

Guriya has a message about those planning to join a gym: “It is not about the gym where you do your workouts. It is sincerity and dedication that matter in achieving fitness. Besides, a proper trainer is essential in bodybuilding.” 

To sportspersons, Guriya said: “Fitness is the basis of every sport. But it is not always necessary to work out in the gym to maintain fitness. Fitness can be maintained with the help of any activity. Even walking and cycling can help maintain fitness.”

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, TheVoice / Home> Women / by Imtiaz Ahmed, Guwahati / April 21st, 2022

Brahmaputra devoured Abdul Barek’s land and made him run to glory

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Kamrup District, ASSAM :

Abdul Barek

The saying that ‘Necessity is the mother of invention’ is so much actualized by Assam’s long-distance runner Abdul Barek. In his case, the ‘necessity’ was the money he desperately needed to buy food and books after his family farmlands were washed away by the mighty Brahmaputra. 

“It was not out of love for a particular sport… I was born and brought up in a self-sufficient family in a rural hamlet in the Kamrup district. However, when our farmlands were eroded by the Brahmaputra, we were left with nothing for sustenance. The little produce from our livestock was not enough for the family. I was in standard IX when for the first time I participated in a Rongali Bihu Marathon in a nearby locality and came first in it to win prize money of Rs 1,000. Well, that was a lot of money for me! I could buy my school uniform and books with it.

 “Now that I’ve discovered a way of earning and my family was in a very bad financial shape, I have started looking to every marathon event as a means to earn. I participated in every known event and would look for all the prize money up for grabs. Gradually, I developed a yearning for winning all possible cash prizes in marathons in Assam and the Northeast. And, for that, I started practicing regularly and improving my performance with each run,” Barek told Awaz-the Voice.

Abdul Barek (second from left) with fellow sportspersons from Railways

Barek craved newer heights in the no-cost sport. Having bagged scores of medals and trophies at state and national levels, his campaign culminated in the World Railways Athletics Meet at Denmark in 2005 where he emerged 10th in the individual event and third in the team event of the marathon championship. He is the first-ever sprinter from NF Railway to participate and win a medal in World Railways Meet.

 “My success lies in my perseverance. I’ve never compromised with my practice. My job with NF Railway has helped me a lot because I don’t have to forgo practice due to household work as I did in the past … I would like to thank former international athlete Tayabun Nisha for suggesting my name to the Indian Railways which promotes sports. I had also appeared in interviews with Central Excise and Indian Army,” Barek explained.

On his success, Barek said: “Practice, rest, and nutrition are the key to performance. There was hardly any infrastructure during our times. But, after the 2007 National Games, we’ve got a whole lot of infrastructure and necessary facilities including coaches. However, the problem now is that our young players have lost interest in sports. The smartphone and fast food have spoiled a generation. Most of the youngsters nowadays munch on fast food, and keep themselves glued to their mobile phones when they should be at the playground.”

Abdul Barek in the international Railways sports meet

Regarding his food habits, Barek is a follower of cricketer MS Dhoni; both love to drink milk as an energy booster. “I used to drink a lot of milk. My father used to tell us to drink milk instead of water and that I used to do. I don’t like fast food and I’ve always preferred vegetables with our staple rice.” Barek also lamented that the urban youth were reluctant to do hard work. “Since I am based out of Guwahati and I am associated with an athletic academy, I always wanted to groom some good athletes. But, what pains me is that the rural youths can’t sustain long-term coaching and urban youths are reluctant to do hard work. A few very talented youngsters from Baihata Chariali and Morigaon were training under me for some time. But, they could not sustain the tough regime and left. One basic requirement of a marathon runner to be successful is to run at least 200 km a week which is divided into a scientifically designed schedule.”

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Youth / by Imtiaz Ahmed, Guwahati / May 04th, 2022

Meet Mohammed Azmat, Powerlifter With 295 KG Record, Gives Dignified Burial To COVID-19 Victims

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, COVID 19 - Community of Soldiers, FREE : Healthcare / Assistance, Karnataka (under research project), Sports,

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA :

Highlights

  • He said he has rostered himself for this work on Saturdays and Sundays.
  • The deaths due to COVID are rising but that has not scared the powerlifter.
  • Azmat has transported more than 15 bodies and performed the last rites.

There is so much confusion and fear around the COVID-19 pandemic and it has reached a point where even family members are afraid and reluctant to accept the bodies of those dying of the infection and give them a proper burial.

In the past few months, we have heard any number of stories where bodies of COVID-19 victims were disrespected by families and civic authorities due to the stigma around it.

BCCL

But, in Bengaluru, a man doing his bit by ensuring that COVID-19 victims are given a proper burial.

42-year-old Mohammed Azmat doesn’t look like an average man for five feet and eight inches – he looks like a mountain of a man!

That is because he is a champion powerlifter, who set a record with a deadlift of 295 kg in an international powerlifting championship two years ago

PTI

But these days, the programme manager in DXC Technology, an IT firm is spending much of his time carrying bodies of COVID-19 victims and giving them proper last rites.

He said he has rostered himself for this work on Saturdays and Sundays.

PTI

“I was part of the drive for relief work during the lockdown and when I saw people dying in huge numbers in July, I decided to associate myself with the Mercy Mission,” Azmat told PTI.

The challenge those at Mercy Mission face is that the last rites is a time-consuming process, right from the procedures involved at the hospital and at burial grounds.

Besides, volunteers also have to confront protests, which further delays the procedure.

PTI

The deaths due to COVID are rising but that has not scared the powerlifter.

“Death is certain, so there is no need to be bothered much about it. But I do take the utmost precautions, which is multi-layered because I too have a family,” Azmat said.

Speaking about his experience, the champion powerlifter said “The pain I experience while carrying the body of someone who has died due to coronavirus can’t be explained.”

PTI

Since he joined two co-workers to carry the senior man to the Christian burial ground, Azmat has transported more than 15 bodies and performed the last rites.

source: http://www.indiatimes.com / India Times / Home> News> India / by Bobins Abraham / July 29th, 2020

Show of strength

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Karnataka (under research project), Sports, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA :

Becoming the youngest female lifter wasn’t an easy task but Maryam Mohammed’s focus helped her achieve it

Maryam Mohammed lifting weight during the tournament

Bengaluru:

Among the many champions who participated in the event, it was 13-year-old Maryam Mohammed who became the youngest female lifter to set a deadlift record in the Push-Pull Championship. Sports establishment Professional Raw organised the first championship at Onyx Fitness which Mohammed was a part of. There were over 300 athletes from across the country who registered themselves for the event.

It’s not the first win for the young lifter either. Speaking to CE, she says, “It’s the fourth competition that I have won so far. I started powerlifting two and half years ago, when the pandemic started and schools went online.” Her father, Mohammed Azmat, who is a powerlifter himself, has been doing it for over three decades now. “He’s my biggest inspiration. He’s the one who trains me and my younger brother has also started participating in competitions now,” Mohammed says.

She spends her weekdays on school work and uses her weekends to train. The basement of their home has been converted into a gym set-up which has helped her practice more. “I know there are many strong people out there but all I do is focus on the bar and just lift it. There’s nothing else to do,” she says, adding that her younger brother is more focused, something she is working on. 

While Mohammed is hoping to get better and win more awards, her father encourages another strategy. “Medals can always be achieved but if they grow up without character, it won’t be of any use,” he says, pointing out that Mohammed always grew up watching him practice in their home set-up. “After she was born, my wife needed my help at home. So, I set up a gym to spend more time at home. Maryam grew up watching me lift weights and when she was finally ready, she showed interest,” he explains.

He adds that neither of the children was ‘forced’ into following in their father’s footsteps. “Seeing them be happy with what they want to do is what I encourage them to follow. They were never forced to follow my footsteps but it’s definitely an icing on top for them to have shown interest,” Azmat says.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Anila Kurian, Express News Service / April 18th, 2022

Ironman ‘finisher’ Javed is up for new challenges

Amazing Feats, Karnataka (under research project), Sports, World Opinion, , , , , , , , , , ,

KARNATAKA, INDIA / BAHRAIN :

By the time Mohammed Javed participated in his first Ironman competition, he was already 53 – an age when most people have begun making retirement plans.

But, for Javed, now a lithe 62, the Ironman competition in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, in March 2015, marked the beginning of a new life: one that took him on globe-trotting adventures around the world as he participated in more such challenges in France, Germany and Malaysia, among others.

“These are all ‘finisher’ medals,” he told the GDN proudly, pointing to an array of medals he brandished in one hand. “They are given to every athlete that participates in these competitions, regardless of which position they finish in.”

Given the tough nature of the Ironman Triathlon, which requires a 3.8km swim, a 180.2km bicycle ride and a marathon 42.2km run to be completed in under 17 hours, Javed had every reason to beam as he did.

“Even though it was my first Ironman,” he said, referring to the Port Elizabeth event, “I completed it in just over 14 hours and came seventh in my age category. I was extremely happy to just be able to participate in it and to complete it in the time that I managed was the icing on the cake, especially after the really taxing swim in the very rough sea.”

He repeated the feat in Malaysia, almost mirroring the time he managed in South Africa and actually bettered that in the next Ironman he registered for, which was in Nice, France.

Outperform

“It was just by a few minutes and still just over 14 hours,” Javed laughed. “But, as every athlete will tell you, when you compete in such events, you’re not just competing with others, you’re also trying to outperform your previous attempt and trying to improve on it. So I was really happy about that.”

As someone who is essentially only a part-time athlete juggling a full-time job with his passion for running, Javed explained, he approached every competition with the clear understanding that winning was never an option – and that, just the thrill of being able to participate would have to do.

“There’s no way that someone like me, who works 12-14 hours and only gets a couple of hours to train every day, could hope to compete with elite, professional athletes, who are able to devote every day of the year to their training,” he added.

“But, again, I am so happy and blessed that I have been able to participate in these competitions, rub shoulders with those athletes, watch how they go about their business and learn and apply that to my own preparation.

“It’s all due to the very generous support I have been given by my benefactors who have sponsored me and enabled my participation in these events. I am especially grateful to the late Shaikh Ebrahim bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, who was the chairman of Bahrain Road Runners for over a decade, and the very generous Fouad Hussain Showaiter. Both these gentlemen went out of their way to financially support my participation in all these international events.”

The biggest blessing, Javed said, as he looked back on the 40 years he has spent in Bahrain since arriving here as a 22-year-old from Karnataka, India, in 1982, is the opportunity he’s had to grow and flourish as an athlete.

When he first landed in Bahrain, he worked initially as a labourer before a leading construction company hired him as a heavy machinery operator. Then, in 1989, he applied to a leading hotel and was hired in housekeeping and soon made the transition to bell captain.

And then, came the first of many lucky breaks. “The hotel used to have inter-department sports competitions,” Javed said. “I took part in one – a 3km race – and I finished it in 9 minutes 27 seconds. That was it – the trajectory of my life changed from then on.”

The hotel’s general manager was so impressed by his performance that he decided to encourage Javed by granting him access to the health club and swimming pool – usually only allowed to hotel guests and top management.

“I was always a good sportsman – in fact, I was, and still am, a good cricketer too,” Javed explained. “And, suddenly, my athletic ability had a chance to be nurtured and prosper. So I really focused on long-distance running after that. I had run sprints – 100m, 200m – in school, but this was a different ball-game altogether.”

He started participating in every long-distance race that took place in the kingdom, thereafter, and eventually ended up becoming a member of the Bahrain Road Runners, a group that focuses on long-distance running and cross-country races.

“I never missed a single race,” Javed exclaimed, proudly. “Triathlons, biathlons, duathlons, aquathlons … you name it, I participated in it! And I won most of them!”

Now, though, despite the fact that he is still running competitively – he just took part in a Half Ironman event in Dubai in March – Javed is grappling with a difficult decision.

“The last few years have been a bit tough, professionally,” he said, contemplating his medals which he had spread out on a table. “Especially after Covid-19 and now, while I do have a job with a food delivery company, I’ve decided to go back to India next month.”

Then, he perked up again.

“While it would be nice to go back to my village and live a quiet life,” he grinned, “I know I won’t be able to run competitively again. And so, just when I thought I’d made up my mind definitively about moving back, I received a call just today from one of my benefactors who urged me to consider staying back so that I could compete in more competitions. So, maybe, I’ll do that instead!”

source: http://www.gdnonline.com / GDN Online, Gulf Daily News / Home> Other Sports / by Adnan Sipra / April 16th, 2022

IPL 2022: SRH pacer Umran Malik enthrals fans with another 150-kmph thunderbolt

Amazing Feats, Sports, World Opinion, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Jammu City, JAMMU & KASHMIR :

The young pace sensation from Jammu and Kashmir had sent down a 153-kmph delivery in the second leg of the IPL played in United Arab Emirates.

Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer Umran Malik. Credit: SunRisers Hyderabad/Twitter

Pune :

Umran Malik, the young pace sensation from Jammu and Kashmir, has done it again.

The 22-year-old Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer on Tuesday set the internet on fire by sending a 150-kmph delivery in the first over of his team’s IPL 2022 match against Rajasthan Royals at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, here.

And this is not the first time that the express pacer has clocked the 150-kmph on the speed gun in the IPL.

In the second leg of the IPL played in United Arab Emirates (UAE), Malik sent down a 153-kmph thunderbolt, the fastest delivery in IPL history, and had both his skipper Kane Williamson and the then India captain Virat Kohli gushing over the new speed demon of Indian cricket.

After seeing his ability to bowl with lightning speed, SRH gambled and retained him as their third player ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction.

On Tuesday, that gamble seems to have paid as Malik was their best bowler against Rajasthan Royals, taking two wickets in his four overs spell giving away 39 runs.

Every time he jumps on the popping crease, he outdoes his pace. With his express pace, Malik got the wickets of Jos Buttler and Devdutt Padikkal.

The instant stardom, that he achieved in UAE last year and enhanced on Tuesday, is just a byproduct of his confidence that made him believe that he could make it to the India team at a very young age.

When he was 18, he wrote in his bio on his social media handle, “India Soon”. The pacer, whose father Abdul Rashid is a fruit-seller in Shaheedi Chowk in Jammu, was confident enough to predict that one day he will make it to the national side.  His dedication and perseverance paved the way into his state’s Under-19 squad.

A good performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 competition helped him make it to the Sunrisers Hyderabad team as a net bowler.

Malik was roped in as a short-term Covid-19 replacement for T Natarajan, who had tested positive for Covid virus ahead of Hyderabad’s encounter against Delhi Capitals on September 22, 2021. After that, Malik’s fortunes completely changed.

Malik, who was part of the Hyderabad contingent as a net bowler, has played eight T20 and one List A match for Jammu Kashmir and has picked a total of four wickets.

Hailing from a modest family in Jammu’s Gujjar Nagar, Malik began playing at a young age. His family has always supported his passion with his father, his mother and two older sisters always there for him.

In the game against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2021 IPL, Malik went a step further by bowling the second-fastest delivery of IPL — a 152.95kph thunderbolt that stunned everyone.

At the post-match presentation, RCB’s then skipper Virat Kohli spoke in support of the youngster, “Whenever you see talent like this, you are going to have your eyes on them and make sure you maximise their potential.” “I really felt proud on seeing such a big player talking about me,” Malik had said after the match.


His exploits resulted in him being asked to be part of the Indian senior team’s net bowlers for the T20 World Cup in the UAE last year.

By clocking 150-kmph again on Tuesday, Malik has proved that his exploits last year were not a flash in the pan. He has it in him to consistently hit the 150-mark on the speed gun.

Now he has to build on this brilliant start to fulfill his dream of making it to the Indian team.

–IANS

source: http://www.tribuneindia.com / The Tribune / Home> Sports / by IANS / Pune, March 29th, 2022

Moscow Wushu Stars Championship: Gold medalist Sadia Tariq receives a warm welcome in Srinagar

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JAMMU & KASHMIR :

Moscow Wushu Stars Championship: Gold medalist Sadia Tariq receives warm welcome in Srinagar

Srinagar : (ANI):

Sadia Tariq who won a gold Medal in the Moscow Wushu Stars Championship received a warm welcome from family and friends who reached Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar on Saturday.

Speaking to ANI, Tariq shared her happiness and thanked her family and coach for supporting her.

“My eyes were in tears when I won the gold medal. If this happened today it is only because of my coach and family. I want to thank my coach who was there supporting me all the time,” she said.

Maimoona Tariq, mother of Sadia said her daughter was passionate about this since she was in the third standard, today she made all of us proud.

“I am proud of my daughter, she made us proud. She was always engaged in this game since the third standard. I want other children to participate in the game also and made their parents proud,” she added.

Masood Rather, Joint Secretary of Srinagar Wushu Association said “we all are very proud of Sadia. She performed very well in Wushu Stars Championship. Sadia already won two gold in national, it is her third gold medal.”

“As far as talking about Wushu, it is very popular in Jammu and Kashmir,” he further added.

Earlier in the last week of February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Sadia Tariq on winning a gold medal in the Moscow Wushu Stars Championship, which is being held from February 22 to 28.

Sadia won the gold medal in Wushu Championship in Moscow by defeating a local player. Moscow Wushu Stars Championship is the approved event in the Annual Calendar Training and Competition of the Sports Authority of India. (ANI)

This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.

source: http://www.theprint.in / The Print / Home> India / by ANI / March 06th, 2022

Darez Ahamed appointed as Special Officer for Chess Olympiad

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Manjeri, KERALA / Chennai, TAMIL NADU :

He will help organise the 44th International Chess Olympiad from July 28 to August 10

The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday appointed Darez Ahamed, Special Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, as Officer on Special Duty for conducting the 44 th International Chess Olympiad from July 28 to August 10.

As per rules, sanction is granted for creation of a temporary post of Officer on Special Duty, Chess Olympiad, in the Office of Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu in the Super Time Scale of IAS for a period of six months, a Government Order issued by Chief Secretary V. Irai Anbu said.

Dr. Ahamed, Mission Director, National Health Mission, Special Secretary to Government, Health and Family Welfare Department, will be placed in full additional charge for the post of Officer on Special Duty.

He will assist the Committee for Organising Chennai Olympiad (COCO) Society with respect to the Olympiad and undertake necessary activities in coordination with the Principal Secretary, Youth Welfare and Sports Development, and Member Secretary, Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu.

Dr. Ahamed will also be ex-Officio member of the COCO Society and also Member Secretary of its Executive Sub Committee.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Tamil Nadu / by Special Correspondent / Chennai – April 09th, 2022