THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: An announcement that would bring a smile on the face of sports lovers in the state, Sports Minister K B Ganesh Kumar said that Munnar High Altitude Training Centre would be transformed into an institution of international standards by a joint stake of state and Central Govts. He was speaking at the inaugural function for the distribution of G V Raja Sports Award instituted by the Kerala Sports Council here on Wednesday,Ganesh Kumar made a slew of announcements which if materialised could bring about a significant change in the stature of sports in the state. He said that 5 to 6 stadiums of international standard would be constructed within a short span of time. The project had already received nods from Union Sports Minister Ajay Maken and would be soon announced. In addition to this, a couple of multipurpose sports complexes mostly intended for rural areas would be built. The plan fund of the current financial year would be utilised for the construction. “At least 10 sports complexes would be constructed in the next four months. The State Govt would carry out the construction work. The maintenance and running would rest with the local bodies,” he said.Ganesh Kumar hit out at the apparent lethargy exhibited by the Sports Council in distributing the cash award for the athletes which would be around Rs 4.38 crore. He said that as the authorities were delaying the distribution of promised cash awards to players,they should from now onwards think about using the money to provide basic facilities to sports persons. He urged the representatives of local self bodies to channelise the money they had received as one-time grant, for building infrastructure.“Last year, Rs 4 crore was allocated for 122 panchayats and schools in the state under PYKKA. Out of that only two had spent the money. The same lethargy can be traced in all walks of the sports administration,” he said. He announced that during his tenure he would ensure that genuine sports persons would be inducted at the helm of sports organisations in the state. Earlier, ace international athlete Joseph G Abraham was presented the prestigious G V Raja award by the Minister. Joseph is the current Asian champion and national record holder in 400 m hurdles, Award for the outstanding sports reporter in the print media was given to Mathrubhumi’s Siraj Kasim. Mathrubhumi photographer V P Aji won the Best Sports Photographer Award while Joy Nair of JaiHind won accolades for his programmes intended for development of sports. The laurels for the Best Book on Sports was won by Johnson Manayani for his work ‘Flash Back’. S Gopinath IPS, Sports Council president Padmini Thomas, P S Abdul Rassak, Mercy Kuttan, S Omana Kumari, Bobby Aloysius and Dr G Kishore were present.
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