Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs Anurag Singh Thakur has said that initial feedback from various sectors of the economy does not point towards any significant adverse impact of the coronavirus epidemic in China on the Indian trade and industry so far. The government is, however, serious about preparing a contingency plan to protect Indian interests in any eventuality.
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“Though we used to hate our gruelling, almost cruel, training regimen, without any breaks whatsoever, in hindsight, I feel every parent should desist from showering excessive ‘laad-pyaar’ (love and care) on their children, and exert certain amount of strictness and discipline, if they want to raise confident citizens ready to face the vagaries of life.”
Photos By : Life In Chandigarh
These were the words, apparently coming straight from the heart, of the age wise second of the famous Phogat wrestling sisters Babita Kumari Phogat, spoken during the inaugural session on ‘Olympic Dreams’ at the Playwrite sports literature fest, organised by The Playwrite Foundation, in Chandigarh, recently.
A gold medallist in Commonwealth Games and bronze medallist in World Wrestling Championships, Babita was in conversation with co-founder of the foundation Vivek Atray, himself a well known sports personality.
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She was accompanied at the programme by her wrestler husband Vivek Suhag. The session was inaugurated by OP Singh, Haryana Principal Secretary – Sports, who held the attention of the audience with his insightful address, interspersed with humorous anecdotes.
Commenting on how difficult it is for girls to shine in sports, especially in conservative societies, she asserted “Girls can do what boys can, they just need opportunities. If parents stand by their daughters there’s no stopping them.”
While motivating aspiring sportspersons (there were a whole lot of football trainees of Roundglass Foundation present), she said “There is no substitute to hard work. Injuries and defeats should not deter you. I have had serious injuries from head to toe during my career, and invariably close to major competitions, but that did not deter me from giving my 100%.”
Her dietary advisory for sportsperson was “Eat protein rich diet, and stay away from ghee, salt and sugar close to major competitions to remain lean and strong. Drink lots of water, that too while sitting, not standing.”
On psychologically making oneself strong, Babita said, “If you are not getting there, just ask yourself why? Objectively identify your weaknesses, and work to improve on them. Try, try and try again, unless you succeed, should be the mantra for a competitive and passionate sportsperson. Back your abilities, and your preparation, when doubts begin to appear. And enjoy what you do best.”
Reminiscing the time when former world weightlifting champion Karnam Malleswari became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal, a bronze at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, she said, “My father vowed then that if she can, why not my girls. And, he took up their training with a ‘junoon’.
“What people have seen in the movie ‘Dangal’, based on our lives, is no exaggeration. The strict training regimen was very rigorous and demanding, almost cruel to a child. There was no escape from it, no breaks even for weddings within family and friends. We had no option because it was a home production, and our father was our coach. Had it been any other coach or ‘akharah’ (wrestling centre) we would have run away,” Babita related.
“I did stop practising at times, but each time was weaned back by my father and mother with some or the other inducements like ‘do saal ki hi to baat hai’, but those two years were never ending,” she recalled.
“A lot of our own relatives opposed our wearing shorts, and practising with boys, because there were hardly any sports girls in these parts those days, but my father stuck to his ‘zid’ (guns) and ignored all their protestations,” Babita recollected, apparently with a sense of pride and admiration for her father.
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