Satyanarayana – An administrator, coach and backbone

Satyanarayana is the son of a flower seller and took up athletics it was the affordable sports for him.

He became champion at state junior and nation junior events. He won medal at World Junior Athletics Meet at Seoul in 1984. He also won the Prime Minister’s Medal for the Republic Day cross-country run in 1982.

After retirement 1993, he joined Karnataka Amateur Athletics Association as Vice President. First, he abolished the participation fee for State athletes in national-level competitions. Satyanarayana also organized several national junior and senior championships in the State.

His main aim was to improve the quality of sports infrastructure in rural areas and provide more exposure for women athletes in the State.

In 2012, his student H. N. Girisha won silver medal at London Paralympics.

In 2016, his student Mariyappan Thangavelu won gold medal at Rio Paralympics.

Abhinav Singh

Media Professional & Poet