SAARC games to be held in Guwahati, government working on system of awarding marks for sports in school

GUWAHATI: Union Minister of state for Sports and Youth Affairs, Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday announced that SAARC games involving the SAARC countries will be held in Guwahati. Sports ministry has urged Ministry of Human resource Development (HRD) to devise system of awarding marks for sports in school curriculum

Sonowal who was in Guwahati on Saturday said that India Olympic association during its recent meeting has decided to hold SAARC games in Guwahati." We will extend all possible support to this event."

The minister added Himalayan Region sports competition involving eight Northeastern states besides Jammu and Kaskmir, Uttrakhand and Himachal Pradesh and two international countries Nepal and Bhutan will held in Guwahati.

Guwahati will also hoist the National youth festival from January 8 to 12. Prominent sports personalities like Virendra Sehwag, Mary Kom, Sushil Kumar and other will attend the event. The event will see turnout of over 3000 delegates which will include students from 10 countries studying in India.

Sonowal said, "Students from Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, IIMs and IITs will participate in the youth festival."

The sports ministry has planned to connect over 6lakh villages of the country with sporting infrastructure. In 7000 plus blocks across the country indoor and outdoor stadiums will be made.

Sonowal said, "We have requested the state government to identify suitable lands for the project. The government will spend around Rs 1.6 Crore on each stadium. A physical education teacher will be appointed for the purpose."

The minister said that a football and archery academy will be set up in Northeast India. "We will request HRD ministry to devise system of marks for sports in the school. There is need for the study of sports medicine and sports sciences."

The minister added that the idea is to make sports way of life and make India sporting hub of the world.