To give complete facelift to the existing Sports School and College at Jalandhar, Punjab Government would develop it as ‘Sports Institute of Jalandhar’ for grooming region’s budding players to compete in national and international sporting events.
For the purpose, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has issued directions to the Sports Department while presiding over a high-level meeting of the Sports and Education Departments to develop ‘Integrated Education and Sports Hub’ on nearly 40 acres of land at Kapurthala road in Jalandhar on Saturday at Chief Minister’s residence. Badal made it clear that this Sports Institute would be completely different from the Centre of Sports Excellence to be developed in the city.
Badal said the need of the hour was to develop both the Sports School and College on the lines of newly set up Sports School at Ghudda near Bathinda to provide ultra modern sports facilities to the young players. laying thrust on complete overhaul of these premier Sports institutes, the Chief Minister asked the officers of the Sports Department to rope in experts from National Institute of Sports (NIS), Patiala, to advise them for this herculean task.
He said that apart from athletic track and grounds for football, volleyball, basketball, hockey and other games should be provided to students besides an ultra-modern gymnasium for sporting activities. likewise, Badal also said that existing Swimming Pool in this institute must be converted into a world-class all weather one so that it could be used throughout the year. Badal also pressed for extending the existing boarding and lodging facilities in both the School and colleges.