Nagpur sports meet

"When everyone first makes a beeline for the snacks counter and asks ‘aajé soo chhè (what’s on the menu today)?’ you know you are at a Parsi sports event,” wrote Khurshid Dalal, editor of bawabuzz, the newsletter of the Nagpur Parsi Gymkhana (NPG), sending Parsiana a brief write-up on the annual Dadi Balsara Indoor Sports Tournament at The Billimoria Brothers Parsi Dharamshala from September 9 to 24, 2017. "It has over the years become a much awaited two weeks of keenly fought out championships which bring the community together. All age groups gather every evening and are seen sweating it out playing individual games like badminton, table tennis, carrom, draft, chess, arm wrestling, archery, darts, scrabble and team events like throwball, volleyball and kabaddi.

At the indoor sports tournament in Nagpur: archery event for men (left) and arm wrestling for girls in progress

The event was inaugurated by the vice president of the Nagpur Parsi Punchayet, Navroze Daver. Ervad Percy Panthaky led the gathering in a humbandagi before the games commenced. "Though this year participation was a little low, the participants made up in enthusiasm what they lacked in numbers,” observed Dalal. There were a total of 57 participants with the eldest Shapur Karbhari aged 67 years and the youngest Zarah Doongaji aged four-and-a-half years. The meet under the auspices of the NPG was organized by Cyrus Major, Kaizad Taraporewalla and Farah Taraporewalla with help from Gulrukh Mehta and Dalal.
Zaran Kapadia and Taronish Rana were declared the Most Promising Youngsters of the Tournament. Kapadia, who was the winner in the juniors table tennis event, also lifted the Late Bapaimai J. Dastoor Shield for Juniors. Rana won the juniors carrom event and was a member of the team that won the men’s kabaddi event.
The Late Banu D. Bapuna Shield for Ladies was shared by Vahbiz Doongaji and Samanrukh Hansotia. Vahbiz emerged winner in the ladies single and doubles badminton and single table tennis events as also archery while Hansotia stood first in the ladies drafts and chess events and was on the winning kabaddi team. Both of them were also members of the winning throwball team.
The Late Rustomji F. Bala Shield for Seniors was shared by Danush Doongaji and Rashid Karbhari. While Danush won the seniors carrom and arm wrestling among men (91 kg and above) and was on the winning volleyball team, Rashid was the winner of the seniors single and mixed table tennis events.