Photos: Two Kolkata kids cartwheel into a viral sensation

On August 29, 2019, five-time Olympic gold medallist gymnast Nadia Comaneci shared a video on twitter of two kids cartwheeling and somersaulting down a street in Kolkata. Her appreciation of their skills made others sit up and watch these young kinds in admiration. Not even a fortnight since their instructor put up the video without much thought, Lovely and Ali, the kids featured in the clip have seen praise pour in from all quarters, from the Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju to the Sports Authority of India which has even promised to train them professionally.

Updated on: Sep 09, 2019 11:46 AM IST

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Updated on Sep 09, 2019 11:46 AM

Jashika Khan aka Lovely and Muhammad Azajuddin aka Ali on a taxi in front of Ali’s residence at Coal Berth colony, Garden Reach in Kolkata. Till a few days ago, the two were like any of the other kids in their locality. That’s changed, and fast. Ask about, and residents are quick to point to their homes –all from tweet by a five-time Olympic gold medallist gymnast Nadia Comaneci. (Samir Jana / HT Photo)

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(L-R) Ali, 13, their dance instructor Shekhar Rao, 26 and Lovely, 12, in front of their Eternities Dance Academy at BNR colony, where the two train. Comaneci’s tweet shared a video Rao had put up of the two kids in school uniforms and bags in tow, somersaulting and cartwheeling down the street. “This is awesome,” Comaneci had tweeted on August 30, shooting the kids to viral fame. (Samir Jana / HT Photo)

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Jashika Khan aka Lovely (C) walks through the lanes of Hide Road Colony with friends. Appreciation followed from all quarters. Sports minister Kiren Rijiju also appreciated the video and a slew of interviews and appearances have come their way in the short span since. (Samir Jana / HT Photo)

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Lovely with her sister Tehjib Khan, 8, and their mother Reshma Khatun (C) at their one room house at Hide Road Colony. Khatun, is a tailor and their father Taj Khan, a driver. For this family of modest means, this has been an absolute shocker. “I could never imagine that such people of importance will praise my daughter,” she said, her eyes welling up with tears. (Samir Jana / HT Photo)

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Lovely mid-somersault at a ground beside the Eternities Dance Academy at BNR colony. “I like doing gymnastics but dance has always been my passion,” Lovely said. (Samir Jana / HT Photo)

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Muhammad Azajuddin aka Ali (C) jumps from a fence while Lovely and her younger sister Tehjib look on as they enter the practice ground. For their teacher Shekhar Rao, this has been a moment making a dream come true . He’s been teaching children residing in the city’s slums for the last four years free of cost and it hasn’t been easy task, he said. (Samir Jana / HT Photo)

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Ali poss for the camera in front of his family residence at Coal Berth Colony, Garden Reach. While Lovely finds dance more to her liking, Ali, however, now dreams of making his country proud in the field of gymnastics. “I want to pursue gymnastics and bring medals for my country,” he said. (Samir Jana / HT Photo)

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Ali (3rd L) with his parents and siblings in their one room home. Ali's parents are labourers and the family of six rests on their meagre incomes from work at a tea godown. (Samir Jana / HT Photo)

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Ali just about to land a somersault at their grassy training ground beside Eternities Dance Academy. Shekhar echoes the fact that it is difficult to draw students from economically weaker segments into nice sports and athletic avenues --a conversation he’s had with many parents over the years. But seeing Lovely and Ali’s skills being appreciated, he feel’s the effort has all been worth it. (Samir Jana / HT Photo)