ACKNOWLEDGING the services given to the game of basketball and producing several medal-winning hoopsters, veteran coach Arvind Garud will be honoured with prestigious Bhau Kane award on May 14. Addressing a press conference, Nav-Maharashtra Krida Mandal’s (NMKM) Secretary Prashant Jagtap said that Garud will receive a cash purse of Rs 1 lakh for his devotion to the game. “The awards ceremony, which will be held on birth anniversary of Bhau Kane, legendary athletics coach, will be organised by NMKM and Chaitanya Sports, Yoga and Cultural Foundation at Shikshak Sahakari Bank’s Hall near Gandhi Sagar Lake, in Mahal at 6 pm,” informed Jagtap. Similarly, athletics coach Gajanan Thakre will also be rewarded.

 

“Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, MLA Pravin Datke, President of NMKM Dhananjay Kane will be the guests for the function,” he added. Garud has produced two Shiv Chhatrapati award winners and over 100 state and national medal-winning players. Thakre has produced national medal winner Kashish Bhagat. Thakre will get Rs 21,000 and a memento. A commemorative book dedicated to the memory of Bhau Kane will also be released during the programme. The book features heartfelt tributes, articles by his students, friends and eminent personalities including a special write-up by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. Dhananjay Kane, NMKM President, Charulata Behere, President of Chaitanya Sports, Shirish Bhagat, Treasurer, Naresh Shelke, Executive Member, along with coaches Ritesh Anand and Jitendra Ghordadekar were present during the conference.