For connecting the youth with sports and for developing a nursery of young sportspersons in the state, sports schools would be opened in all districts of the state. Thus announcement was made by Deputy Chief Minister Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal while addressing the gathering on the occasion of Dr BR Ambedkar 6th World Cup Kabaddi 2016 in the grounds of Sant Baba Prem Singh Karamsar Khalsa College, Begowal, here today.Mr Badal said that at present two sports schools, one at Ghudda (Bathinda) and second at Jalandhar, are functioning. He said that for preparing school children for big sporting events, sports schools would be opened in all districts of the state, where the students would be imparted free coaching by expert coaches and arrangement would also be made for hostel and their education.On the demand of Bibi Jagir Kaur, the Deputy CM also announced a sports stadium for Begowal area. Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is the state sports minister as well, said that by next year, an ultra modern sports stadium would be constructed in Begowal with a cost of Rs 2.5 crore and matches of 7th World Cup Kabaddi would be organised there.
The Deputy CM said that the Punjab government has also set up Punjab Institute of Sports (PIS) at Mohali, which has all modern coaching facilities and is one of its kind Institute of the country where more than 5,000 sportspersons are being trained under the watchful eyes of expert coaches. He said that it is the Punjab government's target that in 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Punjab would have maximum participation in the Indian contingent. He said that it has been due to the untiring efforts of Punjab government during last 7 years that 14 teams are competing in this edition of World Cup Kabaddi. He said that in last 9 years, the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janta Party led Punjab government has focussed mainly on overall development of the state.On this occasion, MLA Bibi Jagir Kaur thanked the Deputy CM for attending the World Cup Kabaddi matches at Begowal. She said that Kapurthala district has always been a nursery of sports and thanked the Deputy CM for choosing Begowal as one of the matches of World Cup Kabaddi.Earlier during the day, Irrigation Minister Mr Sharanjit Singh Dhillon visited Begowal and interacted with the teams. Prominent among those present on the occasion included Punjab Kabaddi Association Vice President Tejinder Singh Middukhera, SGPC member Paramjit Singh Raipur and Sarwan Singh Kular, Market Committee chairman Swaran Singh Josh, Pritam Singh Naurangpur, Deputy Commissioner Jaskiran Singh, SSP Rajinder Singh, SP Bahadur Singh Olympian, Assistant Director (Sports) Kartar Singh Sehamby, DSO Gurlal Singh Riar, besides several others.