Eklavya awards to be presented today

'Better late than never' was the reaction of a delighted senior athletics coach V R Beedu, who will be among the two to receive lifetime awards when the State government presents the Ekalavya awards here on Wednesday.

Beedu  and senior swimming coach M R Mohite, having worked tirelessly for many years, finally find  recognition on the government's list.

"It has been 45 years," said Beedu, whose first posting as an NIS coach was in Mysuru in 1972. He then moved to Gulbarga, before finally embracing Bengaluru as his base and producing several national and international athletes.

"I never believed in applying for awards but was convinced to do that two years ago, and now I get the honour," he said.

A total of 11 athletes will receive the Ekalavya awards at a function at the Guru Nanak Bhavan. Besides, eight sportspersons will get the Kreeda Ratna prize, instituted to encourage indigenous sports.

Award winners: Poorvisha (badminton), Renuka Dandin (cycling), Mayur D Bhanu (shooting), A Karthik (volleyball), V Malavika (swimming), TK Keerthana (rowing), MB Aiyappa (hockey), Sukhesh Hegde (kabaddi), Gururaj (weightlifting), Sandeep B Kate (wrestling), Revathi M Nayak (para swimming).

Kreeda Ratna awardees: Syed Fateshah Vali H Bepari (Attyapattya), KG Yashaswini (ball badminton), Shekhar Wali (stone lifting), Muneer Basha (kho kho), Sugun Sagar H Vadrale (Mallakambha), S Sabiya (throwball), H S Atmashree (wrestling), Dhanush Babu (roller skating).

Lifetime achievement: VR Beedu (athletics), MR Mohite (swimming).