It seems sporting glory is soon going to be back in the district. Kolar was in the forefront of athletics in the 70s and 80s and there was a lull thereafter.
The district stadium has come alive with more than 30 male and female athletes being involved in practice sessions, under the guidance of a coach.
Athletes, however, have to jostle for space with youth playing cricket in the stadium.
C N Avinash of Chikkahasala in the taluk had won the fourth place in the K A Nettakallappa state-level marathon held in June.
He also won the second prize in the 1500 metre race at the State-level athletics championship in 2011. R Harish of Gandhinagar in the city won the third place in the 400 metre race of the state junior athletics championship held in July.
He won the second place in the 4x100 metre relay of the state athletics championship held in December 2011.
Similarly, a number of other athletes have won prizes in various events of the championship. People in the city are of the feeling that all this has been possible because of the quality training that the budding sportspersons are getting.
P L Shankarappa, the district athletics trainer of the department of youth services and sports, has been training the youth in the morning and evening at the district stadium. The scene has changed after Shankarappa started training the boys and girls.
People recall that trainers Lingappa and David Prakash gave similar training to those interested in the 80s.
They say that the department of youth services and sports and the district administration should contribute to taking forward this enthusiasm.
Shankarappa says encouragement by parents and teachers goes a long way in identifying talent and motivating them to train.
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