Credits Guv, Advisors for raising sports infra
Rajesh Dhar
JAMMU, Feb 6: Daughter of the soil, ace Gymnast Bavleen Kaur of Jammu and Kashmir needs no introduction in sporting world. Apart from winning a good haul of medals at the national scene, she has the distinction of stealing the limelight at the Khelo India Youth Games held at Pune in Maharashtra recently, winning 5 out of the six medals bagged by Jammu and Kashmir, with 3 gold and 2 silver. She aims at continuing working towards a bigger goal of representing the country at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Winning medals for the country is her ultimate goal.
16-year old 11th standard student of KC Public School in an exclusive interview with EXCELSIOR threw light on the sports scenario in J&K.
Excerpts:
Q. You have won a galaxy of medals at the National scene. How do you see your future?
A. After winning a good number of medals at the higher levels, I have a firm belief rather confidence that I can make it to the highest level in Gymnastics. My next target is to represent the country at Commonwealth Games 2022. However, I know that how much challenging rather uphill task it will be, but I am ready to face any kind of challenge and I am sure to make the cut.
Q. What do you do to achieve that target?
A. I give proper time to the game I love and do lot of practice. I know sheer-dint of hard-work, determination and dedication can help me to achieve my ultimate goal. I am totally focussed in that direction.
Q. You claimed 3 gold and 2 silver medals at the Khelo India Youth Games held in Pune. To whom you attribute your success?
A. It is only because of my coaches Krupali Patel Singh and SP Singh that I have achieved all this. Both of them have a great passion for the game and love for the students, apart from having an art and skill of taking 100 percent from the students. I, unquestionably attribute recent success in Khelo India Games to both of my coaches.
Q. Why Gymnastics? Why not any other sports?
A. As a kid, I found Gymnastics different from all other sporting disciplines. The beauty of this sport lured me towards Gymnastics.
Q. Tell us about the role of your School and KC Sports Club in your career?
A. My school (KC Public) always backed me in taking my sporting assignments, treating me on duty whenever I represented school, district, division or state, not to talk of the nation in Gymnastics. And talking about KC Sports Club, it is complete package as far as the facilities are concerned. You have a standard Gym, proper Swimming Pool and other allied facilities in the Club. I always make use of these facilities.
Q. Tell us about the infrastructural facilities provided to you in the State?
A. The infrastructural facilities are not enough, but they are improving day by day. Khelo India Games have made a sea change in sports culture throughout the country. In Jammu and Kashmir, one observes development of lot many stadia and other infrastructure in various sports disciplines. The inauguration of Khel Gaon at Nagrota by Governor’s Advisor K Vijay Kumar is really a step forward in enhancing the standard of sports in J&K. This proposed sports facility will simply prove an asset to the state and go a long way in helping the state to produce international stuff. Governor Satya Pal Malik deserves appreciation rather salutation for this initiative.
Q. Incentives from the Government?
A. You know, the State Government, in recognition of the outstanding achievements of sportspersons nominates them for State Awards, Sher-e-Kashmir Awards and cash incentives. However, the cash incentives from the Government are meagre in comparison with the awards and rewards presented by the rich sporting State’s like Haryana, Maharashtra and Punjab etc.
Q. What is your mantra of success?
A. Sheer-dint of hard-work and keeping balance between studies and sports.
Q. Who is your favourite sportsperson and which sportsperson inspires you more?
A. Margrieta Mamum is my favorite sports person. The sportsperson that inspires me more is my coach Arjuna Awardee Krupali Patel Singh. She is not only my coach, but a teacher, preacher and what and what not.
Q. Your formula of promoting sports in J&K?
A. Developing more and more standard sports infrastructure and categorising sports disciplines as per the merit. Providing outstanding sportspersons with perks, incentives and scholarships to motivate them for achieving better results. Making sports mandatory in schools.
Q. What is your message to the budding sportspersons of the State?
A. I would like to suggest them to make balance between sporting activities and the studies as these are two sides of the same coin. Sports and games help you in sharpening your academic skills also, besides helping you not to derail from the mainstream and avoiding social evils. “A sound body always possesses a sound mind. Sports activities serve for delight, for ornament and for agility”.
Q. You are a Rhythmic Gymnast. Please throw light on Rhythmic Gymnastics?
A. Gymnastics is the mother of all the games and it serves as a base for other sports disciplines. Now, talking about Rhythmic Gymnastics, it is simply a combination of flexibility, motor-ability, strength, music and dance. It takes hours to warm-up before performing for just one minute and 30 seconds on hoop, ball, ribbon etc.
Q. Are the J&K Governor, Satya Pal Malik and his advisors on right track in enhancing standard of sports in J&K?
A. Undoubtedly yes, they are keen to raise sports infrastructure in nooks and corners of the state and are leaving no stone unturned in patting and patronising outstanding players. The recent initiative of laying a foundation stone at Khel Gaon Nagrota portraits picture of the concern Governor and his Advisors have in improving the standard of sports in the State. Many other sports infrastructural projects are already in the offing.
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