The Hindu : Sport : Urgent need to improve the infrastructure

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 17, 2006

Sport

Sport - Sports : General

Urgent need to improve the infrastructure

Principal Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Marketing is an integral part of sports and there was an urgent need to improve the infrastructure facilities as well as upgrading the coaching methods in the State. These views were expressed by former international sportspersons in the Kayika Prathibhasangamom organised by Kerala Cricket Association.

The discussions were based on the theme paper Kerala sports yesterday, today and tomorrow. While there was general consensus that Kerala has done well in almost all disciplines with the limited infrastructure and financial support at its disposal, the disturbing trend was that sports development has stagnated in the State and it needs some urgent remedies.

Praising the BCCI and its State affiliate KCA, the former stars expressed hope that the State associations would take a cue from them and would market their respective games in a better way. They also complimented the BCCI for its generosity in allocating 50 crores for development of Olympic sports and hoped that Kerala would be the biggest beneficiary of this scheme.

More tournaments

Former international volleyball player and Arjuna awardee Cyril C. Velloor stressed the need to have more tournament . He said over the years some 13 tournaments which used to be staged in Kerala regularly have now become defunct. He said tournaments were a must for the development of the game. He also said that present generation of players were not dedicated enough. Blaming the Kerala Volleyball Association for some of the problems, he said the game in the State was surviving only because of the presence of the SAI training centres. He wanted the things to improve for the better.

Like Cyril C. Velloor, former international Swimmer Wilson Cherian said the present generation of swimmers were not dedicated enough. He said over the years, facilities and awareness had improved but that has not reflected in the achievements of Kerala swimmers.

Former Indian basketball captain Unwin Antony said sports should be packaged in such a way that it catches the imagination of the public. Shiny Wilson, K.M. Beenamol, George Thomas, Sreesanth and Tinu Yohannan also took part in the programme.

The Kerala Cricket Association also honoured its former State Ranji trophy players, former KCA officials and technical officials at a glittering function christened as `Oldies are Goldies'.

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