MUMBAI: The Sports Journalists' Federation of India has shortlisted contenders for the inaugural Indian Sports Journalism Awards. The award function will be held at the `Velocity' Mumbai, on 4 June.

The shortlists for Hindi, Marathi and Bengali, photography, television features will be announced in the next three weeks.

The nominations are for 14 categories in the Indian Sports Journalism Awards 2004-05. The contenders for the prestigious Indian sports writer of the year award are India Today senior editor Sharda Ugra, The Hindu sports editor Nirmal Shekar and The Times of India principal correspondent Akshay Sawai.

Michael Ferreira, former World Amateur Billiards champion, Ramachandra Guha, the eminent sociologist, historian and writer and prominent media personality, and Chandra Nayudu, daughter of the legendary Indian cricketer CK Nayudu, and retired professor of English, met at the Cricket Club of India in Mumbai and finalised the shortlisting process.

The over close to 500 entries from around the country had been sent.

In a joint statement the judges said, "Indian sports journalism is certainly alive and well. The general standard was very good and it is a shame that only one person can be declared a winner. We did not expect such a challenging and interesting job. And what a response. We enjoyed doing it, but found it difficult too. It's a farsighted view of the SJFI to have incorporated awards for regional languages like Hindi, Marathi and Bengali."

The Hindustan Times' Kadambari Murali has been short listed for News Story and cricket writer.

Another contender from Hindustan Times Dhiman Sarkar also figures in News Story and Football writer.

Anand Vasu of Wisden Asia Cricket and Cricinfo has been short listed for Cricket writing and Interview Q & A.

Mid Day sports editor Clayton Murzello figures in ofbeat, interview Q & A.The Times of India V. Anand has also been short-listed for offbeat and Athletics writing.

The Statesman's Elora Sen and Mario Rodrigues have been short listed for feature story awards.

PTI's Biju Babu Cyriac and Biswajit Brahma and AFP's Kuldip Lal have been short listed for the best of agency stories.

Indian Sports Writer: Akshay Sawai (The Times of India), Nirmal Shekar (The Hindu), Sharda Ugra (India Today)

News Story: Dhiman Sarkar (The Hindustan Times), Nirmal Shekar (The Hindu), Kadambari Murali (The Hindustan Times)

Feature Story: (Elora Sen, The Statesman,), Sharda Ugra (India Today), Mario Rodrigues (The Statesman)

Offbeat Story: Clayton Murzello (Mid Day), V. Anand (The Times of India), Akshay Sawai (The Times of India)

Interview (Q & A): G. Krishnan (The Deccan Herald), Anand Vasu (Wisden Asia Cricket), Clayton Murzello (Mid Day)

Specialist Writing:

Athletics: Sudheendra Tripathi (Indian Express),
V. Anand (Times of India), Jaideep Marar (Indian Express)

Football: Stanislaus D'Souza (The Times of India), Dhiman Sarkar (The Hindustan Times)

Hockey Writer (Darryl Crasto (The Times of India), V. Narayanswamy (Deccan Herald)

Tennis: Akshay Sawai (The Times of India), Nirmal Shekar (The Hindu), Shailendra Awasthi (Indian Express)

Cricket Writer: Anand Vasu (Wisden Cricket Asia), Sharda Ugra (India Today), Kadambari Murali (The Hindustan Times)

Cue Sports: R. Satya (Deccan Herald)

Best of news agencies: Kuldip Lal (AFP), Biswajyoti Brahma (PTI), and Biju Babu Cyriac (PTI)

Best of the web: Ivan Crasto (Rediff.com), Tapan Joshi (cricketnext.com), 3. Harish Kotian & Deepti Patwardhan (Rediff.com)

Best Headline: After Kohinoor, UK wants Indian Silver (The Times of India), Poor Little Rich Board (Mid Day), The Great Indian Excuses (PTI).