3 golds for Dharwad boy in international yoga championship

Bailabasappa Kabberhalli, a first year student from KLE Society’s S K Arts and HSK Science College, has made the State proud by winning three gold medals in the Asian Yoga Championship held at Bangkok, Thailand, from September 6 to 8.

He represented the country in the 19 to 25 age category and stood first in the artistic, olympic and artistic pair categories. The promising Yoga champion, who has been trained by Shivanand Kelur, said opponents from China and Nepal gave him a tough competition in the final rounds.

Bailabasappa, who hails from Rottigwad, a backward village in Kundgol taluk of Dharwad district, is from an economically poor background. KLE Society, his college staff, alumni association, KCCI, Gurusiddeshwar Co-operative Bank, Syndicate Bank, State Bank of Mysore, philanthropist Uday Chandra and others contributed Rs 60,000 to meet the travel and other expenditures during the international championship.

Speaking at a press meet here on Monday, Bailabasappa dedicated his win to his college and others who helped him. He added that he would strive to bring laurels to the State and country by winning more gold medals in international tournaments if the government supported him.

KLES Local Governing Body Working President C B Patil said the institution was lucky to have student like Bailabasappa.