‘Ironman of India’ Sabir Ali, who won the decathlon gold at the 1981 Asian Athletics Championships in Tokyo, passed away.
Ali won eight consecutive Open National titles in the gruelling event between 1979 and 1985. The Railways star was unbeatable at the Inter-State meets too – he represented Haryana — which he won twice in 1979 and 1981. His pet event was the javelin throw. Ali won a bronze and silver at the World Railway meets in 1981 and ’85 and was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 1981. Ali, who grew up in Delhi, is survived by his wife, son and daughter.
‘Ironman of India’ Sabir Ali, who won the decathlon gold at the 1981 Asian Athletics Championships in Tokyo, passed away. He was 67. Ali, who retired from Railways, won the title in the Japanese capital with a tally of 7,253 points beating Japan’s Nobuya Saito (7,078) and China’s Zu Qilin (7,074). He also won two silver medals at the South Asian Federation Games held in Kathmandu and Dhaka.
What is Decathlon :
Decathlon is a combined athletic event consisting of 10 track and field disciplines. Under this, various competitions are held over two days, including the 100-meter race, long jump, shot put, high jump, and 400 meters on the first day, while the 110-meter hurdle race, discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw, and 1,500 meters on the second day
source: http://www.currentaffairs.adda247.com / Adda 247 Current Affairs / by Sumit Arora (and edited – What is Decathalon) / January 27th, 2023
Kalakappar Village (Nagrota Tehsil), JAMMU & KASHMIR :
Heavily garlanded Nazia Bibi with her family including her grandmother, and visitors at her home
Weeks after the nomadic Gujjar-Bakerwal community of Jammu and Kashmir plunged into a state of shock as 17 tribesmen, women and children died of a mysterious disease in village Budhaal in Rajouri, a young woman has brought cheers to and restored the pride of the community.
Nazia Bibi, a 21-year-old college student has become the first athlete from J&K to win gold in the International Kho Kho championship. Nazia, who hails from village Kalakappar of tehsil Nagrota on the outskirts of Jammu city, is a member of the Indian women’s Kho Kho team which recently lifted the maiden World Cup in Delhi by trouncing Nepal in a convincing victory.
Nazia Bibi also became one of the few tribal women from J&K to reach the international level in sports.
Her achievement is more important given the fact that the Gujjar-Bakerwal community is backward and also conservative in its outlook for women.
However, Nazia today doesn’t hold any grudges against her family for asking her to stop playing because of society’s disapproval.
International Kho Kho player Nazia Bibi
“I can understand when my family asked him to stop playing since people made uncharitable comments and fun of me because I didn’t wear a conventional dress while practicing. I had my Chachu (Uncle) Master Iqbal who is a teacher to fall back upon. I would explain to him my problems in pursuing Kho Kho and he, in turn, convinced my father,” she said.
Her father Sabar Ali is an unlettered person and earns his livelihood by rearing cattle – sheep and goat. Nazia has a sister and two brothers and the family lives in a two-room house in the village.
A BA fifth-semester student of the Padma Shri Padma Sachdev Govt College for Women Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, Nazia says lifting the gold cup for India was her proudest moment and brought her struggle to a logical and happy end.
“Today, at 21, I am overwhelmed as so many people are coming to congratulate me. It’s too much for me to handle,” she says in a video interview to a local channel.
Nazia is amused to see her relatives and neighbours announcing that they would encourage their children to play sports as well.
“One person’s struggle can open opportunities for so many,” she said.
Nazia was invited by the LG Manoj Sinha to the Raj Bhawan for a meeting. The DIG of Jammu felicitated her for her achievement.
Advocate Zulkarnain Choudhary, a community activist said Nazia should be given a decent job of the rank of a gazette officer by the J&K government, as is done in other cases.
Nazia however says her struggle and achievement must bring focus on better infrastructure for sports. “We don’t have good stadiums or coaching family in Jammu. Practicing in an open field and on mats indoors are so different,” Nazia said.
Nazia Bibi with LG Manoj Sinha and officials of the Kho Kho association
As a promising athlete, she says she was encouraged by her teachers in the local school and also by the J&K Kho Kho association officials.
“I continued playing kho kho because it doesn’t require expensive tools and sports kits. However, my skill was honed in the national camps for which I was selected. Also, a team game requires you to bring sharp skills to the table.”
Nazia said she practices three hours at home and for 7-8 hours in the camps. “Joining the preparatory camp for the International Kho Kho competition was very helpful. It brings discipline in an athlete and also makes one realize of competition.”
An international gold medal in hand though Nazia wants to forget her struggle against society’s attitude. She said, “Even I felt uncomfortable with the tracksuit and uncovered hair because we, as tribal women, are conditioned to conservative dressing.”
Her father Sabar Ali says, “I am an illiterate person. I would get upset with people making jokes about my daughter’s dress and her sports. Today, the same people are coming to congratulate us and I am so happy.”
Sabar Ali and his five brothers live close by in the village and have unity. Advocate Choudhary who visited the 2-room house of Nazia told Awaz-the Voice, “They are a simple and pure united family. I don’t think they fully understand the scope of their daughter’s achievements.”
Fighting society in pursuing one’s passion is not so easy for women.
Nazia says at one stage she had decided to give up. As luck would have it Nazia was playing for India and the team won gold unmindful of the celebrations of her brother’s wedding back home.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Aasha Khosa, New Delhi / February 04th, 2025
