JOIN USPresident Patil fetes gold medallists
The President met the athletes in the Yellow Drawing Room and, while exchanging pleasantries, handed each of them a rose. The athletes, dressed in Team India blazers and wearing their medals, also posed with the President for a commemorative photograph.
Among those present at the function were athletes Sudha Singh, Preeja Sreedharan, the women’s 4x400 relay team of Ashwini Chidananda, Manjeet Kaur, Mandeep Kaur and Sini Jose, hurdler Joseph Abraham, rower Bajrang Lal Takhar, shooter Ronjon Singh Sodhi, boxer Vikas Krishan and the men’s and women’s kabaddi teams.
Athletics coaches Nikolai Snasarev and Bahadur Singh, boxing coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu and kabaddi coach Balwan Singh were also present.
Cueist Pankaj Advani, boxer Vijender Singh and tennis players Somdev Devvarman and Sanam Singh could not make it to the event. “It is a very memorable moment for me. This sort of acknowledgement of your effort motivates you to perform better,” said Sodhi.
Krishan, who won gold in the 60kg weight category beating defending champion Qing Hu in the final, called it a ‘proud moment’ of his nascent career.
The women athletes spent some time chatting with the President, who had a special word of praise for Ashwini, who won two gold medals — 400M hurdles and and 4x400 relay.
“She was excited to know that I have won two gold medals. I am very happy. It is a lifetime opportunity and a big honour to come here to Rashtrapati Bhavan and meet the President.”
Sports minister MS Gill and Sports Authority of India (SAI) director general Sayan Chatterjee were also present at the function. The athletes later called upon Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his residence. Even as the athletes and their coaches were honoured, IOA chief and Commonwealth Games Organising Committee president Suresh Kalmadi was snubbed yet again as he was not invited by the Prime Minister. IANSIANSIANSIANS