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Award an added motivation: Subrata Paul

India football goalkeeper Subrata Paul, who has been named one of the recepients of the Arjuna Award, says the honour will be an added “motivation”.

India football goalkeeper Subrata Paul, who has been named one of the recepients of the Arjuna Award, says the honour will be an added “motivation”.

Paul is one of 15 athletes selected for the prestigious honour, to be awarded by President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhawan on August 29.

Paul, nicknamed the ‘Spiderman’ for his acrobatic saves during the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, has represented India for over a decade. Besides, he has also captained the team in several matches.

“The Arjuna Award is one of the highest awards for sportspersons in our country. Over the years the best in their respective fields have been conferred with the award. A sportsperson never plays to get an award.

But when your achievements get recognised, it is an added motivation to do better,” he stated.

“I need to thank all my coaches, my team mates, AIFF, the football fraternity and my family who stood by me and supported me over all these years,” he added.

Said national coach Stephen Constantine, “No one deserves the Arjuna Award more than Subrata. He has done so much for Indian football both on and off the field. I am very happy for him,” he said.

Over the years, Paul has been a winning member of the AFC Challenge Cup, three editions of the Nehru Cup and the 2016 SAFF Suzuki Cup. He is the 24th footballer to have won the award, the last being Sunil Chhetri in 2011.

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