Known as one of the greatest batters of all time, Sachin Tendulkar of India is grateful to the Maharashtra Government’s commitment to erect a statue of his first coach Late Ramakant Achrekar at Shivaji Park Mumbai.
“Achrekar Sir has changed many lives and mine as well. I would say the same on behalf of all his pupils. He spent most of his life in Shivaji Park which was literally all about cricket. Staying at Shivaji Park all his life would have probably been his desire. Regarding the statue for Achrekar Sir, I am very pleased with the government’s decision to honor him at his karmabhoomi,” Tendulkar posted on X late Wednesday.
Sports Day is observed on this day each year and it coincides with the national day of India when Dhyan Chand was born and also the entire nation is drenched in sports activities.
On Wednesday, the Government of Maharashtra made public a Government Resolution (GR) that will allow further work in the memorial for a famous cricketer’s coach, who was known as a coach of Sachin Tendulkar and other Indo Cricketers at famous cricket center Shivaji park where this monument is planned along an open area adjacent to gate number 5.
The proposal to construct a statue in honour of legendary coach Achrekar at Shivaji Park was a proposition constantly pushed forward by one of his students, Sunil Ramachandran who is also the first captain of Kamat Memorial Cricket Club and presently serves as assistant general secretary of Shivaji Park Gymkhana.
It would have been warranted without the guidance and support of (MMNS chief) Raj Thackeray,” Ramachandran, told TOI.
A winner of the prestigious Dronacharya award, Achrekar, who passed away on January 2, 2019, aged 87, nurtured 14 players who represented India at international level. These players are Ramnath Parkar, Eknath solkar, Balwinder Singh Sandhu, Lalchand Rajput, Chandrakant Pandit, Pravin Amre, Tendulkar, Vinod Kambli, Sameer Dighe, Sanjay Bangar, Paras Mhambrey, Ramesh Powar, Ajit Agarkar and Sairaj Bahutule.
“One will be a ball, a helmet, gloves and pad of the deceased also inscribed with his name on the memorial. The will also be a bat with signatures of all the 14 India cricketers coached by him starting from Balwinder Singh Sandhu, A 1983 World cup hero cricketer in India to Tendulkar the Bharat Ratna,” Ramachandran narrated.
It appears the statute is likely to be completed within the next couple of months and be unveiled by Tendulkar.
