On Friday, India’s Flying Sikh breathed his last after a prolonged battle with COVID-19.

Global IndianstoryMilkha Singh: The man who ran to survive and succeed

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Milkha Singh: The man who ran to survive and succeed

Written by: Global Indian

On Friday, India’s Flying Sikh breathed his last after a prolonged battle with COVID-19. The 91-year-old Milkha Singh, who’d maintained an active lifestyle right till the end, was diagnosed with Covid in May and was under home quarantine. A week later though, things took a turn for the worse and he was admitted to Mohali’s Fortis Hospital. Though he managed to beat Covid, its complications took a toll on the sports icon and he died five days after his wife of 58 years Nirmal breathed her last.

Milkha Singh and his wife Nirmal

In a tribute he posted on Instagram, Milkha Singh’s son and ace golfer, Jeev Milkha Singh, said, “You have touched so many lives over the years and the impact you have made on this nation will long be remembered. Being around you has taught me how to be a better father, brother, husband and has made me into a more compassionate and empathetic human being.”

Singh had won four Asian gold medals and finished fourth in the 400m final at the 1960 Rome Olympics. In fact, running was an integral part of the sports star’s life. In an interview with the BBC he had once said that he would run for as long as six hours a day. “I would push myself so much that in the end I would collapse and I would have to be admitted to the hospital, I would pray to God to save me, promise that I would be more careful in future. And then I would do it all over again,” he said.

Race for his life

Incidentally, Milkha’s tryst with running began during India’s partition when he had to flee to save his life. Born in Pakistan’s Layalpur, he had watched his parents and siblings being slaughtered; as his father breathed his last, he said, “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag,” urging him to run to save his life. And run he did, till he got onto a train bound for Delhi. Here he roamed disenchanted and resorted to petty crime before working in a small roadside eatery. At one point of time, he was sent to Tihar Jail for traveling ticketless in a train. His sister, Ishar, had to pawn her jewelry to secure his bail.

The tide turned in 1951 when he got recruited into the Indian Army in his fourth attempt. He ran a cross– country race of five miles (his first race) when army coach Gurdev Singh promised an extra glass of milk to those who finished in the top 10. Singh finished sixth and was selected for special training in the 400m category. There was no turning back since then and he went on to become India’s first sporting superstar.

Watch the race from 1960 here

Singh won Gold at the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, becoming the first Indian athlete to do so. His win was a watershed moment in Indian sporting history, which led then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to declare a national holiday. In 1960, he finished fourth in the 400m Rome Olympics, missing the podium by a narrow 0.01 seconds. In an interview with India Today a couple of years ago he said,

“It has been 60 years, and the miss at Rome still hurts me. I was so close.”

The Flying Sikh’s record in track and field stayed intact for 52 years till Krishna Poonia won the women’s discus throw in the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Milkha Singh with Jawaharlal Nehru

In 1960, Singh was invited to participate in the 200m race at the International Athletic competition in Lahore, Pakistan. The athlete was reluctant to go; he hadn’t been back in Pakistan since the partition. He did go eventually, and went on to win the race, while Pakistan’s Abdul Khaliq took the bronze. It was then that General Ayub Khan, Pakistan’s second president, bestowed upon him the title of “The Flying Sikh”, a moniker that stuck with him till the end.

He once took his sister to watch a race at the National Stadium; when the starter’s gun was fired, it startled her and she thought her brother had been shot. It was only after he finished the race and rushed to console her that she drew a breath of relief.

The essence of his life

Singh retired from athletics after the 1964 Olympics, two years after winning the gold at the Asian Games held at Jakarta. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1959. Singh, who had been offered the Arjuna award (which had been instituted in 1961) in 2001, had famously turned it down, stating, “the honour was not of the stature of the services he rendered the nation.”

Singh believed in staying disciplined and fit. In fact, he would go for a jog even at the age of 91, qualities attributed to his time in the army where he was promoted from sepoy to junior commissioned offer after the 1958 Asian Games. He eventually rose to the rank of Honorary Captain. After hanging his boots, he went on to become the Director of Sports in Punjab Ministry of Education, a post he retired from in 1998.

All of Singh’s medals, along with the pair of shoes he’d worn in Rome, were donated to India and displayed at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi before being moved to a sports museum in Patiala.

Singh and his daughter Sonia Sanwalka wrote his autobiography The Race of My Life, published in 2013. Singh, reportedly sold the rights to the film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag for only one rupee and inserted a clause stating that a share of the profits be given to the Milkha Singh Charitable Trust. The trust helps youngsters achieve their potential through education.

A scene from Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

The 2013 film starred Farhan Akhtar. Singh told BBC that he wanted it to inspire the next generation.

“We had nothing in our times. The athletes and sportsmen in those days didn’t earn much money. We worked for the applause, people’s appreciation inspired and motivated us, we ran for the country,” he said.

What the Twiterrati say

A legacy that inspired a whole nation to aim for excellence. To never give up and chase your dreams. Rest in Peace #MilkhaSingh ji 🙏. You will never be forgotten. pic.twitter.com/IXVmM86Hiv

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) June 19, 2021

Saddened over death of #MilkhaSingh in India. flying Sikh. He was from our area Kot Addu (Muzaffargarh). A son of soil. My condolences with his family. I had started taking exercise seriously after listening his pearls of wisdom. This 1.44 minutes clip can change your life too
👇 pic.twitter.com/35LEdOKIcG

— Rauf Klasra (@KlasraRauf) June 19, 2021

The legend lives on… even if body has given way.
RIP #MilkhaSingh the legendary Indian. 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/SGcR29mVGY

— Syed Akbaruddin (@AkbaruddinIndia) June 19, 2021

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Published on 19, Jun 2021

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From winning championship at 9 to becoming a chess grandmaster at 17: SL Narayanan’s incredible journey

(November 8, 2021) SL Narayanan was all of nine when the board game with 64 black and white squares grabbed his attention. It was at this young age that he learnt that the knight in chess moves multiple squares each time while the pawn moves forward one square. Such was his passion for the game that he aced it and won his first championship that same year. This taste of victory gave Narayanan enough drive to pursue the game professionally and eight years later, he became India's 40th chess Grandmaster at the age of 17. Cut to 2021, Narayanan is still making India proud at the international level when he recently finished second at the ChessMood Open in Armenia. The pandemic was a blessing in disguise for this 23-year-old who got enough time to improve his game. "I was very happy with my performance at the ChessMood Open. I played some quality games and was very happy to see the result of my work during this pandemic. It was my first visit to Armenia and I am glad I could keep a positive memory about the tournament. And this indeed motivates me to work even harder," he told Global Indian

e told Global Indian in an interview.

While the chess grandmaster is upping his game with every tournament but he had to overcome many challenges to reach the top.

A chance encounter with chess

Born in 1998 in Kerala, Narayanan was just nine when he first accompanied his mother to a chess tournament at her office and watched with rapt attention as she played the game. Sensing his curiosity, one of his mom's colleagues introduced him to the rules of the game. Intrigued by the world of chess, he returned to the tournament the next year with his mother and tried his hand. He managed to impress his opponent with his moves; he noticed the kid's potential and insisted his mother give Narayanan proper training. "Consequently, under the guidance of P Sreekumar, who was the former Kerala State Champion, I started my first lessons of the game. I learned the game in a systematic way and also started participating in district weekly events," he says.

[caption id="attachment_15245" align="aligncenter" width="486"] A young SL Narayanan up against top GM Parimarjan Negi.[/caption]

While Narayanan was mastering chess with each game, he would often ask his parents about his future in the game. The question of who would he become if he continued playing well often crossed his mind. "They [my parents] had one clear name to look up to - Vishwanathan Anand. Once I got to know about him through his games and news reports, I knew I had a role model," he adds. Soon, he fell in love with chess as it was the game's individuality that attracted him. "The rules are the same for everyone but you play according to your understanding/strategy and that's what made it colourful for me," says the grandmaster.

Nudging support from family

The 23-year-old is now among the top 10 chess players in India, and his career is testament to his family's support and commitment to the game. "My father was a government contractor but he quit his job when I started playing so that he could travel with me for tournaments," he reveals. His mother, who introduced him to the game, was among his biggest supporters as she was the sole breadwinner in the family for the longest time. The Grandmaster from Kerala also found support in his sister who gave up her dream of being a chess player in order to let him succeed. "My sister was also a very good chess player. She has participated in several national events and was the Delhi University zonal champion in 2017. We both trained under the same coach together for a while. However, my parents could only back one of us as our financial background wasn't great; one of us had to step back to pave the way for the other. Since I was a bit more talented and hard working, she decided to take a step back," adds Narayanan.

[caption id="attachment_15250" align="aligncenter" width="1800"] Grandmaster SL Narayanan[/caption]

The chess player's endeavours were not only supported by his family but even his school backed him. Narayanan studied at St Thomas Residential school till 8th standard and then moved to St Mary's Higher Secondary School to focus more on his game. Despite his hectic schedule, the 23-year-old was able to strike a balance between his studies and chess, all thanks to the support of his teachers.

Checkmate by challenges

Narayanan was quite young when he started learning from former Kerala State Champion, P Sreekumar and later trained under IM Varghese Koshy and GM Praveen Thipsay. But it hasn't been an easy journey from him as financial aid has always been a constraint. "Initially, I didn't get any proper training, opportunities or support to better my game despite being a strong and hardworking player. My parents took loans from several institutions to give me good training and help me participate in tournaments. If I had gotten proper training when I was young, like the players of similar age now get, it would have helped me create a strong foundation which I could build on," says the English Literature graduate from Mar Ivanios College.

[caption id="attachment_15246" align="aligncenter" width="1038"] SL Narayanan at World Junior Chess Championship 2016[/caption]

In 2016, the year Narayanan won gold in the Asian junior blitz chess championship, crowdfunding came to his rescue. "I was contacted by the social platform - Milaap after they came to know about me through one of the dailies. Later, they started crowdfunding and raised around ₹1.15 lakh which was indeed helpful for me. I believe crowdfunding is a reliable way to raise funds especially in a third world country like India," adds Narayanan.

He didn't find much support from the government either apart from the time when he became a grandmaster. "Since then I have not received any support from either the State or Central Government. Even when I went to one of the administrators, he ridiculed me and asked if chess was even a game; that was so disheartening," he reveals.

A journey worth remembering

Despite many challenges and setbacks, Narayanan has been able to pull himself through all of it for the sheer love of the game. From winning his first championship in 2007 to becoming a grandmaster, he has come a long way. "There have been a lot of thrilling moments in the journey with some tournaments working for me and others working completely against me. But I still enjoy the process of working on a game and the concept that builds the game."

[caption id="attachment_15247" align="aligncenter" width="601"] SL Narayanan[/caption]

For this Global Indian, chess is more than a game as he says it has helped him in shaping his character. The grandmaster is confident in the future of the sport and its players. "I could easily say that chess could help the young generation to instill in them life qualities as well as problem solving capabilities which will benefit them immensely," he signs off.

Follow SL Narayanan on Twitter

Reading Time: 7 min

Stick to roots, conquer the world: Pullela Gopichand’s journey as an athlete and coach

(Vikram Sharma, May 19) From a 10-year-old, who would walk several miles to receive badminton training in his hometown in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh to becoming one of the top names in the world of badminton, the journey of Pullela Gopichand has been incredible. Soft-spoken and gentle, spotting talent comes naturally to this 47-year-old, who has given India some of the best badminton players ever. Throughout his phenomenal journey, which took him to almost every corner of the world, he remained on top of his game -- both on and off the court. But Gopichand's feet are firmly on the ground, which becomes evident when he says that people who stuck to their roots and grew in their respective fields went on to show what India is to the world. Gopi sir, as he is fondly known, says he takes pride in being Indian, being a Telugu and a Hyderabadi. "The entire journey has been full of challenges, pride and a sense of responsibility. A lot of things I have done on this journey were not about what I wanted to do, but it needed to be done. From 1991, when I first played my first international badminton to 2004 when I

yderabadi.

"The entire journey has been full of challenges, pride and a sense of responsibility. A lot of things I have done on this journey were not about what I wanted to do, but it needed to be done. From 1991, when I first played my first international badminton to 2004 when I started coaching till now, these 30 years of my journey have been huge,'' smiles Gopichand in an exclusive chat with the Global Indian.

His sheer determination and hard work saw him become the captain of a combined Indian universities team in 1990-91. He clinched gold in the SAARC badminton championship in 1996 and went on to defend the crown in the next games held in Colombo. At the international level, he represented India in Thomas Cup tournaments thrice. "Looking back at the badminton journey, I think we have shown what is possible. We have demonstrated that if we do well, we can do the best in the biggest tournaments despite stiff competition," says Gopichand.

Pullela Gopichand Born in a middle-class family in 1973, a young Gopichand was interested in cricket while his parents were keen he pursued engineering. But it was his brother who introduced him to badminton. Soon, the passion for the game kicked in and he rose through the ranks. "As a player, it was all about being the best today, giving it all you had. Every time I moved up, I could see the next ladder and figured out a plan to achieve the target. As a coach, it was to prove we as Indians can do it," he says. The ace shuttler-turned-mentor says there needs to be involvement in what you do, love and risk-taking ability. "There will be a lot of ups and downs but you need to maneuver your way out. Be tough at heart and keep pushing," advises the father of two.

Coach Gopichand took a host of young players under his tutelage and crafted them into world-beaters, from Saina Nehwal and K Srikanth to PV Sindhu. He turned Hyderabad into India’s badminton training hub and his early morning training route for proteges is well documented. Crucially, he has changed a country’s outlook towards a sport where the great wall of China has for long looked insurmountable.

Ask him if he considers himself a Global Indian, pat comes the Padma Shri awardee's reply: "I consider myself as somebody who has his roots in the Indian system. That we are from a country which is endowed with such great history and culture is amazing. If you have strong roots, then you can be comfortable wherever you are. If that means you are a Global Indian, so be it."

Gopichand considers people like Swami Vivekanand, Sundar Pichai, NR Narayana Murthy and Sadhguru, among others, as true Global Indians. "They are huge motivators. These are the people who stuck to their roots and showed what India is to the world," he says.

On his multiple trips abroad, Pullela Gopichand often carries the autobiography of Yogi and MS Subbulakshmi's Vishnu Sahasranamam which help him deal with problems coming his way. The 'Dronacharya' of Indian badminton recalls some of his not-so-pleasant experiences abroad. "When our contingent went to China or Europe for tournaments, the locals there would start giggling the moment they looked at us. I think their perception and knowledge of India was very limited 20-30 years ago. But now, we have a stature in the world in various fields and people abroad recognise India's innate qualities, culture and history more than ever before," Gopichand says of Brand India’s rising equity.

He feels that a lot more needs to be done for badminton in the country. "To convince people to invest in the sport, make them believe that we can be world-beaters is a challenge. Players have huge potential but after reaching a certain level, many of them did not grow to match their full potential," says Pullela Gopichand.

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Lovlina Borgohain: The paddy farmer-turned-boxer who’s now an Olympic medalist

(July 30, 2021; 5.30 pm) 2020 was a tough year for Lovlina Borgohain: First she couldn’t make it to the national camp due to her mother’s ill health and also had to help her father in the paddy fields. Secondly, she tested Covid positive hours before she was to board a flight to Italy for a training-cum-competition session sanctioned by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for India’s elite boxers. Now, things are certainly looking up for this 23-year-old Assamese boxer as she has secured a medal for herself at the Tokyo Olympics. Borgohain defeated world champion Taiwan's Nein-Chin Chen in the quarter-final of the Women’s Welterweight, to advance to the semi-finals round, thereby securing a bronze for the country. She will be the third Indian boxer after Vijender Singh (2008) and MC Mary Kom (2012) to bag a medal at the Olympics for the sport. “She used her height very well. Her height is her biggest strength, as no other boxer in her category is as tall as her. It was also a mental battle for her because she had gone through a lot in the past one year. We want her to win the gold,” India’s women’s boxing coach Ali Qamar told India Today. [embed]https://twitter.com/boxervijender/status/1420954236859215890?s=20[/embed]

ed her height very well. Her height is her biggest strength, as no other boxer in her category is as tall as her. It was also a mental battle for her because she had gone through a lot in the past one year. We want her to win the gold,” India’s women’s boxing coach Ali Qamar told India Today.

[embed]https://twitter.com/boxervijender/status/1420954236859215890?s=20[/embed]

[embed]https://twitter.com/himantabiswa/status/1420953281849794571?s=20[/embed]

Before the Tokyo Olympics, Borgohain had lost to Chen four times. “It wasn’t about proving anything to anyone. I just had to prove it to myself,” Borgohain told reporters after the match. “I had lost to her four times before. This is where I could have taken my revenge. I had no strategy; I had decided to adapt according to the situation in the ring.”

Humble beginnings

Borgohain was born in 1997 in Baro Mukhia village in Assam’s Golaghat district, to Tiken and Mamoni; her father is a small-scale businessman and the family didn’t have the means to support the boxer’s ambition. She was 5-years-old when her father first showed her a clipping of Muhamad Ali - Borgohain was hooked. However, she first began training in muay thai like her sisters, who competed at the national level. She soon switched to boxing and was noticed in 2012 by coach Padum Boro at the SAI trials held at Barpathar Girls High School where she studied.

[caption id="attachment_6389" align="aligncenter" width="454"] Lovlina Borgohain with her mother[/caption]

Borgohain then went on to win bronze medals at the AIBA World Championships held in 2018 and 2019 before she made the cut for the Olympics quota in 2020. That same year she was also awarded the Arjuna award.

Against all odds

Last year, the SAI had sanctioned a 52-day Europe tour for the India’s elite boxers. But Borgohain was forced to forego the trip after she tested Covid positive hours before her flight to Italy for the training-cum-competition trip.

Though her training for the Olympics had been marred by personal problems, she ensured that it did not affect her performance at her maiden outing at the prestigious sporting event. Earlier this year, she had to take a break from the national camp to fly to Kolkata where her mother was undergoing a kidney transplant. Determined to win against all odds, she would train at home with a cylinder and promised her mother that she would return with a medal.

[caption id="attachment_6390" align="aligncenter" width="355"] Lovlina Borgohain practising during the lockdown; Photo courtesy: India Today[/caption]

Borgohain had begun her boxing training at Netaji Subhas Regional Centre in Guwahati in 2012. During the lockdown, when most other athletes used the time to upskill or relax, Borgohain focused on watching videos of her opponents. By the time she went to Tokyo she was well aware of their strengths and weaknesses; information that has held her in good stead.

What the medal means for Baro Mukhia

For the 2,000-odd residents of her village, a medal from Tokyo means the world. The villagers are hopeful that development will come their way like it did for the villages of Mary Kom and Hima Das after their international wins. Borgohain’s medal could mean the arrival of basic facilities such as piped water supply, healthcare facilities (their nearest hospital is 45 kilometres away) and a concrete road.

“I remember how in the village they would often pity my parents, with no sons and three daughters. My mother would always tell us to do something to prove the critics wrong, and we did. Both my sisters have jobs in the Central Industrial Security Force and Border Security Force, and I am a boxer,” she told The Indian Express after the Arjuna Award last year.

As she gears up for her next match against reigning world champion Turkey’s Busenaz Surmeneli on August 4, she is determined to win. She said, “Even if I break my hand, I have to fight, have to win.” And we sure hope she does.

Reading Time: 5 mins

Neeraj Chopra: The Olympic gold medalist who beat injuries and hurdles to shine

(August 9, 2021; 7.15 pm) As the world watched with bated breath, India’s Gold Medalist Neeraj Chopra, flexed his arm before he swung it in a deep arc to launch his javelin, in what can only be termed a monster throw. As it landed at 87.58 m, the audience erupted in cheers. The 23-year-old had won India its first ever gold medal in track and field, a dream that Milkha Singh once dreamed for the country. As he ran around the stadium holding the Indian flag, the country of over 1 billion celebrated: it was the first gold in any sport since Abhinav Bindra’s success in 2008. [embed]https://twitter.com/Neeraj_chopra1/status/1424297067166408705?s=20[/embed] Overwhelmed by his success, Gold Medalist Neeraj Chopra told Hindustan Times that he slept with his medal close to his pillow the night he won. But did you know that just a couple of years ago, this Olympic gold medalist had a career threatening injury? Chopra had to undergo a surgery in the elbow to remove bone fragments. Incidentally, Chopra was introduced to the sport by his uncle because he was overweight as a child. He said, “I remember all those days going for training. I would just tell myself whatever is happening

t he won. But did you know that just a couple of years ago, this Olympic gold medalist had a career threatening injury? Chopra had to undergo a surgery in the elbow to remove bone fragments.

Incidentally, Chopra was introduced to the sport by his uncle because he was overweight as a child. He said, “I remember all those days going for training. I would just tell myself whatever is happening is fine. My job is to train and I will keep doing that. Now I feel that yes, it was a tough time for me but back then it didn’t feel so tough.”

From Haryana to win gold

Born in 1997 to Satish Kumar and Saroj Devi in Haryana’s Khandra village, was mercilessly teased by other children for his childhood obesity. That was when his father enrolled him at a local gym. Once, during a visit to the Panipat Sports Authority of India Centre, javelin thrower Jaiveer Choudhary noticed Chopra’s natural ability to achieve a 40-metre throw without any training. Impressed, he went on to become Chopra’s first coach.

[embed]https://twitter.com/afiindia/status/1424716045109981190?s=20[/embed]

At age 13, Chopra was admitted to the Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex in Panchkula, a four-hour drive from his home. Here he trained under coach Naseem Ahmad who also made him train in long distance running. By 2013, Chopra had entered his first international competition, World Youth Championships in Ukraine. He won his first international medal, a silver, in 2014 at the Youth Olympics Qualification in Bangkok. At the 2016 South Asian Games, he achieved a throw of 84.23 m and won a gold medal.

That same year, he broke the under-20 world record at the IAAF World U20 Championships with an 86.48 m throw. While this could have earned him a spot at the Rio Olympics, it was past the qualification deadline and Chopra had to wait until 2021 for his turn in the spotlight.

As the world watched with bated breath, India’s Neeraj Chopra launched his javelin, in what can only be termed a monster throw.

Induction into the Indian Army

It was around this time, that the Indian Army took notice of his future potential and offered him a direct appointment as Junior Commissioned Officer in the Rajputana Rifles. His time in the Army has helped him be more disciplined. In an interview with Republic World, he said,

"I joined Army in 2016. Army has a simple rule. You have to be tough, disciplined, and work to your best. That is what an athlete's life is. They have to do the same thing. Both also have to stay away from their homes. So, although my focus is on sports, I am an Army man.”

In 2018, he became the first Indian athlete to win gold at the Asian Games and at the Commonwealth Games. His performance in the international circuit, earned him the Arjuna Award in 2018, although he was also recommended for the country’s highest sports award the Khel Ratna.

It was right around this time that an injury that could jeopardize his career struck and he had to undergo a surgery on his elbow. But he didn’t let this set him back and resumed training as soon as he could.

Chopra, who made his Olympics debut this year, stunned everyone with his monster throw of 86.65m that helped him qualify directly for the finals. As India hoped he would do equally well, if not better, at the finals, Chopra didn’t disappoint. He blazed through the finals to clinch gold for a country that had been parched for the coveted medal for years now.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW_fwcmyIfk[/embed]

Editor’s Take

Mark of a champion: He/she never rests. And just like a true champion, Gold Medalist Neeraj Chopra too, has no plans of letting his Olympic glory be the end. Steadfastly focused on his sport, he’s now set his sights on achieving a 90 m throw.

Reading Time: 8 mins

‘Dar’ to dream: Padma Shri Faisal Ali’s ‘sporting’ academy gives Kashmir its champions

(April 4, 2022) Growing up in scenic Bandipora on the northern banks of Wular lake in Kashmir, Faisal Ali Dar spent most of his childhood assisting his father, a radio and television mechanic, with installing TV dishes in the locality. A quick learner, the Indian sports coach would even set out alone for the job after school hours, earning ₹50 for each dish installed. On days when there was less work, he would head to the nearby apple orchards. Ferrying each apple box to the truck would fetch him ₹2. After working for hours at a stretch, Faisal would return home with a few hundred rupees. Once a month, he would get his pocket money, bringing a smile to his face. Unlike other children his age, Faisal would carefully spend the money on buying sports accessories and renting out Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan movies, from which he would imitate the scenes before his friends. [caption id="attachment_22167" align="aligncenter" width="582"] Faisal Ali Dar[/caption] For decades, Bandipora is known to have produced hundreds of scholars and intellectuals. Now, it is a sportsman in the form of Faisal Ali Dar who is making both Jammu and Kashmir, and India proud. "I remember buying

]

For decades, Bandipora is known to have produced hundreds of scholars and intellectuals. Now, it is a sportsman in the form of Faisal Ali Dar who is making both Jammu and Kashmir, and India proud.

"I remember buying punching pads, sports shoes and other sports accessories from my pocket money. It was a tough life but we were a content family. Everyone at home worked really hard and that is a quality which helped me throughout my life," smiles Faisal, the first person from J&K to receive the Padma Shri award in sports, speaking exclusively to Global Indian.

The national kickboxing coach was recently conferred with the national award for his contribution in promoting sports through martial arts and his work keeping the youth away from drugs -- both of which have been a herculean task. "All of us face hurdles in life and each one embarks on a different journey. Staying focussed on your goals, hard work and determination can do wonders," says the 33-year-old sportsperson, who runs 17 centres across the valley offering training in 18 sports including taekwondo, wushu, volleyball, table tennis among others. He started the Ali Sports Academy in 2003 but there was hardly any infrastructure back then.

[caption id="attachment_22157" align="aligncenter" width="693"] Faisal training young girls[/caption]

Rough start

Watching martial arts films, Faisal took an instant liking to wushu. Soon, national coach and Dronacharya awardee Kuldeep Handoo took him under his wings and trained him in wushu. But unluckily for Faisal, his career in wushu didn’t take off as planned. He participated in the nationals but failed to win any medal. The determined youngster then switched to kickboxing and had a flying start by winning gold at the Asian Championship in 2010. But with sports hardly receiving any recognition in the valley, his short career ended in 2013 after which he began focusing on his academy, which led to the enrolment of about 150 people.

"In 2008, I missed my black belt exam as I could not afford the fee of ₹6,700. Even winning the medal brought me no recognition," informs Faisal, who decided to channelise his time and energy in creating a "sporting culture" in the valley. Calling the initial phase “a struggle”, he adds, "That was a time when parents were not interested in sports, forget making it a career option. People looked at sports as fun and entertainment. They did not look at the professional side of sporting activities."

That mindset, he says, has changed drastically over the years. "Parents now come in large numbers to enroll their children in the academy. The youngsters are putting in hard work and aiming big so as to make a career out of it. It's a great beginning where parents, youngsters and teachers are doing their bit in promoting sports in J & K," says the sportsperson, whose centres at Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, Baramulla, Ganderbal and Srinagar, besides Bandipora, are teeming with sporting activity.

Mentoring future leaders

Presently 14,000 youngsters are being trained across his centres. In martial arts alone, there are 3,600 players of which 16 played international championships and won four gold medals, five silver medals and three bronze medals. They train for three hours every day.

"As a child, I had to travel far to get coaching from Kuldeep Handoo sir. I did not want that to happen to the youngsters in the valley and decided to start the academy. Since not all would be inclined towards martial arts, I slowly introduced other sports," informs the sportsperson, who charges ₹50 per trainee per year.

[caption id="attachment_22154" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] About 14,000 youngsters are being trained his centres in Jammu and Kashmir[/caption]

But getting the girls to train in the academy was a challenge for Faisal. “I wanted the girls to learn self-defense techniques. I met their parents and convinced them to make their daughters join the academy. Many did and have made a mark for themselves," smiles Faisal. Some of his star trainees include Tajamul Islam who made the country proud by winning the gold medal in the under-14 world kickboxing championship, Abida Akhtar, who won the 2017 Malaysia Wushu international championship, Hashim Mansoor, junior Asian karate champion and Sheikh Adnan, international taekwondo medallist.

While promoting sports was his main goal, Faisal was also disturbed over the rising drug addiction in the valley. "I came across youngsters who were doing drugs. I started organising workshops against drugs, met the family members of the addicts and tried to rehabilitate them by getting them into sports," says Faisal, who has so far rehabilitated about 45 youngsters.

[caption id="attachment_22165" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Indian sports coach | Faisal Ali Dar Faisal during an event at his sports academy[/caption]

Long way to go

Faisal has no plans to stop. "I want to open more branches across the country. Besides, I want to start rehabilitation centres wherever necessary to help youth deal with drug addiction. Importantly, I want more of my trainees to win medals in world championships in the future," says the sportsperson, who along with his team is planning to have more anti-drug campaigns, counselling sessions for sports as a career, and make the youth and country fitter. says the compound arts degree graduate from the University of Kashmir.

Kuldeep Handoo has been an inspiration for Faisal who taught him “how to rise up in life and work hard in achieving our goals.” He adds, “I want to inculcate these qualities in the youth," smiles the sportsperson, who would spend hours imitating Bruce Lee's moves from the Game of Death and Enter the Dragon along with Jackie Chan's Drunken Master as a youngster.

An avid trekker, who has undertaken several expeditions in Kashmir valley, including Gurez Razdaan, Gangabal, and Kangan mountains, Faisal loves to cook or listen to classical ghazals and Bollywood music to unwind. “Whenever I get time, I also like to indulge in water sports like dragon boat swimming,” the sports coach concludes.

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