SJAN-NMC AWARDS GIVEN AWAY

Aim Higher: Manohar tells city players

Appeals to form independent organisation to help city's sportspersons

SJAN-NMC ANNUAL AWARDS GIVEN AWAY

NAGPUR, July 13, 2008
“NAGPUR was never short of sporting talent. But the level of satisfaction in our sportspersons is very low. This mentality is stopping them from attaining higher levels in sports,” averred Adv Shashank Manohar, President-elect of the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI).Manohar was addressing the packed audience at the Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (SJAN-NMC) Annual Awards function at Tilak Patrakar Bhavan auditorium. Sharing the dais with him were Mayor Maya Iwnate, Municipal Commissioner Aseem Gupta, Deputy Mayor Kishor Kumeria, Standing Committee Chairman Krishna Khopde, Leader of Ruling Party in NMC Anil Sole, Director of Centre Point School Arundev Upadhyaya, SJAN President Dr Ram Thakur and SJAN Secretary Rahul Dixit. Manohar exhorted youngsters to take sports as a profession like engineering or medical. “It has become a profession and one needs to work very hard to be successful in any profession,” he said.

The Vidarbha Cricket Association president said that only infrastructure and facilities cannot make good players. “There should be a desire to excel among the players. There should be a system groom them from the school level,” he said.

Manohar also floated the idea of forming an organisation of sportslovers to help sportspersons of the city. “People who love sports should come together and form a body. Raising money for such noble effort is never difficult. The fund should be utilised to develop sportsperson from all disciplines. And soon we would also have many players of international fame,” Manohar said.

Speaking on the occasion Aseem Gupta expressed happiness to see a sports journalists body and municipal corporation coming together to honour sporting talent of the city. He urged people to give sports due importance in life.Dr Arundev Upadhyaya appealed to the well-to-do schools to come together and provide a helping hand to sportspersons from financially weak schools.

Mayor Maya Iwanate said that the corpration was committed to development of sports in the city. “We have already earmarked a large chunk for sports in our annual budget,” she said.

Krishna Khopde, Kumeria and Sole also spoke on the occasion.

TALENT HONOURED

Later, the guests presented the awards to various winners. The highlight of the ceremony was the powerpoint presentation showing the deeds of all award winners on a large screen. The function was shown live by local channel UCN.Bhavan’s BP Vidya Mandir, Civil Lines was awarded the Centre Point School Trophy and a cash prize of Rs 3000 for the Best School working for promotion of sports. School Principal Beena Gokhale accepted the award.

The SJAN Trophy and cash prize of Rs 3000 for Best College working for promotion of sports went to Hislop College. Principal Deepti Christian and Sports HoD Kalpana Jadhav accepted the award.

Vinod Trivedi was presented the special award for being the best organiser. The award contained SJAN Trophy and Rs 3,000.

Best Junior Sportswoman award went to ace table tennis player Mallika Bhandarkar. Her mother, Anjali, accepted the Baidyanath Trophy and Rs 3000.

Junior India hockey player Ather Mirza got the Best Junior Sportsman award. He was presented WCL Trophy and Rs 3000.Noted swimmer Prajakta Khangan was awarded the Mayor’s Trophy and Rs 5000 for being the Best Senior Sportswoman.

The Mayor’s Trophy and a cash for Rs 5000 for being the Best Senior Sportsman was awarded to Vidarbha Ranji Trophy captain Preetam Gandhe.

The programme began with the lighting of traditional lamp. The guests were welcomed by Dr Ram Thakur, Rahul Dixit, Paritosh Pramanik, Uday Rangnath, Kishor Bagde and Aditi Deodhar.Dixit made the introductory remarks while SJAN Vice-President Naresh Shelke conducted the programme. Treasurer Anupam Soni proposed a vote of thanks.

NMC INSTUTES MAYOR'S 'KRIDA RATNA' AWARD

Fulfilling a long-standing need of the sporting fraternity of the city, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) announced institution of Mayor's 'Krida Ratna' award from the next season. Mayor Maya Iwnate made this announcement during the SJAN-NMC award function. She that the winner would get a Mayor's Trophy, details of which would come out soon