The Hindu : Sport / Squash : Joshna honoured

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 01, 2005

Sport

Sport - Squash

Joshna honoured

CHENNAI: Joshna Chinappa, now training in Amsterdam for the World junior squash championship next month, could not have asked for a better source of inspiration. The Union Health and Family Welfare ministry has decided to nominate her as `Goodwill Ambassador' for the year 2005-2006.

As part of the honour, she will be given a remuneration of Rs. five lakh. Her role will be publicly announced on July 11 (World Population Day) in Pondicherry where the Union Minister for Health and family Welfare, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss is expected to grace the occasion.

In a communication, the Union Health and Family Welfare Secretary, P.K. Hota said that every year the Department chooses a young girl achiever as Goodwill Ambassador for the `Women empowerment' and `Save the Girl Child' campaigns. Joshna, who takes over from tennis player Sania Mirza, has been identified for her distinguished performances, both in India and abroad.

Aside from being national senior and junior champion, Joshna is the Asian junior champion and is also the winner of the British under-19 open title.

In her new role, Joshna will endorse themes, concepts, issues related to the above mottos as also campaign on the right age of marriage, gender bias issues, immunisations etc. The champion squash player, a Chennai collegian, is expected to feature in advertisements, video shots, posters and other multi-media slots.