Mangaluru: Empty Chairs in Town Hall Welcome Weightlifters for DK-level Competition

Mangaluru: The district-level Men and Women Weightlifting competition was held at the Town Hall here on January 27.

The programme began with an invocation. Secretary DK District Weight Lifting Association Pusparaj Hegde welcomed the gathering. Founder member of DK District Weightlifting Association N Shenoy inaugurated the programme by lighting the traditional lamp along with other dignitaries.

Addressing the gathering N Shenoy said, “Because of the interest shown by the DC, we have organized the weight lifting competition in Town hall as part of the Karavali Utsav but the attendance is very poor. From 1965 I have been sponsoring the event, earlier people used to come paying for the ticket. From 1970 to 1975 we were organizing such events charging Rs 1 or 2 as entry fees and were managing the expenses. There was large attendance for the event but now it is very sad to see the empty chairs. I don’t know why people have lost interest to watch weight lifting, the interest which was there 50 years ago to watch such sport is not there”.

He further said, “It is very sad to see empty chairs, today’s youth are not attracted towards weightlifting. Earlier people used to flock for such events, they used to pay Rs 1 or Rs 2 to watch to competition. But now because of the modern gadgets people keep themselves busy. They do not get time to exercise or involve in sports. Due to Television and mobile phones people do not get time to go to the fitness centres. The semester system has also affected today’s youth. When we started the association we used to bring awareness among the people by giving a three hour demonstration about weight lifting. Because of our efforts today there are a number of weightlifting institutions in Puttur, Shirva, Sullia, Karkal and Kundapur. In Karnataka, Dakshina Kannada has the highest Weightlifting and Fitness Centres, under my leadership without expecting any grant from the government I was organizing the events and encouraging the weightlifters. The present weightlifters are not getting much encouragement to exhibit their talents. Weightlifters should be encouraged so that they can bring laurels in the national and international level”

He further said that the Deputy commissioner had requested to hold the weightlifting competition at the Town Hall but the audience is very few. We hope in the coming days people will show interest to watch the weightlifting competitions and support the contestants.

The district minister in-charge who was the chief guest for the programme due to unavoidable circumstances was not able to attend.

President DK District Weight Lifting Association Kamalaksha Amin and Saraswathi Putran were also present. Shanthraj Kambli delivered the vote of thanks.