Monalisa Patsani
post news network
Bhubaneswar, June 1: Hands that should have held a quanco on the rugby field, hold tender coconuts today. It is as if every day 29-year-old Sridhar Mahalik is chopping his dreams of leading the nation to rugby glory into heaps of cracked coconut.
A national level rugby player who has represented the state in various state- and national-level rugby games, Sridhar is selling tender coconuts near Master Canteen for a living today.
He is optimistic, though, that one day people will recognise him for the game he loves the most.
Sridhar says he was initiated to rugby after a chance encounter with a coach at the gym he used to attend. “I used to be a bodybuilder and would visit a gym regularly. I met coach Surender Sir there and he asked me to join his team. I started training in rugby under him. From 2007 I started playing rugby and have played in many state- and national-level matches.
“I played national-level games in Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata. I also wanted to participate in international games but did not have the money to bear the expenses.”
Sridhar was injured in 2014 and had to retire from the rugby field as a player. He has since been training rugby players. “I sustained a knee injury and had to quit playing matches. I now train the girls’ rugby team of Orissa,” he said.
Sridhar also coaches the girls’ rugby team in Chhattisgarh. “I am glad they recognised me as a sportsman and trusted my abilities. They give me their complete support. I visit Chhattisgarh and train the team before each match,” he said.
Sridhar now dreams of being a fulltime coach and has attended the BPhEd examination for the purpose. “I have realised that qualifications are important to become a coach. People won’t see your calibre as a sportsman but rely on academic qualifications. Recently I wrote BPhEd examinations that are essential to be a coach. I also plan to do NIS certificate course from Patiala,” he said.
At the national games 2015, held in Kerala, Sridhar was the manager of the rugby team from Orissa. He is mildly discouraged by the lack of recognition from Orissa. “After contributing so much to sport even players such as Dutee Chand have been given a government job only now. So we can imagine the fate of players like me, whom barely anyone knows. We Indians give much importance to cricket, football and now to hockey, but there are many other games in which players are doing quite well. Unfortunately neither the media nor the government gives importance players of other sport.”
Sridhar, who is yet to receive even a sportsman identity card, says he had to start the tender coconuts business as he couldn’t land any other job.
This native of Bhadarak sells coconuts during the day and nurtures hope that things will look up in future. “I come from a family of farmers but rugby is my life. I want my name to be associated only with rugby. My dream is to make a rugby team of international repute and to help the country register its presence at the international level.”
