Excelsior Sports Correspondent
KATHUA, Jan 8: Terming sports as a potent tool in channelizing youth energies towards a right perspective, Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Nirmal Singh, today emphasized the need of recognizing and harnessing state’s sports potential to the fullest.
The Deputy Chief Minister, while interacting with the players participating in the ‘Ramkot Volleyball Tournament’ here at Billawar, encouraged them to play with a focused mission and true spirit of a sportsperson to excel in their respective fields.
Players from J&K, Haryana and Punjab are taking part in this tournament.
Applauding PM, Narendra Modi‘s ‘Khelo India’ programme aimed at mainstreaming sport as a tool for individual development, community development, economic development and national development, Dr. Singh said that the programme would impact the entire sports world, including infrastructure, community sports, talent identification, coaching for excellence, competition structure and sports economy.
DyCM said that several efforts have been made by the present dispensation for engaging youth living in remote and deprived areas, in sporting activities, to wean them away from unproductive and disruptive activities and mainstream them in the nation-building process by promoting sports activities in schools and colleges. He added that Establishment of indoor stadium at Billawar will further help in realizing this objective.
Appreciating the organizers of the event, Dr. Singh said that these tournaments provide an appropriate platform to channelize the energies of youth in positive direction for creating a healthy and prosperous society. These help in saving youth from falling prey to drug addiction, he added.
ADC Billawar, Joginder Singh Rai, SDPO, Tehsildars, Engineers, Sportspersons, officers and prominent citizens were present during the programme.