Punjab Irrigation Minister Mr Sharanjit Singh Dhillon today said that the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janta Party led Punjab government is committed for providing world class sports infrastructure to the youth. He said that the state government is not only providing sports infrastructure, but is also supporting sports persons financially. He said this while addressing the sports persons at the closing ceremony of Shaheed-E-Azam Bhagat Singh Punjab Games, here today.Mr Sharanjit Singh Dhillon was the chief guest on the occasion while Ludhiana East MLA Mr Ranjit Singh Dhillon was the guest of honour. Deputy Commissioner Mr Ravi Bhagat and ADC (Development) Miss Apneet Kaur Riyat were also present on the occasion.The Irrigation Minister informed that for supporting the sports persons financially, the Punjab government gave cash awards to several sports persons who have brought accolades for the state in international as well as national level sports events. He said that for strengthening the overall sports culture and infrastructure of the state, the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janta Party government in Punjab has created a special fund of Rs 200 crore. He said that due to the efforts of Punjab CM Mr Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy CM Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, the Punjab government has given jobs to 125 sports persons in the state. He further said that Kabaddi sport is being promoted by the Punjab government by organising Kabaddi World Cups.
He also appealed to the youth, who had gathered in large numbers to join hands and form their youth clubs because very soon all villages of Sahnewal constituency will have Youth Sports Clubs (Dashmesh Youth Clubs). He said that the Punjab government would be providing sports kits and other necessary infrastructure to such clubs.Mr Dhillon also said that for promoting sports culture in the state, the Punjab government is making special efforts and Punjab Institute of Sports has been set up there where 3,000 sports persons are being trained in various sports disciplines. He said that it is his aim that the participation of Punjabis in National, Commonwealth, Asian and Olympics should be increased.
The Punjab government had organised Shaheed-E-Azam Bhagat Singh Punjab Games from February 14 onwards in seven cities of the state, out of which four events were held in Ludhiana. Around 1,850 sports persons participated in four events at Ludhiana, and other events were held at Patiala, Jalandhar, Bathinda, Sri Anandpur Sahib, Ajitgarh and Sangrur.These games were organized with the sole aim of nurturing sporting talent amongst youth. He said that 22 different sports events were organized during these games, in which more than 7000 sports persons from the state participated.Punjab government gave away cash prizes worth Rs 3 crore to the sports persons during these games and the total budget of this sporting event was Rs 7.5 crore. The winner of gold medal was given cash prize of Rs 25,000, silver medalist Rs 17,000 and bronze medalist Rs 12,000.