A cricketer, yoga expert to get LU’s top sports medals | Lucknow News
Lucknow: Known for his pull and lofted shots, cricketer Manan Kandpal brought laurels to Lucknow University as its BPEd student.Suresh Mali, also from the physical education department, earned national recognition in the field of yoga for the university. Both the ‘stars’ will be awarded LU’s highest medals for excellence in sports during the university’s 68th convocation ceremony on Wednesday. While Manan will get the Raja Shanker Sahai of Maurawan Gold Medal for being the best academic sportsman in college, Suresh Mali will receive the Pirie Memorial Gold Medal, which is given to the student sportsman with the best academic record in the University Examination 2025.“I am elated to win this prestigious medal, and I see it as the result of all the hard work I did, whether it was representing the university at the International Cricket Tournament T-20 Jay Nepal Cup, in the All India North Zone University Cricket Tournament (2025) with team Lucknow University, or in various other district and state-level cricket matches,” said Manan, who is from Almora, Uttarakhand. He said, “I dedicate this medal to my father, Mahesh Kandpal, who is a manager in a pharmaceutical company, and my mother, Renu Kandpal, a social worker. I feel success is directly related to dedication and an approach to always be ready to learn something new. It’s my aim to play for the Indian cricket team and the Indian Premier League.” Suresh Mali, said, “This dream of winning a gold medal at the university level could not have been fulfilled without the support of my father, Bhairu Lal Mali, and my mother, Bhagwani Devi. I have been the state champion in the 21 to 25 age group men for the last four years. I am proud that I won a silver medal at the All India University Yogasana Sports Championship 2024 and got selected for the Khelo India University Games 2025.” He said, “I started my sports career at my local Manikya Lal Verma Government College, Bhilwara, Rajasthan. During this time, I prepared for gymnastics competitions through self-practice at my local sports complex, Sukhadia Stadium, and played at the All India Gymnastics. During this period, I met yogasana coach Ravi Bhambhi, who started my training by explaining the importance and rules of yogasana.”
