PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
The Sports minister Rekha Arya inaugurated the 24th Uttarakhand State Junior and Senior Badminton Championship 2025 on Wednesday at the multipurpose hall of Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Sports Stadium in Almora. About 350 players from all districts of the State are participating in this competition.
Speaking on the occasion, Arya highlighted the significant changes in societal attitudes towards sports. She attributed this shift to various initiatives, including job reservations for athletes, government jobs offered out of turn, cash prizes and incentive schemes for young players.
She emphasised that while the State government has made substantial efforts it is now the responsibility of the younger generation of athletes to bring honour to the State and the country in international Olympic competitions.
Encouraging the participating players, Arya stated that those who excel in sports can achieve global recognition. “When a player becomes a champion, his or her identity transcends borders,” she added.
