Playing and learning
In September last year when the government decided to fling open the facilities built for the Commonwealth Games (CWG) to the public, it was hailed as a constructive move that, by some cut, washed down the notoriety of the scandal it had actualised.
It was the ‘Come and Play’ scheme of the Sports Authority of India that was unveiled at CWG venues. The goodness of the scheme however did not remain in the national capital alone — it spread across every city where SAI centres existed.
A stroll in the evening through the scenic 50 acres in the Lakshmibai National College for Physical Education in Thiruvananthapuram provided a vivid picture of the success saga the scheme has brought down south from Delhi.
Since the scheme was introduced at the facility, 864 children between the ages of eight to 17 have registered for nearly 15 disciplines ranging from athletics, cricket and football to even taekwondo, boxing and wrestling.
“We have received a splendid response and it is a cheerful sight watching a bevy of kids playing and learning at the facility in the evenings. The basic idea of the scheme is to make sports a means of recreation and enjoyment,” said G. Kishore, head of SAI in Kerala.
Moreover, the presence of the kids at the centre has also become a rejuvenating experience for the SAI coaches. Robin Menon and T. C. Manoj, coordinators of the scheme at LNCPE, say that every moment spent with the kids makes them feel younger.
“You wouldn’t believe the enthusiasm of these kids. At least 500 kids come regularly for the training between 4.30 and 6 in the evening. Some of them come even 20 km away from the college,” said cricket coach Robin. “We have planned to register cricket and football teams under the name Caps XI with the respective district associations,” he added.
He said that interested kids from other districts also called to get enrolled at the facility, but their requests were politely turned down.
The scheme is also open at other SAI centres in the state. Girl trainees and kids from government schools are charged Rs 15 per month while those from private schools have to pay Rs 45 monthly.
Athletics, football and taekwondo are the most popular choices with trainees numbering 98, 97 and 94 respectively. The other sports and number of participants are basketball (73), boxing (23), cycling (89), gymnastics (58), handball (33), hockey (26), swimming (84), kabaddi (42), tennis (37), volleyball (42) and wrestling (2).
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