Shining under KOA spotlight

It was a day of recognition for 19 current and former athletes along with two members of the press as they were felicitated by the Karnataka Olympic Association (KOA) at their annual awards function at the Raj Bhavan here on Thursday.

Indian hockey star VR Raghunath was among a galaxy of sportspersons who were given away the award by governor Hansraj Bharadwaj. Badminton legend Prakash Padukone, who was to be honoured on the occasion, could not make it as he was out of station.
Raghunath was elated after receiving the award and said it was a shot in the arm for him ahead of his future assignments.

“I feel motivated after receiving the award. I just feel that every sportsperson should receive awards like this,’’ added the Virajpet lad, who dedicated the award to his family.
Badminton player Reshma Karthik, who participated in the recent World junior championships in Bangkok, was thrilled after receiving her first-ever award.

“I am feeling really happy after getting this award as it is my first award. Also the fact that KOA has taken the initiative to honour sportspersons like us makes a young athlete like me feel that there is a career to be made out of sport,’’ she added.

Young shooter Meghana Sajjanar, who won a silver medal at a junior international event in Germany in 2012, was in a joyous mood after collecting her award. “I had no expectations of an award, so it has come as a pleasant surprise,’’ the second year BE student of Jain University added.

KOA President K Govindaraj said there was some progress in the plan to introduce the sports cess.  “We have submitted a memorandum to the chief minister in this regard and he has promised to bring it up for consideration in next year’s budget,’’ he added.