Several Gurgaon RWAs are leaving no stone unturned to promote budding sportspersons from the city.
Sector 45 RWA, one of the resident bodies to pioneer the trend, has facilities for cricket, football, volleyball, basketball and even carrom and archery. In addition to that, they have also developed a 500-yard jogging track in its premises.
The Sector has produced sportspersons such as Priyanka Thakran and Anu Thakran, who after practicing archery from the Sector's in-house archery range, are now participating in national-level tournaments. Anu Thakran even represented the country at an event in South Korea. Both have won gold medals in national-level competitions. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has also announced prize money worth a lakh for both girls.
Taking a cue from Sector 45, many other RWAs have been following suit. RWA of Sector 15 Part 1 and 2 has constructed a lawn tennis court, Sector 46 RWA has constructed a cricket pitch on an empty plot, Sector 4 RWA regularly organises tournaments for kids, women and senior citizens. Ardee city has also appointed a private company to train its junior residents.
"We have utilised vacant plots in the Sector to develop the facilities," said Surendra Kaushik, general-secretary of Sector 45 RWA. "We have also received ample support from the government to develop the various facilities. I am really proud of our achievements. We struggled initially, but we are reaping the benefits now, with kids from our Sector excelling in sports."
Kapil Kaushik, an archery coach, has praised the RWA’s efforts.“The Sector 45 RWA has done a commendable job. It is solely the RWA's efforts that has been producing so many quality athletes. My students Priyanka and Anu carved a niche for themselves in archery. Besides them, Rishabh Parashar, Harsha Yadav and Deeksha Chillar are some other upcoming archers who are promising. At present, there are more than 20 students learning archery.”
Aditya Banerjee, a resident of Doordarshan Apartments in Sector 45, is happy with the RWA's efforts. “My son is a regular at cricket coaching," said Banerjee. "I hope he plays for the country someday. I want him to bat like Sourav Ganguly.”
