GUWAHATI, Aug 23 � Young footballer Alen Deori was conferred the Dr Phani Sharma Commemorative Talent Award for Sports in a glittering function held at the Anuradha Cineplex Auditorium here this evening.
The award was initiated by the Dr Phani Sharma Welfare Trust. Dr Sharma was an entrepreneur, a social worker and a passionate sports lover. The Trust has been set up by the family members of Dr Sharma.
Presenting the award to Alen, Assam Governor JB Patnaik praised the trustees for promoting sporting talents of the State. He said Dr Sharma�s endeavour in the field of sports enabled many a promising players to achieve their potential, several of whom have claimed top honours and made not only the State but also the nation proud through their performance.
Former Indian football team captain Subimol Goswami, better known as Chuni Goswami, was present on the occasion as the guest of honour, where he recalled Dr Sharma�s association with him during his playing days. Congratulating Alen for being selected for this prestigious award, Goswami said the youngster must do better in coming days as this award will definitely help him in honing his skills after advance training outside the country.
MP and APCC president Bhubaneswar Kalita, Chairman of Assam Tribune Group TG Baruah, MLA Robin Bordoloi, Assam Football Association secretary Ankur Dutta were also present on the occasion as special guests.
Alen received a cash award of Rs 1 lakh and a citation. At present he is an inmate of the Tata Football Academy in Jamshedpur and a recipient of the IMG Reliance Football Scholarship. He has been selected to undergo training in USA for nine months. Alen has already represented the Indian U-13 teams on a couple of occasions. Alen�s first coach Hem Das was also felicitated in the function.
Trustee Chinmoy Sharma, son of Dr Sharma, welcomed the gathering and elaborated about the award. He said one paise of each ticket of Anuradha Cinema goes to the coffers of the Trust from where they give the cash award to the sportspersons. Last time�s recipient, table tennis player Kakoli Lahkar, and Alen also spoke on the occasion.
