On the lines of the National Institute of Sports, the Punjab Sports department will soon set up Punjab Institute of Sports to provide coaching and infrastructure to the budding players of the state.”

This was announced by SAD President and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal while addressing the concluding day of the Kila Raipur games. He said that separate wings of proposed institute would be established in Majha, Malwa and Doaba.

“With this coaching, infrastructure and other facilities would be available for 10-12 selected games,” said Badal.

The Deputy CM, who also holds charge of sports, while disclosing the schemes being framed by him said that there would be a special budget for the development of sports from the next fiscal and the government will announce its sports policy by March end.

He said that developing worldclass sports infrastructure, training and job opportunities for outstanding sports persons would be the part of the new sports policy. Badal said that to promote sports in rural areas, a grant of Rs 1 lakh would be given to each village panchayat. As many as 1,200 villages had been selected to be covered under this programme in the first phase till March 2009.

He said that besides other games sports department has been focusing on development of traditional sports of Punjab like kabaddi and hockey.

Discussing initiatives taken by government to encourage hockey in the state, Badal said four existing international hockey stadiums with latest astroturf facilities would be upgraded besides constructing three state-of-art stadiums in the state.

Badal also stated that the Punjab government would hold a four-nation women hockey tournament soon. The Deputy CM also lauded the Kila Raipur sports festival in promoting the rural games at international level asks tournament organisers to plan out blueprint to set up a quality stadium.

He announced Rs 10 lakh grant for Sports Club, Kila Raipur.

Among others MP Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Chairman Punjab Mandi Board Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, President Quila Raipur Sports festival Gurpinder Singh Grewal, Secretary Parmjeet Singh Grewal, Chief Organiser Sukhbir