Govt promoting sports for youth: minister

Says a complete system had been evolved to train and promote players from grassroots level

LAHORE:

State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib said on Sunday that the Kamyab Jawan sports drive had been started in line with Prime Minister Imran Khan's vision to promote sports in the country.

Addressing the closing ceremony of 42nd National Kabaddi Championship at Punjab Stadium, the minister said that under the drive, sports activities were being carried out across the country.

He said a talent-hunt campaign had been started under which males and females will be selected adding that best players would be picked from 25 regions.

He said the selected players would be trained in 12 sports academies being established under Kamyab Jawan Programme (KJP) besides a performance academy.

Habib said under the KJP, a complete system had been evolved to train and promote players from grassroots level. He that players would be trained to perform at national and international levels.

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“During three years, Punjab Sports Ministry had increased the [number of] playing grounds by 100 percent. A centre of excellence is also being constructed for hockey besides a performance academy,” he added.

The state minister maintained that a squash academy and two high performance cricket academies were also being built in Sialkot and Faisalabad. He regretted that in the past no government had taken any step to bring youth and sports closer.

"Sports not only develop positive approach but make human mind healthy and strong."

He said that at the same venue in 2020, Pakistan Kabaddi team became world champion.