SATURDAY, AUGUST 21, 2021 (PAGE 12) DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU Water Sports to commence at Ranjit Bizzare! Exclusively upgraded for cricket; Sagar Dam by Aug 31: CS Jammu’s MA Stadium sans ‘practice turfs’ Excelsior Sports Correspondent will be organized with suitable ensure the availability of high- Excelsior Sports Correspondent venue, media boxes and other who objected to this major require- coaching and training facilities in standard facilities for different logistical additions were among ment is better known to those who SRINAGAR, Aug 20: Chief collaboration with the School sports in Jammu and Kashmir, a JAMMU, Aug 20: It sounds suggestions made by the Minister, were at the helm of affairs at that Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta Games Federation of India. multi-purpose stadium is being bizarre but is a fact that exclusive- said Mr Kalra, asserting, "the con- time,"he said. today chaired a meeting to review On the infrastructure front, it constructed at Hiranagar, Kathua ly upgraded for cricket activities, cerned authority swung into action Many national and internation- the functioning of the Youth was informed that three shooting under the Prime Minister's the Maulana Azad Stadium -- situ- at that time but the decisions were al cricketers have been produced Services & Sports Department. ranges, one each at Jammu, Development Package at a cost of ated in the heart of city here--sans left in the cold store and nothing by this stadium but at present, the At the outset, the Department Doda, and Srinagar; and two Rs. 58.60 crore. 'practice turfs'-- one of the manda- was visible on ground thereafter." trainees are practicing in mud filled gave a detailed presentation on fencing training centres, one each Reviewing the water sports tory requisites for any infrastruc- "We appeal to the J&K admin- Parade Ground, adding, how we various sports activities and infra- at Doda and Srinagar were estab- facilities at the Ranjit Sagar Dam, ture meant for cricket. istration to look into this genuine can even think of producing out- Winning team posing for a group photograph at Jammu on structural projects being under- lished along with proper arrange- the Chief Secretary directed the Upgraded in the year 2020 by concern for cricket activities inside standing stuff when despite facility, Friday. taken across Jammu and ments of related equipment and Department to complete the the National Projects Construction the stadium in true spirit," the for- they don't have a space to practice. Kashmir. coaches. equipment audit and commence Corporation (NPCC) Limited at mer cricketer suggested. However, 'Practice turfs' are must in every It was informed that during Further, the Department has training of the youth in kayaking the cost of Rs 42.17 crores, the sta- one of the officials of the NPCC, cricket ground but not having even BSNL technical team 2020-21, the Department reached also distributed 500 TT tables and canoeing sports by 31st dium has no 'practice wickets' nei- wishing anonymity said, "practice one at M A Stadium is a surprise out to 6.27 lakh youth and linked and 100 cricket mats in all dis- August 2021. ther inside the complex nor outside wicket was not in our proposal and for cricketers. It is really a mock- them with different sports activi- tricts, besides procuring 100 Dr. Mehta directed the for the regular practice of the we did what we were told to ery. lifts Monsoon Cup title ties. Snow skiing training courses pairs of skiis along with ancillary Department to highlight the trainees. upgrade." Administrator, Sub "Despite upgradation, M A Excelsior Sports Correspondent runs to the total respectively. were rolled out and trekking machinery to promote sporting achievements of youth from J&K Former Lieutenant Governor Committee, Jammu and Kashmir Stadium is not worth hosting From bowling side, Sahil and activities were resumed after a culture among the youth. who have excelled in various Girish Chandra Murmu on January Cricket Association (JKCA), Brig national/international level match- JAMMU, Aug 20: Superb Rajinder bagged two wickets gap of 30 years. Moreover, various other proj- sports and brought laurels to the 15, 2020, officially inaugurated (retd), Anil Gupta expressed that es as it has many drawbacks, which bowling spell by Sahil each, whereas Nitish and Raju During the current financial ects pertaining to volleyball, bas- nation, as well as the budding the? renovated and upgraded? the infrastructure in its present needs immediate rectification." Makhnotra who took two impor- got one wicket each. year, the Department will be ketball, football, hockey, bad- local talent. Maulana Azad cricket stadium. shape is not suitable for cricket Pertinent to mention here that in tant wickets has powered the Jitender Sambyal was organizing sports tournaments in minton, and track games are also The Department was asked to The Maulana Azad Stadium has activities especially the matches. March this year it was also high- technical Cricket team of BSNL declared as man of the match, four disciplines- Cricket, underway. Their associated lay special focus on providing been renovated under the Prime "J&K Sports Council must lighted that the cost expenditure to register emphatic 50 runs win whereas Gulzar Jamwal was Volleyball, Kabaddi, and Kho- sports infrastructure will be proper training and guidance to Minister's Development Package enter into a fresh Memorandum of spent on its up-gradation and reno- over BSNL Finance team and adjudged with man of the series Kho in all panchayats, for which shortly augmented through syn- aspiring athletes and players, (PMDP). Former Ranji Trophy Understanding (MoU) with the vation swelled than the total pro- lifted the title trophy at Country trophy for his marvellous all the online registration of athletes thetic courts and turfs in various allowing greater participation of Captain from Jammu and Kashmir, JKCA, cricket experts, technical jected cost of Rs 42.17 crores after Cricket Stadium, Gharota near round efforts in the five match and players has already started. districts. UT's youth in various national Ashwani Gupta expressed surprise staff must be engaged so that the some changes were recommended here today. series. Rajinder was the leading Besides, National School Games It was also mentioned that to and international events. on this asserting, "it is being present facility can be remodified by the Jammu and Kashmir BSNL technical team won the wicket taker of the series with claimed that the infrastructure has to make it an international level Government in the year 2019. toss and decided to bat first in the eight scalps, whereas Tashi been upgraded to an international asset." Most importantly, he sug- In December, 2019, the NPCC final match of the series. Tundup bagged best fielding level but at the same time, it is gested that after its re-upgradation, submitted to the Ministry of Youth Technical team scored 158 runs award and Rohit was awarded shocking that the assets have no thereafter no parade ceremonies Services and Sports (MYAS) an in a stipulated 20 overs match with batsman of the series award. practice turfs." must be organised at this venue. additional estimated cost of Rs with the help of Jitender and The series was organized by "Organising cricket matches Pertinent to mention that 6.20 crores against the changes rec- Rohit who made 45 and 51 runs Sanjeev Gupta (Chief Accounts shall not be the only motive but Republic Day functions are organ- ommended by the Jammu and respectively, whereas Nitish, the Officer) BSNL under the super- complete infrastructure is needed," ised every year at Maulana Azad Kashmir Government. The total captain of the technical team con- vision of Tashi Tundup (DGM- feels Mr Gupta, who is also Stadium and this year due to ongo- cost expenditure of the project tributed 16 runs. From the bowl- Finance). Member Advisory Committee, ing construction work at Mini (renovation, up-gradation) was Rs ing side, Gaaru bagged four Rakesh Matto, the former Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Stadium, Parade Ground, the 42.17 crores but Jammu and important wickets, while Gulzar BSNL cricket team captain was Association (JKCA). "If we had Independence Day function was Kashmir Government recom- clinched two wickets. the chief guest on the occasion practice turfs earlier (cemented & also organised at the mentioned mended for some extra changes, In reply, BSNL finance team who presented the trophies to the grassy) then why not after its reno- venue that invited criticism from the NPCC official had said. bundled out at 108 runs in stipu- players in presence of former vation. Rather, after upgradation, many sports lovers. "Every year "Accordingly, we wrote to the lated 20 overs. Gulzar, skipper of Ranji trophy players including pre-practice wickets should have the security personnel dig the MYAS and in return, we were the finance team made highest 28 Vivek Sharma and Pranav been created. Why it was not done, ground as a security concern and asked to get the recommendations runs, whereas Charanpal and Mahajan, who was also playing must be enquired from the agency leave the ground filled with pot- from the J&K Government author- Pranav contributed 22 and 17 from BSNL finance side. who executed the works," said the holes. What is then fun of spending ities for approval," he had further former cricketer further suggesting crores, if the facility is to be used said, adding that after submitting that space is available inside and for parades and not for the sports the same recommendations, the outside the premises for develop- activities" " they raised the ques- Ministry dropped some of it and ing the practice wickets and it tion. Former Ranji Trophy crick- approved only the essential works should be done without giving any eter, Sameer Khajuria disclosed required.