Yashodhara Bangera
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Jan 16: A 400 metre synthetic track laid at Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri was dedicated to the nation by Dakshina Kannada district in-charge and forest minister, B Ramanath Rai, at a function organized on Thursday January 15 evening. This track, built at a cost of about five crore rupees, happens to be the seventh such track in the state and third in undivided Dakshina Kannada district.
Addressing the gathering, Rai said that Karnataka government has been laying additional emphasis on supporting sports activities. 'Dakshina Kannada district has contributed many excellent sports talents to the nation. A number of sports persons of national stature are emerging from this region, and I am sure this synthetic track will help them to hone and improve their skills and performances,' he hoped.
Rai hailed Moodbidri for standing out as an example to the fact that a place where harmonious coexistence is practiced achieves all-round development. He noted with satisfaction that Moodbidri revenue division, which has the potential to become a taluk headquarters, has been witnessing a number of high calibre sports and cultural activities, which work in favour its chances of developing fast. Rai also said that there are plans to build different sports teams in the state forest department, and pledged to work hard to realize this plan.
State minister for youth services, Abhay Chandra Jain, who presided over the function, noted that the dream of synthetic track for the town could be realized because of the untiring efforts of Dr M Mohan Alva. He added that this stadium is not exclusively meant for the students of educational institutions run by Alva's Education Foundation, and called upon sports enthusiasts from the entire revenue division to make best use of this latest facility.
Rajya Sabha member, Oscar Fernandes, who participated as the chief guest, noted that excellent sports talents are bound to emerge from places where good infrastructure is provided for them to improve their skills. He asked the concerned to extend all support and motivation to youth from the state towards emerging as national level sports persons on par with states like Punjab and Haryana.
State urban development minister, Vinay Kumar Sorake, Blossom Fernandes, MLCs, Capt Ganesh Karnik and Ivan D'Souza, Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner, A B Ibrahim, former minister, K Amarnath Shetty, joint director for youth empowerment and sports, Jitendra, deputy director, Panduranga, Alva's Education Foundation chairman, Dr M Mohan Alva, local municipal president, Supriya D Shetty, and many others were present.
Venugopal Shetty hosted the programme.
National-level sports meet
A five-day national-level inter-university sports meet is set to begin on the new synthetic track on Friday January 16. Over 2,500 athletes from 158 universities across the country are in Moodbidri for the meet.
A grand procession will be held prior to the sports meet which will be inaugurated at 5.30 pm. Chief minister Siddaramaiah is expected to participate in the inaugural function.
On all the five days, sports events will be held from 6.30 am to 2.30 pm, and cultural programmes from 8 pm.
Apart from officials of the sports department, over a thousand volunteers and technical teams of 250 personnel are on duty.