Meeting of SAIl Hockey Academy held
PNS/Rourkela: The meeting of the Governing body of SAIl Hockey Academy was held at the CEO’s Conference Hall of Rourkela Steel Plant on Saturday. GS Prasad, CEO, RSP presided over the programme that was attended by Padmashree Dilip Tirkey, MP, Rajya Sabha, along with other RSP officers. A presentation was made by Minati Mohapatra, DGM (Sports), RSP and Arjun awardee regarding the various facilities available at the Academy and proposals for further improving the same. Speaking on the occasion, Dilip Tirkey praised the role being played by SAIl, RSP in grooming the hockey talents of the region and making a commendable contribution in promoting the sport. He also lauded the fact that many of the cadets of the Academy have got opportunity to represent the country with many of them getting employment in reputed organizations Tirkey also discussed about addition of new facilities to the Biju Patnaik Hockey Stadium, which will make the venue more suitable for conducting international practice matches. He also emphasised on fitness training of cadets. Prasad readily accepted the suggestion and said that all out action will be taken to implement it thereby further strengthening Rourkela’s place as a hub of Hockey. During the discussions, the CEO also advised the Governing body to take steps to enhance the facilities so that SHA will provide more number of international players in future.
Bajpai to star in child marathoner Budhia’s biopic
Bhubaneswar: Its raining biopics in Bollywood. After films on Flying Sikh, Milkha Singh and boxer Mary Kom, B-town is gearing up for a biopic on yet other sports personality. Odia filmmaker Soumendra Padhi is making a film on wonder boy Budhia Singh, who ran marathons at the age of four, and his coach Biranchi Das. It turns out that Bollywood’s Sardar Khan aka Manoj Bajpai would be stepping into the shoes of Budhia’s coach. “It is going to be a big canvas film and it will go on floors in 2015. The film will be shooting at a lot of real locations which includes places in Odish, Delhi and Mumbai.
In 2004, Budhia was sold for Rs 800 to a salesman who used to ill-treat him. Budhia then met local judo coach and orphanage operator Biranchi Das. Once Das asked Budhia to go on running as part of a punishment for bullying an inmate and he forgot about him. Four hours later, Das found the boy still running and that’s when he started training Budhia for marathons. later on allegations were raised on Das for exploiting the child which led loss of Budhia’s custody. In 2008, Das was shot dead. In this context Soumendra talk to me before making the movie. Soumendra he himself a martial art student and a software engineer, he made a extensive studies regarding my husband and Budhia before finalising the subject, said late Biranchi Das’s wife Gitanjali Panda. Earlier in Hollywood, Gemma Atwal’s documentary Marathon Boy, the film recounts the story, already extensively reported, of Budhia Singh, a child from the slums who became a sensation for his ability to run long distances at very young ages - half-marathons at 3, marathons and, in the most famous instance, more than 40 miles nonstop at 4. He and the coach-guru who adopted him, Biranchi Das, became the stars of a years-long national soap opera involving accusations of child abuse and fraud, standoffs with police and government officials, imprisonment and forced separation. Marathon Boy covers the entwined stories of Budhia and Das from 2005 to 2010.
lifter Pramila bags silver medal in Asian Jr meet
Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s weightlifter Pramila Kirsani bagged silver medal by lifting 177 kg in the Asian Junior Weightlifting Championship held at Doha on Friday. Pramila lifted 76 kg in snatch, 101 kg in clean and jerk and total 177 kg and won the silver in the 53 kg weight category girls event. Another Odia girl Saraswati would take part in 58kg event. Odisha Weightlifting Association secretary Narayan Sahu and coach Sita Prasad Pattnaik are attending themeet as officials.
Mahesh, Rutuparna win AITA-OTPPA Tennis meet
Bhubaneswar: Top seed Mahesh Mohapatra and Rutuparna Choudhury emerged champion in the boys and girls events respectively in the Under-14 AITA-OTPPA Championship Series Tennis Tournament at KIIT International School here on Saturday. In the boy’s final, Mahesh defeated Kabir Hans by 3-6,6-1,7-5. Similarly in the girls final, Rutuparna edged out Khushi D Shah by 6-0, 6-4. The champion and runners-up got 25 and 20 points respectively. KIIT International School chairperson Dr Monalisa Bal gave away the prizes in presence of principal Sanjay Suar, OTPPA vice president Sarbeswar Mohapatra and tournament director Debasis Mohapatra.