Haryana emerging as a sports state in India

The victorious Haryana team in the Junior National Hockey Championship in Pune.

by Haryananewswire (Balbir)

CHANDIGARH, DEC 25

Besides becoming an education hub, Haryana has also emerged  as a sports state in the country and the state government has provided Rs 995 crore during the year 2011-12 for the promotion of sports, arts and culture.

          This was stated by Mr Gopal Kanda, State Minister for Local Bodies and Home while speaking in the annual function of Maharaja Agarsain Senior Secondary School, Sirsa. Education Minister Mrs Geeta Bhukkal was also present in the function as a chief guest.

He said that Sports Development Fund has also been created in the state to provide financial assistance to the sportspersons  for preparing themselves for sports competitions, besides  providing them insurance cover.

         Mr Kanda announced to give a sum of Rs one lakh from his discretionary fund  to the school and also announced to give a sum of Rs 1.51 lakh to the children taking part in the cultural and other activities.

          He said that the youth of Haryana  were pursuing games as a profession  and they were beginning to see their future in games. The state government had appointed outstanding sportspersons to the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police, inspector, sub inspector and constables in police department. They had  been given appointments in other departments also.

          Referring the sports facilities provided in district Sirsa, Mr Kanda said that  besides setting up academies for men's hockey and kabaddi, wings of various  sports had also been set up. The astroturf hockey ground developed in Sirsa  would go a long way in promotion of hockey games in the state.He also extended his felicitation to the people and children on the occasion of Christmas.
However, the achievement of the Haryana junior hockey team in the recently held Nationals in Pune has gone unnoticed. Haryana won the Junior Nationals. No one in the Government or the Haryana Olympic Association has complimented the players for winning the Nationals.