Indian Express: Pune International Marathon: 9 Olympic legends to receive awards

At the 30th Pune International Marathon, which carries the motto of ‘Run to Olympics’, nine renowned personalities who have a major contribution in the state’s Olympic missions will be given gratitude awards. The first meeting of Indian Olympic Association for Antwerp Olympics 1920 had taken place at Deccan Gymkhana in Pune in 1918.

The organisers have chosen the marathon as a platform to felicitate the people who, in the last 98 years, have made the state proud with their performance in Olympics. Among those who will be felicitated at the event is Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, who promoted Kho Kho and Kabaddi at an international level.

Apart from Sharad Pawar, former international Hockey player and international coach Aranwaz Damania, former president of Maharashtra Hockey Association and teacher Aba Mahajan, retired Air Force Squadron Leader and Indian Weightlifting Association’s secretary Raj Gulati, former secretary of State and National Association of Kho Kho, Mukund Ambardekar, promoter of Water Sports Chandrakant Shirole, a runner of international repute and contemporary of Milkha Singh, Balkrishna Akotkar and Maharashtra’s first athletics instructor Ram Bhagwat will be felicitated.