17th National Forest Games on Dec 3

Chandigarh, Nov 5 (UNI) An estimated 2000 sportspersons and officials are expected to participate in the 17th National Forest Games to be hosted by the Punjab Forest Department from December 3 to 7 in the tricity of Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula.

The participants would be from the forest departments of 41 states and Forestry Institutions from all over country.

The event would be inagurated by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at the Panjab University campus here.

B C Bala, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) of Punjab said as many as 121 events would be held in various sports and games disciplines including atheltics, cricket, football volleyball, hockey, basketball, weight and power lifting, golf badminton, tennis, table tennis, carom, billiards, snooker, bridge, rifle shooting, swimming and kabaddi.

Punjab Forest Minister Tikshan Sud yesterday released the attractive and colorful Mascot of the Games. The Mascot has been named ''Ena'' which was the Sanskrit word for Black Buck, the state animal of Punjab. ' Baaz' or falcon, the state bird of Punjab will form the logo of the Games.

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