Project Carrom, to be implemented under the patronage of Nizamabad District Collector Yogitha Rana, is said to be the first of its kind in India to promote the sport amongst the under-privileged children at Manavatha Sadan in Nizamabad.
What started as an effort to invite Ms. Yogitha Rana for the formal inauguration of State-level championship in Nizamabad in the first week of May, is now turning out to be a milestone for Hyderabad Carrom Association.
Though she could not attend the function, the Collector surprised the carrom association officials, led by HYCA president B.K. Haranath, by offering them to start a Carrom Academy at the Manavatha Sadan involving the Rotary Club of Nizamabad.
“This is with the specific objective of not only introducing 90 boys and girls of Sadan to sports but also to help them earn identity through sports at State and even national level,” the officials were told by the Collector. She was also glad to know that D. Ravinder Goud and K. Suvarna were products of the district.
With Ms. Yogitha strongly believing that carrom can be the tool to script success stories for the children, the carrom association officials were quick to take follow-up action and in a month’s time, the Academy was formally inaugurated early this month by Minister for Agriculture P. Srinivasa Reddy in the presence of Bajireddy Goverdhan Reddy, MLA, V. Gangadhar Goud, MLC, with four sets of green carom boards provided by the HYCA.
The Manavatha Sadan students were apparently fascinated after watching the State championship a month earlier and their interest in the sport was almost spontaneous and very encouraging too.
“I am sure, given the profound interest of young Rotarian and academician K. Santosh Kumar in nursing the talent amongst the kids, a couple of champions are sure to emerge sooner than later with the Collector extending complete support,” says B.K. Haranath.
So passionate was the sports-loving Collector that she saw to it that a foundation stone was laid for an exclusive Carrom Hall to be inaugurated on August 14 on the Manavatha Sadan premises. Quick to seize on the interest generated, the HYCA nominated veteran State champion Sabir Ali of Nizamabad as the official coach to monitor, in coordination with champion players K. Srinivas and Ravinder Goud, the training of 10 boys and 10 girls in the age group of 10 to 12 years, of the Sadan.
“We are delighted with the patronage from the District Collector and hope other Districts too would implement this role model,” said HYCA general secretary S. Madanraj.
