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Over 70 prizes and cash awards worth nearly Rs 8.5 lakh were given away by the VCA at a glittering Annual Awards Function held at the Bilimoria Hall, Civil Lines, Nagpur, on Saturday.
Top individual performers as well as champions and runners-up of various BCCI and local tournaments in the 2023-24 season, were rewarded for their stellar feats with the bat and ball.
Bowling Coach of the 2024 T20 World Cup winning Indian squad, Mr Paras Mhambrey, presided over the function as the Chief Guest and gave away the prizes.
Mr Mhambrey, who is a former India international pacer and a successful coach, was accorded a warm welcome by VCA president Justice Vinay M. Deshpande (former judge of the Bombay High Court). The VCA president also presented a silver salver, as a token of appreciation to Mr Mhambrey, under whom India’s fast bowling reserves have grown richer.
Mr Mhambrey, on his part, recalled his fond association with the VCA as head coach in 2016-17 and shared his vast experience with the youngsters. “There will be ups and downs in your career, but you must find a way to deal with them. Make failures your teacher and work hard to ensure that next time your efforts bear success,” Mr Mhambrey said in his speech.
He also urged players to play hard and fair. “Ask yourself whether you are the best version of yourself. Be truthful in your answer and work on your shortcomings to get better. Cricketers have short careers, so give it everything you have so that you end up with no regrets,” Mr Mhambrey advised.
Justice Deshpande (Retd) deeply appreciated Mr Mhambrey for sharing his own life’s experiences with Vidarbha’s budding cricketers and urged them to learn from it. He assured the players that the Association will continue to support them in every possible way to achieve their dreams.
Shree Choudhary received the award for the Best Batsman while Pratham Maheshwari took home the Best Bowler award in the Junior Men’s category. In the Junior Women’s category, Sayali Shinde received the Best Batter award while young Yashshri Soley emerged as the Best Bowler.
Mr Sudarshan Thool, received the Best Ground Marker award for 2023-24 season
Former India pacer Prashant Vaidya, who is the Chairman of VCA’s Cricket Administration & Development Committee, stressed on the need for youngsters to devote themselves to the game. “In my 35 years of career as a player and administrator, I have not seen a single instance when devotion and hard work has not been rewarded. One has to pursue goals with determination and dedication,” he said.
Also present on the occasion were VCA Vice-President Dr Avinash Deshmukh, Hon. Secretary Mr Sanjay Badkas, Hon. Joint-Secretary Mr Chandrakant Manke, Hon. Treasurer CA. Arjun Phatak, and Executive Committee members Adv. Anand Deshpande, Mr Nitesh Upadhyay and Mr Samir Gujar (Tournament Committee Chairman).
Former Vidarbha player Mr Tarun Patel was the Master of Ceremony at the function.
