Fri Jan 17 16:38:41 UTC 2025: ## Karnataka CM Announces Funding Boost for Mangaluru and Udupi Stadiums
**Mangaluru, January 17, 2025** – Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced a ₹3 crore allocation for each of Mangaluru’s Mangala Stadium and Udupi’s Mahatma Gandhi Stadium in the upcoming 2025-26 budget. The announcement came during the inauguration of the Karnataka State Games 2025 at Mangala Stadium, where over 4,500 athletes are competing in 25 sporting events across the state.
Responding to requests from Mangaluru City South MLA D. Vedavyas Kamath and Karnataka Olympic Association president K. Govindaraj, the Chief Minister pledged the funds for stadium upgrades and committed to exploring the possibility of awarding grace marks to student athletes participating in national and international events.
Further highlighting the government’s commitment to sports development, Siddaramaiah announced a 3% reservation of posts in uniformed forces and a 2% reservation in other departments for state-level athletes who have achieved national or international recognition. He emphasized the importance of sports for physical and mental well-being, encouraging youth participation.
The State Games, which began with a cultural procession and conclude on January 23rd, are part of a broader government initiative to foster athletic excellence in Karnataka. The Chief Minister’s earlier absence from the ‘Bahu Samkruti Utsava’ at the Mangaluru Town Hall, which was subsequently inaugurated by Speaker U.T. Khader, was also noted.
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