Nehern, Navin hailed at Nat yoga
HERALD SPORTS REPORTER
PANJIM, DEC 4
World yoga gold medallist, Nehern Acharya, a student of K B Hedgewar High School (Panjim) and his father, Navin Acharya, former world medallist, the backbone of Goa Yoga Association, were warmly greeted and felicitated by Indian Yoga Federation at the eye-catching inaugural ceremony of 35th National Yoga Championship at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao on Saturday.
The Acharya father-and-son combination earned superb praises from YFI’s senior vice-presidents Devdutt Sharma, M S Vishwanath, Dr S P Chowkhy and secretary general Ashok Agarwal. They paid handsome compliments to young Nehern for his superb achievements – State yogasana champ for four consecutive 3years; gold, silver and bronze medal winner for the past three successive Nationals; gold, silver and bronze medal winner at 18th World Yoga Championship in Rome 2009 where he was the youngest participant in Indian team and four gold and a bronze at 21st Amateur World Yoga in Argentina in 2010.
Navin was also profusely congratulated both for his earlier achievements – represented India several times and had a distinction of winning world yogasana championship award with two gold, two silver and a bronze at world championships, and thereafter for vigorously promoting yoga in the State, training students and conducting coaching besides running the Goa Yoga Association on a highly professional basis.
If the past performances were worthy of admiration, the inaugural function was no less. It was simply captivating, with the nearly 1000 spectators, including 800 participants, relishing every bit of it.
The speeches were short and to the point. But what actually set the mood were the invocation song, the Bharat Natyam dance by Usgaokar and the yoga demonstrations, both individual and group, which were simply breath-taking. That actually set the mood and the flavour.
The rich cultural programme by Kanta Gawda Group enthralled the crowd which kept on clapping to the beat of music as the well trained artistes performed highly acclaimed, traditional Goan dances with great aplomb. It was an accomplished performance worth miles going to see.
V M Prabhudesai, Executive Director, SAG, the chief guest, declared the championship open to the melodious beat provided by the Goa Police Brass band.
Following world yoga medal winners were felicitated: Neelam Kumari (2 gold, 1 silver), R Praneetha (2 silvfer, 1 bronze), B Yamnuna (3 bronze), M Akshya (1 silver, 2 bronze), V Dharmambigai (2 bronze), V R Raveena (1 silver, 2 bronze), Karamdeep (1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze), Simarjeet Kaur (1 gold, 1 silver), Anusha P Karmarkar (2 gold), Avinash Saini (1 gold), Pravesh Verma (1 gold), Nehern Acharya (1 gold, 1 bronze and 4 gold and 1 bronze).
Ashraf Pandyal, SAG Treasurer, the guest of honour, Jovito Lopes, president of Sports Journalists Association of Goa and Assistant Editor, Herald, special invitee, Devdutt Sharma, Ashok Agarwal of Yoga Fedaration of India also spoke. Subash Naik, president, Goa Yoga Association welcomed. Navin Acharya, secretary, proposed the vote of thanks. Fe Felix Lobo of Usgao was also present.
