Administration of district kabaddi association needs to be restructured: Harish Poonja

MLA of Belthangady, Harish Poonja speaking at a press conference, in Mangaluru on Friday.
| Photo Credit: H.S. MANJUNATH

Holding the District Amateur Kabaddi Association responsible for poor representation of players from Dakshina Kannada in State and national level kabaddi tournaments, Belthangady MLA Harish Poonja, a former Kabaddi player, expressed the need for the State government to restructure the administration of district kabaddi association, which is mired with charges of maladministration and corruption.

Talking to reporters here on Friday, Mr. Poonja said he spoke in length in the recent legislature session in Belagavi about the association. An officer has inquired into the charges on the district association office bearers. A report has been submitted in March 2023 to the Cooperation Department expressing the need to appoint administrator to the association. “The file is pending with the cooperation Minister and he has assured of early action,” Mr. Poonja said.

Mr. Poonja said because of maladministration several talented Kabbadi players from Dakshina Kannada were not getting selected for State and national Kabaddi tournaments. “Recently Mangalore University was the champion in the National Inter-University Kabaddi tournament. It is irony that not a single player for the Mangalore University team has been selected to the National Kabaddi team,” he said. None of the players from Dakshina Kannada, who are qualified umpires, are being sent as referees to State and national Kabaddi events, he said.

Accusing district association president Rakesh Malli of not doing anything for development of Kabaddi and its players since being in helm from 2009, Mr. Poonja said Kabaddi was thriving in district more because of support by institutions like Alvas College.

Mr. Poonja said that he and other MLAs have given mats to the association for holding Kabaddi matches. Because of the absence of space to keep these mates, the association has given these mats to Youth Services and Sports Department. Kabaddi tournament organisers are forced to pay charges to the Youth Services Department to procure mats for holding matches. The district association has failed to provide uniforms to players playing in State and national tournaments.

“It’s high time State government stems the rot in district administration, which will pave the way for more players from Dakshina Kannada to participate in State and national level Kabaddi tournaments.” Mr. Poonja said he has asked Member of Parliament to prevail upon banks and central government undertakings in Dakshina Kannada have their own Kabaddi teams.