Champawat: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Tuesday that players who won medals at the 38th National Games will soon be provided government jobs. So far, 29 players have been appointed, while the appointment process for more than 235 medal winners is underway.
The Chief Minister was addressing a programme at the Sports Stadium in Tanakpur, Champawat district, where he inaugurated the Chief Minister’s Championship Trophy. He said the state government is committed to providing athletes with better sports facilities, training and employment opportunities.
Championship to Cover 662 Nyaya Panchayats
Dhami said the Chief Minister’s Championship Trophy will be organised from September 1 to October 30. The competition will begin at the level of the state’s 662 Nyaya Panchayats before progressing to the district and state levels.
The objective is to provide a platform to identify and promote sporting talent from rural and remote areas.
He said winners from the Nyaya Panchayat level to the state level will receive cash prizes. State-level winners will also be eligible for the benefit of four per cent horizontal reservation.
Focus on Sports Infrastructure and Training
The Chief Minister said the state government is continuously working to promote sports and secure the future of athletes through various schemes.
He said the state’s first sports university has already started functioning. The women’s sports college established for female athletes is also the first institution of its kind in the country, he said.
Apart from this, insurance facilities for athletes, modern sports infrastructure and training arrangements are being strengthened. Through the ‘One District, One Sport’ initiative, efforts are being made to develop a distinct sporting identity for each district and promote local talent.
Winners to Receive Rs 5 Lakh
Sports Minister Rekha Arya said the Chief Minister’s Championship Trophy has been launched from the Nyaya Panchayat level so that players from villages and remote areas can get an opportunity to showcase their talent.
She said the winning team of the competition will receive a trophy along with a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh. She also said that an official recruitment notification for National Games medal winners would be issued soon.
2.5 Lakh Players Register This Year
Sports Department Secretary Amit Sinha said Rs 11.2 crore in prize money was distributed during last year’s Khel Mahakumbh, which saw participation from 2.2 lakh players.
This year, 2.5 lakh players have already registered for the competition, reflecting the growing enthusiasm for sports in the state.
During the programme, players showcased their talent through a march-past and sporting demonstrations. Several public representatives, sports officials, coaches, athletes and a large number of sports enthusiasts were present.
