Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa’s first Grandmaster Anurag Mhamal and Anura Prabhu Desai received the best sportsman and sportswoman awards resepcively in the Geno Sports Awards, presented by the Sports Journalists’ Association of Goa (SJAG) in Panaji on Friday.
AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik, Sports Minister Babu Azgaonkar, Director of Sports & Youth Affairs, V M Prabhudesai and Geno Pharmaceuticals Managing Director Dilip Salgaocar presented the trophies and medals to the individual and team champions.
This year’s recipients are as follows: Best sportsman: Anurag Mhamal; Best sportswoman: Anura Prabhu Desai; Best emerging player: Heramb Parab;
Best coach: Maymol Rocky, Best team: Goa Aquatics Team (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:
Badminton player Anura Prabhu Desai could not attend the function as she is away in Prague for international challenge tournament. Her parents, Santosh and Archana received the award.
Apart from the sports awards, the Sports Journalists Association of Goa also recognised 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. Since Shikha was away on Indian Air Force duty, her mother, Susheela Pandey received the citation. Senior Sports Journalist Manguesh Borkar (Goa Doot) and photo-journalist Ganadeep Sheldekar (The Navhind Times) were also felicitated for their contribution to sports. Ganadeep is now the first recipient of newly-instituted best sports photo-journalist of the season award.
AYUSH Minister and president of Goa Olympic Association, Shripad Naik praised Geno Pharmaceuticals for continuing with their annual awards ceremony and encourgaed SJAG in their vision of promoting sports as a way of life, not only in professional arena but also as recreational tool for general public. He called upon the youngsters to take benefit of comprehensive sports infrastructure in the state compared to that available 25 years ago.
