President felicitates Asian Games gold medal winners
December 4th, 2010 - 7:20 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, Dec 4 (IANS) President Pratibha Patil Saturday felicitated the Asian Games gold medal winners at a function in Rashtrapati Bhavan here Saturday.
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.
“It was a proud moment for me when coach (Sandhu) introduced me to the president saying that I am only 18 years old and I have a long way to go and can win lot more for the country. The president wished me all the best. Now I want to win more medals and come back to the Rashtrapati Bahavan again,” he said.
The women athletes spent some time chatting with the president, who had a special word of praise for Ashwini, who won two gold medals — 800m hurdles and 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 M.S. Gill and Sports Authority of India (SAI) director general Sayan Chatterjee were also present at the function.
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Tags: bahadur singh, boxing coach, chidananda, defending champion, drawing room, gold medal winners, gold medals, joseph abraham, kabaddi, lifetime opportunity, mandeep kaur, pankaj advani, president pratibha patil, proud moment, sanam singh, singh sandhu, sodhi, somdev devvarman, sports autho, word of praise