Bhopal:Wednesday, January 14, 2009:Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that the sports budget will not undergo any curtailment. Not only this, but the funds for sports activities will be increased so much that sports and sports persons will not feel any fund crunch. Due to promotion given to sports persons during the last three years, sports persons have been winning championships at the national as well as international level.
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan expressed these views while inaugurating the renovated and reconstructed Old Campion sports ground. He also inaugurated I.E.S. Group’s 13th Inter-Press Cricket Tournament here today. As many as 32 teams of print and electronic media are taking part in the tournament. American Bermuda grass has been planted at the Old Campion ground by Sports Department. Pavilion and parking have also been renovated. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan inaugurated the match between Journalists Eleven and Sports Minister’s Eleven.
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that due to increased facilities, six girls of State Hockey Academy have found place in the Indian contingent. Ku. Nutan and Ku. Pooja have won bronze medals in the international wushu championship in Indonesia. Similarly, Judo Academy’s players have bagged seven medals in South Asian Championship held in Nepal including five gold medals. Madhya Pradesh Karate Academy players won 33 medals in the National championship at Bhubaneswar including 19 gold medals. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan exhorted players as well as people to give due consideration to traditional sports like Malkhamb. The Chief Minister praised the activities of the Sports Department. Shri Chouhan described media’s active part in sports as beneficial for the development of sports.
Earlier, the Chief Minister was introduced to players. He was welcomed by the captain of Journalists’ Eleven Shri Raghvendra Singh. Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Shri Tukojirao Puar threw light on the department’s activities. Those present on the occasion included Madhya Pradesh Sport Council vice-president Shri Om Yadav, Madhya Pradesh Olympic Association president Shri Mahesh Joshi, Additional Chief Secretary Sports Smt. Ranjana Choudhary, Sports Director Shri Sanjay Choudhary, State Bank of India’s general manager Shri Dinesh Jain, cricket coach Shri Suresh Chenani, Bhopal Sports Journalists Association’s Shri Naved Ishrat, members of Journalists Team Shri Rajesh Sirothiya, Shri Manish Dixit, Shri Ashish Dube, Shri Gaurav Chandra, Shri Brijesh Rajput and Shri Deshdeep Saxena.