Udupi Journo’s keep Pen aside, Participate in Annual Sports Meet
Udupi: It was a day when journalists of Udupi district kept aside their pens, notebooks, cameras and laptops and just decided to engage themselves strictly in some sports and games activities. The Journalists sports talents was a surprise to the many spectators – the spirit visible was ’participation while winning was secondary.
The Udupi District Working Journalists’ Union (UDWJU) in association with the Udupi Press Club organized its fourth annual sports meet for the scribes so that they could unleash their hidden sports talents at the Mahatma Gandhi District stadium Ajjarkad here on Tuesday, January 30.
Udupi district Minister In-charge and state sports and youth service minister Pramod Madhwaraj inaugurated the sports meet by releasing the Tri-coloured Balloons in the air and declaring the sports meet open.
In his inaugural message, Pramod Madhwaraj said that Journalists work round the clock keeping aside recreational activists. Sports activities help us to refresh our mind and this sports day is a platform to participate in such activities. Politics divide the unity but sports unite. Our government ever year has been supporting the Udupi district working journalists association by giving financial aid. This year we have distributed the government’s first sports kit worth about Rs 40,000 under the Yuva Chaithanya scheme to the Udupi Press Club. In addition, under my ministry, I have sanctioned Rs 50,000 for this sports meet. He asked to the journalist to make good use of the Sports Kit.
Priyanka Mary Francis Deputy Commissioner of Udupi district who joined after the inaugural function congratulated the Journalists Association and said that those in the media work 24X7 to give facts and news to the public are seen here taking part in this sports meet to refresh their mind and body. The work of the Media Persons and bureaucrats is same, both work 24×7. Let such programmes be held every year so that all journalists have some good time and refresh their mind and body.
Later Deputy Commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis symbolically inaugurated the pot breaking by trying her hand playing the game.
District Information officer Rohini, District Youth service and Sports department assistant director Dr Roshan Kumar Shetty also appreciated and wished the Journalists well.
Udupi district Working Journalist’s Association President Ganesh Prasad Pandelu, Secretary Santhosh Saralebettu, Treasurer Divakar Hiriyadka, Sports Secretary Harish Palechar and Press Club convener Nagaraj Rao were also present.