SUPPORT KHELSHALA, AN ACTIVE NGO RUN BY MR. SATINDER PAL BAJWA IN CHANDIGARH: By KHATIBAH REHMAT.
When someone comes from your hometown then one becomes highly anxious and extremely emotional to meet that person, no matter they are not that close to us. The same thing happened when Mr. Mohammad Sabir came to Chandigarh all through from Allahabad (now Prayagraj) and pre-informed me about his arrival to be a part of a charitable event of squash. I was so happy that someone is coming from my hometown so, decided to cover the story live directly from Khelshala, which is a non-profitable organisation in Sector 42-B, Chandigarh. It’s seriously committed to provide good quality education which promotes the learning of life skills and making a difference to the community through sports, academics and of course extra-curricular activities for underprivileged and underserved children of slum society.
Junior squash players practicing at Khelshala. 
Event’s trophies and medals.
It is an appeal from entire team of REFT Today to support Khelshala as much as you can, as no amount is big or small. What matters is the support which they will be getting through your heartfelt contribution. Here are the details from where you can leave your contribution: www.khelshala.in
Two deadly COVID-19 years went lame with no events in a row. But now Khelshala has recently announced Junior Squash Open at their premises which began on August, 12, 2022 and ended on August, 15, 2022 and it went successfully. This 2022 event was named as Khelshala Freedom Junior Squash Open.
Around 236 junior players from round the nation participated in this National Level Squash Tournament. Not just this, 25 underprivileged but outstanding players of Khelshala also competed with national Junior Squash players in this tournament. Players from different states of India has marked their presence through this event, such as: Goa, Tamil Nadu and Assam came all through to Chandigarh to make this tournament a successful one. Khelshala prays for a smooth continuity of this event in upcoming years ahead.
Few mainstream people of Khelshala also gave their inputs to this interview with REFT Today. Mr. Satinder Pal Bajwa, Founder/Trustee at the NGO named KHELSHALA. He was also the Director, Harvard M&W Squash (1999-2010), Manager/Mentor of Jansher Khan and Promoter, PSA World Tour Finals (1996-2006). List is quite long, so log on to khelshala’s official website: www.khelshala.in and you will come to know about him. Mr. Mohammad Sabir, the representative of Squash Racket Federation of India (SRFI) was also present over there and told things about the upliftment of those students who want to make their careers in Squash. Sabir added that, SRFI is always standing besides them so that they may shine brighter.
Mr. Avinash Bhavnani, Squash coach. 
Ms. Samairah Raj Bhandare, under 15 Squash champion.
A Mumbai based senior coach Mr. Avinash Bhavnani was enthusiastically speaking about his dream to showcase his students to world front. His trained students are doing wonders everywhere and it seems, it’s not far from reach. Let’s now move on the little champion Ms. Samairah Raj Bhandare, a fourteen years old Goa based national squash player who is ranked no. 12 in India and ranked no. 1 in Goa, under 15 squash championship. Samairah spoke about her inspiration and her ambition in squash in near future. She is planning to compete in the international squash opens very soon.
A REPORT BY: KHATIBAH REHMAT (Senior Journalist).
SPECIAL INPUTS AND PICTURE COURTESY: Ms. BHOOMIKA SINGH.
