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 "India's extraordinary tennis duo, Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, were
presented with `The Sportstar Sportspersons of the Year award' for 1999 at a
colorful function at the Taj Coromandel Hotel, Chennai. Also honored in the function was India's rising chess star Ms
Aarthie Ramaswamy
who was awarded the Sportstar Young Achiever award.
In a surprise announcement, Mr Ram, Editor, The Sportstar, announced that the recently crowned World Chess Champion
Viswanathan
Anand, has been adjudged sportsperson for "The Sportstar Millennium Award". Anand will be presented the award carrying a citation and Rs 2 lakh with a salver on the New Year's day when Tamil Nadu Chess Association felicitates the maestro.
Aarthie Ramaswamy, the world under-18 girls' champion, was awarded the Sportstar award for "The Young Achievers." by Ramesh Krishnan, former India star and Davis Cupper. She was awarded a citation and cheque for Rs. 50,000 from the chief guest, since Aarthie was out of station playing currently in Rilton Cup in
Stockholm, Sweden, her mother Mrs Alamelu Ramaswamy accepted the award.
About the "Young Achiever" Aarthie Ramaswamy, Mr. Ram observed that she possessed both "ability and character''. Mr Ram, also lavished praise on the great footballer Sailen Manna, the winner of the `Legend of Indian Sport' award for 2000, and the `Young Achievers' for 2000 - Deep Sengupta, the under-12 world chess champion, and Seema Antil, who won the gold medal in discus at the junior world athletics championship.
Ramesh Krishnan, current Indian Davis Cup captain, distributed the awards and the function was compered by Mr. Nirmal Shekar, Tennis Correspondent, The Hindu. |
