‘Sports Will Keep You Trim, Fit & Healthy’- Arjuna Award Athlete/Sprinter Machettira Raju Poovamma, who was the Chief Guest, tells Police Personnel during the Annual Mangaluru Police Sports Meet 2023, held on Monday, 27 November 2023 at the Police Parade Grounds
Mangaluru: Persistence can change failure into extraordinary achievement. The more difficult the victory, the greater the happiness in winning. If you don’t have confidence, you’ll always find a way not to win. Do you know what your favourite part of the sport is? The opportunity to participate. Gold medals aren’t made of gold. They’re made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts. And for that matter, the police department under the leadership of Police Commissioner Abupam Agarwal had taken a keen interest in making the police force participate in exercise/fitness programmes to keep them healthy and fit, and this Annual Sports event.
It is said, “Talent Wins Games, but Teamwork and Intelligence Wins Championships”, and in that spirit, seven Police teams from Mangaluru City Police commissioner like, City Armed Reserve Police, Central Sub Division Police, South Sub-Division Police, North Sub-Division Police, Traffic Sub-Division, police, City Special Units police and Women police all attired in colourful T-shirts with logo participated in the March Past to mark the Annual Sports Day, which was held on the District Armed Reserve police Ground on Monday, 27 November 2023. Police personnel, their families and staff gathered with great ardour and enthusiasm to witness the Annual Sports Event, under the scorching heat.
The seven teams splendidly marched with pride and elegance in their colourful shirts to mark the opening ceremony to the tune of the police band The dignitaries on the dais namely- Chief Guest Arjuna Award Athlete/Sprinter Machettira Raju Poovamma, joined by guests of honour- Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal, DCP Dinesh Kumar (Crime & traffic) and DCP Umesh PK (CAR) Hariram, among others ACP’s Ms Geetha Kulkarni. Update received the guard of honour of the marching teams. The sports event was inaugurated by the chief guest and other dignitaries by releasing the balloons and white doves in the air.
In his welcome address, Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal said, ” I am sad since we recently lost three of our police personnel. Long hours of duty, irregular eating habits, and lack of sleep take a toll. This is an attempt to improve health and fitness, I ask our staff to make the best use of the opportunity to exercise and do sports and see that they lose weight and look fit. Exercises and sporting events, if followed strictly, can keep you all healthy. Take an active part in this sports event, with great sports spirit. You need to follow in the footsteps of today’s chief guest, who at the young age of 18 years took up sports, and has reached greater heights in her life. Remember that winning is not important, participation is. Having a healthy mind is key to your overall health and well-being. A healthy mind includes emotional, psychological and social well-being and affects how you think, feel and act. It works in unity with your body and influences how you handle stress, relate to others and make choices”
The Chief Guest, Machettira Raju Poovamma is an Indian sprinter who specialises in the 400 metres distance. As a member of the Indian 4 × 400 m relay teams she participated in the 2016 Olympics and won gold medals at the 2014 and 2018 Asian Games and 2013 and 2017 Asian championships; individually she won a silver medal in 2013 and a bronze in 2014 at those competitions. She received the Arjuna Award in 2015 for her contributions to athletics.
In her inaugural address, chief guest MR Poovamma said, “One needs to aim high to achieve much. Participating is more important than winning. Win or lose, you need to accept the challenge. If you lose once, try again and you’ll succeed. For sports fans, sports are the epitome of hard work and dedication. To get to the pinnacle of their sport, even the most naturally gifted athletes have to give it their all. The only way to prove that you’re a good sport is to lose. In sports it is not all about winning, but your participation. It’s not the will to win that matters—everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters”.
“In a sports event, it is very important to have teamwork, team spirit, cooperation and the attitude of encouraging your teammates. My inspiration to continue in the sports is my mother, who is here gracing the event. The advantage of sports events is that you develop leadership qualities, physical strength and competitiveness. Taking part in sports can help us feel fitter, healthier and mentally strong, and that is just the start of it. Sports can also develop great leaders and be an opportunity for individuals to shine, whether it is playing for a local grassroots club or at an international level. Wishing the event all success and best of luck to the participants” added Poovamma.
Following the arrival of the Sports Torch carried by a police athlete, a torch signified the spirit of true sportsmanship, enthusiasm, peace and friendship. The seven teams then pledged the Oath led by the group leaders of the groups, the oath administered by the police commissioner. The formal inaugural was followed by various sporting events. The vote of thanks was rendered by DCP Dinesh Kumar, and the inaugural ceremony was compered by Gajendra- Traffic South police and Vivek from Bantwal Traffic police. The valedictory of the Annual Sports Day was held in the evening (the same day) with DK Deputy Commissioner as the chief guest.