Mandi Ahmedgarh, June 24
Pathetic role of the state Sports Department has left in lurch proud parents of Har Inder Singh (10) and Roop Inder Singh (8) of Kilian Wali village in Ferozepore district, who emerged as the best known youngest runners of Punjab by finishing 70 km cross country run in 5.75 hours a fortnight ago. The parents were in a fix as to whom they should contact to promote aptitude of the two further.
Meanwhile Baba Amar Singh, a disciple of Baba Isher Singh and organiser of Nanaksar Thath Isher Darbar, has sponsored the education and training of the two, popularly known as Budhias of Punjab. Mr Kartar Singh, Principal Anand Isher Senior secondary School Chhapar announced the sponsorship here on behalf of the Darbar. He presented Rs 15,000 as token money initially.
Malkiat Kaur, a former sarpanch of Kalianwali village and Balkar Singh, grandmother and father of Har Inder Singh and Roop Inder Singh, accused the sports authorities of showing indifferent attitude towards the promotion of talent of the two children. ‘‘Residents of our village led by sarpanch flagged off the two at the village gurdwara at 5 am and the boys were received by a group led by Anoop Singh a BJP leader," said Balkar Singh.
Balkar Singh, a Dalit labourer, said the venture generated out of routine morning walk. ‘‘It was only a year ago that we stretched our morning walk towards Abohar city and then to Danewal village. This encouraged the boys who asked me to accompany them on bicycle everyday,’’ said Balkar claiming that the brothers had earlier completed a distance of 42 km in 3 hours and 23 minutes.
Malkiat Kaur claimed that the boys had inherited traits for rigor from his father. ‘‘Even Balkar had a potential for sport but we could not nurture his needs, obviously due to poverty. He had elevated a 124 kg load up to 70 stairs at the age of 20,’’ she claimed. Acknowledging gesture shown by the organisation Malkiat Kaur and Balkar Singh claimed that it was the first institute that had shown concern about the future of children.
