Late Shri. Sanjay C Chaphale- Best Sportsperson Award- Sandipani School

What you carry beyond life is your name!

Amidst the plethora of talent and cutting- edge competition; what sets one apart is the self-confidence which will propel one to enter the pool of difficulties and challenges. Sports is one medium that shapes us to face challenges and defeat them. Apart from imbibing healthy living, sports harbour an all-round development by nurturing values such as self-confidence, vigour and optimism. It is a well-known fact that sports as an activity inculcates sincerity, perseverance and discipline. Today, sports education is a much needed step that every parent should opt for their children in order to prepare them for higher goals of their life!

With this message in mind, and to carry our family’s legacy in the field of sports (particularly Roller Skating) over the years, we designed the Late Shri. Sanjay C Chaphale, best sportsperson trophy which is awarded every year on the Republic day at the Sandipani school, Nagpur. Samruddhi, Avanti and Tanaya, alumni of Sandipani school and daughters for whom their parents Shri. Sanjay and Smt. Hemlata Chaphale poured in their entire life in creating a strong foundation for their future while they were juggling their own. Enrolling in various sports very early on, turned out to be their parent’s best decision, as the proud Chaphale sisters, not only brought laurels in the field of sports to Sandipani school, but are also doing great things in life with the training they received. We truly realise the importance of sports in our life, especially in tackling the ups and downs and our parents’ role in shaping us and hence this trophy in memory of our beloved Father, Late. Shri. Sanjay C Chaphale, is designed to recognise and celebrate the upcoming sporting talent and their achievements along with the efforts of the parents who helped shape them. The LATE SHRI. SANJAY C CHAPHALE- BEST SPORTSPERSON- SANDIPANI TROPHY DESIGN- Imagine climbing a mountain terrain and the difficulties in the process of climbing.

Isn’t the first instinctive thought that comes to our mind is of our parents when we look for safety and belief! Their teachings, their words of encouragement keep echoing in our minds and give us the much needed courage to push our limits. We felt this during our sporting days and continue to feel so even today, and I’m sure, all the athletes or even a commoner facing any tough situation would relate to this feeling. This true, raw emotion that carries great power and stems from our very own experiences and belief, became the base for our trophy design. Samruddhi began ideating the design of the trophy to be a sculpture unlike typical. She began sketching a mountain representing challenges, with a human climbing it representing the sportsperson, and a hand in the blessing position outcropping from the mountain representing parents and their backing that help the sportsperson reach the summit.

The sketch deeply moved my family and once it got approved by our mother, Smt. Hemlata Chaphale, the beautiful portrayal of the thought in the form of a sculptural trophy was created by an eminent artist in Nagpur, Shri. Sanjay Garjalwar. The trophy design was finished in dual tones of gold and brown representing shining on and still being down to earth. We combined this with a beautiful letter as a commendation and thank you gesture from our parents to the winner’s for the parents. The best part is its been ten years since the inception of this initiative and the feedback from the Sandipani school is deeply humbling as students are getting passionate about sports and working hard yearlong to win the trophy. The students find the trophy very attractive due to its unique design and hence are all the more encouraged and motivated. Even parents look forward to it every year as their efforts are also getting recognised with our initiative which makes it even more special.

We, the Chaphale family thank Sandipani school for this honor in the memory of our Father and to continue this beautiful legacy. We specially thank the sports management team at the school for recognising the talent every year truly deserving for this award. Through this trophy, we shall continue our mission of inspiring young individuals to opt for health and sports to build them for life. Jai Hind!

Like our Father says, = “Sheer confidence can only be obtained with hard work and practice! ”

– – Late Shri. Sanjay C Chaphale

This trophy is a token of appreciation for the entire unit at home, that shapes the athlete. Jai Hind!

Written by Samruddhi S Chaphale (Former International Speed Skater and recipient of National Child award – 2006 Best Sportsperson (Roller Skating)