P T Usha laments lack of sports infrastructure in Mangalore

February 20, 2011

Mangalore, February 20: Although Mangalore has contributed a considerable number of sports talents to the nation, the lack of interest on part of administration was a major hindrance to the overall development in the field of sports in this part of the country, said Payyoli Express P T Usha.

She was speaking at the valedictory ceremony of the 21 km long half-marathon and 6 km long mini-marathon at Mangala Stadium here on Sunday morning organised by Dakshina Kannada district administration with the sponsorship of Vijaya Bank under the slogan of “Clean, Green, Progressive Mangalore.”

The Kerala based athlete said that young athletes of this coastal city are facing several problems due to the lack of sports infrastructure. “It is a shame that despite achieving progress in several fields, Mangalore still could not be able to provide at least a synthetic track for its young athletes,” she lamented.

Congratulating the district administration for organising a great marathon for a good cause, she expressed hope that Mangalore marathon will emerge as an annual feature on the lines of similar events in Bangalore, Chennai and Mumbai.

Prizes:

The winner of the Half Marathon received a cash prize of Rs 20,000, while those who came second, third, fourth, and fifth won Rs 10,000, 5000, 3000, and 2000, respectively. Winners from sixth to tenth positions bagged Rs 1000 each.

The winner of the Mini Marathon bagged a cash prize of Rs 3000, while those who came second and third received Rs 2,000 and Rs. 1,000, respectively. Winners from fourth to sixth places won Rs 500 each.

All the participants of Half Marathon and top 50 achievers of Mini Marathon received certificates as well.

Earlier, District in charge minister Krishna J Palemar flagged off the event at Nehru Maidan. The competitors traversed along a pre-determined course through the length and breadth of the city and converged at Mangala stadium, where students staged cultural programmes ahead of prize distribution.

Golden girls of Indian athletics Reeth Abraham, and Vandana Rao, Sandalwood actor Prem, Deputy Commissioner Subodh Yadav, IGP Alok Mohan and SP A Subrahmanyeshwara Rao were among those preset.

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From Representation to Rivalry: The Sorry State of Muslim Leadership in Karnataka Congress

coastaldigest.com news network

January 19,2026

Bengaluru: As the dust settles on the recent legislative session, the corridors of Vidhana Soudha are buzzing with more than just policy talk. A high-stakes game of political musical chairs has begun, exposing a deepening rift within the Congress party’s Muslim leadership as a major Cabinet reshuffle looms.

With the party hierarchy signaling a "50% refresh" to gear up for the 2028 Assembly elections, the race to fill three projected Muslim ministerial berths has transformed from a strategic discussion into an all-out turf war.

The "Star Son" Spark

The internal friction turned public this week following provocative remarks by Zaid Khan, actor and son of Wakf Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan. Zaid’s claim—that his father "helped" secure a ticket for Shivajinagar MLA Rizwan Arshad in 2023—has acted as a lightning rod for resentment.

Rizwan’s camp was quick to fire back, dismissing the comment as a desperate attempt by Zameer to manufacture seniority. "Rizwan’s political pedigree was forged in the NSUI and Youth Congress long before Zameer even stepped into the party," a supporter noted, highlighting Rizwan’s tenure as an AICC secretary and his two-term presidency of the State Youth Congress.

A Tale of Two Loyalists

While both Zameer Ahmed Khan and Rizwan Arshad are staunch allies of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and represent Bengaluru strongholds, their political DNA could not be more different:

• Zameer Ahmed Khan: A four-time MLA who crossed over from JD(S) in 2018. Known for his "overzealous" and often polarizing outreach during communal flashpoints—from the DJ Halli riots to the recent Wakf land notice controversy—his style has frequently left the Congress high command in a state of "discomfort."

• Rizwan Arshad: A homegrown organizational man. Seen as a "quiet performer," Arshad represents the sophisticated, moderate face of the party, preferred by those who find Zameer’s brand of politics too volatile.

The Outsiders Looking In

The bickering isn't limited to a duo. The "Beary" community, represented by leaders like N A Haris and Saleem Ahmed, is demanding its pound of flesh. Saleem Ahmed, the Chief Whip in the Legislative Council, has dropped the veil of diplomacy, openly declaring his ministerial aspirations.

"I was the only working president not included in the Cabinet last time," Saleem noted pointedly, signaling that the "loyalty quota" is no longer enough to keep the peace.

As Chief Minister Siddaramaiah prepares to finalize the list, he faces a delicate balancing act: rewarding the aggressive grassroots mobilization of Zameer’s camp without alienating the organizational stalwarts and minority sub-sects who feel increasingly sidelined by the "Chamarajpet-Shivajinagar" binary.

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