Shimla:

The 67th State-Level Under-19 Girls’ Sports Meet commenced at Government Senior Secondary School, Siddhpur, in Dharampur subdivision of Mandi district on Friday. Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani inaugurated the four-day sporting event, which will bring together approximately 650 girl athletes from all 12 districts of Himachal Pradesh and three sports hostels.

The competition will feature events in kabaddi, volleyball, kho-kho, dhoda and kurash, providing young athletes with an opportunity to showcase their sporting abilities and compete at the state level.

During the inaugural ceremony, Dharmani took the salute at the march past presented by the participating teams and formally inaugurated the competition by hoisting the flag. Sports officials, school representatives, physical education teachers and local dignitaries attended the event.

Addressing the players, the minister emphasised that sports, alongside education, were essential for the all-round development of students. He said participation in sporting activities helped improve physical fitness and mental strength while instilling discipline, self-confidence, leadership qualities and team spirit.

Dharmani said the state government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, was making continuous efforts to promote sports and provide better facilities to athletes across Himachal Pradesh.

He highlighted the changes introduced in the state’s sports policy to strengthen financial assistance, increase prize money and improve facilities for players. The government has also fixed a uniform daily diet allowance of Rs. 250 for school-level athletes in the under-14 to under-19 age groups during district- and state-level competitions and coaching camps.

The minister said improving sports infrastructure remained a priority for the state government. As part of these efforts, 10 sports stadiums were being developed across Himachal Pradesh to provide athletes with better opportunities for training and practice.

He added that encouraging young sporting talent and ensuring access to the resources required for their development were important components of the government’s approach to sports promotion. Such competitions help students develop competitive skills, gain experience and prepare for higher-level sporting events.

Dharmani also highlighted the importance of strengthening healthcare facilities in the state. He said 55 health institutions had been opened across Himachal Pradesh, including two in the Dharampur area, to improve access to healthcare services.

Dharampur MLA Chandrashekhar thanked the state government and the technical education minister for organising the state-level competition in Siddhpur, a relatively remote area of the constituency. He said hosting such an event would provide local students with greater exposure to competitive sports and encourage more young people to participate in sporting activities.

The MLA also expressed gratitude to the government for establishing two sports hostels in the Dharampur Assembly constituency. He further highlighted the operation of five CBSE-affiliated schools in the area, describing them as an important step towards improving educational opportunities.

Chandrashekhar said better facilities in education and sports would enable students to develop their abilities and pursue their ambitions. He expressed hope that the competition would promote sportsmanship, healthy competition and mutual cooperation among participants from different districts.

Senior officials from the Sports Department, sports coordinators from various schools, physical education teachers and local representatives were also present at the inaugural ceremony.