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)
"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)
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