Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)
Udupi, Apr 9: All India Inter-University Kho-Kho Championship for Men 2024-2025 inaugurated in Poornaprajna College ground with a grand ceremony showcasing the region's rich cultural heritage, on April 9.
The Kho-Kho championship was inaugurated by Sri Sri Vishwapriya Theertha Swamiji of Adamaru Math along with other dignitaries by traditionally lighting the lamp.
K Annamalai, former IPS officer, best athletes come from this part of Karnataka, in his address highlighted the importance of sports in leading a happy and balanced life and said, “This is a two way programme, all the students who have come here will get an opportunity to see the hospitality of Adamaru Math and Udupi People and also bring their competitiveness and sportiveness. India is the fifth largest economy and very soon will be the third largest economy. India is the most populated country, but we haven’t achieved much in sports. Our societies from the last 200 years have stopped giving importance to sports, we give a lot of importance to academics and not sports. China has won 727 Olympics medals, but our India has won only 41 medals, China for almost 24 years participated in the Olympics it started participating in the 1980s. We must give importance to sports. The Indian government is giving a lot of importance to sports, The college or university should start dedicating to sport. Kids in Western countries get the opportunity to start playing sports at a very young age. Physical education teacher must be the most important person on the campus. Not only creating a platform for students for sports but also, we must create and nurture quality teachers who can export students at national levels. India might win the 2030 Olympic Games. According to me, a sport a day will keep a doctor away.”
Sri Sri Vishwapriya Theertha Swamiji of Adamaru Math Udupi, in his inaugural note said, “The Poornaprajna stadium has seen many national games. People know how to maintain physical health but fail to maintain their mental health. Kho-Kho is a game played mostly by Marathi’s Kabaddi is a pulling game and kho-kho is a pushing game. We do not need pulling games as we don’t allow one to reach his goal, our students need pushing games as pushing the one sits silent in class. Protect your mental health by sports. Your parents feed sweets to you today when you succeed, tomorrow when they turn old you feed them not admit them to an old-age home. Sukumar has brought the PPC to third rank in a sport which was in 120 ranks. Children play well and encourage others. If one wins that means he climbed the peak and if one loses it means that he created the steps to climb the peak. Children should not only be in academics but also in sports, academics and sports must go simultaneously, to be in sports one must have healthy food, then there will not be time to waste and become a wealthy citizen of the Nation.”
Kota Shrinivas Poojary, MP, said, “Udupi is in first position not only in the State but also in the nation in education and health. Poornaprajna College has successfully hosted the Kho-Kho championship. Sri Sri Vishwapriya Theertha Swamiji is a straight forward person. Every student must know that our country is bigger than caste, and religion.”
Suresh Shetty Gurme, MLA for Kaup constituency, and Dr A P Bhat, secretary, Udupi Shree Adamaru Matha Education Council Bengaluru (USAMEC), wished the participants their best wishes.
Sri Sri Eeshapriya Theertha Swamiji, president of USAMEC Bengaluru presided over the event.
Sreeraksha, student of 3rd BA rendered the invocation. Dr G S Chandrashekar, secretary, Poornaprajna College managing committee, welcomed the gathering. Sandeep Shetty, assistant professor, department of Commerce and Management compered the event. Dr Ramul L, principal, Poornaprajna College delivered the vote of thanks.
The inaugural event was attended by vice chancellor Mangalore University professor P L Dharma, treasurer USAMEC CA G V Krishna, treasurer Poornaprjna College, managing committee Udupi, CA Prashanth Holla, managing director and CEO Karnataka Bank Mangaluru Srikrishnan H, director of Academics, Poornaprajna group of Institutions, organising secretary AIIU Men's Kho-Kho Championship 2024-25 and director of physical education Mangalore University Dr Gerald Santhosh D'Souza, convenor, AIIU men’s Kho-Kho- Championship and physical education director Poornaprajna College Udupi Sukumar and others.