Honour for Coimbatore coach
M. Padmanabhan of Coimbatore, the joint secretary of the Tamil Nadu Shooting Association (TNSA), has spent much of his time and energy for the development of the sport in the State for over two decades.To honour his contribution, his friends and well-wishers got together to felicitate him at the Coimbatore Club here on 10.04.2007."Padmanabhan is a quiet man, efficient and hard working. I never knew, until I reached the city, that he is a good golfer as well," said B. Sivanthi Adityan, the life president of the Indian Olympic Association.He was happy that Padmanabhan chose to spend precious hours at the shooting range than at the golf course."I am happy that he has set his sights on shooting."He has been practically travelling a lot throughout the world as a technical official and a coach."I am all the more pleased because he hails from Coimbatore, a place from where I first picked up shooting."And, it was K. Rajagopal, the President of the Coimbatore Golf Club, who inspired me to a great extent," he said.Mr. Adityan, who is also the president of the TNSA, observed that Padmanabhan was a man who was well versed with the rules of the sport.
"He was also instrumental in shaping talent in Coimbatore. The whole nation should be proud of him," he said.Mr.Rajagopal said it was a rare occasion to honour a great personality."Padmanabhan is not only a technically sound coach but also a good human being."The vice-president of the TNSA, Seetharam Rao, said he had the unique distinction of having shot, set ranges and juried with Padmanabhan."During this long journey, I found out that he was a man of character. He is one who ensured that the sport is played in a fair manner," he said.R. Shyam Sunder, the former secretary of the Coimbatore Golf club, pointed out that he is the most active sports official in the city.
"He is a silent person who has achieved many things."He not only shoots but also talks (Ham Radio) and putts excellently," he said."There are so many people like Padmanabhan who had worked for the welfare of sports, leave alone shooting, in the city."It's time we bring them all to light," said R. Veluswamy, who is the past captain of the Ootacamund Gymkhana Club.
