With scenic beauty along the pristine coast, Manapad offers a platform to host a three-day national-level adventure water sports event scheduled to commence on Friday.
Necessary arrangements have been made at Manapad by the event organiser, Manapad Surf Resort. A lot of water sportsmen from various parts of India are expected to compete in the five games – sailing, surfing, kite-boarding, kayaking and stand-up-paddle –under the title ‘Manapad Classic -2015’.
It would be held with the support of the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation and the district administration, said Collector M. Ravikumar here on Wednesday.
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Entry would be free for the participants, who would showcase their talents in shallow waters on the sea in the events scheduled to commence at 9 a.m. and continue until 5 p.m. Besides, 10 stalls were put up on the beach.
Healthcare assistance, food items and other emergency services, including fire and rescue services team, were put in place, the Collector told the media.
Arun Miranda, event organiser, said 128 participants from Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Goa and Kerala, had so far registered and 20 more participants were expected to join the competitions.
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Apart from them, personnel from the Indian Coast Guard, Coastal Security Group and local police had also wished to participate in these events.
He thanked the Tourism Department and the district administration for their support in organising this event.
As for the sailing event, children from the age group of eight to 10 years can compete.
On January 9, after the inauguration by Tourism Minister S.P. Shanmuganathan, trials and qualification rounds would be held and cumulative assessments would be made on subsequent days.
Facilities to accommodate sportspersons were made at Tiruchendur and Manapad.
On the sidelines of the event, yoga programmes to stay fit and special workshops to encourage participation in water sports would be organised, Mr. Miranda said.