Honor for Ginwala

Recognizing Zubin Ginwala’s achievement in speed skating at the international level, albeit in typical Indian style three years after the event, the governor of Gujarat Kailaspati Mishra and chief minister Narendra Modi presented him the prestigious Ekalavya Award on May 1, 2004 at Surat. Ginwala received a citation, trophy and cheque for one lakh rupees, states a press note from Cyrus Dotivala of Surat’s famed Dotivala Bakers and Confectioners.

Ginwala, who is from Baroda, had skated to silver at the 9th Asian Roller Skating Championship in Taiwan in October 2001, speeding past competitors from China, Japan, Korea, Hongkong, Iran, Pakistan... A month earlier, he had represented India at the World Skating Championship in France, gaining valuable international experience. Ginwala had also been selected as part of the Indian contingent for the 8th Asian Roller Skating Championship in 1999 in Shanghai, China.

Ginwala (right and top inset) with Mishra and Modi

With a skating career spanning a decade from 1991-2001, Ginwala’s collection of prizes comprises 63 medals and trophies, won at district, state, national and international level, states Dotivala who terms the conferment of the Ekalavya Award on Ginwala "indeed a proud moment for our community” and the country as medals at world level remain rare and solitary splendors for Indian sportspersons.

Ginwala is presently doing his MBA (Master of Business Administration) in Bombay after completing his BCom from the M. S. University in Baroda.