Mumbai Police’s Kanga League triumph would have pleased Ashok Kamte

Slain top cop followed the Police cricket team's fortunes closely and would have been happy with their success this season, says team secretary Sr inspector Iqbal Shaikh

Mumbai Police's Kanga League triumph would have pleased Ashok Kamte

Slain top cop followed the Police cricket team's fortunes closely and would have been happy with their success this season, says team secretary Sr inspector Iqbal Shaikh

Apart from being a dashing Additional Commissioner of Police, Ashok Kamte was a keen sportsman.

On his first death anniversary after laying down his life while bravely defending Mumbai from last November's terrorist attack, his fellow cops cannot get over their loss.

An all-round sportsman, Kamte excelled in athletics, shooting and even represented the country at the Junior Powerlifting Championship in Peru, 1978. He was a cricket enthusiast too.

Sr Inspector Iqbal Shaikh, a former Police cricket team captain and now secretary of the team, said it's sad that Kamte is not around to savour one of the best years for the police team.

"He used to regularly enquire about the Mumbai police team's progress. He had a busy schedule, but whenever he had time, he would come and participate in net sessions. He regularly figured in tournaments which featured senior police officers," said Shaikh.

"It has been a great season for the Police team and he would have been proud of our performances. We won two senior tournaments and were runners-up in one. We became champions of 'A' Division Kanga League for the first time and won the prestigious Talyarkhan Shield. We also reached the final of Young Comrade Shield," added Shaikh.

Kamte knew how tough it was to excel in the Kanga League, the most famous monsoon tournament in the cricket world and Shaikh emphasised that his late colleague knew every bit of the tournament's significance.

Kamte was not merely keen on watching the game. According to Shaikh, he organised tournaments too. "When he was commissioner of Sholapur, he introduced the concept of Cricket for Peace," said Shaikh.

Kamte's love for sports showed in the annual state police games in which the high-ranking police officer used to be a regular participant.

"In our inter-district sports events, Kamte used to win a lot of medals in athletics and shooting. Javelin throw was his favourite event," recalled Shaikh.

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