PG and Research Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences

In the early days of its affiliation (1919), the college did not have an adequate playground of its own. The College and the High School shared the play-ground in the old campus.

Sri S. Thothadri Iyengar of the Department of Economics, was the Games Superintendent for several years. Sri M.S. Sundaram from Department of English, and Sri R. Pichan from Department of Philosophy were also Games Superintendents for a few years. There was provision for Tennis, Hockey Football and Badminton.

There was an improvement in the games after the starting of B.A. Classes, and the need for an extensive playground was felt. A notable event of those days was the winning of the Pentland Shield by our Hockey Team. Our Former Physical Director Sri M.K. Sundaram was the Captain and Sri S. Thothadri Iyengar, the Games Superintendent.

With the introduction of compulsory physical training for college, Sri A. V. Desikachari, the Senior Tutor in English, was deputed to qualify in the Diploma Course in Physical Education at Y.M.C.A. School of Physical Education, Madras. He rejoined duty as Assistant Lecturer and Physical Director in April 1930, which posts he held till his retirement in 1954. It was during his period that the college acquired 2 play fields on a lease basis at West Chintamani and Karur Road. Under his able and conscientious supervision, the college maintained a uniform level of excellence and distinction in games and sports.

Sri M. K. Sundaram, B.A., Dip. P.Ed. an old student of the High Scholl, was appointed Assistant Physical in September 1948. The appointment of a trained and experienced assistant in the Department led to a visible toning up of our physical education activities. The college acquired a playground of about 6 1⁄2 acres in Chintamani area in 1947 and spent Rs. 75,000 to develop the site. A further area of 4 acres was obtained from the Railway ‘B’ Class lands in 1956.

Hence in the fifties, the college had two well-organized play fields and they could engage 500 students at a time. There was provision for Tennis, Cricket, Hockey, Football, Badminton, Ring Tennis, Volley Ball, besides indoor games like Chess and Carom. The lease grounds had by now been given up.

Our players distinguished themselves as Volley Ball champions in the Tournaments conducted by the Trichy District Athletic Association for 1950-51and for 1951-52 successively. A notable feature of the ‘fifties was the introduction of the Mass Drill by the then Principal Sri S. Thothadri Iyengar for all the 900 students of the Intermediate Classes. The suggestion came from Sri M. K. Sundarm, and was readily implemented by the Principal, with the willing and spontaneous cooperation of the staff.

With the shifting of the college to its present campus in 1959, we acquired a very spacious playground, which can easily accommodate 600 to 700 players at a time. The maiden event on the new ground was the University Inter-Collegiate Sports Meet in November 1959. By the middle of July 1959, we were able to lay a Football field, a hockey field, a Cricket pitch, two Tennis Courts, two Basket Ball courts and 6 Volley Ball courts.

We had the Privilege of conducting the University Inter-Collegiate Divisional Sports in 1960-61 also. Two of our players Messrs M. S. Venkatesan and M.S. Balasubramanian had the distinction of representing the District Cricket XI and the Madras University Cricket Team from our college in 1959-60 and 1961-62 respectively. In 1961-62 our Cricket team was adjudged second in the District. Mr. Mohamed Ali of our college won the University Championship in the Inter-Collegiate Divisional Tennis Tournament conducted by the University of Madras for two years. He was also runner-up in the Inter Divisional Tennis Tournament held at Madras.

In 1966-67 our college participated in the Madras University inter-Collegiate Rathinavelu Thevar Memorial Cricket Tournament, and the Tournaments conducted by Annamalai University and Alagappa College of Physical Education , Karaikudi. Mr. R. Sethurathnam of our College won the Madras University Tiruchy Divisional Tennis Singles Cup. Our Cricket team also won the Rathinavelu Thevar Memorial cricket shield in the same year.

Sri M.K. Sundaram retired from service in May 1967, and was succeeded by Sri V.Dorairajan, B.Sc., B.T., P.Ed., as Physical Director. In 1967-68 our players won the Dr. Mathuram Memorial Cup in the Tiruchy District League Cricket Tournament. Mr. W.R. Narasimha Rao of our college won the Madras University Tiruchy Divisional Tennis Singles Cup. He was also the Inter-Divisional Runner-Up at Madras in the same year. Mr. A. Sridhar of our college was selected by the Trichy District Cricket Association to represent the District Cricket XI.

In addition to the various facilities given to our boys, weight-lifting was also introduced to develop the physique of the boys. In 1969 -70 the Physical Education Department had the unique honor again of staging the Inter-Collegiate Sports Meet of the Madras University on our grounds. Mr. Prasanna Narayanan of our College represented the University Football Team from our college.

At the turn of 1970 a beautiful Stadium with a liberal donation from the Pethachi Charities, was erected. The Stadium was declared open by our Vice- Chancellor, Sri N. D. Sundaravadivelu, in January, 1970.

A number of tournaments Inter-Class, Inter-Collegiate, district Matchers, Leagur Matches and Private matches are being conducted every year in our grounds Our teams participate in out-station matches.

MINOR RESEARCH PROJECT

DEVELOPMENT OF SPORTS AMONG THE RURAL YOUTH IN TIRUCHIRAPALLI, TAMILNADU