News India Times

www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know News India Times (January 3, 2025 - January 9, 2025) January 9, 2025 18 Sports T he Union Minister of Ports, Ship- ping andWaterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal, credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for transforming sports from a niche pur- suit into a nationwide mass movement, following his participation in the Sansad Khel Mahotsav in Dibrugarh. Addressing athletes, students and local residents, the Dibrugarh LSC MP Sarbananda Sonowal said the initiative reflects the Prime Minister’s larger vision of linking fitness, discipline and youth empowerment with nation-building. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given sports a central place in India’s de- velopment journey by turning fitness and athletic excellence into a people’s move- ment,” Sarbananda Sonowal said. “I call upon our youth and citizens to participate in building a healthy, fit and sports-orientated India, guided by the spirit of Khelo India – Khelo Desh,” he further added. Sonowal said the ‘Sansad Khel Mahot- sav’ has strengthened grassroots sports by identifying young talent early and fostering community participation. “This initiative is nurturing talent at the grass- roots, strengthening community bonds and instilling discipline, confidence and character among our youth,” he said. Announcing constituency-level sup- port, Sonowal said promising sportsper- sons from Dibrugarh would receive targeted assistance to improve training and performance. “Talented athletes from Dibrugarh will be given special incentives and institu- tional support so they can compete at higher levels and bring recognition to As- sam and the nation,” Sonowal said. Referring to Good Governance Day, observed on the birth anniversary of for- mer Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Sonowal highlighted the sports reforms introduced since 2014. “Since 2014, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has seen unprecedented expansion of sports infrastructure, wider participation and systematic identification of talent from ev- ery corner of the country,” Sonowal said. Citing national flagship programmes, Sonowal said Khelo India, Fit India and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) have created structured pathways for athletes. “These initiatives have ensured world- class facilities and professional training, enabling young Indians to pursue sports as a serious career,” he said. Sonowal added that Assam has aligned its efforts with the national vision through initia- tives such as Khel Mahotsav. “Through Khel Mahotsav, we are identifying talent from villages, tea garden areas and remote regions, and prepar- ing them for national and international competitions,” Sonowal said, noting that improved indoor and outdoor stadium infrastructure in Dibrugarh has increased parental confidence in sports as a career option. Prominent dignitaries present at the event included AssamMinister Prashanta Phukan, Dibrugarh Municipal Corpora- tion (DMC), Mayor, Deputy Mayor Ujjal Phukan, Chairman of Assam Petrochemi- cals Limited (APL), Bikul Deka, BJP District President Dulal Bora, Chairman of Dibrugarh Development Authority (DDA), Asim Hazarika, Managing Director of BVFCL Pranjal Barman, Vice Chancel- lor of Sri Sri Aniruddhadeva University Prof Narendra Nath Sarma, President of Dibrugarh District Sports Associa- tion (DDSA) Niranjan Saikia, Secretary Kamakhya Saikia, District Commissioner of Dibrugarh, Bikram Kairi, and other dis- tinguished guests and citizens. scores. -ANI Cricket-South Africa Go Pace Heavy For T20 World Cup In India And Sri Lanka S outh Africa have selected wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock, fast bowler Anrich Nortje and all-rounder Jason Smith in their squad for the T20 World Cup to be staged in India and Sri Lanka starting next month, but there is no place for Tristan Stubbs. Aiden Markram will captain the side, which contains only two frontline spinners in George Linde and Keshav Maharaj, and will rely greatly on pace. Kagiso Rabada has been included despite missing the last few months with injury, only returning to action in the last week. Along with Nortje, he forms part of a pace line-up that also includes Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kwena Maphaka and Lungi Ngidi. De Kock will likely open the batting after stepping out of retirement late last year, with powerful hitters David Miller, Dewald Brevis and Donovan Ferreira included. But Stubbs has been left out after a run of indifferent form, while Ryan Rickelton is also dropped. “We are returning to the subcontinent, where we recently competed against hosts India,” coach Shukri Conrad said. “The experience we gained playing in those conditions will undoubtedly benefit us as we head into this tournament. “Many of the players selected for theWorld Cup squad were on that trip and experienced first-hand the pitches that we will likely encounter and that will stand them in good stead once we get to India.” South Africa are drawn in Group D alongside Afghani- stan, Canada, New Zealand and the United Arab Emir- ates, and will begin their campaign on February 9 against Canada in Ahmedabad. South Africa squad: Aiden Markram (captain), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Bre- vis, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Ma- phaka, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada and Jason Smith . Reuters Publicity poster for T20 World Cup. PHOTO:HTTPS://WWW.ICC-CRICKET.COM/TOURNAMENTS/MENS-T20- WORLD-CUP-2026 PHOTO:COURTESY ANI ‘PM Modi Turned Sports Into Mass Movement’, Says Sarbananda Sonowal At Dibrugarh Khel Mahotsav