Punjab Horticulture, Food Processing, Defence Service Welfare and Freedom Fighters Minister Fauja Singh Sarari on Saturday inaugurated 200 metres and 500 metres boat race events during the ongoing 10th National Dragon Boat Racing Championship at Sukhna Lake here.
Calling the participants to work harder to excel in sports to make the country proud at International level, the Cabinet Minister also felicitated the winning teams. Haryana won first prize, Punjab 2nd and Delhi 3rd in 1000 Metres event in men category, and in the women's event Haryana team won Gold, Punjab Silver and Himachal Pradesh Bronze medal.
As many as 18 states are participating in this prestigious championship organized by Dragon Boat Federation of India.Highlighting the importance of the sports, Mr. Sarari said that Chief Minister S Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government is not leaving any stone unturned to promote sports culture in the state to make it torch bearer at National level in the sports again.
Recently, Punjab Government has organised “Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan” to identify hidden talents and thereafter hone that talent to produce the elite sports persons, he added.General Secretary of Dragon Boat Federation of India Vinod Verma, General Secretary of Punjab Dragon Boat Association Krishna Kamboj and President Sandeep Kamboj were also present on the occasion.