Laxman,Rani Laxmi Bai awards given away

‘Recognition inspiring’

Players who received the Laxman and Rani Laxmi Bai awards on Friday said that the recognition was a source of inspiration for them. Amit Chaudhary who got the award for excelling in body-building said,“ I have won numerous medals at the national level and have also won a silver in the Mr South Asia Championship held at Colombo in 2004 but today with this award I feel that my efforts have been recognised. My next aim will be to do my country proud in the World Championships to be held at Mumbai from November 3 to 7.” Gymnast Vivek Mishra who has won medals at the national and the international level said that the award had boosted his morale. He said that though there has been a small pause in his journey in gymnastics due to a spine bone fracture last year but now he has recovered and his next targets would be the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. “My main aim however is to make it the 2016 Olympics and do my nation proud there. I have started practising with those Olympics in mind from now on itself,” he said.

Taekwondoist Srishti Singh said after winning medals both at the national and the international level,now her main aim was to qualify for the 2012 Olympics and bag a medal for the country.