52nd National School Games begin in Delhi

New Delhi, Dec 23 (UNI) Education, Tourism and Sports Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely today inaugurated the 52nd National School Games at Chatrasaal Stadium here.

Delhi had been organising the games quite successfully over the years as a result School Games Federation of India again allotted the event to be organised here, he said.

Last year, students from Delhi schools won 239 Gold, 245 Silver and 147 Bronze medals, winning the overall championship at the games.

Wrestlers Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt, both from the capital, won Bronze medal in at the recently concluded Doha Asian Games. Also India won Gold medal in Kabaddi due to excellent performance of Delhi's Rakesh Kumar, which was a great honour for the city, he added.

Keeping in view the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the state government would develop Delhi into a sports city and promote the sports activities among the students to nurture 'hidden' talents in different games, the minister further said.

Around 5,000 players from 28 states and seven union territories would participate in the games, which would have eight disciplines in this edition. The games would end on December 28.

Local MLA Kunwar Karan Singh, Education Secretary Rina Ray, Director Education Vijay Kumar and Deputy Director Education (Sports) Satpal were present on the occasion.

UNI IP AY DS1542