Nagpur: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis led Nagpur in paying tributes to renowned athletics coach Sanjay ‘Bhau’ Kane, who passed away Sunday night. Gadkari, who hailed Bhau as ‘Krida Maharishi’ honouring the coach during Khasdar Krida Mahotsav’s 2020 edition, visited his residence early Monday morning and paid respects to the departed soul.
“Bhau was like a Rishi who gave all his life to sports. Nagpur and Vidarbha have lost a hard taskmaster who created many sportspersons . Through his skill-set, determination and hard work, Bhau gave Nagpur as many as eleven international players. His efforts in imbibing sports culture in the city can never be forgotten. My heartfelt condolences. May God give his family members strength to bear the loss,” Gadkari said, paying rich tributes to Bhau on social media.
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Fadnavis said it was a massive loss for the region. “A man who gave his entire life to sports has left us. He was instrumental in giving the city a lot of good athletes some of whom shone at international players. It is a massive loss to Nagpur and Vidarbha in the field of sports. I pay my respects and share grief with family members,” the DCM said in his condolence message.
The mortal remains of Bhau, the man who controlled his mind through spirituality and mastered matter through all the practical lessons he learned from life and changed life of many sportspersons of the region helping them cross the mental and physical barriers to achieve glory, were consigned to flames at Gangabai Ghat on Monday afternoon. Bhau’s nephew Aniruddha Kane, son of his brother Ajay, lit the pyre. Bhau’s favourite stopwatch that used to be on his wrist as he trained his wards, was also put in the fire.
Hundreds of people representing various sports and sporting associations were present in large numbers to pay homage to the departed soul.
Born at Borda near Ramtek, Bhau would have been 75 on May 14. Decorated with the Dadoji Konddev Award — Maharashtra State’s highest honour for a sports coach, Bhau, was mostly known for his expertise in training athletes. Few knew that the former banker, who took voluntary retirement from State Bank of India in 2009, had keen interest in politics, movies and music. Spirituality was one of his most liked subjects and he was considered a master in the field.
In his early days as a coach, Bhau trained kho-kho players and later not only created players of repute like Charulata Naigaokar, Aparna Bhoyar, Madhuri Gurnule, Manoj Balpande and Yogesh Thakre, but also changed the lives of many sportsperson for better. Never intending to get any recognition, Bhau was bestowed upon with the Dadoji Konddev Award in 1992-93. Few years ago, in 2020, he was conferred with the Krida Maharishi award during the Khasdar Krida Mahotsav.
Gadkari was among the first ones to reach Bhau’s residence after learning of his demise. MLC Pravin Datke, MLA Mohan Mate, Secretary to DCM Sandip Joshi, Deputy Director Sports Shekhar Patil, DSO Pallavi Dhatrak and Maya Duble were among those who reached home to pay respects. Bhau’s brothers international coach Dhananjay Kane, Ajay, NMC Sports Officer Dr Piyush Ambulkar, Arjuna and Dronacharya Awardee Vijay Munishwar, President of Nagpur District Athletics Association Gurudeo Nagrale, Inderjeet Singh Randhawa, Atmaram Pande, DrYashwant Patil, Bhavesh Kunchanwar, Sudhir Nimbalkar, Vijay Datarkar, Ram Wani, Dr Sambhaji Bhonsale, Avinash Pantawane, Dr Jaiprakash Duble, Dr Sharad Suryawanshi, Padmakar Charmode and many more including past and present members of Nav-Maharashtra Krida Mandal were present at the funeral.
Dr Babu Khedikar presided over the condolence meeting as city’s athletics statistician Naresh Shelke thanked all those present on behalf of Kane family and NMKM.
