Articles

GAMES AND SPORTS IN

GUNTUR MEDICAL COLLEGE OVER THE PAST 50 YEARS

Dr. C. MADHAVA. M.S.,

Sports Adviser 1987 to 1993 and ‘95

Being students of professional college, in spite of the demand on their time and effort for studies, Medical Students, do contribute to sports and games like students of other colleges, sometimes even doing better and GMC is no exception. 

A retrospective over past 50 years over the sports activities of this college, bring out two names who made outstanding contribution. One is Mr.G.P.Babu Rao, the Physical Director during late fifties and sixties, a dedicated coach, who enjoyed in identifying, new talent and bringing out the best in students. He made the richest contribution for development of sports and games in this college. The second is Dr.P.Sreehari Rao, who is our chief guest at the Golden Jubilee Sports Meet. He joined Medical College, after graduation in Veterinary Sciences, yet he represented the University and State in five different games during his stay of five years in this Medical College, an outstanding achievement by any standard.

In the first 25 years i.e. from 1952 to 1977, the sporting activities in the college were regular and contributed ace athletes and sportsmen to University and State teams. To name a few, Dr.Sreenath, Dr. jay Raj, Dr. Rama Krishna, Dr. T. Satyanarayana in Tennis. Dr. Koti Reddy, Dr. C. Girija Sankar, Dr.M.V.S.N Rao in Cricket. Ambi dextrous Vijayachandra Jacob, along with Dr. Jay Raj and Dr. Gopala Rao dominated the University football scene in sixties.

In Table tennis it is the monopoly of Dr. Murali Sundaram at University level, for all the five years he stayed in this college. Dr.K.Eswara Prasad and Dr.K.S.V.Prasad dominated the Basket Ball scene of Guntur, playing not only at University level and State only many local clubs were after them to include them in their teams for State championship. Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Dr.Y.Bhaskara Rao and Dr. D. Bhaskara Rao were outstanding in kabaddi.

Dr.Jai Suryaraju, Dr.Jairaj, Dr.R.S.N. Reddy, Dr. P.B.Krishna Singh, Dr.Dhaka Raju, Dr.Subba Raju were outstanding athletes. Dr.K.V.Narayana Swami and Dr.S.Ravindra Bau were natural athletes and their performance at Inter-University sports were outstanding and they could have easily made it to national team, but for their demanding medical education.

Dr.Y.Basveswara Rao, Dr.N.Nageswara Rao, Dr. Madhusudana Rao, Dr.K.Kesava Rao and Dr. Ravindra Babu, did well in Weight lifting at University level.

Dr.Gracilda, Dr.Sarala, Dr. Sourulu Reddy and Dr. Sumanthi Kumari were the accomplished sports women during the above period. As most of the above data is not from personal knowledge any omission may be pardoned.

The there was lull in sports activities. In 1087 Dr.Krishna Reddy, then Principal, formed a committee to revive the Sports activities, with Dr.John Appa Rao as Chairman, Dr.G.Sreerama Murthy and Dr.C.Madhava Sai as members. With total participation and organization from students, particularly then final year batch led by Dr.K.Raghunadha Rao, Dr.Gangadhar, Dr.Srinivasulu Reddy, Dr.Khalil etc., a bog sports carnival was conducted in 1998. With this effort the abundant, dormant talent came out and the University of Health Sciences asked our college to conduct the first ever Inter Collegiate Meet in March 1989 with 15 days notice. Students rose to the occasion in not only organising the meet but also raised funds to supplement the funds available with the college. Dr.V.V.Rama Rao and Dr.K.Basava Punna Rao took the lead and the meet was a great success and the GMC won Men, Woman and overall championship. In 1991 at the II Inter Collegiate meet held at Siddartha Medical College, we retained the Women Championship, same the case with the III Inter Collegiate meet held in 1994. In the Golden Jubilee Inter Collegiate meet also our college retained women championship. From 1989 intramural games and sports are being conducted regularly and in 1993 our college cricket team participated in the Major Ebden Memorial Tournament. To name the outstanding performers, Dr.Rajesh in T.T. Dr.Ajay Sharma, Dr.M.Srinivas Rao, Dr. Rajesh Mallik, Dr. Sambasiva Reddy in Cricket. Dr.Walton- Athletics, Dr.Younus Salim and Dr.Sasidhar, Dr. Ashok Babu in Tennis, Dr.Raja Sekhar in Shuttle Badminton, Dr. Valmiki, Dr.Daniel John, Dr.Chenna Reddy Sreenivasa Rao and Dr.Pushpa Raj in Volley Ball, Dr.Babu Rao besides being a good Volley Ball Player is a natural athlete. Among women Dr.Indira, Dr.Salomi, Dr.Sultana, Dr.M.P.Sailaja,Dr.Radhika, Dr.veena and Dr. Mamatha brought laurels to the college in sports and games.

There is abundant talent among the present students. Mr. Ravindra an all round sportsman representing University in T.T., Basket Ball and Volley Ball besides being a Good cricketer and athelet. Mr.Chandra Sekhar , Mr.Naveen, Mr.Sasikanth, Mr.Chakravarthy and Mr.Sam Suman are outstanding cricket players. Mr.Diliip, Mr.N.Narashima Rao in Volley Ball. Mr.Rajani Chandra and Kalyan Chakravrathy in T.T. Mr.Raja Sekhar in chess, Mr.Rahul and Mr.Kiran in Carroms. Mr.Rajendra Prasad, Mr.Manohar, Mr.Ramana, Mr.Vamsi in atheletics. Ms.Srilakshmi, Ms.Nischita being the ace women athelets.

Besides being good sportsmen there are some good organizers in this period. Dr.Satish Madhav, Dr.Rajesh Mallik, D.Valmiki and Dr.Harish to name a few.

Prof. Krupadanam, Prof. Mahipal Reddy and Prof. Taraknath are responsible for development of sports activities inn this college. In the recent past the contribution of two Assistant Professors from Pathology Dr.I.V.Renuka and Dr.Saila Bala is rich and remarkable. Absence of Physical Director is felt need.
 
 

Previously Sports are conducted at regular intervals. But now they are conducted onlyin conjunction with Anniversary.