Una, December 27: Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri attended the inauguration of the 74th Open Football Tournament, organized in memory of Pandit Mohan Lal Dutt, in Khadd village of Haroli assembly constituency, which is renowned for football throughout the state, on Friday evening as the chief guest. This tournament, which will continue till December 30, is being organized by the Young Farmer Club. The Deputy Chief Minister extended his best wishes to the players, organizers, and local people for the successful conduct of the tournament.
In his address, the Deputy Chief Minister said that Khadd village has established a unique identity in the field of football. The players from this village have showcased their talent with outstanding performances at the district, state, and national levels. He said that Khadd village is known for its strong football tradition, as almost every household here has someone associated with this sport.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that the youth of Khadd village have made football an integral part of their lives, due to which this area has remained free from social evils like drug addiction. Through sports, a sense of discipline, positive thinking, and healthy competition has developed among the youth, which is an inspiring example for society.
He made special mention of the achievements of the girls of Khadd village, saying that the girls here are second to none and have hoisted the flag of their talent in renowned football competitions across the country. This village has also emerged as an example in the direction of women's empowerment through sports.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that the government is continuously striving to establish Khadd village as an ideal football village at the state and national levels. He informed that approval has already been given for the installation of floodlights at a cost of Rs. 46 lakh in the outdoor stadium here to organize night tournaments. He expressed hope that the floodlights would be installed before the upcoming tournament.
In addition, the construction of a state-of-the-art indoor stadium at a cost of approximately Rs. 13 crore is underway in Khadd village, which will play a significant role in providing better training and facilities to the players of the region. Referring to the state government's sports policy, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the government is committed to providing modern sports infrastructure, better facilities, and quality training to the players. Special schemes are being implemented to encourage sporting talent at the rural level so that players from villages can bring glory to the state and the country at the national and international levels.
On this occasion, the Chairman of the football club, Rampal, welcomed the Deputy Chief Minister and, while giving information about the club's activities, said that the winning team in this competition will be given Rs. 71,000, and the runner-up team will receive Rs. 61,000. The teams securing third and fourth positions will be given Rs. 7,100 each as prize money.
In addition, an Under-16 football competition is also being organized for youth born on or after January 1, 2010, in which the winning team will be awarded Rs. 15,000 and the runner-up team will receive Rs. 11,000 as prize money.
Senior Congress leaders Ashok Thakur, Poonam Dutta, Ashwini Dutta, Mehtab Thakur, along with local representatives, sports enthusiasts, members of the organizing committee, and a large number of villagers were present at the event.