Thirteen year-old VISHAL SHELAR comes from a humble background. The Rustomjee International School student's father Vijay Shelar is a bus conductor in the same school. Vijay is a proud of his son. Vishal achieved a new record in shotput during an under-12 Mumbai School Sports Association (MSSA) event at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) ground in Kandivali. He threw the two-kg metal ball to a distance of 13.07 meters. The previous record had been 12.61 meters. Even School is trying to help Vishal.

Despite multiple talent identification schemes run by the government, largely due to their inefficiencies and/or endeavour that believed SHOT PUT talent exists in very rare kids only. This approach has largely left our regular schools - in cities and rural/semi urban towns, that produce talent in every sphere - out of scope of any talent identification programs for sprinting talent.

AIMS is hunting to identify sports talent from children across schools and trying their best to raise funds, train them and put forth kids to display talent.

Vishal, who had won gold in Maharashtra state sub-junior in December last year, would put in four hours of practice daily at the Bhavdevi Sports Club in Dahisar. For the boy, every practice session is an opportunity to raise his level, be better than the previous day. "Before throwing the ball, I concentrate more on breaking my previous best. I believe in bettering my own record, rather than breaking records of others. I want to improve on every throw," Vishal said.

Vijay is now seen as Vishal's father. "The moment he started breaking records, people's attitude towards me changed. Now they know me as Vishal's father, not a bus conductor. I pray he scales more heights," said Vijay. Coach Vinayak Shirke feels Vishal will go a long way if guided well.

But this all needs not only Vishal’s effort but funds too to help him reach all levels at state level as well as National level. His coach has dedicated himself to Vishal but Vishal is short of funds to display his talent at National level.

Just in September 2017, if we see, Vishal has won below medals:

Now Vishal has to travel to Nagpur, Vishakapatnam, Guntur for further levels in which he has been selected. Lots of funds will be required for traveling and accommodation which is difficult for him to afford. 

We have faced multiple issues in conducting this privately funded campaign due to:
- excessive time in government procedures for securing such sponsorship
- due to focus on academics, parents financial problem to spend for such an athletic talent identification

You can read more about Master Vishal Shelar on below links: