Uttarakhand Governor Dr Aziz Qureshi inaugurated the 7th All India Police Badminton Championship 20014 at Police line here on Wednesday. The championship is being organised at two venues-Police line and Parade Ground in Dehradun and will conclude on October 11.
Qureshi inaugurated this championship in the presence of Uttarakhand Home Minister Pritam Singh, principal secretary, Home, MH Khan, DGP BS Sidhu, DGP (Vigilance) SK Bhagat, police officers and participants from various states. Speaking on the occasion, Qureshi commended the police for their efforts for facilitating security to the citizens. The police work 24 hours to protect the public and maintain law and order, he said while also acknowledging that policemen are being given inadequate salaries and facilities. While stressing on the promotion of sports activities he pointed out that unemployed persons who are good in sports are provided job reservation in police. Uttarakhand Home Minister Pritam Singh said that government will take all possible steps to promote sports activities in the State.
Around 155 gazetted police officers representing 28 different teams from several States, Union Territories and teams from ITBP, RPF, NSG, CBI, IB, CRPF, SSB and BSF are participating in this championship. Ten Uttarakhand police officers - DIG Amit Sinha, DIG Sanjay Gunjyal, SP P Renuka Devi, SP Janmejay Khanduri, Additional SP Navneet Singh Bhullar among others are participating in this championship.
Apart from the team event, open singles, doubles, veterans' singles, doubles and mixed doubles for police officers aged 45+ and 55+ years will be held during the championship.
Uttarakhand DGP and chairman of the organising committee BS Sidhu said that it is a matter of pride that Uttarakhand State police got the opportunity to organise this championship for the second time for which he thanked the All India Police Sports Control Board. He welcomed the participants and exhorted them to play with sportsman spirit. All possible steps have been taken to complete this event successfully, he added. DIG Sanjay Gunjyal administered the pledge of sportsmanship to the participants while DIG Amit Sinha proposed the vote of thanks.