BHOPAL, 2 October 2005 — Maharashtra retained the overall team championship while the hosts Madhya Pradesh again settled for the second spot in the 17th National West Zone Junior Athletics Championship at Tatya Tope stadium that concluded here, recently.
Defending champions Maharashtra marched to the top with 52 golds, 46 silvers and 26 bronze medals. Madhya Pradesh managed 18 gold and silver each with 32 bronze medals to remain runners-up. Rajasthan with 11 golds, six silvers and five bronze medals were placed third in the championship. In this three-day championship, boys and girls in the group of under 20, 18, 16 and 14 years of age from six states including Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Goa, Rajasthan, Gujarat and hosts Madhya Pradesh participated.
Speaking at the closing ceremony Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Babulal Gaur, who was the chief guest of the occasion, said that his government would encourage sports and sportsmen while budding talents would be given opportunities at national and international level. Gaur complimented tennis sensation Sania Mirza, athlete Anju George for their outstanding performance and informed that the Madhya Pradesh government would felicitate Sania in a civic ceremony in collaboration with other sports organizations.
Reiterating the state government’s commitment to the development of sports, Gaur said that the Tatya Tope stadium would be developed into an international standard stadium. He assured all possible cooperation for management of such sports meets. He also gave away medals to the winners and announced Rs1,000 each to the medal winners. Considering the record of Madhya Pradesh Amateur Athletic Association, (MPAAA), organizing the meets successfully, he said that national and international standard athletics events would be organized in the state especially in Bhopal.
Madhya Pradesh Sports Minister OP Dhurve, who was the chief guest at the prize distribution function, said his ministry is trying to find out ways and means to link sports with employment to make sports a lucrative and worthwhile career to pursue.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Transport Uma Shankar Gupta said that Bhopal is carving out its identity in sports and said that sports activities are being promoted in colleges and universities.
Former Minister and Madhya Pradesh Olympic Association President Mahesh Joshi, Madhya Pradesh Council of Sports Vice President Om Yadav, Principal Secretary Sports Ranjana Chaudhari, Director Sports Sanjay Chaudhari, MPAAA president NS Parmar, Hony. secretary Mumtaz Khan, Murlidhar and others were also present on the occasion. Dr Shafquat Mohammad Khan, secretary of Bhopal Division Cricket Association, proposed vote of thanks.
Meanwhile, twin sisters from Ratlam Firoz and Afroz were a major attraction of the championship. The sisters enjoyed the attention and curiosity of the sports lovers. Firoz Shaikh and Afroz Shaikh went around the stadium discussing their event, much to the delight of the spectators who had turned up to cheer the participants. Feroz participated in shot-put event. Afroz only escorted her and did not participate in any event.
Firoz said their resemblance often confuses people, and, at times, leads to some embarrassment. Interestingly, even sports officials also get confused. “Whenever we appear in a district-level or other championship it becomes very difficult for organizers to differentiate one from the other, “ said Afroz.
Their affection for each other could be gauged from the fact that they have never got separated from each other at any point of life. “I failed in class XII but my sister who could have easily appeared in the next class refused to do so, so that she could again appear in the exam with me,” said Afroz. Presently, both are the students of BSc Part I.
