Lack of sponsors disappoints city Muaythai players
Dear all,
The news item below appeared in the Indian Express yesterday. It not
only highlights the neglect that sportsmen other than cricketeers
suffer from, but also their strong spirit and passion they nurture
for the sport.
Inspite of getting selected for the event, four players from the
city would not be able to make it there.
I wish somebody could help them.
Regards,
aarti
Email – aartishr@gmail.com
Lack of sponsors disappoints city Muaythai players
By IE
Thursday February 22, 05:03 AM
Four out of five selected players will miss the World Muaythai
Festival to be held in Thailand in March
The King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej will turn 80 this year on
December 5 and his kingdom has already flagged off year-long
celebrations with each month dedicated to various themes like
sports, arts and culture.
The first week of March will see people assembling at the Nimibut
Stadium to host the World Muaythai Festival. To participate in the
event, five Muaythai (lethal and advanced level of kickboxing)
practitioners from Mumbai have been invited, out of which, four will
not be participate due to lack of sponsorship.
The five practitioners-Bhupesh Kamble, Rupesh More, Irfan Khan,
Rehman Shaikh and Balakrishna Shetty-were selected by the Indian
Muaythai delegation to be sent to Thailand for the World Muaythai
Championship. But, only Balakrishna could confirm his participation
in the event.
Danish Shetty, president of the Maharashtra Muaythai Federation who
will accompany Balakrishna to Thailand said, “It is unfortunate that
the others could not make it. Balakrishna collected funds from his
friends and family and added his own savings to make it to the
event.”
Shetty, though optimistic about the sport, says, “Next year, the
government is expected to extend its support to this extreme style
of martial arts as it has been gaining popularity in India as well.”
Bhupesh Kamble (24), a medal holder in the Asian Championship last
year, is disappointed that there is no funds in place to spnsor
them, considering he is a national level sportsman.
Another fighter Irfan Khan (24), also a personal trainer, feels that
the brutal art which is part of the Thailand military combat will
take time to shed its “blood sport” image in India. He feels that
once it goes through the image makeover, sponsorships will be easier
to get.
“It is a fine art where a player is allowed to use elbows and knee
for defense, unlike any other sport. It requires intense exercise
and concentration and superb agility. I am going to ensure that the
financial constraints do not stop me from participating in the 2008
championship, for which I have already started saving,” added Khan