Tendulkar receives Sportsperson of the Generation award

posted by   cricboss (8)   8 months ago (cricboss.blogspot.com)

Master batsman Sachin Tendulkar received the Sportsperson of the Generation award from the Calcutta Sports Journalists Club (CSJC) at a star-studded Annual Award Function on Monday night. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, along with actor Debasree Roy, presented the award and the mementos to Tendulkar who is in the town for an IPL match. Tendulkar thanked CSJC for honouring him and said it was always a different feeling to play at the Eden Gardens. Ganguly was also felicitated by CSJC for his spectacular comeback in international cricket. Editor of the Ananda Bazar group Aveek Sarkar and popular Tollywood actor Prasenjit presented the citation and the mementos to Ganguly. CSJC also felicitated badminton maestro Prakash Padukone with Lifetime Achievement Award and speedster Ishant Sharma with the Best Find of The Year Award. For the first time, CSJC also honoured a sportsperson from abroad. Former Australia team coach John Buchanan was given a special award for guiding the Australian cricket team to two consecutive successes in the worldcup. Former Tisco Chairman Russi Mody was also honoured with a special award for his outstanding contribution to development of sports and games in the country. Former Indian hockey team goalkeeper Mir Ranjan Negi, whose life inspired Shah Rukh Khan to make 'Chak de India' was also present to receive another special award for his comeback in hockey as coach. Other sportspersons who received awards for excellence in their respective fields included Sushmita Singha Roy (Athletics), Subrata Paul (Football), Dola Banerjee (Archery), Poulomi Ghatak (Table Tennis) and Grandmaster Surya Sekhar Ganguly (Chess), former India cricketer and commentator Ravi Shastri and Rabi Chatterjee (Best sports organiser). Receiving the award, Padukone said, "For the first time, I am getting a lifetime achievement award. I am really overwhelmed by this honour." He said it was at Kolkata where he first became champion in a junior tournament which virtually gave his badminton career a thrust.