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Dharmendra Sehwag was shocked when his parents introduced him to his more famous namesake and relative Virender at a family function. Currently competing in the Delhi State snooker championships, Dharmendra happens to be distant relative of the Nawab of Najafgarh.
"I was totally unaware that both of us are kin. The only thing I knew that we had some connection with his village. But when I was told that I am a distant relative of his and that too his chacha, it was embarrassing since I am too younger to him," says Dharmendra.
They might have similar surnames but there is a stark difference between how they were brought up. While Viru was encouraged by his family to play, Dharmendra was asked to concentrate on his studies. But he persisted with sports.
A final year Chartered Accountancy student, Dharmendra says he has played several sports in the past. He started as a hockey player as a center forward. He was a part of the winning side in the Kendriya Vidyalaya Nationals in 2004. The same year he also participated in the swimming nationals but failed to qualify for the main rounds. But his sports career could not continue as his parents wanted him study. "I played till the school level. The college that I joined did not have outdoor sports. So my parents advised me to devote more time towards studies than playing sports. But I like playing and so to fulfill my passion I started playing snooker," says the 20-year-old.
Interestingly, it's been only two years since he took up the sport. He started playing snooker under coach Mukesh Rehani, and feels that it would take him some more time to improve the game."It is not at all easy for me to devote time for snooker as my studies demand a lot of time. But I manage to take out three hours a day to practice snooker," adds Dharmendra.
Mention cricket, and he goes on the back foot. Though he says cricket has never interested him, but is quick to add that he watches Virender play. "My family is not at all interested in sports. In fact they only stress upon studies but all of us love watching Viru bat," he says.
His chances of winning the Delhi meet have risen considerably, with Laxman Rawat and Lalit Dahiya, who have already qualified for the nationals and so are not in the senior's fray.
But he isn't taking his chances of winning for granted saying "I don't want to take things lightly and leave any thing on chance."
If Dharmendra manages to win the tournament here, which is finishing on August 28, he will make the nationals cue tournament to be held at Pune.
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