Didn't expect Arjuna award this year: Hima
New Delhi, Sep 18 : Despite her golden run in international athletics this season, teenaged sprint sensation Hima Das said she did not expect her name to be nominated for this year's Arjuna award.
The 18-year-old Assamese athlete was among the 20 sportspersons recommended for the Arjuna Award, which is subject to approval by Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore.
"I didn't expect the Arjuna award this year. I was thinking may be next year, I will be considered," said Hima, after being unveiled as a brand ambassador for sports manufacturing giant Adidas.
Hima, who became an overnight sensation after clinching the gold medal at the U-20 World Championship in Finland earlier this year, added two more medals -- a gold and silver -- at the 18th Asian Games, to finish the season in style.
The youngster is now focused on preparing for the next season where she will feature in the South Asian Games, Asian Championship and World Championship.
"The season is over now. Next year, there is South Asian Games, Asian Championship and World Championship, so how to approach the different events and how to prepare I will do it during training," she said.
On being asked which medal she holds closest to her heart, Hima said: "The Finland (World Junior Championship) race remains one of my favourites and also the semi-final at the Asian Games when it had started raining."
Asked about her target in the next season, Hima, nicknamed the "Dhing Express", said: "There are few targets in my mind. I will do that one by one. People expect a lot from me now and I will achieve that."
"I scored 50.79 at Asian Games, so even 50.78 is a step ahead. I thrive in competition, it feels good to improve timings and create records," she added.
Hima also spoke highly of India's foreign coach Galina Petrova Bukharina, who has been a force behind the success of India's athletes in the Asian Games.
"She is very supportive. She herself is an Olympian and sometimes we also don't realise her methods and later we come to know why we did a particular training. So we always come prepared everyday for the challenge that she will throw at us," she concluded.
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No decision yet on closing new universities: CM Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru, Mar 14 (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday told the Legislative Assembly that a decision will be taken on the closure or continuation of new universities established in the state, during the previous BJP government, based on the findings of the cabinet sub-committee.
He said Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar headed cabinet sub-committee tasked with reviewing the status of public universities in the state, is yet to submit its report to the government.
The chief minister said this in the Assembly when BJP MLA and former Higher Education Minister C N Ashwath Narayan sought discussion on the issue under an adjournment motion.
"We are not closing...seven new universities that were opened by them (BJP). We will not close any university. Whether to continue them or not a cabinet sub-committee has been formed headed by the Deputy Chief Minister. They have not yet given the report," Siddaramaiah said.
He said, "Even before the report is submitted, they (BJP) have developed concerns. We will not close. To look into whether -- to continue the universities or not, it (the cabinet sub-committee) has been formed."
At this point, several BJP legislators, including Basavanagouda Patil Yatnal, questioned as to what the CM meant by saying that universities will not be closed, and the cabinet sub-committee has been formed to look into whether to continue the universities or not.
However, the CM responding to this, maintained that the cabinet sub-committee has not submitted the report and the matter has not been discussed in the cabinet yet.
"I feel it is premature to discuss this. There is no need for discussion on this by bringing an adjournment motion. It is not that important and it is not a matter of recent occurrence. There has been no decision yet," he said.
There is no need for any worry, Siddaramaiah further said, "Once the cabinet sub-committee report comes, we will decide in the cabinet whether to continue or not."
Intervening at this point, Leader of Opposition R Ashoka, said the CM's statement on the issue is different from what has been said by the Deputy Chief Minister and the Higher Education Minister, and that has caused the concern. "What the CM seems to be saying is we will close the door but won't lock it..."
Siddaramaiah, however, reiterated that a cabinet sub-committee has been formed. After considering the pros and cons, they will submit a report. "The cabinet will then examine it and decide whether to continue (universities) or not."
According to reports, at least nine new universities that are said to be on the radar are -- Koppal, Bagalkot, Haveri, Kodagu, Hassan, Chamarajanagar, Nrupathunga, Mandya and the Maharani cluster.
Shivakumar, last week, told the Assembly that the government would merge the new universities with their parent institutions. "We are just merging universities because they are not viable," he had said.
Earlier, as Narayan tried to push for discussion under an adjournment motion on the issue, Speaker U T Khader suggested that the issue can be raised during the discussion on budget, as there has already been some discussion on the matter.
Siddaramaiah too suggested the issue can be discussed during the budget discussion. However, Narayan, wanting to make preliminary mention or submission on the subject, stressed on the importance of universities for the all round development of a region and people living there, and said, there are concerns that the government is planning to shut down some universities citing financial reasons.
Higher Education Minister M C Sudhakar said Narayan and the BJP were trying to raise the matter unnecessarily as it has become a "prestige issue" for them.
The Speaker, however, later said that he would allow discussion on the matter next week.
