Kalmadi asks sportspersons to do country proud in CYG 2008

Pune, May 5 (UNI) Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi has urged sportspersons to do the country proud by winning maximum number of medals in the Commonwealth Youth Games 2008.

Mr Kalmadi was speaking at the Ratnakar Sawant life time achievement award presentation function here last evening.

In his speech, he informed that a scheme to encourage sportspersons has been proposed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The scheme envisages, among other things, guidance of the sportspersons under foreign coaches, foreign exposure, better equipment, and year-round training facilities.

Mr Kalmadi, who is also the city MP, also urged the people to serve as true ambassadors during the hosting of the 2008 CYG which will have sportspersons from 71 countries converging in the city.

The Ratnakar Sawant life time achievement award was presented to 78-year-old organizer and coach Mrs Sudha Kulkarni for 2004-2005 and noted athletics coach Suresh Gujrathi. The awards, instituted three years back, carry a purse of Rs 11,000, a memento and a citation each.

Late Ratnakar Sawant was a former national kabaddi player and a coach at the Pune University.

Special awards were given away to medal winners in the sub-junior, junior and senior in their respective national championships.

Among the other sportspersons who were feted on the occasion, were ace marathoner Dattatraya Jaibhai, Shiv Chhatrapati awardee Rakhi Gaud, Asian Cross Country gold medalist Swati Ghadve, Pranjal Gogoi, and international coach U L Saini.

UNI