Friday , March 29 2024

The AIFF to suggest IM Vijayan’s name for Padma Shri Award!

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has decided to send the name of legendary footballer I.M. Vijayan for the 2020 Padma Shri Award to the Indian sports ministry.

And I can only congratulate the AIFF on making this decision!

51 year old Thrissur-born Inivalappil Mani Vijayan, better known as I.M. Vijayan, is one of the best ever footballers that India has produced.

Vijayan is a three-time (1992, 1997, 2000) AIFF player of the year, who won the 2003 Arjuna Award.

The Padma Shri is the fourth-highest civilian honour after the Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan.

Vijayan played 79 matches for India between 1991 and 2003, and scored 40 goals with him lifting three SAFF Championships in 1993, 1997, and 1999.

I.M. Vijayan played in his career for Kerala Police (twice), Mohun Bagan (thrice), JCT Mills (twice), FC Kochin (twice), East Bengal Club (twice) and Churchill Brothers.

After calling it a day from football, Vijayan started his acting career and played the lead role in the film ‘Shantham’. Later on, he went to act more than 20 films, in Malayalam & Tamil.

Recently during an Instagram chat, India captain Sunil Chhetri, who was the recipient of the Padma Shri Award in 2019, said he wished he could play with Vijayan.

“If you want to see a humble example of a superstar, here it is (Vijayan). If you want to see someone who played the game purely because he loved it, here it is. If you want to see someone who is brilliant in every way and yet so down-to-earth, here it is,” Chhetri had said pointing to Vijayan during the chat.

The Sports Ministry had on June 3 extended the deadline for submission of applications for the National Sports Awards till June 22. The ministry had also allowed the sportspersons to file their nomination by self application considering the difficulties faced by them in “getting the recommendation of the prescribed authorities/persons due to country-wide lockdown on account of COVID-19 pandemic.”

About Arunava Chaudhuri

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