Latest news with #Barwa
Indian Express
04-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Pratima Barwa, the coach who gave wings to Adivasi hockey players
Chances are that most outside the modest Indian hockey universe would not have heard of Pratima Barwa. Perhaps she preferred it that way. Barwa, who passed away on Sunday aged 44 due to a brain haemorrhage, dedicated her life to hockey. She did what few could — identify and nurture young talents in one of the sport's biggest catchment areas, Jharkhand's Simdega. Because of her efforts, Indian hockey is in a better place — three players, including captain Salima Tete, are currently part of the national team that is in Europe for the FIH Pro League. Grassroots coaching is one of the most unglamorous parts of sport because of the lack of incentive. Yet, without such coaches, the sporting ecosystem would be a non-starter. Selfless coaches like Barwa, who was from Khunti, have kept Indian hockey running. Her academy was rudimentary, and some of the coaching methods were, possibly, archaic. But Barwa, described as a 'mother figure' by her wards, did something far more impactful — she got children hooked to hockey and gave wings to their dreams. Barwa's own aspirations to play for India were unfulfilled. She played for Bihar in the early 1990s. However, a left knee ligament injury in 1995 cut short her playing career. She then promised herself that she would help young players from the region. Barwa's journey as a coach began in 2008 after she completed a diploma from the National Institute of Sport in Patiala. A job with the Jharkhand government as a coach took her to Simdega, and the hard yards began. From sunrise to sunset, she would travel to schools and villages where there was the slightest promise of talent, convince the families to let their child play hockey and then groom them into world-class talents. Barwa never got the recognition she deserved. Her legacy will, however, be there for all to see each time the Indian team steps onto the hockey field.
Indian Express
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Pioneer hockey coach Pratima Barwa, who produced players like Salima Tete & Sangeeta Kumari, no more
Pratima Barwa, a hockey coach who trained many adivasi girls in Jharkhand and helped shape Olympians like Salima Tete, Sangita Kumari and Beauty Dungdung, has passed away at the age of 46 following a brain hemorrhage at a Ranchi hospital. Barwa, a native of Kocha village in Khunti's Torpa block, had suffered a seizure on May 27 while holding her infant son in her arms. She breathed her last on Sunday morning after surviving for four days in the ICU. Her funeral was held at her village in the evening. Khunti, known for its rich tribal identity, has long been a cradle of Indian hockey. It was from this very region that Jaipal Singh Munda emerged to become the captain of the Indian hockey team that won gold at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. Nearly a century later, Barwa carried forward that legacy, not with a stick in hand, but with an unwavering commitment to nurture young girls in the sport. Her coaching, often in remote fields with bare minimum facilities, produced several Adivasi hockey stars. 'She dedicated her entire life to hockey,' said Sanjeeta Barwa, her younger sister. 'She started playing in Class 5 after being selected for Gumla's training programme. Later, she trained at the Bariatu Hockey Centre and then joined the Punjab Hockey Academy before returning to Jharkhand.' Barwa played for Jharkhand for nearly two decades, though a leg injury put paid to her chances of making it to the national team. After her playing career, she became a full-time coach under the Jharkhand government's Department of Tourism, Sports and Youth Affairs. Barwa was initially posted in Simdega, one of Jharkhand's hockey hubs, where she served for over a decade before being transferred to Khunti. Until her illness, she was coaching at the School of Excellence (SS+2) in Khunti, a residential centre nurturing young tribal talent. 'She produced many state, national-level and international players. She worked with the likes of Salima Tete, who is now the captain of the Indian hockey team, Sangita Kumari and Beauty Dungdung,' Sanjeeta said. Born into a hockey-loving adivasi family, Barwa drew inspiration from her father Late Gopal Barwa, a CRPF jawan and local player, and her uncles who played in village tournaments. She grew up watching matches dubbed the 'Khassi Cup' and 'Murga Cup,' where goats and chickens were prizes. Her sister remembers her struggles with clarity. 'She came up the hard way — no money, limited resources — but she never gave up. Even when she had seizures in 2022, she recovered and guided the Jharkhand team at the Rourkela nationals in 2023.' 'Even while battling illness, she remained hopeful about returning to the field,' said her tearful sister. 'She told me, 'I want to get better and go back to training my girls.'' Former India captain Asunta Lakra, currently a national selector, recalled her deep bond with Barwa, describing her as a quiet force in Jharkhand's grassroots sports movement. 'I first met Pratima didi at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Bariatu, Ranchi, in the late 1990s. She was our senior — strict but gentle, a natural leader who kept the team disciplined without ever raising her voice,' Asunta told The Indian Express. 'She would say, 'I want to be a turning point in at least one girl's life.' No one talks about it, but every single international player coming from Simdega or even Jharkhand today — they were once under her care,' Lakra claimed. 'She never sought the limelight and didn't get the recognition she truly deserved — not from the system, not even from us sometimes.' Barwa's husband, Sukra Lohra, is a CRPF jawan currently posted in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh. They married in 2018 and have a one-and-a-half-year-old son. He remembers how passionate his wife was about hockey, often choosing to be on the ground over holidays at home. 'She would say, 'I couldn't play much, but I want to make sure the children I coach get every opportunity,'' he recalls. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren called Barwa's passing an irreparable loss for the state and the Indian hockey fraternity. 'The untimely demise of hockey coach Pratima Barwa ji, who gave many talented international hockey players to Jharkhand and the country, is extremely saddening,' he wrote on social media. He called her 'an ideal for the hardworking daughters of Jharkhand.' Shubham Tigga hails from Chhattisgarh and studied journalism at the Asian College of Journalism. He previously reported in Chhattisgarh on Indigenous issues and is deeply interested in covering socio-political, human rights, and environmental issues in mainland and NE India. Presently based in Pune, he reports on civil aviation, other transport sectors, urban mobility, the gig economy, commercial matters, and workers' unions. You can reach out to him on LinkedIn ... Read More
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Pratima, who was living her dream of playing for India through students like Salima, passes away at 44
Gumla/Kolkata: Pratima Barwa, the childhood coach of Indian women's team captain Salima Tete and many of current stars like Sangita Kumari, Beauty Dungdung and Deepika Soreng, passed away on Sunday. She was just 44 years old. A resident of Tapkara Kocha village in Torpa block of Khunti district, Barwa was undergoing treatment at Paras hospital in Dhurwa, Ranchi, from Thursday where she died of brain haemorrhage at 8:27am on Sunday. Barwa started playing hockey in her childhood but had to stop playing because of an injury. However, that didn't deter her love affair with the game as she shifted to coaching early on. It was at the Residential Girls' Hockey Training Centre in Simdega that she started imparting her knowledge and trained numerous players for 15 years from 2008 to 2024. While seeing her pupils star for the country brought her immense happiness, the proudest moment of her coaching career was when Salima became the captain of the women's team last year. She had then told TOI, "I couldn't fulfil my dream of playing for India, but through my students I have achieved my dreams. What I couldn't do as a player, I have been able to do all that as a coach." Besides training, Barwa, who earned her diploma in coaching in 2007-08 at NIS Patiala, also played a major role as the Training Centre in Simdega got an Astroturf for the first time way back in 2015. It was after her side lost the Nehru Girls Hockey Tournament (U17) final in 2010 by nine goals to Govt. Girls Sr. Sec. School Shahabad, who had Rani Rampal in their team, that they raised the demand for an Astroturf surface. "We then got the go-ahead in 2013 and the field was ready two years later. During this time she used to monitor the progress with us and was beyond happy when it was finally complete," said Hockey Simdega president Manoj Konbegi. Later in 2021, the ground also successfully hosted two national championships — sub-junior women's and junior women's hockey. But sadly for Jharkhand, the host side lost both the finals. But Barwa's students like Deepika, Ropni Kumari and Rajni Kerketta showed what they were capable of as they slowly and steadily made it to the national camp. "With the premature demise of Pratima ji, Jharkhand has lost an invaluable coach. She had the immense credit of churning out the country's top woman hockey players from Jharkhand. She made a huge contribution in the development of hockey in the state," Konbegi added. Barwa, however, had been struggling with her health for a while and had requested for a transfer to Residential Boys Hockey Training Centre in Khunti where she had been training for the past one year. She, however, was present at the inaugural edition of the women's Hockey India League earlier this year and was elated to see her students play alongside the best of the world. Ahead of the Women's HIL final at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astroturf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi, she also shared an emotional moment with Salima who was elated to see her coach at the stands. Sadly, those meet-ups won't happen any more and she will be sorely missed by one and all. Yet, she will continue to live on through her students, who number in the hundreds.
Dubai Eye
14-05-2025
- Business
- Dubai Eye
Dubai launches real estate initiative for Emirati senior citizens
Dubai has launched the 'Barwa' programme to empower Emirati senior citizens and People of Determination to manage their real estate assets independently and with ease. It provides digital tools, in-person services and expert advice based on each individual's needs. It will also enable real estate transactions to be completed without having to step out of their home using the 'Al Taresh' service. Additionally, the 'Al Karani' service will assign a personal assistant for each case to ensure ongoing support and follow-up. It prioritises direct outreach by delivering services at beneficiaries' places of residence, eliminating the need for travel and ensuring a seamless, accessible experience. Through its mobile and field services pillar, the programme deploys dedicated units under the 'Al Taresh' service to carry out real estate transactions at the homes of senior citizens and People of Determination. In addition, the 'Al Karani' service assigns a personal assistant to each beneficiary to follow up on their transactions and provide continuous support. The digital services pillar features the 'Al Kaitoob' platform, which enables seamless remote property management and is equipped with accessibility technologies tailored for people with disabilities. It also includes 'Al Mersal', a real-time digital support service available through the call centre to assist beneficiaries promptly and effectively. Within the financial and real estate advisory pillar, specialised teams offer personalised guidance on property investment strategies and achieving sustainable returns. Meanwhile, the awareness and training pillar introduces the 'Real Estate Katateeb' initiative, which delivers educational workshops to help beneficiaries better understand property management and sound investment practices. Public-private partnership The programme also includes a service facilities pillar through 'Al Barza', dedicated reception lounges for senior citizens and People of Determination located at Dubai Land Department's main building. These spaces are designed to provide a premium, comfortable, and accessible customer experience. The strength of public-private collaboration is reflected in the 'Al Hasela' initiative, which offers integrated services such as lease management, routine maintenance, and investment consultancy. Qualified companies deliver these services at preferential rates tailored to meet the specific needs of the programme's target groups. Commenting on the launch, Eng. Marwan Ahmed Bin Ghalita said: 'The Barwa programme is more than a service initiative. It is designed to simplify property management, protect real estate rights, and deliver tailored services that promote peace of mind, independence, and a better quality of life. In line with the 'Hand in Hand' theme of the 'Year of Community,' Barwa reinforces our commitment to inclusion and social cohesion.'
Hi Dubai
14-05-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
Hamdan bin Mohammed Launches Barwa Programme to Empower Senior Citizens, People of Determination in Dubai
Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has launched the 'Barwa' programme, a pioneering initiative by the Dubai Land Department and Community Development Authority aimed at supporting senior citizens and People of Determination in managing their real estate assets independently. Unveiled under the slogan 'You are valuable and should always be appreciated,' the Barwa programme is the first of its kind in the region. It offers a human-centred approach to property services, combining digital, advisory, and on-site support to enhance the quality of life and promote inclusion and social stability. The initiative aligns with the Dubai Social Agenda 33 and Real Estate Sector Strategy 2033, focusing on accessible, sustainable services that cater to the diverse needs of its beneficiaries. Dedicated mobile teams, personal assistants, and digital platforms such as Al Kaitoob and Al Mersal ensure real estate transactions can be handled easily and efficiently from the comfort of beneficiaries' homes. A ceremony marking the launch included the signing of key cooperation agreements with public and private entities, including Harbour Real Estate, Al Ruwad, and service trustee centres Afnan and Al Tabou. Officials from both DLD and CDA highlighted the programme's role in protecting real estate rights, simplifying asset management, and reinforcing social cohesion. Specialised lounges, financial advisory, and educational workshops further complement the offering. Barwa stands as a new model of collaborative governance in Dubai, designed to deliver real-world impact by placing dignity, independence, and social well-being at the heart of public service. News Source: Emirates News Agency
