>Yobot: Fix REFPUNCT + other minor fixes

2021-01-14T15:14:00Z

Fix REFPUNCT + other minor fixes

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{{short description|Indian Kabaddi player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| birth_name = Raju Bhavsar
| full_name = Sriram (raju) Dinanath Bhavsar
| image = File:Raju Bhavsar onboard with then p.m dr Manmohan singh.jpg
| caption = Bhavsar with [[Manmohan Singh]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1962|8|30}}
| birth_place = [[Ahmednagar]], Mumbai, Maharashtra
| nationality = [[Indian people|Indian]]
| ethnicity =
| residence = Mumbai, Maharashtra
| occupation = Sr.Flight purser at Air india
| years_active = 1976 to 2004
| employer = Air india
| height = 173 cm
| weight = 84 kg
| spouse = Veena bhavsar
| country = [[India]]
| sport = [[Kabaddi]]
| position = All rounder
| team = [[Sangli District]]

[[Maharashtra State]]

[[Air India]]

[[India]]
| turnedpro = 1982
| coach = Bapu zambre
| medaltemplates =
| Children =
}}

'''Raju Bhavsar''' is a former Indian [[kabaddi]] player.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/asian-games-2018/india-vs-iran-kabaddi-players-prepared-for-war-says-raju-bhavsar-ajay-thakur-pardeep-narwal-monu-goyat-india-women-lose-to-iran-in-final/article24773099.ece|title=Iran prepared for Asian Games gold extensively, says former player Bhavsar|last=Viswanath|first=G.|website=Sportstar|language=en|access-date=2018-12-06}}</ref> He has played for [[India national kabaddi Team|national]] kabaddi team and represented in international tournaments for almost eight years.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-sports/PKL-changed-the-scenario-says-Bhavsar/article14469851.ece|title=PKL changed the scenario, says Bhavsar|date=2016-07-04|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-12-06|others=Special Correspondent|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Career ==
He played for [[Mumbai]] [[Maharashtra]]. His playing style was all rounder. He was the captain of the national kabaddi team, which won a historic gold medal in the first ever indoor [[International Kabaddi Association|international]] kabaddi tournament held at [[Birmingham]], England in 1993.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.englandkabaddi.co.uk/team/englandmens/|title=England|website=EKA|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Sharma|first=Vishal|date=2020-07-06|title=Pro Kabaddi League has changed the entire scenario of the sport in India, says Raju Bhavsar|url=https://www.mykhel.com/kabaddi/pro-kabaddi-league-has-changed-the-entire-scenario-of-the-sport-in-india-says-raju-bhavsar-146840.html|access-date=2020-07-08|language=en}}</ref>

He represented India and won a gold medal for India at the [[Kabaddi at the Asian Games|kabaddi Asian]] championship held at [[Calcutta]] in 1987.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://www.rsssf.com/tabless/safg87.html|title=3rd South Asian Federation Games 1987 (Calcutta, India)|publisher=rsssf.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Sharma|first=Vishal|date=2020-07-06|title=Pro Kabaddi League has changed the entire scenario of the sport in India, says Raju Bhavsar|url=https://www.mykhel.com/kabaddi/pro-kabaddi-league-has-changed-the-entire-scenario-of-the-sport-in-india-says-raju-bhavsar-146840.html|access-date=2020-07-08|language=en}}</ref>

He was part of the Indian kabaddi team that qualified for the 9th kabaddi Asian games in [[Beijing]], winning gold against [[Bangladesh]] in 1990.

He was awarded India's second highest sports honour, [[Arjuna Award]] in 1996 by the [[President of India]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://khelkabaddi.in/players-profile-raju-bhavsar/raju-bhavsar-kabaddi/|title=Raju Bhavsar Kabaddi|website=Khel Kabaddi|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/sport/services-players-give-prokabaddi-new-vibrant-look/article8284473.ece|title=Services players give ProKabaddi new, vibrant look|last=Viswanath|first=G.|date=2016-02-26|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-12-21|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://maharashtratimes.indiatimes.com/sports-news/other-sports/raju-bhavsar-appointed-as-chief-of-players-commission/articleshow/57949351.cms|title=राजू भावसार खेळाडू आयोगाचे प्रमुख|date=2017-04-01|website=Maharashtra Times|language=mr|access-date=2018-12-21}}</ref>

Currently he is working with Air India in Inflight Services Dept as Cabin Supervisor. He is also a kabaddi expert for leading sports broadcaster 'Star Sports' for Pro Kabaddi League & world Cup 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sharma|first=Vishal|date=2020-07-06|title=Pro Kabaddi League has changed the entire scenario of the sport in India, says Raju Bhavsar|url=https://www.mykhel.com/kabaddi/pro-kabaddi-league-has-changed-the-entire-scenario-of-the-sport-in-india-says-raju-bhavsar-146840.html|access-date=2020-07-08|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Viswanath|first=G.|date=2016-02-26|title=Services players give ProKabaddi new, vibrant look|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/sport/services-players-give-prokabaddi-new-vibrant-look/article8284473.ece|access-date=2020-06-23|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==Early days==
Raju entered kabaddi at 14, watching his elder brothers Vivek & Hemant playing. He played for a well known kabaddi club of Sangli (Maharashtra) "Jai Mathrubhumi Vyayam Mandal"<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pro Kabaddi League has changed the entire scenario of the sport in India, says Raju Bhavsar|url=https://in.news.yahoo.com/pro-kabaddi-league-changed-entire-085414827.html|access-date=2020-07-08|website=in.news.yahoo.com|language=en-IN}}</ref>

From the age of 16 he showed potential and at the age of 19 he was selected in Maharashtra men's team for Senior nationals.

Raju was picked up by a professional team "Vanaz Engineers", Pune. After playing for 4 years he was offered a job by national carrier "Air India" at Mumbai.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sharma|first=Vishal|date=2020-07-06|title=Pro Kabaddi League has changed the entire scenario of the sport in India, says Raju Bhavsar|url=https://www.mykhel.com/kabaddi/pro-kabaddi-league-has-changed-the-entire-scenario-of-the-sport-in-india-says-raju-bhavsar-146840.html|access-date=2020-07-08|language=en}}</ref>

==Playing style==
Having equal command over raiding and defence, Raju Bhavsar was one of the finest all-rounders of his time.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Viswanath|first=G.|title=Iran prepared for Asian Games gold extensively, says former player Bhavsar|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/asian-games-2018/india-vs-iran-kabaddi-players-prepared-for-war-says-raju-bhavsar-ajay-thakur-pardeep-narwal-monu-goyat-india-women-lose-to-iran-in-final/article24773099.ece|access-date=2020-07-04|website=Sportstar|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Sharma|first=Vishal|date=2020-07-06|title=Pro Kabaddi League has changed the entire scenario of the sport in India, says Raju Bhavsar|url=https://www.mykhel.com/kabaddi/pro-kabaddi-league-has-changed-the-entire-scenario-of-the-sport-in-india-says-raju-bhavsar-146840.html|access-date=2020-07-08|language=en}}</ref> He was a quick both side raider and solid right center. He is the only player who has played on all 4 defensive positions for Maharashtra men's team in Nationals.
He was known as master strategist and tactician.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Viswanath|first=G.|title=Iran prepared for Asian Games gold extensively, says former player Bhavsar|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/asian-games-2018/india-vs-iran-kabaddi-players-prepared-for-war-says-raju-bhavsar-ajay-thakur-pardeep-narwal-monu-goyat-india-women-lose-to-iran-in-final/article24773099.ece|access-date=2020-07-04|website=Sportstar|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Pro Kabaddi League has changed the entire scenario of the sport in India, says Raju Bhavsar|url=https://in.news.yahoo.com/pro-kabaddi-league-changed-entire-085414827.html|access-date=2020-07-08|website=in.news.yahoo.com|language=en-IN}}</ref>

==Achievements and awards==

* Highest award for sportspersons in Maharashtra state "ShivChhatrapati Puraskar" - 1986
* Highest award for sportspersons in India "Arjuna Award"-1996
* FIE national award for best sportsman of India -1990<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-08-31|title=Players Profile: Raju Bhavsar|url=https://khelkabaddi.in/blog/2018/08/31/players-profile-raju-bhavsar/|access-date=2020-07-04|website=Khel Kabaddi|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Sharma|first=Vishal|date=2020-07-06|title=Pro Kabaddi League has changed the entire scenario of the sport in India, says Raju Bhavsar|url=https://www.mykhel.com/kabaddi/pro-kabaddi-league-has-changed-the-entire-scenario-of-the-sport-in-india-says-raju-bhavsar-146840.html|access-date=2020-07-08|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Pro Kabaddi League has changed the entire scenario of the sport in India, says Raju Bhavsar|url=https://in.news.yahoo.com/pro-kabaddi-league-changed-entire-085414827.html|access-date=2020-07-08|website=in.news.yahoo.com|language=en-IN}}</ref>

==References==
<references />

==External links==
{{official website|http://www.kabaddiuniverse.com/}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhavsar, Raju}}
[[Category:Kabaddi players from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Arjuna Award]]
[[Category:Indian kabaddi players]]
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:Asian Games gold medalists for India]]
[[Category:Asian Games medalists in kabaddi]]
[[Category:Kabaddi players at the 1990 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1990 Asian Games]]

Raju Bhavsar - Revision history

>Yobot: Fix REFPUNCT + other minor fixes