May 1: In a bid to promote sports personalities of the city, the Poona Sports Journalists Association (PSJA), today, felicitated cyclist Sanjay Maral and athlete Gazala Pathan at a function held at the Nehru Stadium.Sanjay, who recently won the gruelling Mumbai-Pune cycle race, won laurels for the city after a gap of eight years (the last being Kerman Framna) while, Gazala was selected as she became the first goal medal winner of the Krida Prabodhini, when she won the gold in the discus throw in the under-17 section at the School Nationals held at Gujarat, recently.With an aim to boost the spirits of sports persons, the PSJA has decided that the felicitation would be an annual feature, hereon.The chief guest on the occasion, Ramesh Tawade, principal, Krida Prabodhini handed over the cash award of Rs 1111 to Sanjay and simultaneously feted Gazala.The function was presided by noted international wrestling referee and secretary of the Maharashtra Wrestling Association (MWA), Balasaheb Landge. Speaking on the occasion, Landge lauded the efforts of PSJA of promoting talents who otherwise would have gone unnoticed. He concluded saying that these gestures would pay definitely pay dividends in the long run in developing sports persons.Later, Tawde expressed hope that the association should continue in its good deeds every year and cited occasions where certain associations came up with the idea but failed to keep up with their endeavor. Also present on the occasion were athletic coach Suresh Gujrathi, Sharad Chavan of Maharana Pratap Sangh, Chhatrapati awardees Sanjay Satpute and Kamlakar Zende.
