Advani, Suresh overwhelmed by honour

Bangalore, Oct 29 (UNI) World Billiards and Snooker Champion Pankaj Advani and international Kabaddi player B C Suresh expressed happiness on being awarded the Rajyotsava award for 2007 by the Karnataka Government.

Twenty-two-year-old Pankaj, currently playing for the country at the Asian games at Macau, China, said ''I am very honoured. I would have been there in person to receive the award, but for the international tournament in Macau.'' Pankaj's mother Kajal Advani said, ''I also feel very happy. Since 1990 after coming to Bangalore due to trouble in Iraq, we have settled here and Bangalore is our home town.'' Suresh, a gold medallist in the first World Cup held in Mumbai 2004, said, ''I am really thrilled on getting the Rajyotsava award.

It would certainly give a boost to the sport.'' He was Vice-Captain of the team.

An all-rounder, Suresh had also won the gold medal in Asian Games 2002. He had bagged many awards, including Ekalavya, Kempe Gowda and Karnataka Olympic Association Award for Best Kabaddi Player of the Year.

UNI