Sporting encounters At first glance, Marine Sports Book Shop appears just like the many cosy shops and establishments along the busy Gokhale Road in Dadar, Mumbai. But, as its owner Theo Braganza tells you, it has a rare distinction: it only stocks books on sports; a fact that only two other bookshops in the world can claim. Whether it is cricket, baseball, hockey, chess, rugby or golf, Marine Sports has a book on every sport. Braganza’s father opened the store in 1957 as a sports goods store and later expanded it to sell books on sports. Eventually, he discontinued the sports goods business and focused only on sports books. Open from Monday to Saturday, the store operates on demand. You get your copy only after you’ve placed your order. Braganza delivers orders all over the country. “Order any book on sports, and I promise I can get it for you,” says the 60 year-old cricket enthusiast. His confidence is as impressive as his clientele. Ranji Trophy player Raju Mehta, journalist Ayaz Memon and even cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar have bought books from him. “In 1972, Gavaskar wanted to read the Australian Cricket Annual before India’s tour to Australia,” recalls Braganza. “It wasn’t available in India then; we got it especially for him from Australia.” Now, he plans to launch a chain of book stores in metros across the country. Howzzatt! — Eepsita Guha Featured in Harmony Magazine June 2010