Aiming at achieving dominance in sports, Punjab has chalked out a plan to provide free training, food, medical and transport facilities to budding players by admitting them in sports academies under speed fund scheme.
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, who also holds sports portfolio, has set the target for maximum participation of players from Punjab in the Indian contingent for Olympic Games scheduled to be held at Rio in 2016.
In this regard, he has asked the sports department to provide training to players “free of cost” by admitting them for 2015-16 session in sports academies. “To achieve this goal, the State Government has also set up Punjab Institute of Sports with 11 directorates to emphasize on 11 different sports disciplines,” said a spokesperson of the sports department.
Spokesperson said that the department has announced a schedule for selection trials for eligible players who have attained any position in sub-junior and junior category state competitions or national events. “Selected players would be provided Rs5,500 monthly for training, food, physical and physiological training, medical and transport facilities, besides a sports kit worth Rs10,000 to facilitate them during their participation in national and international events,” he said.