Excelsior Sports Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 17: Minister for Medical Education, Youth Services & Sports, Taj Mohi-ud-Din today said the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh has promised a package of Rs. 700 crore over a period of five years to give boost to sports in J&K. He said during his recent meeting with him, the Prime Minister has given directions to the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports in this regard with the assurance that more funds would be made available if need be.
Inaugurating the Kashmir Football Festival-2013 here today, the Minister said under the package every town with a population of more than 50 thousand souls would be provided with an indoor stadium and wherever land is available football and hockey grounds would be raised.
Taj said Government has prepared a comprehensive plan of strengthening sports infrastructure in the State under which indoor stadia would be constructed in every region of the Srinagar and Jammu cities. He said the TRC grounds in Srinagar would be provided with an all weather football turf so that it remains functional throughout the year.
He said Government plans to extend sports activities to all the Districts so that more and more youth join them. He said sports infrastructure in the State is being given a re look and more facilities are being added to the already existing sports infrastructure.
In all 150 football teams in all categories are participating in the festival which includes some ace football teams like J&K Police, JK Bank etc. The tournament is being played on a 6-a-side basis rather than on conventional basis.
The matches would be played on four fields in Polo Grounds. In men’s category teams have been classified into under 15, under 19 and seniors whileas among girls all age group teams are playing in the tournament. The festival has been organized b y J&K State Sports Council.
The inaugural match was played between Burn Hall Football Club and Biscoe Football Club whileas the second match was played between PDC Baghliar and Kashmir Tigers.
A large number of football lovers had come to watch the inaugural matches of the festival today.
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