Minister Pandiarajan makes surprise visit to Anna Stadium in Trichy

TRICHY: Athletes undergoing training at the

Anna Stadium

in

Trichy

on Wednesday were taken by surprise when Tamil Nadu minister for school education and sports and youth welfare

K Pandiarajan

made a surprise visit to the facility.

The minister had a brief interaction with athletes and asked them to make use of the schemes to improve their performance. The minister oversaw the available facilities and sought suggestions from the athletes.

“Six athletes from the state represented the country in Rio Olympics. We need to have four times the number athletes participating in the next Olympics, and we must get some medals,” said Pandiarajan.

“Tamil Nadu stands seventh among states in terms of sports. We are receiving suggestions from the states like Manipur and Madhya Pradesh which are ahead of us.

Asia Youth Championship medallist R Rajesh and four other athletes urged him to provide free hostel facilities for athletes studying in colleges. Only school students are now allowed to stay in hostels run by the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu. Pandiarajan said necessary steps would be taken to provide hostel facilities to athletes studying in colleges.