Punjab`s new sports policy on anvil

Chandigarh: To tap the sporting talents, especially in rural areas of the state, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has instructed sports department to draft a new policy soon. Outlining of the policy, Badal said that the new one must focus on filtering out quality players and further imparting

with specialised trainings to them so that they can win medals in the international events. The Deputy Chief Minister is also for a new graded cash award scheme for the tournaments - starting from block to the Olympic level, which he feels, would motivate the players. Reviewing performance of the Punjab sports department, he said that the proposed policy must concentrate developing new infrastructure in the villages, maintaining the existing ones and improving district level facilities as well. Badal regretted that the sports infrastructure in Punjab has not kept pace with the new development and so the players could not give their best at international as well as national level meets. Bureau Report