~ Coach and mentor honoured with cash awards on their return to the Steel city ~

Tata Steel today extended a warm welcome to its sportspersons on their return to Jamshedpur after an exhilarating performance at the 19th Commonwealth Games in the national capital earlier this month.

As a gesture of the Company’s appreciation of this feat, Tata Steel awarded cash prizes to Ms Deepika Kumari, Mr Rahul Banerjee, Mr Jayant Talukdar and their coaches, Mr Dharmendra Tiwary and Ms Purnima Mahato. The amounts awarded are as follows:

The players and coaches were felicitated by Mr Sanjiv Paul, Vice President (Corporate Services), Tata Steel and Mr Raghunath Pandey, President, Tata Workers’ Union, in presence of union office bearers, cadets of Archery, Athletics & Football academies, other international sportspersons, senior Company officials and others.

Congratulating the team, Mr Paul said, “Although we bask in the reflected glory of your achievement, we also gather to tell you that Tata Steel is always there to support you not only financially but also morally and socially in all walks of your life.”

Mr Pandey said, "It is Tata Steel’s concerted effort in handpicking the best of sporting talent and nurturing them that we may call Jamshedpur a 'Khelgaon'. Our cherished sportspersons have fulfilled JRD Tata’s dream of empowering people through sports."

A brief information of the players and their coaches is provided herewith. Tata Steel was joined in in its felicitation and celebration of this victory by the citizens of Jamshedpur who hailed the team on their way to the Sports Complex.

Profile of players and coaches

Players

• Mr. Jayant Talkdar: Joined Tata Archery Academy in the year 2000, won nine International medals including a Gold Medal at the World Cup Archery Championship at Croatia. He has been ranked world No. 3 in 2010. He won Bronze medals in Team & Individual events at the CWG 2010. He will also represent India in the forthcoming Asian Games to be held at China in November, 2010. He is also the recipient of Arjuna Award in 2007. Mr Talukdar joined Tata Steel in 2008.

• Mr. Rahul Banerjee: Following the footstep of his sister Ms. Dola Banerjee, Rahul joined Tata Archery Academy in 2003 and has won four International medals till date. At the CWG-2010, he won a Gold medal in Individual and a Bronze medal in team events. He was also a member of Indian team which won a Gold and Silver medal in World Cup team events. He will also represent India in the forthcoming Asian Games. Mr Banerjee joined Tata Steel on contract in the year 2006.

• Ms. Deepika Kumari: Having joined Tata Archery Academy in 2008 from Ranchi as a promising archer, Deepika went on to perform in Sub Junior, Junior and Senior National Championships and has won Gold medals. Besides, she also won a Gold medal in World Youth Archery Championship in 2008 and two Gold medals in CWG- 2010 at Delhi in Individual and Team events. Ms Kumari will also be representing India in the forthcoming Asian Games.

Coaches

• Mr. Dharmendra Tiwary: Popularly known as ‘Gurudev’ in the field of Archery for his skillful coaching, Mr Tiwary was National champion in the year 1987. He joined Tata Archery Academy in 1996. Under his able coaching, the Indian Junior Team won Eleven Medals in Asian Championships. Mr Tiwary has been mentor of India’s Top Archers including Mr. Jayant, Mr. Rahul , Ms. Dola, Ms. Deepika etc.

• Ms. Purnima Mahato: A young local talent, Purnima went on to become National & International Medal Winner as an archer and joined Tata Steel in 1994 as coach of Tata Archery Academy. Her Coaching skill helped many academy and National archers to win laurels for the country and Tata Steel. She represented India in all major Championship as a Coach, including the Olympics. At the CWG-2010, she was the coach of Indian team which won three Gold and two Bronze medals. She is slated to be coach of Indian team in the forthcoming Asian Games.