Sports are as important as academics as they help in the overall personality development of an individual, said Congress leader and Kolar Milk association Union Limited director R Krishnappa.

Speaking after inaugurating the taluk level sports meet jointly organised by Zilla Panchayat and Public Instruction Department at Annihalli government high school in Kolar on Tuesday, he said that Sports help in physical as well as mental fitness and expressed his concern over the fact that these days there has been decrease in the active participation in sports activities.

Mr Krishnappa also added that involving oneself in sports activities helps in reducing many diseases such as Blood pressure, diabetes and other diseases.

District Physical education officer S C Basavaraj said that people of the country are showing less interest in sports these days and emphasised its importance for an individuals development. Students from 22 schools all over the taluk had participated in the sports meet.

Taluk physical education director Manoravikumar and others were present at the meet. However, Block education officer K S Nagaraj Gowda who was supposed to attend was not present at the meet.