To give a fillip to the sports culture in the State, the Punjab Government has decided to finalise the recruitment process of 125 world renowned Punjabi sportspersons. Besides, it has also announced Rs2 lakh grant to the sports associations affiliated with the Punjab Olympic Association (POA).In another major decision, the POA would also organise Shaheed Bhagat Singh Punjab State Games, while the Punjab Government will host East Punjab and West Punjab Sports tourney this year.The decisions were taken on Thursday during a meeting of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal with the office-bearers of Punjab Olympic Association.
Sukhbir, accompanied by Rajya Sabha MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Punjab Rural Development Minister Sikander Singh Maluka, Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, also emphasised the need to revamp the stadiums and sports infrastructure in the districts to ensure quality sports training.He said that in East Punjab and West Punjab Sports tourney, matches of five traditional games would be organised across the State. For the same, directions were issued to the Sports Department to chalk out a roadmap in this regard so the event could be hosted as soon as possible.
Announcing that international sportspersons serving in various State departments under sports category will be brought in Punjab Institute of Sports, Sukhbir asked the sports secretary to complete the process to accelerate promotion of sports. He said the vast experience and energy of these sportspersons could take the sports vision of State to new heights.Meanwhile, the Punjab Government on Thursday came to the rescue of ailing Olympian Hardyal Singh, who has been bed-ridden since couple of month.