ANANDPUR SAHIB, JAN 17 : The second National Rural Games for boys and girls under -18 got off to a flying start at S.G.P.C ground, here today. Punjab Revenue and Rehablitation Minister Ajit Singh Kohar inaugurated the Nationals amidst a riot of colour.
Speaking on the occasion, Ajit Singh Kohar encouraged the players to participate in sports and adopt sports as a career. He appreciated the step being taken up by the Punjab Sports Department for development and promotion of sports in the state. He also expressed satisfaction towards other schemes run by the Punjab Sports Department, especially the implementation of Panchayat Yuva Krida aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA) for the creation of sports infrastructure at village and block level.
Earlier Sports Director Padam Shree Pargat Singh welcomed the chief guest. Speaking on the occasion, he highlighted the schemes of the department.
The torch bearing ceremony was performed by Olympian walker Ranjit Singh, Ramanjot Kaur (handball), Ravinder Pratap Singh (weightlifting) and Jashandeep Singh (swimming). Anamika Chaudhary (volleyball) took the oath on behalf of all the participants.
Hosts Punjab began their campaign by routing Tripura by 25-2 in a first round boys match in kho kho. Rajasthan and Chattisgarh played a 7-7 draw.
Results
Volleyball (girls, Ist round): Haryana bt Uttarakhand 25-8,25-10, Rajashtan bt Madhya Pradesh 25-17,25-13, Himachal Pradesh bt Tripura 25-10,25-18, Tamil Nadu bt Manipur 25-11, 25-9.
Volleyball (boys 1st round): Karnataka bt Uttarakhand 25-21, 25-21, Tamil Nadu bt Gujarat 25-22, 25-12, Kerala bt Manipur 25-15, 25-19, Tamil Nadu bt Gujarat 25-22, 25-12.
Kabaddi (girls): Andhra Pradesh bt Manipur 25-2, Haryana bt Karnataka 40-26, Madhya Pradesh bt Uttarakhand 51-24.
Kho Kho (girls 1st round): Andhra Pradesh bt Gujarat 10-6, Delhi bt Rajasthan 5-2, Tamil Nadu bt Chattisgarh 19-10, Tripura draw Madhya Pradesh 4-4.
Kho Kho (boys 1st round): Punjab bt Tripura 25-2, Rajasthan draw Chattisgarh 7-7.