NAGPUR

People in Nagpur love to play both old and new games. The old games include "Changaashta" and "Lagori," which many people still play in their neighborhoods. Kabaddi and Kho-Kho were very popular in the 1990s and are still played today. In the Mahal area of Nagpur, two old teams called Maratha Lancers and Subhash Mandal keep these traditional games alive. The Subhash Mandal has a special group called Vidyarthi Mandal that teaches these games to young people.

The city has many places where people can learn and play cricket, including the Ambedkar Institute, NCA club, and Reshimbag Gymkhana. The Reshimbag Gymkhana has been teaching cricket for 50 years. About 45 local teams play under the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA), which runs many tournaments including the famous Rahim Trophy.

Athletics has been important in Nagpur since the 1980s. The city recently hosted a big inter-district state meet in June 2024. Coach S J Anthony has been teaching athletics at Reshimbag ground for 45 years. His students have done very well, including Rohini Raut who won gold and Mohini Raut who won silver at the 2007 Junior Asian Cross-Country Race in Amman, Jordan.

Boxing training happens at Reshimbag ground every morning at 6:00 am. Two boxers from Nagpur have become especially famous: Alphia Pathan, who won a world championship and competed nationally, and Shailendra Kamble, who is well-known in boxing circles.

Rohit Sharma, born in Nagpur, currently serves as the captain of the Indian cricket team. Throughout his career, he has established several records in international cricket, including achieving the highest number of runs in T20 Internationals and scoring the most double centuries in ODI cricket. His career progression has taken him from Nagpur to the highest position in Indian cricket leadership.

Umesh Yadav, a fast bowler from Nagpur, began his international cricket career in 2010. He represents India in international cricket across all formats of the game. His cricket career spans participation in the Indian national team, various IPL teams, and the Vidarbha cricket team in domestic competitions.

Faiz Fazal and Jitesh Sharma represent Vidarbha in domestic cricket competitions. Their cricket careers encompass participation in Ranji Trophy matches and various domestic tournaments. Both players maintain active roles in regional cricket competitions and contribute to Vidarbha's cricket program.

Nagpur has produced several Indian Premier League players. Atharva Tayade currently plays for Kings XI Punjab, while Yash Thakur competes as a member of Lucknow SuperGiants. Darshan Nalkande represents Gujarat Titans in the tournament. These players participate in India's premier professional cricket competition.

The Raut sisters have achieved significant success in international athletics. Rohini Raut secured a gold medal at the 2007 Junior Asian Cross-Country Race in Amman, Jordan, while her sister Mohini Raut earned a silver medal at the same event. Their relative, Kavita Raut, has accumulated multiple international medals, including a silver in the 10,000 meters at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and a bronze at the 2010 Asian Games.

Recent athletic achievements from Nagpur include Mitali Bhoyar's consecutive gold medals at the West Zone junior athletics meet. In the same competition, Bhuwneshwari Masram won the U-20 women's 400-metre hurdle race, while Prajwal Dhanre secured victory in the U-20 men's 400-metre hurdle competition.

Divya Deshmukh has established herself in competitive chess by winning the U-10 World Youth Chess Championship. Her career includes multiple national chess titles and participation in international chess competitions.

In boxing, Alphia Pathan holds a world championship title and has participated in national competitions twice. Shailendra Kamble competes at the national level in boxing competitions.

Sharad Kumar represents Nagpur in para-athletics, specializing in high jump. His achievements include a gold medal at the 2014 Asian Para Games and a silver medal at the 2018 Asian Para Games.

In badminton, Sameer Verma has won the Syed Modi International Badminton Championships and regularly participates in international tournaments.

The Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium stands as one of the premier sports facilities in Nagpur. The stadium serves as the primary venue for major cricket matches and hosts various large-scale sporting events. It functions as the home ground for the Vidarbha cricket team and has hosted numerous international cricket matches, demonstrating the city's capability to organize high-level sporting events.

Reshimbag Ground holds historical significance as one of Nagpur's oldest sporting venues. The ground maintains a comprehensive daily schedule of various sports activities and training programs. Boxing training begins early morning, followed by athletics sessions. The ground's cricket coaching center, now 50 years old, continues to train young cricketers in both morning and evening batches. The facility also hosts football coaching in the evening. Additionally, a dedicated group of senior citizens uses the ground for morning yoga sessions, a tradition that has continued for 20-25 years.

Located in the Seminary hills area, this golf course holds the distinction of being the only such facility in Nagpur's central district. Its presence provides golf enthusiasts in the region with a dedicated space to practice and play the sport.

The Shivaji Skating Ground has established itself as the primary center for basketball coaching in Nagpur. The facility has developed a reputation for its basketball training programs and regularly hosts coaching sessions for aspiring players.

Chitnis Park serves as a dedicated venue for kabaddi practice, with training sessions conducted every evening. The facility plays a crucial role in maintaining the traditional sport's presence in the city.

Located within the C.P. and Berar College, the Krida Sankul facility regularly hosts kabaddi matches. This venue contributes to the competitive kabaddi scene in Nagpur and provides a space for tournament organization.

IDCPE stands as one of Nagpur's oldest institutions dedicated to sports education. The college offers comprehensive facilities for both indoor and outdoor sports. Its academic programs include:

• Bachelor of Physical Education and Sports (BPES): A three-year undergraduate program
• Bachelor of Physical Education (BPED): A two-year post-graduate program
• Master of Physical Education (MPED): A two-year advanced degree program The college maintains modern facilities to support practical training across various sports disciplines.

NSSM operates as one of the two government colleges in Nagpur providing physical education courses. The institution contributes to the development of sports education and training in the region.