Dr Mohan Thomas honoured at community event

A MUSIC promoter, a child artiste and a female motorsports person, all having links to the Indian state of Goa were among the five personalities felicitated for their contributions to society in different parts of the globe at a community function in Qatar.

Olesya Dias, the woman motorsports rider from Goa, Indian government official Robert Cabral, Canadabased Ashney Rebello, Qatar-based Dr Mohan Thomas besides Chloe Bouvard were the select few presented with the special awards.

All five were honoured by Goan Legislator Advocate Carlos Alvares Ferreira and Bollywood star Arjun Bijlani who was in Qatar for a three-day visit.

Olesya Dias has been in motorsports for the last four years and has participated in many motorsports events in India, riding the motorbike for the Indian bike brand Hero.

Former sportsman Cabral, who is now a government official, was honoured for promoting music and Goan theatre in the state through his organization ‘Kor Kantar Taleigao’, located in his home village close to Panjim city.

Dr Thomas, former president of the Indian Sports Centre, has been in Qatar for many decades and has links to various Indian social, cultural and sports associations. Vancouver-based Ashney, who also flew to Qatar to be part of the felicitation function is a qualified fashion designer, a celebrity chef, a certified chocolatier and a writer who is due to release her cookbook on Goan recipes.

The youngest among the lot honoured is multi-talented Chole, a singer and an aspiring theatre artist. The 12-year-old Doha-based girl became an online sensation last year ahead of the FIFA World Cup for her rendition of the cover song on the football extravaganza held for the first time in the Middle East.