Expanded sporting activities keeps away youth from drug menaces, says Sports Minister

Agartala: The sports always strengthen mutual bonding among people and encourage people to avoid drugs, said Youth and Sports Affairs Minister Sushanta Chowdhury.

Speaking with media persons after prize giving ceremony at the final of M L Plaza Rakhal Memorial Knockout football tournament at Umakanta Mini stadium, the Minister Chowdhury said that the movements by the state government against drug menaces are now giving results and expansion of sports related activities, the more and more youths are joining, which directly keep away themselves from drug abuses.

He said that among the different steps taken by the state government to reduce the drug menace across the state, one of them is expansion of sporting activities, which are playing a key role.

Highlighting the developmental activities in the sporting arena, Chowdhury said that as part of the sports expansion and developmental plans, the synthetic Astroturf football ground has been constructed at Umakanta mini stadium and seven more Astroturf grounds are also being constructed in different parts of the state.

Chowdhury said that within the next six months, the construction works of synthetic turf hockey ground at Dasarath Deb Sports complex in Badharghat will be completed. Giving details of the present status of construction of synthetic turf grounds in other parts of the state, the Minister said that on November 30th next, the synthetic turf ground in Jirania’s S N Colony will be inaugurated and within next one month, the synthetic turf football ground will also be inaugurated in Mohanpur.

During the prize giving ceremony, Tripura Football Association’s (TFA) vice president Chanchal Nandi and the owner of ML Plaza Ratan Saha also present during the prize giving ceremony.

In the final match of M L Plaza Rakhal Memorial Knockout football tournament, Agartala city’s renowned football club Aagiyacholo Sangha defeated another famous football club Forward by 2-1 goals.