Mangalore: Rs 2.5 Lakh Sponsorship Distributed to Three Athletes
Daijiworld Media Network - FR
Pics by Dayananda Kukkaje

Mangalore, Jun 28: Sponsorship worth Rs. 2.5 lakh sponsored by donors Ivan James Pinto and Vinu Vishwanath Shety was distributed among three athletes of Mangala Athletes in the Sports Promotion Ceremony held in the city today.  The three budding athletes who are benefited from this sponsorship are Nishmitha Shetty, Sushmitha Alva and Vayola Nazareth – all training under the watchful eyes of Dinesh Kunder and 4 other coaches of the club. In the same ceremony sports attire “colours” was released and sponsors distributed it to 45 promising athletes of the club.

Manjunath Bhandary, President of Dakshina Kannada Amateur Athletic Federation who was the chief guest of the sports promotion ceremony released the club Brochure on the occasion.  Speaking at the function Bhandary expressed happiness about Sports Authority of India (SAI) coming to the District.  He called upon the President of Mangala Athletes A Sadananda Shetty to make all efforts to ensure that (SAI) comes to the district so as to give a big push to athletic talent in the district.  He regretted the failure of the authorities earlier for their failure to provide a suitable space for SAI, thus losing an opportunity of flow of resources for the benefit of athletes in the district.  In the event of SAI succeeding in finding a foothold in the district he assured that he would ensure flow of necessary finances for providing various facilities for training the athletes. 

He lauded the efforts of A Sadananda Shetty for his continued support to promote sports.  “Sadananda Shetty has done yeoman’s service for developing sports in the district at a time when there was no sports awareness among people.  He gave sports a big push and sustained it for 28 long years which is commendable”, he opined.  

In his welcome speech President of the Club A Sadananda Shetty pointed out that it is proud moment for the club to say that 1984 Olympian Vandan Rao and M R Poovamma who was a member of the Indian relay in 2008 Beijing Olympics were the members of Mangala Athletes.  

Coach Dinesh Kunder thanked the sponsors for their valuable contribution and declared that the club will be conducting inter-district athletic meet in September/October this year also, which he said would help nurture new talent in the sports field.  “Ivan James Pinto was the first person to come forward volunteering financial assistance to our athletes after seeing the performance of our club members.  He also thanked Francis Saldhanha, a US-based NRI for providing financial assistance to athletes for the last 3 years.  He revealed that Francis Saldhnha sponsored the entire cost of Rs 5 lakhs for sending Vikas Putran to Germany for a month long training.   He said the club plans to send at least 2 athletes for such trainings if sponsors come forward to help out.  

While sponsor Vinu Vishwanath Shetty was present on the occasion Ivan James Pinto was represented by his representatives Ramachandra Bhat and Namdev Rao.  

All the 5 coaches of the club – Dinesh Kunder, Sridhar Alva, Arun P Rao, Karunakar Kadri and John Lobo were honoured by presenting a memento sponsored by the parents of the members of the club.  

Coach John Lobo gave a vote of thanks.  Journalist Manohar Prasad compered the programme.