Sodhi: Will formulate sports policy better than Haryana’s

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 26

To improve the sports graph and channelise the energy of youth in the right direction, the state government intends to bring a better sports policy.

This was disclosed by Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, who was here to visit the Golden Temple and Jallianwala Bagh on Thursday.

Expressing concern over drug addiction among the state’s youth, Sodhi said the government was hiring psychologists in the state schools to guide them to a better future. Similarly, all schools would have PT teachers and separate period for sports.

He admitted that it was failure of the successive governments that Punjab lagged behind in sports. In the recently held Commonwealth Games, Haryana players had won 22 medals against six by Punjab players, he said.

“My first task is to review the existing policy and deficiency in infrastructure. I can assure you that our policy would be more lucrative and meaningful than Haryana’s. The aim is to encourage them to hone their sporting skills and wean them away from social vices and drugs,” he said.

Ferozepur: Addressing party workers here, Sodhi blamed the SAD-BJP’s 10-year regime for state’s poor show in the field of sports. “A new sports university will be set up in Patiala for which the state has already given in-principal approval to the project,” he said.

Cong MLAs skip event

Fissures within the party came to the fore during Sodhi’s visit to the border district. Local Congress MLAs Parminder Singh Pinki (Ferozepur Urban) and Kulbir Singh Zira and DCC chief Chamkaur Singh Dhindsa were conspicuous by their absence.

Kabaddi cup was more of a ‘mela’

Taking exception to the SAD-BJP criticism about discontinuing the World Kabaddi Cup, Sodhi said the format designed by the Akalis was not more than a “mela” meant for gaining political mileage. “Ours is not vindictive policy. Its format never complied with our sports calendar. Kabaddi’s recognition is intact. As per sports norms, any world cup is organised through bidding process. If a world-level event is organised, we will never hesitate to participate in bidding for kabaddi,” he said.