7 months ago
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Director Mari Selvaraj’s caller movie Bison Kaalamaadan vividly brings to beingness the inspiring travel of seasoned kabaddi subordinate Manathi Ganesan, 1 of the 2 kabaddi players to person received the Arjuna Award.
In the film, the assured skipper of the Indian squad assures sports officials that India would surely decision Pakistan. In existent life, that skipper was S. Rajarathinam, the archetypal kabaddi subordinate from Tamil Nadu to person the Arjuna Award. A autochthonal of Ganapathipuram successful Kanniyakumari district, helium led the Indian squad that clinched the golden medal by defeating Pakistan successful a rematch astatine the 1994 Asian Games held successful Hiroshima successful Japan.
Though narrated done the experiences of Manathi Ganesan, 1 of the members of the winning Indian team, the movie besides captures the fiery tone and dedication of Mr. Rajarathinam.
Ganapathipuram is simply a hub for kabaddi successful the district, and Mr. Rajarathinam has been passionate astir the athletics since his schoolhouse days astatine the A.V.D Higher Secondary School.
“My involvement successful kabaddi developed aft watching my brothers and different players from my village, arsenic it has produced galore kabaddi players who secured authorities jobs done their achievements successful the 1980s,” helium recalled.
Though Mr. Rajarathinam ever pursued kabaddi with determination, initially, similar galore different players, helium saw the athletics arsenic a springboard to a authorities job. His efforts paid disconnected erstwhile helium joined the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) squad astatine the property of 18. This was followed by a occupation astatine the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) successful 1984. “I played successful the nationals, representing the Tamil Nadu kabaddi squad arsenic its skipper from 1980-84, and aboriginal represented the Indian Railways kabaddi squad from 1984-93,” helium said.
The turning point
He said the turning constituent successful his beingness came erstwhile the Indian squad won its archetypal golden medal successful kabaddi astatine the 1990 Asian Games held successful Beijing, China.
Speaking astir the 1994 Asian Games, Mr. Rajarathinam said determination were 3 Tamil players connected the squad including him. The others were Ganesan and Baskaran from Thoothukudi and Thanjavur districts respectively. Mr. Rajarathinam said the arguments betwixt sports authorities and players, arsenic depicted successful the film, were real. “As I had religion successful my teammates and was assured that we would win, I agreed to a rematch with Pakistan,” helium said.
Discussing the existent authorities of kabaddi, Mr. Rajarathinam emphasised that the authorities should follow a much divers attack to processing each sports successful the State, ensuring occupation opportunities for deserving athletes, including kabaddi players. He observed that portion Tamil Nadu erstwhile had galore bully kabaddi players, players from Haryana present had the borderline successful some nationalist and league-level competitions.
“Other than trophies and medals, monetary benefits are crucial. They motivate a subordinate from a marginalised inheritance to prosecute his passion,” helium said. Mr. Rajarathinam urged the Tamil Nadu authorities to revive and fortify the sports quota strategy successful the State for employment.
“Many players similar me, who reached large heights successful kabaddi, archetypal took up the athletics to unafraid a authorities job. Once that instauration is laid, the remainder people follows,” helium added.
