Face2News/Chandigarh

Terming them as future leaders with potential to transform India into a global sports powerhouse, Administrator Chandigarh, Sh. Banwarilal Purohit asked budding sportspersons to inculcate qualities of commitment into their day to day lives to achieve enduring excellence in all spheres, most particularly in sports during the felicitation ceremony organised by Sports department to honour UT winners and coaches of Khelo India Youth Games 2022. Sh. Dharam Pal, Adviser to the Administrator was also present during the ceremony.

Chandigarh had secured 5 Gold, in addition to 1 Silver and as many as 11 Bronze medals at the Youth Games held in Madhya Pradesh in February this year.

Addressing the select gathering of players and coaches, Sh. Purohit lauded each of 135 players and 34 officials who were part of Chandigarh contingent for their passion, hardwork and dedication to make a name for themselves and for their city at national level. He encouraged them to focus on target with utmost sincerity and dedication

Director Sports Sorabh Kumar Arora in his welcome address thanked the Sh. Purohit for his guidance and direction in sensitising the policy decisions to the single-minded approach of betterment of our sportspersons and coaches. Welcoming the Sportspersons, Sorabh Kumar Arora shared that the overarching aim of Department is to create and nurture world class athletes who can compete globally and are suported by top class infrastructure at schools and colleges.

Handing over cheques to medal winners, the Administrator underlined that this success is a beginning of their dreams. Those who have missed medals this time must feel inspired to do better and better. He further added that hard work never goes waste and the lessons learnt from failure are far more instrumental in shaping the destiny than the accolades. He urged all the students to respect their gurus/coaches.

The Gold Medal winners were honoured with prize money of Rs 50,000 each, with Rs. 30,000 Cash amount for Silver and Rs. 20,000 for Bronze Medalists. Coaches were honoured for their contributions with specially created Blazers and Momentos.

Assuring the sportspersons and coaches of all top class facilities for their training and fitness, the Administrator asked the Department to ensure continuous upgradation of all existing facilities, in consultation with coaches, to bring them at par with global standards. Special emphasis must be given to ensure all our new infrastructural facilities are in consonance with the techniques and standards adopted at the world level, the Administrator directed the Department.

Lauding the Central government for launching Khelo India Games, which he termed as a nursery of budding talent, the Administrator said that the programme has been instrumental in identifying incredible set of talent pool to be groomed for global competitions. He also lauded "Khelega India tabhi toh Khilega India” initiative of Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, GOI. Khelo India Youth Games were launched by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in 2018 and the 2022 edition was held in Madhya Pradesh.

Chandigarh had participated in 17 disciplines and the UT had finished 16th out of 36 participating states and UTs.

Underlining the commitment of UT Government to provide a condusive environment and ecosystem for players, which he said is reflected fully in the initiatives proposed in Sports Policy Draft prepared by the Department, the UT Administrator asked the players and coaches to go through the draft of Sports Policy and suggest their feedback and suggestions so that a comprehensive strategy-document is finalised. The Department has put up the draft of Sports Policy on its website and the same is open to public for suggestions till May 23.

Earlier, Director Sports Sorabh Kumar Arora in his welcome address thanked the Sh. Purohit for his guidance and direction in sensitising the policy decisions to the single-minded approach of betterment of our sportspersons and coaches. Welcoming the Sportspersons, Sorabh Kumar Arora shared that the overarching aim of Department is to create and nurture world class athletes who can compete globally and are suported by top class infrastructure at schools and colleges.

Present among the dignitaries were Sh. Nitin Yadav, Home Secretary, Sh. Vijay Namdeorao Zade, Finance Secretary, Sh. Praveer Ranjan, DGP, Sh. Vinod Kavle, Secretary Sports.