9-day Dasara sports event to commence on Oct 1

Dasara Sports sub-committee will organise 22 types of sports and games as a part of Mysuru Dasara from October 1 to 9.

Addressing reporters, Superintendent of Police Ravi D Channannavar, also Deputy Special Officer for Dasara Sports sub-committee said, “The nine-day state-level sports events would commence on October 1 after the Kreeda Jyoti (the sacred torch) is lit at Chamundi Hill and is taken out in the city before installation at the Chamundi Vihar Stadium. Ashwini Ponnappa, international badminton player, representing India, would give a start to the torch in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. On the same evening, Siddaramaiah will inaugurate all the sports events at the Chamundi Vihar Stadium. Rio Paralympic medallist Deepa Malik will attend the inaugural ceremony.”

This year's sports meet will have 22 events — including athletics, gymnastics, volley ball, kabaddi, hockey and body building. One of the major attractions in the sports events, adventure games, will be held at Varuna Lake in Varuna village from October 1 to 9. In addition to this, half marathon and cyclothon have been organised on October 2 and October 9, respectively. Former Indian cricketers Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad will flag off the half marathon at 6.30 am at Chamundi Vihar Stadium. While more than 3,000 people will take part in the marathon, 500 people have registered for the cyclothon, Channannavar said.

Chess competition for visually-impaired persons is another attraction of the sports meet. The competition will be held at Rotary West School on October 3 and 4. As many as 250 participants are likely to take part in the event.

However, the valedictory of the sports event has been scheduled for October 4 at Chamundi Vihar Stadium. District in-charge Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa will inaugurate the valedictory ceremony in the presence of Sports and Youth Empowerment Minister Pramod Madhwaraj and Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Tanveer Sait. The SP said, “Cash prizes and awards will be presented to the winners of all the events.”