Keekli Bureau, 16th November, 2015, Shimla
Government committed to take sports to the grass-root level
Vice Chairman of State Forest Development Corporation, Kewal Singh said sports were necessary to channelize the energy of youth and keep them healthy. The championship was organized by the District Shimla Taekwondo Association and around 250 players from different corners of the district, including the remotest Dodra Kwar, participated in the event. The championship included sparring and Poom-sae for sub-junior, junior and senior categories, including cadets.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the three-day district Taekwondo championship in the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, Pathania said that sports help in personality development and make the youth confident in life. He said in the present scenario where the youth is getting inclined to drugs and other evils, sports have become even more significant. Director, Health and Family Welfare, Dr DS Gurung and Director, Marketing, Forest Corporation, Guleria were the guests of honour at the closing ceremony.
He said the health department should collaborate and encourage the Sports Association take all kinds of sports to the grass-root level, so that the rural youth also benefits. He said the gyms at the village level can divert the energy of the youth positively.
Pathania said Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh has been personally taking interest in promoting sports at the grass-root level. The Congress government led by Virbhadra has not only been providing sports infrastructure at all levels for general good of the youth, but has been rewarding the sports men for their achievements in the field and giving them jobs in different departments as per the reservation provisions for the sportsmen.
Pathania congratulated the organizer, international player and referee, Vinod Kumar for his commitment to encourage the sportsmen, especially as players from every nook and corner of Shimla participated in the event. He said he would take up with the government to support the organization financially and reward the players associated with Taekwondo at state and national level.
He later distributed medals to the winners of the championship in different events. The overall trophy was won by Vishwas Taekwondo Club, Shimla, while Rohru and Rampur teams finished second and third.
