Uttarakhand to host SAF Winter Games

Dehradun, June 1 (UNI) Uttarakhand will host the South Asian Federation (SAF) Winter Games next year, OCA Secretary General Randhir Singh confirmed today.

Mr Singh said he had received positive response from the state government and Chief Minister Maj Gen (Retd) B C Khanduri himself assured of cooperation.

Earlier speculation was rife that the Uttarakhand government was reluctant to host the event owing to lack of infrastructure in the state and shortage of time to prepare for the event.

According to sources the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is ready to provide grace period to the state for preparation. The Ice Hockey and Ice sketing are scheduled to be held in the capital and Skiing events at Auli in Chamoli district.

Mr Singh who was here on a personal visit said India was all geared up to meet the deadline to host Commonwealth Games in India in 2010. On increasing incidents of doping, he said that the Council would view it seriously and justifiably harsh action would be taken against the defaulters. He hoped that a dope testing lab in India would be fully developed by 2010.

UNI