The cancellation of adventure sports during Dasara this year due to the State government’s decision to scale down celebrations has come as a setback to sports enthusiasts.
Jet skiing, canoeing and kayaking in KRS backwaters and the Varuna lake on the outskirts of the city, besides arm wrestling, cycle polo, cyclothon and Chamundi Hills climbing used to be a huge draw during Dasara.
Most of the adventure sports events organised by the General Thimmayya National Academy of Adventure during Dasara have been cancelled this year, said K. Suresh, Assistant Director of Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports.
Expressing disappointment over the development, adventure sports enthusiast and founder member of International Academy of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (IAMAS), Deepak Solanki, told The Hindu that adventure sports used to lure a lot of people to Mysuru during Dasara.
The cancellation of adventure sports will deliver a huge blow to the tourism industry in the city. “Apart from giving the locals an opportunity to enjoy the thrills of adventure sports, a large number of tourists used to make beeline to Mysuru during Dasara for jet skiing, canoeing and kayaking. Now, the cancellation will hit the reputation of Mysuru as a tourist destination and deliver a blow to the hotels, restaurants and travel agencies,”, Mr. Solanki added.
Secretary of the Arm Wrestling Federation of Karnataka, K. Vishwanath, sought to share the disappointment of arm wrestling enthusiasts over the cancellation of Dasara arm wrestling tournament this year. “Several enthusiasts, who had been training for several weeks, are calling up to find out the dates of the tournament. The cancellation has poured cold water on their aspirations,” he said.
“Athletics, swimming, volleyball, basketball, ball badminton, shuttle badminton etc will now be district-level competitions,” Mr. Suresh added.
The Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports will organise a 10k run on October 18 as part of Dasara celebrations.
The 10k run, which will be named “Run for Farmer” will begin from Chamundi Vihar Stadium at 6.30 pm on October 18.
“We will organise shorter runs of 3k, 5k and 6k also for children, women and elderly,” said K. Suresh, Assistant Director, Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports.
