Teens get help for dream run

Young athletes from notorious areas of Bharuch have got a helping hand as a local trust has adopted two of them having potential to shine in long-distance running.

Young athletes from notorious areas of Bharuch have got a helping hand as a local trust has adopted two of them having potential to shine in long-distance running. Trust-run Narayan Vidyavihar School has decided to bear the entire training expense of Vaishnavi Waghela (14) and Rahul Kahar (13).

Vitthal Shinde,coach of the duo,told The Indian Express: There cannot be anything more joyful for me than seeing the children going on the right track. The trust has not just adopted them,but also given a new lease of life to the athletics in the state. Such steps would certainly revive the hopes of athletes that there are still some people who can take care of them.

The development comes close on the heels of a report published by this paper about these young athletes belonging to Dubai Tekra and Lotwad Tekra,two of the most notorious areas of Bharuch town.

Narayan Vidyavihar School Principal Mahesh Thakar said: After reading the news story highlighting the plight the children,we decided to approach them. There are 56 children in our school and 18 of them are adopted by us. We would take care of all their requirements.

He added: Women teachers at the school act like their mothers and ensure that they remain fit both physically and mentally. We are proud to have Vaishnavi and Rahul with us. It is a small step taken by us to ensure that the children shine in future.

The coaching efforts of Shinde,who is a small-time construction contractor,and Rajesh Kahar,a taxi driver,have paid off as Vaishnavi is now state number one in 21-km open category with her best timing of 1 hour,56 minutes. Rahul is in the top-10 in the 42-km open category.

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