HOA to felicitatte National Games medal winners

Sirsa, Sep 28 (UNI) The Haryana Olympic Association, headed by Abhay Singh Chautala, and affiliated to Indian Olympic Association, will felicitate 152 players who won medals for Haryana at the Guwahati National Games.

HOA Secretary General Dr Mahinder Singh Malik said that those Haryana players who brought laurels to the state would be given cash awards on the opening and closing ceremonies of the XXI Haryana State Games to be held at Ch Devi Lal Vidya Peeth in Sirsa from October 2 to 4.

Meanwhile, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has expressed his inability to attend the opening ceremony as he would be pre-occupied due to the Gandhi Jayanti on October 2.

HOA president Abhay Singh Chautala has requested the Chief Minister to inaugurate the State Games. ''The Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is welcome on any day during the games. We will give him tumultuous welcome as sports is for all and above politics, caste, religion and creed,'' said the HOA presdient.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will inaugurate the State Games while Haryana Governor Dr AR Didwai has given his consent to be the chief guest and distribute the prizes at the closing ceremony.

The HOA has also planned a 'Sadbhavana Sports Yatra' on the eve of the Gandhi Jayanti. More than 1000 persons from all walks of life, including Arjuna awardees, will participate in the sports yatra. The yatra will start from the main centre of Sirsa and culminate at the entrance of the Ch Devi Lal Vidya Peeth, the venue of the games.

The HOA regretted that the State Govenment had not extended financial, technical and equipment support for organising the Haryana State Games.

UNI