New Marathi 'Pune Marathon' sports magazine launched

Pune, Oct 26: With an eye on the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games and to develop the much-needed sports culture among common people, an ambitious new Marathi sports magazine 'Pune Marathon' was launched here.

Speaking after the launch of magazine on Tuesday, at a function, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President and city MP Suresh Kalmadi said the new concept would go a long way in boosting Marathi sports journalism but at the same time develop the much-needed sports culture among the masses.

The magazine is expected to unfold new dimensions in vernacular journalism, said Kalmadi.

''There is certainly a large scope for this magazine as several people crave to read the expolits of sportspersons in their own mother tongue.

There are several English sports magazines. But the same can not be said of sports magazines in Marathi, Kalmadi emphasised. The effort is to bring far-reaching effects in the sphere of sports as it is being viewed as a lucrative career, he added.

Mr Kalmadi, who is also the President of the Asian Athletic Association, touched upon various aspects whereby the 'Pune Marathon' would prove beneficial to the sportspersons in understanding latest rules and technologies applied in their own regional language in their bid to enhance their performances.

The monthly magazine is being edited by well known Marathi journalist Pralhad Sawant, the recent recepient of the State Balshastri and Nanasaheb Parulekar awards.

The 90-page issue has photographs, cartoons and other illustrations depicting in detail the trials and tribulations of former India hockey captain Dhanraj Pillay who happens to be a Pune lad along with Arjun award pugalist Manoj Pingale also from Pune to the exploits of shooting ace Anjali Vedpathak Magazine managing director Abhay Chhajed also reiterated the paucity of specialty sports magazine in regional languages. '' Our efforts would, however, be channelised to promote the talents from every discipline of sports.'' Mr Chhajed pointed out that since the birth of the Olympic movement with the doyens like late Prof Dinkar Balwant Deodhar, late Olympains Babu Nimal and Joe Philip (1936 Berlin) and the Maharishi of Indian games Haribhau Sane, no effots were made to highlight their contribution in a regional language.

With the launch of the new magazine, full justice will be done to project the aspirations of outstanding sportspersons so as to reach the common man, Mr Chhajed added.

The editor Mr Sawant highlighted that every possible effort would be made in association with the players, coaches and the administrators to bring the nuances of the exploits of the outstanding past and the present sportsperons.

Mr Sawant pointed out that 16 pages devoted to cartoons has become quite popular with the masses and hence care would be taken to keep the interest of the readers.

''We are always open to cater to the needs of the sportspersons and they should not feel shy to approach us.'' Mr Sawant added.

UNI