The Hindu : Sport / Swimming : KSA felicitates State achievers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Nov 11, 2007
ePaper

Sport

Sport - Swimming

KSA felicitates State achievers

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: The Karnataka Swimming Association (KSA) felicitated all the State achievers at a function at the Basavanagudi Aquatic Centre here on Saturday.

As many as 80 swimmers, divers and water polo players, including the National champion Rehan Poncha, N.A. Sandeep, Rohit Hawaldar, Aaron D’Souza, J.P. Arjun, Pooja Alva, Kshipra Mahajan and Madhuri Giri were honoured at the function for their achievements in the senior National, junior National and sub-junior championships, besides the National Games during this season.

A.K. Pandey, Commissioner of Youth Services and Sports, was the chief guest along with Shyam Sundar, director of SAI (South), and Gopal Hosur, Joint Commissioner of Police (Law & Order), and K. Govindaraj , president of the KOA.

Mr. Pandey said: “It was heartening to note that the State swimmers have achieved so many laurels despite the odds like lack of an international infrastructure.” He said five district centres with 10 pools would come up in Davangere, Belgaum, Bagalkot, Raichur and Gulbarga, which would augment the existing facilities for the swimmers in the State. He also announced that the DYSS, which had given over Rs. 50 lakhs as rewards to sportspersons in various disciplines in the State, would enhance the amount.

Award for team

Mr. Pandey also said the DYSS would release Rs. one lakh as cash award to the State senior swimming team which won the overall title at the Senior National at Panaji in September.

Mr. Govindaraj, called on the KSA and BAC in particular, to establish a swimming academy. He also reiterated his commitment to get residential plots for outstanding sportspersons. “Once the new government is in place in the State, we would take up the issue,” he added.

Mr. Shyamsundar hailed KSA for establishing a system through which the State had been able to find a new crop of national champions year after year, while Mr. Neelkant Rao Jagdale, the president of the KSA, called upon the State Government to evolve a comprehensive sports policy. Mr. Jagdale also said that the BAC would modernise its facilities with a 10-lane pool, gallery and establish an academic centre for its residential trainees.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail