Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has said that the 38th National Games slated to be held in Uttarakhand next year will prove to be a milestone in the development of sports talent in the State. He said that the State has started preparing infrastructure facilities for holding the national games and a national sports secretariat has already been established for better organisation of these games.
The CM was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the State level Khel Mahakumbh at Maharana Pratap Sports College here on Tuesday. He said that sports kits will be provided to the players securing first, second and third position in the Khel Mahakumbh. Dhami said that sports are important for the mental, physical and social development of an individual. The sports provide an opportunity to work with teamwork and State level Khel Mahakumbh provide an excellent platform for the sportspersons to show their talent. The CM said that the objective of the Khel Mahakumbh is also to prepare the players for national and international events. He said that sports in the country have got a fillip under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the recently concluded Asian Games in China, our country won a record 107 medals. India is ready to hold the Youth Olympic of the year 2030 and Olympics of 2036 with renewed enthusiasm, he said.
Dhami said that the budget for the sports has witnessed a threefold increase under the leadership of PM Modi.
The CM said that innovative measures are being taken in Uttarakhand from villages to cities to encourage players. He said that badminton courts, basketball courts and open gyms are being set up in the space available under the flyovers in Haridwar district. The CM said that the State government is planning to resume sports quota in jobs and direct jobs are being given to the players winning medals in national and international sports events. He claimed that the economic assistance is also given to the players in the new sports policy. In his address the CM directed the officers to hasten preparations for the upcoming national games. He said that for better performance of the State in these games, the good players should be identified and better training arrangements for them should be made. He expressed confidence that the players of the State will make Uttarakhand and the country proud with their performances.
The Sports minister Rekha Arya said that a new sports policy has been implemented in the State in which every possible effort is being made to provide every possible facility to the players. A total of 2,600 players between 14 to 23 years of age are covered under Mukhyamantri Udaimaan Khiladi Protsahan Yojana.
Raipur MLA Umesh Sharma Kau, special principal secretary of sports Amit Sinha, director Jitendra Sonkar and others were present on the occasion.
