POA asks for 53 lakh to send team for national games

Chandigarh, Jan 17 (UNI) The Punjab Olympic Association has urged Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh for a grant of Rs 53 lakh to prepare and send the state contingent for participation in the 33rd National Games to be held in Guwahati (Assam) from February 9 to 18.

In a communication to the Chief Minister, the POA informed that the number of participants and the team officials expected to form part of the contingent will be around 600. As many as 31 sports disciplines would be conducted in the Guwahati Nationals Games and Punjab will compete in 26 games. Besides the participants, the Punjab squad will comprise chef-de-mission, deputy chef-de-mission, secretary, treasurer, two doctors, masseur/physiotherapist and two security officers.

The POA has claimed that it had initiated action and advised all concerned state sports associations to chalk out plan of action for proper selection and training and finalise the dates and venues of the camps.The associations have been advised to furnish the aforesaid information regarding services of coaches and details of equipment to the Punjab Sports Director to enable him to take further suitable action in this regard.

In the 2002 Hyderabad National Games, Punjab were runners-up with 54 golds, 37 silver and 55 bronze medals. They also finished runners-up in 1985 Delhi Games with 93 medals and 1997 Karnataka Games with 112 medals. They had won the overall trophy with 163 medals in the 2001 National Games which Punjab organised in 200. In 1987 Kerala and 1994 Maharashtra Games, Punjab finished fifth with 59 and 81 medals,respectively. In 1999 Manipur National Games Punjab were third with 107 medals.

The 53 lakh estimate budget prepared by the POA includes kitting (18 lakh), coaching camps (16.50 lakh), consumable equipment (6 lakh), transport (3 lakh), pocket allowance (1.80 lakh), cash allowance (3.60 lakh), group insurance ( 1.50 lakh) and contingencies (2.60 lakh).

In the following disciplines Punjab will participate in Guwahati: Aquatics (36), archery (15), athletics (40), badminton, basketball (30), boxing (20), cycling (28), equestrian, fencing (26), football (21), gymnastics (17), handball (38), hockey (20), judo (19), kabaddi (28), kayaking and canoeing (10), kho-kho (14), lawn bowls (8), netball, rowing (42), rugby7s, sepak takraw, shooting (25), table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon (9), volleyball (14), weightlifting (17) and wrestling (11).

The POA is not fielding teams in badminton, equestrian, netball, rubgy 7s, sepak takraw, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis and wushu.

Meanwhile the Chandigarh Olympic Association will be fielding a team of 233 players and officials in the Nationals Games. The COA has urged the Chandigarh Administration to give a grant of Rs 31 lakh to prepare and send the contingent to Guwahati.

Chandigarh has qualified in archery (28), athletics (23), boxing (13), hockey 936), judo (13), kayaking and canoeing (23), kho-kho (14), rowing (30), shooting (18), volleyball (14), weightlifting 27) and wrestling (27).

UNI