Tokyo Olympics: Mumbai champs to lead mallakhamb demo

Deepak Shinde and Himani Parab

Mumbai's Deepak Shinde, 25, and Himani Parab, 20, will lead the Indian men's and women's teams respectively to demonstrate the sport of mallakhamb during the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, Dr Ramesh Indoliya, president of the Mallakhamb Federation of India (MFI), confirmed on Tuesday.

"We [MFI] had an online meeting with the Tokyo Olympics organising committee on Sunday and they gave us the green signal. They told us to be ready for the event,"
Indoliya told mid-day on Tuesday.

Shinde, who won two gold and three silver medals at the 2019 Mallakhamb World Championship (MWC) in Mumbai, is overjoyed. "I'm unable able to express my feelings. I've never dreamt of the Olympics. This is a big opportunity for mallakhamb and me. I'm proud to lead the country at such a big stage. We will try to showcase how competitive the sport is," said Shinde.

Parab, who won four gold and two bronze medals at the first MWC three years ago, will be leading a seven-member women's squad. When asked about the team's selection procedure, Indoliya replied: "We have top players from Amravati [in Maharashtra], Delhi, Telangana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Goa. All players are above 18 and have taken both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine."

Indoliya added that a 22-member squad, including 14 players, eight coaches and officials, will leave for Tokyo at the end of next week.

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