Kolkata, July 26 (IANS) City football giants East Bengal on Tuesday announced that this year's Bharat Gaurav award (Pride of India) will be conferred on legendary athlete Milkha Singh.
Singh will be travelling to the city on Monday, on the East Bengal Foundation Day (August 1) to attend the event where the award and a cheque of Rs. 2 lakh will be handed over to him.
"This year we will be giving the Bharat Gaurav award to Milkha Singh. The club is honoured and humbled that he has accepted our request and will be present here for the Foundation Day on August 1," club secretary Kalyan Majumdar told reporters.
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"Why him? Because Milkha Singh is the Prometheus of Indian athletes."
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be the chief guest at the event which will also be attended by former players.
Special awards along with a cash prize of Rs.1 lakh each will be given to East Bengal greats Shyam Thapa and Shyamal Ghosh.
The trophy for the best footballer of the year will be given to South Korean midfielder Do Dong Hyun who will also receive Rs.50,000.
Veteran sports reporter Debashish Dutta and photo journalist Rony Roy will be receiving awards too for their contribution over the years.
--IANS
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