50 sportspersons get Sardar Patel awards

Anand, Oct 31 (UNI) Fifty sportspersons were today honoured with the Sardar Patel Sports awards for excellence in their respective fields on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the great leader.

While two of them got special awards with prize money of Rs 2 lakh, the rest recieved a cash award of Rs 50,000. The two are Chauhan Nilofer Ismail (powerlifting) and Heer Patel (roller skating). Patel was given the special prize of Rs 2 lakh and also the award of Rs 50,000.

Seven physically challenged persons were also honoured for their achievements in sports.

Apart from sportspersons, Gujarat Wali awards were given to Ghazal singers Ratilal Anil and Aseem Randheri. The award carried a cash prize of Rs one lakh each, and a shawl.

Speaking on the occasion, State Education Minister Anandiben Patel said the State Government had always been stressing on the development of sports and had allocated Rs 20 crore for the purpose.

''This is for the first time in the State's history that such a large allocation has been made for sports,'' she said.

She said eleven sports councils will be set up in as many districts to provide facilities and opportunities to tap sporting talent.

She commended the efforts of the sportspersons and also praised their parents for encouraging them to excel in sports.

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