Punjab News- World class hockey stadium inaugurated at Mohali

SAS Nagar (Mohali), September 27, 2013: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today envisioned to develop Punjab as a front runner state in the field of Sports across the country thereby reviving its pristine lost glory in Hockey at the international level.
Addressing the gathering after inaugurating world class International Standard Hockey Stadium opposite PCA in Sector-63 here, the Chief Minister said that our government was committed to give its due representation to our mother sports Kabaddi and Hockey which had lost its sheen with the passage of time. He said concerted efforts have been made by our government to popularise Kabbadi at the world level by organising World Kabaddi Cups and the entire credit goes to the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal who also holds the portfolio of Sports and Youth Affairs. Badal said that now we would exclusively focus our energy towards the promotion of Hockey in a big way so that Punjab could once again shine in this traditional sport, which once dominated the international Hockey scenario.
Recalling the superb contribution of ace Hockey players like Olympian Balbir Singh Senior and others, the Chief Minister said that they had brought laurels for the country in general and made Punjab proud several times in particular. He said that the newly built stadium would provide opportunities to excel the young Hockey Players and the portraits of the Hockey Stalwarts of Punjab displayed in the stadium, would give inspiration to the future generations. He further said that the Punjab was the only state in the country to have announced its sports policy adding that the state government had given jobs to a number of sportspersons who have excelled in the various national and international events.
The Chief Minister further revealed that all out efforts were being made by the state government to uplift the sports infra structure in the state for which Rs 200 crore was being spent by them. He said that six world class Hockey stadiums along with 10 Multi-purpose stadiums were under construction which would give  a major fillip to the sports in the state. He that the entire focus on the upgradation of infra structure was in line with the fact that top class sports persons could only excel in their different disciplines of sports provided we ensure them the best sports facilities in terms of high class infra structure and world class stadiums.
Terming the newly inaugurated Hockey stadium as one of the best stadiums in the world, the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal in his address said that the stadium was one of its kind across the globe. He said that besides organising six nation tournament in this stadium, the state government would also hold the matches of Punjab Hockey League on the pattern of Indian Premier League (IPL) in which the district level teams would compete with each other. Sukhbir Singh Badal also said that Punjab Institute of Sports at a cost of Rs. 100 crore would be constructed at Mohali adding that centers of excellence in selective sports disciplines would be constructed for promoting sports in the coming times.
The Deputy Chief Minster further said that the Sports department would soon chalk out a massive program for establishing one sports school each in every district on the pattern of already set up such school at Ghudda (Bathinda), to fulfill the cherished aspiration of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. He said that with the inauguration of this international Hockey Stadium the SAS Nagar would now be known for Hockey stadium whereas earlier it was only associated with the Cricket stadium.  Sukhbir Singh Badal said that the services of world class coaches would be roped in to train our budding players in all sports discipline especially Hockey.
Meanwhile, the Punjab eleven defeated the Rest of India by 3-2, in an exciting match which offered a gala event to the Hockey lovers. On the occasion the Chief Minister announced a cash reward of Rupees Five lakh each to both the teams.  
 Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Rajya Sabha MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Chief Parliamentary Secretary NK Sharma and former Union Minister Balwant Singh Ramoowalia.