On Tuesday, CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal met with Athlete Deepak Punia, silver medalist of the Asian Games in 86kg freestyle wrestling.
The Chief Minister assured him of better sports facilities in Delhi for athletes.
CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal stated the Delhi government is working to nurture athletes by providing financial assistance under the Play and Progress and Mission Excellence schemes. Additionally, the government is strengthening sports infrastructure. New sports complexes are ready in Najafgarh, Kair, and Prahladpur, and synthetic courts are being developed in Pooth Kalan, while sports facilities are being improved in various other places.
Meanwhile, Deepak Punia expressed his gratitude to CM Kejriwal for his efforts to promote sports in Delhi. During this, the CM congratulated him on his victory, presented him with the medal, and said, ‘We are proud of you. You have brought honor to our country and Delhi. Soon, we will honor all the athletes from Delhi who have won medals for the nation in the Asian Games by convening a felicitation ceremony.
Wrestler Deepak Punia, who met with CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal, pursued his education in Delhi and prepared for international competitions at Delhi’s Chhatrasal Stadium. During the meeting, Deepak Punia shared his experiences in the Asian Games with the Chief Minister. Expressing his gratitude towards CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal, he mentioned that the Delhi government is providing substantial support to sports. Deepak Punia said, “We are all very pleased with the excellent facilities provided by the Delhi government, which helped us prepare well and win medals for our country in the Asian Games. My dream is to bring a gold medal for the nation, and I am working hard for it.”
During this, CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal congratulated Deepak Punia for winning medals for India and extended his best wishes for the future. The Chief Minister stated that the Delhi government is taking every necessary step to promote sports. They have initiated several programs for nurturing the talent of Delhi’s athletes. The government is running the Play and Progress and Mission Excellence schemes. Under the Play and Progress scheme, athletes under the age of 13-14 years receive financial support of ₹ 2-3 lakh annually to ensure they can receive quality coaching and nutritious food for their training. Under the Mission Excellence program, athletes who have won medals at the national level receive financial assistance of ₹ 16 lakh annually, enabling them to prepare effectively for international competitions. Delhi’s athletes who bring medals for India at the international level are being felicitated with cash prizes and rewards. All the athletes who have won medals for India in the Asian Games will soon be felicitated in a ceremony.
The Chief Minister explained that our government is not only providing financial assistance to athletes but is also focusing on the development of sports infrastructure. Several sports infrastructures have been developed in rural areas, with work in progress on some. For example, the government has renovated the Bawana Stadium with an investment of ₹16 crores. New sports complexes have been prepared in Najafgarh, Kair, Mundka, and Prahladpur. A synthetic court has been built in Pooth Kalan. Sports complexes are approved and under construction in Katwaria, Jharoda Kalan, Mitraon Chav, and Samastpur. To prepare international-level athletes in Delhi, the Delhi Sports University has been established. The goal behind establishing this university is to scout for talented athletes from across the country, nurture their talent, and provide them with the opportunity to compete at the international level.
CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal shared a snippet from the meeting on his ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), “Delhi’s wrestler Deepak Punia, who won a silver medal for India in the 86 kg wrestling category at the Asian Games, was invited to my house today for tea. Deepak has brought glory to our country and Delhi with his splendid performance. Congratulations on his outstanding victory and best wishes for the future. Soon, we will honor all the athletes from Delhi who have won medals for the country in the Asian Games together.”
