Karnataka > Sports in Karnataka
Of late Physical Education is being imparted on scientific principles. Several institutions like yogosona centres, Sevadal, Scouts and Guides and the NCC also train children in physical exercise. Department of Education, Directorate of Youth Services and Sports, Director of Physical Education, attached to each University and several voluntary youth organizations are also engaged in sports activities. The Netaji National Institute of Sports (at Bangalore) and Nehru Yuva Kendras located in almost all district headquarters are provided with grants both by the State and the Central Government for the streamlining of the sports sector. The Department of Public Instruction in Karnataka has included Physical Education in the curricula of schools. After reorganization, uniform rules were framed regarding the curriculum, staff and time-table for physical Education. The "National Fitness Corps" (NFC) came in being in 1965, applicable to children in the age group of nine to 16, as per which, a new comprehensive syllabus was formed. Thus Physical Education became a co-curricular syllabus. The NFC instructors were absorbed in the Department of Youth Services in 1976. A post of Superintendent of Physical Education was created to assist the D.P.I, in Karnataka. Later, a post of Divisional Superintendent of Physical Education was also created for each of the revenue divisions, attached to the J.D.P.I. At the University level, the Department is headed by the Director of Physical Education with several Assistant Directors to help him.
A seperate College of Physical Education was started by the Government in Bangalore in 1959, where D.P.Ed Course for graduates was offered. In 1967, CP.Ed. course was also introduced for matriculates. In 1972, when the M.P.Ed, course was introduced, C.P.Ed, was abolished. The College was taken over by the Bangalore University in 1976. Similarly the Physical Education College (1972) run by the University of Mysore and two colleges of Physical education under the Karnatak University also offered B.P.Ed, course. In addition to this, many private colleges prepare students for C.P.Ed, course in the State. The prominent among them being, the YMCA, Bangalore, College of Physical Education Mallihalli, Municipal College of Physical Education, Chikkaballapur, Hemavathi College of Physical Education, Shravanabelagola and Colleges in Anchihalli (Tumkur dt.) and Bethamangala (Kolar Dt). Several associations in different sports events have been encouraging all games and they conduct tournaments, inviting players from all over the country. There are several recreation clubs all over the state that cater to the employed masses to spend their evenings joyfully. Generality all factories have such clubs. Apart from traditional gymnasia called garadimane that existed in villages where wrestling and Malkhamb training was imparted. During national movement, Vyayamashalas came to be founded in all important centres like Dharwad, Bellary, Kottur, Bangalore, Bantwal and other places. Dr. Hardikar's Hindustani Seva Dal played a special role by encouraging sports and physical exercises.
Wrestling has been a favourite sport from the ancient times. 'Garadimane' can be seen in all towns and big villages even to-day as mentioned already. The rulers of Mysore themselves were good wrestlers. They even conducted wrestling competitions. Wrestling bouts were common during Dasara in Vijayanagara times and Dasara sports were an annual feature in Mysore during the days of royalty and even to-day. The State can boast of a host of athletes and players in different track and field events, athletics and other popular games. Here is a list of some notable ones till 1982 (given in brackets are the games they represent):- Amjad Khan (football), Allen Schofield (Hockey), Ananth K.R.(Mountaineering), Angel Mary (Athletics), Anil Kumar (Basket ball), Anisha Prasad (Swimming - Women), Anthony (Foot ball), Appaiah (Hockey), Aravind Savoor (Billiards), Aswathaiah (Volley-ball), Brijesh" Patel (Cricket), Chandrasekar B.S. (Cricket), Chitra Gangadharan (Football-Women), Deshmuthu.C. (Hockey), Dev Prasad (Cycling), Elviro Britto (Hockey-Women), Gabriel (Athletics), Ganesh.M.P.(Hockey), Gopalappa.P.(Kabaddi), Govinda.B.P.(Hockey), Harischandra Hejmadi (Bodybuilding), Indira Srinivasamurthy (Ball Badminton-Women), Jayappa (Power lifting), Jugtha Kahai (Cycling), Kabad Jayanth (table tennis), Kasturi Rangan (Cricket), Kenneth Powel (Athletics), Kench.R. (Cycling), Khurshed.RIrani (Cycling-Women), Kirmani S.M.H.(Cricket), Krishna Gowda.H.N.(Kabaddi), Krishnan Kutti (Mountaineering), Lakkappa.T.V.(Weight lifting), Laxmi.V.Karanth (Table tennis for Women), Mac Britto (Hockey-Women), Manjunath Hegde (Body building), Nirmala Uthaiah (Athletics-women), Ponnappa .PC.(Athletics), Prakash Padukone (Shuttle), Prasanna E.A.S. (Cricket), Ravindran.R.(Chess), Ravindranath (Karate), Ravi Prakash (Yogasana), Roger Binny (Cricket), Swetha Devaiah (Basket ball-women), Shailendra.D.N.(chess), Shyla K.N.and Shantha Ramamurthy (Ball badminton-Women), Sridharan. R. (Chess), Subbanna.M. (Kabaddi), Vasudevaraju (Yogasana), Vishwanath.G.R. (Cricket) and so on. Shantha Rangaswamy had been the captain of national ladies Cricket team for long. The ladies badminton team from Karnataka held championship for several years. Of late, the Department of Youth Services and Sports, Government of Karnataka, has been providing facilities to athletes and sportsmen and women to pursue their interest in sports. A youth Service Officer is in charge of each district and is responsible for the progress of sports activities in his district. Athletes and sportsmen from all over Karnataka have been given all encouragament to participate in national and international events. In the National Women's Sports Meet held at Bhopal in 1993, the following ladies participated: 1) Athletics - V.A.Sumana (100 mts), Shanti Clever (400 mts), Mariamma (1500 mts), Gowramma (4 x 100 relay), Shital Patil (Long jump), G.R.Rekha (High jump). B. Padmavathi (Discuss Throw), Sharin Belliyappa (Javelin throw), Shanti Oliver (4 x 400 relay) and Levina Lobo (4 x 400 relay); 2) Kabaddi - Jamuna Mayamma, Sumithra, Kavitha, Jalajakshi, N.C. Savitha, S.K.Omachagi, C.RHadpad and N.Kavita; 3) Badminton- Sharmila, Dipa Ganapathi and Dipa Bokil; 4) Volley ball - Jayamala, Farida, Kalpana, Chandrakala; 5) Handball -Indumati, Veenadevi, Sahana, Renu, Rukmini, Shobha, Kanthi, Vanaja Kalappa, Nutan, Sujata, Indira, poornima, Anita, Veena Naidu and N.Jayashri; 6) Swimming - Vaishali, Rohini, Shanthi, Sagari, Rajani, Seema, Sangeetha, Srikripa, Priyadarshini; 7) Hockey -Padmini, Anuradha, Padmavathi, Tarana, Sujatha, Pratima, Varalaxmi, Rina, Savitha, Renu, Rukmini, Shobha, Kanti, Vanaja Kalappa, Nutan and Suja; 8) Basket ball - Shanthi, Meena, Chandrakala, Radhika, Jamuna, Santa, Sylvia, Vinita, Sumangala, Nagarekha and Geeta S.N; 9) Gymnastics - Kavitha Ranganath, Vinkitha Rana, Suma Rani, Chaitra and Jayalaxmi; 10) Kho-Kho - S. Shamala, Chetana, Shanta, Asha, Bharathi, Rajashree, M.R. Patil, Maya, Chandrakala, Radha and Pushpavathi. Arjun Awardees from Karnataka : 1) Athletics: Kenneth Powell (1965), Panjil Mary Joseph (1978), Vandana Rao (1978) and Aswini Nachappa (1990); Cricket: E.A.S.Prasanna (1968), B.S.Chandrasekhar (1978), G.RVishwanath (1977), Syed Kirmani (1980), Shanta Rangaswamy (1976); Hockey: Elvira Britto (1965), V.G.Peters (1966), M.P.Ganesh (1973), B.P.Govinda (1975); Ball Badminton: Jayamma Srinivas (1972); Boxing: C.C.Machaiah (1978); Snooker: Aravind Savoor (1978); Table Tennis: Usha Sunder Raj (1966); Kho-Kho: S. Prakash; Power lifting: P.K.Yeshodhar; Badminton: Shobha Murthy (1971) and Prakash Padukone (1972). The following were the Arjun Awardees after 1985:- Sudhanva (Hockey - 1985) : Vandana Rao (Athletics - 1997); Subbalah (Hockey - 1997); Malathi Holla (Athletics -1997); Mahadev (Athletics - 1998); Ashish Ballal (Hockey - 1999); S.D. Eashan (Athletics - 1999); Shobha Narayan (Kho-Kho - 1999); Satish Rai (Weight lifting - 1999); Venkataramanappa (Athletics - 2000) and Nisha Millet (Swimming - 2000).
|
