For the 15,000-odd foreign students based in Hyderabad, more so from Osmania University and Nizam College, it was a unique opportunity to showcase their skills at the Sports Coaching Foundation (Masab Tank) three-day sports meet, which got under way at Nizam College Grounds here on Thursday.
“Well, we don’t want to think of what is happening back home right now. We are enjoying every bit of this sports meet,” said Zahid Hasan, coach of the 1,000-strong Iraqi student community in the city, with a smile.
He observed that these are the kind of events which provide students a chance to meet other foreign nationals. The fact that girl students, mostly from Afghanistan, made their presence felt in the event, was also a hint of how desperately these overseas students are looking for a platform to try their hand at sprint events in athletics, basketball, football and cricket.
With V. Satyanarayana, Director of Physical Education, OU, and S. Rajesh Kumar, professor, taking care of the technical aspects of the three-day meet, the participants can be assured of a smooth conduct of events.
“Our idea is to lure overseas students outdoors as they are usually confined to the indoors. We are hoping our own local students will get inspired watching foreign students participate in the sporting events,” said K. Sai Baba of Sports Coaching Foundation (SCF), who is organising the event.
