Move to drop throwball, ball badminton, jump rope from school sports events sparks backlash | Mangaluru News

Managaluru: The department of school education and literacy’s decision to drop throwball, ball badminton and jump rope from school sports events in Karnataka has triggered backlash from teachers, parents and sports advocates, who say the move undermines inclusive physical education and disadvantages rural students.Mohiuddin Kutty, president of the SDMC Coordination Committee, recently submitted a memorandum to V Rashmi Mahesh, the department principal secretary, urging the withdrawal of the order and the continuation of sports as in previous years. “We strongly condemned the move,” Kutty said.Kutty argued that the removed games are among the most affordable and practical options for govt schools, requiring minimal equipment, limited space, and less specialised training. He contrasted them with infrastructure-heavy sports such as cricket, tennis and basketball, which many rural schools struggle to host due to a lack of grounds and facilities.Throwball, badminton and jump rope enabled broad participation, especially among students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, he said.He added that students have earned recognition through these events at the district, divisional, and state levels, helping to build confidence, leadership, and teamwork. “Dropping them entirely just because they are not part of the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) defeats the holistic purpose of education,” he said.Kutty further noted that throwball and jump rope have historically encouraged girls’ participation in sports. He called the decision contradictory to govt initiatives aimed at increasing girls’ involvement in school sports.