Nagpur: “When I brought home my maiden gold medal after winning the hockey World Cup in 1975, my father (Major Dhyan Chand) welcomed me at the entrance of our home and kept his hand on my back. I still can’t forget his smile when he blessed and congratulated me,” said Arjuna awardee Ashok Kumar.Kumar, a former Olympian best known for scoring the match-winning goal against Pakistan in the 1975 World Cup final in Kuala Lumpur, was addressing the gathering at the 58th annual awards function of Bankers Sports Council at Narayani Memorial Hall of MKH Sancheti Jr College on Friday.The Olympic bronze medallist at the 1972 Munich Games then distributed the awards.
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On behalf of Vidarbha cricketer Harsh Dubey, his father Surendra received the outstanding sportsperson for the year award. Dubey received the Late VV Naik Trophy. Vidarbha U-23 skipper Faiz Shaikh was awarded the RS Mundle Memorial Col CK Naidu Trophy, while the Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur (SJAN) got the outstanding sports organiser award.Sanket Asare of the Bank of Maharashtra and Sonali Bhave of PNB won the best sportspersons of inter-bank events. Dainik Bhaskar sports reporter Chayan Mukharjee was given the Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Award. Veteran shuttler Sharad Mahajan was given a special award for his outstanding performance in badminton, while Ulhas Ghande was felicitated for being adjudged the best umpire by the BCCI.Niraj Singh, the general secretary of YMCA, was chosen for his services to the BSC. The other awardees in various categories include Bhagyashree Tikle, Arvind Kadbe, Rajesh Kamble, Vikram and Ajinkya Gandhe, Ishwari Pande (swimming), Bharati Fulmali (cricket) and Shrikant Sahastrabuddhe.The podium finishers and individual performers of various inter-bank tournaments were also given awards for their performance last year.
