Yashodhara Bangera
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Jan 17: The 75th All-India Inter-university Athletics Meet, which is being held under the joint aegis of Alva's Foundation, Karnataka government and Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), went under way at the newly-laid synthetic track at Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri on Friday January 16 evening.
Vice chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Prof K S Ravindranath, inaugurated the meet. Speaking on the occasion, he said that sports and cultural activities, combined with education, helps students to achieve overall progress. He said that sports activities train students to accept challenges in life, and help them to lead life with discipline, get healthy body and balanced mind.
Dr M Mohan Alva, who presided over the function, said that there are plans to gradually upgrade the synthetic track provided to the town by the state government with the special interest evinced by the sports minister, in recognition of sports activities being undertaken and achievements of sports persons from the region.
Vice chancellor of RGUHS, Prof K S Ravindranath, Indian Universities Association inspector, Prof M S Chandravath, former minister, K Amarnath Shetty, hoisted the flags of Indian Universities Association, Rajiv Gandhi University, and host, Alva's Education Foundation, at the flag hoisting ceremony organized earlier. At the attractive march past held thereafter, sports persons under the banner of Punjab University Patiala, who had won the championship last time, sports achievers under the flag of Alva's, and cultural diversity attracted lot of attention.
Principal secretary in the department of sports, Nagalambika Devi, inspected guard of honour at the march past.
Vice chancellor of Mangaluru University, Prof Bhyrappa, Nagarjuna University Guntur physical education director, Dr Kishore,former minister, K Amarnath Shetty, principal secretary in the department of health and family welfare, N Sivasailam, .Dr Rajkumar Sharma representing Indian Universities Association, Dr Yashovarma of SDM Educational institutions Ujire,and members of RGUHS syndicate were present.
On the occasion, ten universities, which have been giving special impetus to sports activities, 11 sports achievers and coaches, as well as Purushotham and Dinesh Kunder, who have unique achievements to their credit, were felicitated.
The flame of the meet, which started its journey from Lord Venkataramana Temple here, was carried to the venue of the meet by Abhishek N Shetty, Joylene Lobo, Basavaraj Horaddi, Jamaluddin, and K S Ashok, all of whom have distinguished achievements to their credit, while M R Poovamma lighted the flame at the venue. Srujana Shetty of RGUHS administer oath.
In the history of undivided Dakshina Kannada district, this meet is being held for the second time. 3390 students from 168 universities are taking part in the meet.
RGUHS registrar, Dr D Premkumar, welcomed. Registrar (examinations), Dr Sachchidananda, proposed vote of thanks. Deepa Kottary and Satish Bengaluru presented the programme. Variety cultural programmes were presented by Alva's students thereafter.
The entire picture at the venue underwent a sudden change, because of the cancellation of all programmes of chief minister, Siddaramaiah, on account of the demise of a former governor of the state. The chief minister therefore, returned to Bengaluru, after cancelling his engagements. As a result, ministers, MPs etc who were expected to grace the occasion, remained absent. Minister, Abhay Chandra Jain, to whom a major portion of the credit goes for laying synthetic track here goes, and municipal president, Supriya D Shetty, did not take the stage, although they were present at the function. Many were disappointed at the sudden cancellation of chief minister's programme, which would have been the first official visit of Siddaramaiah to the town after becoming chief minister.