Youngsters honing their cricket skills at a summer sports coaching camp in Kothagudem.
Kothagudem: Summer sports coaching camps being organised by the Youth Services and Sports Department in association with sports associations and sports enthusiasts have been attracting youngsters.
Cricket is the most favourite game among the youngsters if the number of girls and boys registered for a free coaching camp underway at Pragathi Maidan is any indication. As many as 285 girls and boys registered for the coaching being offered by Bhadradri Kothagudem District Cricket Association (BKDCA) in association with the department.
Speaking to ‘Telangana Today’, cricket coach Pantangi Sai Niranjan said everyday new registrations were being done for the coaching increasing the size of the camp. Training was being given in the morning and evening every day, he said.
As part of this, the first batch is trained from 5.30 am to 7.30 am; second batch from 7 am to 9 am in the morning; the third batch from 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm and the fourth batch from 7 pm to 9 pm.
The coaching timing is divided into slots so as to train as many students as possible, the coach said. He trains the students with the help of assistant coaches B Prasad, A. Srinivas and Narender under the supervision of District Youth and Sports Officer M Paramdhama Reddy.
All the candidates are given training on cricket drills, net practice and fielding, batting, bowling skills in the morning and evening. Practice matches are organised at the end of the week to test their talent as well as to assess their level of proficiency, Niranjan said.
The students are participating enthusiastically in the camp and the encouragement of their parents is exceptional. Most of the parents accompany their kids and express happiness at the progress of their children, he noted.
An SCCL employee V Thirupathi, whose daughter Vemula Akshitha is undergoing training at the camp, said the camp was being run professionally and helped the kids a lot in picking up skills. The same is the opinion of another parent Kondur Sai whose son K Bhuvik is being trained at the camp.
Similarly, SCCL organised a free summer training camp for children of Singareni employees in sports disciplines like athletics, basketball, boxing, football, volleyball, wushu/karate and others at Prakasam Stadium here.
SCCL AGM (Personnel Welfare) G Rajendra Prasad said the SCCL allocates a special budget and encourages the children of the employees to undergo training in summer camps. The company gives equal priority to academics and sports for the all-round development of kids.