DefMin Felicitates Army's Medal Winners at Doha Asiad

New Delhi, Jan 16 (UNI) Defence Minister AK Antony today felicitated 22 Army personnel who had won laurels for the country at the 2006 Doha Asian Games.

These sportspersons - from different regiments of the Indian Army bagged as many as 15 medals -- 2 Gold, 4 Silver and 9 Bronze -- of the country's tally of 54.

Ace shooter Naib Subedar Vijay Kumar, who won the team Gold Medal in the 25 meter Centre Fire Pistol along with Jaspal Rana, and Naib Subedar Vikash Kumar and Naib Subedar Sukhbir Singh -- both members of the Indian Kabbadi Team which won Gold -- were among those felicitated by the Defence Minister.

Havildar Aboobacker Thannikal, member of the Indian Silver Medalist Team in 4x400 meter relay, Hav Bajrang Lal, winner of an individual Silver medal in rowing and Subedar Jenil Krishnan, Hav Sukhjeet Singh, Hav D Sangwan and Hav Satish Joshi-- members of the Indian Team which won Silver in the Coxless Four event of rowing -- and Lt Col Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who bagged the Silver in the Double Trap Team event of shooting, were also felicitated.

The Army representation in the Indian contingent to the Doha Asiad comprised 48 athletes, who participated in 14 disciplines. The Army sportspersons improved their performance in many a discipline including shooting, archery, rowing, boxing and wrestling in the 2006 Asian Games over the 2002 Games -- held at Busan.

The Defence Minister hoped that the Army would put up a better show at the forthcoming 4th CISM Military World Games 2007 to be hosted by India. The mega-event will be held at Hyderabad and Mumbai in October this year. These games will be the biggest sporting event to be held in India with more than 6,000 participants representing over 100 countries in 15 disciplines.

Earlier, Army Chief General JJ Singh presented cheques to the medal winners. Gold medal winners were awarded Rs 1 lakh each, the Silver medal winners received Rs 75,000 and the Bronze medalists Rs 50,000 each.

UNI