Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : The President of India Ram Nath Kovind on August 29, 2020, virtually conferred the National Sports and Adventure Awards 2020 to 60 awardees on the occasion of National Sports Day.
Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju, Secretary, Department of Sports, Ravi Mittal, and Secretary, Department of Youth affairs, Usha Sharma, and several other dignitaries attended the ceremony at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. The Award Ceremony was commenced by Secretary, Department of Sports, Ravi Mittal, after seeking the permission of the president of India Ram Nath Kovind. The awardees attended the ceremony from various SAI centers across the country. Few awardees were also present at the venue at Vigyan Bhawan.
Speaking on the occasion, the President of India Ram Nath Kovind said that COVID-19 has adversely affected the sports world too. Olympic Games have been postponed. Sports activities in our country have also been affected. Players and coaches might be feeling less motivated due to lack of practice and competitions which poses a huge challenge for their mental and physical preparation. He was happy to note that players and coaches have been connected through online coaching and webinars to overcome this challenge. He said that today’s event was an attempt to continue sports related activities despite the global pandemic, according to a PIB release.
The President was happy to note the increased diversity of sports in the country. He said that today’s award winners represent more than 20 sports. The growing popularity of our traditional games like Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, and Mallakhamb will help in connecting the common people with sports. Today, apart from Cricket and Football, league tournaments of sports like Volleyball and Kabaddi are gaining popularity which is a pleasant change.
Rijiju explained that this is the first ever virtual awards presentation function where the awards have been conferred by the President of India. The presence of the President will only encourage our young sportspersons to better their performances going forward, he added. ” I would like to congratulate all our award winners, who are present with us here in Delhi and who are connected through from various centers through NIC,” he said.
Rijiju added that under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, the Ministry is running many schemes in the field of sports and adventure. Khelo India and Fit India are excellent examples of this, he said. He added, “We have prepared a long term plan and our aim is that India will figure in the first ten countries of winners at the Olympics of 2028.”