Homage to Sam Anna

Rich tributes were paid to versatile basketball personality and former official of GHMC Samuel Vasanth Kumar during the prize distribution function of the open men basketball championship that was organised in his memory at Victory Play Ground (VPG) in the city on Thursday.

The tournament was conducted jointly by Sports Writers Association of Telangana (SWAT) and Sports Village. In addition to players from the titlist VPG and runner-up Sanathnagar Playground, who were cheered lustily, the event was graced by veteran scribes, senior sports administrators from basketball, cricket, hockey, swimming and table tennis, including

Aloysius Edwards, Mir Khasim Ali, PB Srinath, S Venkateswaran, John Manoj, besides Prof K Ranga Rao and Dr SR Premraj, President and Secretary of Telangana Olympic Association (TOA) and Rachel Charan, sister of the late coach, who gave away the winner and runner-up trophies.

Individual prizes for each of the winning and runner up sides were given away by primary sponsor Mohd Shamsuddin, CEO of Sports Village, among others. International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Technical Delegate and FIBA referee Norman Isaac recalled his basketball mentor to loud applause.

Senior most sports journalist in the undivided state of Andhra Pradesh, N Ganesan, and Valentine Wilson, former Sports Editor of Deccan Chronicle were felicitated on the occasion. Wilson’s prize for most needy player went to Vamshi Krishna, son of a banana seller and SWAT President N Jagannath Das’ gift of a pair of basketball shoes went to Naveed Khan of Sanathnagar Play Ground.

The prizes (individual donors in brackets): Most Valuable Player: K Amruthraj, VPG ‘A’ (presented by Manne Ratnakar); Most Promising Young Player: Chris Viresh, YMCA Secunderabad (Rosemary Grace); Most needy player: Vamshi Krishna, VPG (Valentine Wilson) and Best coach trophy: Mohd. Nayeemuddin, which has been instituted by veteran journalist and analyst G Rajaraman.