Swimmer Rehan Poncha makes Bangalore proud

Only three days shy of his 25th birthday, India’s ace swimmer Rehan Poncha received what he calls, “the most memorable gift’ on Friday when his name figured in the 15 sportspersons selected for the Arjuna Award. He is the lone Bangalorean to get the award this year.

Bangalore swimmer Poncha is currently training at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, ahead of the Commonwealth Games and he said the award has only boosted his morale to win laurels for the country at the upcoming CWG in Delhi and the Asian Games in Guangzhou.

“It’s yet to sink in. I knew the panel was meeting today and I was really anxious. My dad got to know first and it’s really theirs and my coach Pradeep Kumar’s support that I have been able to achieve this,” Poncha told DNA from LA. “Getting a national award is a great motivation and it will definitely inspire me to do a lot better. My preparations for the CWG and the Asian Games are shaping really well. And I am focused on qualifying for the London Olympics as well,” said Poncha. Apart from his Olympic qualification, Poncha has won three successive National Games ‘best athlete award’, a feat achieved by no Indian thus far.