Coonoor: A grand civic reception was organized here at Coonoor for G.Lakshmanan and T.Sasi, gold and silver medalists in the recent Asian athletic championship.
Born in Pudukkottai, Mr. Lakshmanan, an army jawan residing at the army centre in Wellington near here, worked his way to athletics competitions from the hills. T.Sasi hailing from the Kerala side of the Nilgiris border, has been training himself in long distance runs in Nilgiris. Both have brought fame and laurels to the hill district for the long distance running event.
Hockey-Nilgiris in co-ordination with other service organisations organised the civic reception for the medal winning duo in Coonoor on Sunday, as Lakshmanan and Sasi have returned to their training grounds in Coonoor after their splendid performance at the Asian track and field meet at Bhubaneshwar recently. While Lakshmanan won gold in both the 5,000 and 10,000 metres run, Sasi won silver in the 10,000 metres.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr.Lakshmanan, the double-gold marvel, said that the climatic factor as well as the high altitude training helped him to endure the long distance track events.
