JOIN USD’Souza took away the highest cash prize, Rs 1,15,000, for his ahievements in international events including the SAF Games in Dhaka and the Asian championships in Foshan, China. Rohit and Tejaswini took home Rs 90,000 each.
The university vice-chancellor, N Prabhudev, announced an increase in prize money from this year’s Rs 4,25,000 to Rs 10 lakh for next year besides an increase in sports budget to Rs 50 lakhs. “I can tell you that next year’s budget will be increased to Rs 50 lakhs with a further 25 lakhs earmarked,” he said.
“This is great encouragement from the University. I’m extremely proud of all that my son has achieved over the past year,” Aaron’s father Agnel D’Souza, who received the award on the swimmer’s behalf, said.
Tejaswini too was delighted with the BU gesture. “I’m extremely glad and proud that I have got this award. I’m also a little disappointed as I wanted to be there at the CWG and I couldn’t make it,” Tejaswini said.
“I took two months off for my University exams and I just did not have enough time to recover and put in my best times to qualify for the Games,” the University Viswesvaraya College of Engineering student added.
Havaldar, like D’Souza, could not make it here as he is also in the Capital preparing for the CWG. His father Rajendra Havaldar, who accepted the award on his behalf, was especially thankful to the university for their continued support.