Date:17/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/17/stories/2008071754460600.htm

Tamil Nadu

Tapping talent of students in a sportive way

Staff Reporter

Students from 45 schools in and around Aranthangi participate in sports competitions

For Easy movement: Television anchor Gopinath giving away a tri-cycle to a student at Aranthangi.

PUDUKOTTAI: Identifying and encouraging talent of students was the focus of the ninth anniversary of the Karate Brothers Social Service Club at Arantangi recently.

Spread over three days, the celebrations were in fact titled “Students’ festival” and each and every programme was aimed at bringing out the talent in different areas – sports, elocution, painting, singing and dance.

While students from 45 schools in and around Aranthangi participated in the sports competitions, the contestants for other competitions were from 65 schools.

“The competition provided an opportunity to the students to exhibit their skills in various events including long-jump, high-jump and chess,” says the president of the Club V. Subramanian. A marathon run was organised in which a total of 263 students and members of the public participated.

Overall championship

A student from H.H. The Rajah’s College, Pudukottai, S. Marudamuthu won the first place. The overall “Karate Brothers Sports Championship” went to St. John’s Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Aranthangi.

Special lectures were also held as part of the celebrations. Gopinath, the anchor for the serial ‘Neeya Naana’ in the Vijay Television, spoke on “India – today and tomorrow” and underlined the role of students and youths in building the nation towards the path of progress.

Due attention was given to the needs of the differently-abled persons. Fakkrudin, a student, got a tri-cycle while cash and clothes were distributed to a group of physically-challenged persons. There was some fun too. A number of couples who participated in the ‘Golden couple’ contest, not only provided entertainment, but also proved their mettle in tackling various domestic issues. Noted actor ‘Bose’ Venkat conducted the programme.

The Honorary Secretary K.C. Sureshkumar and the Aranthangi Municipal Chairman P. Mariappan gave away the prizes to the winners in various competitions at the valediction.