A galaxy of legendary sports stars participated in the Sports Day celebrations organised by the National Council of YMCA in India at its headquarters in New Delhi on Friday.
The star cast was led by Sriram Singh and also included two of his disciples, Shiny Wilson and Geeta Zutshi, as well as middle-distance stars Suresh Yadav, Sant Kumar, and pole vaulter Vijaypal Singh. Long-distance runner Pramod Kumar, former captain of the Indian basketball team Jayashankar Menon and long-distance swimmer Meenakshi Pahuja completed the line-up for the celebrations.
Besides recalling the contribution of hockey wizard Dhyan Chand, the occasion also remembered Harry Crow Buck, who laid the foundation of organised physical education in India. Crow was also instrumental in launching the YMCA College of Physical Education in Chennai, erstwhile Madras, and establishing the Indian Olympic Association. Dr Johnson Premkumar, Principal YMCA College of Physical Education, elaborated on the rich contributions of Buck.
Recalling her days as a young athlete in Nandanam, Chennai, Shiny expressed gratitude to YMCA College of Physical Education, where she began her athletic career. She praised Sriram for guiding her. “It was Sriram sir who guided me in my journey as a top Indian athlete,’’ said Shiny.
Geeta also owed her gold medal in 800 metres at the Bangkok Asiad in 1978 to Sriram. “I was a raw young runner, but Sriram ji took the trouble of guiding me to my gold medal in the Asian Games,’’ she said.
Incidentally, Sriram himself had won his second Asiad 800m Gold medal in Bangkok. “It was a historic moment in Asian sport where a coach and a trainee had won a gold medal in the same event at the same Games,’’ recalled Geeta.
Sriram thanked both Shiny and Geeta for acknowledging his contribution to their careers. “It is heartening to know that these two athletes still remember it, and I feel proud,’’ he said
Former sports journalist and national runner, Norris Pritam, recalled how Dhyan Chand had organized a coaching camp for Indian women’s hockey team at the YMCA Complex in New Delhi. He also spoke about boxers Vijender Singh, Akhil Kumar, Qamar Ali and Dharminder Yadav, who began their careers at the YMCA Boxing Championship.
Mr Eldo N. Varghese, National General Secretary, National Council of YMCA in India, thanked the sporting icons
Published on Aug 29, 2025
