Excelsior Sports Correspondent
KATRA, Dec 21: The 1st meeting of the Governing Council of the Shrine Board’s Sports Complex, Katra was held at the Spiritual Growth Centre here which took a number of important decisions for developing the Sports Complex as a hub of sports and games as well as specialised coaching facilities.
Dr. Ashok Bhan, Member of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Sports Complex, chaired the meeting, whereas Ajeet Kumar Sahu, CEO and Dr. Piyush Singla, Additional CEO also attended the meeting.
Prominent sportspersons i.e. Sanjeeva Singh, former International Archer (Arjuna/Dronacharya Awardee); Krupali Singh, National Gymnastics Coach (Arjuna Awardee); Kuldeep Handoo, eminent Wushu player and International Coach; and Mr. Ashok Kumar, Director Sports of the Shrine Board, who all are members of the Governing Council, participated in the deliberations. Ranjit Kalra, Member, J&K State Sports Council attended the meeting as a Special Invitee.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Bhan dwelt on the aims and objectives of setting up of the Sports Complex Katra and the mandate of the Governing Council. He added that keeping in view the state-of-the-art facilities made available at the Sports Complex, strenuous efforts are required to be made for optimum utilisation of this facility to develop it as a hub of sports in the area.
Dr. Piyush Singla, Additional CEO made a detailed presentation on the to-date status of Sports Complex and the achievements so far. After its inauguration by the Hon’ble Prime Minister in April this year, 21 sports activities have been organised involving 2012 participants. These events include a 3-day State level Rifle and Pistol shooting Championship. The complex has 358 annual members who take part in various sports activities on daily basis.
The meeting had a detailed discussion on utilisation and maintenance of various existing facilities and also discussed the modalities for creating Centre of Excellence in identified three disciplines of Archery, Shooting and Athletics (long distance run and throws). For this purpose, talent hunt will be organised by holding trials in the educational institutions of the area with a view to catch them young and thereafter the selected boys and girls will be imparted specialised coaching with the help of experienced coaches to groom them for participation in various national and international competitions.
In addition, the meeting asked the Director Sports to organise winter and summer sports camps of 3 weeks duration each both for the school children and seniors and organising competitions at their culmination. The meeting also discussed the modalities for organising such coaching camps and the requirement of the equipments.
The Governing Council meeting reviewed the implementation of the calendar of activities of the Sports Complex from July to December 2016 and approved the calendar of activities prepared for the next six months. Dr. Bhan emphasised the need for formulating calendar of activities for the entire year of 2017 which will be discussed and finalised at the next meeting of the Governing Council.
Those who were present in the meeting included Hemkant Prasher, Chief Accounts Officer and Dr. Arvind Karwani, Dy. CEO of the Shrine Board.
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