Birth anniversary of Hockey Prodigy Major Dhyanchand was observed as 'National Sports Day' in the State on Thursday.
On the occasion, at a programme organized on the occasion of National Sports Day in Raipur, a total of 378 sportspersons, who had won medals for the State in the National School-level Sports Tournament 2012-13, were awarded cash prize, certificates and blazers. The total amount of Rs 58.50 lakhs was distributed as cash prize to the winners. Each gold-medal winnerwas awarded Rs 21,000 , silver-medal winners Rs 15,000 and bronze-medal winners Rs 10,000 as cash prize.
While addressing the medal distribution ceremony organized at Balveer Juneja Indoor Stadium here, School Education Minister Brijmohan Agrawal made several announcements to encourage the school-level sports talents further in the State. In the programme, Agrawal also honoured and distributed prizes to the winners of Chhattisgarh Gaurav competition, National Singing Competition, Drawing and Quiz Competition organized by Rashtriya Disha Manch.
In his address, the Minister congratulated the winners and said that Chhattisgarh is the only State that has the provision of offering cash prize for the school students winning medals in the national-level sports tournaments. Moreover, the amount of cash prize provided to the medal-winners has also been increased. Further, Agrawal motivated the school students to polish their sports talent and glorify the name of State at national and international level.
The Minister announced that the amounts of cash prize for sportspersons securing first, second and third positions in State-level inter-school sports tournaments will be increased to Rs 3000, Rs 2000 and Rs 1000 respectively. He also announced that in future, coaches of the school-level sportspersons bagging medals at national-level tournaments will also be awarded with cash prize. Moreover, the sportsperson of Chhattisgarh leading the national team in international inter-school sports tournament will be awarded Rs 1 lakh. Sportspersons of Chhattisgarh representing national team in any international sports tournaments will be awarded Rs 50,000 each.
Agrawal stated that the number of medals won by sportspersons of Chhattisgarh is increasing with each passing year. This clearly shows that effective steps are being taken to promote sports talent at school-level in Chhattisgarh. Moreover, the State Government's scheme of recruiting excellent sportspersons into Government jobs, has also created a positive environment for sports activities in the State. There are several sportspersons that have been benefited under the scheme, and they have got Government jobs.
In the programme, Alpana Patel, the Sportsperson who represented Chhattisgarh in International Inter-School Weightlifting Competition, was also awarded Rs 1 lakh. On the occasion, Chairman of Raipur Development Authority (RDA) Sunil Soni gave the details of steps taken by the Government for promoting sports talent in the State. International Veteran Athlete Mohammad Rafeeq was also felicitated, during the programme. On the occasion, Chhattisgarh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board Chairman Mohan Anti, Raipur Municipal Corporation Speaker Sanjay Shrivastav, leader of Opposition Subhash Tiwari, officials of various sports associations, along with other of sportspersons and school students were also present.