The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) on Tuesday expressed its deep shock at the passing away of Asian Video games medallist in hammer and discus thrower, Praveen Kumar Sobti, on Tuesday at the age of 74.
Sobti, who turned illustrious when he played the Pandava strongman Bheem in BR Chopra’s iconic tv serial ‘Mahabharat’, obtained consecutive gold medals in the discus at the 1966 and 1970 Asian Video games held in Bangkok, besides worthwhile bronze in the hammer at the 1966 Video games.
He also obtained the 1974 Tehran Asian Video games silver in discus, besides silver in the 1966 Commonwealth Video games at Kingston in 1966.
Sobti also competed in the 1968 Mexico Metropolis and 1972 Munich Olympic Video games where he produced his occupation-easiest hammer throw (60.84m) and discus throw (53.12m), respectively.
“AFI family is in deep shock on the passing away of Olympian & Asian Video games medallist Shri Praveen Kumar Sobti ji, 74, this day. He turned a family name with his role of ‘Bheem’ in BR Chopra’s story conceal ‘Mahabharat’. RIP sir,” AFI tweeted on Tuesday.
AFI family is in deep shock on the passing away of Olympian & Asian Video games medalist Shri Praveen Kumar Sobti ji,74,this day
He turned a family name with his role of “Bheem” in BR Chopra’s story conceal “Mahabharat”.
RIP sir #PraveenKumarSobti #Bheem pic.twitter.com/9ZlN06XOVI
— Athletics Federation of India (@afiindia) February 8, 2022
AFI president Adille J. Sumariwalla stated Indian athletics had lost a stupendous ambassador in the demise of Sobti. “He’ll remain an inspiration for years to near support as he is a monumental instance of an athlete who gave his easiest on the realm platform in the 11 years that he competed at the best stage,” he stated.
Hailing from a humble family in Sarhali Kalan village, 50km south of Amritsar, Sobti rose to retract the 1966 Commonwealth Video games hammer throw silver which used to be the country’s maiden medal in a subject match in the CWG and totally the 2d in athletics after Milkha Singh’s 440 yard gold in 1958.
“It is that this quality of raising his recreation at the greatest of stages that made Praveen Kumar the tip-notch performer,” Sumariwalla stated.
“To believe finished all this at a time when training for predominant competition entailed totally brief stints in a National camp speaks volumes about his pure skill and the passionate fire that drove him to set up excellence.”
Sooner than his foray into performing, Sobti began his working life with the Border Security Power. Sobti, who towered at 6 toes 5 inches, is easiest remembered for his on-tv characters — Bhim in ‘Mahabarat’ and Saboo in the Raghubir Yadav-starrer ‘Chacha Chaudhary’, in step with Pran Kumar Sharma’s hugely in trend comic-e book sequence in Hindi.
Interestingly, his Chacha Chaudhary persona used to be a giant alien from Jupiter, who presents protection to the elderly Chacha.
Other than having a busy movie and tv occupation, Sobti also dabbled in politics — he stood in the 2013 Municipal Corporation of Delhi (2013) elections and therefore joined the BJP.
