Sportspersons receive Laxman and Laxmi Bai awards in UP

Lucknow, Sep 1 (UNI) Prominent sportspersons of Uttar Pradesh were today honoured with prestigious Lord Lamxam and Rani Laxmi Bai awards at a function held at the K D Singh Babu stadium here.

UP minister of sports and youth welfare Ayodhya Prasad Pal honoured those players of the state, who brought laurels, with a cash prize of Rs 50,000, statue of Lord Laxman for men and Rani Laxmi Bai to the women and letter of appreciation to each.

The awards were given after a gap of four years for the years from 2003-04 to 07-08 and the Laxman Awards winners were Sanjeev Kumar (Kabbadi), Kudrat Ali(Rowing), Mayank Srivastava, Rohit Jaisqal(Both Gymnastics), Vishwas (Archery) and Abdul Matin (Taekwondo), while Rani Laxmi Bai award winners were-Suman Devi (Athletics), Garima Chaudhary (Judo) and Munsaddi Khatoon (Rowing).

Besides, 224 other sportspersons of the state, who won medals at National level events, also got cash prizes during the ceremony.

In his address, the minister criticised the previous governments for neglecting sports activities during their tenure.

Announcing the bonanza for the state sports activities he asked the sports department to submit a proposal for increasing the cash prizes for Civil Services sports and filing of the vacant posts in the various offices of the sports department.

UNI KN JAS PY RAI2002