Delhi Govt keen to provide excellent infrastructure to sportspersons

New Delhi, Oct 14 (UNI) Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today said the city government is keen on providing excellent infrastructure to its sportspersons in Delhi so that athletes can perform to their optimum level.

Speaking at a function for distribution of the Rajiv Gandhi State Sports Awards for 2007 to Seven Best Sportspersons, by the Chief Minister and Education Minister Arvinder Singh, Ms Dikshit said,''better infrastructural facilities prompt athletes to work hard and win medals for the country.'' Speaking at the function, where sportspersons Rajeev Tomar (Wrestling), Neha Aggarwal (Table Tennis), Pooja Sharma (Kabbadi), Priyanka (Handball), Rajesh Toora (Power Lifting),Achint Babbar (Swimming- differently abled) and Rushi Gulati (Cycling differently abled), were handed over awards, the Chief Minister said the city government has put Delhi on the world map as a health,education, sports and tourist destination and a force to reckon with in the world.

Speaking on the occasion, Delhi Education Minister Arvinder Singh said the Directorate of Education has ensured elaborate arrangements for imparting training in different sports to the athletes of Delhi. He said excellence in sports is essential keeping in view the ensuing 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

It is expected that the host city would display exemplary performance as China has demonstrated exceptionally as host country in the recently concluded Beijing Olympics.

Mr Singh said the athletes should work hard and aspire to get medals for the country in the forthcoming Commonwealth Games.

The Minister said the Government is committed to provide excellent sports infrastructure to the athletes for best performance at all levels of competitions.

He said the city government has provided world class facilities to the sportspersons in Delhi which is attracting a lot of young talent from within the city and has prompted many states to follow the Delhi model. Mr Singh said the City Government will make sure that no aspiring athlete in the city is devoid of sports facilities.

''It is a very appropriate and encouraging sign that the City Government, which is going to host the next Commonwealth Games in 2010, has met with success in its Programme to win medals at international events with the Delhi grappler Sushil Kumar winning a Bronze Medal at recently concluded Olympics in Beijing,''Mr Singh said.

Also present on the ocasion were Addl Director (Education) Satpal and many Senior officials of the Directorate of Education.

UNI AR AKJ GC2014