From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Aug 29: In an ambitious plan to encourage Karnataka’s sportpersons to participate and win medals in the next Olympics at Paris, the State Government has decided to provide special and intensive training for 75 select sportspesons for the forthcoming Olympics meet, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said in Bengaluru on Monday.

Speaking at a function to mark the National Sports Day by inaugurating a rural sports meet and yogathon, he said the government has already decided to provide 2% reservation in government jobs for sportspersons from the State who have won medals at national and international games and sports events.

Bommai also distributed the Ekalavya, Karnataka Kreeda Ratna, Lifetime achievement awards for the year 2020 and also for sports patrons for the year 2021-22.

Mainly rural sports like Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Buffalo Race, Bullock Cart Race etc. are part of the rural life and the government wants to encourage such sports, he said.

The Chief Minister said the government has launched various programmes for youth empowerment in the fields of education and Swami Vivekananda Yuva Shakti scheme launched on August 15 was a major initiative.

He said hockey legend Dhyan Chand was instrumental in India winning the hockey gold medal in Olympics thrice and said the government is honouring the legendary hockey player by instituting the Khel Ratna to commemorate his memory.

Bommai said the future of the country depended on the younger generation, which accounts of 46% of the population.

Sports and Youth Empowerment Minister K C Narayana Gowda, State Olympics Association Vice President Govindaraju, MLC, Sports and Youth Empowerment Department Additional Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh and others attended the function.