Sportsman bears the brunt of Govt apathy

BULDANA, May 28: The State Revenue Department and Collectorate here has chosen to ignore a talented sportsperson employee, Sanjay Mayure, w...

BULDANA, May 28: The State Revenue Department and Collectorate here has chosen to ignore a talented sportsperson employee, Sanjay Mayure, who works as a clerk with the department. The numerous trophies and medals that he has won has failed to impress his employers.

Leave aside giving him special increments or other facilities in recognition of his outstanding career in sports, the department does not even allow him to have a couple of hours’ practice session. Born in a poor family, Mayure, now 42, fought against all odds to pursue his career in sports. He worked on daily wages at various government offices and even on construction sites for earning money to purchase sports equipment. He simultaneously did his graduation. At times, he had to sell the prizes bagged by him to make both ends meet.

Mayure started his career in sports as an opening batsman in the university team and later joined a private firm at Aurangabad. He represented the firm’s athletics team in the State-level Kamgar Krida Spardha and set new records in 100 and 400-metre races.

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Later, he returned to his native town and was selected to the district cricket team for six consecutive years. He bagged the best batsman award in the Krishna Godbole trophy and Ranji selection matches at Vidarbha level. He represented the Amravati divisional cricket team in 1986 and ’87 in the State Revenue employees’ cricket tournaments.

Mayure received a special award from famous Indian cricketer Eknath Solkar which he has treasured till date.

Besides cricket, Mayure also excelled in cycling, swimming and mountaineering. He bagged several prizes in the district and national-level cycling competitions. The low-profile sportsman attributes success in cycling to the fact that he would traverse a distance of about 34 km, from Khamgaon to Hingna and back, on a bicycle while he was working in Hingna.

In spite of lacking financial backing and proper guidance, Mayure has proved his mettle in mountaineering. He climbed up to the base camp of Mount Everest. Unfortunately, he had to return without making it to the highest peak of the Himalayas due to ill-health. Mayure is now coaching sportspersons in the district. Recently, 10-year-old cyclist Shreyas Parulkar, one of his disciples, found his way into the Limca Book of Records.

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However, the revenue department is least concerned of all the feats this talented employee has pulled off.