Chennai: Not long ago, there were several playgrounds in the locality. But due to rapid development in Santhoshapuram, Chennai, most of them have been converted into residential plots.
Concerned about the lack of playing spaces, Ashok A J, an IT employee and a resident of Santhoshapuram, has rented a playground for the purpose.
He made the call through a Facebook post, which read, “We had no money to buy that eight rupees stumper ball and new cricket bat. But we made coconut branch as bat and used paper and rubber band to make ball. We had lots of friends who are crazy about cricket like us and plenty of time to enjoy the summer evening. Those are lovely days. But today, we are in a position to buy 100s of balls and bat but finding no time to enjoy the summer evening. I am booking a cricket ground to play tennis ball cricket. Don’t worry if you are not a great player, just bring your family and friends and enjoy the pleasant summer evening.”
Following this, several residents approached Ashok and have been playing here for the past few weeks.
Speaking to this paper, Ashok said it has become tough to find space to play in recent times.
“Since most of us are IT employees, the only day we can relax is Sunday. We choose to play cricket on that day, only to find no grounds available. So, we decided to rent a place,” he said.
He noted that after booking the premises, he spread the word through WhatsApp and Facebook, where he received good response.
“I hope this also comes as a wake-up call to those who are not concerned about the lack of grounds for sports enthusiasts. Today, most people do no physical activity, which leads to various diseases,” he added.
He also said his initiative has enabled him to meet new people and make friends. “It will be helpful if the civic body builds a cricket ground for us to play,” he felt.
Ashok can be reached at 72006 56424.
Article by Suriya Prasath