The Hindu : Sport / Squash : ‘Nice to see so many young people’

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Wednesday, Jul 29, 2009
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Sport - Squash

‘Nice to see so many young people’

Sports Reporter

— Photo: V. Ganesan

K.S. Sripathi (left) releasing the souvenir of the World junior squash championship in Chennai on Tuesday. Pratik Prakashbapu Patil and N. Ramachandran are also seen.

CHENNAI: The World junior squash championship was formally inaugurated by the Union Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs, Pratik Prakashbapu Patil, at Hotel Taj Mount Road here on Tuesday.

“I don’t know if I should stick to my prepared speech, because speaking at election rallies is a totally different thing. But it’s nice to see so many young people from so many different countries together,” said the Minister.

Patil also lauded World Squash Federation president N. Ramachandran for setting up a sound squash infrastructure in the city. “What Mr. Ramachandran has done is indeed commendable,” Patil said.

Releasing the championship souvenir, Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary K.S. Sripathi welcomed the teams to Chennai and advised them to take in the sights, apart from hitting the courts. “Enjoy the Chennai experience. It is my duty to ensure that you’re safe and that you take only pleasant memories of the place with you,” he said. Sripathi also said that the Tamil Nadu government “promoted sports as a policy.”

Earlier, in his opening address, Ramachandran said he was happy to see such a large turn-out for the championship.

“We have received a record number of entries for the event. I hope that the players also take a look at the cultural experience that Chennai has to offer,” he said. SRFI secretary general, Srivatsan Subramaniam, proposed the vote of thanks.

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