Ojas to share award money with sports kids
   Date :10-Jan-2024

Ojas 
 
 
 
 
By Paritosh Pramanik
 
COMPOUND World champion archer and triple gold medal winner of Hangzhou Asian Games Ojas Pravin Archana Deotale became ‘Arjuna’ of Nagpur when he received the glittering Arjuna Award from President of India Droupadi Murmu at the regal ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on Tuesday afternoon. The Durbar Hall reverberated with huge applause as Ojas walked the Red Carpet to receive the second most coveted sports award of the country after Dhyanchand Khel Ratna. Ojas’ name was announced first among the 26 athletes and para-athletes, immediately after the Dronacharya awards were given away by President Murmu. Immediately after receiving the award and citation, Ojas announced his plans to utilise the reward money. Not many are as benevolent as city international archer Ojas.
 
The compound world champion archer Ojas decided to ‘donate’ the reward money (Rs 15 lakh) for the development of kids of his locality who aim for greater height in sports field. Ojas won three gold medals at the last Year’s Hangzhou Asian Games after conquering the world in August becoming the only Indian male compound archer to win world championship. For his unparalleled achievement, Indian government conferred upon him the second highest award, the Arjuna Award to the city lad. Speaking with ‘The Hitavada’ after the award ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi, Ojas announced that he would use the reward money for the development and betterment of sports and budding sportspersons of his locality. “It’s a huge honour to be conferred with the Arjuna Award. I am happy that I have made my country and my parents proud,” he said Ojas received a citation, along with a trophy and Rs 15,00,000 at the hands of President Murmu. “I want to use this money for the kids of my locality. I don’t want them to suffer and leave playing and pursue their dreams.
 
This money will be utilised for the development of sports infrastructure, diet of players, etc,” elaborated Ojas. Ojas was aware that mere Rs 15 lakh won’t be enough to help the kids. He is ready to join NGOs to continue his project. “If need be I will be ready to approach and join NGOs to continue my project. It is not an easy task but I will do whatever I can to help the kids who want to excel in sports,” stated the champion archer. On receiving the award from the first person of the country, Ojas said he was delighted and was getting goosebumps when he walked the Red Carpet. “It’s was as if I was dreaming. I was walking on the Red Carpet at Rashtrapati Bhawan. Then, when I got the citation and trophy from President Murmu madam, I was numb. It was surreal. I have never thought that I would receive such recognition in such a short time,” said Ojas who had his family including his brother Jatin and Uncle Vilas Wanjari in attendance. “This award will push me to work harder and bring more glory to the nation,” Ojas concluded.
UNBELIEVABLE, VERY PROUD MOMENT: PRAVIN DEOTALE
OJAS’ parents, father Pravin and mother Archana, were over the moon while their son Ojas walked the Red Carpet at Rashtrapati Bhawan. “It is unbelievable...Sitting inside the colossal Durbar Bhawan of Rashtrapati Bhawan itself is a proud moment. Cameras are not allowed inside the hall and the entire ceremony is recorded by our moist eyes,” said Ojas’ father Pravin from outside the Rashtrapati Bhawan while talking with this scribe. “We were sharing seats alongside the best in the country. It was a once in a lifetime moment. We never thought of even venturing inside the Rashtrapati Bhawan and today we were inside the gigantic home of the President. I have no words to express my feelings. The reception, the way we were treated... everything is etched in our memories for our entire life,” narrated Pravin. The father felt more proud as Ojas’ name was announced first from the list of 26 Arjuna award recipients.
“My heart filled with pride when his name was announced first.
 
It was a moment to cherish. After the awards, Ojas’ SAI mates were all praise for their ‘leader’. They all were so happy for Ojas. They termed Ojas as a leader of the pack who would take everybody along with him. ‘A vacuum gets created when Ojas was not on the field. The daily practice becomes boring. We can’t miss him for a day, his friends would say,” stated Pravin Deotale. While preparing for the mega ceremony, Pravin said they could not sleep the whole night. “We had dinner in the night and then had the rehearsal. The rehearsal itself was a great moment. After returning to our hotel room we tried to sleep but could not. All the old memories of how Ojas started archery, how we sacrificed small little things for him came alive. Those were the days when Ojas as well as all of us sacrificed a lot. But today, we all are happy,” Pravin concluded.