“WE ALL know that cricket, football and hockey are popular sports but if anyone in Nagpur has done the work of instilling the feeling that some sports are Indian, the name of Dr Babasaheb Aakre must be mentioned. Along with being a doctor, he was an excellent kho-kho player, sports organiser and a coach. He produced hundreds of players,” said Dr Girish Gandhi at the felicitation ceremony organised by Vidyarthi Yuwak Mandal. Chief guest Dr Gandhi was speaking at the Dr Babasaheb Aakre Memorial Sports Award ceremony held at the Press Club in Civil Lines. Press Club President Pradeep Maitra presided over. Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur (SJAN) was conferred the prestigious award this year.

 

SJAN President Naresh Shelke along with past and present office-bearers accepted the award of Rs 11,000, shawl, shriphal and a memento. Renowned sports organiser Vijay Barse, former director of NEERI Dr Satish Wate and Secretary of Vidyarthi Yuwak Mandal Chandrakant Asole shared dais. Shubhada Fadnavis conducted the programme while Nilesh Khandekar proposed a vote of thanks. The function was attended by Bal Kulkarni, Dr Ram Thakur, Madhukar Chafle, Sanjay Bhute, Ravindra Fadnavis, Vijay Datarkar, Prakash Bante, Raju Ghadge, Ramesh Bangadkar, Balu Pardhi, Ambarish Aakre, Prashant Jagtap among others.