British Council Alumni Awards 2017 Finalist

Rucha Kashalkar, a Sports Physiotherapist with the Indian Female Wrestling Team, and an MSc graduate in Sports & Biomechanical Medicine at the School of Medicine, was a finalist at this year’s British Council Alumni Awards ceremony held in New Delhi.

The British Council Alumni Awards 2017 is the third year of the awards and celebrates the outstanding achievements of alumni and showcase the impact and importance of undertaking a UK higher education. Award winners and finalists are leaders in their fields who have used their experience of studying in the UK to make positive contributions to their professions, communities and countries. All award finalists were invited to one of the 14 prestigious award ceremonies held in their country of residence, affording the opportunity to raise their profile and highlight their success with an international audience.

The awards have three categories; Professional Achievement Award, Entrepreneurial Award, Social Impact Award. Rucha was a nominated chosen finalist in the category for Professional Achievement Award for alumni who have distinguished themselves through exemplary leadership and achievements in their professional industry, and can demonstrate the impact and scale of their achievements.

Rucha, stated: “Thank you so much Jury and British Council India for choosing me as a finalist, the University of Dundee for supporting my application and all my Professors at the Department of Orthopaedic & Trauma Surgery who taught me. I had a great time at the ceremony and met a lot of inspiring people and professionals. It felt fantastic to represent the University of Dundee. Special thanks to my athletes Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Geeta and Babita Phogat and all the athletes whose achievements gave me the recognition and a chance to make India proud at the highest level. Finally I would like to pay thanks to my family, Mom, Prashant and Prachi, for supporting me”.

Rucha Kashalkar, 7th from right, at the British Council Alumni Awards in India

Rucha’s Master’s research degree was conducted on “Electromyographical analysis of bowling arm in cricket during delivery phase” and was conducted at the Institute of Motion Analysis & Research (IMAR) at the TORT Centre in 2013-2014, under the supervision of Dr Weijie Wang and Professor Rami Abboud.

Pamela Lawrence, Alumni Relations Officer at the University of Dundee, stated: “On behalf of the University, I just wanted to congratulate Rucha on being shortlisted as a finalist for the Alumni Awards India. We are always delighted to hear about the successes and achievements of our alumni and you are a great ambassador for the University of Dundee”.

Rucha at the awards ceremony

“I would just like to echo Pam’s sentiment; being shortlisted is in my eyes every bit as good as winning the award. It was great of you to apply and to make it to the final stage in representing our University at a prestigious International event. Your success and dedication in becoming Indian Team Physio for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil is a tremendous achievement and one that we hope in some small part was aided by gaining your MSc in Sports and Biomechanical Medicine. Everyone at the TORT Centre remembers you fondly and we all wish you every success in your future career in Pune” added Professor Rami Abboud, Associate Dean for Learning and Teaching and Director of IMAR. “It was great of you to make the journey to Goa in February 2017 to see us. Equally, thanks to Dr and Mrs Ritabh Kumar, MCh Orth Graduate Class 2003, for representing us and the University of Dundee at this prestigious event. Our exponentially growing Alumni is our most valued asset, keep up the good work”.