Youth Baton Relay for Commonwealth Youth Games

Chandigarh, Jul 8 (UNI) The 3rd Commonwealth Youth Games organising committee has decided to conduct a Youth Baton Relay from Delhi to Pune which will cover 8181 km in 74 days across the country to create awareness and promote Commonwealth Youth Games.

The Youth Baton Relay will be passing through Haryana on August 3 and 4 entering Gurgaon then Jhajjar, Rohtak, Kharkhoda and Sonipat.

The night halt will be at Rohtak on August 3 where a cultural programme will be arranged for the team of Relay Baton. From Sonipat the relay will proceed towards Baghpat and Meerut (UP), said Haryana Olympic Association President Abhey Singh Chautala.

Mr Chautala further informed that a grand reception will be given to the Baton Relay at Gurgaon and during the entire route.

The HOA has already written to Haryana Sports Minister Kiran Chuadhary, Director Sports, Deputy Commissioners and SPs of Gurgaon, Jhajjar, Rohtak and Sonipat and other concerned officers for making necessary arrangements including security etc.

Mr H S Bhadu, Director, coordinator of Haryana Olympic Association for Youth Baton Relay in Haryana informed that 20 outstanding and international sportspersons have been invited to accompany the Baton Relay.

The invited sportspersons are Shakti Singh and Chand Ram (athletics), Amir Singh (volleyball), Mehtab Singh and Jitendra Kumar (boxing), Geetika Jhakhar and Sujit Mann (wrestling), Sunita Sharma (gymnastics), Narender Kumar (judo), Asan Kumar and Ramehar Singh (kabaddi), M K Kaushik and Mamta Kharab (hockey), Om Prakash (basketball), all Arjuna Awardees, K K Godara Asian gold medalist (kabaddi), Sunita Dhaka and Promila gold medalist Asian Championship (kabaddi), Chander Pal and C S Rathi former national record holders in high jump and 20 km walk, respectively and Om Prakash, Major Dhyan Chand Awardee (volleyball).

District Rural Games Associations of Gurgaon Jhajjar, Rohtak and Sonipat have been directed to liaison and assist the concerned District Administrations for making the befitting arrangements for Relay Baton in their jurisdictions. All the office bearers of HOA and the President and Secretary of the state sports associations will join at different places to receive the Relay Baton team.

UNI XC PS VN1549