UT Administration needs to frame its own Sports Policies, says DP Azad

When Yuvraj Singh starred for India in the Cricket World Cup, the entire nation lined up to honour the Chandigarh lad. The Punjab Government not only announced a Rs 1-cr cash award for the star cricketer, he was also offered a 20-acre land in the state to set up his cricket school.

Shockingly, the UT Administration has remained silent so far. And this is now getting dissent from the city sportspersons who feel the approach of the parent Administration hasn't been encouraging towards their achievements.

Not just Punjab, even Haryana has been showering their stars with cash awards and other incentives. Look at how they feted their Olympic medal winners _ not just Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt, even Gagan Narang and Saina Nehwal who live in Hyderabad but have their roots in Haryana.

With international players like Rajpal Singh, Dharamveer (both hockey), Abhinav Bindra (shooting), Jeev Milkha Singh (golf), Yuvraj, Manjeet Singh (rower), doing well at the world level, Chandigarh Administration has failed to acknowledge their contribution to their respective fields. Infact few of them had even contemplated to shift base to either Haryana or Punjab for better opportunities.

Speaking on the need of having their own Sports Policies for Chandigarh Administration, Dronacharya awardee Desh Prem Azad, said, "It is very important that Chandigarh Administration has its own Sports Policies, according to which its sportspersons should be rewarded and pushed. The Chandigarh Administration should reward players with cash and job incentives. A player needs the support of the Administration even after he has graduated to a senior level. Or nobody will play for Chandigarh in future. States like Haryana have done a remarkable job with their Sports Policies and see the results are visible. So many sportspersons have excelled at the Commonwealth Games 2010 and also at the recently conducted London Olympics."

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