Book on handicapped athletes released

Former India captain Rahul Dravid released former national badminton champion and mid-day columnist Sanjay Sharma's book Courage beyond Compare co-authored by Sharma's daughter Medini at the Khar Gymkhana yesterday

Former India captain Rahul Dravid released former national badminton champion and mid-day columnist Sanjay Sharma's book Courage beyond Compare co-authored by Sharma’s daughter Medini at the Khar Gymkhana yesterday.

Actor Soha Ali Khan reads the chapter on her late father from Sanjay Sharma's book at the Khar Gym. Pic/Nikesh Gurav.

The book that profiles 10 special athletes, who did not let their handicap come in the way of their success, features players like former India shuttler Rajeev Bagga who is deaf, former India cricket captain late Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, who was blinded in one eye after an accident, among others. “This book is an emotional roller coaster ride for us,” said Medini.

Late Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi

Dravid recollected his first meeting with the late Pataudi in 1997. “Like most youngsters, even I was an admirer of Tiger Pataudi. He was one of the most exciting cricketing talents of our country.

“Suddenly, it was all taken away from him due to one tragic accident, but I found no sense of bitterness in him when I met him for the first time in 1997, and that is something that has stayed in my memory till date. During my recent visit to England, some English journalists discussing Tiger Pataudi, felt that had it not been for the accident, he would have gone on to break all possible cricket records.”

Pataudi’s daughter and actor Soha Ali Khan, actor-filmmaker Amol Palekar, deputy mayor Alka Ketkar and cricketers Robin Uthappa and Amol Muzumdar were also present at the event.

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