‘Monnet Go for Gold’ torch receives a grand welcome at the Kalinga stadium in Bhubaneswar

Shri Naveen Patnaik,Honourable Chief Minister of Orissa and Mr. Sandeep Jajodia - Executive Vice-Chairman & Managing Director, Monnet Ispat& Energy Limited

flag off the contingent

Bhubaneswar, April 01, 2012: The temple city of India, Bhubaneswar today gave a grand welcome to the historic ‘Monnet Go for Gold’ torch - an initiative by Sandeep Jajodia led Monnet Ispat& Energy Limited (MIEL) - a flagship company of the Monnet Group. Honourable Chief Minister of Orissa, Shri Naveen Patnaik, Mr. SandeepJajodia - Executive Vice-Chairman & Managing Director, Monnet Ispat & Energy Limited flagged off the Monnet Go for Gold torch from the Kalinga Stadium today. Mr. Dilip Tirkey, MP, Rajya Sabha & former Indian men's hockey team captain along with Asunta Lakra, captain of the Indian women’s hockey team and many other eminent personalities from the field of sports and politics were present at the occasion to welcome the Monnet Go for Gold contingent.

The people of Bhubaneswar showed great enthusiasm and came in huge numbers to join the 12 budding athletes and Dilip Tirkey for the fun run. It was a festive atmosphere and the people were very excited to come forward in support to the Olympic bound Indian contingent and extended their best wishes.

The Monnet Go for Gold Initiative earlier last month kick started after the Honorable Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, Shri Omar Abdullah, flagged it off from Jammu on March1, 2012. The contingent has travelled through many cities across the northern and eastern part of India before completing its eastern sojourn at Bhubaneswar today. The major halts for the contingent were at Chandigarh, Delhi, Mathura, Gwalior, Jhansi, Khajurao Khajuraho, Reva Ranchi and Rourkela.

“It’s been overwhelming to receive a warm welcome from each city that we have reached, and we see the same spirit and excitement in Bhubaneswar as well. It is

heartwarming to see so many people coming out in support for a noble cause. Monnet Go for Gold is a movement to unite the nation and creating a country that will consider sports as an important tool in the development of our society, our nation. This initiative apart from cheering and encouraging our Olympic bound athletes is also aimed at creating a culture of sportsmanship in the country and developing a nation that accepts sports as an alternate career option. If we manage to do so, we can very well be on course to perform well at the 2016 or perhaps 2020 Olympics”, Mr. Sandeep Jajodia, Executive Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Monnet Ispat & Energy Limited said. “We need to realize that the need of the hour is due recognition of sports other than cricket and create opportunities towards developing India into a sporting nation”, he further added.

Shri Naveen Patnaik, Hon. Chief Minister of Orissa said, “The Monnet Go for Gold is a historic initiative and I feel happy to have been given the opportunity to become a part of this history. I would like to congratulate Mr. Jajodia and the Monnet Group for initiating something as noble as this and at the same time would urge all our people in Orissa to come forward in support of ‘Monnet Go for Gold’ initiative. I believe that this initiative will evoke not just support for the athletes but for sports in general, and I would like to take this opportunity to wish all the very best to our Olympic Bound athletes this year.”

‘Monnet Go for Gold’ has kick started a historic crusade of 12 budding athletes carrying a symbolic torch for over 6000 kmsacross 50 cities with an endeavour tounite India for a commoncause, to cheer for the nation’s glory in the most awaited global sporting event, the 2012 London Olympics this year. The initiative aims to spread the spirit of sportsmanship in a nation, which has been working hard to mark its significant presence on the global map for sports. It is an initiative to infuse a culture of sportsmanship in the youth of the nation and help build a country that will excel in the global sporting arena in the long run.

“It is a privilege for me to be a part of the Monnet Go for Gold initiative and I am delighted to see so many people come out in support of our athletes and Indian sports. I genuinely salute these twelve youngsters who have undertaken this mammoth task of running across the country, spreading the message of sportsmanship and unity”, said DilipTirkey, the legendary former captain of Indian hockey team who hails from Orissa. “I would also like to thank the Monnet group for undertaking this initiative and also appreciate the efforts it has put in the development of sports in India”, he added.

The contingent now will head towards Raiput passing through cities like Cuttack, AngulSambalpur and Katapali.

Monnet Ispat& Energy Limited is also the proud sponsors of the Indian Boxing team whose four boxers have already qualified for the upcoming 2012 London Olympics. Mr. AslamSher Khan, Former Olympian & President, Olympians Association of India and Former Indian Hockey team captain Mr. ZafarIqbal from the Arjuna Awardees Association of India also have come forward in support of the ‘Monnet Go for Gold’ initiative.

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About Monnet Group:

Monnet Ispat& Energy Limited (MIEL): MIEL is promoted by Mr. SandeepJajodia. Its principal activities include manufacturing and marketing of Sponge Iron, Steel and Ferro Alloys. In addition, MIEL is engaged in mining of mineral assets like coal & iron ore and is also involved in the generation of power for captive consumption. The Monnet Group has manufacturing facilities in Raipur and Raigarh in Chhattisgarh and is currently in the midst of implementing a 1.5 Million Tons integrated steel plant to produce plates, structural and rebar’s at its facility at Raigarh in Chhattisgarh to cater to the high growth infrastructure sector. MIEL through its subsidiary is now making measure of forays in the development of Merchant Power Plants and is currently implementing the first 1050 MW power plant at Angul.

About Monnet Boxing Foundation (MBF)

Monnet Group has been actively engaged in promoting boxing as a sport in the country and as a part of its CSR initiative the Monnet Group has proudly associated itself with boxing by being the official sponsors of the Indian Boxing Team. Monnet believes that our country having population of more than 1.2 billion has potential to churn good boxers, however the irony is that not much attention is given towards developing boxing as a loved sport and identifying and training amateur boxers. Monnet, to address this concern has also set up Monnet Boxing Foundation –to identify and train amateur boxers. Monnet in order to provide a platform with world class facilities would be setting up Monnet Boxing Academy to train the amateur boxers from the grassroots level.

For further details please contact:Monnet Group

Ms. NeetalNaarang |neetal.naarang@monnetgroup.com AVP, Corporate Communications |011 – 29229652, 53

Mr. JatinKhattar| jatin.khattar@monnetgroup.comDy Manager, Corporate Communications |+91 9810751243