Date:08/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/08/stories/2008120856961800.htm

Sport - Sports : General

State reception for Bindra on Tuesday

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Government, on behalf of the people of the State, will on Tuesday roll the red carpet for shooter Abhinav Bindra, who won the first individual gold medal for the country at the Beijing Olympics.

The State reception for the shooter will be held at the V.J.T. Hall here on Tuesday evening which will witness the Chief Minister, V.S.Achuthanandan present Bindra with a uniquely crafted gold medal weighing 10 sovereigns.

The function will be presided over by the Sports Minister M. Vijayakumar, and will be attended by the Education Minister M.A. Baby, Revenue Minister, K.P. Rajendran, Water Resources Minister, N.K. Premachandran, Transport Minister, Mathew T. Thomas, the Opposition Leader, Oommen Chandy, the Thiruvananthapuram Mayor, C.Jayan Babu besides a host of dignitaries from various walks of life.

The Chief Minister would also be presenting a purse of Rs. 5 lakhs to the National shooting coach, Sunny Thomas, at the same function.

The Kerala State Sports Council has made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the reception including an open jeep procession for Bindra from the Central stadium to the V.J.T. Hall. The procession will commence an hour before the reception which is to start at 4.30 p.m. — Special Correspondent