Bengaluru: On the occasion of 75th Independence Day, five women from Karnataka — Bindhu from Mysuru, Pushpa from Kodagu, Aishwarya and Dhanalakshmi from Shivamogga and Asha from Bengaluru — will take part in the ‘Mountain to Ocean’ expedition, Sports Minister K.C. Narayana Gowda said in Bengaluru yesterday.

The team will climb Kolahoi Peak in Kashmir and cycle to Karwar and then take a kayak from Karwar to Mangaluru, all in 45 days, he added. While Kolahoi Peak is the highest mountain with a peak elevation of 17,799 ft, in Jammu & Kashmir, Karwar and Mangaluru are on the seaside.  

The Karnataka Government is planning to train at least 100 sports persons so that they qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics, he noted. “We have already identified 35 sports persons and Rs. 5 lakh each will be allocated for their training,” he said, also inviting suggestions from the public. 

On reservation for sports persons, Gowda said that already there is a two percent quota for them in the Police, which will be extended to other departments. 

“Karnataka will host the second edition of ‘Khelo India’ University-level Games at Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru from Mar. 5 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be invited to inaugurate the 12-day event,” he said and added that a Sports Science Centre has been established at Kanteerava Stadium and another one will be set up in Mandya.