Mah youth relay team hands over baton to Goa

Patradevi, Sep 12 (UNI) The Maharashtra team in youth baton relay (YBR), an integral part of the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG), braving inclement weather, reached here on Maharashtra-Goa border and handed over the baton to Goa today.

The YBR team presented the baton in the presence of Goa Sports minister Manohar Babu Ajgaonkar, Goa Olympic Association Subash Shirolkar and Secretary Gurdas Bhakta, Director of Sports Dr Susana D'Souza, Executive Director Prabhu Desai and Arjun awardee Bruno Coutinoh.

Also present on the occasion were Kaka Kudalkar, president Zilla Parishad, Panchayat Samiti chairman Raju Parab, SDO Datta Prasad Nale, tehsildar Pradeep Kelkar and a host of dignitaries and schoolchildren.

Earlier, the YBR team braving the inclement weather condtions reached Sawantwadi this afternoon. It was welcomed by the municipal president Sriram Dalvi, vice-president Pallavi Kesarkar, Panchayat Samiti Chairman and a large number of school children. The local Youth Organisation Chairman Abba Sawant and Arun Bhise were also present.

At Sukhwad in Sindudurg district, the relay team was welcomed by district Congress committee president Abhay Sirsat, Panchayat Samiti chairman Abhay Parab and tehsildar Sawant.

National athlete Digambar Boate, after receiving the baton from local physical education Director Vijay Magude, ran a lap.

Sindudurg Athletic Association honorary secretary Kalpana Tendulkar, Pralhad Jadhav, Nitin Sawant, Natasha Tendulkar and RDC among other government officials were present throughout the rally.

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