Asian Games,Commonwealth Games medallists feted

The Asian Games medallists to be rewarded were athlete Sudha Singh (Rs 15 lakh),kabaddi player Jasmer Singh (Rs 10 lakh),shooter Annu Raj Singh,rowers Rajesh Kumar,Lokesh Kumar,golfer Rahul Bajaj,gymnast Ashish Kumar and wrestler Sunil Kumar (Rs 8 lakh each) and hockey players Tushar Khandekar and Danish Mujataba (Rs 6 lakh each). Speaking on the ocassion,the Chief Minister congratulated the players who were given the cash awards and said that through their performances they have proved that there is no dearth of talent and determintion in the state.

She informed that the state government was working towards promoting sports talent residing rural areas and directed the sports department officials to organise tournaments in rural areas to give a boost to sports there. She directed that competitions in sports like kabaddi,wrestling,kho-kho,swimming,volleyball,football,hockey and athletis must be included during the tourneys as these are not very expensive sports. She asked the officials to make a sports calendar for organisation of tournaments for students residing in rural areas and ensure its implementation from the next session. She directed the officials to organise district,regional and state level touranments and ensure that players from rural areas also participate in such tourneys.

She said that the state government is laying emphasis on building up a strong infrasture and a sports culture in the state and is making efforts to provide modern equipment to the players. She reminded that on her birthday,she had laid the foundation stone of two new sports college— one at Saharanpur and the other at Fatehpur where modern facilities will be provided to the players. Besides she had dedicated to the people nine new sports projects on her birthday.

The state government has already sanctioned the projects for construction of stadiums in all the newly-created districts and swimmimg pools were being constructed in ten districts. The KD Singh ‘Babu’ Stadium pool is being converted into an all-weather pool. Two international sports complexes and two astro-turf grounds are also under construction,she further added.

The Chief Minister also directed the officials to solve the problems of players. Gymnast Ashish Kumar met the Chief Minister during the lunch organised after the function and apprised her that the gymnastic hall at National Sports Academy,Allahabad where he practices needs a central AC to ensure so that players could practice there throughout the year.

Ashish informed that the chief minister gave a positive reply in this regard.