Two synthetic handball courts to come up at sports college

Two synthetic handball courts are going to come up at Government Arts and Sports College in Jalandhar. For decades, there had been no wing for handball in the college. But now, with the efforts of the college principal Dr Ranbir Singh, the courts will be constructed and the wing be started.

As per information, under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan, a total of Rs 98 lakh has been sanctioned with which the works will be done. There will be enclosure and floodlights as well.

The PWD has been entrusted with the task to carry on the work. The Sports Department has also sent a proposal to a Junior Engineer, PWD. "The tender will be floated soon and it is expected that within 21 days, the work will be completed. We are hoping that the work will start from May 15 and it be completed in June last week," Dr Ranbir Singh, college principal told The Tribune.

Once the construction is done, the college will ask the department to give a dedicated handball coach to the college.

Apart from this, the football wing is also going to start in this famous sports college of the state.

For the last few decades, despite having a ground, there was no football wing in the college. The ground, which was previously considered unsuitable, is now being upgraded with the grant received from the Central Government under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) programme for 2013-14. A sum of over Rs 11 lakh has been spent on the project.

In 1961, under the leadership of then Chief Minister Partap Kairon, the foundation was laid for what would become Asia’s first-ever sports college — later renamed the Government Arts and Sports College. Its alumni include legendary hockey players such as Surjit Singh and Harcharan Singh (Flying Eagle), along with champion athletes like Ishar Singh Deol and Jagdeep Singh, to name just a few. Dr Ranbir Singh leads the institution, continuing its legacy of excellence.