Chennai, Feb 14 (BPNS)
In a unique move, a sports management company based out of Kerala is organizing a Cycle Rickshaw Racing League (CRRL) primarily in Tamil Nadu on June 3, the birth anniversary of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Late M.Karunanidhi.
The league, according to the organizers of the Sports and Management Research Institute (SMRI) that conducts the event, aims to enhance the quality of life of rickshaw riders through the application of Sports management and Sports engineering.
B.T. Sijin, President, SMRI while speaking to BPNS said, “ We are organizing the Cycle Rickshaw Racing League (CRRL) as a tribute to former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M. Karunanidhi as it was he who banned hand-pulled rickshaws and promoted cycle rickshaws stating that all are born equal.”
He said that the team would be raising awareness about the competition in schools and colleges across Tamil Nadu.
The SMRI president said, “ One can be a CRRL team owner by buying a Cycle Rickshaw and during the non-game days the rickshaw can be used by rickshaw walas for a livelihood.”.
He said that SRMI would also organize a rickshaw design competition for engineering students and polytechnic students and the best design will be given prize money of Rs 10,000. The best designer will also become part of the technical team of the SRMI.
The organisers also said that the main objective of the competition is to promote sports entrepreneurship in India, especially among students. Sijin said that his organization would identify and train sports lovers who have business acumen.
The race will be held in the 5km, 10km, 15 km categories, and in the 10km and 15 km categories, the cycle rickshaw driver will have to cover the distance with a mass of 200 kg inside the cycle.
The event, according to SRMI is to be planned across the cities of Chennai, Madurai, Tiruchi, and Puducherry. The SRMI also plans to organize the competition in other Indian cities like Agra, Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkota.
Sijin said that brainstorming was taking place within the organization to conduct the competition to other foreign countries as well.
