Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, who also holds the Sports portfolio, made an interesting appeal to teachers on Tuesday (July 22, 2025). He urged them not to take over physical training (PT) periods to teach academic subjects, but instead to lend their own class time to promote physical activity.

“My request to teachers on behalf of the students is only one: I urge you not to borrow the PT period to teach your lessons. I am making this request in the presence of the Minister for School Education,” Mr. Udhayanidhi said, garnering a round of applause from students. “If needed, you can lend your classes for PT.”

He felicitated students from State-run and government-aided educational institutions, who secured medals and awards in international, national, and State-level sports events, at a function organised by the School Education Department at Jawaharlal Nehru indoor auditorium in Chennai.

Underlining the significance of physical training, the Minister said: “It is every student’s right to get their PT period. They should play during those periods. You should use them for sports practice. Looking at these students who have secured medals here, we can understand that you are allowing them to play during their PT periods.”

Emphasising the need for students to pursue sports, he said it was equally important to be relentless and not give up. Citing the example of British athlete Derek Redmond, Mr. Udhayanidhi recalled how the athlete’s father helped him reach the finishline even though he did not win following a hamstring muscle cramp.

“Victories are not the only things that remain in history. Sometimes, not giving up would also go down in history, and Derek Edmond is a great example of that,” Mr. Udhayanidhi said.

Ministers Ma. Subramanian, P.K. Sekarbabu, and Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi; legislator I. Paranthamen; and senior officials were present.