To promote the 38th National Games which would be hosted in Uttarakhand in the year 2016, the State Government is planning to organize some exhibition matches which would involve personalities like professional wrestler Khali and ace shooter Jaspal Rana as promotional events for the games.
Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Harish Rawat said this while addressing a press conference at his residence on Monday.
Rawat said that internationally acclaimed World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) wrestler Khali has accepted the offer of state government and an exhibition bout involving him would be organised probably in the month of May or June.
He said that former international pistol shooter Jaspal Rana would also be part of the promotional events. The Chief Minister said that these exhibition matches would help in creating an environment of festivity related with sports in the state.
He said that the efforts would be made to promote the youth having sporting talents in a coordinated way. Rawat informed that he has asked the State Sports minister to organize a felicitation ceremony for the sports personalities of the state in the month of January.
The Uttarakhand residents who have represented in International and national sporting events would be honoured in this ceremony. Similarly the coaches and trainers would also be honoured. Speaking on the occasion, Khali complimented the State for implementing a sports policy and hoped that this policy would help in promotion of sports in Uttarakhand. He informed that he has opened a wrestling institute in Punjab where he is training youths for professional wrestling.
Khali said that he is happy that Dehradun would be the first place in the country where he would be presenting the talents of his trainees. He promised that the proposed show matches of professional wrestlers in Dehradun would be a blast for sports lovers.