High school, PU sports talents to get facilities

The government has modified the policy extending the facility of residential school for sports talents to highschool and II PUC students. Currently, the residential schools were admitting only students studying in V, VI and VII Std, said Minister for Youth Services and Sports, K Abhayachandra Jain.

Chairing a review meeting at the deputy commissioner’s office on Thursday, the Minister said that there was lack of response from the students of coastal districts seeking admission to the residential sports schools. At present, the vacant seats were filled by admitting students from other districts like Chikmagalur and Kodagu. In order to nourish more sports talents, the residential sports schools will be allowed to admit students studying upto II PUC.

District Youth Services and Sports Department Deputy Director Parshwanath said that of the 50 available seats, 43 have been filled and the last date for admission has been extended to July and VIII students have been admitted this year. Though the government has sanctioned Rs 99 lakh for upgrading the residential sports school, it has not been released yet, he said.

DK Football Association Secretary Hussain Bolar highlighted the need for another football stadium for the city. Though football is practised at Nehru Maidan, the players can not do regular practise in Mangala Stadium as the ground is not for practise due to practising javelin and hamer throw on the same ground, he said.

In reply, DC A B Ibrahim said that Reliance company has come forward to develop two football grounds in the city. Nehru Maidan will be developed for football practise and another ground could be developed in Ullal, while Mangala Stadium can be used as provisional ground, he said, which was nodded by the Association.

Meanwhile, the Minister said that the department had a plan to develop another stadium in Mangalore next year, to meet all sports purpose. While, the stadium is likely to come up in Urva, swimming pool will be developed in Emmekere. Jain said national athletics meet will be held at Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri in December. The laying of synthetic track at a cost of Rs 4.25 crore will be completed by then.

Plight of Kabaddi players

International Kabaddi player Uday Chowta explained lack of support from the government to Kabaddi resulting in pathetic plight of the players. A separate Kabaddi ground has to be developed in the district to help the players to practise better. Even several Kabaddi players from the district have performed extremely well in the tourneys in national and international level, it so happens that they are forced to rest on footpath and lack of train tickets to return after attending a tourney, he lamented.