Several sportspersons of Nagpur received the prestigious Shiv Chhatrapati awards from Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar at a glittering function held at Balewadi in Pune on Friday. Speaking on the occasion, Governor Radhakrishnan said that sportspersons from the State should prepare themselves and be ready to win medals at the Olympics. Governor CP Radhakrishnan further said that Sports Department of the State has set up sports complexes in 36 districts. “Schools and colleges should encourage students to play sports and instil in the students that sports is a career option as well.” Chief Minister Fadnavis said that Shiv Chhatrapati award is a source of pride for all the award winners.

 

“The State’s sportspersons have started winning medals and now it is necessary to make efforts to improve their performance globally.” Gold medal winning Indian archer Ojas Deotale, Indian cricketer Jitesh Sharma, yoga players Chakuli Selokar and Vaibhav Shrirame, fencer Shruti Joshi, divyang athlete Mangla Adamkar received the awards for the year 2023-24 while sea swimmer Jayant Jaiprakash Dubale got the award for the year 2022-23. On the occasion, State Sports Minister Dattatreya Bharane, Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil, Minister of Marketing and Protocol Jayakumar Rawal, Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Anna Bansode, Additional Chief Secretary Anil Diggikar, Sports Commissioner Hiralal Sonawane, State Sports Joint Director Sudhir More and a host of other dignitaries were also present during the awards function.