UDUPI:Indian sprint athlete from Siddapura in Kundapur of Udupi district, Ashwini Akkunji, and Abhijit Rai, working with Accenture in Bengaluru, got engaged at a ceremony at Hotel Sharada International in Udupi on Thursday.
The engagement ceremony was blessed by elders of the families.
The occasion was a private event and the families avoided the media glare. Sources said that the marriage was decided by both families.
Abhijith Rai also has a background in sports as he represented his college in shotput in a national-level event during his college days. He is an MBA graduate from Sikkim Manipal University. His father Amarnath Rai was a national-level kabaddi player and is currently the president of the Dakshina Kannada District Kabaddi Association. His mother is Shwetha A Rai. Abhijith Rai’s family belongs to the Santhyagadada Gutthu family in Dakshina Kannada district.
Ashwini’s father Chidananda Shetty, mother Yashoda Shetty, sister Deepthi and other family members were present at the ceremony. Ashwini, who had bagged a gold medal in the 4x400 metre relay in the 2010 Commonwealth Games held in New Delhi, had also bagged two gold medals in the 2010 Asian Games in the 400-mt hurdles and 4X400-mt relay events. Ashwini told the media that she is currently undergoing training in Patiala, Punjab, for the Rio Summer Olympics, which will be held in August 2016, and hopes to make it to the finals in the 400 metres hurdles. The marriage will be fixed only after the Rio Olympics, family sources said.