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Haryana to have new sports policy soon

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda with members of the 12th Asian Women Roller Skating Hockey Championship team.

CHANDIGARH: The Haryana Government would shortly announce its new sports policy which would focus on giving incentives to sports persons to encourage them to take a keen interest in games, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said here on Thursday after giving away cash awards of Rs.1 lakh each to eight players from Haryana who were members of the Indian team which clinched the gold medal at the 12th Asian Women’s Roller Skating Hockey Championship.

Mr. Hooda disclosed that over 130 sports stadiums were being constructed in the State to provide an opportunity to the people, especially the youth, to excel in sports. Each such sports stadium would cost Rs. 50 lakhs.

Mr. Hooda said even though Haryana had ample potential for promotion of sports, it lacked in requisite facilities in the rural areas. Therefore, efforts were being made to channel the energies of the rural youth in a constructive way through sports.

While congratulating these eight players for bringing laurels to the State and the nation, he underlined the significance of games in the development of overall human personality. He said only bookish knowledge was not enough to excel in life.

Mr. Hooda asserted that one could judge the development made by a country from the number of medals won by its sportspersons.

Haryana Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs Kiran Choudhry said that the new sports policy was being formulated in a transparent manner and it would be so effective that its provisions could be implemented for the next 20 years.

The State Government had also decided to constitute a Sports Council which would be headed by the Chief Minister.

Commissioner (Sports and Youth Affairs) Sarban Singh said the Government had earmarked Rs. 4.08 crores to give away cash awards to outstanding sportspersons.

The eight players who were honoured included namely Sandeep Kaur, Yashdeep Kaur, Sonali Bhagla, Puja, Mandeep Kaur, Milanpreet Kaur, Meera and Gurpreet Kaur. While seven of these players were from Shah Satnamji Girls College, Sirsa, Mandeep Kaur was from Shah Satnamji Girls School, Sirsa.

Those present on the occasion included state Chief Secretary Promilla Issar, Director-General Police R. S. Dalal and other senior officials of the Government.

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