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Punjab

Punjab Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer reviews preparations for Khed Mela -2022

ASHOK KAURA | August 18, 2022 05:49 PM

NAWANSHAHR:Punjab Sports and Youth Services Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer while reviewing preparations for Punjab Sports Mela-2022 here today, said that around five lakh players of different age groups are expected to participate in a two month long sports extravaganza being launched by Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann at Jalandhar on August 29.

He said that online entries for the games will provide a database of the budding players of the state who can then be nurtured as future champions. The government is also planning to provide sports infrastructure at village level to keep the youth away from drugs.

He was here to review preparations for Punjab Khed Mela-2022 at block and district level sports competitions. Accompanied by Principal Secretary (Sports) Raj Kamal Chaudhary and Director Rajesh Dhiman, he discussed the preparations and awareness plan with MLAs Santosh Kataria and Dr. Nachhatar Pal, Deputy Commissioner Navjot Pal Singh Randhawa, SP and eminent footballer Gurmeet Kaur, Deepak Bali and senior AAP leaders of the district, including, Lalit Mohan Pathak , District President Shiv Karan Chechi, and other officials. He said that the participation of 14 to 50 plus age categories in these games would be ensured.

He said that there was a time when Punjab was number one in the country in the field of sports, but after the apathetic attitude shown by the successive governments towards sports, we have fallen far behind. He said that some players of Punjab have shown their talent in the recent Commonwealth Games, but to create such players, we need to hone up the hidden sports talent in Punjab.

Sports and Youth Services Minister Meet Hayer said that we are expecting a registration of around 5 lakh budding and other players from Punjab. Offline entry has also been arranged in District Sports Offices. Further, former players who have excelled in sports at the block and district level, have also been roped in for these games, so that there presence could be made a source of inspiration for the new generation.

He said that it is surprising that for 6 years in Punjab no budget has been kept for buying sports equipment and the Punjab government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has made an enhanced allocation of 52 percent in sports and youth services in its first budget. He said that apart from Khelo India, sports facilities will be provided under the Rural Development and Panchayat Department and MNREGA in all the villages of the state.

He asked the district administration to reach out to the players through sports grounds, panchayats, schools etc. for the participation of maximum number of people and players at block level and district level sports competitions to be held in the district.

On this occasion, Additional Deputy Commissioner (J) Rajiv Verma, SDM Nawanshahr Dr. Baljinder Dhillon, Dr. Gurleen Sidhu PCS (under training), DDPO Davinder Sharma, District Sports Officer Harpinder Singh, Deputy District Education Officer (Secondary) Rajesh Kumar, General Manager Roadways Jasvir Singh, District Youth Officer, Nehru Yuva Kendra Vandana Lao, Block Development and Panchayat Officers, Municipal Councils' EOs, AAP leaders Balbir Singh Karnana and Inderjit Mann and district sports coaches and officials from other departments were present.

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