Mysuru: This year, the Dasara Sports could witness para-athletes taking part in sporting events as the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES) has submitted a proposal to the State Government in this regard.

The Department has also requested the inclusion of rural sports along with cycle polo, karate, body building, half marathon, weight lifting, skating, cricket and children sports meet along with para games.

The State-level Sports Meet will be held at Chamundi Vihar Stadium and other sports grounds across the city. This year, for the first time, DYES is thinking of organising Dasara Cricket Tournament at SDNR Wadiyar Stadium in Manasagangothri. While the taluk and district-level events are about to commence, the preparations are underway for the State-level events at Chamundi Vihar Stadium with authorities taking up repair works at the indoor stadium and hockey ground.

The renovation of the indoor stadium is being taken up at a cost of Rs. 5 crore with the installation of transparent fibre sheets to the roof to ensure more sunlight during the events. With 90 percent of the works already completed, the remaining works are expected to be completed before the inauguration.

Rs. 2 crore for road works

The DYES has also taken up repair of roads surrounding the Chamundi Vihar Stadium at a cost of Rs. 2 crore. This apart, the DYES has also emphasised on cleaning entire premises for the benefit of                   the athletes.

Except for the indoor stadium at Koramangala in Bengaluru, there is no other stadium with transparent roof in the State. Chamundi Vihar Indoor Stadium will be the second such indoor stadium which will be open for games in a few days’ time. This year, we have submitted a proposal to conduct cycle polo, karate, body building, weight lifting, half marathon, adventure sports, skating, cricket, children sports meet, chess for specially-abled and visually impaired and rural sports such as lagori among others. — Bhaskar Nayak, Assistant Director, DYES