Energy Maharatna Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) felicitated its sportspersons who brought glory for India at the recently-concluded Incheon Asian Games. The 40-member strong ONGC contingent, which was part of the Indian Team, has brought home 13 medalsthat include Four Gold, One Silver and Eight Bronzemedals.

While felicitating the players here today,ONGC CMD Mr D K Sarraf said, “We firmly believe that ONGC sportspersons would continue to bring glory at the international level because of their talent and hard work. Our objective is to provide them our unstinted support so that they can achieve their goals without any hassles.” Mr. Sarraf added, “Now, we will keep our eyes on the Rio Olympics 2016 and we’ll do everything to support our sportsmen.”

To promote sports in the country, ONGC has invested about Rs 75 Crore in the last two fiscals. This investment is made not only to tap and nurture the talents but also to create sports infrastructure in different places. ONGC Director (HR) Mr. D.D. Misra, under whose stewardship the ONGC Sports Group has been taking various initiatives to promote games and sports across the country, said, “At present ONGC has 165 sportspersons on its regular rolls and 164 budding young talent on scholarships”. Speaking on the achievements of ONGC players, Mr. Misra added that ONGC has been aiming at many more such laurels from its sports persons.

Cash awards were given to the medal winners as well as to all the participants during the felicitation.

ONGC has also been sponsoring major sports events in a big way in India which is in addition to its mainline sports investment. ONGC was the official sponsor of the Indian contingent for the London Olympics 2012.

ONGC has been promoting sports and sportspersons in a big way. ONGC recently secured the ‘RashtriyaKhelProtsahan Puraskar-2014’ from the Hon’ble President of India for proactive promotion of Sports in the country. The oil major has won the Petroleum Minister’s Trophy for the record 11th time, since 2003. ONGC has 24 Arjuna Awardees, one KhelRatna and Two Padmashrees on its regular rolls.

Notes to Editors:

The following ONGC Sportspersons secured medals for India in the Incheon Asian games:

Team Gold medal winners- Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu and Kush Kumar(Squash), Mandeep Kaur (4X400 m relay), Navneet Gautam, Praveen Kumar and Jasveer Singh (Kabaddi) and Akashdeep Singh and Gurvinder Singh Chandi (Hockey). M R Poovamma who got Gold in 4X400 m relay and Bronze in 400m sprint. Silver medal winner in the women’s race walk event Khushbir Kaur. Tennis player Yuki Bhambri got double Bronze.

Shweta Chaudhary -Bronze medallist in the individual 25 M Air Pistol event. Team Bronze medal winners - Shagun Chaudhary and Varsha Varman (Double Trap), Heena Sidhu (25M Air Pistol), Jyothi Surekha Vennam (Archery); Bronze medal winners Ashwini Ponnappa and PC Thulasi (Badminton). Twenty two other ONGC sportspersons were part of the Indian contingent.

ONGC also felicitated world Billiards and Snooker champion Pankaj Advani for his recent performance that includes an amazing feat of 10 World Titles. Rupesh Shah who partnered Pankaj in World Team Billiards Championship victory was also felicitated on the occasion. Alok Kumar, Dhruv Sitwala and Saurav Kothari were the other cueists who were felicitated. World Carrom champion Rashmi Kumari was also felicitated for winning the Carrom World Cup recently.