Badminton players make Balangir proud

Following report is from the Telegraph:

Balangir, Sept. 29: Balangir is emerging as a power-centre in the state badminton scene with players from here regularly making it to national-level tournaments.

Two young shuttlers from Balangir have qualified to play in national-level tournaments after they won the doubles title for men (under-19) at the state badminton championship organised by Orissa Badminton Association at Cuttack recently.

This follows Balangir’s phenomenal success last year in the state badminton championship at Talcher where two boys — Abhimanyu Bagarty, 12, son of a rickshaw-puller, and Surendra Nepal, 14, son of a daily labourer — emerged champion at the mini (under-13) and sub-junior level respectively and qualified to play at national level.

The reigning champion duo, Akash Nanda, and Abhishek Babu, both 18, are at present playing in an east zone tournament in Patna.

Secretary of District Badminton Association (DBA) of Balangir Suru Matari said they encourage young boys, especially those coming from the lower strata of the society. “We know that Balangir has potential in the field of sports and we look for hidden talents. Apart from providing free coaching, we provide help such as playing equipment, track suit and shoes to them. We are very happy that our efforts have paid off well as the two boys have made us proud by emerging champion and qualifying to play at the national level,” Matari said.

DBA treasurer Shankarlal Barai, who accompanied the players at the state meet, was very happy with the success of the players.

“At least seven of our players performed beyond our expectations. In fact, the champion duo, Akash and Abhisek, defeated another pair from Balangir, Akram Khan and Debapriya Negi, in the final. They had entered the final by defeating yet another pair from Balangir — Chandan Mishra and Surendra Nepal. Chandan Mishra also reached the semi-final in the singles (under-19). It’s an all-Balangir show at the state meet. The Balangir boys have been doing extremely well at the state meets and national level tournaments on a regular basis,” Barai said.

Ghanashyam Mishra, who coached the boys, said both Akash and Abhisek were very talented. “Winning titles in this tournament ensures a chance to play in the national level. I am really excited by the performance of players from Balangir who have done so well despite all odds. A small sponsorship would help them to improve their game in the future,” he said.

Boys of poor families make Balangir proud: Rickshawpuller’s son wins singles title in state-level badminton championship

Following news is from The Telegraph:

Balangir, Sept. 20: Fighting against all odds, two young boys made Balangir proud by winning titles in the state open badminton championship in Talcher on Sunday.

Abhimanyu Bagarty (12), son of a rickshawpuller in Balangir, won the singles title in the boys’ mini (under-13) category while Surendra Nepal (14), son of a daily labourer won the men’s singles title in the sub-junior category.

Surendra also won the men’s doubles title with Chandan Mishra in the sub-junior category, while Abhimanyu teamed with Swarup Ranjan Guru to emerge as runners up in the boy’s mini double category.

Two others — Bikrant Jani who emerged as the runner up in the boy’s mini singles category and Arabinda Sahu, who was adjudged the best emerging player of the tournament — also hailed from Balangir.

Abhimanyu said that he used to play badminton in the streets when Susanta Pradhan of the District Badminton Association (DBA) picked him up after noticing his talent.

“I was very young when I developed a passion for games. I used to play badminton with my friends in the streets of our locality. We used bundle of polythene carrybags as shuttle and a flat piece of wood as racket. Susanta dada used to watch me. One day he took me to the DBA office and formally admitted me there,” he said.

Abhimanyu’s father, a rickshawpuller in the town, said that he was exulted at his son’s achievements. “I knew that he was fond of sports. Since I am a poor ricksha puller, it was not possible for me to meet his requirements. But, I also never knew that my son possessed such talent. I hope that he will do even better in the years to come,” he said.

The success story of Surendra Nepal is similar. Son of a daily labourer in an aluminium factory, he never thought that he would play in any state-level tournament. He was picked up by Rajiv Sahu of the DBA who noticed him playing badminton in the streets of the town.

“I never thought that I would play in such a tournament and win title. It is like a dream come true for me,” he said.

“There are many kids in our association who are from very poor families. We try to help them by providing them with playing equipment, tracksuits and shoes. We are very happy that our efforts have paid well as two boys who came from such poor backgrounds have won titles. This is the beginning. We will ensure that they go on to win tournaments at higher levels,” said Suru Matari, secretary of the DBA.