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Hafiz-e-Quran is emerging Tennis Star of Bengal

By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,

Kolkata: The skull-capped bearded youth is now busy in practice session at Sports Authority of India’s Saltlake City ground. He is practicing with an old second-hand tennis racket. He can’t afford new quality one. But with borrowed rackets from his kind trainers, the Hafiz-e-Quran has already created ripples in the tennis circle of West Bengal. The champion of Siliguri Open Tennis Tournament 2011 and South 24-Parganas Tennis Championship 2011 is Tabarak Hossain Molla. After the practice session, he will attend madrasa where he is doing Daura Hadith (studying top six books of Hadith – Sehaye Sittah).

Tabarak Hossain Molla was born on 27th November 1985 in a small village of Sankijahan of South 24 Parganas district under the Sunderban area of West Bengal. When he was reading in class three, he lost his father. With four brothers and one sister he was finding it hard to meet both ends, leave alone study. But thanks to the help from his Primary School teacher Mahadev Saha he reached Class V at Gopalganj Junior High school. To reach the school he would cross the River of Jamtala every day. The sheer hard labor paid. He stood first every year up to class VIII.



Tabarak with Siliguri Open Tennis Tournament Cup

Soon after VIII, he fell ill for a long period. After he recovered, his mother Mayurzan Bibi admitted him in Daluakhaki Hafizia Madrasa under the Joynagar Police Station in South 24-Parganas district. Under the guidance of Hafiz Tayazul Islam, young Tabarak very quickly memorized Quran and he became Hafiz-e-Quran.

The Turning Point

An incident changed mode of his life. His madrasa teachers would visit Kolkata along with students for recreation. During such a visit at Saltlake Stadium, teenaged Tabarak saw some young boys engaged in Tennis training. He observed it keenly. His teacher looking his curiosity about the sport told him, it is the game for rich family, not for poor family. Yet, he dreamt to become a Tennis player.

One day, after vacation at madrasa, he caught a local train to Kolkata and asking the people he reached Saltlake Stadium. When he asked the trainers about Tennis, he faced insult for wearing beard and cap. But the kind-hearted Mali (Caretaker of tennis field) advised him to contact Noor Sir at Park Circus Tennis ground. He came to Park Circus and contacted Noor Sir.



Tabarak Hossain Molla (centre) in his room at Madrasa Jamia Islamia Madinatul Uloom

Winning Streak

Mr Noor started coaching him and bought for him a Tennis racket. Within two months he learnt to serve strong shots. Some days later Mr Noor left Kolkata and settled in Simla. Tabarak was again in trouble. Meanwhile, word about Tabarak’s performance reached renowned Tennis coach of Sports Authority of India (SAI) Mr Ashok Dey at Saltlake Campus, Kolkata. He called Tabarak. He admitted him in SAI and gave him training regularly. Ashok Dey sent him to participate in South 24 Parganas Tennis Championship at Narendrapur. He achieved first position. In 2010, he became champion at Popita Banerjee Tennis Championship at Garia. In first week of October 2011 he became champion in Siliguri Open Tennis Championship.

When he was engaged in Tennis training some kind-hearted man helped him. As he lived in a remote village of Sunderban Island, at least 150 Km from Kolkata, it was not possible for him to reach Saltlake Stadium thrice a week. He got job of an Imam at a Mosque near Garia which is about 8 km from Saltlake. As an Imam, Hafiz Tabarak got some remuneration. He bought a second-hand racket.

Getting higher Islamic education

Meanwhile Hafiz Tabarak decided to get more Islamic education. He got admitted in Jamia Islamia Madinatul Uloom at Memari in Burdwan district. Now he is doing Daura Hadith. Principal of the Madrasa Qari Md Samsuddin told TwoCircles.net: “We give him time relaxation to attend the tennis training. We were surprised that a Hafiz and Madrasa student was doing great in Sports (Tennis). It is pride for us as well as Muslim community. We always pray for him to achieve grand success in Tennis World.



Certificate of Siliguri Open Tennis Tournament 2011

Tabrak also told TCN that, besides doing Daura Hadith he will give High Madrasa Exam (X Std) for his formal educational qualification. He disclosed that Railways and some others have contacted him and ask whether he passed secondary Standard or not. If he passed X standard Exam, he may get Govt job, he hopes.

Tabarak is now staying at Padmerhat village of South 24 Parganas with his old mother. One villager helped him to stay at his home for his easy access to Saltlake Stadium. Tabarak is also teaching Quran to some boys and they pay him for that. His elder brother Yakub, a daily wager, regularly sends small amount for him.

Future Plan

Tabarak further told TCN that, he needs good racket. But it will cost him Rs 13-15 thousand, which is not possible for him to afford. He has a low quality racket. It is not possible to hit strong service with that. Whenever he takes part in championship, his trainers lend him a racket. But how many times they will lend him? Tabarak is upset now. His training is free. Trainers supply him with tiffin during training. Ashok Dey has advised him to take healthy food which also he can’t afford. Now he appeals to all to help him to buy a Special Tennis Racket which could help him reach the top position like Sania, Liender , Zishan Ali. His dream may come true one day if he is guided properly, hope his trainers.



SAI Saltlake Campus Entry Card of Tabarak

He can be contacted at:
MD. TABAROK HOSSAIN MOLLA.
S/O- SUBAHAN MOLLA.
VILL- PADMERHAT, P.O- DAKSHIN BARASAT,
P.S- JOYNAGAR
DIST- 24 PGS (S) W.B PIN- 743372.
MOBILE- 09143688664
E-MAIL ID- [email protected]
BANK A/C- 910010043170163
AXIS BANK- NARENDRAPUR BRANCH. West Bengal