Mysuru: The State Level Dasara Games 2017, conducted by the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Government of Karnataka  and Dasara Sports Committee was inaugurated women cricketers Veda Krishnamurthy and Rajeshwari Gayakwad  and  Grand Master M.S. Thejkumar at the Chamundi Vihar Stadium here yesterday. Minister for Youth Empowerment and  Sports Pramod Madhwaraj hoisted the Dasara Sports Flag on the occasion.

Around 2,000 sports-persons from Bengaluru City, Bengaluru Rural, Mysuru Division, Kalaburagi Division and Belgaum Division will be vying for top honors in the three-day meet.

The Games torch was lit and the oath on behalf of the sports persons was taken by national level athlete and sprinter                 Reena George.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister Pramod Madhwaraj announced that the State Level Dasara Games would be given an official recognition by Government for which an order would be passed immediately.

He also announced that the cash prizes for the medal winners from this edition of the Dasara Games had been increased to 25,000 (gold), 15,000 (silver) and 10,000 (bronze). Pramod Madhwaraj also announced cash rewards of Rs. 25 lakh each for Veda Krishnamurthy and Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Rs. 10 lakh for Karnataka’s first Grand Master M.S. Thejkumar.

Speaking on the occasion all the three sports persons thanked the Government of Karnataka, DYES & Dasara Kreeda Committee for inviting them for the inaugural function and the honours extended to them.

They also asked the sports persons to work hard for achieving success in their respective sports disciplines.

The top athletes taking part in the track & field events which gets off to a start from today include Jyothi (100m ,200m), Jyothi Kollekar (100m Hurdles), Meghana Devanga (Shot Put),  Navami (1500m) , A. Nityashree (200m, 400m) and Apsana Begaum (200m) in the women’s section while in the men’s section Manish (100m), Boppanna (100m), K. Bharath (800m) and Vishwambar (1500m).