'Surgical strikes' needed in sports, too, says Shivraj

Launching a scathing attack on the practice of politicians controlling various sports organisations in the country, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday said 'surgical strikes' are needed in sports as well to purge these organisations non-sports persons.

Speaking at a sports awards ceremony here, organised by the state's Ministry of Sports & Youth Welfare, Chouhan said: "There should be the spirit of sports in politics and not the other way round. So, after surgical strikes against Pakistan and black money holders, there's a need to launch surgical strike also in the field of sports."

Taking a dig at a number of political leaders controlling sports associations in Madhya Pradesh and elsewhere in the country, the Chief Minister said: "Sports bodies are being controlled by people who have nothing to do with sports. So, it's time the authority to control such bodies is passed on to those directly associated with sports."

Badminton Olympian P.V. Sandhu, badminton coach Pullela Gopichand and state's Sports Minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia were present on the occasion.

--IANS

hindi-nir/vt