Nuapada: Ten players from the district, who have represented the area at national level in kabaddi and volleyball, have been on a fast unto death in front of the district collector's office from Thursday after failing to secure appointment as sports instructor in local schools.

The protesting players alleged that though there were provisions of giving preference to local candidates while choosing sports instructors for local schools, the district administration had chosen candidates from outside the district.

They said that they would continue with the fast until they were given appointment.

The department of school and mass education had brought out an advertisement in June last year for filling up posts of sports instructors in several primary schools of the district. In the advertisement, it had been mentioned that the candidates should have been trained in physical education or they should have played at state or national levels. It was also mentioned in the advertisement that local candidates would be preferred.

Accordingly, 90 players and 26 trained candidates had applied for the posts. But when the applications were shortlisted and select candidates were asked to bring their certificates for verification, the local players found that they were not considered. This resulted in angry reaction from the local candidates who disrupted the certificate verification process on Tuesday.

National Players' Association of Nuapada district president Jibelal Naik said the district administration had allowed outsiders for appointment as sports instructors in district schools.

"They should have chosen natives of this region when there was a provision of local preference and many state and national level players from the district had applied for the posts. Yet, the administration has appointed at least 16 people from outside the district," Naik said, adding that they would continue with fast unto death till they were considered for the posts.