IEP Panchkula
The Governor of Punjab Banwari Lal Purohit on Sunday inaugurated the Yonex-Sunrise 2nd Ashwani Gupta Memorial All India Sub Junior (U-15, U-17) Ranking Badminton Tournament at Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex in Panchkula. In his address, Governor emphasized the importance of sports in shaping the future of youth and commended the organizers for hosting the championship. The Governor also highlighted the historical significance of sports in India, dating back to the Vedic era, and mentioned that the country has been at the forefront of promoting sports. He praised the country’s progress in promoting sports, crediting the leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi for prioritizing the development of sports infrastructure across the nation. He also commended Sh. Gian Chand Gupta, Speaker of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha and Chairman of the Sports Promotion Society Panchkula, for his guidance in making this national-level sports event possible.Expressing concern over the increasing drug usage among the youth, the Governor also emphasized the importance of redirecting their focus toward sports and added that by promotion of sports, we can keep youth away from drugs. He said that sports not only contribute to the physical well-being of individuals but also foster discipline and character-building among the youth. He also encouraged the players to continue their dedication to sports. Speaker, Haryana Vidhan Sabha Sh. Gian Chand Gupta, while welcoming Governor, expressed his appreciation for his support in encouraging the players. He explained that the tournament is organized in memory of Ashwini Gupta, a state-level badminton player who lost his life in a road accident 16 years ago. The Sports Promotion Society Panchkula was established in his memory, with the aim of organizing various sports events in Panchkula and keeping the youth away from drug addiction. Speaker Gupta stated that society continuously strives to attract and motivate youth to participate in sports. He said that approximately 2800 players across the country are participating in this tournament. This is the first time that such a huge participation of players witnessed. He assured that every effort will be made to ensure the convenience of the players throughout the competition. During the event, Governor also honored promising badminton players, including Anupama Upadhaya, Unnati Hooda, Devika Sihag, Anmol Kharab, Manraaj Singh, and Mayank Rana. The Prominent present at the event included Mayor Panchkula Sh. Kulbhushan Goyal, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Priyanka Soni, former MLA Smt. Latika Sharma, General Secretary of Haryana Badminton Association Sh. Ajay Kumar Singhania, President of Sports Promotion Society Panchkula Sh. DP Soni, and other office bearers from badminton associations. The 2nd Ashwani Gupta Memorial All India Sub Junior Badminton Tournament is being organized from June 11 to 18 by the Haryana Badminton Association in collaboration with the district Badminton Association Panchkula, under the aegis of the Badminton Association of India.
