National Kayaking players practice in drain water
Indian Express: If you happen to be in Pimpri-Chinchwad, don’t be surprised to find national kayaking players practising their skills in a portion of river where drain water is let out. Worse, even as they hone their skills, the players have to maintain silence. Reason: A body is being burnt on the banks of the river.
Their travails do not end here. When they step out of their boats, the players have to hold their nose and walk through human excreta lying all over. “The stink is unbearable in the river and outside. But what can we do? We have to participate in the state-level kayaking competition slated next month,” says 14-year-old Shweta Munj who had won third prize at the sub-junior under-16 National Kayaking Championship held in Bintal, Uttaranchal last year.
Like Shweta, there are five other national players like Amruta Munj (13), Komal Gore (13), Ekta Udgude (15), Apeksha Nalawade (15) who spend at least three hours practising kayaking at bridge near Kalewadi. “Earlier, we used to practise at Thergaon Boat Club where the water was clean and did not emanate a foul smell, but here it is just impossible to practise in this dirty water,” says Apeksha Nalawade (15).
The Sunny Sports Centre used to conduct practice sessions at the water track at Thergaon Boat Club until last year, but the PCMC has decided to hand over the contract to a new party. Because of the change over, all the activities at the boat club have come to a grinding halt for past one year. “We are in the process of appointing a new party to look after the activities of the boat club,” says Sahebrao Gaikwad, PCMC’s sports in-charge. “I am not sure about the adventure sports being stopped,” he added.
Sachin Munj, coach of the Maharashtra team, says after the PCMC stopped the practice session at the water track in Thergaon last year, several players gave up kayaking.
Last year, as many as 50 players participated in the National Kayaking Championship in Bangalore. Of these, 35 were from Pimpri-Chinchwad. This year, we have only five players left, he said. “This is only sport where Pimpri-Chinchwad has made a national mark. The civic administration should help out before kayaking ends in this town,” he said.
Sunny Sabestain of the Sunny Sports Centre said they had provided all boats for free to the national players.
“We have bought boats worth Rs 20 lakh and have been extending all help to the players like transporting the boats to the river front,” he added.
Municipal Commissioner Asheesh Sharma said he was not aware of the plight of the national players. “But I will collect all information and initiate appropriate action,” he said. Slamming the PCMC approach, civic sports committee member Babu Nair said sports infrastructure is either missing in the town or is under-utilised.
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