Portraits of achievers to boost trainees at Chandigarh sports complexes

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 24

Local sports complexes will soon have portraits of meritorious sportspersons and coaches of the city, who have won accolades at the international level or have been honoured with national sports awards by the government.

Sources said a list of such sportspersons and coaches had been finalised and soon their portraits would be installed at coaching centres of their respective disciplines in Chandigarh.

The sources said the list carried some high profile names (for portraits), including hockey legend and triple Olympian Balbir Singh (Senior), world renowned athlete Milkha Singh, Dronacharya Award recipient and boxing coach Shiv Singh and Arjuna Award winner footballer Sandesh Jhingan.

“Yes, a proposal has been made and it will be implemented soon,” said Dr Sunil Rayat, Joint Director, Sports, UT.

The UT Sports Department has over 20 sports complexes in various disciplines, including cricket, boxing, football, swimming, table tennis, wrestling, kabaddi, hockey, judo, volleyball and gymnastics.

Officials said the step was aimed at boosting the morale of local trainees. “Installing portraits will be a mark of respect to the sports heroes and will also motivate trainees. There are many meritorious sportspersons who have brought laurels to the city and the coming generation should know about them and their achievements,” said a senior official.

Another official added, “The list will be upgraded every year as per the achievements of our local sportspersons. The initiative will encourage young trainees to make it to the list one day. Besides installing portraits, the department should also make provision for writing history and achievements of state-run academies at a hall of fame or in a visitors’ gallery.”