Chandigarh, August 20:
To empower budding sportspersons of Punjab to compete at the Olympics and other international sporting arenas, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has launched an ambitious plan to establish 13,000 modern rural sports grounds across the state.
Sharing details, Punjab Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond informed that construction work for 3,073 sports grounds in villages has already begun under the first phase of the project.
Sond said that no significant steps were ever taken in the past to develop sports infrastructure or ensure the holistic growth of youth. The Aam Aadmi Party government, however, has laid special emphasis on promoting sports. He added that creating sports grounds in rural areas will nurture a strong sporting culture, keep youngsters away from drugs, and channel their energy in a positive direction.
The Minister highlighted that with the government’s ongoing anti-drug campaign “Yudh Nashiyan Virudh”, Punjab is already witnessing a positive transformation. Once these sports facilities are fully functional, he expressed confidence that the youth will permanently shun the menace of drugs. He further said, Sports will not only ignite passion among youngsters but also safeguard them from harmful addictions.
Further, Sond reiterated that the state government is committed to providing both employment opportunities and world-class sports facilities to the youth. Promising international exposure, he announced that renowned sportspersons who have represented India globally will be appointed as coaches to train emerging talent. He assured that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government, is leaving no stone unturned to restore the state’s lost sporting glory.
It is noteworthy that Punjab is the first state in the country to extend financial assistance to players even before international competitions-an initiative that has already yielded encouraging results. With the development of rural sports grounds, Punjab is now set to achieve new milestones on the national and international sports map.
Sond expressed confidence that the government’s efforts will bear fruit, enabling Punjab’s youth to bring laurels to the state across all fields.
