State waterpolo team goes out of steam

The sport, ruled once by Maharashtra players, is dying a slow death in the state.

MUMBAI: Once a powerhouse in water polo, the Maharashtra team is going through rough waters. Recently, they even failed to qualify for the knock-out stages at the senior nationals. If former players are to be believed, the future is very bleak.

“The game is dying a slow death,” says former India captain Ajay Apte. “It is difficult to find a youngster who is serious.”

International Rajesh Manghani agrees with Apte.  “We won the National championship thrice on the trot, but thereafter the State team’s performance has been downward,” says Manghani, who represented the country at the Seoul Asian Games. Maharashtra dominated the game from 1987-89 and was the national champions during the period. The players blame the present state for lack of sufficient corporate support and competition.

Mohinish Patel of the Hindu Bath feels that the lack of competition is the reason. “I have heard people saying that Maharashtra water polo team dominated in the past but it is not so now, and it is all because of the lack of tournaments,” he opines.

“I cannot make a career as a water polo player as there are very no corporates who employ us. And the institutions, the Railways and others, are not very keen in this sport.”

Druv Thakkar, his teammate, plays the game just to stay fit. “There is nothing any water polo player can expect from the game. It is not a sport which will fetch one a job,” says Druv.