JOIN THE WAR TO MAKE INDIA A SPORTING SUPER POWER

When I was very young, I dreamt of climbing Mt.Everest - of course, my mountaineering trainer told me I WAS TOO YOUNG! And, indeed, how amazed I was when at the age of 14 years - the same trainer asked me to lead a group of 20 hardened trekkers to ROHTANG PASS during the most scary climatic conditions.

My athletics coach told me that 100 meters sprint is only for strong, muscular and tall students - AND WHEN I CAME THIRD in the finals, his joy knew no bounds.

My basketball coach told me basketball is for TALL PLAYERS. Yet, he made me the captain of a team in which all players were my seniors by two years and topped me in height by 20-30cms.

Leading Indian coaches and trainers tell their wards that because of climatic conditions or because of genetics or because of environmental factors INDIANS cannot be world class athletes, football players, basketball players, gymnasts, swimmers etc. etc. This nation has lived with these LIES for a long time. The shame for this great nation must be removed and INDIA MUST TAKE ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE IN THE SPORTING WORLD. The mindsets have to be changed - from CAN'T DO we have to move to CAN DO. And evertime we fail - we will reach nearer and nearer to VICTORY.

I BELIEVE THAT INDIA CAN BE A SPORTING SUPER POWER - care to join me?

I want to win - I want to win - I want to win ?

All beginners of basketball want to win matches and when they come up against experienced players - they lose hope and are easily discouraged. No matter, how many basics you teach, the ability to win comes only when there is a REAL MATCH.

Someone comes across and says - Hey, why you have stopped conducting tournaments in Bangalore. Yeah why? ABLE CUP players got a lot of experience and many have donned colours for their schools, clubs, state or even national.

SO AN ABLE CUP FOR TUMKUR DISTT. must begin.

TRAINING TUMKUR DISTRICT TEAM FOR DIVISIONAL COMPETITION

A call late in the evening - tomorrow we have district level matches - Please come. A journey of 65kms to TUMKUR is no big deal in the scorpio. Fully dressed up with a whistle I started the matches - to be abruptly interrupted by two `referees'. Accomodating them was a breeze. The primary girls team has been scrapped - why?

The final 12 players selected for divisional matches were the `best' available, of course, there were hardly any good passes or good outside shots. The average basket shooting was around 10 to 15% nothing to crow about. Defence was non-exsistent. The primary boys team [regularly being trained at SUMPOORNA] went on a demolition job - and the moves they did were a lesson for the seniors.

Biting more than I can chew is my specialisation and especially if it is basketball. I have called all the selected players at St Mary's, Gandhinagar, Tumkur at 7am for training. What will it achieve? So what - I must continue to hope, maybe one golden ray of light will shine through. The look on the face of one of the winning girls' team was - WHAT TRAINING YOU CAN GIVE - HAVEN'T WE WON OUR MATCH - ISN'T IT ENOUGH.

I hope I see her - she mirrored me, because I had the same attitude at her age. I keep seeing my own images in the children I train.

QUESTIONS FROM PARENTS REGARDING CAMPS

Hello - I am mother of ---- who is studying in IVth standard. Do you think he can attend this camp? Is it safe? This is the first time we are sending her - do you think our child can manage?
I have received enough calls - so I thought I would blog for any parent who may go on the net to see more details.

The camps are being conducted by us for the last three years. We have all facilities that children need for these camps - kitchen, sleeping place, toilet etc.etc. The day normally starts with juice/ragi ganji - followed by basketball sessions - breakfast - a light rest - basketball sessions - lunch - a long rest - basketball sessions - juice/fruit piece - supper - recreational sessions - sleep.
It is a hectic day and children very quickly get used to the time-table.

PHONES ARE A BIG PROBLEM - suddenly they are home-sick; we suggest no phones or at the very least phone only during 8pm - 9pm and talk very briefly. Best is to talk to the Co-ordinator and find out how your child is doing.

WHAT TO BRING - 3-4 sets of clothes, towel, comb etc. One thick bedsheet/blanket
Proper sports shoes-playing shorts & T shirts.

DONOT GIVE money, biscuits, chocolates, fruits etc. Give breakfast for first day which they can eat in addition to what we provide. NO WATCHES - GOLD CHAINS - VALUABLES. Girls should remove all ear-rings, nose studs etc. to avoid injuries.

Your child is taking a giant step in life - the quest for becoming a great sports person - encourage them and we will give them the right start.

SUBHASH MAHAJAN

BASKETBALL EDUCATION FOR SCHOOL STUDENTS IN DISTT.TUMKUR

INTRODUCTION : Indian sports is not able to produce world class players because the rural India does not have proper infrastructure or professional coaching. Having been a Basketball promoter for the last 25 years in Bangalore city - my project SUMPOORNA is to make Distt. Tumkur a `BASKETBALL DISTRICT' of India.

A survey indicated that the Distt. has no public basketball courts, other than the one in Tumkur City and this too has broken in many places. The courts at St. Mary's and SSIT cater to the needs of their own students. Not more than 20 people played the game of basketball and this too very irregularly.

THE GAME PLAN : The campus of SUMPOORNA with a state of the art RCC basketball court was inaugurated in January, 2005. About 100 children from Morarji Desai School, Siddarabetta were the first ones to get training here. This was complimented by providing Clay-court facilities at Govt. PU College, Koratagere - where more than 250 children actively got involved with Basketball. Regular week-end classes and occasionally SUMPOORNA campus camps were organized. Many college students also use these facilities. Koratagere has very good basketball teams in all age groups now. A CEMENT COURT IS BADLY NEEDED HERE!

Subsequently, a shooting board has been put up in Tiptur and Madhugiri where many children utilise it [however, lack of a coach is being felt - we keep searching for volunteers]. TPEO of Chikkanayankanhalli promised a clay-court and immediately we provided them with two shooting boards. We hear the clay-court is being actively used. Approximately 2000 children play the game of basketball in Distt. Tumkur now.

INFRASTRUCTURE: We have requests from other taluks also and we hope in the year 2008 the minimum basic requirement of one clay-court in every taluk would be in place. Requests to BEOs and TPEOs for providing at least `some funds' so that we can provide the balance amount are being regularly made. Training camps can be conducted at taluk headquarters, hobli centres and individual schools who show `interest'.

TRAINING : SUMPOORNA will recruit and train young sportsmen/women from local areas and depute them as TRAINEE BASKETBALL COACHES. After acquiring sufficient knowledge they could be employed by schools on part-time basis [if they are pursuing higher studies] or full time basis as SUMPOORNA BASKETBALL COACHES. The most promising players would be integrated into the SPORTS HOSTELS run by SPORTS AUTHORITY OF INDIA and at a future date play for the STATE or COUNTRY.

FUTURE: A grass -root sports revolution in one game can help other games too. We would be conducting various tournaments to sustain the interest in Basketball. A synergic relationship between school managements and SUMPOORNA has already worked wonders - Govt PU College, Koratagere; Morarji Desai School, Siddarabetta; St Mary's School, Bishop Sargent School, Tumkur; Govt High School, Nonavinkere; Govt. High School, Chikkanayakanahalli - are examples of what can be done.

CONCLUSION : Rural children have very good physical fitness and if they are given opportunity to play CITY GAMES they can definitely give the urbanites a run for their money. However, the crying need for infrastructure and `professional coaching' must be addressed. SUMPOORNA DEDICATES ITSELF FOR THESE AND INVITES PARTNERS IN THIS PROJECT.

SUBHASH MAHAJAN 080-99808 30145

PROJECT SUMPOORNA - PROMOTION OF BASKETBALL IN 2008

The Headmaster/Principal 15-3-2008

KIND ATTENTION : PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER

You are well aware that we have been promoting the game of Basketball for the last three years. We will be conducting various camps as detailed below and request you to become a proactive parter with us in this unique venture.

RESIDENTIAL SUMMER CAMPS at SUMPOORNA camps and fee of Rs. includes all charges and transportation charges. Each camp is for 5 days.

29-3-2008 to 2-4-2008 [GIRLS' CAMP]
5-4-2008 to 9-4-2008 [BOYS' CAMP]
12-4-2008 to 16-4-2008[BOYS' & GIRLS' COMBINED CAMP]
19-4-2008 to 23-4-2008[TRAINEE COACHES & SENIOR PLAYERS CAMP]

The camps will also be conducted on the following dates and registration is open:
26-4-2008 to 30-4-2008 12-5-2008 to 16-5-2008
19-5-2008 to 23-5-2008 26-5-2008 to 30-5-2008

Maximum intake is 40 students at a time. We invite bulk booking by school authorities in which case two adults may accompany the group at no extra cost.

SUMPOORNA provides full technical expertise and guidance to create your schools' basketball courts [at cost] and part time coaches during the full academic year. However, these residential camps provide very intensive coaching and gives the students a good headstart. PLEASE DONOT MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY AND MOTIVATE the students as also their parents to send them for these camps.

Most of the students trained in these camps have already become very good players and have participated in district and divisional level competitions. This game helps develop good health and makes the children courageous.

INDIA'S SPORTS DEVELOPMENT CANNOT TAKE PLACE UNLESS EACH AND EVERY CHILD IS GIVEN PROFRESSIONAL COACHING - PLEASE JOIN US IN THIS UNIQUE VENTURE - WE ASSURE YOU OF OUR BEST EFFORTS.

SUBHASH MAHAJAN 99808 30145

INVITING BASKETBALL TRAINEE COACHES

SUMPOORNA is spearheading a unique sports revolution in promoting Basketball learning among rural children of Distt. Tumkur for the last three years. We have been ably assisted by youth as `TRAINEE COACHES' during all our programmes.

TRAINEE COACHES are young persons having basic knowledge of Basketball who

a. Help us in training programmes for the beginners.
b. Improve their own game under the guidance of senior coaches.
c. Develop their personality through interaction with other people of their age.

Volunteers who wish to collaborate with us may kindly send their name, contact phone number and the date from which they are available. We intend to place some of our trainee coaches in schools nearby their place of residence from June 2008.

NOTE:

1. All expenses [boarding, loding and travelling] will be met by us.
2. An official track suit would be provided for those who complete the course.
3. Certificate would be issued.

SUBHASH MAHAJAN

BASKETBALL COURT FOR BISHOP SARGENT SCHOOL, TUMKUR - CEMENT COURT!

Mrs Thomas is enthusiastic - the children are excited - and I think I will totally freak out. Finally the RCC basketball court for 1500 students is going to be a reality. The tranquility of this school will now be galvanized into learning a `sport' in a professional manner.

AND THIS OPPORTUNITY that God has bestowed upon me is so profound that I donot have enough words.

SO BE IT! The children of Bishop Sargent School and the other school teams that would come here would be given a state of the art Basketball Court - the sound of the children playing shsssssh - GOD IS AT WORK!

GUDDALI POOJA FOR ANJANEYA TEMPLE AT SUMPOORNA

When I set out with my parents, wife and sister for SUMPOORNA on 16th Feb, 2008 - I had little inkling of what was to transpire. The idea of our trip was to stay for one night in the campus like a family and accept my parents' blessings for the battles ahead. We enjoyed the serenity of the campus and an `online' Pratibha gave us the best moment of this day by singing a song from 2500kms away. Each one of us sang - even Lakshmi! Full of joy we slumbered off to sleep.

The sun-rise is always special in Betta Shambhunahalli as it brings with it new hopes. I talked to the SUN - my request that today he has `risen' for me alone was atrocious - yet he walked with me when I walked among the silver oaks. Prem did an extended two hour exercising session on the terrace. The village children arrived and took the basketballs for playing. I don't understand why the youngest ones always take the `bigger' balls. Is it to prove that they are big! After playing, they were served breakfast - not before my father made them chant religious mantras which they did very enthusiastically.

As we started packing up, we had a small task of meeting the Poojari for the `date' for Guddali Pooja. The `surprise' came none too soon. We were told that a most auspicious time was today at 5pm. So we returned to SUMPOORNA, had our lunch and began the preparations. The Anjaneya's idol that had laid for more than two years was finally opened up and as I lifted it in my arms, I felt it to be heavy and then suddenly my muscles tensed and I felt a strange `joy'. The miracle had taken place. Anjaneya had decided to `come out' - the quest of SUMPOORNA can be a thousand times, nay a million times stronger now. The GOD OF CHILDREN, the GOD OF SPORTS, the GOD OF HEALTH - can bless all of us in the CHILDRENS' COUNTRY of SUMPOORNA.

Inspite of facing a `traffic jam' and reaching late at night, there was a smile on my lips. I had been given `as usual' more than I had asked. Now it is my turn to match it!

THE BEGINNING OF THE SPORTS REVOLUTION

When the journey had begun - there were many misgivings, there were many visions of failure; but now that more than TWO THOUSAND [more being added every day] children are actively playing BASKETBALL there is a clear focus ahead. Tournaments are the key to involvement - this was clearly seen on the last day of the camp; when children who had never learnt the game were seen wearing all types of coloured shirts and willing to play matches.

AND those who hadn't learnt the game were easily outclassed by those who knew the game. This then is the elixir we must use again and again. Conduct more and more tournaments, create `any type' of infrastructure - give them the knowledge of the basic skills and rules; the basketball revolution can begin in right earnest.

BUT CAN ONE MAHAJAN ALONE DO IT? CERTAINLY NOT. We need `players' in larger and larger numbers - volunteers - trainee coaches - sports loving people in power who can make a major difference - parents to encourage their children - school managements willing to invest in `joy' of children by putting up basketball infrastructure.

Roller skaters have taken over the Basketball court in Distt. Stadium, Tumkur. But then how many basketball players play on a regular basis. AND HOW MANY OF US RESPECT THIS MAN `MAHAJAN' WHO COMES FROM BANGALORE to create the basketball revolution. Working with adult basketball players who only wish to `play for themselves' have destroyed the game everywhere. Unless they contribute by encouraging other beginners the `sports revolution' cannot take place.

ALL PAST & PRESENT BASKETBALL PLAYERS - IF YOU TOO WANT TO PLAY TOURNAMENTS THEN PLEASE CONTACT US - BUT YOU MUST BE READY TO SERVE THE GAME THAT YOU LOVE.

Try these numbers 99808 30145 - 98860 20145.

ANJANEYA INSTALLATION IN SUMPOORNA

The deity that has waited for almost two years now - is to be finally installed in the next few days. Lord Anjaneya will inspire all the young children who come to play and learn Basketball.

BASKETBALL IN ST.MARY'S SCHOOL, TUMKUR

Just when I had thought that my camps are over for this financial year - the energetic PE teacher from St.Mary's Tumkur - came up with the idea of a 4 day camp in their campus. The timings 8am to 5pm. Children from IV to VI standards will learn basic skills and compete in a tournament at the end of the camp. Starting from 20th Jan [open invitation has been given to other young players for Sunday] the camp will last till 23rd Jan.

Having sent so many letters and made so many phone calls to various TPEOs of Distt. Tumkur, it is very disheartening to see that they are unable to arrange `basketball workshops' - it is expected to happen - still there is a heartbreak. So this camp makes me believe that I am on the right track. Seeing the Madhugiri basketball board dotted with stone marks - I shake my head, but maybe I am too responsible - trying to do too much.

The beginners in Bishop Sargent school are taking to basketball very enthusiastically and it is their enthuisasm that makes me go on and on and on ----.

SUMPOORNA '08 BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

Introduction : To create excellence in basketball among children and sustain their interest
in continuous learning of the game.

Eligibility : Children below 12/13/14 years belonging to schools of Distt. Tumkur only.

More details can be had by contacting 98860 20145 or 99808 30145.

BASKETBALL CAMP FOR BOYS IN SUMPOORNA

Twenty four boys [below 13years] set out to become better basketball players. There were 12 beginners [children who have never held a basketball in their hands] and I was wondering how will we get them integrated with others who knew basketball. But this was to last only on the first day. Except for two all of them quickly got into their strides.

But the real revealtion was to come on the evening of the second day - when I made teams for playing matches. THE PASSION GENERATED WAS BEYOND MY IMAGINATION! Suddenly, no more dribbling or shooting drills - it was SHOWTIME. Why do we all want to win - and in this quest - leapfrog into learning skills that sometimes take months to perfect. Third and fourth days were `hectic' schedules of matches and the endless search for getting right type of yellow, blue, red and green T shits - to match the team's colour.

The finals on the new year's morning was `no holds' battle for supermacy. Tears flowing down the cheeks of the `losers' - and a `larger than life' swaggering walk by the winners - both emotions were in abundance. A basket scored by `KAPPE' [Frog] got the loudest cheer.

As the majestic Garuda Betta and Siddarabetta looked on - a fierece urge began setting in. SUMPOORNA '08 must begin. One boy's father called up to say ` my son has returned from the camp as a `tough' one - thanks.