CM grants Rs 8 cr for sports

Chennai: In a boost for sportsmen, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has granted Rs 8.09 crore for conducting the ‘State Games for Chief Minister’s Trophy’ annually on the lines of the National Games. The top three winners in the games would be given cash prizes of Rs one lakh, Rs 75,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively, an official release said. Events such as badminton, football, volleyball, tennis, hockey, kabaddi, table tennis, swimming and basketball would be conducted at the district-level, zonal level and State level. In a related announcement, the Chief Minister announced the setting up of separate gyms for male and female staff working at the State Secretariat. A sum of Rs 50 lakh would be spent on establishing this facility.  Also, to provide scientific training to sportspersons, a sports centre would be set up at the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University at a cost of Rs 2.20 crore, the release added.