Basking on court

It is among the ‘babies’ of the baugs — both in terms of area and age. The five-building A. H. Wadia Baug at Parel, inaugurated in 1965, organized its first 3 x 3 All Parsis Basketball Floodlit Tournament in May this year. And taking the initiative in its organization was young Baug resident and 12th standard student Rustom Antalia, who also represents his college — H. R. College of Commerce — in basketball.

"Basketball is a fast game, one really never stops running! It tests your presence of mind and your reflexes,” he declares. "We organized the tournament in summer, a task made more difficult since many people are away. It was very exciting, but a lot of hard work too,” says his mother Gulcher, herself at one time a national level basketball player. "We have a medium sized court, fair enough for a 3 x 3 tournament,” she explains. Floodlights were taken on hire, the court spruced up, the net cast wide to obtain 18 entries for men and five for women.

The A. H. Wadia Baug Welfare Centre (AHWBWC) helped out as much as it could. "We function from a small apartment in one of the buildings and so are very restricted for space,” asserts the Centre’s president Homi Maloo. "Till a couple of years ago, few people even knew where Wadia Baug was (with regard to sports events),” laughs Gulcher. "Other teams have been around much longer. We are overcoming teething troubles and should soon be a force to reckon with.”

From left (above): Navaz Sahuna, Dinshaw Tamboly, Porus Turner, Bachi Tamboly and Maloo; Wadia Baug women and men’s teams

The rotating trophy was lifted by the Poona Dunkers. The lanky lads showed their skill and experience with lofty passes and artful rebound converts. Their opponents in the final, the Wadia Baug team, hung in gamely, displaying an adventurous spirit to provide a thrilling match. The Poona team was represented by Farhad Irani, Zyrus Irani, Abaad Irani, Rayumand Irani (who also plays in his age group at the national level) and Zareer Patel. The host team comprised Cyrus Mody, Scher­zade Sha­huna, Arzan Patel, Aashtaad Kolah and Rustom Antalia.

In the women’s tournament, the Wadia Baug team of Zeenia Antalia, Farhana Saklot, Anahita Moti-wala, Shahnaz Bulsara and Mo-naz Amaria overcame the challenge of the Nowroz Baug girls in a sporting encounter.

While Wadia Baug teams have recently taken part in annual rink football, football and cricket tournaments organized elsewhere, the Welfare Centre also holds inhouse volleyball, throwball, table tennis and carrom matches. Fostering camaraderie and talent are singing, drawing, rangoli, elocution and cooking competitions, states a resumé of Baug activities. Drawing and yoga classes and a weekly workshop on "Knowing your religion,” conducted by Shirin Karanjia for children, are some of the Centre’s other activities. Prizes for academic excellence are also given annually.