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PANJIM: Goa’s promising rally driver Vaibhav Marathe and chess sensation Bhakti Kulkarni, were declared as winners of Geno sports awards 2018-19 sportsman and sportswoman of the year respectively.
Swimmer Shrungi Bandekar and Suvet lotlikar were declared best emerging player and special sportsman, respectively.
The Sports Journalists’ Association of Goa (SJAG) will host the Geno Sports Awards 2018-19 presentation ceremony on November 15, at Hotel Fidalgo, Panjim, at 11 a.m.
Addressing the press Dilip Salgaocar, CMD, Geno Pharmaceuticals briefed about Geno’s role in encouraging budding and upcoming sportspersons financially and technically in the State and expressed his keenness in continuing it in greater extent in upcoming years. He also expressed need to increase number of excellence sports awardees being honoured by State government.
“This is for the first time that sports like rally and boxing are getting recognition besides other sports. We have also added two more awards to the existing once. We will be presenting a special award to best college in rural sports and also best print media sports journalist,” he informed.
Vaibhav is the first Goan to compete in the Indian National Rally Championship. In 2019 Vaibhav won the first place in the INRC 4 championship in Chennai and second place at Coimbatore. He was fourth in the INRC Sprint de Bangalore.
Bhakti, a National Women’s Championship gold medallist in Tamil Nadu, powered her Elo rating from 2388 to 2429 (which placed her in top-50 Active Women players in the world) after her excellent performance at the Asian Women’s Championship in China. She is also a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Championship Bronze, New Delhi.
FC Goa developmental teams Coach Clifford Miranda was chosen for best coach award. Best team award was declared to Goa Boxing team for excellent performance at the national and international level. Best college in sports (women) was declared to St Xaviers College Mapusa while Goa Medical College Bambolim bagged the best college in sports (men) award.
To encourage sportspersons in rural parts of State a special award for rural college was introduced for which Govt. College Quepem will be the first beneficiary.
For contribution in field of sports photo journalism senior photo journalist Nandesh Kambli was declared awardee. Best electronic sports journalist award was declared to Tulsidas Chari of Prudent and First Print while media sports journalist award was declared to former Herald journalist Marcus Merghulao.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will be the chief guest while Dilip Salgaocar will be the guest of honour at the award ceremony to be held on Friday. Dr Sagar Salgaocar, executive director Genor Pharmaceuticals will also be present on the occasion.
