Sports should be treated as a professional career: Javgal Srinath

Manipal, Apr 30 (UNI) Newly appointed International Cricket Council (ICC) Match Referee and former India speedster Javgal Srinath today said that Sports should be treated as a professional career.

Participating in the valedictory function of the three-day International Conference on Physical Education and Sports Science organised by Kasturba Medical College (KMC) here, he said that unlike in many foreign countries, Sports in India could not attain the place of professional career status. '' Indian market was yet to absorb sports persons in their profession'', he added.

Srinath said several foreign countries have Sports University and offer courses in various disciplines including Sports Psychology, Medicine, Nutrition and dietary. ''There was urgent need for such an University in India and for this purposes leading Educational Institutions like MAHE, a Deemed University, could take lead to provide sports a professional career status.'' National Association of Physical Education and Sports Sciences (NAPESS) President Chinnappa Reddy announced that the next Conference of the NAPESS would be held in January 2007 in Kolkata University which is celebrating 150 years of establishment.

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