Obituary

Suresh Kumar lau 

 

C.S.Pradipak

Flamboyant former India yachtsman, International Judge, Chairman, Technical committee, Yachting Association of India and entrepreneur Chodagam. S. Pradipak died on 24 August night at the age of 68 years.

Chodagan Satyanaryana Pradipak, well known as C.S Pradipak, was born on February 4, 1945 at Madras (now Chennai). He had a exceptional record with O.K.Dinghy(A small open boat). He was the first Indian with OK.Dinghy to attend selection trials in Europe in 1982. Represented India in the O.K.Dinghy class in the IX Asian Games in 1982 and won a bronze medal. He was thrice National Champion and awarded the “Katari Bow”. He won silver medal in the 1984 and 1985 Nationals held at Hyderabad. He stood first in the laser class in the Pacific Championship held in Nagoya in Japan and won a bronze in the Commonwealth Regatta held at Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1987, In 1982, he took part in the Danish National Championship, the Kiel Week in Germany, the European Championship and the German National Championship.

Pradipak was Manager of the O.K.Dinghy during the World Championship in France in 1981. He was the secretary of Secunderabad Sailing Club from 1971 to 1979. He worked as honorary instructor in Andhra Pradesh Flying Club in Hyderabad. In a career as a Yachtsman, he has been awarded the Arjuna Award in 1987. 

Indian great D.P Azad passes away

Former first-class cricketer, great Desh Prem Azad, passed away on August 17, 2013. The Dronacharya Award-winning coach died following a cardiac arrest as he battled lung infection at a local hospital, Chandigarh. He was 77. After a distinguished cricket career at Punjab, Haryana and played 19 first class matches overall till 1972. He has made a lasting contribution to cricket through coaching in Chandigarh.

Azad born in the Sikh Shrine, the Golden Temple city, Amritsar on January 20, 1936 (as per Punjab Cricketer Association (PCA) record his date of birth 1938). His unfailing eye spotted, trained and inspired a host of Champions including Kapil Dev, Chetan Sharma, Ashok Malhotra, Yograj Singh. Beside International players he has produced a number of National Champions and Inter-University Champions. He underwent formal coaching under Australian coach O’Brian at National Institute of Sports in Patiala in early 1950s. 

He headed a fast bowler’s academy at sector 16 cricket stadium, Chandigarh from 1990 to 1998- a joint venture of the BCCI and Sports Authority of India (SAI). He retired SAI coach in 1998. He was currently holding the post of Director, Non-Residential Cricket Academies at PCA in Mohali. The outstanding achievement in the field of cricket and yeoman service of D.P Azad was the first cricket coach to receive the Dronacharya Award in 1986. He was a chief patron of Association of Dronacharya Awardees.  

Henry Rebello passes away

Former triple jumper Henry Rebello who had competed in independent India’s first Olympics at London 1948 died on August 27, 2013 following a long battle with an as yet unnamed incurable disease. He was 84.

Late brother Carl was Rebello’s inspiration and guide in his early days. He took athletics when he 16 and used to compete in inter school meets. He joined the services team and from there began competing in inter-state meets. Born on November 17, 1928 in Lucknow (UP). The career of triple jumper Rebello was brief, but brilliant. Qualified for the final in triple jump at London Olympic in 1948. In the finals he unfortunately pulled his hamstring muscle and had to be carried away on a stretcher. His National record of 50.2 was better than of bronze medal holder of London Olympic. It was an unfortunate incident; otherwise Rebello would have won a medal for India in the Olympics.

Rebello studied at Loyola college in Madras (now Chennai) and joined the Air Force. He retired from the Air Force as a Group Captain in 1980. He was actively entangled in the running of the IX Asian Games 1982 in Delhi and moreover served as a Director of Sports Authority of India from 1984-88.