Y.S. RANA, CHANDIGARH—Extended school project brainchild of Punjab Governor and the Administrator, Chandigarh has started picking up paces within a year of its inception. Aims at drawing budding talent to the field of sports the Administration is lending sports the orchestra of infrastructure on school premises. First-of-its-kind such complex was built and operationalized first such complex on the premises of Government Model High School, Sector 43, Chandigarh last year.
The students have also answered back the Administration’s efforts with their scores in various games and it is bound to leave dots on the national sports map. The complex comprises world standard swimming pool, table tennis, squash, badminton and gymnastics courts. The way school students are responding to the innovative efforts of the Chandigarh Administration is bound to leave dots on the national sports map.
Disclosing this here Mr G.S. Bajwa, NIIS qualified coach who trained the students said the students have won 37 medals ( 15 Gold; 13 Silver and 9 bronze) at state and national levels in gymnastics, squash and aerobatics. In national squash championship held in Chandigarh from September 26-29, Neha and Shubham walked away with two medals under-17. While at state level Judo championship Aarti and Sakshi won gold medals while Prianshu walked away with silver medal. For their outstanding performance in the field of sports, the Chandigarh Education Department has also given them cash award. Notably all medal winners belonged to rural background, said Mr Bajwa.
Mr Bajwa further said that Neha daughter of a poor van driver has won 11 medals in gymnastic at state level and at national level she won bronze medal in squash. “There is a long list of students who have excelled in the field of sports,” says he.
In squash school’s boy team won two trophies under-14 and under-19 and girl team won gold medal under-14 and team championship. In Acrobatics, the school’s team came out with two gold, five silver and six bronze medals.
While talking to Mr Rubinderjit S Brar, Director, Higher Education, Chandigarh, said under the project more such complexes would come up soon on the premises of government schools. Four more such world-class complexes would come up on the premises of government school in Sector 50, 56 and 38. One such complex in Sector 50 is ready for inauguration. Two more such complexes in Sector 56 and 38 are expected to complete by the end of this year, says Mr Brar. Each complex would cost Rs 9 crore to the Administration.
Mr Brar also admitted that there was no dearth of sports facilities in the city but it was was beyond the reach of the school children and run by the associations or agencies on payment. Hence it was felt to provide world-class indoor games infrastructure on school premises where students could be provided training free-of-cost after school’s hour. Indulgence and thrust of the Administration in zipping up infrastructure and shoring up sporting interest , city can surely look forward perfect future in for sports, says Mr Brar. He hopes that it will facilitate students to hone their skills, firm up their mental fibre and strengthen their physical ability to lock horns with the best.
While talking to school principal, Mr Shashi Kumar said that things have started changing at the school and he could surely look forward imbibing of interest among the student. He also revealed that of the 900 students around 300 students were practicing in various sports in the complex. Idea of the Administration to combine modern facilities with professional approach to raise the standard of sports among school children the project would play key role.