West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, federal Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Sarbananda Sonowal, former cricketer Sourav Ganguly and former footballer Chuni Goswami take part in the Mohun Bagan Club celebrations in Kolkata.
IANS/Kolkata
Legendary Indian footballers Karuna Bhattacharya and 1962 Asian Games gold medallist Arumainayagam were awarded the ‘Mohun Bagan Ratna’ yesterday, a prize given to the greats of the game who have earlier donned the green and maroon shirts.
The awards were given on Mohun Bagan’s 125th anniversary celebrations at the Netaji Indoor stadium here.
While Arumainayagam hugged his 1962 teammate and former India football captain Subimal ‘Chuni’ Goswami on stage after receiving a scarf and a memento, Bhattacharya was awarded posthumously with his son taking the award.
A galaxy of other sports stars were present at the ceremony, including ex-India cricket skipper Sourav Ganguly and legendary hockey player Gurbux Singh.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and federal Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal were also present at the mega event.
Due to an acute financial crunch, Mohun Bagan had to postpone their celebrations from last year to yesterday.
Founded in 1889, Mohun Bagan was the first Indian team to win a football tournament that was played in India, defeating East Yorkshire Regiment 2-1 to win the 1911 Indian Football Association Shield.
The feat triggered patriotic feelings and aided the country’s fight to gain independence from British rule.
Junior footballers and cricketers including Bengal captain Laxmi Ratan Shukla, fast bowler Mohammed Shami and Wriddhiman Saha - presently touring Sri Lanka were also felicitated.
