Gala opening planned for Shaheed-E-Azam Bhagat Singh Games

by sportswire4u.blogspot.com (Balbir)

LUDHIANA, FEB 24 

The inaugural Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh Punjab Games are in for a gala opening as Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhvir Singh Badal today reviewed the arrangements for the opening ceremony as well as conduct of the games from February 28 to March 6.

        Accompanied by officers of all concerned departments, NZCC and district officials, the Deputy Chief Minster reviewed the minutest details of each step. Talking to media after reviewing arrangements, Mr. Badal said that these games would be 'Mini Punjab Olympics' with each district competing as a separate nation. 

He said that North Zone Cultural Centre  has requisitioned the services of Prof. Bansi Dhar, who choreographed the opening and closing ceremony of Commonwealth Games for conduct of opening and closing ceremony of Punjab Games. He said that while Harbhajan Mann, leading Punjabi singer would regale the audience, Bollywood star Akshay Kumar would be the star attraction of the opening ceremony. He said that Bollywoods most adoring Punjabi stars Dharminder, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol would renew their ties with their home land in the closing ceremony at Jalandhar on March 6.

        Reviewing the arrangements in Guru Nanak Stadium Mr. Badal said that all these games would be under flood lights and would be telecast live. He said that while Ludhiana would host basketball, athletics, football, tug of war and kabaddi, Patiala would host wrestling, boxing, weightlifting and volleyball , Mohali would host shooting championships whereas hockey events would be organized in Jalandhar.

        Speaking about the initiatives of the Punjab Government in the sports sector Mr. Badal said that this year budget would have a sizeable allocation for the sports sector that would be utilized in construction of Gymnasium, play grounds in the villages besides distribution of kits to the sportsmen.

 He said that prize money of World Cup Kabaddi has been doubled to Rs. 2 crore. Mr. Badal said that 13 stadiums are being upgraded at the cost of Rs. 100 crore by August 15 this year and 7-nation hockey tournaments would be organised in October this year.

        Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Mr. Hira Singh Gabria Jails Minister ; Mr. Harish Rai Dhanda Chief Parliamentary Secretary ; Mr. Darshan Singh Shivalik, Mr. Jagjeevan Singh Khirnian both MLAs.