Awards function and news

 

One must never give up in sports: Negi

 SJAN-Raisoni Achievers’ Awards function held

HE WAS condemned and ridiculed for years for his one bad game. Destiny took away his son at a young age but a fighter to the core, former India hockey goalkeeper, ex-men and women teams’ coach and ‘Chak de India’ fame Mir Ranjan Negi, feels that one must never give up in sports and life and try to be always happy.

Negi was speaking at SJAN-Raisoni Achievers’ Awards function wherein Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur (SJAN) and Raisoni Group of Institutions jointly felicitated meritorious sportspersons of the city at Hotel Centre Point on Sunday.

“I was India’s number one goalkeeper for four years from 1978 to 1982 and I single-handedly won many games for India. But that one bad game against Pakistan in Asiad ’82 final where we lost 1-7, changed my life for years. 

“People said I took one lakh for each goal as bribe for selling my country. I could not sleep properly for years. The pain I endured was much, much more than was shown in the movie. I also lost my teenager son due to an accident. 

“But slowly, I realised that if we feel and remain sad, we spread sadness and make the atmosphere gloomy. Likewise, we make the environment happy, when we are happy. One must learn to face challenges and failures in sports and life. And sports teaches us never to give up,” said Negi narrating his life’s story.

Negi’s comments were punctuated by couplets from famous poets including former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Praising sports journalists’ role in success of players, Negi said, “Recognising talent and appreciating it with rewards encourages sportspersons to do better and better. Sports journalists play an important role in the success of any player.”

At the outset, the guests including Pranav Sharma, Senior President, Baidyanath Ayurved Limited; Mrunal Naik, Project Head, Raisoni Group of Institutions’ Sports and Cultural Foundation, SJAN President Dr Ram Thakur and Secretary Paritosh Pramanik started the proceedings by lighting the traditional lamp. 

Dr Thakur made introductory remarks and SJAN team honoured the guests including Deaven Dasture. Sharma and Naik also addressed the gathering urging students to play sports.

Yoga player Vaibhav Shrirame, women cricket captain of Vidarbha Disha Kasat, upcoming badminton player Aditya were awarded the GH Raisoni Trophies while international table tennis player Jennifer Varghese was presented the Baidyanath Trophy. 

Though, Disha and Jennifer could not attend the ceremony as they were busy with their matches out of city, their video messages were played for the audience.

Nagpur District Football Association President Haresh Vora was honoured with Meeradevi Dasture Trophy in sports organiser’s category. 

The Blind Relief Association Nagpur’s Mundle English Medium School and Taywade College, Koradi were felicitated for their contribution in the field of sports with Centre Point School and KC Bajaj Trophies respectively.

Kishor Bagde conducted the proceedings while Anupam Soni proposed a vote of thanks.

Many prominent sports personalities including officials of various sports organisations, sportspersons along with SJAN members were present.

SJAN-Raisoni Achievers Awards on November 27

Yoga player Vaibhav Shrirame, Vidarbha's captain cricketer Disha Kasat, upcoming badminton player Aditya Yaul and table tennis player Jennifer Varghese to be feted 

Sports Journalists' Association of Nagpur (SJAN) and GH Raisoni Group of Institutions will be honouring sportspersons of the city during its annual SJAN-Raisoni Annual Achievers Awards function. The SJAN-Raisoni Annual Achievers Awards function will be held on November 27 (Sunday) at 10.30 am at Grand Millennium Hall of Hotel Centre Point, Ramdaspeth.

The award function will be graced by former India goalkeeper and coach Mir Ranjan Negi.

On the occasion Mr Sunil Raisoni, Chairman Raisoni Group of Institution, will also remain present. This year, yoga player Vaibhav Shrirame, Vidarbha's captain cricketer Disha Kasat, upcoming badminton player Aditya Yaul and table tennis player Jennifer Varghese will be rewarded with SJAN-Raisoni Achievers Awards for their achievements in the past few months.. Similarly, Nagpur District Football Association President Haresh Vora will be honoured for his contribution in development of football in the region. TBRAN'S Mundle English Medium School and Taywade College, Koradi will be honoured for their work in sports promotion.

Awardees and their achievements:

Vaibhav Shrirame (Best Senior Sportsman): Shrirame has been per- forming well in yoga for the past several years. At the recently held National Games at Gujarat, he has won Traditional Yogasana (Gold), Artistic single (Gold) Artistic pair (Bronze), Rhythmic pair (Bronze) and Artistic Group (Gold). He also won a gold medal at the recently held Khelo India University Games in Bengaluru. He will receive GH Raisoni Trophy for Best Senior Sportsman.

Disha Kasat: (Best Senior Sportswoman): The Vidarbha Cricket Association's women team captain Disha has been performing exception- ally well. The Vidarbha women team captain single-handedly took Vidarbha to semi-final in Senior Women T20 Trophy. By scoring 300 runs in eight matches, Disha emerged highest run scorer in the said tourna- ment. Her excellent performance fetched her a place in the India A team in the Challengers Trophy. She will receive GH Raisoni Trophy for Best Senior Sportswoman.

Aditya Yaul (Best Junior Sportsman): Ten-year-old Aditya is a student of Bhavan's Koradi Road Branch and has been winning medals at State meets regularly. His medal winning achieve ments include: U-13 gold in Khasdar Krida Mahotsav 2022; Gold in U-11 Maharashtra State Selection Tournament 2022 at Sangli and Silver in U-13 category at same tournament, Gold in U 11 Maharashtra State Selection Tournament at Palghar; Gold in U-11 PNB Metlife Junior Badminton Championship at Mumbai; Gold in U-12 in GH Raisoni Inter-School Badminton Tournament; Gold in U-11 Maharashtra State Badminton Championship at Ratnagiri 2022. He will be honoured with GH Raisoni Trophy.

Jennifer Varghese (Best Junior Sportswoman): The teenage paddler from city is on a gold hunt. In October 2021, then only 13, she won her maiden Under-15 gold in the national ranking table tennis tournament held at Mohali. She also won a bronze medal in the Under-17 age category In March 2022, she won U-15 WTT Youth Contender in Tunisia and silver in U-17 age category. In May 2022, Jennifer claimed the Under-15 singles, doubles and team championship at the South Asia Cadet and Jr TT Championships in Maldives In June she won the U-15 WTT Youth Contender title at Havirov in Czech Republic. In August, 2022, 14-year-old Jennifer won the Under-17 WTT Youth Contender title at Agadir (Morocco) and finished second best in U-15 age group. In August she was ranked World Number 6 in U-15 age category. At present she is World No 11 in her category. She has been selected for World Youth Championship which is going to be held in Tunisia from December 4.

She will receive Baidyanath Trophy for Best Junior Sportswoman.

Mr Haresh Vora (Best Sports Organiser): Haresh Vora is President of Nagpur District Football Association and Vice President of Western India Football Association. A hard taskmaster, Vora is promoting football for many decades in Nagpur District. His ability to organise tournaments in a fair manner is acknowledged by all. Vora is providing selfless service to the game since last five decades. It is because of his approach and relations, that NDFA man- aged to get its own football ground in North Nagpur after several decades: Under Vora's leadership Nagpur has produced many Santosh Trophy players. He will be honoured with Meeradevi Dasture Trophy.

TBRAN's Mundle English Medium School: The school is performing consistently in the field of sports and are winners of several inter-school and district level titles in basketball and volleyball. Students of the school are being selected in the Maharashtra teams for various nationals. The school is continuously developing sports infrastructure in its premises which include volley- ball ground, basketball court, long jump, high jump pits. The school will get Centre Point School Trophy.

Taywade College, Koradi: The college is promoting sports in the outskirts of Nagpur. The college is regularly producing national level handball players and has a vast lush green playfield of its own. It also has a badminton hall where scores of budding players practice regularly. The college will get KC Bajaj Trophy For Service Towards Sports.

The press conference was addressed by Dr Ram Thakur, President, SJAN. 

Paritosh Pramanik, Secretary, SJAN, Amit Gandhare, PRO, Raisoni Group, Inderjeet Singh Randhawa, Sports Officer, Raisoni Group were also present during the presser.