"It is a proud
and a happy moment for the Nation as a whole". The Minister
for Youth Affairs and Sports, Shri Vikram Verma said this at
the occasion of the Restoration of Asian Games medals to Ms.
Sunita Rani here today at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
He congratulated
the athlete Ms. Sunita Rani for her dedicated courage all through
the ordeal. He said that it is the self confidence and the belief
in ourselves which has got us the victory finally. He urged
her to keep up the Nation’s glory in the coming games. Indian
performance in these Asian Games had been excellent but this
episode overshadowed the whole event. He congratulated the Amateur
Athletic Federation of India for fighting the case with full
spirit.
The Minister
while addressing Shri Suresh Kalmadi’s concern for a Doping
Laboratory of International Standard informed that the first
stage of ISO 9001 has already been achieved. With the achievement
of second stage of 17025 certification, the process of having
an International Standard Accredited Certified Lab shall be
completed. He assured that this shall be done before the coming
Afro-Asian Games.
He presented
bouquets to the medallists and the Chief Coach of Busan Asian
Games 2002. Mr. Suresh Kalmadi, President, AAFI, AAA & IOA;
Mr. Randhir Singh, Secretary General OCA & IOA; Dr. Lalit
K. Bhanot, Secretary, AAFI; Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs
and Sports and DG, Sports Authority of India attended the function.