Mangaluru: Maharashtra-based Yatish Narayan Bangera, a native of Udupi, and president of the Karnataka State Judo Sports Association, on Thursday announced plans to conduct training camps across Karnataka, to prepare young athletes for future Olympic competitions.Addressing reporters in Mangaluru, Bangera said he would also submit a proposal to the state govt, seeking a comprehensive sports policy to strengthen support for athletes in Karnataka.He said the sports sector currently lacks strong govt backing, and stressed the need for long-term planning to nurture talent. According to Bangera, the state must invest the next 10 to 20 years in identifying and training young athletes if Karnataka is to produce medal contenders on the international stage.Bangera said his vision is to revive the glory of judo in Karnataka, and help India secure maximum medals at the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the Olympics. He recalled that Karnataka’s judo legacy began with the late Sensei Narayan Bangera in Hejmadi village of Udupi. He also noted that the Bangera legacy was associated with the Bombay Judo Club, established in 1962, even before the formation of the Judo Federation of India.He said his immediate focus is to build a strong ecosystem for judo in the state, by creating better infrastructure and expanding opportunities for athletes. As part of this plan, Bangera proposed setting up state-of-the-art training centres in Udupi, Mangaluru and north Karnataka with govt support.Bangera said the initiative aims to provide structured coaching, modern facilities and sustained encouragement for youth, with the larger goal of making Karnataka a major force in Indian judo.
