By Our Correspondent
SAMBALPUR/BHUBANESWAR:Our government aims to further increase the participation of youth in sports along with the development of sports infrastructure. In this direction, the MP Sports Festival has been particularly helpful in realizing this plan, said Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan while participating in the national concluding program of the ‘MP Sports Festival’ organized in Sambalpur today.
Addressing the players and the public present at the event, Shri Pradhan said, Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has addressed the young players of the country today through a virtual platform through this event and boosted their morale. There is no win or loss in sports. In sports, one wins or learns. Defeat shows us the way forward, the Prime Minister said. This message of the Prime Minister has filled a new craze among the young players.
Shri Pradhan said that Sambalpur district is a district of ‘sportsman spirit’. This land has already produced many national and international level players. Now it is time for us to find new talents from ward and panchayat levels and provide them with world class training. The Union Minister has directed the district administration, district athletic association and sports officers to prepare a ‘master plan’. He said that a sports calendar should be prepared to organize various games from block to district level from January to December. Sports grounds in rural areas should be strengthened. Sports like football, kabaddi, kho-kho, athletics and swimming should be promoted. Efforts will be made to have a modern stadium with special facilities for girls in the Sports College in Sambalpur. He also proposed to organize attractive programs like ‘Boat Festival’ in Mahanadi.
Shri Pradhan also said that India is preparing to stake its claim for the 2036 Olympics, when the Commonwealth Games are to be held in India in 2030. Such an atmosphere will be created from Sambalpur, where the children from there will bring medals for the country.
