-SPORTS MINISTER RANA SODHI DIRECTS OFFICERS & COACHES TO MAKE MISSION RESONATE THROUGHOUT PUNJAB
CHANDIGARH: The Sports Department, Punjab, has chalked out a comprehensive programme to ensure grand success of ‘Tandarust Punjab Mission’ begun by the Punjab Government. The Sports Minister, Punjab, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi has directed the officers and coaches of the department to get fully involved into the task of making the mission resonate throughout the state. Rana Sodhi said that the Sports Department has started implementing the vision of the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to have a healthy and robust Punjab. 
A spokesman of the Sports Department while disclosing this said that competitions at the District as well as the State level are being held apart from organizing coaching camps for youth as per the directions of the Sports Minister. Sports clubs have been established for giving boost to sports and in a first, the sports wings for the students in the schools/colleges are beginning on time. A total of 4000 players are have been admitted in the sports wings of the schools while the trials for colleges’ sports wings are over and 1500 players would be admitted soon.
The government is providing sports equipment besides gym to the youth in order to make them gain a strong foothold in sporting arena. Giving priority to the infrastructural aspect to attract youth towards the sports, 10 stadiums and 2 shooting ranges are being renovated at a cost of Rs. 32.90 crore. Stadiums at block level are coming up to connect youth with the sporting field. The process with regard to the 1st Sports University of the state at Patiala is underway with classes scheduled to commence from the next session.
The spokesman further said that cash prizes are being distributed to the players winning medals at the National and International level besides making ‘Maharaja Ranjit Singh Awards’, given on the pattern of National Sports Awards, an annual feature with increase in the prize money. Not only is this but the Sports Department also providing financial assistance to the emerging players. The spokesman also said that the District Olympic Associations and the District Sports Councils which are now lying practically defunct would be revived to popularize sports culture amongst the children as well as the youth.
