Never aspired for an award, but now have sense of gratitude: Gandhe on Dhyan Chand award

Set to be conferred with prestigious Dhyan Chand award, former India shuttler and coach Preep Gandhe said he never aspired for awards but expressed gratitude that his contribution to sport has been recognised.

Gandhe served as a former India coach and also was a double-bronze medallist at 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi. With Leroy D'souza, Gandhe clinched bronze medal in doubles category.

"I feel houred but I think more than it, award is recognition of my contribution to sport as a player, coach and later as an ministrator," Gandhe, who also served as an office-bearer of Maharashtra Bminton Association and Bminton Association of India, told PTI.

"I never did any work while aspiring for any award, but w re is a sense of gratitude that my work has been recognised by government," said Gandhe, who is a contemporary of legendary Prakash Pukone, Syed Modi and Partho Ganguly.

" support of my family has been immense throughout my journey, especially that of my wife, since my main career started after marri."

For first time, six people will be conferred with national award in bminton. Besides Gandhe, Indian men's doubles pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, coach Gaurav Khanna, who has been reason behind meteoric rise of Indian para-bminton, has been chosen for Dronacharya Award (regular category).

Also Trupti Murgunde and Satyaprakash Tiwari will be given Dhyan Chand Award.

Gandhe said he was one of brains behind Premier Bminton League. 

"After my playing career, as a corporate person, I have travelled to different countries and to each country I went, I used to take a look at bminton or sporting facilities re and how we can incorporate that into our country," he said.

Gandhe h won gold medal in doubles category in 1978 national Championship partnering Sanjay Sharma. n he won ar gold in 1982 nationals, partnering Uday Pawar and n won mixed doubles gold in 1984 with Ami Ghiya.

"We were a sports loving family. My late far was a recipient of Shiv Chhatrapi award for his life long contribution to Kabdi, Kho Kho and as a great player 75 years back and also an able minstrator," he said.

"I was always supported by my elder bror Ravindra Gandhe and eldest sister Jayashree Pendharkar, who is mor-in-law of former India captain Rahul Dravid, and my employers Shroff family."

He will be conferred with award in a virtual ceremony on August 29, National Sports Day. 

Im credits: PTI