HIMANI SANAGARAM
CHICAGO: Darshan Shastri was awarded the great student athlete role model basketball award in the Indian community by Congressman Danny K. Davis. The presentation was made on September 29 at Bethel Mennonite Community Church by the Global Strategic Alliance Inc., Chicago.
Kelvyn Darshan Thomas, known as Darshan, has been playing basketball since the age of 5 years. He is the grandson of social worker Hema Shastri. Besides Darshan’s grandmother and mother, Indian community activist Dr Vijaya Prabhakar and Cook County Board president Toni Preckwinkle were present at the event. “I have been told and so do I believe that as a person thinketh, so is he or so is she,” Davis told the crowd.
“If you think you’ll lose, you’ve already lost. It’s all in the state of mind. And ‘If you like to win, but think you can’t it’s almost essential you won’t,” Davis added. You’ve got to be sure of yourself. Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger or faster man, but sooner or later, one who wins, is the one who thinks he can win. Think positive and you will always be successful. You got to think high to rise. You’ve got to be sure of yourself,” Danny Davis remarked.
Darshan was selected for the basketball travel team at 12 years of age. This is a big achievement. “He wants to be an NBA player,” Hema Shastri said.
An active player of the AAU Travel League – Integrity & Legacy Hoops, based out of Schaumburg, this was Darshan’s 1st year with the team and he won the MVP award for the Spring/Summer League. Basketball is a sport which he enjoys playing with his peers. He trains 3 to 4 times a week to better his skills, speed and agility in this sport.
Darshan has played for many teams during these seven years including Bensenville Park District Youth Basketball Winter and Summer leagues, Bensenville Bombers Dupage County Youth Travel team, Bartlett Ballers, DEA Nation AAU Travel League, Big 3 Basketball Academy AAU Travel League and Integrity & Legacy Hoops AAU Travel League. The teams which he has played for have won many tournament championships and have been recognized for the wins.
He is also learning to play Saxophone and has been an active participant in his school’s music band since the age of 10. He is also in accelerated math program at his middle school as Math is one of his favorite subjects.
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