Mysuru: The newly-constructed swimming pool at Chamundi Vihar Stadium in Nazarbad here was inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddharamaiah at a function organised last evening at the Stadium by District Administration, Zilla Panchayat and Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports.

The CM also launched development works like construction of a Tennis Academy, a well-equipped Gymnasium and a Women’s Sports Hostel.

Speaking on the occasion, Siddharamaiah said that the world-class swimming pool built at a cost of Rs. 5 crore would be beneficial to sportspersons and others. He added that a sum of Rs. 300 crore had been provided to the Department to enthuse children to take up sports for which the infrastructure would be developed. He pointed out that small nations with an equally small population churn out ample gold medallists in international sports while a huge country like India with 125 crore population hardly come out with a gold medallist which is a pathetic condition that explains encouragement for sports.

He further said that the Government had already announced a cash prize of Rs. 5 crore for a person who wins gold medal in Olympics, Rs. 3 crore for silver medallist and Rs. 2 crore for bronze medallist. Also, the gold medallist will be provided an A-group job and a winner of gold in Asian and Commonwealth Games will be offered a B-group job.

Paralympics Gold Medallist will also be rewarded, he said.

Addressing the gathering, Minister for Sports Pramod Madhwaraj said that Varuna Canal would be developed at a cost of Rs.5 crore to hold adventure sports and added that Sports Science Centres would be opened in Bengaluru and Udupi. He further said that the monthly honorarium for wrestlers has been raised to Rs. 1,000 and that for a coach to Rs. 39,000.

Totally Rs.5 crore was distributed as cash prizes to 301 sportspersons. The prominent sportspersons who were presented cash prizes were Raghuchandan (Chess)  – Rs.35 lakh, Pankaj Advani (Snooker) – Rs.30 lakh, Chitra Migimaraj (Snooker) – Rs.16 lakh, P.N. Prakash (Shooting) – Rs. 14.5 lakh, B.M. Shashank (Swimming) – Rs. 9.5 lakh and Annada Honnavalli (Special Olympics) – Rs. 9.5 lakh.

A commemorative volume ‘Sadhana Sanchike’ showcasing the Department’s performance in four years and a book ‘Kreeda Poushtika Ahaara’ were released on the occasion.

District in-Charge Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa, MLA H.P. Manjunath, Mayor M.J. Ravikumar, former Mayor Purushotham, Sports Director Anupam Agarwal, Dr. Yathindra Siddharamaiah and others were present.