Punjab govt. hikes budget for sports wings

Chandigarh, Apr 25 (UNI) The Punjab Government has hiked its budget for sports wings in schools and colleges in the current financial year to Rs 1.5 crore from Rs 45 lakh last year.

Punjab Sports Director Padamshree and former Indian hockey coach Pargat Singh said the selection procedure for the sports wings was under progress and a committee comprising olympians other including Col Balbir Singh (chairman), Brig Labh Singh, Sukhvir Singh Grewal and Olympian Rajbir Kaur, had been formed which was assisting in searching for talent in the correct age groups.

''Once the selection procedure is over, a consolidated merit list will be prepared before alloting the seats in different schools.

More than 600 sports wings seats will be given to schools while the remaining seats will be alloted to different colleges,'' said Pargat Singh.

''The selection trials in Under-14, Under-16 and Under-19 have been completed in hockey, athletics, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, boxing, gymnastics and judo. The selected boys and girls are undergoing medical examinations at the National Institute of Sports in Patiala. Doctors from NIS Bangalore are conducting the medical tests in Patiala,'' disclosed Mr Pargat Singh.

Mr Pargat Singh also said 268 probables, including 59 girls in the Under-19 category had already undergone medical tests. The medical examinations of 243 boys and 34 girls had been completed in Under-16 group.

''The Punjab Sports Department has taken steps to ensure weeding out overage players. The report of the panel of NIS doctors will be final and binding,'' said Mr Pargat Singh.

More than 1000 players attended hockey trials conducted in Amritsar, Ludhiana and Jalandhar where astroturfs are available. As many as 750 budding runners took part in athletic trials in Jalandhar and Ludhiana where synthetic tracks are available.

Volleyball trials were organised at Malot and Jalandhar while cagers were directed to report at Ludhiana. Gurdaspur and Jalandhar were the venues of judo and gymnastic trials.

Boxing trials were conducted at Sunam, Patiala and Jalandhar and wrestling trials in Amritsar, Patiala and Faridkot.

The selected players for the sports wings would be provided free education, hostel, training, sports equipment, medical facilities alongwith a diet of Rs 60 per player per day.

Meanwhile, Mr Pargat Singh has requested the Sports Authority of India to depute at least 56 coaches in Punjab. He has also sought coaches from the Punjab Police Department.

UNI XC PM VP2052