*Will make special efforts to promote dragon boat sport in Punjab: Meet Hayer*

Chandigarh, December 9

Punjab has great potential for water sports. Like rowing, kayaking and canoeing sports, special efforts will be made to promote dragon boat sports in the state. It was stated by Punjab Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer while addressing the players at the inauguration of the 10th Senior Dragon Boat Racing Championship (Men and Women) being held at Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh today.

Meet Hayer said that in the sport of rowing, the players of Punjab have become champions at the Asian Games and have represented India in the Olympic Games. In the Mansa, Ferozepur and Fazilka districts of Punjab, there are many rowing sportsmen who have gained international fame. To fulfil the dream envisioned by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to make Punjab the leading state of the country in sports, the sports department is paying attention to every sport. Recently, Rs. 50 lakh was sanctioned for buying boats for rowing at Rupnagar.

The sports minister said that the sport of dragon boat is still new, but due to its similarity to rowing, the sport has a lot of potentials to grow. He expressed hope that dragon boat sport will be a part of the Olympic Games in the near future. He assured that the Punjab Government would undertake all possible efforts for the giving fillip to the sport.

On this occasion, the Sports Minister met the players from different states and welcomed them on their arrival in the capital of Punjab. The National Championship is being held from December 9 to 11 in which around 500 players from 17 states are participating.

On this occasion, Dragon Boat Federation of India President Vinod Sharma and General Secretary Vinod, Raj Kamal Dhanda, Haryana Olympic Association Vice President Mahendra Kamboj, Punjab Dragon Boat Association Secretary Krishna and Punjab Rowing Association General Secretary Jasbir Singh were also present.