Overwhelming response from Punekars to Youth Baton Relay

Tag : relay

The unique Youth Baton Relay (YBR) forming an integral part of the2008 Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) was today accorded a tumultuouswelcome never seen before in the history of the historic city.
The city has been bedecked with arches, buntings, festoons andcolourfull hoardings before the curtain goes to herald the thirdedition of the CYG on October 12 as the YBR received befittingwelcome from the sporting people who have certainly risen to makethe CYG a resounding success.
Carrying the baton in an open jeep was the Indian OlympicAssociation(IOA) President and the CYG Organising Committeechairman Suresh Kalmadi (MP). The luminaries from field of sportsnamely Olympian shooter Anjali Vedphatak (Bhagwat), and home grownformer hockey Olympian Dhanraj and chhatarapti awardee TruptiMurgunde among hosts of others.
Starting its journey from the oldest Kasba Peth ''Ganpati'', therelay team was given a traditional welcome by the city BJP (MLA)Girish Bapat and the Ganpati trustees before proceeding via PhadkeHowd, Apollo Talkies, before entering into the Cantonment area.
Commissioner of Police (Pune) Satyapal Singh, displaying his lovefor sports, ran a kilometer from the Synagogue at Lal Deval tillthe Ambedkar statue at Aurora Towers. The Police Commissioner ranin the company of chhatrapati awardee in Kho-Kho Rajendra Dravidand many others former national and internationals players.
The other prominent dignitary who carried the baton was the PuneCantonment Board President Brig R J Sharma from Aurora Tower tillthe Poona College.
Moving onwards, the relay moved via Shakarseth Road and reachedLohia Nagar where it was given yet another tradition welcome underthe overall supervision of MLA Ramesh Bgawe and his Corporator sonAvinash Bagwe.
After skirting the Mahatma Phule wade came to Timber Market andRamoshi Gate chowk and went towards Bhavani Mata Mandir in BhavaniPeth.
Before going towards Bhavani Mata Mandir, a large number of boysand girls from the vernacular schools in the area welcomed andgreeted the relay squad with cheers and slogans.
The relay then came to Quartergate and then to Sant Kabir Chowk. Onreaching the spot, the dignitaries were moved to a two horse drawncarriage till City Post chowk via Laxmi Road.
The PMC Commissioner Pravinsinh Pardeshi then received the baton atthe historic Shaniwarwada Fort and moving via Pune MunicipalCorporation came to the headquarters of the Bank of Maharashtra atLokmangal, who are the official bankers for the CYG.
The baton was received by the Chairman of the bank Allen C APereira and General Manager B K Pipariya. A number of awardeesincluding arjuna awardees Shantram Jadhav, Surekha Dravid , ManishaGhate, Shailesh Tamhankar, Mohini Chaphekar, Sanjay Joshi alsoparticipated in the relay.
The convoy moved via Janglee Maharaj Road, Balgandharwa, AlkaTalkies Chowk where the YBR received a rousing welcome. Then cameto Vishrambag Wada and after that to main Shivaji Market whereequally grand reception was accorded to the relay.
It was indeed a matter of great pride that people greeted the batonrelay team with great enthusiasm all throughout the marked routetill coming to the Baburao Sanas ground near Sarasbag. The YBR willhave a night halt at the University of Pune.
The YBR will commence it onward tour of the city from the statue ofAnna Bhau Sathe near Sarasbag tomorrow at 0800 hours.
-- (UNI) -- 08SPD34.xml