Devendra Jhajharia recalls his childhood when kids maintained distance

September 15, 2016

New Delhi, Sep 15: India's only double gold medallist Devendra Jhajharia's grit and resilience is second to none. As an eight-year-old, the athlete's left arm had to be amputated after he got electrocuted. Having a natural flair for sports, the youngster hit the local playground as soon as he recovered from the operation. But things were no longer the same.

jhajharia

The man who is now the toast of the nation didn't find any kid who was interested in playing with a handicapped child. The kids made it clear that they didn't have a place for him in their team.

"You know how kids are. I had lost my arm and no one wanted to play with me. No one wanted me in their team. 'Bhaiya, hum aapko nahi khila sakte' (Sorry, we can't let you play with us), I was told on many occasions," Devendra said, recalling his childhood.

Most people would have backed out facing such a harrowing experience. But Devendra was not one of them. "It made me stronger. Every time they told me that I could not play with them, I became even more resolute," the javelin thrower said.

"After seeing that I was not going to back out, they finally included me."

Devendra won India's fourth Gold in the history of Paralympics on Tuesday with a throw of 63.97 metres in the F46 javelin event at the Olympic Stadium (Engenhao). Chunliang of China and Dinesh Priyantha Herath of Sriland bagged the silver and bronze medal respectively in the same event.

12-YEAR WAIT

The first time he bagged the yellow metal was in the 2004 Athens Paralympics with a throw of 62.15 metres.

"Things were much different back then. There was hardly any support and now with TOP scheme and Sports Authority of India's support things have changed for the better," he said.

The 2013 IPC World Athletics silver medallist had to wait 12 years for a second shot at the Olympics after his Athens Triumph as his event did not feature in the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Games.

"It was like waiting for the Maha Kumbh (a Hindu religious gathering that takes place in India once in 12 years). I knew that my event was not there at the Beijing Paralympics, but I kept training hoping that I would get a shot at London. Only in 2010, I got to know that the event was scrapped off from London too," he said.

TRAINING IN FINLAND

Devendra went for a three month-stint to Finland under the TOP scheme this time and believes it came as huge boost to his training ahead of the Games.

"I received a lot of support this time. I also give credit to my coach Sunil Tawar. I trained for almost seven hours a day for the Games," he said.

During his stint he also met Kenyan thrower Julius Yego, who became an internet-sensation after he revealed how he learnt the art of javelin throwing solely from YouTube videos as he couldn't afford a coach. Devendra said he was mighty impressed and inspired after training with Yego. "I will definitely call him soon," said the Arjuna and Padama Shri awardee.

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News Network
April 9,2020

New Delhi, Apr 9: The legendary Kapil Dev on Thursday slammed Shoaib Akhtar's idea of a made-for-television three-match ODI series between India and Pakistan to raise funds for the Covid19 pandemic, saying "India doesn't need the money" and it is not worth risking lives for a cricket match.

Speaking to news agency, Akhtar on Wednesday proposed a closed-door series to jointly raise funds to fight the deadly virus both in India and Pakistan. Dev said the proposal is not feasible.

"He is entitled to his opinion but we don't need to raise the money. We have enough. For us, what is important right now is how our authorities work together to deal with this crisis. I am still seeing a lot of blame game on television from the politicians and that needs to stop," Dev said.

"Anyway, the BCCI has donated a hefty amount (Rs 51 crore) for the cause and is in a position to donate much more if the need arises. It doesn't need to raise funds.

"The situation is unlikely to get normal anytime soon and organising a cricket game means putting our cricketers at risk which we don't need to," said the World Cup-winning former captain.

Dev said cricket should not even matter for at least the next six months.

"It is just not worth the risk. And how much money can you make from three games? In my view, you can't even think of cricket for the next five to six months," he said.

Dev said the focus, at the moment, should only be on saving lives and taking care of the poor who are struggling to make ends meet in a lockdown situation.

"Cricket will resume when things get normal. The game can't be bigger than the country. The pressing issue is to look after the poor, the hospital workers, the police and all other people who are on the frontline of this war," said the 61-year-old.

As an Indian, Dev feels proud that his country is in a position help other nations including the United States.

President Donald Trump has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for helping the United States with the supply of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug being touted as a potential cure for Covid19 patients.

"Helping others is in our culture and I feel proud about that. We should not seek credit after helping others. We should strive to become a nation which gives more and more rather than taking from others," he said.

Like everyone else, Dev is at home and practising social distancing.

Asked how he views the current situation, he said: "Nelson Mandela stayed in a tiny cell for 27 years. Compared to that, we are in a privileged position (that we just have to stay at home for sometime)."

"There is nothing bigger than life at the moment and that is what we need to save."

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Agencies
March 6,2020

Mumbai, Mar 6: Former India batsman Virender Sehwag expressed excitement over the upcoming Road Safety World Series and said he is looking forward to playing with Sachin Tendulkar again.

"I am very excited about this tournament because I will get another chance to play with Sachin. We have played many international matches together and there was a gap and then we played an All-Star match and now again getting a chance. I am looking forward to playing with Tendulkar," Sehwag told media persons.

In the opening match of the Road Safety World Series, India Legends will play against West Indies Legends on March 7. The main aim of the Series is to create awareness about road safety and change people's mindset towards their behaviour on the roads.

Sehwag hailed the initiative of Road Safety World Series and said: "I think it is a very good initiative by the government that they are working towards creating awareness regarding road safety. Awareness regarding road safety is important for everyone."

Road Safety World Series, a five-nation T20 cricket tournament, will showcase some of the biggest names in cricket from India, Australia, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and South Africa.

Players who will feature in this series include Tendulkar, Sehwag, Brian Lara, Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Brett Lee, Brad Hodge, Jonty Rhodes, Muttiah Muralitharan, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Ajantha Mendis and many more. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar is the Commissioner of the Series.

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News Network
January 23,2020

Jan 23: Quinton de Kock has been named as the new captain of the South Africa One-Day International side, taking over from Faf du Plessis, who is dropped altogether from the three-match series against England next month.

Du Plessis led South Africa in their disastrous 2019 World Cup campaign and has hinted at international retirement from all formats following the Twenty20 global finals in Australia later this year.

"We all know the quality of the player that Quinton de Kock has grown to become," CSA director of cricket Graeme Smith said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Over the years we have watched him grow in confidence and become one of the top ODI wicket-keeper batsmen in the world. He has a unique outlook and manner in which he goes about his business and is tactically very street smart."

De Kock leads a 15-man squad with five uncapped players in seamers Lutho Sipamla and Sisanda Magala, left-arm orthodox spinner all-rounder Bjorn Fortuin, opening batsman Janneman Malan and wicketkeeper-batsman Kyle Verreynne.

Magala, leg-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi, seamer Lungi Ngidi and hard-hitting opening batsman Jon Jon Smuts must pass fitness tests before they can join the squad.

Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada will be rested for the series, while allrounders Chris Morris and Dwaine Pretorius have also not been able to force their way in.

"The road towards the 2023 Cricket World Cup starts now and we want players doing well in our domestic structures to see the rewards of the hard work that they have put in," CSA Independent Selector Linda Zondi added.

The first ODI will be staged in Cape Town on Feb.4th, with the second in Durban three days later and the final match of the series to be held in Johannesburg on Feb.9th.

Squad: Quinton de Kock (captain), Reeza Hendricks, Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Jon Jon Smuts, Andile Phehlukwayo, Lutho Sipamla, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi, Sisanda Magala, Bjorn Fortuin, Beuran Hendricks, Janneman Malan, Kyle Verreynne.

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