SJAN annual awardees announced

From top left : Umesh Yadav, Arundhati Pantawane, Shailesh Bhondekar, Shweta Gole and Ganesh Purohit.

India pacer Umesh Yadav, ace shuttler Arundhati Pantawane, upcoming cricketer Shailesh Bhondekar, chess player Shweta Gole, and noted boxing coach Ganesh Purohit have been selected for the annual awards of Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur (SJAN) and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) 2009-10.
The awardees were announced in a press release issued by Rahul Dixit, Secretary, SJAN, on Tuesday.
The awards will be conferred on August 29, National Sports Day, at VITS Hotel (old Sunny International), opposite Big Bazar, Dhantoli at 10.30 am. Chairman of Selectors, BCCI, and former Indian captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth will be the chief guest.
The award for Best School working for promotion of sports has gone to Bhonsala Military School while Dr Ambedkar College, Deekshabhoomi, has been selected for the Best College award.
The best senior sportsman’s award will be conferred on crickter Umesh Yadav. He represented India in recent tri-series in Zimbabwe. The Vidarbha speedster has also played for Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He will get Mayor’s Trophy and Rs 5,000 cash.
Badminton player Arundhati Pantawane will get the best senior sportswoman’s award. She is currenty India No. 5 and this year she won the All India title at Barielly and was runners-up at Bangalore. She also represented India at Vietnam, Thailand, Poland and Switzerland. She will be honoured with Mayor’s Trophy and Rs 5,000 cash.
The best junior sportsman’s award will go to upcoming medium-pacer Shailesh Bhondekar. He has been selected in the India Under-19 team this year. Bhondekar was the pick of Vidarbha bowlers in the Under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy where he took 18 wickets in 4 matches at an impressive average of 20.18 with the best of 5-85. The right-hander also played some useful knocks down the order. He will get WCL Trophy and cash prize of Rs 3,000.
Chess player Shweta Gole has been chosen for the best junior sportswoman’s award. She became champion in 37th Maharashtra State Women’s Chess Championship at Bhandara this year. She finished third in Maharashtra Under-15 Chess Championship at Pune and was a member of Maharashtra team that bagged silver medal in 55th National School Games at Sindhudurg. She will be awarded Baidyanath Trophy and cash prize of Rs 3,000.
The special award for contribution to sports will go to noted boxing coach Ganesh Purohit. The first NIS boxing coach in Maharashtra, Purohit, has been coaching since last two decades. Several of his disciples went on to represent the state. Three of them emerged as national champions. He will get SJAN Trophy and Rs 3,000 cash.
Bhonsala Military School, Nagpur, has been selected as best school promoting sporting activities. The school has provided good infrastructure for sports and encourages its players to go for glory. Two of their fencers represented India in intertnational events. Most of their teams have been doing really well in all sports. 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 Dr Ambedkar College, Deekshabhoomi. The college has maintained its sporting tradition for several years and has its own sports academies too. They also boast of various titles and excellent infrastructure for sports. They will get K C Bajaj Trophy and cash prize of Rs 3000.
Baidyanath Ayurved Limited, Western Coalfields Limited, Centre Point School, Manganese Ore India Limited, and Sindhu Education Society have extended their helping hand to organise the annual awards function.

Bhonsala Military School