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From UP village to US baseball fields: Dinesh and Rinku |
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It seems like a Bollywood film story but two UP boys Dinesh Patel and Rinku Singh have made it true as both these boys have been signed by five-time World Series Champion club in US named Pittsburgh Pirates for an undisclosed sum that may be in crores of rupees.
Dinesh Patel, a 20-year-old righty and Rinku Singh, a 19-year-old lefty were rewarded for their prospect-like performances in India`s first "Million Dollar Arm" challenge, a TV Reality show. They have now ensured training with invitations to this year`s Minor League Spring Training. Patel and Singh were selected from a field of over 30,000 throwers at the Million Dollar Arm Contest in Mumbai in March 2007.
Four years back, Dinesh Patel then 15, worked for 25 days at sites near his dusty village of Khanpur on the outskirts of the holy city of Varanasi to collect Rs 3,500 as admission fees to the Guru Gobind Singh Sports College in Lucknow.
Dinesh Patel and Rinku Singh, the sports college batchmates have created history on Monday by becoming the first Indians to sign a professional baseball contract outside the country.
Patel is a former national javelin gold medalist, who was brought up in a hut by his landless maternal uncle Lalji and granny Kalawati at Khanpur village as his mother and mentally challenged father couldn`t afford to raise him in their village, Chuppepur in Varanasi.
Dinesh`s uncle Lalji said, "Handloom units across Banaras are closing. But Patel`s success has ensured my two looms will not close." He further informed that Patel`s inspiring tale has started a baseball mania in the village.
Patel is from the same village as Santosh Patel, who won the Rs 10 lakh top prize at the Chennai Half Marathon on August 31. Before joining the Lucknow Sports College, Dinesh trained in javelin at Bariyasanpur College, a nursery of marathoners and distance runners, including Arjuna Awardee Gulab Chand.
Bala Lakhendra, ex-state champion in 800 metres and Dinesh`s senior said, "Gulab Chand is passé. Dinesh is our new star."
Singh has claimed the top prize of $1, 00,000 with a powerful throw. Patel threw further than Singh but fouled his throw. He was still invited for a six-month exploration in Baseball.
Rinku Singh`s father Bramhadin Singh, who is a truck driver, said, "Rinku switched from cricket to javelin before cross-over to baseball. But with telephonic guidance from Rinku, youths here have already started practicing."
His mother Antaraja Devi added, "He was often dubbed a loafer because he played sport. Now every villager prays for a loafer like him."
The duo will now learn the basics of the game and scouts there believe the colts would require at least four years of minor league toil before breaking into the major league.
Announcing the signing, Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said the move was aimed at reaching out to an untapped market that is India. He said, "The Pirates are committed to creatively adding talent to our organisation. By adding these two young men, we are pleased to not only add two prospects to our system but also hope to open a pathway to an untapped market."
Huntington added, "We are intrigued by Patel`s arm strength and Singh`s frame and potential. These young men have improved a tremendous amount in their six-month exposure to baseball, and we look forward to helping them continue to fulfill their potential."
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| From UP village to US baseball fields: Dinesh and Rinku |
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