National volleyball tourney inaugurated

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 27

The Federation National Gold Cup of Volleyball Tournament was inaugurated at the multipurpose gymnasium of Guru Nanak Dev University here on Friday by Sanjay Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, Sports.

This tournament is being organised by the Sports Department, Punjab, and the Volleyball Federation in commemoration of the centenary of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.

The Additional Chief Secretary took the salute from the march past presented by the players.

In his address, he exhorted the players to display sportsman spirit while playing. Bowing in reverence to the martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh, he divulged that a total of 14 teams from across the country were participating in the tournament with about 300 players showcasing their skills. He said the tournament would continue till October 3 and the state government had made adequate arrangements for the stay as well as providing top quality food to the players.

Sports Minister Rana Gurmit Singh did not turn up to inaugurate the event.

Welcoming the players, Congress leader Raj Kumar Verka said sports played a great role in instilling discipline and moral values in the players, besides keeping them fit. He said it was an article of faith with Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to associate modern-day youth with sports and this tournament was part of the strategy.

Addressing the players, MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla welcomed the players from all over the country stating that sports were an integral part of life and only a healthy person could become a good citizen of society.

Vijay Pal Singh, vice-president of the federation, welcomed the guests. Students from the Education Department presented bhangra and gymnastics. The federation also distributed saplings to the guests to ensure a clean and green environment.

Deputy Commissioner Shivdular Singh Dhillon, Dr Jaspal Singh Sandhu, Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, SDM Shivraj Singh Bal, Deputy Director, Local Government, Dr Rajat Oberoi, general secretary of the federation Kanwaljit Singh, District Sports Officer Gurlal Singh Riar, Water Supply and Sewerage Board Chairman Pargat Singh Dhunna and councillor Sukhdev Singh Chahal.