Ferozepore (Vikramditya Sharma)

Sports minister Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi on Monday said that only players will be allowed to take exam for the government jobs in sports quota to encourage and provide batter job opportunities to our players. Sodhi was speaking after laying the foundation stone of Astroturf in Hockey stadium and it's upgradation worth Rs 6.22 crore. The minister said that Rs 5.50 crore will be spent for Astroturf and Rs 71.46 lakh for upgrading of the stadium.

He said that works include boundary wall, chain link fencing and others will be completed within nine months. He said that the Astroturf will be specially imported from foreign following which matches of national and international level will be played.

SPORTS MINISTER AND MLA LAYS FOUNDATION STONE OF ASTROTURF IN HOCKEY STADIUM, RS 6.22 CRORE FOR UPGRADING HOCKEY STADIUM, WORK TO BE COMPLETED IN NINE MONTHS, ATHLETIC TRACK WORTH RS 7 CRORE, HOCKEY ACADEMY, SWIMMING POOL AND FLOOD LIGHTS TO BE ESTABLISHED IN FEROZEPUR

The minister also added that to connect the Ferozepur youths with sports, an athletic track at the cost of Rs 7 crore, hockey academy, all season swimming pool and flood lights will also be installed in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Stadium.

The Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh was committed to channelize the energy of youth in a positive manner through promotion of sports, adding that the minister said that adequate provision would be made for encouraging sporting activity in the ensuing budget. Mr. Sodhi also said that the recruitment of new coaches and upgradation of sports infra straucture was also on cards.

In another major announcement, the Minister said that state of the art stadiums would be constructed in all the districts of the state. Exhorting the people to encourage their children for sports, Mr. Sodhi said that it would help in making Punjab a frontrunner state in sports.

The minister said that undrr the new sports policy the gold madal winners of Olympics to have price of Rs. 2.50 Crore along with government jobs while winners at other Asian and commonwealth games to have price money of Rs.1 crore along with job. The silver and bronze madal winners in Olympics to have price money of Rs. 75 and 50 Lakh apart from job.

He said that the sports policy of the state government was a right step towards this direction as it provides jobs as it emphasizes not only on enhancing the prize money of various National and International tournaments but also ensuring a robust and top notch sports infrastructure in Punjab aiming at producing champions for national and international events. Mr. Sodhi said that the Sports policy of Punjab was the best in the country which aims to produce top sportsman for national and international level.

Parminder Singh Pinki, Congress MLA from Ferozepur said that the youth should stay away from drugs and should participate in the sports. On the occasion Deputy Commissioner Chander Gaind, District Sports Officer Sunil Sharma, Red Cross Secretary Ashok Behal and other officials were also were present.