Haribhau Sane passes away

Pune, Aug 3 (UNI) Haribhau Sane, who first introduced synthetic suface for Kabbadi 30 years back, passed away early this morning following a brief illness at a local hospital.

He was 99 and is survived by two sons and a daughter.

He was admitted to a private hospital a week ago, where he died due to old age, hospital sources said.

Sane, who was known as 'Maharshi' of Indian games, was the first to introduce synthetic surface for kabaddi 30 years ago. The synthetic surface was, however, introduced at the Busan Asian Games in 2002.

He was a Chhatrapati and Maharashtra Bhushan awardee. He was a patriarch of Sunmitra Sangh, which won laurels in kabaddi in the country. He was also the founder member of Poona Region Atheletic Association (now Pune District Athletic Association), the bodies which he served till his death.

The last rites will be performed at Vaikunth crematorium later in the afternoon.

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