Aaron, Philips honoured by TNSJA

“I can proudly say that TNSJA is the only organisation to have properly recognised me for my achievement, that too, after 42 years,” said Philips in his acceptance speech. 

Tamil Nadu cricketer Dinesh Karthik and athlete G. Lakshmanan were named the ‘Players of the Year’. 

“This is a big motivation. I believe I’m a hard-worker. I still have to improve a lot. My aim is to compete in the Olympics,” said Lakshmanan.   

The Lifetime Achievement award for Journalists was awarded, posthumously to Nirmal Shekar, former sports editor of ‘The Hindu’, and to R. Mohan, resident editor of ‘Deccan Chronicle’. S. Loganathan, who coached Lakshmanan to the 5000m gold in the Asian athletic championships in July, was named the ‘Coach of the Year’. The Tamil Nadu limited overs cricket team which won the Vijay Hazare trophy was the ‘Team of the Year’. S. Nandakumar (football) and S. Selena Deepthi (table tennis) were named ‘Young Achievers’. BCCI chairman of selectors M.S.K. Prasad graced the occasion.

Players of the year: Dinesh Karthik (cricket); G. Lakshmanan (athletics); Award of excellence: P. Anitha (basketball); S. Arokia Rajiv (athletics); K. Jennitha Anto (chess); Hall of fame: V.J. Philips (hockey); Manuel Aaron (chess); R. Mohan (journalism); Nirmal Shekar (journalism); Young players of the year: S. Nanda Kumar (football); S. Selena Deepthi (table tennis); Team of the year: Tamil Nadu limited overs cricket team; Young team of the year: Tamil Nadu U-14 rugby team; Coach of the year: S. Loganathan (athletics). 

R. Mohan Kumar (athletics); Sankar Muthusamy (badminton); P. Baladhaneswar (basketball); P. Jeevanantham (basketball); P. Iniyan (chess); K. Priyanka (chess); R. Adithi (football); B. Jothika (rowing); S. Shrikrishna (snooker); S. Yashini (table tennis); Preyesh Suresh Raj (table tennis); Dhakshineswar Suresh (tennis).