Former Sports Minister Jitendra Singh Emphasizes Role of Parents and Importance of Sports Sciences in making Champions

42nd Issue of ‘V.K. Pahuja Annual Swimming Statistical Bulletin’ is released at Annexe, India International Center, New Delhi

• For the three children of late Mr. V.K. Pahuja, Mr. Priyank Pahuja (Son), Dr. Supriya Pahuja & Ms. Meenakshi Pahuja (daughters) the statistical bulletin is the labor of love, passion & commitment
• On this occasion five women  swimmers, Firdosh (Rajasthan), Bhavya (Delhi), Soubrity Mondal (Bengal), Astha Choudhary (Assam) & Mahi (Bihar), were honoured

Khel Today Bureau 

New Delhi: Former Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports Bhanwar Jitendra Singh was once again present among the young and old age swimmers, officials and sports Journalists in the Capital on Thursday.

The reason was unique as he was invited to release ’42nd Issue of V.K. Pahuja Annual Swimming Statistical Bulletin’ at Annexe, India International Center at New Delhi.

Shri. Jitendra Singh has served the Government of India in the UPA regime as Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports and the Minister of State for Defence. Prof. A. K. Bakhshi, Vice Chancellor, PDM University & Shri Sita Ram Sawoo, Former International swimmer was the Guests of Honour at the release function attended by many upcoming and experienced Swimmers,  coaches, officials, motivators and parents.

I will wait to receive the 43rd edition next year and many more to come in coming years.- Bhanwar Jitendra Singh, Former Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports 

The first copy of the Bulletin was presented to Mr. P.D.Dutta , The senior most official & expert in Diving in India.

In his address, the former Sports Minister, Shri Jitendra Singh emphasized the role of parents in making champions along with the coaches. He has also mentioned the importance of sports sciences. The former minister appreciated the hard work of Dr.Meenakshi Pahuja and said “I will wait to receive the 43rd edition next year & many more to come in coming years”.

On this occasion five women  swimmers, Firdosh (Rajasthan), Bhavya (Delhi), Soubrity Mondal (Bengal), Astha Choudhary (Assam) & Mahi (Bihar), were honoured. All five swimmers are currently training under SAI- Glenmark Academy at SPM Swimming Pool, Delhi. Further at the function SAI- Glenmark Academy, Delhi Head Coach, Mr.Partha Pratim Majumder & Senior Women Coach Mrs.Chanda were also honoured.

Special mention was made for Delhi’s Swimmer  Kushagra Rawat, who is currently in Hungary. Kushagra’s father received the copy along with his coach Mr.Partha .

This bulletin has an exclusive interview of a leading Indian swimmers like Ridhima veerendra kumar, Utkarsh Santosh Patil and Para swimmer Niranjan mukundan. Special feature on coach John Christopher Nirmal Kumar and sharath M Gayakwad.

For the three children of Mr. V.K. Pahuja, Mr. Priyank Pahuja (Son), Dr. Supriya Pahuja & Ms. Meenakshi Pahuja (daughters) the statistical bulletin is the labor of love, passion & commitment.

The V. K. Pahuja Swimming Statistical Bulletin is in the memory of Late Mr. V. K. Pahuja, who started this bulletin. He was an eminent National Medalist Swimmer and International Water Polo player of his time. Mr. Pahuja was also a highly reputed swimming coach who served in various significant positions, such as FINA International Water Polo Referee, Member of the International Swimming Statistician Association, Official Statistician of the Swimming Federation of India and School Games Federation of India. He always believed in and promoted swimming as a sport for health, pleasure and safety. Till his last breath, he was willing to help, serve and contribute further in this cause.

The Bulletin has been compiled by Dr.Meenakshi Pahuja, Associate Professor, Physical Education, Lady Shri Ram College for Women. She is a well-known International swimmer and won many medals for the country. She was awarded the Prestigious ‘Nari Shakti Puraskar’ by the President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind.

According to Dr. Meenakshi & her elder sister, Dr. Supriya Pahuja, “This edition carries a tribute to the legend – late Mr. V. K. Pahuja, besides that, running into 450 pages which are divided into 6 sections, the bulletin comprises records of local, national and international competitions and comparative studies of the various prominent countries of the world on a swimming map. The bulletin also comprehends a very interesting Reference Section telling us about the participation of the Indian swimmers in various international championships in the last 60 years. It is an excellent reference book for swimming coaches, journalists and aquatic lovers. In short, we can say that it is a worth preserving Reference Book, the only one of its kind in the country”.

The Bulletin also contains many interesting articles based on sports, diet, elementary treatment of sports injury, dealing with physically challenged children, health advice such as “The Benefits of Swimming on the Heart”, written by eminent doctors, lecturers and swimmers.