Catch 'em young

INDEED THEY are shaping young talents into Yousuf Khans, Karnam Malleswaris, V.V.S. Laxmans, P. Gopichands, Mukesh Kumars. The summer coaching camps run by the MCH since 1968--with just six disciplines and 1,600 participants--have come a long way.

This year, there are 48 games which have attracted 45,000 boys and girls who get trained at about 500 centres. The participants are in the four to 16 year age group. Tug-of-war makes its debut this year.

The camps, thrown open on Tuesday, will run till May 30, keeping the kids busy during the summer. There are also activities which are not so well known as `atya-patya', `korfball', `net ball', `sepak takra', `triathlon' and `wushu'. It remains to be seen how many will opt for them.

Among the beneficiaries of the MCH motto of `Catch them young' are Santosh Chary, an international in swimming, Sandhyarani, a State junior champ also in swimming, Srinika, a sub-junior winner in carroms, who finished as runner-up recently in Chennai.

Sandhyarani, a student of St. Francis Girls High School, began her stint under the watchful eye of coach Umesh at the MCH pool in Secunderabad 12 years ago. That she has grown in stature, both in sport and studies, is a tribute to the Herculian efforts put in by the coaches. She hopes to join college this year.

"Basically, I was interested in swimming, as it helps the body become supple. The whole body gets the benefit of exercise which perhaps no other sporting activity affords.

Of course, it goes without saying that my years of practice have been fruitful in that I have gained national recognition," Sandhya says.

So, are you game? Who knows there may be more Laxmans and Malleswaris in the reckoning...

By V.N. Harinath

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Section  : Southern States
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