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National training camp by Aditya Mehta Foundation to transform soldiers to para-athletes Kick-offs

Media Release
June 25, 2017

Bengaluru, June 25: Aditya Mehta Foundation (AMF), driven by Asian Championship medalists para-cyclist Aditya Mehta in his continuous effort to unearth and scout para-athletes who could go on to represent and bring laurels for India at global competition has kick started its ambitious National Training Camp at the BSF STC, Yelahanka on the outskirts of Bengaluru from today.

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The camp which will see around 150 para-athletes in making comprising of brave soldiers from Central Armed Police Forces who put their body on the line to protect the country.

The initiative since its inception had not only scouted Para athletes but also transformed the disillusioned soldiers into heroes and champions as the Indian Para Cyclists team, a product of this National Camp went on to win gold, silver and bronze medal at the Asian Championship in Bahrain in February 2017. In its second year the success has not only inspired more of the soldiers to enroll and approach Aditya and AMF has also pulled all resources to train these brave hearts and mentor them by internationally acclaimed coaches for a week long training in six para sporting disciplines including swimming, cycling, badminton (standing &wheelchair), tennis (wheelchair), shooting and body building.

“This camp is very special as it not only helps in giving a purpose to the lives of the soldiers who with unfortunate turn of events were completely disillusioned. But also is helping to explore the talents and evolve them into Indian para-athletes become champions and wining laurels for India,” Aditya said.

The training which is India’s only such camp for the para-athletes was inaugurated by Shri. K.K Sharma, Director General of Border Security Force, Shri. P.S Sandhu Inspector General of BSF STC, Bengaluru and Shri.A Dinakar Babu (IAS) Vice-Chairman and MD of Sports Authority of Telengana State.

“I am really thankful to Shri. P.S Sandhu for being a continuous pillar of support from my playing days to till date. While he not only supported me and encouraged my vision, he also helped me to get connected with DG BSF, Mr.Sharma. He has not only understood my will do work in Para Sports but also is the reason for AMF to not only work with the Armed Forces but also has given the courage and support to AMF to help the specially abled soldiers to get a new lease of life”, the two times Asian Paralympic silver medalist further added.

After the week-long camp is over, AMF will take the selected athletes under its wing where they will not only be given further enhanced training but also will be funded to pursue their dream of making the country in national and international events.

“It is a matter of immense pride for BSF to be part of such as noble cause. I would like to extend my thanks to AMF for their endeavour in empowering these brave individuals to do something great in their life even after going through such a loss in their life. I wish AMF all the best and hope they create many more champions in coming years,” Shri. K.K Sharma Director General of BSF said.

These brave hearts will be coached by top para coaches with Anand Kumar, Girish Sharma and Mark Dharmai taking care of badminton, Bholanath Daluai in-charge of swimming. Alok Mandal will be responsible to train the para-cyclists assisted by Aditya himself, while Madhu Bagri and Balachandar Subramaniam will help the tennis players hone their skills. Swaroop will be taking care of shooting disciplines and Vicky sharpening the skills of the bodybuilders.

About Aditya Mehta Foundation

Aditya Mehta Foundation (AMF) is a non-profit organisation which aids people with disabilities to pursue sports while also providing them self-sustenance. The Foundation, started in October 2013, has grown by leaps and bounds in a short span. Based in Hyderabad, the Foundation has managed to span out to virtually every corner of the nation. It represents a unique cause and seeks to help a neglected part of a fairly large population.

The AMF raises funds through its signature Fund Raising event, the Infinity Ride, and also scouts for talent among the disabled population of India. It also provides counselling for them and helps them get better at their sport or even find a sport that is suitable for them. It provides the necessary equipment, training and funding for these athletes as well to help them grow in their sport and compete at the International level. Along with the civilian talent, a major part of the foundation’s efforts is directed at finding and nurturing talent in the nation’s Central Armed Police Forces (Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Sahastra Seema Bal and Central Industrial Security Force), which have a number of soldiers who have suffered debilitating or permanent injuries while serving the country at the border or in naxal-hit areas.

National Camp Partners – Border Security Force Key Sponsor: Sports Authority of Telengana State

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News Network
January 19,2020

Rome, Jan 19: India's star wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Ravi Kumar Dahiya kicked off the Olympic year in style, winning a gold medal each in their respective weight categories at the Rome Ranking Series here.

The 25-year-old Bajrang staged a remarkable comeback to secure a 4-3 win against USA's Jordan Michael Oliver in the summit showdown of the 65kg freestyle category.

Ravi, who competed in the 61kg category instead of his regular 57kg, also bagged gold after getting the better of Kazakhstan's Nurbolat Abdualiyev 12-2 in his final bout late on Saturday night.

The 23-year-old from Sonepat had made the final round after securing impressive wins over Moldova's Alexaandru Chirtoaca and Kazakhstan's Nurislam Sanayev.

Up against one of India's biggest medal prospects in the Tokyo Olympics, Oliver conceded that it was not his night against Bajrang.

The American lauded the competitive spirit of Bajrang.

"Wasn't my night… but I got a lot of work to do to be where I want to be! Hats off to @BajrangPunia dude is heck of a competitor! Until next time my friend," the American tweeted.

Bajrang had to sweat it out in the first round against Zain Allen Retherford of the USA before prevailing 5-4.

In the quarterfinal, the ace Indian wrestler went past another American Joseph Christopher Mc Kenna 4-2, before getting the better of Vasyl Shuptar of Ukraine 6-4 in the semi-finals.

However, it was curtains for Jitender in the 74kg and world championship silver medallist Deepak Punia in the 86kg category.

Jitender won his first bout against Denys Pavlov of Ukraine 10-1 before going down in the quarterfinals against Turkey's Soner Demirtas 4-0.

Jitender got a chance to fight in the repechage after Demirtas entered the final, but the Indian wasted the opportunity, losing 2-9 to Daniyar Kaisanov of Kazakhstan.

In the 86kg category, Deepak crashed out in the opening round, losing 1-11 to Ethan Adrian Ramos of Puerto Rico.

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News Network
May 9,2020

May 9: Filipina weightlifting star Hidilyn Diaz noticed live-streamed concerts were collecting money for coronavirus relief and was struck by inspiration: why not raise funds with an online workout?

Since then the Olympic silver-medallist -- and strong contender for her country's first Games gold -- has made enough money to buy food packs for hundreds of hard-hit families in the Philippines.

Diaz has done it all from Malaysia, where she was training to qualify for the now-postponed Tokyo Olympics when much of the world locked down against the virus in March.

"I thought (distribution) would be impossible because I'm not physically present," Diaz, 29, told news agency.

"It's a good thing that I have trusted friends and trusted family members who understand why we need to do a fundraising."

That circle of supporters has handed out the packages, which include vegetables, eggs and rice, to more than 400 families.

The food was bought with donations from about 50 people who joined sessions that lasted up to three hours, and gave them a rare chance to train with an elite athlete.

Diaz rose to fame in 2016 after snagging a surprise silver in the 53 kilogramme category in Rio, becoming the Philippines' first female Olympic medallist and ending the nation's 20-year medal drought at the Games.

Two years later, she won gold at the Asian Games in Indonesia.

However, her quest to qualify for Tokyo is on hold ahead of the Games' rescheduled opening in July 2021.

"I thought all the hard work would soon be over... then it was extended," she said. "But I'm still thankful I can still continue with (the training) I need to do."

Still, the lockdown broke her daily training regimen, keeping her away from weights for 14 days for the first time in her career.

"I felt like I was losing my mind already. I've been carrying the barbell for 18 years and all of a sudden it's gone. Those were the kinds of anxiety that I felt," she said.

But she got access to some equipment, and with her coach's urging, got back to work. She was relieved to find her strength was still there.

Instead of a Tokyo berth, the past months have been about a different kind of accomplishment for Diaz: helping her countrymen get through the coronavirus crisis.

Rosemelyn Francisco's family in Zamboanga City, Diaz's home town, is one of the first to get help from the athlete's initiative, and is deeply grateful.

Her family was not wealthy to begin with, and the pandemic has cost her husband his construction job.

"The food she donated has all everything we need, including eggs," said Francisco, 27.

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Agencies
August 2,2020

New Delhi, Aug 2: Batting great Rahul Dravid has attributed Chennai Super Kings' consistent run in the IPL to skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's instincts, game-smarts and the incredible amount of work that goes behind the scenes.

N Srinivasan, the former BCCI president and head of India Cements, which owns the CSK franchise, agreed that Dhoni is a man of instinct who doesn't believe in attending team meetings and going over data.

Both were speaking at a webinar organised by the Great Lakes Institute of Management.

"If you look at the success CSK has had, they've got really good access to data and they've got really good access to people behind the scenes and they've run cricket teams at the junior level," Dravid said at the webinar according to ESPNcricinfo.

The former India captain added, "They understand talent and they've obviously got a good scouting process in place. But, what they also have is a captain who really understands instincts.

"So, I mean, look, I know Dhoni quite well and I hope he hasn't changed, but I know Dhoni is probably not one to look at reams of data and statistics."

The Super Kings have won the lucrative tournament three times -- one less than Mumbai Indians -- and reached the knockouts in each of the 10 seasons they have been a part of.

Srinivasan also spoke about how Dhoni's instinct and judgement contributed to his team's success at a time when a lot of emphases is placed on data.

"We're awash with data just now. To give you an example, there are bowling coaches and in a T20 game, they play videos of every batsman whom they're going to come against and they see how he got out, what's his strength, what's his weakness etc.

"So, MS Dhoni doesn't attend this, he's a pure instinct man. The bowling coach, (head coach Stephen) Fleming will be there and everybody will be there, everyone is giving opinions, (but) he'll get up and go.

"In the context of instinct, he feels that okay he can assess a batsman or player on the field, that's his judgement. On the other hand, there is so much of data that is available to help a person also analyse. It's a very difficult line to draw (between data and instinct)."

Srinivasan also recalled how Dhoni once refused to take "one outstanding player" suggested by the franchise boss as that could have broken the team's cohesion.

"There was one outstanding player that we suggested to MS, he said: 'no sir, he will spoil the team'. The cohesion within the team is important and see in America, franchise-based sport has been there for such a long time," he said.

"In India, we're just starting and we're new to it. But we at India Cements have had a lot of experience running teams at junior levels."

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