Sangrur : Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday said a world-class skating track was being developed in Dhuri to strengthen Sangrur’s emergence as a hub for the sport and nurture international-level players.




Interacting with skating athletes at Sangrur Police Lines on Oct 12, Mann said players from the district won 70 to 80 national medals annually. He congratulated athletes who won silver medals at the 19th and 20th Asian Roller Skating Championships .




Sangrur already has two skating tracks. Mann said the new facility would provide international-level infrastructure and assured athletes that a shortage of facilities or resources would not hamper their progress. He said the Punjab govt had allocated a record Rs 1,790 crore for sports infrastructure and nurturing young talent, while accusing previous govts of neglecting the sector.




The fourth season of Khedan Watan Punjab Dian was underway, with lakhs of participants taking part to identify and nurture sporting talent, he said. The govt was also developing more than 3,000 rural sports grounds and setting up village gyms to promote fitness and discipline.




Mann urged parents to encourage children to take up sports alongside their studies, crediting parents and coaches for athletes’ achievements. He said sports fostered discipline, confidence and teamwork and helped keep young people away from bad company.




Highlighting Punjab’s contribution to Indian sports, he cited hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh, cricketers Shubman Gill and Harmanpreet Kaur, footballer Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and basketball player Palpreet Singh Brar. Exhibition speed-skating races for boys and girls were also organised.