Adequate funds for sports sought

Tirupati: Allocation of sufficient funds is need of the hour for sports development in India, stressed Drona Charya awardee and national badminton coach G Soma Sekhara Vara Prasad.

A five-day State level inter-collegiate sports and cultural meet of Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University has begun on a clourful note at SVVU sports pavilion here on Sunday. The sports meet is being conducted by the SVVU for its affiliated colleges from November 26 to 30.

Guest of honour of this meet G Soma Sekhar, while addressing the participants, said that governments should build the gyms and sports arenas on large scale for the benefit of public to maintain physical fitness.

“By working in gyms regularly, people can keep away from hospitals. Unfortunately, in our country, we do not have playgrounds and other sports facilities in schools and colleges,’ he said.

“Current trend in India is governments are giving crores of rupees to single medal winners of the Olympics or other international events, so far our governments have not recognised the ground reality in sports development. Governments should allocate sufficient funds for improving the sports infrastructure and amenities in India,’ he emphasised.

Later, chief guest at the event SVVU VC Y Haribabu stated that University has been spending more than Rs 25 lakhs for sports development at affiliated colleges. `Eeveryone should work out one or two hours in a day, it will be helpful to keep fit.

The university is providing professional coaching to the students in various sports events,’ the VC added. Along with sports every university providing platform to perform the extracurricular activities like cultural events and literary competitions among the affiliated colleges, he said.

Earlier, Soma Sekhar Vara Prasad and VC Haribau, dean students affairs Sarjan Rao and other University officials are introduced to the sports teams of College of Veterinary Sciences Tirupati, Gannavaram, Proddutur and Fisheries College Muttukuru, College of Dairy Technology Tirupati.

As part of sports meet inauguration, participants contingents and varsity NCC horse regiment have conducted a marchpast carrying sports flags. On this occasion, students donned various mythological characters like Venkateswara Swamy, Maha Vishnu Dasavatharalu, Annamaiah in the rally.

In this state level sports and cultural meet inauguration, director extension D Srinivasulu, deans Chandra Sekhar Rao, Padmanaba Reddy, officer in charge for students affairs Rambabu Naik, faculty and students from all the five colleges were present.