Forgetful experience for Chief Minister Cup medallists

At a short notice, the coaches and the players were asked to report at the Gymkhana Ground on Monday morning for the prize distribution event with no trophies but only medals and certificates

HYDERABAD: The big talk now is the proposed Young India Sports University on the outskirts of Hyderabad, meeting the aspirations and dreams of the young talent, as the State Government is determined to put the city on the world map of sporting excellence.

Not far away, but right in the heart of the city, the way the Chief Minister Cup medallists (football) had a forgetful experience.

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According to the original plan, all the medallists of the CM Cup held in December 2024 were to be handed over the trophies and cash prizes at “a glittering function” with probably the Chief Minister, A Revanth Reddy, an avid sports lover, gracing the event.

But the unfortunate demise of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh forced the cancellation of the scheduled function as a mark of respect.

This was quite understandable. But, certainly not the way the football players from Khammam (winners), Nizamabad (second) and Nalgonda in the women’s section and Hyderabad (winners), Mahabubnagar (second) were treated.

For, at short notice on the phone, the coaches and the players were asked to report at the Gymkhana Ground in Secunderabad here on Monday morning for what was ‘claimed’ to be a prize distribution event with no trophies but only medals and certificates!

So, effectively, a coach and a couple of players from each of the top three finishers (men and women) were there to collect the prizes.
These coaches and players, when told about the difficulty of bringing all the players at such short notice to the venue (since football competitions were held at Hakimpet, the prizes were given at Gymkhana), were politely informed that a token representation was enough.

Perhaps, summing up the token gesture of giving the prizes itself, too!

For the record, the winners in CM’s Cup were to get Rs 1 lakh, the runner-up Rs 75,000 and the third-placed team Rs 50,000.

Ironically, only recently, the prize money which was due for the CM Cup conducted during the previous government was cleared, and it is anybody’s guess as to when the latest winners will get their prize money!

“It’s about respect, honour, and celebrating the journey of every player. Today, we lost that respect. Very painful and disheartening. A proper function would have been more appropriate,” moaned those who collected the prizes.