Dronacharya awardee N Lingappa passes away

Dronacharya awardee N Lingappa passes away

Dronacharya awardee and veteran athletics coach N Lingappa died at his residence here on Tuesday due to age related illness.
He was 95.
Mr Lingappa has credit of coaching international athletes including Ashwini Nachappa, Vandana Rao, D Y Biradhar, a former national marathon champion, Udaya Prabhu and P C Ponnappa, 400m silver medallist at the Bangkok Asian Games in 1970, among others.
He was a 10-km walker in his prime and qualified for the event in the Manila Asian Games in 1954, but the event was cancelled.
He had also served as an assistant coach of the National Athletic squad.
Mr Lingappa won a silver medal in 10-km walk in the first National Games held in Delhi in 1954.
He was a recipient of various awards, including the Karnataka State Dasara award (1987), Rajyotsava award (1994), Karnataka Olympic Association award for outstanding coach (2002), and Kempegowda award in 2002.