Ferozepur, June 1, 2021: Sports and Youth Services Minister, Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi on Tuesday laid the foundation stone of a world class 400 meter, 8-lane Synthetic Athletic track at a cost of Rs 7 crore at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Stadium in Ferozepur.
Earlier, he also inaugurated the construction work of hockey Astroturf at a cost of Rs 5.5 crore.
He was accompanied by SP Punjab Bureau of Investigation (PBI) Manjit Kaur Saini and Political Advisor Gurdeep Dhillon were also present.
Speaking to media persons, Rana Sodhi said, said that after Jalandhar, if any district in the state is named in hockey, it is Ferozepur district adding now in four stadiums of the state, Astroturf is being constructed including Ferozepur.
He said during 1953-54, his uncle (Taya Ji) Guru Harnamvir also used to play hockey adding that hockey lovers are moving forward from this place with great enthusiasm. He admitted that we were short of the infrastructure for sports as neither synthetic athletic track nor Astroturf was available.
He said, now in four stadiums of the state, Astroturf is being constructed including Ferozepur.
Rana Sodhi further said that this initiative would give ample opportunity to the players of Border Area to showcase their skills and reach the international level to make the name of the state and the country brighter. Apart from this, the infrastructure would also be set up for the launch of Punjab Institute of Sports for 100 children.
Apart from this a budget has also been proposed in the budget for starting a Rowing Academy and border area players can better excel in rowing to encourage the rowing aspirants.
Praising SP Bureau of Investigation (PBI), Ferozepur Manjit Kaur Saini, Rana Sodhi said that this Olympian has made the country and the state famous by winning 3 gold medals in Asian Games and 2 gold medals in Commonwealth Games. She has also been honored with the Arjuna Award.
