GAURANG PRABHU
MALKARNE(QUEPEM): As Shah Rukh Khan had said in the movie Om Shanti Om, “If you aim and work hard towards your goal, the whole universe will contribute to your success”.
This mantra suits multi-talented sports woman Sonali Malik very well. But far from the universe, she is hoping that her land of Goa contributes to some of her success.
She started her journey at the age of 11 when she was in Class VI. She was sent for the selections of Goa State Baseball team, without having any prior knowledge of the game. She was just instructed once and this was enough for her to get selected as the first state team member.
Sonali hails from a rural area in Malkarne, in Quepem, where she had to face many hardships but these have never disheartened her.
“I have now represented Goa at the national level approximately fourteen times in baseball, five times in tennis ball cricket team and open beach kabaddi also represented India twice for baseball again,” said Sonali.
It is really strange that in a state like Goa, where baseball is one of the least known sports, Sonali had no scope here.
However, an international tournament is held every year in South Korea. Four girls from Goa were chosen for the Indian team for this tournament, Deeplaxmi Auvti, Cheryl D’mello, Anuja Mudguard and Sonali Malik.
In the 2015 games again, held at South Korea, Cherly D’mello, Anuja Mudarkar and Sonali Malik along with Nikita and Deepti Gawde were selected to represent India.
“I had to bear all her expenses throughout her journey in the field of sports and it was difficult for us to arrange for all the money, but my daughter seemed very determined about sports” her father Devu Malik, a tailor by profession, said.
“Dilip a baseball coach from Goa is her main inspiration,” her proud father points out, while she adds, “if not for him (coach Dilip) no one would discover my real talent. Dilip has honed my skills and converted a piece of coal into a sparkling diamond.”
“Sonali can do anything in the field of sport if supported well and we as parents have always supported her in every way and never stopped her in going ahead and participating in sports events, as long as our daughter is happy and has her career set” said Devu Malik.
Her coach Dilip said she is a true hero, one of the thousands who really put all they have in a sport and it’s really amazing to see her transformation. It is even wonderful to be more known as a coach to these girls who have excelled with flying colours, he said. Further, he said, Sonali and her fellow players were never supported by sports associations nor were they felicitated for representing India, which he says de-motivates any player.
Asked why baseball had no “base” in the state of Goa, Dilip said the already chaired persons are afraid that if new capable candidates are introduced there would be a high risk of losing their chair.
Sonali, has at times felt saddened after she failed to secure any financial help and also when she was not getting far with her education, following her passion for sports.
“I am at least hoping to get a good job as a baseball trainer and I can train young talent in this game if given a chance,” Sonali added.
Sonali is currently at home trying to clear all her first and second year papers as she could not attend classes due to training camps.
All she needs is a bit of financial help and lot of support from people in Goa for her to make that final good home run and touch base with the glory she deserves.
