Footballer Mahesh Thapa dies after on-field collision

July 10, 2012

Mahesh_Tapa

Jalpaiguri (Kolkata), July 10: As Mahesh Thapa was rushing to play in a local football tournament on Sunday afternoon in Jalpaiguri, his father Chandra Bahadur coaxed him to have lunch with the rest of the family, as is the custom for the Thapa family at their Racecourse Para residence.

"Forget about football and stay at home today," senior Thapa, a retired policeman, had told his son. But Mahesh snatched a piece of meat from his father's plate, asked his parent to keep his share of mutton ready for dinner and went out with his football kit.

The 25-year-old became the latest victim of an on-field collision, this time in a local, unauthorised tournament featuring barefooted players. The incident once again brought to the fore the absence of medical facility that should be in place at any level of sport.

It was a 'khep' tournament, as it is called in these parts, organized by local clubs in which players are lured from other clubs or localities with an 'appearance' money.

Mahesh, who represented Jalpaiguri in junior and sub-junior inter-district competitions, was very much in demand in such tournaments.

According to eyewitnesses, Mahesh, who was playing as striker for Chhayachhobi Club, fell unconscious following a collision with Parasmoni Club goalkeeper Sachin Rai in the match under lights at Torolpara, about two kilometres from his home.

He was rushed to the district hospital, where he couldn't be admitted as no ICU bed was available.

As he was driven to a private nursing home, he breathed his last. The post-mortem, which was carried out on Monday, revealed that Mahesh died of cardiac arrest.

"His condition was very critical but he was alive when he was being taken to the district hospital," said a Jalpaiguri District Sports Association official.

Chandra Bahadur, however, refused to blame anybody for the loss of the second of his three sons.

"This is an accident. It's my destiny... what else can I say now," he murmured, struggling to hold back tears.

Deaths in Indian football

Sanjib Dutta: 1993 Kannur, Kerala

Cristiano Junior: 2004 Bangalore, Karnataka

Allebi Djwrey: 2008 Bangalore, Karnataka

Venkatesh: 2012 Bangalore, Karnataka

Mahesh Thapa: July 2012 West Bengal



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News Network
May 9,2020

May 9: Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar has donated an undisclosed amount to financially help 4,000 underprivileged people, including children from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) schools, amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tendulkar made the donation to the Hi5 Foundation, a non-profit organisation based out of Mumbai.

“Best wishes to team Hi5 for your efforts in supporting families of daily wage earners,” Tendulkar tweeted.

The organisation, through a tweet, thanked Tendulkar for doing his bit for the needy.

“Thanks @sachin_rt for proving once again that #sports encourages compassion! Your generous donation towards our #COVID19 fund enables us to financially aid 4000 underprivileged people, including children from @mybmc schools. Our budding sportspersons thank you, Little Master!”

The legendary batsman had earlier contributed Rs 25 lakh each to Prime Minister’s Relief Fund and Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for the country’s fight against COVID-19. Tendulkar had earlier pledged to bear the cost of feeding 5,000 people for a month in a couple of areas in Mumbai.

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News Network
April 21,2020

New Delhi, Apr 21: India skipper Virat Kohli on Tuesday said people seem to have become more compassionate while coping with the COVID-19 pandemic and hoped the sense of gratitude towards frontline workers like doctors and police personnel remains even after the crisis is over.

Speaking in an online class organised by "Unacademy", Kohli and his actor wife Anushka Sharma spoke at length about the challenges they faced before tasting success.

"The one positive out of this crisis that we as a society have become more compassionate. We are showing more gratitude to the frontline workers in this war, be it police personnel, doctors or nurses.

"I hope it stays this way even after we overcome this crisis," said Kohli with Sharma seated next to her.

Kohli said the pandemic has taught the world a very important lesson.

"Life is unpredictable. So, do what makes you happy and not get into comparisons all the time. People have a choice now how to come out of this phase. Life is going to be different after this," said the skipper.

For Sharma, the pandemic has forced people to care about the basics in life.

"There is a learning in all of this. Nothing happens without a reason. If the frontline workers were not there, we would not have access to basics," she said..

"This has taught us that no one is special than the other. Health is everything. We are more connected as a society now," she added.

During the session, Kohli was asked about the moment when he felt most helpless.

"I felt nothing was working for me when I was not picked for the state team initially. I cried the whole night and asked my coach 'why did I not get selected'?" he responded.

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News Network
March 12,2020

New Delhi, Mar 12: No foreign player will be available for this year's IPL till April 15 due to visa restrictions imposed by the government to contain the novel coronavirus threat, a top BCCI source told PTI on Thursday, casting fresh doubts on the fate of the event.

"The foreign players who play in the IPL come under the Business Visa category. As per the government's directive, they can't come till April 15," a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

The government issued fresh advisory with a ban on all existing foreign visas, except a few categories like diplomatic and employment, till April 15 in the wake of new positive cases of novel coronavirus in the country.

India has reported 60 positive cases in the outbreak which has led to over 4,000 deaths globally.

The fate of the IPL itself will be decided on March 14 at the event's Governing Council meeting in Mumbai. "All decisions will be taken by the GC in Mumbai," the source said.

Having the IPL, starting March 29, played in empty stadiums is an option being explored.

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