Tuki reiterates commitment to patronize sports

From our correspondent

Itagar, Aug 20: The third edition of Dorjee Khandu memorial state open badminton championship kicked off here on Wednesday with Chief Minister bam Tuki iugurating the tourney by participating in an exhibition match with full enthusiasm and energy.

Addressing the gathering Tuki, while reiterating his commitment to patronize games and sports to take it to the next level, he announced that the state government would take over conduction of the championship from its next edition. The championship that entered its third edition was being sponsored solely by the family of former Chief Minister Late Dorjee Khandu in whose memory the tourment is conducted annually by the Aruchal State Badminton Association (ASBA).

Heeding to the popular request of ASBA as well as Tourism Minister Pema Khandu, who has been sponsoring the tourment since its inception, Tuki assured that the state government will sponsor the tourment from next year onwards and would be conducted under the aegis of ASBA, which is affiliated to the Badminton Association of India.

Assuring funds for creation of sporting infrastructure to facilitate better training and coaching facilities, he said that the government has placed Rs 10 crore in the budget 2015-16 for construction of a state-of-the-art badminton stadium that would qualify to host tiol level tourments in the state. Congratulating the young participating players, the chief minister expressed gratitude to young achievers in their respective fields of games and sports for brining Aruchal Pradesh to limelight.

“Because of our young sportspersons winning medals in tiol and intertiol tourments, people know about Aruchal Pradesh,” he said. “Former chief minister Dorjee Khandu will always remain immortal in our hearts and in order to keep his memory alive, the tourment will be funded by the state government every year,” averred the chief minister.

Underscoring the commitment of the government towards welfare of sportspersons, the chief minister informed that so far 335 youths have been absorbed in jobs in various departments under the sports quota, which has been increased from 5 to 10 percent. He said still several vacancies were available, which are up for grabs.