Governor-XI Triumphs in Sadbhavana Cricket Cup, CM Sukhu Applauds Efforts Against Drug Abuse

In a thrilling finale of the Sadbhavana Cricket Cup held at BCS Shimla, the Governor-XI team emerged victorious, defeating Chief Justice-XI by 32 runs. The tournament, organized by the Him Sports and Cultural Association, aimed to raise awareness about the menace of drug abuse. Governor-XI posted a commanding 232 runs for the loss of two wickets in their 20 overs, with stellar contributions from Vivek Bhatia, who remained unbeaten at 99, and Abid Hussain Sadiq, who scored an impressive 82 runs. Chief Justice-XI managed to score 200 runs, falling short despite commendable efforts from Rakesh Chauhan, who top-scored with 86 runs, and Saurabh Rattan, who contributed 43 runs. Ashok Rattan of Governor-XI took two crucial wickets, sealing the victory for his team.

The Man of the Match for the final was Vivek Bhatia, who was felicitated by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. The Chief Minister also honored Abid Hussain Sadiq and Vikas Bhardwaj for their Man of the Match performances in earlier matches of the tournament. Vivek Bhatia and Abid Hussain Sadiq were jointly declared Man of the Series for their outstanding performances throughout the event.

Chief Minister Sukhu lauded the efforts of the organizers for promoting awareness against drug abuse through this sports initiative. He emphasized the state government’s commitment to combating the drug menace and highlighted measures to promote sports and provide opportunities for youth. He announced enhanced prize money for athletes winning international competitions, with gold medalists at the Olympics now receiving ₹5 crore, silver medalists ₹3 crore, and bronze medalists ₹2 crore. Similarly, Asian Games and Para Asian Games gold medalists now receive ₹4 crore, while silver and bronze medalists earn ₹2.5 crore and ₹1.5 crore, respectively. Paralympic athletes like Nishad Kumar and Ajay Kumar have also been recognized with substantial monetary rewards.

The Chief Minister detailed additional initiatives to support athletes, including improved travel allowances and enhanced facilities for competitions. Athletes are now entitled to AC three-tier train fare for journeys up to 200 kilometers and economy-class airfare for longer distances. Moreover, the government has announced the construction of integrated sports complexes in all constituencies, aimed at fostering sports participation and providing state-of-the-art facilities. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to encourage a healthier lifestyle among youth and steer them away from substance abuse.

The event witnessed the presence of several dignitaries, including Acting Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court Tarlok Singh Chauhan, Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, MLAs Harish Janartha, Sudarshan Babloo, and Vinod Sultanpuri, Vice-Chairman of Himachal Pradesh Forest Development Corporation Kehar Singh Khachi, and APMC Shimla Chairman Dev Anand Verma, among others.

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