Sportstar Kerala Sports Conclave: Athletes speak their minds

P.T. Usha, one of India’s greatest track-and-field athletes, stressed on the need for the development of sporting skills from a young age.

Published : Jul 28, 2021 21:22 IST , THIRUANANTHAPURAM

(From left): Mayookha Johny, Jincy Philip and K.C. Lekha at the  Sportstar Kerala Sports Conclave in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday.
(From left): Mayookha Johny, Jincy Philip and K.C. Lekha at the Sportstar Kerala Sports Conclave in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday.
lightbox-info

(From left): Mayookha Johny, Jincy Philip and K.C. Lekha at the Sportstar Kerala Sports Conclave in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday.

Candid views were expressed and ideas were put forth by some of the biggest names in Indian sport at Hotel SP Grand Days here on Wednesday. Listening to them eagerly was the Sports Minister of Kerala.

The Sportstar Kerala Sports Conclave was a resounding success as the event featured outstanding athletes from varied disciplines , who spoke about their respective sports and gave suggestions to the government. Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman, who stayed on till the end of the programme, ensured that the points would be taken note of.

P.T. Usha, one of India’s greatest track-and-field athletes, stressed on the need for the development of sporting skills from a young age. “Our school meets should not be just about manufacturing champions,” she said.

READ: The untold story of Suresh Babu

Former Indian football captain I.M. Vijayan said the State needed to have multiple tournaments. “There are no opportunities for talented footballers who are employed by various departments,” he said.

His former Indian teammate Jo Paul Ancheri pointed out there were six departmental teams in Thiruvananthapuram alone. “They train the whole year for just one tournament,” he said.

SS-Kerala-Sports-Conclave-Logo-Uint-09jpg
SS-Kerala-Sports-Conclave-Logo-Uint-09jpg

Former boxing World champion K.C. Lekha said athletes employed by the government, like her, should be allowed to give something back to the sport, rather than be made to work. “I can’t do anything related with sport now,” she said.

Former National table tennis champion Ambika Radhika said steps should be taken to promote her sport in rural areas. Shooter Elizabeth Susan Koshy invited the Minister’s attention to the under-utilised shooting range at Vattiyoorkavu in the capital. “It is world class, but it is tough to get permission from the authorities to train there,” she said.

Mayookha Johny, who holds the National record for women’s triple jump, said there should be affordable sports medicine in the State. “With better sports medicine, I could have been able to manage my injury better,” she said. “We also need to respect and reward our sports stars.”

Footballer C.K. Vineeth said the parents needed to be educated about sport. Former track-and-field athletes P. Ramachandran and Jincy Philip were also among the speakers.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment