Monday, August 31, 2009

SJAN awards function through frames




























All pictures courtesy The Hitavada/Moonlight.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

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.


Saturday, August 29, 2009

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)

Friday, August 28, 2009

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.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

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.

Friday, August 21, 2009

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)

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

SJAN’s office inaugurated

Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur’s (SJAN) new office in Vivekanand Nagar was inaugurated at the hands of Devendra Fadnavis, MLA, West Nagpur, on Tuesday.
Fadnavis dedicated the office, built through his local development fund, to the sports journalists. He exhorted the sports scribes to keep up their good work and help in sports development of the city.
“Since last decade sports journalists of Nagpur have been doing a great job for raising standard of sports in the region,” Fadnavis said. He also assured more help in functioning of the office.
Sandeep Joshi, corporator, was also present on the occasion. Dr Ram Thakur, SJAN President, made the introductory remarks. Rahul Dixit, Secretary, welcomed the guests. Naresh Shelke, Vice-President conducted the programme while Kishor Bagde, Joint Secretary, proposed a vote of thanks.
SJAN members and many other sports enthusiasts were present on the occasion.




West Nagpur MLA Devendra Fadnavis inaugurating
SJAN office








(All pics Anil Futane)

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

SJAN-NMC annual awards on Aug 29



Olympian Dilip Tirkey to be the chief guest

Continuing its tradition of felicitating outstanding sportspesons of the city, Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur (SJAN) in association with Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) will hold its annual awards function on August 29, birth day of hockey legend Major Dhyanchand, at Tilak Patrakar Bhavan auditorium, Panchsheel square, at 10 am.
Dilip Tirkey, Olympian and the first hockey player in the world to play over 400 matches, will be the chief guest of the function, informs a press release issued by Rahul Dixit, Secretary, SJAN.
Baidyanath and Western Coalfields Limited are the co-sponsors of the event.
Total seven awards including senior and junior sportspersons in men’s and women’s categories, sports organiser, best school and college will be presented on the occasion.
Names of the awardees will be announced soon.
In the past SJAN’s annual awards functions have been graced as chief guest by eminent people including ex-Test stars Dilip Vengsarkar, Sanjay Manjrekar, shooter Anjali Bhagwat, Olympian Mukesh Kumar, former India stumper Kiran More, Indian Cricket Board chief Adv Shashank Manohar and other sports personalities.