Hooda announces Rs 30 lakh for hockey team

by sportswire4u.blogspot.com (Balbir)

CHANDIGARH, SEPT 27

Haryana Chief Minister  Bhupinder Singh Hooda has announced to give Rs 30 lakh for the national hockey team which returned home as champion in recently held Asian Championship in China beating its arch rival Pakistan in the final. Mr Hooda also announced Rs 10 lakh for the player in the team from the state of Haryana.

            Haryana Chief Minister has emerged as champion of sports in recent years for his persistent support for sports. Since 2005, the state government has given away a huge amount of Rs 32.42 crore to state's 6976 medal winning players at different level. In 2008, Beijing Olympians of the region were given Rs 2.61 crore. State's Commonwealth Games players were awarded Rs 4.83 crore along with cars in a glittering Haryana Day function in November last year. Players of Asian Games were honoured with Rs 6.65 crore early this year.

            Haryana has an end-to-end support architecture for talented athletes in the state. From Rs 10 crore SPAT scholarship for budding players in 8-19 years age group, Haryana has cash awards for all notable sports achievements. Club it with our Employment Guarantee Scheme, we have made sports a secure career option, said Mr Hooda.

            Mr Hooda said that besides rewarding excellence, our aim is to raise the physical activity level in the state and engage youth with the help of higher participation in sports. It will help in raising health standard, reducing school dropout and keeping instances of drug and delinquency under control.

            Mr Sukhbir Kataria, Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs congratulated the hockey players for their stellar performance and called upon them to bring back old glorious days when Olympics hockey gold almost belonged to the country.