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Representative image. Courtesy: European Data Journalism Network

Assam government is keen to host an ASEAN Football Championship in Guwahati where all the 10 ASEAN countries and Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal will participate.

This was informed by the Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal at a programme in Guwahati, where he disbursed initial payment of Rs. 8 lakh each to 371 playground.

The payment will be used to transform playgrounds into modern playgrounds as a part of Chief Minister Samagra  Gramya Unnayan Yojana (CMGUY).

An essential component of CMSGUY for the development of playgrounds at the rural areas, in the first phase 500 playground will be developed to give exposure to the rural sports talents. As a part of the Yojana, Chief Minister Sonowal as an initial payment disbursed 40 per cent that is Rs. 8 Lakh of the total Rs. 20 lakh to be given to each play ground.

Speaking at the programme, Sonowal said, “Government is developing rural sports grounds to give an opportunity to the youth to develop their sporting acumen and get noticed at the national and international arena. The ASEAN Football Championship will be another step of the State government’s attempt to declare Guwahati as the Sports Capital of the country.”

He also said that his government will also organize sports events at Panchyat, Anchalik Panchayat and Zila Parishad level to enable the sports talents to showcase their sporting sharpness. He also informed that those who show good prospects will be trained in Sports Academy which his government is going to set up in the state.

Referring to famous song of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, Chief Minister Sonowal said that sport promotes peace, harmony and universal brotherhood. Sport is also a tool to become good citizens and therefore, he requested teachers to take the responsibility to help their students to imbibe sportsmanship spirit and help them to become good and conscientious citizens of the country.

Education Minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya, Social Welfare Minister Pramila Rani Brahma, Member Secretary State Level Advisory Committee for Youth and Sports Welfare Lakhya Konwar who also spoke on the occasion stressed on the importance of sports.