Mahesh Bhupathi, Dodda Ganesh, Sunil Joshi bag Ekalavya Awards

Bangalore, Jan 23 (UNI) Ace tennis star Mahesh Bhupathi, Indian Women's Hockey team Captain Helen Mary, international swimmers Rehan Pooncha, Reshma Millet, Ambika Iyengar, Asian Games Gold Medallist Pankaj Advani, former Test Cricketer Sunil Joshi, Ranji Player Dodda Ganesh were among the 48 players who have been selected for the Karnataka Government's Ekalavya awards.

Announcing the list of awardees for 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05, Karnataka Sports and Youth Services Minister Alkod U Hanumantappa said the awards, in recognition of efforts made by sportspersons who have brought laurels to the State, country and for themselves, would be distributed next month.

He said Rs one crore had been earmarked for rural sports events for the first time to encourage sports in rural areas.

List of Ekalavya awardees: 2002: J C Thomas (Athletics), N Shivaprakash (Badminton), M R Savitha (Basketball), Dodda Ganesh (Cricket), Savitha Anneppanavar (Cycling), P Lakshmikanth (Fencing), B H Sumarani (Gymnastics), Bharat Kumar Chatri (Hockey), Ramesh (Kho Kho), H K Srinivasamurthy (Kabbadi), P Kumaraswami (Disabled), S Archana Bhushan (Swimming), J Malini (Taekwondo), Mamatha Rao (Volleyball), G Nagaraj (Wrestling), Mahesh Bhupathi (Lawn Tennis).

2003: Cliford Joseph Joshu (Athletics), B Aravind Bhat (Badminton), Sunil Bandacharya Joshi (Cricket), Gangu G Biradar (Cycling), C Rukmini (Fencing), Sandeep Michal (Hockey), Helen Mary (Women Hockey), Vishakanta (Kabbadi), K N Vinod (Kho Kho), T Sitharam (Disabled), Rehan Pooncha (Swimming), G Ravishankar (TT), C Manjula (Taekwondo), Sneha Shampur (Triathlon), Shyla S Thomas (Volleyball), Basavaraj Muragod (Basketball).

2004: Vilas Nilgund (Athletics), Anup Sridhar (Badminton), Sonam Deepkaur (Basketball), Chandrasekhar (Ball Badminton), Sriram Sarja (Chess), Siddalinga Mariba Shetty (Equestrian), L Primeshwari Devi (Weight lifting), N S Manju (Football), B S Archana (Wall Climbing), S S Neelan (Hockey), Boniface Prabhu (Disabled), Reshma Millet, Ambika Iyengar (both Swimming), Pankaj Advani (Billiards and Snooker), Mamatha Maben (Cricket-women), N Geetha (Power Lifting).

UNI