MP’s women akhada to perform at IMC procession

MP’s first women akhada developed at Shri Ramnath Guru Gymnasium in Indore’s Badi Gwaltoli area is all geared up to perform for the first time in the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) procession on the occasion of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival on September 15. Earlier to it, the women’s team has performed in many processions in different parts of the state.

MP’s first women akhada developed at Shri Ramnath Guru Gymnasium in Indo’s Badi Gwaltoli area is all geared up to perform for the first time in the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) procession on the occasion of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival on September 15. Earlier to it, the women’s team has performed in many processions in different parts of the state.

Neelam Borasi (in red t-shirt) teaches sword fight to girls at Shri Ramnath Guru Gymnasium in Indore. (Arun Mondhe/HT Photo)

Gym owner Munna Borasi and his daughter Neelam Borasi have been teaching arts of fencing or sword wielding and wrestling to the girls for the past six years. Currently there are approximately 60 girls in this akhada -- 30 in fencing and wrestling each.

“We do not charge anything from these girls and we aim to master them in these arts. They are determined and focused. I want to ensure that the rich art which we have inherited from our ancestors does not die out. My daughters are doing really well so are the daughters of the nation,” said Munna.

Six girls selected for state-level school wrestling championship have been practicing for the last three years. Komal Verma, who has been part of the team since its inception and aspires to represent India at Olympics, said, “This is not the sport liked by many. However, I want to do something different and am learning this. At times, I get badly bruised but I love it.One day I will achieve what I want to.”

Training and practice sessions start in the evening and continue till 11pm. The women’s team has performed in many processions in different parts of the state.

Gym owner’s wife Hemlata Borasi said, “We are thankful to BJP leader Usha Thakur who proposed the idea of presenting girls who could perform sword-wielding skills during a welcome ceremony for chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan. Then I decided to have an akhada for girls. In the beginning, we had four girls but today we are a big family. I am proud of our family.”

This gymnasium has male wrestlers also. Practice sessions are conducted for them together.

Bollywood connect

Neelam Borasi was the instructor of Bollywood actor Anushka Sharma who has played a wrestler in movie Sultan. She will also feature in Aamir Khan’s upcoming movie Dangal where she will be seen practicing sword-wielding with actors Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra. In 2012, Neelam took part in 8th national wrestling championship wherein she won a bronze medal in the senior category, becoming state’s first national senior medallist.