Roll ball creator aims for Olympic dream

Vikas Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 7

For Raju Raghunath Dabhade of Pune, who used to deliver newspapers on skates and later invented roll ball game in 2003, securing an entry into the prestigious Olympic Games is the ultimate aim.

Dabhade, general secretary of the International Roll Ball Federation, is in the city in connection with the ongoing Inter-Varsity Roll Ball Championship being organised by the University of Jammu.

Talking about his journey and future plans, he said, “I was posted as a sports teacher at MES Balshikshan Mandir English Medium School, Kothrud, Pune, when it all started. The game was launched in February 2003 and we started the process of making state associations across the country. The next year, roll ball received international recognition,” he said.

“I am determined to bring the game to the Olympic Games and in this context, we had two meetings with the International Olympic Council at its headquarters in Zurich (Switzerland). Hopefully by the 2024 Olympics, roll ball will find its way to the most coveted sports event in the world,” he opined.