Hutatma awards presented

SOLAPUR, June 20: State sports minister Uttam Prakash Khandare today announced that the state government has plans to allocate Rs 40 crore for the sport department and also to set up more sports training centres in the rural areas.

Speaking at a function to honour national players from Solapur with Hutatma awards for the year of 1998-99 on behalf of Solapur Sports Authority, the minister appealed the sports organisations to come forward to help and encourage budding sportspersons in the state. The recipients of the awards were Smita Gullapalli swimming, Priti Shivagunde athletics, Deepa Padsalgikar volleyball, Balu Gaikawad kho-kho, Sanjay Rembarsu cricket and Hussain Waghmare wrestling. The award carried a memento and a cash prize of Rs 1000 each.

State sports director Ashwini Kumar, deputy director Ramesh Mishra and district sports officer Gulab Gore were also present on the occasion.