11-Aug-2009 341
Orissa woman athlete Saraswati Chand, the pride of the state Police Department, was accorded a rousing reception today on her return home after winning six medals, including two golds in the 13th World Police & Fire Games at British Columbia in Canada earlier last week.
Police IG (Law & Order) Arun Kumar Sarangi, Sports Officer Prashant Padhi, athletic coach Sailendra Prasanna Burma, former international athlete Anil Minz and a host of police sportspersons greeted Chand at the Biju Patnaik Airport when she landed here from Delhi.
A Lance Naik, Chand thanked the Police Department for providing all the necessary support, which enabled her achieve the huge success at the World Police Games. ‘‘I always longed to win medals for the country. But I had not imagined that I would win six medals in one world level meet.
It is an added happyness that I bettered my earlier timings in my pet 200 and 400 metre sprints and secured a medal in 400 metre hurdles while competing in the event for the first time,’’ said Chand, who hails from Jajpur district.
IG Sarangi announced that Chand would be given promotion for her outstanding achievement. ‘‘Chand was given an out-of-turn promotion after she emerged the best athlete of the All India Police Games earlier. This time file has been moved go give her another out-of-turn promotion,’’ he told mediapersons.
The 27-year-old athlete was taken on an open jeep to the State Police headquarter at Cuttack, where she was felicitated by Intelligence Director Prakash Mishra, IG R P Singh, Administration DIG Debasish Panigrahi and IG S Panwar.
A hardworking athlete, Chand bagged two gold medals in 200m and 400m run, three silvers in 400m hurdles, 4x100m and 4x400m relay and one bronze in 800m run at the Canada Games.
PHOTO: Top: Saraswati Chand shows her medals in Bhubaneswar on August 11, 2009.
Bottom: Saraswati Chand with her coach S P Burma in Bhubaneswar on August 11, 2009.
