Helped by villagers, Balu wins Maha Kumar Wrestling Bronze

Nashik: Balu Bodke is hardly at home since Monday last, the day when he won bronze medal at Maharashtra Kumar Kesri wrestling championship held at Pune. What makes his win a special one is not the title, but the fact that his victory was carved by his spirited performance for first time on the mat and that his efforts were powered by the villagers and every person he knows.
Resident of Velunje village near Bhavli, Trimbakeshwar taluka, Balu Bodke is being sought in the sports circles and villages in taluka for cheering and honouring him for his achievement. Bodke invincible in his area while playing in the soil first hit an obstacle when playing the division level competition last year when in Class X.
"I failed in the competition then. I was then supported by Sham Borse, the sports teacher in my school - Ashramshala at Velunje, who took me for practice on mat," Balu Bodke, who scored bronze medal in his maiden state-level competition for below 63 kg category, said.
For Balu, achieving the success was as difficult as easily it is spelt. "My father is a driver on a personal vehicle. We have an acre of land that only yields in rainy season only. It was very difficult and I believed that my fights would now be limited only to jatra when such fights (wrestling) are hosted," Balu said.
For Balu, the villagers coming to fore for the contribution for his practice and others was a major help. The father (family) sold the only pair of bullock they had to ensure that some money was at disposal to ensure that the needs of Balu and the family were met.
"There were family and friends as well who contributed for my practice. All the time I was at the mat, the faces of the family and friends who supported me reminded me of my aim. It was tough on the mat as I had less practice. But I achieved it. This is the beginning," Balu, now the student of Class XI Arts faculty, Nutan Vidyalay, Trimbakeshwar, said humbly.
Sham Borse, was instrumental said his hard efforts were rewarded in the form of the title. "Nashik Education Society also felicitated him on the occasion. We are now thinking of the way he should be taken future lessons in the discipline," Borse said.
The help has already started pouring in for Balu, who wishes to go to Pune for the further lessons in wrestling. "I think I can contribute by a small sum for Balu at this point of time," Milind Chavan, who presented a sum to Balu, said.
Borse further added that he would take up the issue with the district sports office as well to find out if there was some solution for Balu - so that he could be trained in the one to the taleem's in Pune for a period of 1.5 years.
"The rigorous training is also costly. The family members have nothing in their pocket now. Let's see what we can do for it," Borse said.