Date:11/02/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/02/11/stories/2005021103490500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

TTD to organise rural sports competitions

By S. Harpal Singh

Adilabad FEB. 10. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams' (TTD) effort to revive rural sports will certainly bring some cheer among poor students in rural areas. In connection with Ugadi, the TTD is organising a district and State-level competition for students in bongarala ata, tokkudu billa, kuchu-kuchu pulla, golilu, to name a few. The endeavour has been named `Palle seemala sampradaya kreeda sambaralu.' Instructions have been issued to all district Collectors to conduct district-level competitions between February 18 and 24. The State-level competitions will be held at Tirupati between April 6 and 9.

Awareness

The Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh will organise the competitions at the State level, while the respective District Sports Development Officers will organise the competitions at their level and also select the teams in the respective events for the next stage.

According to the TTD Executive Officer, Ajeya Kallam, the TTD is taking up the novel effort with the aim of boosting the deteriorating rural games and sports of the State so that there is awareness among the youth about traditional games.

For boys, competitions will be held in karra-billa, bechala ata, golilu, bongarala ata, puttam chendu, karra samu and game of touch me. For girls, competitions will be held in tokkudu billa, kunde ata, kuchu-kuchu pulla, mukku gille ata, chilaka mukku ata and vappula kuppa. Competitions in games like karrasamu and puli ata for men and chemma chekka and gobbi pattalu for women will be held too.