Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network-Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Aug 21: Pramod Madhwaraj, minister, district in- charge, fisheries, youth empowerment and sports service inaugurated the taluk-level Dasara Sports Meet-2016-17 at Mahatma Gandhi stadium on Sunday, August 21. 

The programme has been organised under the aegis of district authority, zilla panchayat, sports department and taluk panchayat Udupi.

After inaugurating the event, minster said, “This event has been organized to build professional career for sportsmen along with good education. The department is planning to implement a new sports policy soon.”

“India with 125 crore of population could win only two medals in Rio-Olympics which is a matter of concern. China did well last year during the Beijing Olympics because 25 years back they had introduced sports policy. We need to introduce such strong policy in our country too,” he said.

“This time Udupi taluk should become champion in Dasara sports meet. In current year, we have distributed stipends worth two lac for 11 athletes. We have also decided to confer Ekalavya award and Kreeda rathna award to 12 athletes,” he added.

Zilla panchayat president Dinakar Babu, CMC member Yashpal Suvarna, taluk panchayat president Nalini Pradeep, vice president Rajendra, sports department assistant director Roshan Kumar Shetty and others were present.