Jaipur, February 5. Chief
Minister Mr Ashok Gehlot said that the State Government is promoting sports
and sportspersons in the State with full commitment. It is our effort to
develop an ambience of sports in the State so that sportspersons of Rajasthan
could showcase their talent in the country and around the world. In this
backdrop, the construction of world’s third largest cricket stadium at Chonp
near Jaipur is very important for the state, he said.
Mr Gehlot was addressing the foundation stone laying ceremony of the international
cricket stadium through a video conference from his official residence on
Saturday. He said today is the golden day for Rajasthan cricket. It will be a
dream come true for the sportspersons and sports enthusiasts, he said. The then
RCA president Dr. CP Joshi had envisaged this, which is being fulfilled by the
present RCA president Shri Vaibhav Gehlot with the help of the State Government
and BCCI, he added.
The
Chief Minister said that Rajasthan has a long association with cricket.
Rajputana Cricket Association was formed in 1931. Today, there are Cricket
Associations in 33 districts of the State. In such a situation, Rajasthan
should get its due. He asked BCCI president Shri Sourav Ganguly and secretary
Shri Jay Shah to give priority to Rajasthan in hosting international cricket
matches. He was hopeful that more and more international matches would be
organised in the State. Mentioning the international cricket match held
recently at the SMS Stadium after 8 years, he urged BCCI to give more
international matches to Rajasthan, so that the enthusiasm of cricket lovers
remains intact.
Mr Gehlot said Rajasthan will have four stadiums of international level including
SMS Stadium in Jaipur, Barkatullah Khan Stadium in Jodhpur along with the
stadium being built in Udaipur and the international stadium to be built at
Chonp in Jaipur. Shri Gehlot said, “It is our goal that the construction of the
international stadium is completed on time and soon the sports enthusiasts and
the general public get the gift of this wonderful stadium.
State
Assembly Speaker and RCA Chief Patron Dr. CP Joshi said, “I am sure that the
RCA will complete the work of world’s third largest cricket stadium on time
with the help of the State Government and BCCI.” After the stadium gets ready,
the youth of our State will get better opportunities in sports in the coming
time, he said.
At
the beginning of the programme, RCA president Shri Vaibhav Gehlot welcomed the
Chief Minister and other guests said that today we are witnessing a historic
day. It was the wish of sports lovers, cricketers and the general public that a
stadium of international level is built in Jaipur. This was possible with the
guidance and help of Chief Minister Shri Ashok Gehlot, RCA chief patron Dr CP
Joshi and BCCI.
He
was thankful to BCCI president Shri Sourav Ganguly and secretary Shri Jay Shah
for giving an opportunity to Rajasthan to host an international cricket match
after the gap of 8 years. He said that the first and second phase of work of
the international stadium coming up in Chonp will be completed in a time-bound
manner and sports enthusiasts will get a chance to watch international cricket
matches here.
BCCI
president Ganguly recalled the days he spent playing Ranji and Duleep Trophy
matches at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium. He assured that the BCCI would extend
full support in the construction of the new stadium and in promoting cricket in
Rajasthan. BCCI secretary Shah said that after Ahmedabad and Melbourne, the
world’s third largest stadium being built near Jaipur will give a boost to
cricket in Rajasthan.
Prior
to this, the Chief Minister and other guests virtually laid the foundation
stone of the construction work of the Stadium. PHED Minister Dr Mahesh Joshi,
BCCI Vice President Mr Rajeev Shukla, RCA Advisor Mr GS Sandhu, RCA Vice
President Mr Ameen Pathan, Secretary Mr Mahendra Sharma, Treasurer Mr Krishna Nimawat and other officials were present in the programme.
