CHENNAI: For the first time, 10 modern sports including boxing, judo, beach volleyball, gymnastics, and squash will be introduced to students in government and government-aided schools across the State as a part of physical education. Additionally, taekwondo, fencing, silambam, and basketball will also be taught.

A decision, which was taken at a review meeting conducted by the School Education Department, came against the backdrop of suggestions from sports personalities that government school students should also be exposed to elite sports as it was done in private institutions.

A senior official from the department told DT Next that the new sports activities will be for students from classes 6-12, who will be classified under various age categories. “At present, about 40 lakh students are studying in these classes at government schools,” he explained. “Sporting activities, including competitions, will begin this academic year itself. Physical education instructors in schools will be given training by the sports trainers.”

He added that the latest sports equipment will also be distributed based on the school requirement. “Additionally, indoor and outdoor playground facilities will be improved. If the school does not have adequate space to conduct training in any of the sporting activities, the management could send the selected candidates to other nearby institutions, which have the infrastructure facilities,” stated the official.

In addition to training students, their diet will also be constantly monitored. “They need to be fit to compete at the State and national meets. A detailed diet chart will be prepared for them in this regard,” he said.

“After conducting inter-school competition, events at zonal level, district level, and State will also be held,” he said. “State-level champions will be sent to the national level meets, which would be sponsored by the State government.”

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