‘Let foreigners train juniors’

EXPRESSING his clear dislike for foreign coaches for the senior Indian hockey team, former India goalkeeper Mir Ranjan Negi suggested that they be asked to rather train the junior and sub-junior Indian teams.
“What can these foreign coaches teach the likes of Sardara Singh and Co? One cannot totally change the basics of a player in the senior squad. If only the federation wants to hire foreign coaches, they must do it to train the youngsters. Give the junior and sub-juniors teams to them,” said Negi while interacting with scribes in ‘Meet The Press’ organised by Sports Journalists Association of Nagpur (SJAN) at it premises on Saturday.
“They play hockey on laptop. Penalty corner conversion is one of the most important aspects to win matches and tell me what planning these high performance (foreign) coaches have had as we could not convert a single one in the last World Cup,” he asked.
Negi said it was high time that government and sports federation came up with policies promoting sports so that more sportspersons take to the ground. 
On India’s chances in the ongoing Asian Games, where a lacklustre India have made the semi-finals, Negi said, “There is no standard in the Asian Games and we must win the title. If they do not win here then where will they win?”
At the outset SJAN Secretary Kishor Bagde welcomed Negi. President Dr Ram Thakur conducted the proceedings and proposed a vote of thanks.
(All pics S Sudarshan)

Inter-college debate contest on October 8

SJAN- Ambedkar College joint venture

Sports Journalists' Association of Nagpur (SJAN) in association with Dr Ambedkar College, Deekshabhoomi  is organising an Inter-College Debate Competition on October 8 (Wednesday) at  the college auditorium at 11 a.m. 

The topic of the competition is 'Indian sportspersons prefer personal glory over country '. The winner will be awarded Rs 2,000 and trophy while the runner-up will get Rs 1,500 and trophy. The third prize will be Rs 1,000 and trophy. Apart from it, each participant will get certificate.

Each team consist of two students, one will speak in favour and one against subject. A competitor can use any of the following language English, Hindi or Marathi. Each candidate will be allotted four minutes to speak on his topic. Judges decision will be final and the results will be declared immediately after the competition.The last day of entry is October 6. 

For more details and entries  interested can contact  vice-principal of Ambedkar College Dr Arvind Joshi (8600099586) or  SJAN secretary Kishor Bagde (9881037100, 9822576459) .

SJAN-Raisoni Achievers awards distributed

By Nilesh Deshpande

Nagpur, Sept 7

Former Indian cricket team captain and great spinner Bishan Singh Bedi was of the opinion that new policy should be chalked out to give the boost to the Indian sports. For that he mulled the idea of new administrative set up i.e. Indian Sports Services (ISS) on the lines of Indian Administrative Services (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS). 

He was speaking during SJAN-Raisoni Achievers annual award function organised by Sports Journalists' Association of Nagpur (SJAN) in association of Raisoni Group at Scientific Hall on Sunday 

Chairman of Raisoni Group Sunil Raisoni, SJAN president Dr Ram Thakur and secretary Kishor Bagde shared the dais. Elaborating his point he said, " As a part of administrative set up there are IAS and IPS wings in the country. On that lines the Indian sports also need the well trained officers. If that happens the role of sports organisers who are at the helm of affairs of various sports bodies for long time will come to an end and it will give the boost to the Indian sports. 

While guiding the budding sportspersons Bedi who has played Test cricket for India from 1966 to 1979 and formed part of the famous Indian spin quartet said, " The sportspersons should take the criticism positively. They should always prepare themselves ready to face the criticism in the media because it pointed out their flaws and give them an opportunity to learn something new". 

Bedi signed out by assuring all kind of possible help to the Nagpur sports. Mr Raisoni in his speech thanked SJAN for giving a platform to the talented and needy sportspersons of the city. 

Earlier left-handed batsman of Vidarbha Faiz Fazal (GH Raisoni Trophy) , talented athlete Jyoti Chavan (GH Raisoni Trophy) , budding badminton player Rohan Gurbani (GH Raisoni Trophy), promising basketball player Mugdha Amraotkar (Baidyanath Trophy)  and ex-hockey  player and organiser Manish Gaur (Meeradevi Dasture Trophy) were honoured during the function. Besides individual sportspersons, Nehru Vidyalaya, Hingna (Centre Point School Trophy),and SK Porwal College  (KC Bajaj Memorial Trophy) were honoured for their contributions to the field of sports. 

Director of Raisoni Group V Gopalkrishnan, noted sports organiser Deven Dasture, DSO Vijay Santan and  marketing manager of Bank of Maharashtra Mohan Tonge were also present on the occasion. 

SJAN treasurer Suhas Nayse and Dr Ram Thakur conducted the proceedings while secretary Kishor Bagde proposed a vote of thanks.

SJAN-Raisoni Achivers Award function pictures

All Pics by Sudarshan Sakharkar/SJAN

'भारतीय क्रीडा सेवेची सुरुवात व्हायला हवी'

बिशन सिंग बेदी यांचे प्रतिपादन 
एसजेएएन-रायसोनी वार्षिक क्रीडा पुरस्कार वितरीत 

‘भारतीय क्रीडा क्षेत्रातील मरगळ दूर करण्यासाठी नवे धोरण आखण्याची गरज आहे. वगाने बदलणारी परिस्थिती पाहता क्रीडा क्षेत्राचा कारभार सुरळीत चालावा म्हणून भारतीय क्रीडा सेवा (इंडियन स्पोर्टस् सर्व्हिसेस) ही नवी प्रशासकीय रचना तयार करण्यात यावी,’ अशी कल्पना भारतीय क्रिकेट संघाचे माजी कर्णधार बिशन सिंग बेदी यांनी रविवारी मांडली. 
स्पोर्टस् जर्नालिस्ट्स् असोसिएशन ऑफ नागपूर (एसजेएएन) आणि रायसोनी समुहाच्या संयुक्त विद्यमाने लक्ष्मी नगर येथील सायंटिफिक सभागृहात आयोजित वार्षिक क्रीडा पुरस्कार वितरण सोहळ्याचे प्रमूख अतिथी म्हणून ते बोलत होते. यावेळी मंचावर समूहाचे अध्यक्ष सुनिल रायसोनी, एसजेएएनचे अध्यक्ष डॉ. राम  ठाकुर आणि सचिव कीशोर बागडे उपस्थित होते. 
क्रीडा क्षेत्रातील उत्कृष्ट कामगिरीसाठी बेदी यांच्या हस्ते हिंगणा ये‌थील नेहरु विद्यालय (सेंटर पॉइंट स्कूल ट्रॉफी), कामठीचे एस. के. पोरवाल कॉलेज (के. सी. बजाज मेमोरियल ट्रॉफी), क्रीडा संघटक मनिष गौर (मीरादेवी दस्तुरे ट्रॉफी), बास्केटबॉलपटू मुग्‍धा अमरावतकर (बैद्यनाथ ट्रॉफी), बॅडमिंटनपटू रोहन गुरबानी (जी. एच. रायसोनी ट्रॉफी), ज्योती चव्हाण (जी. एच. रायसोनी ट्राफी) आणि फैज फजल (जी.एच. रायसोनी ट्रॉफी) यांचा सत्कार करण्यात आला.   
भारतीय क्रीडा सेवेची संकल्पना अधिक विस्तृतपणे मांडताना ते म्हणाले, ‘राज्यव्यवस्‍थेचा भाग म्हणून भारतीय प्रशासकीय सेवा (आयएएस), भारतीय पोलिस सेवा (आयपीएस), भारतीय परराष्ट्र सेवा (आयएफएस) अशा विविध रचना करण्यात आल्या आहेत. त्याच धर्तीवर भारतातील क्रीडा क्षेत्रासाठीही विशिष्‍ट प्रकारचे प्रशिक्षण घेतलेल्या अधिकाऱ्यांची आवश्यकता आहे. तसे झाले तर, क्रीडा संघटनांमध्ये वर्षानुवर्ष खुर्च्या अडवून बसलेल्यांवर आपोआपच बंधने निर्माण होतील आणि भारतीय क्रीडा क्षेत्र अधिक जोमाने कार्यरत होईल.’
‘या जगात कायमचे काहीच नसते. जे वर गेले ते खाली येणारच, हा प्रकृतीचा नियम आहे. फक्त वर गेल्यानंतर (यश मिळाल्यानंतर) खाली येण्यासाठीचा कालावधी जो लांबवू शकतो तोच महान खेळाडू ठरतो,’ असा मंत्र भाररताच्या सुप्रसिद्ध फिरकी चौकडीचा भाग असलेल्या बेदी यांनी यावेळी दिला. 
नवोदित खेळाडूंना मार्गदर्शन करताना बेदी यांनी टीकेकडे सकारात्मक दृष्टिकोनातून प‌ाहिले पाहिजे, असा सल्ला दिला. ते म्हणाले, ‘वर्तमानपत्रातून किंवा इतरांकडून होणाऱ्या टिकेसाठी खेळाडूंनी नेहमीच तयार असले पाहिजे. टिकेमुळे आपले काय चुकले आहे ते कळते आणि त्यातून नवीन काही तरी शिकायची संधी मिळते. ‌आपले मित्र काय चुकलं ते कधीच सांगणार नाहीत. ते आपल्या सगळ्याच गोष्टीची तारीफ करतील. टिकेमुळे आपण शहाणे होतो. त्यामुळे आपल्या खेळावर टिका करणाऱ्यांचा खेळाडूंनी राग करण्याचे कारण नाही.’
कार्यक्रमाचे संचालन सुहास नायसे यांनी तर प्रास्ताविक किशोर बागडे यांनी केले. 
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स्वतःच्या परिस्थितीचा अभिमान असू द्या
स्वतःचा परिचय देताना खेळाडूला लाज वाटायला नको. उलट खेळाला प्रतिकूल परि‌स्थिती असेल तर त्याचा अभिमान असायला हवा, असा सल्ला बेदी यांनी खेळाडूंना दिला. आपली मूळं पक्की असली तर आपण अधिक मोठे होऊ शकतो, असे ते म्हणाले. नागपुरातील क्रीडा क्षेत्राला क‌िंवा एखाद्या खेळाडूला कुठलीही मदत हवी असेल आणि माझ्याकडून ती करणे शक्य असेल तर, त्यासाठी मी सदैव तयार आहे, असे आश्वासन बेदी यांनी दिले.

Test loss weighs more than ODI win: Bedi

By Sudhanshu Bisen
Nagpur, Spetember 6, 2014

SOMEONE offered him ‘gulab jamun’ but he politely refused. No wonder! For, anything sugar-coated lies well outside his domain.
His ailing knees may have made him limp a bit these days but nothing subjugates his exasperation when he takes the mike. Even the cool temperatures inside the air conditioned room had to vie hard with the ‘on-fire’ Bishen Singh Bedi on Saturday.
That Bedi doesn’t have a liking for the ‘doosra’ can only be justified once he speaks. He has no two opinions on anything.
In the ‘Meet The Press’ organised by Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur (SJAN), Bedi was at his ‘bindass’ best.
Whenever someone fired a question at him, he darted back with a couple of counter-questions.
In the process, Bedi unabashedly addressed the burning issues of Indian cricket, the ill-effects of Indian Premier League (IPL) and the levels of commitment. More than a question-answer session it was much of a introspection that left everybody ponder over the truth.
“Frankly tell me, after this year’s IPL season, how much time did the team get to practice in England before the Tests? There were hardly a few warm-up games leading to the five-match series. It all boils down to what I have been saying since long. IPL is the root-cause of the evil,” he said.
Bedi felt that winning the ODI series should not shove the Test losses under the carpet. “If you feel that by winning the ODIs we have got our revenge, then you are wrong. Test cricket is the ultimate cricket and nothing comes close to a Test win. The loss in Test matches weighs a lot more than the win in the ODIs.”
Bedi also blamed the players for not giving importance to domestic cricket. “How many international players take Ranji Trophy or Duleep Trophy seriously? You have to play domestic cricket day in and day out to sharpen your skills. There is no seriousness amongst the IPL players about domestic cricket.
“Every player wants to join the rat race by playing in the cash-rich league,” he said, before candidly saying, “And what more, there is a new trend this days of playing county cricket! Have you seen the state of county cricket these days! It’s horrible.”
The member of India’s famous spin quartet, Bedi blamed IPL for lack of genuine spinners in India. “The buck stops at the IPL. If you are paying crores to bowl just four overs, who would want to toil hard all day in domestic games. I am not saying that money is not important but you have to stop this rot. No spinner wants to take wickets. They just want to contain the batsman.
Bedi wasn’t shy of taking pot-shots at N Srinivasan and media as well. “I don’t understand how can someone be so greedy. He (Srinivasan) has been the BCCI President, now he is the ICC Chief and he again wants to remain BCCI President. He has taken this pure game to the court. Moreover the media isn’t writing enough about the wrongdoing he has done. We are all falling in the line. Someone has to bell the cat,” he added.
“There is no one in the board who is coming forward and addressing the issue. That’s why I always say, ‘Agar paisa bolta hai toh paisa chup bhi karata hai.’”
Before signing off, Bedi hailed former BCCI President Shashank Manohar for his dignity. “I truly respect what Mr Manohar has done for Indian cricket. He had so much dignity that he declined his post of BCCI chief after his successful tenure. He was selfless in his service and I respect it a lot. I am truly honoured to be in his city.”
Report courtesy: The Hitavada

Bedi arriving in Nagpur on Sept 6

Nagpur, Sept 6, 2014
By Nilesh Deshpande

Former Indian cricket team captain Bishan Singh Bedi is arriving in the Orange City on Saturday morning to grace the SJAN-Raisoni Achievers Awards function to be held on Sunday at Scientific Hall, Laxmi Nagar at 11 a.m.
 Left-handed batsman of Vidarbha Faiz Fazal, talented athlete Jyoti Chavan, budding badminton player Rohan Gurbani, promising basketball player Mugdha Amraotkar and ex-hockey  player and organiser Manish Gaur  have been selected for the annual sports awards instituted by Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur (SJAN) and Raisoni Group. Besides individual sportspersons, Nehru Vidyalaya, Hingna  and SK Porwal Colllege  will be awarded for their contributions to the field of sports.
Bedi  has  played Test cricket for India from 1966 to 1979 and formed part of the famous Indian spin quartet. He also captained the national side in 22 Test matches. Baidyanath Ayurved, Mahatma Gandhi High School, Centre Point School, Bank of Maharashtra and Deaven Dasture family are the co-sponsors of the event.