Vinit Indulkar (best u-16 cricketer), Onkar Khanvilkar (special prize) and Swapnaj Thakur (best u-14 cricketer) were the other award winners. ``It is a proud moment for all of us at the academy,'' exclaimed a elated Dilip Vengsarkar while speaking to Express Newsline last evening. ``These awards are definitely a motivating factor. In fact, it is a good tonic for the other boys too.'' The ex-Test star had words of caution too. ``They have to put in more hard work. There are an equal number of boys who have the potential and talent. I only hope that they strive harder for successand play for the country. In the longer run, it is upto them to develop their skills.''The awards were also a recognition of the services of coaches Prakash Sant, Vasu Paranjpe, Ravi Kulkarni, Dr Kinjal Suratwala and Suresh Tigdi.

The success of `karate kid' Swapnil lies in his natural ability to swing the ball, says ex-Test swing bowler Balwinder Singh Sandhu. ``He has a very good natural outswinger.'' But Sandhu warns that the young lad needs to be nursed properly. ``He has the potential to play for the country. But he needs a lot of monitoring in accuracy, skill and strategy (in that order).''

Following is a brief profile on the award winners

Swapnaj Thakur

Best under-14 cricketer (SS Rangnekar Trophy)

Age: 15 yrs. Std X student of IES, English. Right-hand opening batsman. Scored 1164 runs, inclusive of three centuries and eight fifties, averaging 51.00. Plays for Victory CC in the local league. Idol: Sachin Tendulkar.

Vinit Indulkar

Best under-16 cricketer (MV Dabhiraward)

Age: 15 yrs. Std X student of IES, English.

Right-hand middle-order batsman. Scored 1646 runs inlcusive of four centuries and ten fifties, Avg: 55.00. Cricket is in his genes. Father, Ajit represented Maharashtra in Ranji Trophy and so did his grandfather (Mahipatrao) and granduncle who played for Baroda. Born in Sholapur, migrated to Mumbai from Kolhapur to hone cricketing skills. Had his initial schooling in the Chhatrapati Sahu Vidyalaya at Kolhapur which had football as a subject! Idol: Mark Waugh for his elegance. Favourite subject: Maths, ``because it is the only subject where you have a chance of scoring full marks''. Plays for New Hind in the local league.

Onkar Khanvilkar

(MCA Special prize for outstanding performance as junior cricketer)

Age: 17 yrs. Std XII, Ruparel College. Left-handed batsman and right-arm off-spinner. Product of the famed Shardashram stable, led the Mumbai u-16 team in Vijay Merchant Trophy. Scored 286 runs in 5 matches (avg: 41.00) and took 21 wickets.Turns out for the Cricket Club of India and employed with Sun-Grace Mafatlal. Idol: Mark Waugh.

Swapnil Hazare

Best junior cricketer award (Shantibhai Seth Award); Best u-19 cricketer (LP Jai Trophy); Best u-19 fast bowler (B Banerjee award)

Age: 19 years. Right-arm fast medium. Second year Bachelor of Science student at Bhavan's AH Wadia. A 1st degree black belt in karate, took to cricket only four years ago! Performed creditably while representing the India u-19 team last seaon. Took 59 wickets. Began by playing for Ramakant Achrekar's club Kamat CC. Now plays for CCI. Idols: Wasim Akram, Allan Donald.

Owes claim to fame to EVCA: Had it not been for the academy I wouldn't have played cricket at all.

No Senior Cricketer Award

The Mumbai team's pathetic display in the Ranji Trophy tournament last season (1998-99) when they failed to qualify from the zone has led to the MCA deciding to do away with the annual Senior Cricketer award. ``The selection committee which nominates theawardee unanimously decided not to select any player of the Ranji team owing to their poor display last season. The selectors' decision was okayed by the managing committee,'' informed Prof Ratnakar Shetty while speaking to Express Newsline this evening.

Meanwhile, the only award winners in the seniors category based on statistical excellence went to wicket-keeper Sameer Dighe and speedster Abey Kuruvilla. Dighe was awarded the Late SV Rajadhakshya Trophy for emerging the highest scorer for the season (312 runs from 4 Ranji matches, avg: 62.40) and a special prize for the fastest century (100 in 109 balls).

Kuruvilla bagged the Shavak Pagdiwala Trophy for being the highest wicket-taker (15 in 3 Ranji matches and six in 2 one-dayers).