Despite poor training conditions, Shahkot govt school students shine in kho kho tourney

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 26

“Mera Munda Sanu baahar kadega saariya dikatta cho (My son will end our sufferings). We suffered a lot during the floods. The house’s walls still have cracks. However, my son, who has recently gotten a position in the games, will play hard and become a big sportsperson to turn our fate,” says Jaspreet Kaur, mother of 12-year-old Joban. She, along with her husband, work as farm labourers in Mundi Kasu village.

Mundi Kasu of Lohian Block, Shahkot subdivision of the district, is a nondescript village. Mostly, the village remains in the headlines as the ‘worst affected village’ during the floods. This time, the village’s children, who belong to financially humble families, have brought the limelight to the village for good. The students studying at the Government High School Mundi Kasu and budding players were shining bright in the kho kho in the U14 and U17 zonal-level tournament, which was held in Shahkot recently.

Interestingly, the students practiced kho kho on the road outside the school and in the vacant space nearby, which is far from ideal. There is overgrown vegetation, water accumulation in spaces, stones, soil everywhere, and no levelling, which makes it difficult for the players.

A total of eight teams participated in the zonal-level tournament, and the position-holding teams have qualified for the district-level championship. While the U14 team got the 3rd position, the U17 team stood 2nd.

13-year-old Jashan’s mother, Veera Bai, said her husband worked as a farm labourer in the village. “We have less than an acre of land that got destroyed during the floods. Jashan’s teacher is very helpful, and she urges us to motivate Jashan to play. Jashan has developed a love for sports, and we pray that he becomes a successful player and leads a peaceful and non-problematic life,” an emotional Veera said.

The school in charge and physical education teacher, Heena Kumari, said that in the absence of a proper playground, it was difficult for the students to practice. “However, we managed to do well, and I always ensured their safety first and would not let them play without shoes,” she said.

The teacher also knows that it is difficult for the parents of the students to give them a them a proper diet. “These are growing players, and they need a proper diet. So, I give fruits to them and other things so that they never go low on energy,” she said.