Double Delight For Bhoyars
| Date :13-May-2020 |
Sai (L) and Satyam.
By Paritosh Pramanik :
IT WAS for his son Satyam’s fitness in the rainy season that Advocate Rajesh Bhoyar admitted his kids (daughter Sai) at a tennis coaching centre. That fitness class would be only for three months, Adv Bhoyar had decided. At the end of three months, Satyam, had to reluctantly leave tennis, despite “knocking” the tennis ball well, while Sai continued with the sport, in which she had generated interest immediately. Those three months made Sai an acclaimed tennis prodigy of the city.
Adv Rajesh Bhoyar (L) Sai (2L), mother Vandana (2R) and Satyam.
The story of Sai from there on is only of rising. For Satyam, elder among the two, cricket took the front seat. Sai Bhoyar, who will be 16 by next month, has knocked down many a title in her short tennis career all over the country. And she yearns for more. Adv Rajesh and his wife Vandana never thought that both of their kids would shine in sports. “I had always dreamt Satyam playing cricket at highest level. When Sai showed her interest and progress in tennis, it was like ‘Andhala mangto ek dola, dev deto don’ for me,” Bhoyar confessed while talking with ‘The Hitavada.’ Former cricketer Rajesh, a lawyer by profession, spotted talent in Sai when she was only nine years old.
“I noticed natural sporting talent in Sai when she was nine. As a kid, Sai was very active. Sai and Satyam would always be either playing or fighting. She always loved challenging her elder brother and was never scared of his superiority,” recalled Adv Bhoyar. For the records, Sai has won bagful of medals with the recent one in Khelo India silver medal for Maharashtra. She is ranked second in Maharashtra Tennis Rankings and has also won gold medal in CBSE School South Zone Championship, Bengaluru, 2019-20. Road to Wimbledon (competition), winning Asian U-14 doubles, winning silver medals in School Nationals and winning silver and bronze medals in Khelo India Youth Games were some of the moments which has made Bhoyars proud. Sai’s career was in jeopardy in 2019 and she was on the verge of missing the Khelo India Youth Games. But an accurate treatment and her willpower brought her back on the tennis court. Narrating that horrifying period, Rajesh, who runs Arkaya Law Firm said, “In September 2019 Sai was diagnosed with Vertigo. It was impossible for her to play on court. Finasta Nationals and other important tournaments were scheduled in same period. She lost many important ranking points and her chances of qualifying for Khelo India Youth Games 2020 were fading away.
We took her to Dr Sangram Wagh whose perfect analysis and treatment helped her return back on the court within a month. Sai’s will power and determination paid off in winning silver medals in CBSE School Nationals and SGFI School Nationals which gave her ticket for Khelo India Youth Games. Ultimately, she won her second medal for Maharashtra in as many years.” It was not easy for Bhoyars to manage the sporting journey of both the kids. But thus far they are doing well. “Having played cricket, and done BCCI’s cricket coaching course, it is always easy for me to guide Satyam. With Sai, we discuss and analyse her game and match and try to correct her mistakes,” said the father. Adv Bhoyar has never forced any target on his kids. He only wants them to do well and enjoy the game.
“I have asked them to focus on process than results. If the process is proper and efforts are honest then temporary results are not that significant. They have understood this very well. They are not playing their games for one match or one tournament or for a year, but it’s a long journey,” Bhoyar elaborated. Sai’s entry into sports was accidental. It was her elder brother who was more inclined towards cricket and his fitness in rainy season took both of them to tennis courts. “Satyam started with Mujumdar Cricket Academy from age of five. In 2013, he was shifted to Ruby Club. During rainy season, club started playing football to keep the players fit. Considering his tender age and chances of getting injured, I decided to send him to tennis court for three months. I registered both Sai and Satyam at Ramnagar Tennis courts. Within three months both of them developed their skills. After three months Satyam reluctantly withdrew from tennis for cricket and Sai continued her journey,” recalled Bhoyar who has played for VCA, Central Zone and Inter-University cricket for Nagpur University.
Bhoyars are always ready to support both their kids. “We ensure that Sai is not short of any facility, equipment. We have given her full freedom to prefer her tennis over studies. Though financially it is tough, we have so far done everything required in her tennis career.” With very less opportunities in city, Rajesh is planning to move Sai out of the city. “The major difficulty is lack of quality infrastructure required for training in the city. Time has come for Sai to move out for training and also for playing ITF tournaments. But this requires sponsorship,” he said. Sai, though a tennis player, is not devotedly attached with the sport on TV. Rather she loves watching cricket.
“She rarely watches tennis on TV. Only Serena (Williams) or (Rafael) Nadal match she would watch fully. But she loves watching cricket. She is a big fan of Mumbai Indians, Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit (Shama),” informed Adv Bhoyar. Satyam, too, is not far behind. He has represented Vidarbha in U-14, 16 BCCI tournaments and Maharashtra in U-19 School Nationals. He was the best batsman of VCA U-13 and U-19 meets in 2015 and 2019, respectively. “I am proud of Satyam. He is doing well in his sport, knocking the door constantly. I am sure he will also make a name for himself,” concluded Adv Bhoyar.