IDREES AHMAD
Ganderbal 26 Sept【KNZ】: Every early morning Nisar Dar sweat out on the deserted roads of Ganderbal .He regularly runs 10 km in the morning on rutted hilly roads in order to enhance his endurance level .Morning session is not an end of his daily practice schedule, his training continues till late evening at regular intervals .He sets a target for week bases and no one can stop him to attain the target .He gives best efforts to set new standard every day. He has developed a unique way of training he climbs high steep mountains, runs in mud and ,put on wait jacket to enhance his endurance level.
“My Biggest competition is with myself .I am not looking to pull down others .I test my own boundaries.” Says Nisar.
Hailing from far -flung Arhama village in Ganderbal district, Nisar Dar 22 is exceptional multi talented athlete, competent in Long distance run, sprint, mountain biking and he has also made his place in cycling . he has special niche in long distance races Like marathon,cross country races,5000 and 1000 meters ,both track and field . He has made his mark at district and state level athletic competitions, he even he has competed in international marathon.Nisar is also good at studies he has completed Bachelors in physicaleducation. He is currently pursuing Masters of physical education in Kashmir University.
There is no such athletic completion in Kashmir in which Nisar has not competed ,especially in long distance foot races .View of his room presents a unblemished pictures of decorated trophies which speaks a lot about his success in the valley. He had won numerous medals in top notch athletic competitions of the state.Be it inter college road races ,sports council competitions ,J&K police competitions and other long distance running events he made his the mark. Shining feather among his achievements so far is bronze medal in Kargil international marathon, which won him many applauds.He recently got silver medal in marathon organized by J&K police in Srinagar .
From the far-flung village of Arhama to kargil marathon his journey has been full of hurdles but he overcame them all in spite of insufficient facilities. lack of transport facility made Dar run 5km to reach school in childhood and he used to return with empty stomach almost every day .This daily 10 km run was erected bedrock for his athleticism .Years of covering these 10 km almost daily made his stamina rock solid. The village still sans adequate roads and transport facility and it irks Nisar.
From school competitions to college competitions there was no competitor whon can gave him stiff challenge . Dar always stood at heights of podium. At state level he lock horn with top Long distance runners which include the likes of Tanveer Ahmad,Reyaz,Imtiyaz and many service athletes .He won many podium positions in various state level races. 2012 and 2016 Olympics gold medalist Mohamd Mukthar Farah a Long distance runner is role model for Dar .He passionately follows Farah.Dar keep track f his every race .
“I started fallowing him when he won gold medal at London Olympics since then I am his admirer. I hope on day I will get a chance to meet him.”Nisar said.
Nisars Dar ultimate dream is compete in Olympics but he fully understands road to Olympics is not an easy one.What scares him most is lack of support and proper infrastructure.Dar said. “when.you live inIndia where sports culture is very poor .Support system both financially morally is vary poor ,it become extremely difficult to qualify to global sports events,especially to athletic events forgot winning medals.”
”I have given my whole life to athletic sports especially to long distance running but future seems to be bleak for me. Right now lack of sponsorship is a major concern for me .I have approached several
cooperates and individuals for sponsorship but unfortunately nobody came forward to support me.”Dar rues.
On role of financial support for athletes Dar said, “ To become a successful athlete one have to practice rigorously for that diet plays a crucial role ,athletes needs special diet which compliments their over all performance besides that athlete need many specialized equipments for training, ; they need special sports wear which cost very much. An Armature budding athlete can’t afford the cost all these requirements and here sponsorship can plays an important role .without sound finical backup budding athlete can’t progress .I am lacking all this, if it continues I will not be able take my performance level up.”
“We have got lot of talent in Kashmir in every sport, but to lack of support system and infrastructure is major concern .Cooperates can
tremendously contribute to development of sports. corporate support to athletes all over the world have done wonders , promising
athletes are being finically supported by way of private and government sponsorships and results are there .USA ,China, Australia and European countries have excelled in sports and medal tally in Olympics is evident of it .We can also achieve it but there should robust sports policy and corporate social responsibility of corporate can play a good role.”Nisar said.
On current state of sports in India Dar said ;” unfortunately in India only few sports are given preference .India is lagging behind on sports map .India don’t have strong sports policy and it is
unfortunate that over billion populated country was not able to win single gold medal in Rio Olympics.”.
Dar acknowledges support of J&K sports council ,they have provide him support to some extent. Keeping in view limited resources of sports council Dar is not expecting much for them .he advocate that government should make sports administrative institutes more powerful
and resourceful.
Nisar Dar suggests that there should be separate allocation of funds for athletic sports .Athletic sports is mother of all games and if can we produce good athletes they can excel in other sports as well “dearth of coaches is also a concern.There are only few quality coaches available for various athletic sport in Kashmir , they aren’t able to caterlarge number of armature athletes .Grass root development is totally missing.Sheikh Tulal is doing good job but we need more coaches and coaches should be sent to foreign for specialized coaching and foreign coaches should brought in to train athletes here in Kashmir.”Dar said
Keeping in view all the challenges and shortcomings, the spirit of Dar has not died down. He believes and has great hope that on day his dream will come true.
