At the Multipurpose Hall located at the Parade Ground in Dehradun, Sports Minister Rekha Arya inaugurated the Annual Badminton Tournament 2026, organized by the Uttarakhand Secretariat Badminton Club. More than 200 players are participating in this two-day competition.
Key Highlights:
• **Positive Message:** The Sports Minister stated that organizing this tournament during holidays conveys the message that, alongside work, sports are also absolutely essential for physical well-being. Sports instill in us virtues such as diligence, resilience, and dedication.
• **Evolved Sports Culture:** Following the successful hosting of the National Games, an excellent sports culture has flourished within the state; consequently, the state’s stadiums now remain bustling with players and competitions at all times.
• **Incentives for Athletes:** The State Government is providing benefits to medal winners—such as a 4% reservation in government jobs and ‘out-of-turn’ appointments—thereby inspiring the youth to choose sports as a career path.
• **Future Aspirations:** Given the state’s international-standard sports infrastructure, the Sports Minister expressed optimism that, in the future, Uttarakhand may have the opportunity to host major sporting events such as the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics.
Several dignitaries, including the Club’s President, Hira Singh Basera, and General Secretary, Pramod Kumar, were present on this occasion.
