Yallapur: For the first time, a State-level Cross Country Championship has been organised in Yallapur and it has encouraged to organise more such sporting events in the taluk in coming days, said Labour Minister Shivaram Hebbar.

He was speaking after inaugurating the 56th State-level Cross Country Championship jointly organised by State and Uttara Kannada district Athletics Associations at the taluk stadium here on Monday. 

He said, it is a matter of pride that for the first time in the history of the taluk, such a big sports event was conducted in the taluk. The government would hold such sports events to encourage the sportspersons, he added. 

District Athletics coach Prakash Revanakar, athletes Kamala Siddi and Josna Mangalawadakar were felicitated on the occasion. 

Town Panchayat president Sunand Das presided over the programme. 

Concluding prog

Speaking after distributing prizes to the winners at the concluding programme, State Decentralised Plan Programme & Development Committee vice-president Pramod Hegde said, sports activities play a vital role in maintaining good health and they also  create harmony in society, he added.