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Enhance funds for sports bodies, Govt. urged

By Our Staff Correspondent

BHAGAMANDALA (KODAGU DT.), JAN. 8. C.S. Arun Machaiah, MLC, has urged the State Government to increase the allocation to the Department of Youth Services and Sports and other sports bodies in the State.

He was speaking at a function here today after giving away prizes to winners of the Kodagu-Cauvery Marathon 2005. The race was flagged off in the morning by the Superintendent of Police, Devajyoti Ray, at Man's Compound.

The previous Government had earmarked Rs. 92 lakhs for paying wages to coaches under the Department of Youth Services and Sports. It is unfortunate that only Rs. 2 lakhs has been set aside for the purpose this year, he said.

Fund crunch

Mr. Machaiah, who has represented India in several international Karate competitions, regretted that even the General Thimmaiah Academy of Adventure set up by the Government to encourage adventure sports in the State, is languishing for want of funds. The Karnataka Olympic Association, the Karnataka Sports Council and other sports bodies have become dormant owing to a fund crunch, he added.

He said eight boys from Sunticoppa in Kodagu have made it to the State football team, winning laurels for Karnataka at the national level.

Mr. Machaiah, who advocated the need to evolve a sports policy, said the Kodagu District Amateur Athletic Association should be made a vibrant body.

Bhaskar T. Achar, a doctor in the U.S., said he thought of the marathon 12 years ago to promote sports in the district. He disclosed that he dreams of seeing at least one athlete from Kodagu represent the country in the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

Lack of infrastructure

Ravi Thammaiah, secretary of the Kodagu District Amateur Athletic Association, said he is in touch with the State Government to procure for the Kodagu-Cauvery Marathon due recognition. Lamenting the fall in the standard of sports in Kodagu, Mr. Thammaiah said lack of infrastructure such as a full-fledged stadium has hindered the development of sports in the district.

Tittu Bidappa, who has been involved with the marathon since its inception, read out the names of the sponsors of the event. S.S. Rao, a doctor in the U.S., spoke.

Satish Kumar Joyappa, member of the Kodagu Zilla Panchayat; K. Nagappa, member of the Madikeri Taluk Panchayat; and B.K. Prabhakar, President of the Bhagamandala Gram Panchayat, were present.

P.P. Vishwanath, president of Sri Cauvery Education Society, presided over the function. Janaki, principal of Cauvery Pre-University College, read out a report. M. Amul Devaiah, director of the Kodagu-Cauvery Marathon Trust, welcomed the gathering.

The men's marathon covered 42.2 km. The women's marathon covering 21 km was inaugurated at Karugunda. The race for boys covering 15 km was inaugurated at Cherambane and the girls' event covering 7.5 km at Kopatti.

Hosoklu A. Chinnappa, who achieved a hat-trick by winning the men's marathon (he won the race in 2003 and 2004), said he will participate in the Mumbai Marathon slated for January 16.

Mr. Chinnappa won the bronze medal at the Asian Games and finished eighth in the world marathon.

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