Team Herald
PANJIM: Anurag Mhamal, Goa’s first Grand Master and Anura Prabhu Desai, badminton sensation of the State were declared the best Geno Sports Awards 2016-17 sportsman and sportswoman of the year.
The Sports Journalists’ Association of Goa (SJAG) will host the Geno Sports Awards 2016-17 presentation ceremony on September 29, at Hotel Mandovi, Panjim, at 11a.m.
Addressing the press Dilip Salgaocar, CMD, Geno Pharmaceuticals said that the Geno awards could not be presented for the last two year due as there were no recipients.
“This year we have two stars who have done quite well namely Anurag and Anura. Both of them have shown their calibre at the International level,” he added.
It may be noted that the Geno Awards ceremony was last held in 2014.
Anurag, a 21-year-old resident of St Cruz, won 27th Open de Gros International in Spain in July 2017 to cross 2500 Elo Rating points and achieve the GM title. He gained 21 Elo points by winning the tournament.
Anura, a 19-year-old from Ponda, established herself as the rising star on the Indian senior women’s badminton circuit in 2016-17 season. Her most notable achievement this season was the silver medal in women’s senior singles at the Mauritius International tournament in June 2017. This is the first Senior International medal won by a Goan shuttler in badminton.
Anura is training at White Peacock Badminton Academy run by former player Arvind Bhat in Bengaluru.
Besides, cricketer Heramb Parab won the best emerging player award while Former India football player, Maymol Rocky bagged the best coach award for making history by becoming the first Woman Head Coach of the Indian national women’s football team in 2016-17 season.
The other recipients include: Best team: Goa Aquatics team who won 18 medals at the aquatics nationals, best college in sports (men): St Xavier’s College, Mapusa and best college in sports (women): Rosary College, Navelim.
Apart from the sports awards, the SJAG will also recognise the efforts of all-rounder Shikha Pandey and physiotherapist Tracy Fernandes for their remarkable performance in India’s journey to the finals of ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in England earlier this year.
The SJAG will also present a citation, as a token of appreciation for supporting budding talents in the State sports arena, to Dilip Salgaocar, CMD, Geno Pharmaceuticals and Shrinivas Dempo, Dempo Group chairman.
Senior Sports Journalist Manguesh Borkar and photo-journalist Ganadeep Sheldekar will also be felicitated for their contribution to sports.
The sportspersons will be awarded in the presence of Sports Minister Babu Azgaonkar and Ayush Minister Shripad Naik.
