Rowing champion Smita Shirole to contest Pune civic elections

Pune, Jan 7 (UNI) Former National women's scull (rowing) champion Smita Shirole-Yadav will contest the February one civic elections to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on a Congress ticket.

The 2003 Dhyanchand awardee Smita will be a strong contender from Ward No 34's Model Colony, which is reserved for women.

Talking to UNI here today, the soft-spoken and mild-mannered Smita said ''I have made up my mind to further strengthen the hands of Mr Suresh Kalmadi, MP to make the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games to be held at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports City Mahalunge -Balewadi, near here.'' She said the idea of ''Global Pune'', shared by Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Mr Kalmadi, has not only impressed her but has given a direction to the youths of the city to fulfil their goal.

''Being a sportswoman and an achiever, I will prove my mettle in the filed of politics as well,'' she added.

Smita is no stranger to politics as she is a grand-daughter of Malitibai Shirole, a staunch Congress worker.

Encouraged by her father Chadrakant Shirole, the treasurer of the Maharashtra Olympic Association (MOA), Smita won laurels in the single sculls events in national and international competitions.

Her exploits in rowing fetched her the coveted Shiv Chhatrapati awards for sports in 1985.

After her active career, Smita turned rowing coach, attached to the Krida Probhodini, and has been a qualified international referee.

She also played a significant role in the aftermath of Latur earthquake, the Tsunami disaster in the south, the Orissa floods and raised funds for the Kargil war widows.

Smita, along with former India hockey captain Dhanraj Pillay, took a lead in the promotion of the Olympics campaign undertaken by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi before the Athens Olympics.

UNI