The Hindu : Karnataka News : Call to develop sporting spirit

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Sunday, Jan 04, 2009
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Call to develop sporting spirit

Correspondent

‘Identify talented schoolchildren and provide them training’

National-level under-14 volleyball championship inaugurated
‘Proposals being considered to improve National Sports Policy’

CHIKMAGALUR: D.N. Jeevaraj, Chief Whip in the Legislative Assembly, has regretted that politicians have not developed sportsmanship. He said sports activities were becoming increasingly commercialised.

Inaugurating a national-level under-14 volleyball championship for boys and girls in Birur on Saturday, he commended the local Kannada Sangha for organising a national-level tournament in a small town.

Calling upon the youth to develop a sporting spirit, he said politics should not be allowed to interfere with sports. He urged the participants in the tournament to become accomplished sportspersons.

C. Radha, Chikmagalur Zilla Panchayat president, who received the championship flame, observed that the country’s performance in the Olympics was struggling to pick up. She said this was probably due to lack of proper training. She suggested that talented schoolchildren should be identified and given training and financial assistance.

Trophies

C.T. Ravi, MLA, who unveiled the trophies, said sports played an important role in unifying the country. He said sports helped to develop national pride and self-esteem.

Chawla, observer of the National Volleyball Federation, said each State had its own sports policy and proposals were being considered to improve the National Sports Policy.

He reiterated that politicians and various organisations should take the responsibility of encouraging sports.

K.M. Krishnamurthy, MLA, who presided over the function, said such tournaments helped to develop national integrity as children from various parts of the country came under a common banner.

R. Narayanaswamy, Deputy Commissioner of Chikmagalur district, unfurled the championship flag. D.S. Suresh, MLA, spoke.

N. Sundar Naik, Chief Executive Officer of the zilla panchayat; Manteligachar, Deputy Director of Public Instruction; K.B. Mallikarjuna, former MLA and president of the sangha; and Yatish, Birur Town Municipal Council president, were present.

K.R. Sadashiva, president of the sangha, welcomed. Maheshwarappa, District Physical Education Superintendent, proposed a vote of thanks.

The participants were taken out in a procession through the main streets of the town.

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