Journalists from local newspapers and news channels are making a beeline for Punem and Hamla, who excel at softball. The local media is abuzz because the duo is slated to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is visiting Bijapur on April 14. Softball is shaping the life of the two children of Gangaloor, a small village about 25km from Bijapur town. Their success has seen nearly 40 tribal children from nearby villages join the sports academy to play softball. Ganesh Mishra, secretary of Bijapur sports academy, said, “We are reaching out to sarpanchs (village chiefs) in core Maoist areas through sports.

Source: Hindustan Times April 12, 2018 16:07 UTC