The Hindu : Sport / Athletics : Performance of sports schools athletes on wane

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Wednesday, Dec 22, 2010
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Performance of sports schools athletes on wane

M.R. Praveen Chandran

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The new format which was introduced in the 54th State school athletic meet at the University stadium once again exposed the declining standards of sports schools athletes.

As per the new format there is no separate competition for sports school athletes. There is only one competition in which both sports school and general school athletes take part.

But while the general school athletes soared to greater heights, sports school wards were left gasping for breath in a majority of the events that they took part.

G.V. Raja Sports Schools and GVHSS, Kannur, once the pride of Kerala, were reduced to also-rans in the competition that saw St. George HSS and Mar Basil HSS from Kothamangalam once again assert their supremacy at the top.

G.V. Raja, the Thiruvananthapuram revenue district champion, fielded 70 athletes in this meet but could only get 13 points which didn't include a single gold. GVHSS, Kannur had just one gold medal winner in Manju.

Centralised Sports Hostel, Calvary Mount, in Idukki redeemed itself by finishing seventh with three gold medals and a tally of 21 points. But the performances by athletes from other sports hostels run by the Kerala State Sports Council are nothing to write home about. Apart from Pinto Mathew, who happens to be a trainee of SAI Kozhikode, none of the sports schools wards figured in the record books.

While lack of coaches and infrastructure is being pointed out as a reason for the lacklustre show, the Kerala Sports Council has to do some serious thinking about running the sports hostels and schools in the State.

Meanwhile, the new format has received the thumps up from athletes and coaches. While the general belief is that the standard has improved and the meet has been conducted without any hassles, the lone voice of dissent was raised by former Deputy Director of DPI, V. Gabriel, who said that the meet has lost its seriousness and deprived many athletes from participating in it.

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