Hitavada-Punyanagari clash on January 5

Defending champion The Hitavada will clash with Punyanagari in the inaugural match of the 12th Orange City Cup Inter-Press Cricket Tournament at Ajni cricket ground (new) on January 5. The tournament is being organised by Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur (SJAN).

The tournament has been sponsored by Orange City Hospital and Research Institute (OCHRI). Total eight teams are participating in the tournament and are divided in two pools. Pool ‘A’ includes The Hitavada, Loksatta, Sakal and Punyanagari while pool ‘B’ consists of Lokmat, Tarun Bharat, Times of India and Dainik Bhaskar.
Only one match will be played on the inaugural day. From January 6 to January 10 first round matches will be played simultaneously at Ajni and Ambedkar College ground from 9 a.m. onwards.
The second round matches will be played from January 13 to 16. The semi-finals will be held on January 18 and 19 at Ambedkar College ground followed by final on January 21 at the same venue. Top three teams from each pool would qualify for second round. This year Sahastrabuddhe Sports has sponsored Wisden County white balls. On January 3 souvenir ‘Cric Media’ will be released.

PAPERBAAJI

Orange City Hospital Cup SJAN’s inter-press cricket from Jan 5

Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur (SJAN) is organising SJAN-Orange City Hospital Cup 12th Inter-Press Invitational Cricket Tournament from January 5. The tournament is being sponsored by Orange City Hospital and Research Institute (OCHRI) and will be played at Dr Ambedkar College, Deekshabhoomi and Central Railway Ajni (New) grounds.

Eight teams including defending champions The Hitavada, runners-up Lokmat, Loksatta, Sakal, Times of India, Tarun Bharat, Punyanagari and Dainik Bhaskar have confirmed their participation. This time Empress City has sponsored the coloured clothing. For the first time Sahasrabuddhe Sports has joined hands with SJAN and will be sponsoring Wisden County white balls for the entire tourney.

Final match will be played on January 21. A souvenir and detailed schedule of the tournament will be released soon.

OFFICE INAUGURATION THROUGH LENS

‘Society’s united efforts can produce champions from city’

SJAN fetes Fadnavis for hat-trick of wins in State Assembly elections

Terming the Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur (SJAN) as the real fourth estate of the society, MLA Devendra Fadnavis, re-elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for the third consecutive term, exhorted SJAN to act as bridge between sportspersons, bureaucracy and politics for the betterment of sports in the region.
“SJAN has made immense contribution in development of sports in the city and to me it is the real fourth estate of the society. For further development of sports and sportspersons, I expect SJAN to work as a bridge between sportspersons, bureaucracy and politics,” Fadnavis said, while replying to his felicitation by SJAN for making a hat-trick of wins in the State Assembly elections.
“The sports scribes of the city cover all the sporting action very well. The space they give to these news not only makes the players happy but also their parents proud. This encourages them to continue with sports. If the bureaucracy, politics and society come together, I am sure Nagpur will be able to produce players of international level. This is where the SJAN has to play an important role, of being a bridge,” Fadnavis said to the gathering which included representatives of various sports bodies of the city and sports lovers.
At the outset, Fadnavis was handed over a citation by Praveen Darade, District Collector, Prashant Vaidya, former international cricketer and B C Bhartia, President, Vidarbha Hockey Association on behalf of SJAN.
Speaking on the occasion, Vaidya expressed happiness on being part of the first function organised by the sports body in its new office premises. “It’s a dream come true for SJAN to get their own office for which they were trying hard since long. This big place, I hope, will help them think and plan big and better ideas for further development of sports in the region,” he said.
In his address, Bhartia congratulated SJAN and Fadnavis and hoped for positive reporting from the sports journalists. “There are times when small paper cuttings with positive reports can help players in many ways. To promote sports in the region it is important to project our sportspersons in a positive way which will come with positive reporting,” the VHA chief said.
Chief guest on the occasion, Darade, citing a couple of examples, said that sports should be looked upon as a career. “For encouraging young sportspersons to take sports as a career, I think the role of these sports associations is very important. There is no constraint on the finance coming for hard-working and deserving players. There is five per cent sports quota in government job for the class 3 and 4 posts. Direct posting to class 1 and 2 will attract more players taking sports as career,” said Darade.
Dr Ram Thakur, President, SJAN and Naresh Shelke, Vice-President made the introductory remarks. Kishor Bagde, Joint Secretary conducted the proceedings and proposed a vote of thanks. (Report courtesy The Hitavada)

SJAN to fete Devendra Fadnavis on Dec 2

Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur (SJAN) will be felicitating MLA and President of Nagpur District Basketball Association Devendra Fadnavis for winning Maharashtra assembly elections for third successive term at a function on December 2 at SJAN office, near Vivekanand Nagar Hindi Primary School, behind Sai Mandir at 10 am. Praveen Darade, District Collector, Prashant Vaidya, former international cricketer, B C Bhartia, President, Vidarbha Hockey Association and corporator Sandeep Joshi will grace the function. SJAN has appealed to the sports lovers to attend the function in large numbers.

SJAN Awards 2009 News

SJAN's awards function covered by Samwad paper in Orissa

SJAN awards function through frames

All pictures courtesy The Hitavada/Moonlight.

SJAN's award function covered in Orissa too

Newspaper in Bhubneshwar Dharitri, Orissa gave good coverage to SJAN's annual award function 2008-2009. The paper took picture of Padmashri Dilip Tirkey being felicitated during the function.

SJAN-NMC awards given away

Three-time Olympian Dilip Tirkey praises ‘sports crazy’ city

"WHEN I saw international cricket matches held at Nagpur on television I thought that Nagpur knew only about cricket. But I was pleasantly surprised to know that the people here follow hockey and others sports deeply. I think Nagpur is a sports crazy city," said three-time Olympian and former Indian hockey captain Dilip Tirkey.
Tirkey was addressing sports lovers of the city at the jam-packed Tilak Patrakar Bhavan auditorium on the occasion of Annual Awards Function jointly organised by Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur (SJAN) and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), on Saturday.
"Cricket organisers are doing a good job and we have to learn a lot from them to promote hockey. The cricketers have also done the country proud. And in this atmosphere other sports including hockey will have to fight hard to make a name for themselves.
"We have talent in hockey but we have to spot them at grassroot level and make the young players strong providing good facilities and maximum exposure," Tirkey, chief guest of the function, said.
Tirkey expected passion from the players. "No doubt we have the quality and talent but the players should have passion for the sport. If a player gives his 100 per cent, is physically and mentally strong and plays with passion, he is bound to succeed," said the Indian defender who is playing for India since 14 years.
The Eklavya, Arjuna and Padmashri award winner Tirkey was felicitated by SJAN and NMC with a shawl and a glittering trophy for becoming the only player in the world to play more than 400 international matches.
In the annual awards function which followed, noted kabaddi player Shashank Wankhede, hoopster Khushali Jethwa, upcoming table tennis player Devdatta Fadnavis, swimming champ Vedashree Bondre and noted sports organiser Prof Atmaram Pande were honoured.
Wankhede and Jethwa won the Mayor’s trophies for being the best senior men and women player for the year 2008-09. Fadnavis and Bondre won the Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) and Baidyanath trophy, respectively, in the junior category.
Except for Devdatta, who is representing India in a junior international meet in China, everybody received the award in person at the hands of Tirkey.
Dr Babanrao Taywade, Principal, Dhanwate National College proudly accepted the ‘Best College’ award while Deepak Bajaj of the Sindhu Education Society received the Centre Point School trophy for ‘Best School’ won by Mahatma Gandhi Centennial High School (MGCHS) for promotion of sports.
From next year, the ‘Best College’ trophy would be given in the memory of K C Bajaj, it was announced.
The function started with garlanding of the picture of hockey legend Major Dhyanchand, whose August 29 birthday is celebrated as National Sports Day, and lighting of the traditional lamp.
Rahul Dixit, Secretary, SJAN made the introductory remarks while Dr Ram Thakur, President, spoke on various activities of the association.
Anil Sole, Leader, Ruling Party, NMC; Suresh Sharma, Joint Managing Director, Baidyanath Ayurved Limited; and Balbir Singh Renu, President, Nagpur District Badminton Association also stressed the need to promote sports and sportspersons in the city.
Sole informed the gathering that NMC has already constituted a panel to frame sports policy for the city.
Ms Kana Roy Chaudhuri, Principal, Centre Point School and Pravin Bhisikar, Standing Committee Chairman, NMC shared the dais with the dignitaries.
Kishor Bagde, Joint Secretary, SJAN, and Naresh Shelke, Vice-President, conducted the proceedings while member Ms Aditi Deodhar proposed a vote of thanks. (Report courtsey The Hitavada)

Like cricket, hockey too needs corporates: Tirkey

EXHORTING the corporates to come out in support for the national game and other sports apart from cricket, former Indian hockey captain Padmashri Dilip Tirkey has said that like cricket, hockey too needs to be glamourised.
Speaking at the ‘Meet the Press’ organised by Sports Journalists Association of Nagpur (SJAN), the star defender said that the national game too deserves better support from the corporates.
"I would not say that all the attention is given only to cricket but I feel that corporates should come forward and promote our national game too," Tirkey said when asked about the crores put in by corporates and filmstars in the Indian Premier League cricket.
Being the first hockey player in the world to appear in more than 400 international games, Tirkey said he had never thought of reaching this far.
"As a young player I only wanted to play for India. It was only when hockey statistician B G Joshi told me that I had played 360 international matches that I came to know I was second in the world," recollected Tirkey.
"Today I have played 412 international matches and it feels great to be on top of the world," he said.
Eventhough Indian hockey team is languishing at the 12th spot in the world rankings and European teams dominating the top half of the chart, Tirkey believes there was no favourite to win next year’s Commonwealth Games and World Cup, scheduled to be held in India.
"The game has changed a lot. The team that won the last World Cup failed in the Champions Trophy. So there are no clear favourites," Tirkey said.
Like cricket, Tirkey feels it’s time hockey too is glamourised. "Tournaments like Premier Hockey League (PHL) should be restarted. Our hockey organisers, though doing well, should search new and innovative methods to bring more glamour to the game. PHL tournaments were a great success. We should start such tournaments to bring in crowd," said Tirkey who led Orissa Steelers to the podium in the inaugural edition of PHL.
The Arjuna Awardee is of the view that six-a-side hockey should be introduced to make hockey more fast and interesting.
"Without disturbing the 70-minute game, I feel six-a-side hockey tournaments should be started. It will be very fast and of short duration," he opined.
Tirkey said India were unfortunate that whenever the team started doing well something untoward happened. "In 2003 we were doing well but defender Jugraj Singh got injured. Similarly, in the recent past the team got a setback when ace dragflicker Sandeep Singh got injured in a freak accident."
The defender is also worried over goal-keeper Baljit Singh’s injury. "He (Baljit) is our main goal-keeper. With him our team had started doing well. He was exceptional under the bar. His injury is a big blow to the Indian team. We hope Baljit recovers fast," Tirkey said.
The 31-year-old Tirkey, who won Arjuna Award in 2002, expressed concern over lack of infrastructure in popularising the game.
"There is a need to create conducive atmosphere for hockey by organising various tournaments at club and district levels," he said.
India’s 1-1 draw against Poland in the 2000 Sydney Olympics still rankles Tirkey, who has been rated as one of the most difficult defenders to get away with in the world.
"By playing a 1-1 draw against Poland, we lost an opportunity to play against Pakistan in the semi-final. That is one of the most regrettable moments in my life," he said.
The gold medal in Bangkok Asian Cup in 1998 is one of the happiest moments in life for the man from Sundergarh in Orissa, who made his international debut in 1995 against England.
Leading the Indian side for around a decade, Tirkey said he enjoyed his stint. "Pressure of leading Indian team was always there. In defeat it was the captain who had to face criticism. But I enjoyed captainship too because victory and defeat are part and parcel of the game," concluded Tirkey. (Report courtesy The Hitavada)

Chief guest Dilip Tirkey arrives in city

SJAN annual awards function on Aug 29th

Three-time Olympian and former India hockey captain Dilip Tirkey arrived in the city on Friday night to attend the annual awards function of Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur (SJAN) and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to be held on Saturday, August 29. The hockey star was received by Dr Ram Thakur, President, SJAN and other office bearers at the Dr Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur.

The function, to be held on National Sports Day, birthday of hockey legend Major Dhyanchand, will be held at Patrakar Bhavan auditorium, Panchsheel square, at 10 am. Tirkey will be the chief guest of the function.

Noted kabaddi player Shashank Wankhede, hoopster Khushali Jethwa, upcoming table tennis player Devdatta Fadnavis, swimming champ Vedashree Bondre and noted sports organiser Prof Atmaram Pande have been selected for the annual awards. Mahatma Gandhi Centennial High School (MGCHS) has been selected as best school working for promotion of sports while Dhanwate National College has been selected as best college.
The guests of honour include Mayatai Iwnate, Mayor; Aseem Gupta, Municipal Commissioner; Kishor Kumeriya, Deputy Mayor; Anil Sole, Leader, Ruling Party, NMC; Pravin Bhisikar, Standing Committee Chairman; Suresh Sharma, Joint Managing Director, Baidyanath Ayurved Limited; Arundev Upadhyaya, Director, Centre Point School.

Tirkey arriving on 28th for SJAN awards function

Three-time Olympian and former Indian hockey captain Dilip Tirkey will arrive on Friday night in the city to attend the annual awards function organised by Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur (SJAN) and Nagpur Municipal Corporation.
The function will be held at Tilak Patrakar Bhavan auditorium, Panchsheel square, on August 29 at 10 am.
Tirkey will be the chief guest of the function. The guests of honour include Mayatai Iwnate, Mayor; Aseem Gupta, Municipal Commissioner; Kishor Kumeriya, Deputy Mayor; Anil Sole, Leader, Ruling Party, NMC; Pravin Bhisikar, Standing Committee Chairman; Suresh Sharma, Joint Managing Director, Baidyanath Ayurved Limited; Arundev Upadhyaya, Director, Centre Point School.
The award winners are- Senior men- Shashank Wankhede. Senior women- Khushali Jethwa. Junior boys- Devdatta Fadnavis. Junior girls- Vedashree Bondre. Best organiser- Prof Atmaram Pande. Best School- Mahatma Gandhi Centennial High School. Best College- Dhanwate National College.

Wankhede, Khushali, Fadnavis, Vedashree, Pande claim top honours, MGCHS, DNC to get awards too

SJAN’s annual awardees named

NAGPUR, Aug 21: Noted kabaddi player Shashank Wankhede, hoopster Khushali Jethwa, upcoming table tennis player Devdatta Fadnavis, swimming champ Vedashree Bondre and noted sports organiser Prof Atmaram Pande have been selected for the annual awards of Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur (SJAN) and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC).

Shashank Wankhede

The awardees were announced in a press meet for scribes at Tilak Patrakar Bhavan on Friday.
The awards will be conferred on August 29, National Sports Day, at Tilak Patrakar Bhavan auditorium at 10.30 am. Three-time Olympian and former Indian hockey captain Dilip Tirkey will be the chief guest.
Addressing mediapersons on Friday, SJAN secretary Rahul Dixit said that Mahatma Gandhi Centennial High School (MGCHS) has been selected as best school working for promotion of sports while Dhanwate National College has been selected as best college.
The best senior sportsman’s award will be conferred on kabaddi player Shashank Wankhede. He was among the probables for Indian team this year. An employee of South East Central Railway Wankhede has played seven nationals, five for Vidarbha and two for Railways. He was the best player in the Federation Cup kabaddi meet held in Mumbai two years ago. He will get Mayor’s Trophy and Rs 5,000 cash.
Basketball star Khushali Jethwa will be given the best senior sportswoman’s award. Khushali has been representing Maharashtra in senior nationals since last two years. A regular of Saraswati Kanya Sangh (SKS) she was also instrumental in Maharashtra basketball team’s entry into the elite group. She will be honoured with Mayor’s Trophy and Rs 5,000 cash.

Khushali Jethwa

The best junior sportsman’s award will go to upcoming table tennis player Devdatta Fadnavis. Currently ranked number five in India in the sub-junior category Devdatta is also Maharashtra number one in the same group. Apart from finishing in the first three in various national and ranking tournaments since last two years, the paddler has re presented India in World Junior Circuit meets at Qatar and Pune and in Asian Junior Circuit meet in Jaipur. He will get WCL Trophy and cash prize of Rs 3,000.

Devdutta Fadnavis

Swimmer Vedashree Bondre has been chosen for the best junior sportswoman’s award. A gold medal winner in school national swimming meet, Vedashree has podium finish in nationals since last two years. She

Vedashree Bondre

also has place in school nationals and junior nationals. She will be awarded Baidyanath Trophy and cash prize of Rs 3,000.

Prof Atmaram Pande

The special award for best organiser will go to noted sports organiser Prof Atmaram Pande. A Chhatrapati Awardee in handball, Pande has been promoting football relentlessly since last 16 years. He has been nurturing talent through his Big Ben Football Club helping players in their careers. He will get SJAN Trophy and Rs 3,000 cash.
Mahatma Gandhi Centennial High School, Jaripatka, has been selected as best school promoting sporting activities. MGCHS has been into sports activities since last many years. The school has also provided good infrastructure for sports and encourages its players throughout the year apart from organising various tournaments. Their Under-16 cricket team had also qualified for inter-school cricket tournament organised by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). They will get Centre Point School Trophy and cash prize of Rs 3,000.
The award for the best college promoting sporting activities will go to Dhanwate National College. The college has maintained its sporting tradition for several years by organising various tournaments and even financially helping their students. DNC also boasts of various titles and good infrastructure for sports.
Baidyanath Ayurved Limited, Western Coalfields Limited, Centre Point School and Manganese Ore India Limited have extended their helping hand to organise the annual awards function.
SJAN President Dr Ram Thakur and Vice-President Naresh Shelke were also present on the occasion. (Report courtesy The Hitavada)