OREANDA-NEWS. August 30, 2011. The Ministry of Railways is considering to create a separate sports cadre for further giving impetus to sports in Indian Railways. This was announced by the Minister of Railways, Shri Dinesh Trivedi while speaking at a programme organized to felicitate the National Sports Awardees of Indian Railways. The Minister said that Railways is proud of the fact that 1/4th of the awardees for the prestigious National Sports Awards this year are from the Indian Railways. Congratulating the National Award winners, Shri Trivdi said that Railway players have not only made Railways proud but have also brought laurels to the entire nation.

 Shri Trivedi pointed out that this became possible because of the Railway’s friendly Recruitment and Human Resource policies, high class infrastructure for sports persons and constant endeavour to create favourable conditions for promoting sports talent. The Railway Minister emphasized that he himself is a sports person and since he is very fond of sports, he will do his best to promote the sports in the Railways. He said that it will be much better if the talented children are picked up right at the schooling stage for nurturing them into a good sportsperson. Shri Trivedi said that we may consider setting up sports centres where talented children are given nutritious food, schooling, scholarship and training so that they could appropriately be groomed. Railways is a very huge organisation and has huge infrastructure and has responsibility to promote sports, he added.

 Shri Trivedi further said that sports academies are required for producing world class sports persons. On this occasion, the Minister also announced a cash award of Rs. 5 lakh each to all the Railway players who have won the National Sports awards. He also assured that other incentives like promotions etc. will also be looked into in case of these award winners.

 Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Minister of State for Railways, Shri K. H. Muniyappa said that to recognize and to expose the hidden talents in the field of sports, the Ministry of Railways has a separate Railway Sports Promotion Board which has made landmark achievements since its inception. The Railways is proud to have 140 Arjuna Awardees and 7 Dhyanchand Awardees in its family. Even during the Commonwealth Games 2010, the Railways have garnered 25 out of 101 Medals and 13 out of 38 Gold Medals. Congratulating the Arjuna and Dhyanchand Awardees- 2011 of Indian Railways, Shri Muniyappa said that the Awardees have held the prestige and the reputation of the Railway fraternity in high esteem and brought honour to the entire country. He further said that Railways have been instrumental in the developmental activities of the nation by providing opportunity for livelihood to a large number of promising and talented sportspersons through its various recruitment schemes and also provides facilities for their training, skill enhancement, and various forms of incentives and opportunities as motivation to excel.

 Congratulating the awardees on the occasion, Shri A.K. Vohra, Member Staff, Railway Board said that Indian Railways have a rich tradition of having Olympic Gold Medal Champions who have contributed to a substantial share of medals won by India in Asia Games, Commonwealth Games and similar World Championships. The relationship between Railway Sports Promotion Board and Indian Sports has become symbiotic. Present on the occasion were Board Members and senior officers of Ministry of Railways among others. The details of the National Sports Awardees 2011 of Indian Railways are given below:

 Shri Rahul Banerjee, recipient of Arjuna Award 2011, is one of the outstanding Archers of the country. He has been working with Eastern Railway since 10.11.2010. He also won Gold medal in individual category and bronze medal in team event in Commonwealth Games-2010, one bronze medal in team event in Asian Games-2010, silver medal in 1st World Cup 2010, Gold medal in team event in 2nd World Cup 2010, Gold medal in team event in 4th World Cup 2010, Gold medal in individual category and gold medal in team event in 2nd Asian Grand Prix, Gold medal in team event in 11th South Asian Games 2010. In addition, Shri Rahul Banerjee has also won several medals in National and other International Archery competitions.

 Ms. Preeja Sreedharan, recipient of Arjuna Award 2011, is one of the outstanding Athletes of the country. She has been working with Southern Railway since 02.02.2002. She won Gold medal in 10,000 meters in Asian Games 2010, Silver medal in 5000 meters in Asian Games-2010, Silver medal in 10,000 meters in Sun Feast World 2009, Participated in Beijing Olympics 2008, Gold medal in 3000 meters in 3rd Asian Indoor Championship 2008, Gold medal in 5000 meters in South Asian Games 2008. In addition, Ms. Preeja Sreedharan has also won several medals in National and other International Athletics competitions.

 Shri Ashish Kumar, recipient of Arjuna Award 2011, is one of the outstanding Gymnasts of the country. He has been working with North Central Railway since 22.11.2007. He won Silver medal in Vaulting Table and Bronze medal in floor exercises in Commonwealth Games-2010, one bronze medal in floor exercises in Asian Games-2010. He created history for the country by winning medals at Commonwealth Games-2010 and Asian Games 2010. He has been four time National champion for being all round best gymnast in the country. In addition, Shri Ashish Kumar has also won several medals in National and other International archery competitions.

 Shri Rakesh Kumar, recipient of Arjuna Award 2011, is one of the outstanding Kabaddi players of the country. He has been working with Northern Railway since 26.04.2004. He has won Gold medal in Asian Games-2010, Gold medal in 11th South Asian Games-2010, Gold medal in 3rd Asian Indoor Games 2010. He was the vice-captain of the Indian Kabaddi Team which won Gold in 2nd World Cup in 2007, Gold in 2nd Indoor Asian Games 2007 and Gold in 15th Asian Games 2006 . In addition, Shri Rakesh Kumar has also won several medals in National and other International Kabaddi competitions.

 Ms. V. Tejeswini Bai, recipient of Arjuna Award 2011, is one of the outstanding Kabaddi players of the country. She has been working with South Central Railway since 12.04.2004. She has won Gold medal in Asian Games-2010, Gold medal in 11th South Asian Games-2010, Gold medal in 1st Asian Championship, 2005, Gold in 2nd Asian Championship 2007, Gold in 3rd Asian Championship 2008. In addition, Ms. Tejeswini Bai has also won several medals in National and other International Kabaddi competitions.

 Shri Ravinder Singh, recipient of Arjuna Award 2011, is one of the outstanding Wrestlers of the country. He has been working with Northern Railway since 25.09.2002. He won Gold medal in Commonwealth Games 2010, Bronze medal in Asian Games 2010, Bronze medal in Senior Asian Championship 2010, Gold in Senior Commonwealth Wrestling Championship 2009, Gold in Senior Commonwealth Wrestling Championship 2007. In addition, Shri Ravinder Singh has also won several medals in National and other International Wrestling competitions.

 Shri Raj Kumar, recipient of Dhyan Chand Award 2011, is one of the outstanding Wrestlers of his time and is currently the Coach of Indian Wrestling team. He has been working with Northern Railway since 10.04.1986 . He received Gold medal in 3rd SAF Games, Silver medal in Senior Asian Wrestling Championship 1987, Silver medal in 3rd Commonwealth Championship 1989. She is also associated as coach for Indian Railway Wrestling team. She has qualified as FILA International Referee in 2007 and acted as referee in 3rd Commonwealth Youth Games 2008 and 11th South Asian Games, 2010.