Excelsior Sports Correspondent
KATHUA, Nov 23: Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment, Choudhary Lal Singh inaugurated second phase of U-19 Udaan Football Tournament-2017 at the Sports Stadium of Delhi Public School, here today.
The tournament is being organized by Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Jammu, under its ‘Samajik Chetna Abhiyaan’ programme.
Earlier, in the first phase of the tournament matches were held at Tehsil levels wherein five teams emerged as winners.
The final phase would witness matches among five winner teams, DPS Rajbagh, Football Club Hiranagar, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Basholi, Pallan Paranala Club, Billawar and Army School, Janglote.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Choudhary Lal Singh lauded the efforts of SSB Jammu for making massive arrangements for the mega sports event.
Highlighting benefits of sports, he exhorted upon the youth to vigorously participate in co-curricular activities.
The Minister said that football is a popular game in India adding that it is also played in rural areas. “There are grounds in every village and players are very enthusiastic to play football. We must pay attention to promote it further, so that potential players can find a place at the national level,” he asserted.
He urged upon the youth to focus on their goals and put in dedicated efforts to compete and excel at national and international levels.
Commandant SSB Ajay Kumar informed the Minister that the winning team will be presented a cash award of Rs 50000, while second and third runners-up teams would get cash prize of Rs 30,000 and Rs 20,000 respectively.
He said that the winner team will also get a chance to play a friendly match at Mumbai and the team members would be invited as guests at Raising Day celebration of SSB on December 20, 2017 at New Delhi.
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