2-day traditional games festival starts at Central University of Odisha

KORAPUT: The Central University of Odisha (CUO) at Sunabeda in Koraput district inaugurated a two-day traditional games festival from Friday.
The event, organised in association with Kreeda Bharati, was inaugurated by Union minister of state for education Subhas Sarkar.
"Sports play an important role in shaping one's life and every child should spend at least 30 minutes a day in sports activities. Unfortunately, today children are more occupied with computers, TVs and video games and traditional games like kho kho, kabaddi, gilli danda and pallanghuzi have been forgotten. It's good that CUO is organising a festival on traditional sports. Undoubtedly, it will go a long way in popularising our traditional sports among youths," said Sarkar. Over 150 participants from various states will showcase their talents in traditional sports like rope and pole mallakhamb, archery, kabaddi, traditional warfare skills, yoga, chhau nrutya and paika warfare.
Vice-chancellor Chakradhar Tripathi said that the purpose of the event is two-fold. "It will not only create awareness about the traditional games of the country which are losing popularity but will also bring them back from oblivion," he said.
"Traditional games have many beneficial effects on the health of youths. In coming days, steps will be taken to provide coaching to students in traditional sports," said Tripathy.