There were many moments of glory for the people of India, both domestic and from overseas, in the recently concluded World Masters Games 2017.
Man Kaur wins millions of heart worldwide
Expectedly, any recollection of feats of Indian descent players would be incomplete without a glorifying reference of 101-year old runner from Punjab, Man Kaur, who had become a darling of Aucklanders over the period of games.
Ms Kaur had not only dazzled everyone in the field but also inspired people outside the field with demonstration of her age-defying grit and determination. By achieving double gold medals at 100m and 200m at a global sporting event, Ms Kaur now joined the league headed by Usain Bolt. Apart from sprint races she also participated in games like 400g javelin throw and shot-put. With four Gold medals at WMG 2017, Ms Kaur has achieved a total of 20 Gold medals since her first haul eight years back.
Bronze in Volleyball
The Indian volleyball team Indian-Islander competing in the 40+ age category at the World Master Games have secured the bronze medal for India on Tuesday, April 25 at the Trust Arena in Henderson.
In the Indoors Volleyball 40+ men's category match for the bronze medal, India-Islander made a clean sweep against Proserve Masters SA in a three set game. India-Islander scored 25 points in each set with Proserve Masters scoring 8, 10 and 22 points respectively.
India-Islander Master Volleyball team 40+ was defeated at the hands of ANZOV 40+ in the semi-finals by a margin of 2:1. The Indian-Islander team scored 16 points against ANZOV’s 25 in set 1, in set 2 the team made a comeback with 25 against the opponent’s 21 and in the final set scored only 8 points giving ANZOV a decisive victory with 15 points.
India-Islander secured its position in the semi-finals on Monday, April 24 by defeating Jackie Chan 40+ by 2:1 in the quarter-final match. The team’s score against Jackie Chan in set 1 was 27:25, 21:25 in set 2 and then had a narrow win with 15:13 points in set 3.
India-Islander topped in Pool B matches winning five of the six matches. ANZOV 40+ took the gold medal by defeating Sparta Masters 40+ in the final match with 3:0 on Tuesday, April 25.
Bronze and Silver Medals for Kiwi-Indian Badminton player
Kiwi-Indian Badminton player Bobby Sapra from Auckland won bronze and a silver medal in Badminton matches 35+ age category. Bobby has previously played for national games in India before moving to New Zealand.
A series of games were played between April 22 and April 30 in which Bobby qualified for the bronze medal match in the singles and played the finals in the doubles match.
On Friday, April 28, Bobby played the match for the bronze medal against Waikato player Corrie Robinson at Gillies Avenue Badminton Hall in Mt Eden, Auckland. Bobby’s final score was 21-14 and 27-25 that gave him his first WMG 2017 bronze medal.
Bobby partnered with Canadian badminton player Jacep for the doubles and completed his playoffs cementing his position for the finals against NZ players Larry Narida and Kanwal. Bobby and Jacep lost in the finals held on Sunday, April 30 with final scores 21-12 and 27-29. Bobby and Jacep were awarded the silver medals.
Picture: Player Bobby Sapra won Bronze in Singles and Silver in Doubles Badminton at WMG 2017
“It was a proud moment for me; I started practising since I heard of the WMG being held in New Zealand,” Bobby Sapra said.
“It was my first-time participation at the World Master Games, and I am happy to have won the bronze and silver medals,” he added.
The World Masters Games is international multi-sport event and it witnessed the participation of approximately 25,000 sportsmen and women from all over the world from the age 25-years to 100 and plus to compete in the 28 sporting events. Each team or individual represented themselves and not a country. The 10-day event concluded on Sunday, April 30 with the closing ceremony at Entertainment Hub on Queens Wharf.
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