The Hindu : Sport : Beijing-bound athletes honoured

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Sunday, Jul 27, 2008
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Beijing-bound athletes honoured

Principal Correspondent

Bangalore: It was time for ‘best wishes and bon voyage’ and the added incentive of cash awards as the Karnataka Government honoured the State’s sportspersons bound for the Beijing Olympics. Badminton player Anup Sridhar, swimmer Rehan Poncha and heptathlete Pramila Aiyappa were felicitated and presented with a cheque for Rs. five lakh each at the State Youth Centre here on Saturday evening.

Meanwhile the other four sportspersons from Karnataka — Mahesh Bhupathi, athletes J.J. Shobha, M.R. Poovamma and Vikas Gowda — who will be in Beijing, were unable to attend the function as they were out of station. Poovamma however was represented by her parents.

The State Youth Services Minister Gulihatti D. Shekar presented the cheques while the Department of Youth Services and Sports commissioner Amar Kumar Pandey, the Department of Youth Services Secretary I.M. Vittal Murthy and the Karnataka Olympic Association President K. Govindraj were also present.

Mr. Govindraj also mentioned that his request for a cash bonanza of Rs. one crore for an Olympic gold medal winner, 50 lakh for silver and 25 lakh for bronze was favourably received by the State Government. “Chief Minister B.S. Yeddiyurappa said that he will look into the proposal and hopefully we will hear from the Government soon,” Govindraj said.

The evening was not just about Olympics, it was also a time to honour other sportspersons and coaches who have done the State and the country proud in recent times. Coaches Pradeep Kumar, Dinesh Kunder, athlete Aiyappa and chess champion Girish Kaushik were given cheques for Rs. one lakh each. Among the other sportspersons M.S. Thej Kumar, Shrushti Shetty, Sagarika Shyam and Nadia Haridass were given cheques for Rs. 50,000 each, while Rohini Patil and Devishree were given Rs. 25,000 each.

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