The Hindu : Sport : Foundation stone for shooting range laid

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 16, 2010
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Sports : General

Foundation stone for shooting range laid

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The foundation stone for the shooting range, being constructed as part of the preparations for the 35th National Games, was laid by the Education Minister, M.A. Baby at a simple yet colourful ceremony at the Central Polytechnic campus here on Wednesday.

The range being constructed at a cost of Rs. 17.10 crore is to have all modern amenities according to international specifications and is expected to be completed by September next year.

The ranges are to be housed in two complexes, with the 10m and 50 ranges in one and the 25m range in the second. All the three ranges will have 60 firing points, making it useful to conduct international competitions.

Speaking at the function, Baby stressed the importance of the Education and Sports Departments working together.

“It is indeed the need of the hour as sports related activities will not be able to progress in the expected scale unless there was proper coordination between the two departments.”

It was also necessary in the light of the results which emerged from the tests of the Total Physical Fitness Programme over the last two years, which stated that only 14 per cent of our school children are physically fit; a startling revelation which needs further examination and corrective measures, the Minister said.

Baby was also full of praise for his cabinet colleague and Sports Minister, M. Vijayakumar.

“It is quite well recorded in history the pioneering role played by the late Goda Varma Raja, the founder president of the Kerala State Sports Council, in popularising sports and games among the people of the State.

“He will be remembered for long. Likewise, history is sure to recall the efforts of my colleague, Vijayakumar, for the untiring manner in which he has strove hard to improve the standard of sports and games over the last four- and-a-half years.”

He said the Government had all along been committed to the cause of sports and games and the uninterrupted flow of money from the State treasury for the preparations of the National Games is an apt example.

“The Chief Minister, V.S. Achuthanandan and the Finance Minister, Dr. T.M. Thomas Issac has ensured that sufficient funds were allotted for every need related to the promotion of sports and games and the National Games is another example of the Government's commitment to sports.”

The Sports Minister, in his presidential address, also highlighted the magnanimity of the Education Minister and officials in releasing sufficient land within educational institutions for the projects related the Games.

“There was no haggling as could be usually seen. In fact, matters relating to the transfer of land at the Polytechnic or at the Kerala University campus were settled within a matter of minutes.”

The function was also graced by A. Sampath, MP, the Thiruvananthapuram Mayor, K. Chandrika, the KSSC president, T. P. Dasan, Secretary (Sports), T.K. Manoj Kumar, Secretary (Technical Educatin), Kuruvilla John and the National Games CEO, Amit Mallick, among others.

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

Sport