Rajasthan
Rajasthan: Once infamous for crime, Rajgarh turns into a cradle of sporting excellence | Jaipur News
Arustic track-and-field ground, a one-room gym close to it having old equipment, and a tricolour drawn with hand on a sheet of paper pasted on a wall capture in brief the big sporting dreams of the youths of Chand Gothi village in Churu’s Rajgarh. They practice hard here and dream of winning medals for the country.
“This tricolour means everything for us. While working out in the gym, a look at it gives us extra motivation to work harder,” said 22-year-old athlete Ajay Swami, a cousin of well-known athlete Manju Bala Swami. People in Rajgarh still remember the celebrations when Manju Bala won a bronze medal in hammer throw at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.
Rajgarh, notorious for gang wars, murders, dacoity and thefts till a few years ago, is currently getting an image makeover from a den of crimes to a sporting hub. In a place where the larger-than-life images of gangsters like Dara Singh, Anand Pal Singh and Sampat Nehra used to lure Churu’s youth to a world of crime, sports has become the favourite pastime.
“Just a few years ago, if anyone from here wanted a house on rent in other districts, they did not disclose that they were from Rajgarh. They would rather take the name of Pilani. Rajgarh had such a frightening image. But that has now changed because our youths work hard in sports and education,” said Jai Singh Poonia, a 62-year-old villager. The locals say sports facilities need to be developed in the area. They say parties and politicians who promise to work on improving sports facilities will get the people’s votes. “The problem is that when someone wins a medal, everyone rushes to claim credit, promising various forms of support and benefits. But young athletes often find themselves travelling alone during their arduous journey. As they prepare for major events, they lack proper facilities here. This must change,” said Vijay Swami, Manju Bala’s father.
Manju Bala developed a keen interest in hammer throw at a young age soon after she stumbled upon an 8-pound hammer at a government school. Resource ful and determined, she improvised by attaching an electricity cable to the hammer and starting her practice. To perfect her craft, she fashioned her own throwing circle, a small, cemented turf that enabled the forceful spins crucial for hammer throw. Manju soon wanted to practice with a 10-pound hammer, which cost a princely Rs 1,500 at the time. With support from her father, she managed to procure the necessary funds. Her four siblings have also been excelling in sports.
Some 27 km away from Chand Gothi, the state government has set up a track and field stadium of international standard. “This facility is a boon for budding athletes. It has given more local youth dreams of winning medals for the country,” said Shankar Lal, a young athlete who has taken part in national and international events in steeplechase.
“This tricolour means everything for us. While working out in the gym, a look at it gives us extra motivation to work harder,” said 22-year-old athlete Ajay Swami, a cousin of well-known athlete Manju Bala Swami. People in Rajgarh still remember the celebrations when Manju Bala won a bronze medal in hammer throw at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.
Rajgarh, notorious for gang wars, murders, dacoity and thefts till a few years ago, is currently getting an image makeover from a den of crimes to a sporting hub. In a place where the larger-than-life images of gangsters like Dara Singh, Anand Pal Singh and Sampat Nehra used to lure Churu’s youth to a world of crime, sports has become the favourite pastime.
“Just a few years ago, if anyone from here wanted a house on rent in other districts, they did not disclose that they were from Rajgarh. They would rather take the name of Pilani. Rajgarh had such a frightening image. But that has now changed because our youths work hard in sports and education,” said Jai Singh Poonia, a 62-year-old villager. The locals say sports facilities need to be developed in the area. They say parties and politicians who promise to work on improving sports facilities will get the people’s votes. “The problem is that when someone wins a medal, everyone rushes to claim credit, promising various forms of support and benefits. But young athletes often find themselves travelling alone during their arduous journey. As they prepare for major events, they lack proper facilities here. This must change,” said Vijay Swami, Manju Bala’s father.
Manju Bala developed a keen interest in hammer throw at a young age soon after she stumbled upon an 8-pound hammer at a government school. Resource ful and determined, she improvised by attaching an electricity cable to the hammer and starting her practice. To perfect her craft, she fashioned her own throwing circle, a small, cemented turf that enabled the forceful spins crucial for hammer throw. Manju soon wanted to practice with a 10-pound hammer, which cost a princely Rs 1,500 at the time. With support from her father, she managed to procure the necessary funds. Her four siblings have also been excelling in sports.
Some 27 km away from Chand Gothi, the state government has set up a track and field stadium of international standard. “This facility is a boon for budding athletes. It has given more local youth dreams of winning medals for the country,” said Shankar Lal, a young athlete who has taken part in national and international events in steeplechase.
