Speaking at a function in which he was honoured, organised after laying the foundation stone to Manipal University’s indoor sports complex here on Wednesday, he said that Indian economy doesn’t yet allow anyone to take sports as a profession.
Sports medicine
Requesting Manipal University to start a sports medicine centre, Mr Srinath said that it has great scope and is very expensive abroad. “There weren’t any sports medicine doctors in India when I had a shoulder injury in 1996. I had to go to South Africa where I had undergone a 3 hour surgery and one and a half month long physiotherapy treatment. But I could afford it only because I had the means. That is not the case with someone who’s in the beginning of their career. Hence, we have to have such facilities at affordable rates in India,” Mr Srinath said.
Responding to his request, Vice Chancellor of the Manipal University Dr Raj Warrier and Pro-Chancellor Dr H S Ballal informed that a sports medicine centre is in the process in Manipal.
As the doctors in Mangalore and Bangalore campuses are also interested in it, soon such a centre will begin in Mangalore too, Dr Ballal added. Manipal University Chancellor Dr Ramdas M Pai, Deans and Associate Deans of Kasturba Medical College, MCODS and MCONS, KMC Medical Superintendent Dr Sunil Deshpande and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
NO GROUND!
The Rs 10 crore estimated modern sports complex has all kinds of facilities for sports like Basket ball, table tennis, volleyball, hockey and other track and field events. But, to the disappointment of one of India’s greatest fast bowlers, there is no space for cricket in the complex! A huge round of applause followed when Javagal Srinath pointed this out. However, Dr Ballal in his speech covered up that only about an acre of the available 4.5 acres is being used for the sports complex and that the rest will be utilised for outdoor games like cricket and hockey.
“We don’t want other games to be in the background, while cricket, obviously the most popular one is given importance,” Dr Ballal added.
