The 41st Bharathiyar Day State-Level Group Sports Festival began in Tiruvannamalai today, with Public Works and Highways Minister E. V. Velu and School Education Minister Dr. Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi inaugurating the event at the Arunai Medical College auditorium and delivering motivational speeches.
Deputy Speaker K. Pichandi, District Collector K. Tharpagaraj, Member of Parliament C. N. Annadurai, MLAs M. P. Giri and P. S. T. Saravanan, and several other officials took part in the programme.
As directed by the Chief Minister, a total of 10,640 participants — 5,221 boys and 5,221 girls from 38 districts, along with 198 students from the Sports Development Authority — are competing in the six-day festival being held from November 20 to 25. Competitions are being conducted in 12 sports categories, including badminton, basketball, football, handball, kho-kho, kabaddi, volleyball and lawn tennis, across 10 venues in Tiruvannamalai district.
In his address, Minister Velu highlighted Mahakavi Bharathiyar’s emphasis on education, equality and physical fitness. He also noted the major sports infrastructure created in Tiruvannamalai, including the indoor stadium, modern swimming pool, yoga centre and gyms, and appreciated the various incentives and training support being provided to sportspersons by the state government.
School Education Minister Dr. Poyyamozhi, quoting Thiruvalluvar, stressed the importance of health and discipline. He stated that winners of the state-level competitions will receive higher-education admission benefits and a 3% reservation in government jobs. He also detailed the government’s plans to make Tamil Nadu the “capital of sports” and referred to his doctoral research to explain the nine important qualities — including discipline, teamwork, leadership and self-confidence — that sports instil in students.
The two ministers also felicitated the students and coaches who won silver medals in the Under-19 National Volleyball Championship.
Principal Education Officer A. Muniraj, Secondary Education Officer P. Jyothilaxmi and several other departmental officials participated in the event.
