The Hindu : Sport : Rathore, Gopi, Kumble and Randhawa to be conferred with Padma Shri

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 26, 2005

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Sport

Rathore, Gopi, Kumble and Randhawa to be conferred with Padma Shri

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JAN 25. Olympic silver-winning shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, India's highest wicket-taker Anil Kumble, former all-England champion P. Gopi Chand and Olympian hurdler Gurbachan Singh Randhawa are the sportsmen in the list of this year's Padma Awardees.

All four have been chosen to receive the Padma Shri.

It was a joyous double for Lt. Col. Rathore as he was also awarded the Ati Vishishta Seva medal (AVSM), the second highest award in the Services. He becomes the first AVSM recipient below the rank of Brigadier. The 35-year-old double trap marksman, Rathore won the World Championship bronze in Nicosia in 2003 and the gold in the World Cup in Sydney in 2004. For one who took to this sport only in 1998, Rathore was quite sharp in emerging as a double gold medallist at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002.

"In my younger days I always used to think that people getting awards like Padma Shri were great people. Now that I am getting it, I realise that it is basically ordinary people doing good things. In sports, we go through many downs and there are a few ups. It is really inspiring to get such awards and be recognised'', Rathore said.

For Gopi Chand, the 2001 All England champion, the honour was belated. The genial Hyderabadi remains an epitome of grit and a prime example of how human spirit can help overcome the pain barrier. Having undergone four knee surgeries, Gopi's latest comeback to international arena in 2004 saw him win the Asian Satellite at Hyderabad and the Syed Modi international at Lucknow.

"It feels nice and I am very happy. Honestly, I did not expect it. It comes at a time when I need encouragement since I am planning a badminton academy (at Hyderabad) that should become operational by the end of the year," said Gopi.

Kumble, a trusted match-winner in both forms of the game, was elated at being "recognised" for his efforts. For someone who has not always got his due, this was a much-deserved honour. Known for his excellent spirit and human qualities, Kumble was typically measured in his reaction.

"It means a lot to me. It's a great honour to be recognised by the nation. It feels nice to be chosen for the coveted award. I feel proud of being part of this elite group," said the leg-spinner from Bangalore.

Forty years after he achieved the distinction of being only the third Indian then to make an Olympics final, Randhawa has at last been chosen for the award, well after athletes half his age and nowhere near his achievements, had been bestowed the honour. The belated recognition failed to subdue his spirit or humour on Tuesday as he heard the news. "Better late than never" he said. "An honour is an honour. It doesn't matter that it has come so late."

Making the final of the 110m hurdles in the Tokyo Olympics in 1964 and finishing fifth was a phenomenal achievement by the Punjab youngster, then aged 25. He clocked 14.0s in the semifinal and final, a National record that stood for all of 37 years.

Perhaps the most versatile athlete India had seen, Randhawa was a champion decathlete and held the National record of 6,926 for several years before it was bettered by one of his trainees, Vijay Singh Chouhan, in the 1972 Munich Olympics.

In a memorable display of his all-round ability, Randhawa posted four National records in the 1960 Delhi National, in the high jump, javelin throw, 110m hurdles and the decathlon.

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