Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday distributed cheques worth Rs 7.48 crore as financial assistance to 307 sportspersons.
In a function organised at Chhatrasal Stadium, he urged the sportspersons from Delhi to achieve big and make Delhi and the entire nation proud.
The deputy CM said that the Delhi Government is ensuring world-class training as well as nutritional requirements of the young sportspersons.
"Sports play a crucial role in education. On one hand, Delhi has been at the top position in School Games for last three years. On the other hand, it is receiving accolades for its improved education system. NITI Aayog, a central government agency, ranked Delhi government schools highest in the country. This is a proud achievement for Delhi," he said.
The chief minister said "It is Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s dream to that every student plays at least one sport, and every talented sportsperson gets all kind of assistance from the government to excel. That is why Delhi government is running different schemes to promote sports and prepare sportspersons to win medals."
Sports branch of the Delhi government has taken several steps to promote sports at the grassroots level to achieve holistic development of students.
Delhi is on the top of the medal tally in the National School Games in its 2019-20 edition, bagging close to 1000 medals. Delhi players have also won 39 gold, 36 silver and 47 bronze medals in the third edition of Khelo India Youth Games-2020. Different schemes like Play and Progress, Mission Excellence and Cash incentive to the medal winning sportspersons provide financial assistance to the sports talents from a young age.
The function was attended by Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar along with Secretary Education H Rajesh Prasad, Director Education Udit Prakash Rai and sports nutritionist Ruchika Sodhi.