The new-look Sportstar, the sports magazine of the Kasturi and Sons was released at a function here on Wednesday, in the presence of Dronacharya award winners, former Olympian, reputed sports officials and office-bearers of various sports organisations.
President of Andhra Cricket Association D.V. Subba Rao released the colourful Sportstar, which is being published in the earlier format on the eve of London Olympics. “Like the Olympic motto, the Sportstar would reach the goals of faster, higher and stronger. I wish the new look Sportstar will receive the patronage like in the past”, Mr. Subba Rao said.
Dronacharya award winners E. Prasada Rao and I. Venkateswara Rao, former Olympian M.V. Manikyalu, veteran sports writer and commentator A. Prasanna Kumar and India’s first National volleyball coach S. Kodandaramiah, vice-president of VDCA P.R. Narayanaswami were on the dais.
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The Dronacharya awardees and the former Olympian were felicitated on the occasion. It was a trip down memory lane for the audience as Mr. Subba Rao and Prof. Prasanna Kumar recalled the time since the Sports and Past Time, the first sports journal published by the Kasturi and Sons way back in 1947 and also India’s first sports journal and later The Sportstar came into being in 1978.
Mr. Subba Rao said the Sports and Past Time was published at a time when Test cricket and Wimbledon resumed after the Second World War. The sports journal gave equal prominence to all games. It was also the time when commercialism did not enter sports field. He recalled the great sports journalists like S.K. Gurunathan and others. The Hindu and Sportstar represented a culture and tradition, since 1878 said Prof. Prasanna Kumar. “Change is necessary. Style has changed but values systems remains (with The Hindu )”, he said. He recalled how S.K. Gurunathan started the Indian Cricket annual in 1946 and one year later the Sports and Past Time. Prof. Prasanna Kumar, who was presented with a large collection of the old sports magazine by Physical Director of Andhra University Sudarshana Rao when he was a university blue, spoke about the many articles written by Fred Perry, Neville Cardius, K.V. Gopalaratnam and others.
Mr. Manikyalu recalled a photo of his published in The Sportstar in 1980, which was the first to be published in any newspaper or magazine. Mr. Prasada Rao wanted the magazine to highlight all games.
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Chief of Bureau of The Hindu , Visakhapatnam B. Prabhakkar Sharma talked about the famous sports personalities and sportspersons of the city. Regional General Manager T.V. Suresh explained about the new look of Sportstar while Assistant General Manager A. Seshagiri Rao welcomed the gathering.