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Rotary Club honour for MRF Pace Foundation

Special Correspondent

— Photo: R. Ragu

WELL DESERVED: MRF’s Rahul Mammen receives the ‘Vocational Excellence Award’ from S. Venkataraghavan, as Rotary Club of Madras Central’s president Vepa K. Sadasivam looks on, in Chennai on Monday.

CHENNAI: The MRF Pace Foundation was presented the Vocational Excellence Award 2007-08 for its “unparalleled contribution to Indian cricket”, by the Rotary Club of Madras Central, here on Monday.

Former India captain S. Venkataraghavan, the chief guest at the ceremony, said the award was richly deserved. He commended MRF for establishing an institution of such eminence that fast bowlers from around the world continued to travel to India to train.

Phenomenal vision

“The vision of Ravi (Mammen of MRF) in setting up the academy 20 years ago was phenomenal for its foresight,” said the legendary off-spinner.

“This vision to build a world-class academy for fast bowlers was an idea germinated back then and it’s grown into a banyan tree.”

Testament to quality

Venkataraghavan added that the success of the Pace Foundation’s trainees — Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad, Zaheer Khan, Irfan Pathan, Sreesanth, R.P. Singh, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, and Chaminda Vaas among others — was a testament to the quality of the academy.

“Dennis Lillee has been instrumental in imparting his knowledge innovatively,” said Venkataraghavan.

“It took time to get results, but they (MRF) have persisted and I’m sure they’ll serve the game for a very long time.”

Rahul Mammen, Vice-President, MRF, said it was a great honour to receive the award.

“It has been an exciting journey and it’s apt that Mr. Venkataraghavan, who helped my late uncle (Ravi Mammen) during the Foundation’s early years, is here to present it,” he said.

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