OU nursed legends in sports

​Hyderabad: Osmania University has had a rich legacy in sports, almost at every level, albeit chequered. The roller-coaster run has been one that has been witness to magnificent highs and deplorable lows that almost touched the nadir, akin to the careers of most celebrated sportspersons.

However, as the varsity gets ready to uncork champagne to commemorate its glorious centenary razzmatazz, a throwback into its showing in sports will make for a memorable reading given the spate of outstanding athletes it has produced, although at irregular intervals.

A good augury is that for all its inconsistent performances at the national and international level, today, as things stand, there is an amazing mix of talent out there that is keeping the Osmania University flag flying high at the global level.

It is a matter of great pride for the varsity that three of the most influential coaches, who became iconic global role-models and inspired generations of incredible talent, have emerged from the campus-the incomparable football visionary, Syed Abdul Rahim, more reverentially addressed as Rahim Saab; the ever-smiling and graciously humble badminton coach Syed Mohammed Arif, hailed as Arif Saahab and the trail-blazing Ghaus Mohammad Khan, whose achievements are so exemplifying that they serve as tennis benchmarks till date.

If it was watershed event when he achieved the distinction of being the first Indian to reach the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 1939, he was also Osmania University’s first Director of Physical Education. And then we have equally accomplished names like Emani Chiranjeevi (boxing), Pullela Gopichand (badminton), Syed Nayeemuddin (football), N Ramesh (athletics).

Three Olympian milestones, from among several insurmountable ones in Rahim saab’s glorious career at the top, were in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, when the football team boasted of three gifted pupils in Syed Khawja Azizuddin, Noor Mohammad and SK Moinuddin and the next Games at Melbourne that saw an incredible eight of his pupils making the cut! In the 1960 Rome Games, the last time India figured at the mother of all sports extravaganzas, six from the city were in the squad, points out Syed Shahid Hakim, his son and the sixth in the team.

Others from the university who distinguished themselves in their areas of specialisation range from Mir Khasim Ali, N Mukesh Kumar, G Mulini Reddy, CS Pradipak, Victor Amalraj, ML Jaisimha, Mohd Azharuddin, VVS Laxman, N Shivlal Yadav, Mithali Raj, Anup Kumar Yama to athlete Dhanalaxmi.

True there was lull as far as the varsity students hitting big-time was concerned bar the odd champion and there. The bane has been the utter lack of consistency in terms of qualitative reigns at the very top.
Blissfully, a turnaround in fortunes and the varsity’s possible return to the international reckoning has been happening for quite a while now.

The flag-bearers of the legacy, and ones who are scaling newer heights with their all-conquering dexterity, include Gagan Narang, Sania Mirza, Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu, Nikhat Zareen, Jafreen Shaik, and Asher Noria. Many in tennis and table tennis are waiting in the wings and all set to knock on the doors of big-time

Points out Arif, “when I look at the evolution and growth of badminton, it gladdens me that the picture is getting increasingly rosy.” The Department of Physical Education that has been in existence since the inception of Arts College is the nursery, so to say.

According to former rower Prof Rajesh Kumar, the incumbent Secretary of Board of Control, Inter-University Tournaments, who has been responsible for the conduct of many international events, “the lows, notwithstanding, we should not forget that presently the varsity has been excelling in several inter-university championships in many disciplines.

Some have proved their mettle in World University Games. Shiva Kumar has secured three silver medals in weightlifting while archer Charan Reddy and shuttlers Pooja, Poornima, Rohith Yadav, Meghana and Ruthvika have been doing exceedingly well.”

Indeed, St Francis College for Women is the team to beat when it comes to inter-varsity championships in hockey and swimming. The leading lights of the department are elevating the university’s image during international conferences in Ethiopia, Mauritius, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Turkey and China, to name a few.

Many have served the game with distinction and many are doing just that-honing the champions of tomorrow with their relentless pursuit to ensure that Osmania University will gradually inch its way to the top of the ladder, like in the good days when the Indian football team comprised virtually of Rahim Saab’s protégés.