Platinum Stars Unearthed & Recognised
Harshvadan V Maroo

On the opening day of the 2003 Platinum Games in Nairobi, there was disbelief , pleasant surprise and pride as 194 Platinum Stars, paraded in a line and walked on the catwalk at the Mahajanwadi, to thunderous applause after receiving their individual Platinum Star Certificates. These stars were our own Oshwals who had at any time before, represented their country of residence anywhere in the world, at a National level in any sport, or had won a National Championship These included in Badminton 14 players, Bridge 20, Chess 5, Cricket 9, Cycling 1, Darts 2, Golf 6, Marathon 1, Green Bowling 2, Motor Rallying 9, Scrabble 2, Shooting 3, Snooker 3, Squash 13 , Swimming 61, Table Tennis 29, Taekwando 5, and in Tennis 9. Certificates were even forwarded to all identified Platinum Stars who lived abroad. When this project was conceived, it was thought that there maybe some 40 or 50 Oshwals who would fit the above definition of a Platinum Star. How wrong could one have been ! Unearthing the names was a task but once the momentum set in, the names began to roll in.

A Special Platinum Recognition Award was handed to stalwart Harilal Raishi Rupshi Shah as an Oshwal for his 35 years of unmatched service to Cricket for Kenya. He was Kenya team Captain, then East Africa World Cup Team Captain (1975), also once a Vice Chairman of Kenya Cricket Association, and past active International Cricket Council (ICC) committee member. He was a Treasurer of the ICC activities such as the development of cricket in Kenya and working at getting Kenya Test status in cricket. Jawahir Nathoo Shah, one of the finest and prolific batsman Kenya has produced, was very happy to have been at the Platinum Stars recognition ceremony.

Congratulations to our community for unearthing the Platinum Stars, and giving them a well deserved public recognition as well as documenting the list of their names. One star, Amar Ashwin Shah went onto represent Kenya in swimming at the Olympics ! Another , Piyush Zaverchand Gudka (ex Mombasa) successfully completed gruelling  marathon runs in six continents within just eleven months in late 1990’s ! Two stars – Ajay Anil Shah and Anil Ashok Shah , are now professional golfers abroad. Arusha-based Jayant Shah had won the famous East African Safari Rally. Sunil Ramniklal Shah used to train our youngsters at table tennis in Nairobi and went onto to become an umpire for the International Table Tennis Federation. Bipin Mulji Shah had won a Kenya national snooker title. These are just a few names from the list below, to give a flavour for the sporting talent and potential in the community.If we were to update the 194 names list today, the number could be about 230 to 250.

The Platinum Stars recognition ceremony was a fitting ‘Salute to Our Forefathers’.     

 Platinum Stars’ List (2003)