Administrator UT Chandigarh Felicitates Outstanding Sportspersons
The Voice of CHandigarh
The Sports Department of Chandigarh Administration organized a program to honour the sportpersons .
Gulab Chand Kataria, Governor Punjab & Administrator UT Chandigarh was the chief guest on the occasion.
Prerna Puri, Secretary Sports, Chandigarh Administration, welcomed the dignitaries and presented an overview of the development of sports infrastructure and the promotion of sporting activities in the city.
During the event, the Hon’ble Administrator distributed scholarships amounting to Rs. 2.56cr. to the 647 student players. In his address, the Administrator congratulated the students of government schools and their parents for bringing pride to the city through their accomplishments in sports. He also appreciated the efforts of the Sports Department in nurturing and supporting young talent. He also congratulated the parents for encouraging their children to actively participate and excel in sports. Sh. Kataria cited inspiring examples of student players with special needs from Chandigarh who have excelled in various Paralympic events, earning recognition at national and international levels.
Highlighting the city’s growing stature in the sports arena, Kataria mentioned the successful hosting of a recent international marathon, which brought global recognition to Chandigarh. He added that more such international sporting events will be organized in the future, with continuous inputs being taken from stakeholders to further enhance sports infrastructure and facilities.
The Administrator also lauded the dedication of coaches for their role in training and mentoring young athletes. He emphasized that sports play a vital role in shaping the overall personality of students, keeping youth away from drugs, and contributing to the creation of a healthy and progressive society.
He noted that an expenditure of approximately Rs. 28 crore in a single year to honour sportspersons is among the highest in the country. Reaffirming the Administration’s commitment, he stated that efforts to recognize and support players will continue in the future as well.
Student players shared their experiences, stating that, under the new Chandigarh Sports Policy, the increase in scholarship, from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 48,000, has greatly motivated and encouraged them to perform better in their respective sports. Parents of the players also expressed their happiness and pride at seeing their children being felicitated for their achievements by the Chandigarh Administration.
Present during the occasion were Sanjay Tondon, Chairman of Sports Advisory Council; Sorabh Arora, Director Sports; Nitish Singla, Director School Education, Dr. Mahender Singh Joint Director Sports UT and other officials of Chandigarh Administration.
