Moodbidri : Alva’s Educational Institution celebrated National sports day and Ekalavya Award ceremony at Dr V S Acharya hall at Vidyagiri on August 29.

The institution honoured International weightlifter Pushparaj Hegde, Athletic and Coach Dhyan Chand, award winner Uday K Prabhu, international Athlete Jamaluddin with Alva’s Ekalavya Award.

While National level athlete Samsheer, National short put player Nisha, Kho kho players Ravi Valge and Deeksha were conferred with Alvas Abhimanyu award sponsored by Alva’s old students sports association.

Presiding over the event, Sports minister K Abhaychandra Jain said that sports is placed at the last while the government decides his budget. Hence we are demanding more budgets to upgrade the sports facilities in the state.

He also said that Construction of Synthetic track, indoor ground is under process in Moodbidri. However, centre for youth, cricket pitch for youth at Swaraj Maidan will also be considered soon.

Alva’s Institution director Dr M Mohan Alva said that, the institution has spent Rs 4 crore on sports department. The institution is also encouraging the talented youth and gives importance to rural sports.

Former minister and state sports department commissioner H Venkatesh, K Amarnath Shetty, Coach Uday Kumar, Selvendra, Pramod read the award citation.

Physical education director Praveen Kumar compered the event and proposed vote of thanks.