Ranchi: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said that the state government is committed to the development of sports and players for which many schemes have been started by the government. He said that it is a matter of pride that female athletes from the state are making a name for themselves in the world. He said that the state was proud of its players.
The Chief Minister made these comments while interacting with the female hockey players of the state who have been selected to go to USA to participate in a cultural and sports exchange programme for three weeks. The Chief Minister extended best wishes to the players and hoped for their bright future.
He said that special initiatives have been taken in the state to identify the players and their skills. He said that arrangements for special training has been made for them with a special focus on hockey and football so that players from rural areas can come forward and get an opportunity to participate in programmes. He said that it is an effort of the government to make Jharkhand a sports power and make a separate identity in the country and world.
The Chief Minister said that when the players will come back from USA he will listen to their experience and make efforts so that more players from the state can get the opportunity. The girls also expressed their happiness for being selected for the programme. Pundi Suru and Juhi Kumari from Khunti, Henrieta Toppo and Poornima Neti from Simdega and Priyanka Kumari from Gumla will be participating in this exchange programme in Middlebury College from June 24 to July 13 as part of the exchange programme.
These girls were selected on the basis of their performance in the second edition of East India Women’s Hockey and Leadership Camp. The project is a joint initiative of NGO Shakti Vahini US Consulate Jharkhand Hockey Federation SE Railway Jharkhand Police and Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.