Sport - Olympic Games

A unique exercise by KOA

— Photo: K. Murali Kumar

WISHING THEM WELL: Rehan Poncha and Anup Sridhar at a felicitation function in Bangalore on Tuesday.

BANGALORE: It was Olympians Day Out at the Karnataka Badminton Association here on Tuesday as Beijing bound swimmer Rehan Poncha and badminton star Anup Sridhar were felicitated by the Karnataka Olympic Association (KOA).

In a unique exercise, the KOA mobilised Olympians of different eras, hailing from the State, to share the dais with Poncha and Sridhar as they shared their rich experiences at the Games.

The former Indian hockey skipper and Olympian, M.P. Ganesh, who was also the former Regional Director of the SAI, spoke about the joy of representing the country. “The ultimate goal of any sportsperson is to represent his nation at the Olympics. The Munich Games of 1972 gave me that opportunity and we came back with a bronze. “I want Anup and Rehan to come back, if not with a bronze, at least with a creditable performance,” Ganesh said. While Ganesh wanted the two youngsters to soak in the great atmosphere of an Olympic Village he also cautioned them to stay disciplined.

Nisha Millet, the 2000 Sydney Olympian recalled her quest to be there at the Games. “As a 10-year old, I watched the Barcelona Olympics on TV. I just wanted to be there and eight years later, after much struggle, I made it to the Sydney Olympics. “I wish Rehan and Anup the very best and I want them to believe in themselves first and results would come,” Nisha said.

The best advice came from former National champion and National coach Vimal Kumar, not only for Anup and Rehan, but also for the sports associations. “Let us not go overboard. Mere representation is not an end by itself, but what matters is how they perform. Please keep all those gifts like cash awards, site allotment etc. for the twilight of their career, when they will really need it,” said Vimal. Vimal, a 1992 Olympian, recalled a great moment that he had at Barcelona. “I shared the dinner table with Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf and watched Linford Christie and Carl Lewis win their gold medals. It is moments like that which makes Olympics very special,” he said.

Olympians Shanmugham (football) and Kenneth Powell (athletics) were among the other speakers. Other Olympians who graced the function included Shikha Tandon, S.H. Hakimuddin, Sabu Varkey and G. Dilip.

K. Govindraj, President, KOA, in his key-note address, urged the State government to honour all Olympians suitably and the State Sports Minister, Gulihatti Shekar, assured that the Government would match the grants given by other States for Olympians. Both Rehan and Anup, while thanking the Olympians and State sports officials for their words of encouragement, vowed to raise the bar at the Olympics.

Anantharaju, Secretary, KOA, proposed a vote of thanks.

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