Mangaluru: Chief minister Siddaramaiah said that the govt has been supporting sports and games to ensure that Karnataka produces the best talents, who win national and international medals. He was speaking after inaugurating the Chief Minister’s Mangalore India International Badminton Tournament 2025, organised jointly by the Karnataka Badminton Association (KBA) and the Dakshina Kannada Badminton Association (DKBA) at the Urwa Indoor Stadium here on Monday.He said Karnataka offers Rs 5 crore to Olympic gold medalists who are residents of the state. The govt provides an annual incentive of Rs 10 lakh to 60 identified sportspersons, who are preparing for the 2028 Olympics. In every department, 2% of the jobs are reserved for sportspersons. In the police department, the reservation quota has been increased from 2% to 3%, he said.Recalling his school days, the CM said that he was a jack of all sports but master of none. “I was also playing badminton, which is one of the most popular games in the world. In fact, I was playing kabaddi, football and was participating in athletics too. However, I could not win medals at the district, state or national levels. Many consider badminton a fitness game to keep them healthy,” Siddaramaiah said.Recalling the achievements of badminton champions Prakash Padukone, Pullela Gopichand, Saina Nehwal, and PV Sindhu, the CM said that they brought laurels to the nation. “Many such talents should emerge from Karnataka, particularly from Mangaluru. This is the first time an international badminton tournament is being held in Mangaluru, and I had the privilege to inaugurate the Urwa Indoor Stadium. During my previous tenure as the CM, the stadium was sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs 35 crore. Later, the BJP govt reduced the estimated cost to Rs 20 crore and could not complete it also. I sanctioned Rs 15 crore again and ensured the completion of the sports complex,” he said.The CM honoured badminton champions Ashok Poovaiah and Arun Poovaiah on the occasion. District minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said that Mangaluru will be made a sports city where sportspersons should get opportunities and facilities. “There is a need for the promotion of tourism as well as sports to make Mangaluru a fastest-growing city. We need to create an environment for this through international events in Mangaluru. This tournament is indeed another feather in the cap of Mangaluru city,” he said.KBA president Manoj Kumar, DKBA president Sathosh Kumar Shetty, MLC Ivan D’Souza, Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta, MLA Ashok Kumar Rai, and others were present.
