The Hindu : Sport : I'm over the moon: Advani

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Friday, Aug 25, 2006

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Sport - Sports : General

I'm over the moon: Advani

Principal Correspondent

BANGALORE: Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award winner Pankaj Advani expressed happiness on winning the prestigious award.

Playing for India `A' at the World team snooker championship in San Jose (USA) currently, Pankaj said: "I feel I am over the moon... to be given the highest award for any sportsperson is a great honour. I would be failing in my duty if I don't take this opportunity to thank everyone responsible for making this happen. My mother, my brother, my coach Arvind Savur, KSBA and all associated with this sport and also my college-mates and chairman and principal... each and every one who made me what I'm today."

Third time lucky

Olympian swimmer Shikha Tandon turned third time lucky. "I was nominated twice before, but this time around my name figures in the awardees' list.

When friends called up to congratulate me, my happiness knew no bounds... I'm indeed thrilled at being the chosen one this time," said Shikha, who is recovering from a shoulder surgery.

Dhyan Chand award winner Uday Prabhu, an international quartermiler in the mid-70s and who won medals at the Asian Games and Asian championships, was nominated for the Arjuna Award way back in the '80s.

"But it never came and when my name was proposed this time I kept my fingers crossed. I'm glad that finally an award came my way when I am still active in sport."

Captain M. Venu, a boxing coach of repute from the MEG ranks, who won the Dronacharya Award, has been finally rewarded for his selfless contribution to the sport.

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