Gujrathi, Kulkarni chosen for life-time achievement awards

Pune, Apr 22 (UNI) Noted coaches Suresh Gujrathi and Sudha Kulkarni have been chosen for the late Ratnakar Sawant ''Life-Time Achievement Award'' for their outstanding services in the promotion and the proliferation of 'athletics', jointly by the Poona District Amateur Athletic Association (PDAAA) and the Pune International Marathon Trust (PIMT).

The tall and lanky 76-year-old Gujrathi, who brought many laurels as an athlete and coach, will receive the honour for 2005, while the equally illustrious 82-year-old Ms Kulkarni who played a pioneering role in introducing coaching and tapping talents from the schools, will receive the coveted award for 2006.

The award instituted in the memory of late Ratnakar Sawant, an outstanding former national athlete and Kabaddi player and former coach of Pune University, who passed away in a tragic road accident on 21 December 2002, carries a citation, a trophy and Rs 11,000 in cash.

The awards will be given by Pune Divisional Commissioner Nitin Kareer at a glittering function to be presided over by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Suresh Kalmadi who is also the Life President of PDAAA, on April 30.

Some outstanding athletes. namely Swati Ghadwe, Prinjal Gogoi among juniors and Dattatraya Jayabhai and Rakhi Gaud in senior category will also be feated on the occasion. They will be presented with Rs 5,000 and a trophy each.

Addressing media persons here today PDAAA president Bharat Desarda and secretary general Pralhad Sawant who is also the Secretary of the Maharashtra Amateur Athletic Association (MAAA) said since the award could not be given last year due to unavoidable reasons it was clubbed this year.

International judge and technical official Baptist D'Souza was the first to receive the award incepted in 2003 followed by noted commentator Sharadchandra Nadkarni, the elder brother of former test star Bapu Kadkarni in 2004.

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