Madikeri :

The decision to cancel the exclusive selection process for Kodagu athletes for state-level teams has irked sports persons in the Kodagu district. As many as 18 students, including three girls, selected at the district-level selection process have been removed.

Kodagu district has players at the state and national level and they have also participated in the Olympics events. An exclusive selection of Kodagu students has been going on for the past 23 years in Ponnampet. 

Arun Machaiah, a former MLC, accused senior officials behind the decision to cancel the selection.

A state-level sports school is being run at Kudige and the athletes to play at the state level are selected from there. 

While the national-level sports persons are selected from Sai Sports Residential School, Madikeri.

Machaiah said when the selection processes for national and state-level events come together the opportunities for the athletes of Kodagu are likely to decrease. 

Zilla panchayat had taken resolution for an exclusive selection of Kodagu students for state teams in Ponnampet School. It was approved by the Karnataka government in 2001.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Mysuru News / by G Rajendra / May 28th, 2023