Udupi : Rahim Khan, Youth Empowerment and Sports Minister, said on Monday that all efforts would be made to provide a District Cricket Stadium for Udupi. He was speaking after inaugurating the District Indoor Synthetic Tennis Stadium, the air-conditioned gymnasium and the Women Sports Hostel at Ajjarkad.

Mr. Khan said that a demand here was for a district cricket stadium. The State government wanted to hire international-level coaches for various sports. The government was committed to providing all facilities for sportspersons so that they could concentrate in their chosen fields. It was also ready to pay the fees of educational institutions.

Steps had been taken to provide quality food to sportspersons in sports hostels in the State. They were being provided more protein-oriented food. The budget for food being provided to these hostels had been doubled, Mr. Khan said.

Jaimala, Women and Child Development Minister, said Udupi should be provided with a District Cricket Stadium. The present District Indoor Stadium here should be expanded. Good coaches should be provided so that students could get quality training, she said.

Raghupati Bhat, MLA, said the district administration had been told of 10 acres of government land being available at Kolalgiri. This could be used for constructing the cricket stadium, he said.