Problems galore at PYKA sports meet

Participants and trainers at receiving end of irregularities in the district-level event

This was the condition as the district-level Panchayat Yuva Kreeda Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKA) sports meet organised at district stadium at Kolar on Friday was an example of utter confusion and lack of planning.

Continuous controversy
This district stadium was in news in September too, for not organising the taluk-level Dasara sports meet properly. There were even cases of athletes having their feet bloodied, running on glass shards. The same situation has prevailed in the district-level meet as contradicting the assurances given after the taluk-level meet faced several problems.

This meet began even as the organisers did not even bothered to get the list of winners at the taluk-level events, without which it is not possible to proceed with the events.
Strict direction was given to organise this event properly, by the City Municipal Council president and standing committee president. But this direction either has not reached or has been neglected by the Youth and Sports Department officers. There is a situation where authorities concerned are least bothered about setting the situation right.

Irregularities
After the inauguration, the physical education teachers spoke to the media persons about the confusions and lack of  planning in the sports meet. As there was no one else, Devika, Superintendent of the Youth services and Sports Department was found managing the event. Sports trainer Shankarappa was seen standing in the stadium, clueless, as he was not assigned any work.

Athletics, Kho-Kho, Kabaddi, Volleyball, Football and Swimming events will be conducted today, said Devika, the Superintendent.

But when asked about the registration of athletes for the event, she did not have any answer. Even the Physical Education Department trainers known as Kreedashris were running all over to collect the names of the participants.

No written notice
The Kreedashris called by the Youth Service and Sports were not given notice in the written form.

“I arrived here at 11 am on the direction of the school headmaster. But here there is no one to assign work to us. So at last we have divided work among ourselves and are trying to do whatever is possible” said, a Physical Education trainer from Malur.

“We have not given the list of participants, but are only asked to register whoever comes today. No meeting was called prior to the meet and no preparations are made”, a Kreedashri from Mulbagal expressed his disappointment.

No food
Participants had to starve as there was not enough food supplied. “When our turn came, the food got over and athletes from our school were starving even after 4 pm. The officers concerned have neglected everything” said shrinath, president of Sports and Cultural Association in Malur. He was heading a group of 12 athletes for athletics and volleyball events.

Expressing his anger over confusions, the master PYKA trainer Shankarappa said, “I was not consulted before organising the sports meet. I was only informed about the dates fixed for the event.

The dates were fixed by the Superintendent of the Department Devika and Assistant Director K Umalakshmi. Nothing about organising the event was discussed. They have cornered me,” he said.

Disappointment
The trainers, participants have expressed disappointment about the way the meet is organised. Some have also alleged that grants alloted for the sports meet are not being utilised completely and is being misused.