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Deverkonda meet of CIFA- Thums Up Rural Games begins

Ravinder Kumar MLA inaugurates the two-day meet

• Thousands to witness the 2-day tour of CIFA-Thums Up Rural Games
• Hundreds registered as participants in various events such as Kabbadi
• Indian Red Cross is to organize free medical and health camp

Deverkonda, May 28: CIFA-Thums Up Rurual Games was formally rolled out here amidst thunderous applause by hundreds villagers at the Zilla Parishad School Grounds after local MLA Ravinder Kumar inaugurated the meet.

The grandiose opening ceremony was attended by Deverkonda Mandal Praja Parishad President, P Narsimha Reddy, Primary Agri Co-op Society Chairman- N Prabhakar Rao and local Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency Members.

Speaking at the occasion Mr Kumar said, "Companies like Coca Cola are coming forward to extend a helping hand to regain the spirit amongst the rural population at a time this spirit is generally vanishing. It is praiseworthy that organizations like Coca-Cola and CIFA are coming forward to conduct rural games when farmers are not able conduct such events faced with so many problems and difficulties.”

A large gathering of farmers from nearby villages participated in the vibrant ceremony that marked the opening of the district tour of the CIFA-Thums Up Rural Games 2007 organized by Consortium of Indian Farmers Associations (CIFA) and Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages. After the current venue it will shift to over a dozen other venues in 10 more districts during the next few days creating an unparalleled opportunity for thousands of farmers to participate in rural sporting games like Kabbadi, Sack Carrying Race, etc.

With the aim of offering the villagers healthy benefits, the organizers have also brought in Indian Red Cross to conduct a health and medical camp at the venue. A medical team comprising doctors and support staff is camping at the site offering free medical check up and advices to the people who participate and witness various sporting activities.

The meet will see hundreds of players participating in Kabbadi, Sack carrying race in Men’s category and Rangoli and Short-distance races in Women’s category. The Kabaddi winners will get a cash prize of Rs 5000 and a trophy, and the runner-up will get Rs 2500 as cash prize. Winner of Sack carrying race will get Rs 3000 as prize money and the runner-up will go home with Rs 2000 cash prize.

Similarly, in women’s category, winner of the Rangoli contest will get a cash prize of Rs 1000 and runner-up will get Rs 500. Winner of the relay running competition will bag Rs 2000 and runner-up team will get Rs 1500 as cash prize.

Winners of the district-level competitions will also move to vie for the top honours at the State level scheduled for the first week of June.

Bringing a carnival atmosphere to the Games, organizers are offering a cultural evening to the villagers with local participants tuning to popular songs and offering a feast of mimicry and dance in front of large crowd of farmers and their families.

The CIFA-Thums Up Rural Games is being organized with the objectives to channelize energies of youth towards constructive activities and to strengthen the social cohesiveness for sustainable development in villages. It is also aimed at inculcating interest in sports among rural youth and help spot hidden talent among them, besides instilling pride of achievement amongst the rural folk.

 RURAL GAMES 2006