Chandigarh, January 2 : While lauding the sports persons of Haryana for their outstanding achievement at National and International Level, Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal said the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs has been directed to conduct mapping as per the specialization of sports in each district so that necessary sports infrastructure could be upgraded accordingly. Consistent efforts are being made to further strengthen sports infrastructure in the State, he added.
Sh Manohar Lal was addressing at the inaugural ceremony of the Yonex Sunrise 1st Ashwani Gupta Memorial All India Sub Junior Ranking Badminton Tournament-2022 being organized by Sports Promotion Society, Panchkula under the aegis of Haryana Badminton Association at Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex, Sector-3, Panchkula today. Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker and Chairman, Sports Promotion Society, Sh Gian Chand Gupta was also present.
On this occasion, Sh Manohar Lal declared the Yonex Sunrise 1st Ashwani Gupta Memorial All India Sub Junior Ranking Badminton Tournament-2022 open. He also announced to give Rs 11 lakh to the Sports Promotion Society, Panchkula from his discretionary fund.
The Badminton Tournament is being organized from January 2 to January 9, 2022 at the Multi Purpose Hall of Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex Sector-3 and Sports Complex Sector-38, Chandigarh in which about 880 boys and 550 girls from all over the country are participating.
Conceding the demand of Vidhan Sabha Speaker regarding the setting up of a Junior Academy of National level, a Shooting Range and an all-weather Swimming Pool in the Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula, Sh. Manohar Lal assured that he would speak to the Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Sh. Anurag Singh Thakur in this regard.
While recalling the memories of the late Sh Ashwani Gupta who died in a road accident in 2006, Sh Manohar Lal said that he had a close bonding with him. Besides being an outstanding badminton player, Sh Ashwani Gupta was also a good entrepreneur. He said that the initiative of Sports Promotion Society, Panchkula to organize this All India Sub Junior Ranking Badminton Tournament in the memory of late Sh Ashwani Gupta is praiseworthy. He said that players from throughout the country are participating in this tournament and he was sure that they would take cherished memories along with them.
The Chief Minister said that Haryana is fast emerging as a sports hub. Our sports persons have brought laurels to the State and the Country several times by winning medals at various national and international events including Olympics and Paralympics. He said that the soil of Haryana has a unique specialization. The youth of the State are keenly interested in sports and when they are provided appropriate training, required infrastructure and conducive environment, they win medals.
He said that it is also the result of robust sports infrastructure in the State that Haryana has got the opportunity of hosting “ Khelo India Youth Games” in February 2022 in which about 12,000 players from all over the country would participate in different sports disciplines. While referring to the sport of badminton, he said that badminton started in the mid-19th-century in Pune (then known as Poona) and they called this game Poonai. He said that badminton needs a great amount of presence of mind and physical agility. On this occasion, he also exhorted the people to encourage their children to adopt sports in their life besides education.
In his welcome address, Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker and Chairman, Sports Promotion Society, Sh Gian Chand Gupta said that since its formation, the Ashwani Gupta Memorial Trust and Sports Promotion Society, Panchkula has been organizing various sports competitions to encourage the youth to make sports a part of their life. In the same series, the Tricity Badminton Championship was also organized last year. He said that now, it has been decided to host the Yonex Sunrise 1st Ashwani Gupta Memorial All India Sub Junior Ranking Badminton Tournament-2022. He said that all matches in the tournament would be organized while following the Covid-19 guidelines. While expressing concern over the problem of drug addiction among youth, he said that we could channelize their energy into the right direction by encouraging them to adopt sports.
President of Haryana Badminton Association and Additional Chief Secretary, Sh. Devender Singh said that about 2450 entries have been received from all over India and 2400 matches will be played during the tournament. All the main draw matches will be played in Multipurpose Hall, Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex, Sector-3 . He said that in this tournament, 880 boys and 550 girls will be participating and for the smooth conduct of matches, about 55 officials have been deputed. Apart from this, to complete the matches well in time, 10 badminton courts of Sports Complex, Sector 38 (West), Chandigarh would be utilized for the qualifying matches of girls.
Among those present on this occasion included MP Sh Rattan Lal Kataria, Principal Secretary, Sports and Youth Affairs, Sh. A.K. Singh, Deputy Commissioner Sh Mahavir Kaushik, Mayor Sh Kulbhushan Goyal, Deputy Commissioner of Police Sh Mohit Handa, Media Coordinator to Chief Minister, Sh Ramnik Maan, BJP District General Secretary Paramjit Kaur, Councilor Harender Malik President, Sports Promotion Society, Panchkula Sh D.P. Soni and other dignitaries.