Sangrur: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday inaugurated an Olympic-standard swimming pool built at a cost of Rs 9.5 crore at War Heroes Stadium in Sangrur and said the district would emerge as a nursery for Asian, World and Olympic champions.Sharing a video from the programme, Bhagwant Mann stated on X: “Today, the people of Sangrur received a major boost in the field of sports with the inauguration of a modern Olympic-standard swimming pool at War Heroes Stadium. Constructed at a cost of Rs 9.5 crore, the 50×21-metre facility is equipped with world-class amenities for athletes and coaches, providing international-standard training infrastructure.“He further wrote: “To revive Punjab’s sporting culture, our govt has increased the sports budget from Rs 200 crore to Rs 1,790 crore. Athletes will now receive advance funds for training, while those winning international medals will be rewarded with Rs 1 crore for a gold medal, Rs 75 lakh for a silver medal and Rs 50 lakh for a bronze medal.”“To further promote a vibrant sports culture, the Punjab govt will soon launch the Punjab Premier League and the Punjab Hockey League. In addition, the Asian Champions Trophy (Hockey) will be hosted in Mohali and Jalandhar during Oct-Nov, further strengthening Punjab’s position as a premier destination for sports in the country,” the post concluded.Addressing the gathering after the inauguration, the CM said. “This swimming pool is not merely a building but it will serve as a nursery for our future Olympians,” he said.Highlighting his govt’s focus on strengthening sports infrastructure, the CM said the world-class swimming pool was another significant step towards restoring Punjab’s position as the number one sporting state in the country. “The swimming pool’s depth ranges from 4.5 feet to 7.5 feet and has a water-holding capacity of 2.5 lakh litres,” said Mann.Sharing details of the facilities developed at the complex, the CM said separate modern shower facilities, changing rooms, dedicated rooms for coaches and storage rooms were provided to ensure maximum convenience for athletes. He said a modern gymnasium was also established to help athletes strengthen and condition their muscles. “A dedicated mini swimming pool has also been developed for children below the age of seven,” the CM said.He said the swimming pool was constructed using the world’s finest Myrtha RenovAction and Classic Modular System technology. “It features laminated PVC and stainless-steel panels, making it one of the most modern swimming pools in the country. To ensure clean and safe water, a filtration and disinfection system compliant with European standards has been installed,” said Mann.He urged parents to encourage their children to take up sports. “Our govt will ensure that there is never any shortage of facilities or funds for the promotion of sports,” he said. The CM added that Punjab govt was constructing 3,100 stadiums across the state to promote sports and steer the youth away from the menace of drugs. MSID:: 132093066 413 |
